Monday, October 24, 2011

Apple Pie Making

We recently had an Apple Pie Making night with Bert's mom (and dad).
It's a long-standing tradition in Bert's family to make huge batches of pies, freeze them, and enjoy them for months.  So Bert decided it was time he know the secrets of how it's done.

So far we've enjoyed eating one of the pies (with the Wassinks in Kansas) and it was delicious!

Showing Dan how it's done

Grandpa hung out with Gwen in her mellow mood

The art of crust pinching

Doctor Dan the Bandage Man, a classic

Happy with our accomplishments

YUM

Monday, October 17, 2011

Baby STUFF - What I've learned


OK this post is admittedly, not interesting for MOST people.  But it may be for a few, so I'm posting it anyway.  I recently wrote two long emails to a pregnant friend who wanted to know what my opinions were on baby stuff.  I'm, for the most part, copying and pasting it into a blog entry.  This is for you, if you're pregnant, planning on being pregnant someday, or REALLY bored.  Read at your own risk, and take the following into consideration:
1. These are opinions
2. They're meant to guide during the baby registry process (overwhelming!)
3. It's not well-written 
4. The focus is what I learned, valued, or wished I would've done differently with baby STUFF

Bottles
I wish I would've registered for bottles.  I felt so confident that we'd only breastfeed that I didn't register for any besides the ones that came with our pump.  Well, those medela bottles were tough because the nipples deflate and there's no way for air to get out.  Even when I was just pumping and bottle-feeding my breastmilk - it would've been better to have good bottles for that.  Now we have bought ourselves 18 total at Target.  We bought 9 of these in the smaller 6 oz size.  And now we've moved up to buying 9 more of the 9 oz size.

Multiple Dishwasher Baskets
We've upgraded to two dishwasher baskets.  They are so handy.  We tried cramming it all into one basket for too long. :)  Stuff gets cleaner when it's spread out.

Bottle-drying rack 
This is a godsend.  You wouldn't know it until you see a tiny bit of mold under the edge of your newborns bottle.  YUCK.  Towel drying was not sufficient.

Bouncy Chair
I LOVED having the bouncy seat.  Just somewhere to put baby while your hands are busy or you feel like eating or being in the bathroom etc.  I also think it's good for newborns to have some moments of not being held (not staunch on this, because they are so amazing to hold and it goes too quick).  But it seemed to help Gwen adapt into some independence in napping etc.  Plus they get to just sit and play and enjoy looking and stuff.

Boppy
In hindsight - we probably could've gone without the Boppy pillow.  It goes in the realm of "nice, but not necessary" in my mind.  And since I don't like baby stuff all over the house, most of the time it stays in Gwen's closet and isn't needed enough to get it out.


Excersaucers
Excersaucers are amazing.  We just got one from a friend who was done with it.  It's not fancy or new but she loves playing in it.  I was feeling like maybe it'd be "too much baby stuff, and we don't need one of those" but now I don't know what I'd do without it.  It's such a good spot for her to be in this pre-walking phase while I'm making dinner or checking my email.  (And I think when she is walking, I will love that it contains her!)

ERGO
ERGO or some sort of baby carrier.  We love our ergo.  So comfy for her and me.  Great for walks or walking around Minnehaha Falls (no stroller ability), stores, or times like last week when I went to help a new mom clean house and needed my hands free and Gwen to be happy.  She was in it happily for 2.5 hours and even took a little cat nap on me.  Seriously love that thing.  I don't wear it much at home, but I could.  Also, amazing in the airport.  And I just love how it feels like all the good parts of being pregnant, but then you can take it off and rest your back! :)





LONG Sleeved Onesies!  
They are handy to put under stuff and necessary right at the beginning when you want baby to be warm enough.  Everyone gave us short sleeved ones, and we had to buy these on our own (NB, 0-3, and now 9 month sizes, --the basic white gerbers are great at the beginning, but then the sizes run small.)


Doorway Jumper
Probably not a 'must have' but we really like it and use it daily.  If you have a doorway (with trim!) that you spend time around, it's a good place for baby to play and get some energy out.






Diapers
For newborns we liked Pampers, by far.  Huggies have big thigh holes and leak easier.  After newborns, the diaper brand doesn't seem to matter quite as much.  Whatever people had given us was fine.  But in general, I dislike Huggies because they leak the most.  The babies r us brand is good.  I've never tried Target.  We order big boxes online through Amazon, because they have an Amazon-Moms deal that is the cheapest way to get diapers.  Luvs is the cheapest brand and they work well, but have weird smell. :(  And whatever you do- don't use the Luvs wipes.  They are cheap for a reason.  Too wet.  Gwen had never had diaper rash before we used them, and now she does.

Butt Paste
Love it.  Better than Desitin.  Smells good. 

 Playmats
Again, I thought these were maybe unnecessary, but we were given one and Gwen loves it.  At first it was just looking.  But now it's grabbing stuff that hangs down and kicking the bars to make stuff shake.  At least for the first 7-8 months of life, this thing is golden.  Not sure how much she'll like it once she's on the move.  I like to change the toys that hang down, and I've never used that weird whale attachment.  Then again, maybe she'd like it!

Glider's aren't amazing
I feel like this is a no-brainer to everyone but me.  Get a really comfy chair for the baby room.  We got a basic wooden glider on craigslist and it just wan't comfy enough so I almost always opted to sit on the couch instead.  Now we have our old lazboy recliner in there, and it's amazing.  A wider seat allows for comfy book reading together and good tipping back area for feeding.  

STROLLER-
I thought this was one of the hardest decisions of all!  There are endless options and everyone does something different.  We picked this Phil&Teds stroller and a cheap umbrella stroller.  Reasons why Phil and Teds: 
1. We plan on having another kid within 2-3 years, and it converts easily into a double stroller (2nd seat came free when we bought it with a special deal going on).  
2. It pushes nicely - that three wheel design is great for tight turns.  
3. It has an attachment, that you have to buy separately, so you can SET THE CARSEAT in it.  That was so key during the first 3 months when they are too little for sitting in a regular stroller.
But beware, they aren't light, and take up a fair amount of trunk space.
Also, we love that cheap $30 umbrella stroller for times when we aren't specifically "going for a walk."  It's super handy in stores or visiting grandparents or whatever.  It doesn't take up room and is really light.  And if it breaks, we already feel like we've gotten $30 out of it.  FYI, Gwen started being big enough for it at about 4 months.  I wondered that while we were buying them.

So that's what we did, but you guys will figure out what you like best.  We found that USA Baby was the only place with Phil&Teds if you want to look at one.  I've also heard great things about the CityMini brand.  

Saturday, October 15, 2011

Bert's B-day Party

Here are some snapshots from Bert's family b-day party.  
We gathered the Wilsons and Eikums/Hincks/Finks. 
Though we'd intended a bonfire, rainy weather kept us housebound.  
It was still a great time!  What a blessing to gather with family.

The birthday (potluck) menu was:
Beer Brats, Hot Dogs, Pasta Salad, Fresh Apples, Green Grapes, 
Kettle Chips, Beer, and Blueberry Dessert!

Here are the few pictures that I snapped (unfortunately none of the birthday boy!):

There goes Aunt Beth trying something new with Gwen - as always!


Pretty pasta salad, before mixing

I like this face



Friday, October 14, 2011

Gwen: 6 Months, Continued




there she goes...






Rolls onto tummy when determined not to sleep

"Not enjoying this Mom!"

She loves to flail her arms and legs simultaneously while on her tummy.
She'll put her arms down for a break and be panting, but she loves it.
Typical kitchen scene
 
Current books of interest

Mrs. Dobby, made by Amy Beth!

there she grows...

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Gwen: 6 Months

Photos by Ryan A. Stadler
GWEN is a 1/2!  I am one of those people who keeps numbers simple.  I don't think in weeks or months naturally, so it's cool to come to a measurement that almost works in year-speak.  Gwen is half a year!  Here's whats up with Gwen at 6 months aka 1/2:
  • wearing shoes 
  • very strong with grab and pull to mouth (ouch - I think I need a turban for daily hair protection)
  • particularly likes grabbing my face and Oakley's hair
  • sweet voice that often talks and sings
  • LOVES tummy time, her preferred position, but can't roll onto back when she gets tired 
  • can sit unsupported for a minute and then topples onto head/side/tummy
  • getting more interested in books and went through a phase of wanting to turn pages to board books - though often annoyed that books don't fit in her mouth easily
  • still loves and responds to music and singing
  • started grabbing for the remote and cell phones (wow, they really learn this young!)
  • pretty much always kicking or waving arms when happy
  • likes to keep elbows or arms straight out
  • doesn't like solid food! we keep trying, but we're not going to force it when she's not ready. (unless doctor recommends, appt next month) have tried rice cereal and pears so far.
  • survived our first sick week (still coming out of it), what a bummer!
  • hair is growing a tiny bit; the peach fuzz thickens!
  • gets called a boy at the grocery store
  • loves to play with toys and little hands getting better at manipulating them


 

 


Songs we sing to Gwen:
I Love You Forever
If I Were a Butterfly
All Must Be Well
Gospel Song
I See the Light (from Tangled)
You Are My Sunshine
Jesus Loves Me




6 Months!  Wow.  Sometimes it feels hard to believe.  It's easier to get perspective on something when you can see it from the outside, but since I'm Gwen's mom everyday I don't have a clue how to sum it up.  I love being Gwen's mom!  The past 6 months have been awesome.  It's pretty amazing that we are leaving the world of little baby and entering the world of big baby and future mover.

What an amazing gift Gwen is, and a special time in our lives!


Molly's Married!


Perfect. Day.

Maria, a Beth-college-years-roommate, took photos

The backyard, all snazzed up!



Jessie!

The fam



Guests mingling after the ceremony

Molly and Dustin
First Dancing

My favorite wedding-speech-giver

Father-Daughter dance to the tune of women crying everywhere.  So precious.

Sisters!

Anyone who's heard the story about me subconsciously falling flat on my face with fear
when Beth evil-snorted in the pitch dark to scare me and Maggie... this was the scene of the crime.

Love this place.
Birds-eye view