Ingredients

I do grocery shopping every two weeks.  I make a meal plan (or try to), and buy everything needed for the meals for those two weeks.  This week, I ventured out into new territory and bought lots of new ingredients (that interestingly, ended up being almost all cheese...).

I bought gorgonzola.  Or is it Gorgonzola?  Are you supposed to capitalize the name of cheeses?  

Only fancy cheeses?  ...Just kidding.  Maybe.

H-2-Whoa...

Will had a blow out.

I started the water to soak his pj's in the sink.

I forgot that I started the water to soak his pj's in the sink.

I remembered...

Meet Tina Townie

Grant has been trying to convince me that I need a bike so that we can journey about town together...  

I have been trying to convince Grant that there will be endless scars and bruises if I attempt to journey about town on any fewer than four wheels...

Finally I conceded with one stipulation.  I had to have an awesome bike.  If I am going to risk life and limb (seriously, sometimes it feels like that) then I better look totally rad doing it.  

And dude, I'm going to look totally awesome with my new friend,

Tina Townie!!

She's an Electra Townie, bright yellow with a step-over frame, tan seat and handlebars and super cool orange "rims."  She also features the patented "flat foot technology" that allows you to put both feet on the ground while sitting on the bike.  

I plan to deck her out with sweet accessories over the years... perhaps one update per Christmas/birthday.  Perhaps sweet fenders, a bike bell, and of course, a basket!  I can't wait to get a little trailer for Will so that we can go on produce trips to Sunflower Market.  

I'm officially a biker.  A hard-core, Tina Townie riding, biker chick!

Do you ride a bike? Do you accessorize your bike?  Recommendations?  

Bathtime & Baby Bums

Caution: This post contains a photo of a naked baby bum.  If this either A: makes you uncomfortable; or B: makes you want to squeal with glee... you have been warned.

We have been trying to settle into a nightly bedtime routine with Will.  The first part of his routine is to get a bath.  It's amazing how much lint & gunk can get between his tiny little fingers.  I mean really, he doesn't even touch anything!

One of my favorite parts of bath time is the nakie baby bum.  So squeezable.  So pokeable.  Do I dare even say it... so kissable?  

Note: I haven't actually kissed his nakie baby bum... but would you blame me if I had?!

Amazingly, Will wasn't screaming for this particular bath.  Usually bath time consists of 10 seconds of "Ahh...." and 5 minutes of "AHHH!"  But that's good.  My mama always says, "Screaming is how babies get their exercise."  Bath time is partially intended to wear him out, supporting a successful sleepy time to follow.

Double chin!  Those adorable rolls need serious scrubbage. 

And who can resist the belly button through the washcloth?!  Even Grant has the "cute baby lips" going on in this picture.  I'm fully convinced that there is some biological connection between cute babies and the inward lip purse.  Usually there's a shoulder shrug and head tilt incorporated as well. 

Are you doing it now?  Reading back through this post, I had to do the lip purse/shrug/tilt just to make sure I documented it correctly :) 

Water baby

It was Labor Day and Grantie had the day off (yay!).  He has been begging me to take the kayak out, but I've been stubborn because of our lack of life jackets.  We finally found a little baby life jacket and decided it was time to get Will out on the water. 

(Never mind that we didn't have life jacket for ourselves... We're good swimmers...)

Cousin lovin'

We have been especially blessed lately with being able to see family a lot.  After living in Texas for two years where our closest family members were multiple states away, we are loving being in Colorado, one flight (or drive) away from nearly everyone.  

I stole these pictures from my sister-in-law Jill's blog.  During our trip to San Diego we spent a day in Long Beach, with Grant's brother and his family.

Happiness...

... is an unexpected smile.

Thrifted!

I have officially decided that Pinterest has saved my decorating life as we know it.

I rummage through other people's genius ideas.  I find new websites full of images of great design.  I don't know why they're great.  I don't really know why I like them.  But I keep track of them.  And I copy them.

Yesterday we found this sweet mirror at Goodwill.  Two bucks.  Yes, that's a 2... I saw it and immediately knew it would be great in our bathroom.  (This whole "immediately knowing" thing is new... thank you Pinterest).

I'm digging the girly-lacy feel around the edges.  I want to find some cool apothecary-like jars to put on here as well.  I also need to fill those vases with something... any ideas?

Yay for small successes!

2 whole months

I can't believe that Will has been alive for two whole months! (as of yesterday)  

He had his 2 month appointment, complete with shots.   We both cried.  Angry baby wailing is completely different than injured baby wailing. And Will's injured baby wail breaks my heart. 

But all is well.  Here are his stats:

Weight: 13lbs. 1/2oz.    80%

Height: 22 3/4in.  50%

Head: Can't remember.... 50%

Our little chunker is growing fast.  

He slept through the night last night. (Yay!)  He was in bed from 10:30-8:00.  

How much of that was sleeping... we'll never know.

But Mama was feeling good with a hearty 7-8 hours of hardcore sleepage.

Will really is so wonderful.

He is super smiley in the mornings.

He has super strong legs and likes to be standing most of the time.

He does little dances where his legs are straight but he bobbles his hips around.  Super cute.

He hates taking a bottle.  He's been having bottle lessons with Grant lately.  No luck yet.

He screams "Hun-geeeee!!" when he's hungry... or angry... or hot.

He is quite the chunker and so I find myself picking lint out of his baby rolls a lot.

He still has quite the serious forehead.  

He's the best baby in the world.  

Except for right now because he's crying in his crib and I want to make him feel better... but can't.

Darn that crying-themselves-to-sleep stage.

Chicago Walks

We spent a lot of our time in Chicago walking around, being touristy tourists.  Because our hotel was close to Michigan Avenue, most of our jaunts were on or around that street.  Chicago has such a nice feel (at least this area does).  It's busy and bustling, but feels safe and exciting, and even relatively clean.

Marilyn Monroe & her giant underpants...

The real reason we were in Chicago was because Grant had training for work.  Fidelity is on Michigan Avenue, also known as the Magnificent Mile.  All of the best shopping is on Michigan :)

And so is Marilyn Monroe!  

Statement and Question

Statement: I can officially wear my pre-pregnancy jeans.  Hallelujah.

Question: Must I always be covered in poop and spit-up?  Tis' true love at it's finest... and messiest.

That's all.

Chillin in Chicago

Will and I flew to Chicago.  By ourselves...  Because Grant and I are such cheap-o's...err... frugal... we didn't want to pay an extra $100 to get on the same flight.  Luckily, Will was great and we made it easily.  (But getting around Chicago/O'Hare with a stroller is no picnic.  We're talking multiple elevators).

We were picked up by Aunt DD, Uncle Bruce, and Gma.  The next day, DD and Gma took the train and met Will and me at the hotel. 

Gramma's Camera

Last week we spent some time visiting the windy city: Chicago.  I was especially excited because visiting Illinois means visiting family!  My Grandma made the 3-hour drive up to the city and we spent the day with my Aunt DD, Grandma's sister.  

After we got home, Gma sent us a CD of the pictures she took: