Pages

Thursday, April 29, 2010

the glories of apartment living

First a funny story: I finally got the mesh stuff up on Ivy's balcony, so we were out playing this morning. Somehow, her little pink puppy purse, Jasper, got tossed over the edge. So much for the mesh making a difference. we threw some shoes on, ran downstairs, and rescued Jasper from the alley traffic.

The real reason for the post: the little boy from down the hall came over to ask Ivy to play, and she did! She went to their apartment and played for almost two hours! I took Jamey to Target--gosh, he's a quiet kid. And then we read some books, played with the beach toys, and drove the kiddie bike. It was a blast!

Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Cake Pops

My sister-in-law, Amy (www.jadyimages.com) introduced me to www.bakerella.com.

Last week, Amy made cake pops and was unhappy with the results. Following her advice for changes, I made them this morning. Not the same disaster, but equally unhappy. They look disgusting but are delicious.

Jamey loves them! And Ivy had a great time dipping them in the candy coating.

We were going to try to make them for Ally's bridal shower in a couple weeks, but we might have to order a cake now.

It's over

The Honeymoon Phase in the apartment is over. Things are starting to bug us.

1. The neighbors are really loud. The listen to music super loud. We can feel bass lines thumping in our bones. They listen to the television super loud. I don't even have to turn on House; I can just listen from their place. And gosh, they fight a lot!

2. The water heater, which we can't change, is turned down super low. I mean, instead of a hot shower, we take luke-warm showers.

3. The trains go by 47 times during the night, and it must be mandatory to blare the horn right outside our building. I get worse sleep now than with a newborn.

4. Hauling bags in from the store is a nightmare. We park on the third-level parking garage and live on the seventh floor. How in the world do you haul even six Target bags and two toddlers up four floors? Like today, I had one bag from Lowes, one bag from Michael's, and three bags from Target. I had to drag out the stroller just to get the stuff and the kids into the apartment. I miss our garage!

5. Something that irritates the heck out of me is that other mothers at the park are constantly telling me how to parent my kids: he has a stick, she took her hat off, he's going to fall, watch out for her, blah, de blah, blah! And it's not like I'm off reading a book or playing Bejeweled. I'm standing right there three feet from the kids.

6. There is a little boy in our building that terrorizes Ivy every time we're down at the pool. The rotten child has radar on how to make Ivy cry. He takes her ball, splashes her, tries to throw her towel in the water, tries to jump to me when Ivy's going to. I mean, seriously, the kid is awful. And there his mom lays in this skimpy bikini, listening to her iPod, not paying attention to her spawn of Satan. Come to find out, she lives two door down from us.

Sunday, April 25, 2010

We might be crazy!

Jeremy's sister Amy talked us into doing 4 races this summer.

http://www.trilogytri.com/

I signed up for the duathlon, so I'll be running and biking. Jeremy & Amy signed up for the triathlons. We have races once a month in June, July, August, and September. And training has begun! (Aside from the harsh reality that I have a 5k in two weeks.)

We're doing lots of biking, and I try to get on the treadmill or elliptical a few times a week. We're trying to find someplace for Jeremy to swim.

I'm pretty nervous about the 5k part of the duathlons, but that's why we're training, right?

Friday, April 23, 2010

so it continues

Before the drive down here, Jamey was nursing 4-5 times a day and once during the night. His mid-morning & mid-afternoon and nap-time nursings stopped on the trip, because he was in the car seat all day. He did nurse all night in bed with me. Since we've been in the apartment, he hasn't shown much interest in nursing during the day. He even stopped falling asleep nursing for naps. So, lately he's been nursing twice a day--at bed time and around 5 am.

He's been having a really rough time sleeping at night but he naps so well during the day. Tonight he didn't want to nurse to sleep, even when I offered. We'll see how he does overnight. Maybe he's done bedtime nursing?

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

A visit from home

Bethany came to visit for a long weekend. I didn't realize I was even a little home sick until I saw her. Gosh, it was great to see someone I recognize.

Unfortunately, it rained practically the whole time she was here. We did squeeze in a couple trips to the pool, a bike ride to the beach--to play and have lunch, and an afternoon at the park. And we hit up the Build a Bear shop where Ivy made her new friend Sunny the Bunny.

Bethany had to leave yesterday morning, and it sucked. I balled my eyes out when she left. I was so home sick. I'm even thinking about a third trip to MN before Christmas.

The kids and I are going back May 12-18 for Ally's bridal shower and a 5k. Then we're all going back June 25-July 5 for Levi & Ally's wedding. I'm thinking about a long trip in Sept/Oct. And then back for Christmas. Yikes! That seems like a lot of traveling and airfare.

Here's hoping the Hollywood Moms are great!!

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

3 weeks

We've been in the apartment three weeks today! I think we're adjusting well. We're really enjoying the area and the great weather.

We've found a church we like (Oasis Church in Pembroke Pines). I'm in the process of finding information on small groups. Ivy has liked the nursery so far. Jamey not so much. He cries when we leave and when we pick him up. They swear he's an angel in between.

I joined the Hollywood API group, but it's not very active. There are no play groups or mom's night out activities. They're really not even that active in the online forum. I'm hoping to meet up with one of those moms at the park nearby. She lives just around the corner from us.

I also joined the Hollywood Moms Meetup group. They have about 35 activities a month. Our first play group is on Friday at some park. I'm really hoping this group has lots of friends for us.

We are going to a South Broward LLL meeting this morning. At least I'll meet some other crazies that are planning to nurse until college. :)

I haven't had any luck in finding a preschool, and I'm starting to lose interest. If we're only going to be here a couple years, I don't want to muck up our fun with school.

We're totally unpacked! Everything is put away. I have a few more pictures I can hang up, but I'm not sure where to put them.

I picked up some Stonyfield Oikos Greek yogurt the other day. It's my new favorite food.

Cute Things Ivy's said in the last couple days

1. I want to walk on my toes (means she wants to go barefoot)

2. I want to go in the window (means she wants to go on the balcony--through the sliding glass doors)

3. Mom, you're my best friend in my whole life ever.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Is this paradise?

In the 10 days we've been in our apartment, I've biked to the beach 4 times, walked to the park 3 times, taken the kids to the pool 3 times, and driven the car twice. I've only forgotten sunscreen one day ... and we were just going downstairs to get the mail. Until Ivy asked for a bike ride. Today was the first overcast day, and it didn't last long. There's been no rain yet. Although I've had to mop every other day. How in the world do the floors get so dirty?