Saturday, February 27, 2010
Petting Zoo
We visited a petting zoo yesterday with the Meetup group. It was just outside of town, at someone's house. It wasn't very big, but it was the perfect size for the toddlers. The people who run it were very nice and talkative. They had goats, sheep, a baby calf, ponies, turkeys, peacocks, ducks, chickens, etc. It was in one of those long sheds, and after Bean Dip had seen all the animals, he spent the rest of the time running the length of the shed.
Explaining to me that the ponies aren't eating his hay.
Petting a super-soft Angora bunny.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Blocked
I've hit a little writer's block lately. I tried to write about our mandatory FRG meeting this week but couldn't finish it. Basically, it was the same info you get at all of them, and more of a "Welcome to the Army" type meeting. There are a surprising amount of people here who are brand new to Army life -- they are National Guard or Reservists. I think I've only met one or two spouses of active duty soldiers.
It is warm, warm, warm here and has me in the mood for spring cleaning. Yesterday, Bean Dip helped me rearrange the garage and wash the car. The minute we had finished drying it, he turned the sprayer on, and we had to start all over. But we had a good time. Today, I tackled our disaster of a closet and mountains of laundry.
Win had a test on Friday and a big one tomorrow. He is at the library studying. It is definitely a change of pace to have him studying instead of out shooting things. Kind of makes me want to take a class or something, ha!
I just took the bimbis for a long walk around the neighborhood, with Bean Dip directing me where to go. We're working on directions and also reading the house numbers. I'll say it again, I absolutely love BOB.
It is warm, warm, warm here and has me in the mood for spring cleaning. Yesterday, Bean Dip helped me rearrange the garage and wash the car. The minute we had finished drying it, he turned the sprayer on, and we had to start all over. But we had a good time. Today, I tackled our disaster of a closet and mountains of laundry.
Win had a test on Friday and a big one tomorrow. He is at the library studying. It is definitely a change of pace to have him studying instead of out shooting things. Kind of makes me want to take a class or something, ha!
I just took the bimbis for a long walk around the neighborhood, with Bean Dip directing me where to go. We're working on directions and also reading the house numbers. I'll say it again, I absolutely love BOB.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Busy Busy Busy
Last night we went to the Commander's Meet and Greet for Win's class. You could call it a casual mixer -- they even said the main purpose was for the spouses to meet each other. That is because this class will be together throughout all the flight training. It was fun, I "met" a couple moms. I put met in quotes because one is in the Meetup group and online, but I just hadn't met her in person yet. The other one, I'd met at Win's graduation, but we didn't really remember each other. I also re-met some of the guys I'd met at the Halloween party -- I realized I didn't recognize anyone because they'd all been in costumes then.
Bean Dip had a blast. He joined up with a gang of kids, and they ran all over the banquet room. They were all older than him, and I think he prefers playing with older kids. It think that's because he's so used to being around adults all the time.
Tuesday, we went to our first playgroup -- hosted by a Meetup mom. It was Mardi Gras themed. We had King Cake, and the kids all got beads. It was a lot of fun, and I had to drag Bean Dip out to the car when we left.
Today we are off to a visit at the fire station, then later to our first FRG meeting.
Bean Dip had a blast. He joined up with a gang of kids, and they ran all over the banquet room. They were all older than him, and I think he prefers playing with older kids. It think that's because he's so used to being around adults all the time.
Tuesday, we went to our first playgroup -- hosted by a Meetup mom. It was Mardi Gras themed. We had King Cake, and the kids all got beads. It was a lot of fun, and I had to drag Bean Dip out to the car when we left.
Today we are off to a visit at the fire station, then later to our first FRG meeting.
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Mardi Gras
I am jealous of everyone who is getting to celebrate Mardi Gras. Well, maybe not. That wasn't something I ever really cared much about, although I do kind of wish we had made it to Venice for Carnivale.
Anyway, we had a quiet weekend -- Sunday was beautiful so we went on post to the giant lake there. We played on the playground and did a little fishing. I tried to help Bean Dip, but he stood at the edge of the lake in his red boots and red fleece and his Batman fishing pole and told me, "Stay away me! I do all by myself!" And he did, for the most part. His casts left something to be desired. Sadly, I forgot my camera.
I woke up this morning to strange sounds coming from our bathroom. I found Bean Dip unraveling the toilet paper. Then we came out to the living room, and I saw the TV on and the Wii remotes were out. Usually he comes straight in and wakes me up. The only other time he's done that, I came out to see him "loading" the dishwasher with half the box of detergent poured out.
I guess I really need to start waking up before him, but it is just so hard when Baby G. is awake all night. The last couple nights she slept really well, but last night she was up every hour it seemed. That included a wide awake session at about 4 a.m. that involved grabbing my face while I tried to sleep. Which reminds me I really need to clip her fingernails.
She is starting to sit up! Not for very long, but she is definitely getting the strength and balance. She's still not into rolling over -- I'm wondering if she will start rolling from back to belly instead.
Well, that's about it. We are headed to our first Meetup playgroup this morning. People host them every week, but I've been waiting until I'd actually met the mom hosting. Should be fun.
Anyway, we had a quiet weekend -- Sunday was beautiful so we went on post to the giant lake there. We played on the playground and did a little fishing. I tried to help Bean Dip, but he stood at the edge of the lake in his red boots and red fleece and his Batman fishing pole and told me, "Stay away me! I do all by myself!" And he did, for the most part. His casts left something to be desired. Sadly, I forgot my camera.
I woke up this morning to strange sounds coming from our bathroom. I found Bean Dip unraveling the toilet paper. Then we came out to the living room, and I saw the TV on and the Wii remotes were out. Usually he comes straight in and wakes me up. The only other time he's done that, I came out to see him "loading" the dishwasher with half the box of detergent poured out.
I guess I really need to start waking up before him, but it is just so hard when Baby G. is awake all night. The last couple nights she slept really well, but last night she was up every hour it seemed. That included a wide awake session at about 4 a.m. that involved grabbing my face while I tried to sleep. Which reminds me I really need to clip her fingernails.
She is starting to sit up! Not for very long, but she is definitely getting the strength and balance. She's still not into rolling over -- I'm wondering if she will start rolling from back to belly instead.
Well, that's about it. We are headed to our first Meetup playgroup this morning. People host them every week, but I've been waiting until I'd actually met the mom hosting. Should be fun.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Media Monday
This is the book Win is currently reading:
The picture isn't great, but you can learn more here.
I am still working on Out Stealing Horses. It is very good, but it hasn't captured my interest like other books do. I think part of is that it is translated, and also that it is by a male author. I really do prefer women writers. However, I'm persevering.
In other thoughts, I've decided to make an effort to read Time each week, cover to cover. Usually I skip the cover stories and everything political, but I'm going to try really hard to read each article. I like having things to talk about other than babies.
Happy Presidents' Day.
The picture isn't great, but you can learn more here.
I am still working on Out Stealing Horses. It is very good, but it hasn't captured my interest like other books do. I think part of is that it is translated, and also that it is by a male author. I really do prefer women writers. However, I'm persevering.
In other thoughts, I've decided to make an effort to read Time each week, cover to cover. Usually I skip the cover stories and everything political, but I'm going to try really hard to read each article. I like having things to talk about other than babies.
Happy Presidents' Day.
Friday, February 12, 2010
Snow!!!
No flashback today. It is snowing here!! Yes, you heard me. It is snowing in Lower Alabama. I guess this is global warming at its finest. We are expected to get a "historic" 2-4 inches. Pretty much the entire state is closed down except for post, so Win is still at work. We're warming up after our trek outside.
This was her expression pretty much the entire time we were outside.
Checking his dirt pile.
I had to make a snowman. This little guy is sitting on our mailbox stand.
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Back to Work
Win started the first school of his flight training this week. It is leadership training, and will last about a month. I am so glad he is back to working a normal workday, and I know he is too. Five months is too long to be doing basically nothing, but that is the Army for you.
Most of this training won't be particularly exciting, but on Tuesday he did the dunker. That is the day they teach you how to escape from a helicopter that has crashed into water. They have a simulator that they strap you into, and then lower the entire thing underwater and you have to escape, in the way they teach you. You get three strikes to do it right, if you fail, you have to start all over with a different class.
Win said it was incredibly exhausting and really, really uncomfortable. He had problems right at the beginning, just figuring out how to use the respirator/regulator -- the air tank that gives you two minutes of oxygen. He's never used one before, but once he figured it out, he was fine.
He said it is incredibly unnerving to be inverted underwater -- helicopters are top heavy, so they flip when they sink. Also, they had their eyes covered for part of it, to simulate a night crash. He said that when they were put in the big simulator, they had to sit, and wait, while the water slowly rose around them, then once they were underwater, wait until the thing had flipped before even starting their escape.
There were six in his class; two failed. One was a soldier who was SCUBA certified, and she freaked out before she even got to the large simulator. Another was a guy on his second try -- Win said he heard him freak out next to him while they were underwater.
If you want to learn more, Google "rucker dunker".
Most of this training won't be particularly exciting, but on Tuesday he did the dunker. That is the day they teach you how to escape from a helicopter that has crashed into water. They have a simulator that they strap you into, and then lower the entire thing underwater and you have to escape, in the way they teach you. You get three strikes to do it right, if you fail, you have to start all over with a different class.
Win said it was incredibly exhausting and really, really uncomfortable. He had problems right at the beginning, just figuring out how to use the respirator/regulator -- the air tank that gives you two minutes of oxygen. He's never used one before, but once he figured it out, he was fine.
He said it is incredibly unnerving to be inverted underwater -- helicopters are top heavy, so they flip when they sink. Also, they had their eyes covered for part of it, to simulate a night crash. He said that when they were put in the big simulator, they had to sit, and wait, while the water slowly rose around them, then once they were underwater, wait until the thing had flipped before even starting their escape.
There were six in his class; two failed. One was a soldier who was SCUBA certified, and she freaked out before she even got to the large simulator. Another was a guy on his second try -- Win said he heard him freak out next to him while they were underwater.
If you want to learn more, Google "rucker dunker".
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
The Family Room
Alright. I'll admit it. We're co-sleepers here. I've read all the warnings about it, and I try to avoid answering the question when the doctor asks where Baby G. sleeps. I personally don't think that it is dangerous for us, and it feels so natural. Especially when nursing. As I've said before, there's nothing like having a little baby curled up next to you in bed, nursing and falling back asleep. It's so cozy.
Bean Dip slept with me from the first day on, until our painful separation at about a year. It took long, long days and nights of getting him used to sleeping in his own crib, and falling asleep without nursing. However, our situation was a little unique, because Win was deployed for the first 13 months of Bean Dip's life. So ... there were only two of us in the bed.
Baby G. has been a little different. She actually likes to sleep in her crib. Well, for the most part. She still spends a good part of the night with us, with my arm curled around her. But she is funny; she will wake up crying because she wants to go back to her crib. I think she likes having her space sometimes. I also try to put her back in her crib if I wake up after a nursing session, because there isn't quite as much room in the bed with Win there. And, I've realized that with the second child, I value sleep much, much more. I don't have the option of napping during the day like I did with Bean Dip.
Baby G.'s crib is in our room. That way she is only a few steps from us. Bean Dip has his own room, and his own big bed. He sleeps in there off and on. Last week he slept in his "bee" bed every night. The past two nights, he's elected to sleep in our room.
He had been coming in and sleeping with us (sometimes all four of us would be crammed into a queen-sized), and that was not working. So we compromised with his sleeping bag on our floor. He isn't in our bed, but he is in the room with all of us. And that works. Who can blame him for not wanting to be all alone knowing we are all together in the other room?
The thing is, I like having all of us in one room. We've lived in such close quarters in the past that is just feels right. At least for now. Eventually, Baby G. will move into Bean Dip's room, and hopefully they will be happy sleeping together. And hopefully, I'll be able to let go and let them sleep 15 feet away instead of a few steps.
Bean Dip slept with me from the first day on, until our painful separation at about a year. It took long, long days and nights of getting him used to sleeping in his own crib, and falling asleep without nursing. However, our situation was a little unique, because Win was deployed for the first 13 months of Bean Dip's life. So ... there were only two of us in the bed.
Baby G. has been a little different. She actually likes to sleep in her crib. Well, for the most part. She still spends a good part of the night with us, with my arm curled around her. But she is funny; she will wake up crying because she wants to go back to her crib. I think she likes having her space sometimes. I also try to put her back in her crib if I wake up after a nursing session, because there isn't quite as much room in the bed with Win there. And, I've realized that with the second child, I value sleep much, much more. I don't have the option of napping during the day like I did with Bean Dip.
Baby G.'s crib is in our room. That way she is only a few steps from us. Bean Dip has his own room, and his own big bed. He sleeps in there off and on. Last week he slept in his "bee" bed every night. The past two nights, he's elected to sleep in our room.
He had been coming in and sleeping with us (sometimes all four of us would be crammed into a queen-sized), and that was not working. So we compromised with his sleeping bag on our floor. He isn't in our bed, but he is in the room with all of us. And that works. Who can blame him for not wanting to be all alone knowing we are all together in the other room?
The thing is, I like having all of us in one room. We've lived in such close quarters in the past that is just feels right. At least for now. Eventually, Baby G. will move into Bean Dip's room, and hopefully they will be happy sleeping together. And hopefully, I'll be able to let go and let them sleep 15 feet away instead of a few steps.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Media Monday
This weekend we ventured out to the post library. It's been closed for renovations since we've been here. It is pretty nice, not quite as "cozy" as the one in Italy, but nice. They have a separate room for the kids' books. Bean Dip picked out two:
The library has a story hour on Fridays so we are going to check that out next. Here's one question I have for the library: Why put all the board books on the top shelf? Shouldn't those be in reach of the kids who read them? Same goes for all the George, Thomas, and Elmo books.
The library has a story hour on Fridays so we are going to check that out next. Here's one question I have for the library: Why put all the board books on the top shelf? Shouldn't those be in reach of the kids who read them? Same goes for all the George, Thomas, and Elmo books.
Sunday, February 7, 2010
New Food
This week I tried two new chicken recipes in my ongoing attempt to expand my cooking abilities. One was a success, the other decidedly not.
The successful one was a lemon butter chicken breast from my Meals In Minutes cookbook. Bean Dip helped me pound out the chicken so it was nice and thin, then I cooked in the skillet in butter. It had lemon pepper seasoning on it and then at the end I drizzled lemon juice over the top. Yummy! It kind of reminded me of the scaloppini a limone you can order in Italy. I served it with couscous with orange juice and cranberries. I wanted to put toasted almond slivers in too, but could not find them. I've looked three times at the commissary and still haven't found them. Bean Dip helped juice the lemon and orange, and tasted both. The lemon was just a tad sour for him.
The unsuccessful meal was last night. It was a chicken and biscuit casserole from my One-Dish Meals by the American Heart Association. Basically it was a chicken pot pie type deal, where you put canned biscuits on top of a chicken veggie mixture. It wasn't horrible, but wasn't great either. Also, I don't understand how 700 mg of sodium in one serving is healthy for you.
The upside of last night's meal was my salad. I branched out from my usual and made a sweeter salad -- greens, red onion, green apple and dried cranberries. I made a dressing of Dijon mustard, honey, red wine vinegar and olive oil. It was delicious.
The successful one was a lemon butter chicken breast from my Meals In Minutes cookbook. Bean Dip helped me pound out the chicken so it was nice and thin, then I cooked in the skillet in butter. It had lemon pepper seasoning on it and then at the end I drizzled lemon juice over the top. Yummy! It kind of reminded me of the scaloppini a limone you can order in Italy. I served it with couscous with orange juice and cranberries. I wanted to put toasted almond slivers in too, but could not find them. I've looked three times at the commissary and still haven't found them. Bean Dip helped juice the lemon and orange, and tasted both. The lemon was just a tad sour for him.
The unsuccessful meal was last night. It was a chicken and biscuit casserole from my One-Dish Meals by the American Heart Association. Basically it was a chicken pot pie type deal, where you put canned biscuits on top of a chicken veggie mixture. It wasn't horrible, but wasn't great either. Also, I don't understand how 700 mg of sodium in one serving is healthy for you.
The upside of last night's meal was my salad. I branched out from my usual and made a sweeter salad -- greens, red onion, green apple and dried cranberries. I made a dressing of Dijon mustard, honey, red wine vinegar and olive oil. It was delicious.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
As I write ...
... Bean Dip is watching "Martha Speaks" and Baby G. is squirming around on the floor and squealing at me. She still isn't rolling over, possibly because she hates being on her tummy, but she has started pushing herself around on her back. She's scooted of the blanket and headed for bonking her head on the wall.
Yesterday was a rainy day and a George day. We are big fans of Curious George here. Bean Dip's sock monkey is named George and sleeps with him. We watch the PBS series every morning, and I try to regulate how many times we watch the movie. I don't mind letting him watch it though, because I happen to love George too. We started watching it this summer when we moved back to the States, and it was sometimes uncanny how the series related to our life. Case in point: The episode where George gets sprayed by a skunk. None of us got sprayed, but this summer there was a family of skunks living in the grands' yard. They came out every night and entertained us.
The rain stopped in the afternoon, and I decided it was time to break out the bubble maker Gretchen sent Bean Dip for Christmas. After Win and Bean Dip made a quick run to the store for batteries, it was a bubble blizzard. It was a HUGE hit, and I think I will have to invest in an industrial-sized bottle of bubbles.
After bubble time, Bean Dip wanted to finger paint. I didn't feel like dealing with the mess, so I stripped him down, plopped him in the tub, and gave him the paints. he painted on the tub, with hands and feet. When he was done, I just hosed down him and the tub, and turned it into bath time. This isn't my creative idea -- Michelle had suggested it a while back.
Martha's over, and Bean Dip is trying to undress Baby G., so I better go. Win is at a hunter safety course today, and the weather is crap again, so I think it is a good day for a trip to the library.
Yesterday was a rainy day and a George day. We are big fans of Curious George here. Bean Dip's sock monkey is named George and sleeps with him. We watch the PBS series every morning, and I try to regulate how many times we watch the movie. I don't mind letting him watch it though, because I happen to love George too. We started watching it this summer when we moved back to the States, and it was sometimes uncanny how the series related to our life. Case in point: The episode where George gets sprayed by a skunk. None of us got sprayed, but this summer there was a family of skunks living in the grands' yard. They came out every night and entertained us.
The rain stopped in the afternoon, and I decided it was time to break out the bubble maker Gretchen sent Bean Dip for Christmas. After Win and Bean Dip made a quick run to the store for batteries, it was a bubble blizzard. It was a HUGE hit, and I think I will have to invest in an industrial-sized bottle of bubbles.
After bubble time, Bean Dip wanted to finger paint. I didn't feel like dealing with the mess, so I stripped him down, plopped him in the tub, and gave him the paints. he painted on the tub, with hands and feet. When he was done, I just hosed down him and the tub, and turned it into bath time. This isn't my creative idea -- Michelle had suggested it a while back.
Martha's over, and Bean Dip is trying to undress Baby G., so I better go. Win is at a hunter safety course today, and the weather is crap again, so I think it is a good day for a trip to the library.
Friday, February 5, 2010
Blizzard Bloghop
I happened to end up on a new blog yesterday, Household 6 Diva, and decided to participate in this weekend's bloghop.
Hi! My name is Susan and I'm a stay-at-home mom of two. I also happen to be married to an Army man. We are still adjusting to all the changes of last year -- a new career path (for my husband), an international move, and a new baby.
I started this blog in 2008 after a few friends started blogging. The main purpose was to keep our friends and family at home updated of our adventures in Europe. Now we are back in the States, but still 11 away from home, so I'm keeping it up. Also, I happen to love writing/blogging. The title is inspired by my two kids -- Bean Dip is our 2-year-old son, Baby G. is our 5-month-old daughter. The blog is mostly about them and my joys and trials of being a mom of two. It's also about my experiences living in the Deep South, our travels, reads, and my random thoughts.
Oh, and I did mention that my husband is in the Army, and I write about Army life as well. This is our first station Stateside, and it has been quite a change for us. I'm really excited about this Bloghop, because I'm always looking for new blogs to follow.
Tuesday, February 2, 2010
Scared
As I'm writing this, I'm holed up in my room, trying to ignore the screams coming from the TV. Win is watching Zombieland, a zombie movie that came out today. It is supposed to a comedic horror film, a la Shaun of the Dead. Now I liked that movie; it was funny and not too gross. It was also British. What I've watched of this one, there is masses of gore, and I'm not a fan.
Anyway, I tried to watch it, but I just couldn't. After a traumatizing viewing of the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in Kentucky, where afterwards I had to go home to an empty apartment, I swore off all scary movies. I don't know what it is, but I'm done with being scared. I don't like seeing gore and people being killed. I also think that having kids means I have so much more to worry about. I'm responsible for two little beings and I can't/won't/don't want to think about even more bad things that could possibly happen to them. And scary movies put images in my head. I know there are bad things out there and bad things can happen, but I don't want to see it for entertainment. Give me a happy movie. I want to be entertained by pretty things, not horrifying ones.
In the same vein, I'm trying not to think too much about all the 2012 end of the world crap. I really don't think that is going to happen, but I hate that we will have two more years of hearing about it. And I can't help but think about it. It blows. It doesn't help that we are far from our families and still don't feel settled here. This doesn't feel like home. And we will be moving again in two years and starting over again.
Well, this was a great post. Hope I cheered everyone up.
P.S. Does being an adult mean worrying about all the problems the world has? Because if it is, I'd rather be a kid again.
P.S.S. Have we always been this OBSESSED with zombies???
Anyway, I tried to watch it, but I just couldn't. After a traumatizing viewing of the remake of The Texas Chainsaw Massacre in Kentucky, where afterwards I had to go home to an empty apartment, I swore off all scary movies. I don't know what it is, but I'm done with being scared. I don't like seeing gore and people being killed. I also think that having kids means I have so much more to worry about. I'm responsible for two little beings and I can't/won't/don't want to think about even more bad things that could possibly happen to them. And scary movies put images in my head. I know there are bad things out there and bad things can happen, but I don't want to see it for entertainment. Give me a happy movie. I want to be entertained by pretty things, not horrifying ones.
In the same vein, I'm trying not to think too much about all the 2012 end of the world crap. I really don't think that is going to happen, but I hate that we will have two more years of hearing about it. And I can't help but think about it. It blows. It doesn't help that we are far from our families and still don't feel settled here. This doesn't feel like home. And we will be moving again in two years and starting over again.
Well, this was a great post. Hope I cheered everyone up.
P.S. Does being an adult mean worrying about all the problems the world has? Because if it is, I'd rather be a kid again.
P.S.S. Have we always been this OBSESSED with zombies???
Monday, February 1, 2010
Media Monday
My subscription to Time has started up again. I'd thought I'd paid my dues until I got a surprisingly stern letter in the mail from them. But it started coming again this week, and I am so happy. Now if only my In Touch would start up again. Apparently, I'd forgotten to pay that one, too.
Bean Dip also received the February issue of Ladybug, and we are enjoying it. I just need to scrounge up some Popsicle sticks so we can do the Chinese New Year activity.
And what magazine does Win read? Sports Illustrated, of course, as well as Field & Stream, Popular Science and Car & Driver.
I also get Parents, and I'm thinking about starting up Budget Travel again. However, I think it might just make me depressed.
As for books, I'm still working on Out Stealing Horses. To be fair, I did take a break to read Charlotte's Web.
Bean Dip also received the February issue of Ladybug, and we are enjoying it. I just need to scrounge up some Popsicle sticks so we can do the Chinese New Year activity.
And what magazine does Win read? Sports Illustrated, of course, as well as Field & Stream, Popular Science and Car & Driver.
I also get Parents, and I'm thinking about starting up Budget Travel again. However, I think it might just make me depressed.
As for books, I'm still working on Out Stealing Horses. To be fair, I did take a break to read Charlotte's Web.
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