March 31, 2011

The temperature has been slowly creeping up over the last few days, and nearly reached 80 today.  My friend Christy and I decided to take the boys to the pool.  Apparently everyone else in Woodbridge had the same idea because it started getting pretty crowded (not so much in the kid pool though).  Isaac and Hudson were playing a funny version of catch with a little fishing net.  One would throw the ball and the other would go scoop it up with the net, and then throw it back.  Isaac's been doing a lot better playing and interacting with other kids lately and it makes me very happy and hopeful.  

March 30, 2011

I've wanted to see Wicked for a long time, so when my friend Karlea posted on Facebook that she wanted to sell her tickets I jumped at the chance to go.  But then I found out that Charlie really wasn't interested and Karlea could still go (just not her husband), so the two of us went together.  It was a fun girl's night out and I loved the show!  I read the book a few years ago and was not impressed, but the musical was fantastic.  I loved the music and the story was much much better than in the book.  

March 29, 2011

Isaac tends to get pretty wound up right around bed time and that makes Cracker nervous, so Cracker has to follow him around and see what he is up to.  He also tries to drink Isaac's bath water, which Isaac thinks is absolutely hilarious.  

March 28, 2011

Our sister-in-law brother and his family and some friends were in CA this week to go to Disneyland.  They brought this trailer down to carry all of their luggage and needed a place to park it for a few days so we volunteered our parking spot.  Isaac is really into wearing his hats lately (tonight it's his police hat from London), and also his "cuddly" pants (soft cotton pants) which he insists on changing into the moment we walk in the door from school each day.  

March 27, 2011

This is a pretty average mess in Isaac's room at the end of the day.  His toys are much more organized now that he's moved to his new room, but he still manages to create some decent mayhem.  I'm sure there was a similar situation going on in the living room this night, and maybe in Charlie & I's bedroom as well.  

March 26, 2011

The last time I got a pedicure was almost 4 years ago when I was pregnant with Isaac.  I actually prefer to do it myself, but as my stomach grows bigger it becomes increasingly difficult for me to reach my toes.  Our friend Naddia had mentioned at dinner the night before that she was going for a pedicure in the morning, so I decided to go with her.  

March 25, 2011

I forgot to take a photo for the day until bed time.  This is the lip balm I use every night before bed.  My mother-in-law, Janelle, bought me a colored lip gloss version of this for Christmas one year and I've loved it ever since.  

March 24, 2011

Isaac & Cracker are complete opposites in that Isaac wants to be friends with every dog we see, and Cracker absolutely does not.  When we came back from our walk today two of our neighbors were out front with their dogs.  Cracker is a grumpy old man (I put him back inside) and doesn't really play, so Isaac thought it was hilarious to watch these four little dogs chasing and wrestling together.  He also really liked holding onto their leashes so he could take them for walks around the yard.  

March 23, 2011

I got brave and attempted to take Isaac shopping with me.  I knew I wouldn't have more than about 10 minutes, so we only went to one store:  Forever 21, because they are one of the few stores that carry maternity clothes.  This photo shows how Isaac entertained himself while I tried on a few things.  (And I didn't buy that top because it looked too tent-ish.)  After my time was up we headed to the carousel, a few water fountains, and the fish tank in the kid's shoe department at Nordstrom.  

March 22, 2011

Tonight's dinner = FAIL.  I've been trying out some new recipes this week, mostly from past issues of Everyday Food magazine.  Tonight I made these Stuffed Poblano Peppers, and they were not very good at all.  The sauce was okay, but the filling in the peppers was pretty bland.  Too much cornmeal, not enough cheese, and just overall lacking in flavor.  We went ahead and ate dinner (at least the guacamole that I made was good) but I threw out the rest of the peppers.  I hate wasting food, but these were really pretty disappointing.

March 21, 2011

I forgot to take a photo for today, so here is a nice shot of my big stomach while I am updating my blog.  The baby is moving like crazy (he always does around this time of night) but of course you can't tell that from the photo.  And this is exactly what Cracker does every evening.  He cuddles up as close as he can get to Charlie or I on the couch and then he's out.

March 20, 2011

Today at church Isaac played "Duck Duck Goose" with his Sunbeam class.  He wanted to play at home too but I told him we did not have enough people to play.  He had no trouble rounding up some more players for the game, and came back again and told me he was ready to play.  Of course I got to be the "goose" and chase him - not just around the circle - but all around the house.  

March 19, 2011

Tonight we went to Cafe Rio for dinner.  Charlie used to be anti-Cafe Rio until a few months ago when I introduced him to the steak salad with the cilantro lime dressing.  And tonight he actually suggested that we eat there.  I think in this photo Isaac is mad because Charlie took "his" chip.  

March 18, 2011

I ordered "The Perfect Pregnancy Workout" DVD from Amazon and for some reason thought I'd be able to do the workout while Isaac was playing in the other room.  Wrong.  I had Isaac hanging on my legs, and climbing on my back while Cracker was trying to lick my face.  Probably not the most effective workout, but I was still a little bit sore the next day.

March 17, 2011

Today was St. Patrick's Day and after dinner we got Shamrock Shakes from McDonald's.  Charlie introduced these to me while we were dating and since they are only available one month out of the year, they've always been kind of a special treat.  This year they started putting the shakes in clear plastic cups and it somehow made them a little less appetizing.  That's just a lot of green food coloring.  

March 16, 2011

Smog check.  I usually try to run most of my errands while Isaac is in school, but I saved this one for his morning off because he loves all things dealing with cars & trucks.  There was no wait, the garage was super clean, and we even got a coupon online.  

March 15, 2011

I tried this new salmon recipe for dinner tonight and it was fantastic.  I also made a potato gratin that has been a long time favorite at our house, and some steamed asparagus.  The whole dinner was delicious.  Isaac has always been a good eater, but sometimes I still just watch in amazement as he eats all of the "grown up" food, including his vegetables, and actually enjoys it.  Tonight Charlie was explaining to him that the fish we were eating is the same kind of fish that swims in the water.  Isaac's response?  "Ooooh nooooo, poor fish."  

March 14, 2011

Tonight was the season finale of the Bachelor.  I think that the final reject limo is always the hardest to watch.  I mean we all know that the Bachelor will eventually break up with his final girl of choice as well (in this case, I think Emily will be the one to dump Brad) but that doesn't make it any less painful for his second choice girl and her nationally televised ride home in the limo of shame.  

March 13, 2011

Time for another pregnancy shot.  I am 28 weeks now and starting to get a little uncomfortable.  No major complaints, it's just a little harder to get out of bed, bend over, etc.  And I feel enormous.  

March 12, 2011

While Charlie was showering Saturday morning he noticed a large bubble of water forming underneath the paint on the ceiling.  We first called the association to make sure that any overhead water pipes belonged to our upstairs neighbor, and then got in touch with the neighbor's landlord.  By late afternoon we had a plumber over tearing apart our ceiling. 

I'm cheating a little here by adding an extra photo.  This one was taken three days later.  Currently there are two large heating fans drying out the wood and hopefully in the next day or two they will be able to begin putting everything back together.  

March 11, 2011

Today I began construction on the Ikea storage system that we bought for Isaac's room.  The only thing worse than assembling Ikea furniture is trying to do it with a three year old assistant.  But he was so intent on "helping Mama" and he really was quite adorable with his construction hat and all, so I handed him a few extra screws and pieces and a rubber mallet and let him go to work.  It made his day!  

March 10, 2011

I got my hair cut today.  My hair has looked pretty much the same for over ten years simply because I don't know what else to do with it.  I've gone a bit shorter a few times but I never end up liking it.  In other news, see that can of glass cleaner on the counter?  That's my new greatest discovery.  Just spray it on and polish with a microfiber cloth.  No streaks!  Forget the Windex and squeegee - I am totally converted.  

March 9, 2011

A few days ago I spelled Isaac's name out with his alphabet blocks.  Today he was very proud to show me that he had spelled names for all of his stuffed animals.  I think they are in a foreign language because I can't really pronounce any of these "names" but I thought it was cute.

March 8, 2011

Confession: I subscribe to a couple of celebrity gossip magazines.  But in my defense it is only because Charlie had some unused miles on an airline that he rarely flies, and it would never be enough for a ticket but they sent us an offer to use the miles for magazines.  So anyway, I found this little spread on Bachelor Brad to be quite informative - maybe even more so than the show that I have dedicated so many hours to over the last several weeks.  For instance, if I were in the running for a rose, I think I would want to know about things like #6 (a movie every night... really?), #14 (he likes bland food.  We are not compatible) and #19 (he only sleeps four hours a night.  Definitely not compatible.)

March 7, 2011

Of all of the chores to do around the house, cleaning the floor is by far my least favorite.  I think it's worse since we pulled out the area rug.  It just gets so dusty and dirty all the time and takes forever to clean.  I have to sweep, swiffer, mop and dry and then it doesn't even stay clean for one day!  I love the wood, I do not love cleaning it.

March 6, 2011

It's been a boring weekend, so all I have is another photo of dogs.  They are kind of like cats lying up on the back of the couch like that.  In other news, we recently switched out the throw pillows and some of the other decor in the living room.  I like the new red pillows.

March 5, 2011

Dog sitting.  Charlie's in Chicago this weekend for work and we've been kind of bored at home.  Cracker likes having his girlfriend Lucie around.  He does not like any other dogs, with the exception of other dachshunds.  He's very racist.

March 4, 2011

Sorry for the blurry photo.  Lately, this is Isaac's preferred way of riding in a cart at the store.  I get a wide variety of reactions from fellow shoppers: everything from out loud laughter to earnest chiding about the dangers of such a thing.  Before I became a mother I had very different ideas about what was considered acceptable behavior.  But now, thanks to Isaac, I'd say I'm much more open minded.

March 3, 2011

There is a small flowerbed that runs alongside our back patio that Isaac loves to play in.  It was previously just dirt, but I recently filled it with gravel thinking that it would be easier to clean up after each of Isaac's construction digs.  Well he eventually dug past all of the rocks and now I have both dirt and gravel to clean up (I especially love the piles that he makes for me right on the door mat).  This keeps him entertained though and he loves it, so I just let him dig and have fun.  It made me laugh today to look and see that he had brought his plastic hard hat out with him.  Dangerous work you know!

March 2, 2011

We're planning to move Isaac into our third bedroom and to use his room for the new baby.  He's already been sleeping in that room for a few months, so we just need to move over all of his toys, books, clothes, etc.  We need some more storage space in there so today I took Isaac with me to Ikea to look at a few options.  I am normally not a big Ikea fan but one thing they do well is to fit things in small spaces.  That being said, there will likely be some variation of this storage system in Isaac's new room.

March 1, 2011

Isaac had been coughing quite a bit (he is a very dramatic cougher) so I kept him home from school.  We went down to the Peninsula for a walk which we normally only do on weekends.  There was hardly anyone there and we had the whole playground to ourselves.  Isaac also loved chasing a huge flock of seagulls and watching the construction trucks tearing up the cement around the bathrooms at 15th Street.