Uriahpalooza

We woke up Sunday morning - early, because Finn was awake - changed his diaper and put him back in bed with us for a couple of hours because, dang it, nobody wants to stare down 6:00 on a Sunday morning.  Luckily, Finn fell right back to sleep snuggled between his mama and daddy, and we were able to get another couple of hours of sleep before Finn kicked us both awake.

While we stole a few more winks, however, Abby was busy up and down the hall, taping balloons all over the house in an effort to make the place more birthday-appropriate and festive; when Uriah finally got up he was escorted down the hall by an array of rainbow colored balloons.  In all honesty, it looked like a clown convention threw up in our hallway, but Abby was excited and extrememly proud of herself, so we oohed and ahhed appropriately.  All things considered it was a low-key birthday that doubled as sort of a farewell party.  Uriah got to stand behind the grill all afternoon, which is his favorite place to stand (second only to standing next to me, I'm sure.).  And in spite of the snow that fell in the evening, we had a long visit with our friends Shaun and Rachel, even after everyone else had gone home and the kiddos had gone to bed. 



Uriah is leaving tomorrow for the first part of his training and I plan to start packing full-force.  I'm trying to keep our new schedule straight in my head and practice my deep-breathing exercises and I'm trying really hard not to worry too much about our mornings going smoothly (I hate the morning.  It is not my most stellar time of the day.).  Abby is already asking to have a movie night on Friday and I'm sorely tempted to give up a night of packing to Bella and Edward.  Sunday is our niece's first birthday party, which I will take the kids to by myself and next week is already filling up with work and a doctor's appointment and making sure I have a menu planned to ease the stress of the evenings.

I miss Uriah already and he's still sitting right next to me.



{Mine | 3.27.11}



We woke up Sunday morning - early, because Finn was awake - changed his diaper and put him back in bed with us for a couple of hours because, dang it, nobody wants to stare down 6:00 on a Sunday morning.  Luckily, Finn fell right back to sleep snuggled between his mama and daddy, and we were able to get another couple of hours of sleep before Finn kicked us both awake.

While we stole a few more winks, however, Abby was busy up and down the hall, taping balloons all over the house in an effort to make the place more birthday-appropriate and festive; when Uriah finally got up he was escorted down the hall by an array of rainbow colored balloons.  In all honesty, it looked like a clown convention threw up in our hallway, but Abby was excited and extrememly proud of herself, so we oohed and ahhed appropriately.  All things considered it was a low-key birthday that doubled as sort of a farewell party.  Uriah got to stand behind the grill all afternoon, which is his favorite place to stand (second only to standing next to me, I'm sure.).  And in spite of the snow that fell in the evening, we had a long visit with our friends Shaun and Rachel, even after everyone else had gone home and the kiddos had gone to bed. 



Uriah is leaving tomorrow for the first part of his training and I plan to start packing full-force.  I'm trying to keep our new schedule straight in my head and practice my deep-breathing exercises and I'm trying really hard not to worry too much about our mornings going smoothly (I hate the morning.  It is not my most stellar time of the day.).  Abby is already asking to have a movie night on Friday and I'm sorely tempted to give up a night of packing to Bella and Edward.  Sunday is our niece's first birthday party, which I will take the kids to by myself and next week is already filling up with work and a doctor's appointment and making sure I have a menu planned to ease the stress of the evenings.

I miss Uriah already and he's still sitting right next to me.



{Mine | 3.27.11}



Monday...you should really be an extension of Sunday.

On my mind today...

1. The delicious drink that Shaun and Rachel made for Uriah's birthday
   party...Cherry Lime-aid (made with cherry vodka and grenadine and limes and love).
2. I'm glad that we have car insurance since Uriah was in a car accident this morning (not his fault; only the car got hurt).
3. Speaking of insurance, I really need to get some of that for my kids.
4. Will my tulips survive the snow that we got yesterday?
5. What should I pack first?
6. Who will get up with the baby at 3:30 in the morning when Uriah is gone?
7. Oh, yeah.  Me.
8. Will I be able to resist the temptation to play Wheel of Fortune on Facebook until I fall asleep?  Because I really love to play Wheel of Fortune and I rely on Uriah to tell me when it's bedtime...
9. Will I be able to resist the temptation to put Finn in bed with me so that I don't technically have to get up when he wakes up at 3:30?
10. I'll just remind myself that I don't want to have to re-train Finn to sleep in his crib in a month.  It will be my mantra: No co-sleeping; too much work in the long run.  Maye I'll put a post-it note on Finn's head so that I don't forget.
11. I have limited will-power when it comes to getting my sleep.
12. What should I pack second?
13. I had to move up my last day at work.  I have a lot to do yet.   
14. Does anyone want to come and pack my house for me?
15. I wonder if Finn will crawl when Uriah's gone.  That would be sad.
16. I wonder if Finn will learn to say mama anytime soon.  That would not be sad.  That would be awesome.
17. I can't wait to have lunch with my old friend Melissa tomorrow (Old as in we've been friends for awhile, not old as in old).  
18. I'm getting nervous for Uriah to be gone...I'm not sure I'll make a very good single mom.  I'm kind of extreme.  I need Uriah to balance me.  I'll have to pracitice my deep breathing exercises.
19. I also have to practice my regular exercises.
20. I'm still thinking about that Cherry Lime-aid cocktail...

On my mind today...

1. The delicious drink that Shaun and Rachel made for Uriah's birthday
   party...Cherry Lime-aid (made with cherry vodka and grenadine and limes and love).
2. I'm glad that we have car insurance since Uriah was in a car accident this morning (not his fault; only the car got hurt).
3. Speaking of insurance, I really need to get some of that for my kids.
4. Will my tulips survive the snow that we got yesterday?
5. What should I pack first?
6. Who will get up with the baby at 3:30 in the morning when Uriah is gone?
7. Oh, yeah.  Me.
8. Will I be able to resist the temptation to play Wheel of Fortune on Facebook until I fall asleep?  Because I really love to play Wheel of Fortune and I rely on Uriah to tell me when it's bedtime...
9. Will I be able to resist the temptation to put Finn in bed with me so that I don't technically have to get up when he wakes up at 3:30?
10. I'll just remind myself that I don't want to have to re-train Finn to sleep in his crib in a month.  It will be my mantra: No co-sleeping; too much work in the long run.  Maye I'll put a post-it note on Finn's head so that I don't forget.
11. I have limited will-power when it comes to getting my sleep.
12. What should I pack second?
13. I had to move up my last day at work.  I have a lot to do yet.   
14. Does anyone want to come and pack my house for me?
15. I wonder if Finn will crawl when Uriah's gone.  That would be sad.
16. I wonder if Finn will learn to say mama anytime soon.  That would not be sad.  That would be awesome.
17. I can't wait to have lunch with my old friend Melissa tomorrow (Old as in we've been friends for awhile, not old as in old).  
18. I'm getting nervous for Uriah to be gone...I'm not sure I'll make a very good single mom.  I'm kind of extreme.  I need Uriah to balance me.  I'll have to pracitice my deep breathing exercises.
19. I also have to practice my regular exercises.
20. I'm still thinking about that Cherry Lime-aid cocktail...

Saturday morning with Dad

This is how Finn's morning is spent with dad when mom's at work:

This is how Finn's morning is spent with dad when mom's at work:

Iowa: More than just piggies.

  

I asked Uriah if buying pork products in Iowa was similar to buying lobster in Maine...cheap and plentiful and on every corner.  He looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

I guess I'll have to wait until May to find out...when we move to Iowa!

The next great Hefter Adventure is about to begin...well, actually it began last week when we decided to accept a new job and relocate our own little piggies to Okoboji, Iowa (far north western corner of Iowa, super fun resort-type community with lakes and a small town feel, good schools and only 4 hours from my parents!  Can anyone say: HELLS YES?!).  Suffice it to say, in a short amount of time, lots of things are changing in our house; Uriah starts training next week (for a month, far away from us) and I will be left on the home-front, single-parenting and packing up our house and continuing to work full-time.

I'm tired already, and a little nervous and a lot overwhelmed.  But so, so excited for what is about to unfold.

So there you go.  We are going to celebrate Uriah's birthday this weekend with a big grill-fest and friends and family (Uriahpalooza?) and then next week the packing will commence and disorganization will reign supreme.  But until then, I am going to enjoy a semi-organized house for one last weekend.

  

I asked Uriah if buying pork products in Iowa was similar to buying lobster in Maine...cheap and plentiful and on every corner.  He looked at me like I'd lost my mind.

I guess I'll have to wait until May to find out...when we move to Iowa!

The next great Hefter Adventure is about to begin...well, actually it began last week when we decided to accept a new job and relocate our own little piggies to Okoboji, Iowa (far north western corner of Iowa, super fun resort-type community with lakes and a small town feel, good schools and only 4 hours from my parents!  Can anyone say: HELLS YES?!).  Suffice it to say, in a short amount of time, lots of things are changing in our house; Uriah starts training next week (for a month, far away from us) and I will be left on the home-front, single-parenting and packing up our house and continuing to work full-time.

I'm tired already, and a little nervous and a lot overwhelmed.  But so, so excited for what is about to unfold.

So there you go.  We are going to celebrate Uriah's birthday this weekend with a big grill-fest and friends and family (Uriahpalooza?) and then next week the packing will commence and disorganization will reign supreme.  But until then, I am going to enjoy a semi-organized house for one last weekend.

-2

Two weeks ago, as I was scrubbing the baby in the tub and laughing at his silly antics, Uriah came into the bathroom looking very...serious.  He told me he'd made an executive decision.

This is uncommon.  I usually make the executive decisions in our house.  I tend to be...shall we say, bossy?

He continued to tell me, over the abnormally loud splashing of one very happy little boy, that sooner rather than later, Finn will be running around our back yard and he didn't want either one of us to have to stop playing or need to take a time out because we were out of breath and couldn't keep up with the baby.  And while Uriah is quite possibly the worlds skinniest man (he skips one meal and he looks like an anorexic homeless person) he did gain some sympathy weight last year when I was pregnant.  So he decided - and decreed - that we would work out 4 times a week and we will limit our  carbs to 1 a day (not per meal, which is bad news when you have a love affair with carbs that has lasted over 30 years!).  Basically, in order to simplify it, if we have hamburgers and french fries for dinner, I can have either the bun or the french fries.  But not both.  Bring on the salads and the eggs and lots of meat and veggies (good-bye stove-top and mashed potatoes and grilled cheese sandwiches and pasta 15 times a week). 

I don't disagree with anything that he said.  It really is about making better (healthier) food choices and moving our bums a little bit more.  So last week we commenced with the healthy eating and the getting out and exercising (taking Finn for a walk and pushing his 20-lb baby chubs up a hill is definetly exercise, my friends!).

Much to my amazement, I wasn't super crabby or craving chocolate chip cookies like I had expected.  I actually enjoy taking a walk in the evening or working up a sweat in the morning.  And the grilled halibut and asparagus that I had for dinner last night was as good as any steak and baked potatoe I've ever consumed.

And when I weighed myself yesterday, I was 2 lbs lighter.  It's a small start; but we all have to start somewhere, right?  And I feel more in control of myself (I like to be in control, obviously).  And gaining a little positive self-image is just as important as losing a little weight.

Two weeks ago, as I was scrubbing the baby in the tub and laughing at his silly antics, Uriah came into the bathroom looking very...serious.  He told me he'd made an executive decision.

This is uncommon.  I usually make the executive decisions in our house.  I tend to be...shall we say, bossy?

He continued to tell me, over the abnormally loud splashing of one very happy little boy, that sooner rather than later, Finn will be running around our back yard and he didn't want either one of us to have to stop playing or need to take a time out because we were out of breath and couldn't keep up with the baby.  And while Uriah is quite possibly the worlds skinniest man (he skips one meal and he looks like an anorexic homeless person) he did gain some sympathy weight last year when I was pregnant.  So he decided - and decreed - that we would work out 4 times a week and we will limit our  carbs to 1 a day (not per meal, which is bad news when you have a love affair with carbs that has lasted over 30 years!).  Basically, in order to simplify it, if we have hamburgers and french fries for dinner, I can have either the bun or the french fries.  But not both.  Bring on the salads and the eggs and lots of meat and veggies (good-bye stove-top and mashed potatoes and grilled cheese sandwiches and pasta 15 times a week). 

I don't disagree with anything that he said.  It really is about making better (healthier) food choices and moving our bums a little bit more.  So last week we commenced with the healthy eating and the getting out and exercising (taking Finn for a walk and pushing his 20-lb baby chubs up a hill is definetly exercise, my friends!).

Much to my amazement, I wasn't super crabby or craving chocolate chip cookies like I had expected.  I actually enjoy taking a walk in the evening or working up a sweat in the morning.  And the grilled halibut and asparagus that I had for dinner last night was as good as any steak and baked potatoe I've ever consumed.

And when I weighed myself yesterday, I was 2 lbs lighter.  It's a small start; but we all have to start somewhere, right?  And I feel more in control of myself (I like to be in control, obviously).  And gaining a little positive self-image is just as important as losing a little weight.