Quick video

So, there are many things that we haven't blogged about yet, including swim lessons, cloth diapers and the Indiana State Fair. But here is just a quick video of Brady and his evidently hilarious giraffe.

Columbia Customer Service = SCORE

We have this diaper bag, by Columbia. After changing Brady in the family room at Von Maur last week, I lifted up the changing pad to find the underside soaking wet. Apparently, whomever used the changing station before me didn't clean up after their little one had a spraying issue. I called Columbia and asked if I could order a replacement pad. I really liked the pad that came with our bag. It is a nice big size that when folded stays nice and flat. It also has two waterproof zipper type pockets. As much as I liked it, I knew it wouldn't withstand going through the washing machine.

I called Columbia and asked if I could purchase a replacement changing pad. They connected me to a company called California Innovations and I was sent a replacement pad at no cost to me!
Today I received the Baby Innovations Ultra Comfort Change Station. Complete with "quilted, contoured head rest", a baby wipes container and microban protection. Retail Value of 14.99.


It also features: carry strap with a buckle, a waterproof pocket with zipper, a mesh pocket with velcro running the entire width of the pocket and an additional pocket on the outside with velcro closure.
Because of the way this one folds, it is bulkier than the original. And also seems a bit shorter due to the contoured head rest.
All-in-all, I wish that some other childs' body fluids hadn't gotten on the original pad. But this one is a very nice replacement. And, these days, you just can't beat the superior customer service I was granted by Columbia and Baby Innovations!!

Something other than Brady :)

So we haven't posted much about anything except Brady for a little while, so I figured I would give an update on the garden.

This year we planted pretty much the same things we normally did:

1 - cherry tomato plant + 1 "volunteer" grape tomato from last year :)

1 - Wisconsin 55 tomato

3 - Early Girl tomato

2 - Better Boy tomato

2 - Pimento pepper plants

2 - Banana peppers

2 - Jalepeno pepers

3 - Cucumbers

Some lettuce, carrots, and radishes

All in all, it has been a pretty good year with the cooler weather and more rain, the plants have all looked really good. We have gotten more cucumbers than I think we ever have (probably 15 or so) and the tomato plants are loaded. About 2 weeks ago, we got the first ripe ones, and then this week we have been loaded.

Shawnna canned a couple of jars of tomato with this batch, but we should have having at least this much in another week.

And because, I think some people only come to this blog for Brady updates.... banana peppers make pretty good chew toys.

Whoa!!

Thursday:

Decided it was time to drop the mattress to medium setting.

Saturday:

Uhhh...Looks like I should have gone with the lowest setting.

Where you pretend you don't know me in real life...

There is nothing like a pregnancy scare to put your feeling in check on how you truly feel about having another child. Yes, you read it correctly, pregnancy scare! While most breastfeeding moms are lucky enough to enjoy a continued hiatus from Aunt Flo...I was not one of them... 3 months postpartum and I was going back to the drug-store for supplies. Super. Granted, because I know that breastfeeding is not a form of birth control, and I was ready to ...ahem...resume normal activities after that 6 week postpartum check*... we were already being extra cautious. Once Brady decided he was too good for my boobs and I decided I was ready to eat cabbage and jalapeno poppers and broccoli and wasabi again, I went back on birth control. And then had a period that could barely be considered as such. I'm telling myself..not a big deal...just hormones...just your body trying to figure things out. Then scenes from the show 'I Didn't Know I Was Pregnant' start playing in my mind. Shit! And I make fun of these women on a weekly basis! And I might be one of them! Shit!
Sooo.... I'm at CVS, carrying my 7 month old and a pregnancy test to the pharmacy counter to pick up my birth control and prenatals (which I will continue to take because they are cheaper than a multi-vitamin) wondering what the woman checking me out must be thinking. Head home to pee-on-a-stick and negative...Thank God!! So, it turns out, that although I miss being pregnant, I am definitely not ready to be pregnant again. Not that I needed to see a negative test to validate this. But at the end of the day... the option child number two is no longer off the table...it just won't be happening anytime soon.




*The only thing I'm happy about with a c-section, but that's another story

Catch Up

It has been a month since we last posted. I suppose we should clean up the cob webs and let folks know that we are still alive and what we've been up to. So, in no particular order, here's what has been going on--

-We traveled to WI for Kyles high school graduation
-The garden is coming along nicely. Lots of green tomatoes
-We are going to be switching to cloth diapers
-Brady can now army crawl and is working on pulling himself up
-Brady cut his first tooth and number two
-We've decided that we are probably not finished having children, maybe
-Brady and I started swim lessons at the Y.
-Brady will be getting his own membership to the Y so that 1. He can be around other children and adults and 2. I can enjoy some me time while on the treadmill
-We planned an impromptu vaca to Anna Maria Island (going in December)
-Brady decided he is too good for my boobs and would rather have food he can chew
-I have a crap load of pictures to scrapbook, but my creative juices are telling me to sew and not scrap.
-Dan is playing sand volleyball on Wed. nights. Brady and I like to go watch as long as it isn't A.Too Hot or B. Raining. So far we've been to one out of five games.
-Brady had his first trip to the Children's Museum.
-We traveled to WI again. To show off Bradys new crawling and eating and shrieking skills
-After a year and 3 months of no allergy or sinus issues...both are came back in full force yesterday
-I am now on the Home Owners Association Board, first Board meeting tonight. At EIGHT--an hour before my bed-time. Gah!

So there you have it. I hope to get better at regular posting. Fingers crossed.