rose babies

Hubby dusted my roses with Sevin last week, and I bought some more plant food and fed them last night. (I just use the generic miracle gro powder stuff). I'm already seeing improvement.

i love the lavender hue in my "blue girl". Love it. And the previous 3 buds were eaten by something, so the Sevin is definitely helping, though it's not in perfect form.

the "gold glow" has rebloomed. ...

with several more on the way!

32 weeks



I'm in my 8th month! Where has the time gone? Fortunately, I have not spent as much of it hovered over the toilet as I did when Bear was inside. Even with outdoor temps in the 90's with uncomfortable humidity, I'm enjoying this pregnancy overall. The 3rd-time-expectant-Mom and previous-pregnancy-loss nerves have gradually been replaced by a wonder and joy. And our little guy's kicks and rolls. He's currently upset that my bout of insomnia disturbed his restful slumber. I'm hoping the peach, nutty bars & milk which I have just consumed will make him feel better... though the sugar level is probably not helping him sleep, either. Anyway, it's a vicious cycle. Bear still naps, so I take one, too. Then I either can't get to sleep, or wake up to use the restroom and can't return to sleep.

Yes, I am aware that my blog has been overtaken by pregnancy related posts. That's a central theme in my life right now. THE central theme. It's really a lot of fun, and if you are married and still of child-bearing age, you should try it. Again, for some of you. Not just the posting.
The miracle of life is even more amazing the second time around than the first. While I am still loving observing the process of becoming a parent the first time through, perhaps I am captivated by my 2 1/2 year old's curiousity. She seems very aware of what's going on, though she may not have a clue about the changes that will come with her brother's arrival. (Similar to the changes that her cousins could not foresee with the arrival of a new puppy and kitty in their house within a couple of weeks' time, perhaps? crt, I think you're exempt from the "you should try it" until things settle down at your place... ;-P) I know some people so desperately want more kids and for whatever reason, struggle with either getting pregnant or keeping their little babies growing. My heart aches; I can't imagine having to deal with that pain and heartache over and over. I am reminded that even each day of waiting for this little one is a gift in itself.

Little Guy's blanket is coming along. I do a couple of rows at a time. I kind of wore myself out tackling the gift for a friend, so I am finishing this one at a more leisurely pace. I loved making it, and it is all boxed up and waiting to be taken to the Post Office along with a gift (made by a neighbor, not me) for another friend's new baby girl.

Our Childbirth Education "Class" arrived in the mail this week.
We are foregoing taking the course at the hospital; hubby sometimes travels and committing to ANY 6- week course was pretty much impossible. So I ordered a video we can watch at our leisure. And instead of briefly skimming over the comfort techniques, etc., we can focus on those parts. Hubby has been told that unless he wants to fork out the money for a doula, he IS my doula. He can do it. He's wrestled drunks in the city, and he's seen childbirth before. (Don't tell me "just get an epidural," I might smack you through cyberspace. ) I'm all for medical interventions and help when needed, but they are not always required and do have risks when used unnecessarily. And from experience, something as simple as helping a first time Mom relax can be reason enough to choose them, depending on the Mother. The benefits definitely outweighed the risks with my previous induction, and given the same set of circumstances, I would do that again. When used because they're needed the interventions outweigh the risks, and I am grateful for the availability.

Ok, anyway... enough ramblings. Really, I would rather be sleeping right now. Perhaps if I get into a crochet rhythm I'll stitch myself to sleep... and catch a couple of hours before Bear awakes, ready drink a glass of "mealk" and hit the floor running. Or twirling.

pray for a grieving mommy, daddy & siblings...

Baby Genny had a stroke and they removed her from life support. She has now joined her big sister in Heaven with her Heavenly Father. Please, please lift KayCee (her Mommy) up to the Lord. She is a believer, and really needs to feel the comfort of the Holy Spirit right now.

Genesis Rebekah (Genny)

6-23-2008 through 6-25-2008

pray for baby Genny

A Mom on one of my chat boards had her little girl yesterday.

26 wks
1 lb 8 oz
12.5 inches long

After a VERY difficult pregnancy, the placenta abrupted and the cord was wrapped around Genny's neck. The good news is that she is breathing (with assistance, not on her own) and alive!

Please pray for this sweet little one to gain strength and for her Mommy as she recovers!

bittersweet

Yesterday and today ended up being busier than we had anticipated, in mostly a very good way. Tech Mom and Dad rode over from their house on their motorcycle yesterday, and left after breakfast this morning. They gave us just enough notice to make the main areas of the house presentable, and since I knew they were coming to see Bear, anyway, I didn't worry about the rest. I did manage to scrub some nastiness out of the fridge. You don't want to know how bad it was. Anyway, we relaxed with them, and Bear had fun climbing on them, playing with blocks, and demonstrating her newfound fascination with wedding dresses (blankets draped over her head.. thanks to the Little Mermaid). Before they drove off, she sat in front of Papa on the bike and giggled as he started the engine. Usually the noise frightens her if she is too close, but she held onto Papa's arms and grinned. She knew she was safe.

After they left for their 5 or 6 hour ride home (scenic route, on motorcycle, not interstate), we headed down to my parents as we had planned for dinner. Their house is on the market, as they are planning to downsize. Their property is 2 1/2 acres, and as they age and like to venture around the country visiting relatives and friends, it's a lot of upkeep. There are 2 water garden areas, fruit trees line the driveway, and all sorts of vegetation. They did not plant a veggie garden this year. We had a very nice visit. I love the fact that my daughter has been able to begin relationships with all of her grandparents, and she loves spending time with them.

Dad and I walked with her up the driveway, where we picked fresh granny smith apples which were within arms' reach. Bear laughed hysterically as Grandaddy shook the peach tree, trying to loosen out-of-reach peaches from near the top. She also tried to climb the trees herself. We saw bunnies, baby frogs, and of course, the ever-popular goldfish in the lily-pad covered pond. Bear also laughed as she heard the frogs "ribbit"... which I have decided sounds more like a burp.

In a way, I can't help but hope it takes a while for the house to sell. I want her to remember days like yesterday and today. There are connections being formed that I hope will grow stronger. I pray that we will always live near enough for those bonds to be strengthened more than once or twice a year...

Mission Completion!

I finished my 1st crochet project around 12:15 this morning.
Here's a picture of Bear inspecting it when she woke up this morning. (Pre hair-brushing).

Click HERE to see the pattern I sort-of used.
I started with 100 chain stitches instead of 62 and used a smaller hook.
Perhaps that's why it took me more than 3 hours to complete, and more yarn.
Even so, I'm pretty happy with the results, and hope my friend likes it!
Now back to work on our little guy's blankie...

It's done!

Tech Mom has been working hard on a special gift for me and baby, a sling. I sure hope he likes it. (I don't care if he likes the colors, I hope he is comfortable in it!) She just changed her status to say it's done. I can't wait to try it! A couple of my friends from church love their hotslings, and I am looking forward to having the option to "wear" my little one in something other than that awkward snugli thingy that my nieces hated so much. (It was an old design, and getting the babies into it was sheer torture for both Mom and baby if there was not a second adult to assist. Bear used it a few times, and after she was in, she seemed to like it alright... especially at the aquarium when she was 4 weeks old.)

Hubby says he won't wear a sling. But when he has the almost 3 year old tugging at him while he holds the little guy, I suspect he might find SOMETHING that works better than toting the infant seat. Even if it is the old snugli. Or perhaps Bjorn.

blue girl?

Here's what my 1st blue girl bud looked like yesterday. Unfortunately, it looked a little brown around the edges after last night's rain showers. It might have something eating it, too...
I'm glad I captured it yesterday. I may have to do some research on rose TLC.
"Caslon" can correct me if I am wrong, but I think I see a little hint of blue in it's shade of pink. Or perhaps it's the name of the rose that makes me think I see blue undertones.
Anyway, it WAS pretty... I hope the future blooms turn out pretty and it's not infested or infected by something!

A bloggy baby shower

Ok, so just the guest of honor and I blog, to my knowledge. We met each other in high school youth group, and have stayed in touch through the years. She and her husband are about to join the adventure called parenthood, with their baby due in early August, about 3 weeks ahead of me. The adorable cakes were made by one of the hostesses, and tasted as yummy as they were cute. I'll let Zann share more pics if she so chooses, but I had to share a couple.

zann & me

congratulations, zann and mr. zann!
i'll try to finish your gift before your baby girl makes her appearance!

PROGRESS

my 1st attempt at crocheting something... i gave up months ago

progress made on new project in less than a week!

1st crochet lesson

I've made a few unsuccessful attempts to teach myself to crochet, and so far my efforts have resulted in mere swatches. A sweet neighbor, who embroidered personalized burp cloths and a little snuggle duck for Bear when she was born, has offered to teach me on several occasions. So today, since hubby was off, I headed to her house during Bear's nap time.

Progress is being made. I'm sure it won't be perfect, but the pattern is forgiving AND makes the yarn softer than what I was attempting to do before. I've already worked on it longer than the 3 hour project estimate states and am just getting started (2-3 inches done), but maybe, just maybe it will be done before little man decides to come out. It should be a good size for tucking over him in his car seat. I decided to start small.

another sling to check out...

As our little guy's due date approaches, I can't help but wonder if he'll be naturally clingy or independent, and the idea of chasing a toddler and carrying an infant seat does not appeal to me. Someone on a birth board swears by the Lite-on-shoulder pouch/hybrid sling.
The price tag is certainly better than some... now to choose a pattern that isn't too girly... hmmm... these are my 2 favorites so far:

"Urban Garden"

"Sandcastle Stripes"

"Fern Batik"

... because little man is sure to spit up on the one Tech Mom makes for me using these fabrics,it will need to be washed on occasion.

Thoughts

I just learned that another blogger had a miscarriage yesterday. Or blighted ovum. Part of me hopes she doesn't stumble back over here because my blog has pretty much become a pregnancy journal, and I don't want that to hurt her to read. I hadn't been to her blog in ages, no good reason, I just hadn't.

But there was a time when I found myself in a similar situation, not all that long ago in the grand scheme of things. I felt the hope of our baby torn from my heart, and the emotional pain was far worse than the physical. And there were times I felt silly for grieving so much over something that was still practically microscopic.

Please pray for Kimberly as she recovers. I learned that the loss of hope of that one child is not easy. I went on to name my little one something that could be gender neutral, but it took months for me to feel at peace with what happened. No matter how early, blighted ovum or loss of embryo, the hopes dashed when a wanted and loved child is no longer a reality are still a loss.

I pray for all my friends who have lost children, now matter the stage, even if science says there wasn't a baby. I pray that each of you who have kids will hug them a little tighter when they wake up in the morning (or before the go to sleep tonight) and thank God more deeply for them. And for my still-expectant friends, I pray that you and your babies are healthy and well.

29 Weeks

These are my recent "mug shots", taken tonight.
Baby Boy is kicking like crazy today; but whenever Bear tries to feel her brother,
he does a nose dive away so she doesn't feel his elbow, knee, head, bottom, or whatever part had previously been protruding from my abdomen.

Wordless Wednesday

I don't feel like taking pictures of my mundane chores for Tackle It Tuesday, so here's the visual update on my flowerbeds:

salvia, impatiens, irises, scabiosa, columbine, clematis, stargazer lillies, acidanthera, sea pink...
not all blooming at once

gold glow rose and soon-to-be firecracker red gladiola (it's taller than my 2 1/2 year old!)

pink calla lillies- 1st blooms of 2008

asiatic lily buds, holly bush, hosta buds in background

Wouldn't you agree that these pics are better than photos of laundry? I did save a neat picture for tomorrow's Wordless Wednesday post... unless I get a better shot before then.

I just haven't been in a posting mood lately...

I did reduce the "tornado effect" in our kitchen, dining room, and living room today... it took 2 hours, and I cannot remember the last time I had dusted the piano and mantle. Apparently, neither could Bear. "What are YOU doing?" she asked. But that was better than yesterday's observation that the kitchen floor was so dirty that she could feel the grime on her bare feet... or today's later admonition to "clean the house, Mommy!" I had just spent two hours cleaning. I told her as much and that "Mommy needs a break."

My garden is coming along. I've decided planting seeds does me no good. Of the pack of lavendar I planted, I have one sprig popping up. One. Measley. Tiny. sprig.
I am not giving up on it yet, though. Thankfully, my bulbs/perennials appear to be thriving. 4 of the stargazer bulbs I bought at Wal-mart have poked through. 3 of the asiatics from last year came back, and they will have more blooms than they did last year.... one stem has 7 buds on it. Last year I had 3 on one, but only two actually bloomed. They are also twice as tall. Gramma's hostas and black-eyed susans are thriving. One of my gladiola stalks is approaching the blooming phase... the braided/woven looking stem is poking out above the spiky leaves, and I swear it will hit 4 feet tall by the time it blooms. I may have to stake it up from the weight of the flowers. The clematis has more blooms coming, the purple salvia are thriving, yellow day lillies are in bloom, AND my first calla lily bloomed today! Plus, my cherry tomato plants in the back pot appear to be growing well. I am hoping to see yellow flower on them soon, with fruit soon to follow. Or are tomatoes veggies? I can never remember their official classification. Anyway, Bear eats them like candy, so it will be nice if they produce regardless of their official classification.

Belly is getting tighter. Heartburn is kicking in, especially at night. I could sleep all day. But I am determined to start nesting, whether the instinct kicks in our not. (Knowing me, it won't, so I just have to push myself to get things done.)

There you have it... my blog update. Not much is new.

Back to the blogosphere!

Our family vacation snuck up on me so quickly that I don't think I even posted about it before we left. I am currently at a motel near Louisville, KY. We ate dinner with my brother and sis in law, after a nice long drive south from hubby's gramma's in rural southwestern WI. Bear is sound asleep on her really big bed in our room, and I hope tonight's sleep will be more restful for all of us. While in WI, we discovered that she and air mattresses are not the best of friends. She ended up in our bed with us every single morning or night. It was nice in the big beds we slept in... a little overcrowded in the full sized one.

anyway, we had a very good visit with hubby's side of the family, though I think the older Gramma gets, the more overwhelmed she gets by having her routine disturbed by us when we come to visit. Yet I know she also gets lonesome in that old farmhouse, and I think all of us who live so far away are equally grateful for the relatives and friends who drop in or go out with her. And though there are many gramma-isms I could share, her quirks that make her Gramma, those closest to her already know them and I will keep them between us. The young 'uns had fun getting a taste of country life... feeding tall grass to the cows, visiting a duck farm, riding a pony for the very first time. And of course, chasing Gramma's kitty around her sprawling front yard. Mostly, I think Bear was just happy to be with the older cousins whom she idolizes.

I haven't visited my regular haunts yet; it will take some time for me to catch up with my friends in the blogosphere and elsewhere online. But I did see that I won something from Carolyn's blog party over at Scrappin' Servant. Thanks, Carolyn! Now I really need to get back to that tackle I intended to do for the party in May. Better late than never???

My belly, and I assume the baby inside, have grown a lot this past week. It's tighter and rounder, and though Gramma's eyesight isn't the best, she says I am sticking out farther than someone who is due 3 weeks before me. Maybe that's because I had to ask her to push in her chair so I could squeeze past it. Baby Boy did not like the direct sunlight shining on my belly today. As we rode in the car, and the sun warmed my tummy, he kicked as if to say "it's hot in here already!" Is that a sign he'll have his father's internal temp gauge? (I hope not!)

We'll spend some more time with my brother and sis in law tomorrow, and head home on Friday. Hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Pray for Steven Curtis Chapman and his family, as they mourn the tragic death of their 5 year old little girl. (click to see news story)

You can also visit the Steven Curtis Chapman website for links to a blog with some sweet moments with Maria.

26 week check-up

Mommy's BP: good
Mommy's weight: 158 lbs.
Baby's HB: 145 bpm
"He's definitely growing like he should!" Dr. M's comment after measuring fundal height.
Still waiting for the results of the Gestational Diabetes screening, but so far, so good!

4 weeks til the next appt, after that they will be every 2 weeks until he decides he is ready to come out.

100 days...

until the little guy is expected to make his appearance.
That doesn't sound like much time in the grand scheme of things.
He's a kicker... I wonder if that means he'll be a hyper boy. Given the nature of boys in our family, and girls for that matter, I would assume so. Thankfully his big sister is not a priss, even though she does like dressing girly in her flowered skirts and pastels.

It's National Scrapbook Month

Carolyn, over at Scrapping Servant, is hosting a blog party to celebrate. (See the button or her link in my sidebar.)
Now, personally, I enjoy scrapbooking, but am WAY behind. embarassingly behind. So this little blog party might just motivate me to get a few pages done. I have enough papers and embellishments to do some basic layouts, so I really have no excuse. They may not win an award from Creating Keepsakes, but something has got to be better than leaving my pics on the hard drive.

Anyone care to join me in dusting off their supplies and getting scrap happy? How about if we set small goals...

1) make a list of 10 pages to complete (or whatever # is achievable for you)
2) find pics in storage (online or printed stacks, whatever is your "pile up" of choice and organize them. If they are not printed, get them printed.
3) Design and create at least one layout a week for the rest of the month... the list of 10 will give us something to keep working toward.

Baby steps, people, baby steps...

Let me know if you are going to play along! And jump on over to Carolyn's to see what giveaways are going on for the par-tay!

four friends

two of us have known each other since high school.
the other two met in middle school, i think.
i was in the flag corps, they actually played instruments in the band.

we've been through a lot together, when we were near and now that we're spread out.
our friendship is a true blessing.

maternal instincts (warning, might be tmi if you aren't a woman, or one who has ever been pregnant)

It's funny how when you're pregnant, your body knows exactly what to do and when. Apparently mine has decided that it's time to start producing food, or the precursors to feed, for the little one, even though he won't be born for a while yet, Lord willing. I guess holding a rooting 3 month old in your arms (or being in the same room) does that. ;)

Some of our good friends came over tonight. They included two of my college roommates, the hubby and adorable daughters of one of them and another friend from college. I am so thankful that God has given me friends with whom to walk through life with, even from a distance at times.

Bear enjoyed playing with Caroline, and doted on baby Kimberly. She wanted to help put her paci in her mouth, and she even "held" her on the couch, with the support of a big pillow and myself. I love seeing her tender heart come out with the little ones. Though she was not an angel every second (and even showed some of her toddler temper at times), and did not want to share every little thing the whole time we had visitors, she did pretty well overall. I hope she is as gentle and patient with her little brother when he arrives.

Bear claimed the rose I received from our waiter at lunch today.
(All the mommies were given roses.) We enjoyed our time with my parents, sister and niece.

Mother's Day 2008-
25 weeks 4 days pregnant with our Baby Boy!

By the time I remembered to take a Mother's Day picure WITH my little girl,
she was ready to climb into the bathtub. Oh, well.

Happy
Mothers'
Day!

Wishing lots of love to all of you Moms with kids to chase at home, Moms in waiting, and Moms whose nests are now empty!
******

Look what I got in the mail today:

There was a special offer in American Baby magazine for free Itsy Bitsy Yoga DVD's to the first 100 responders. Well, I wasn't in the first 100, but I then got an e-mail from the company saying if I sent them a check for 4.95 s/h, they would send me the dvd otherwise free. So I dropped the check in the mail to New England a little over a week ago, and the DVD arrived today.

I can't wait to try it out with our little guy when he arrives in a couple of months. They have a toddler book or program, too, which I could see Bear getting into, since she does like to copy me (and climb all over me) if/when I actually do my prenatal yoga exercises.

Review to come after baby is born...

adventures in gardening, continued...

about 3 weeks ago, i decided to humor the hoa and send in my approval request for the big garden pots in my yard. i haven't heard anything back, so i am assuming no news is good news. i added basil to the herb pot last week, transplanted green bean sprouts into one pot, and today i planted 2 varieties of cherry tomatoes, some beefsteak tomato seeds, a red pepper plant, and some green pepper seeds. It's probably too much for the small space, I don't know. But I think I had too many coffee grounds and not enough dirt in the pots way back when I first planted seeds, so I have added potting soil since then. Well, hubby poured the soil into the pots for me. Anyway, hopefully at some point this summer we will have two or three types of home-grown veggies. Bear eats cherry tomatoes like candy, so I figure it's worth a shot if I can get them to grow again. (I am not exaggerating, either. She still loves them. While her toddler pickiness has manifested itself in other ways, toe-toes are still yummy to her.)

hubby worked on the lawn for 2 1/2 hours today. yes, you read that correctly. no, our yard did not grow overnight. he mowed, trimmed the weeds, roughed up some patches where the grass was spindly at best with the mantis, used the spade to rough up some really bare patches a little more deeply, spread 120 pounds of lime, fertilizer, spot seeded, and put a little left over soil over the seeds by the sidewalk... we're hoping tonight's expected rain doesn't wash all the seed away. He's heading out for a ride on the road, the wind blowing over his protective helmet instead of through his freshly chopped hair (trimmed by yours truly). I think he deserves the break.

Hope this Saturday finds you well!

Did you know...

...today is Military Spouse Appreciation day?
Thank all the military wives you know for their personal sacrifices AND their husband's.

Thanks to Patti from w@h for sharing this bit of trivia!

****
Steph, I am so proud of you and Ashley for your sacrifices that you make together to serve our country!

We came home from Memphis today, and of course the addict had to see what's new in my flowerbed. Yes, almost immediately.....

"Gold Glow" rose bush

(5/9)

...not bad for $5 at Wal-mart. There are at least 3 more buds in addition to the bloom. In the first photo, I believe the blanketflower (gaillardia) seeds I planted have resulted in what I hope will be one plant (the thing growing to the left). The Blue Girl Rose is running behind this one. It doesn't get the sun quite as early in the day. No buds on that one yet, but the leaves are coming in. I read that it doesn't tolerate the extreme heat quite as much, but hopefully the spot I chose for it is not too shady!

I baked tilapia and sauteed yellow squash for dinner tonight. I love sales on fresh seafood at Publix! If my dishes would just do themselves, I would be a very happy girl. We went for a walk with Bear, who asked for the stroller, but around the halfway point decided she wanted to run free. She only wiped out on the sidewalk a couple of times.

Wordless Wednesday

TP Tuesday
5/6/08
24 w 6 days

10 1/2 sheets.

This is definitely not an exact science. I know I am bigger than I was, but whether Tech Mom's TP is smaller than mine, or the rest of my belly has started filling out somehow without increasing my widest point, who knows... I mean, my belly button seems to be flattening out and I am beginning to wonder if I will develop an outie this time around. Anyway, I hadn't played the TP tuesday game in a while, so I thought I would measure with TP today. Hubby helped me. My pants sure feel tighter and are fitting tighter, and I feel lots of movement going on in there, so everything is good.

Happy Birthday, Hubby!

He's officially out of his 20's. Maybe Tech Mom can post about the adventures of having a baby 7 weeks ahead of her due date, since she hasn't posted in ages. (not so subtle hint.) We went to a cookout with some friends from his work (and a couple of my blogging buddies, the co-workers wives) last night. This morning I actually made him eggs and toast for breakfast and Hannah and I gave him his cards and gifts. One of which we ended up returning, but my feelings are not hurt. It was more of a symbolic gift, as I didn't want to just say "here, go buy this." So Bear and I found something somewhat similar to what we knew hubby wanted and bought it anyway. Shockingly, it didn't quite work, but since hubby has my "approval", he has found a couple of contender's for his motorcycle jacket birthday gift picked out online. (I do have to say that Bear was smitten by the Kayak's and bikes at the store where we found the jacket that didn't quite work. It was adorable.)

This afternoon, our next door neighbor's had a cookout for their son's 1sst birthday, and this evening another neighbor and friend had a cookout for her 30th birthday, which is actually tomorrow. Hubby didn't seem to mind having the spotlight off him.

5 minutes for Mom has another contest/giveaway going on... and there's a photo contest. I have posted this lots of places, possibly even on here already... but this photo reflects a little bit of what motherhood means to me right now.
My sis in law, Caslon, took this one with my camera. Bear already loves to kiss her baby brother. She also likes to lift my shirt up to "feed" him dinner rolls or milk from her sippy cup. It's pretty sweet. I'm amazed by how much she seems to "get" about the "baby in mommy's belly." Watching her grow from an only child into a big sister is going to be an adventure around here!

Coming Soon: Allybug Bowtique

Do you like hair bows and clippies? Does your dear daughter actually wear them for more than 30 seconds without pulling them out? Are you obsessed with finding the perfect accessory for your child's every outfit? Than you have to check out Allybug Boutique. Our friend Becky (whose hubby was a groomsman in our wedding) is a SAHM mom to two adorable little girls. She's taken her creativity from being a Kindergarten teacher and applied it to making hair bows and clippies for her daughters. Now she is sharing her creations with the public on her photobucket site, and soon she'll have an online store.

Check it out!

another gardening tip

• Buy summer bulbs as the stores are running out and chopping their prices. I did this last year, and grew beautiful asiatic lilies. I found a pack of 5 stargazer bulbs for 2.50 at Wal-mart yesterday. That's half off. ONE stem of stargazer lilies at a florist can go for $6. That's without any roots or chance for return on investment! They were starting to sprout in their bag, but I planted them today by the mailbox and we'll see what happens.Some people say bulbs are a lot of work, and they don't like waiting for them to come up. To me, they are worth it because they save money in the long run (especially if they are perennials), and I don't mind waiting to watch them grow. (Though I am kind of jealous of all the pretty annuals my neighbor planted in her bed and am thinking I still have a long way to go to catch up to the cost of hubby's bike. j/k. sort of.) By planting all 5 bulbs, maybe I'll have some to spare to bring inside.
• Try to plant immediately before rain showers. Then you don't HAVE to water right away (though it doesn't hurt).
  

Do as I say, not as I do....

If I applied my advice for yardwork to inside chores (the not doing everything at once, do things little by little, etc...)...

I would be in much better emotional state any time visitors are about to come over.

I must admit, getting sympathy for being pregnant and having a toddler is a nice break.

Things I've learned about "gardening" (flowerbeds)

• Starting flowers from seeds is low-cost but also low return on investment. If you want instant gratification, spend a little extra on plants. If you do start from seed, opt for bigger plants and be sure to use better potting soil to increase your odds that the seedlings won't shrivel up and die. Once they get to be a couple of inches tall, transplant them where you want them. Also, check seed-depth instructions on your packets. Don't smother them in too much dirt and mulch.
  
• Bulbs/rhizomes/tubers do not fall under the previous generalization about return on investment... even though they do cost more than seed packets. But don't just stick bulbs into poor soil, and plant them at the appropriate depths. Buy a cheap bag of potting soil and/or compost and mix a couple of cups in with the existing dirt. This year my daffodils planted in previous years returned. It looks like my gladioli, calla lilies, and asiatic lilies are well on their way to coming back. (Hopefully they will bloom), I did plant some acidanthera bulbs because I couldn't help myself. Day lilies are also pretty fool proof... the builder planted some 5 years ago, and they are still thriving. I did thin them out last fall.
  
• Don't try to tackle it all in one day. You'll end up tired, sore, and frustrated or bitter. Do a little at a time.
• Plant a base bed of perennials and add extra color with annuals. Otherwise, you may have to spend all day tackling the planting of annuals. Or, if you just absolutely prefer annuals, do a little at a time.... the mailbox bed, a row or two in main flowerbed, etc.. Some bulbs are technically annuals and need to be lifted out of the ground before it gets too cold, but in some areas you can get away with leaving bulbs in the ground. Ask around or check online to see if the bulbs you like can be grown as perennials where you live. If you want to save trouble, don't mess with the bulbs that HAVE to be lifted in your growing zone.
  
• Also try to plant things that bloom at different times of the growing season. I'm still working on this one.
  
• When/If hubby complains about the cost of mulch, nicely tell him to get over it. It's protecting the investment you've put into your plants. Plants need good soil and protection. You wouldn't refuse to feed your children if they were whithering away, and though plants don't have souls, they need water and nutrition, too. Though if you have to choose between tending to your kids or your flowers, please let the flowers die. At the same time, too much mulch CAN smother the roots of trees and plants... so don't go overboard.
  
• Follow watering, sunlight and feeding guidelines for plants. A plethora of info is available online.... that's where I get most of my info. I also pick my parents' and in-laws brains from time to time, but not everyone will get the info they need by doing that.
  
• Before you put a layer of fresh mulch down, sprinkle some fresh compost or potting soil on top of the old mulch. If you are really ambitious, grab a hand cultivator (rake) and mix the old mulch and the new soil together to help stimulate breakdown of the old mulch.
• Use a wooden toothpick to mark where you have planted seeds in your yard or flowerbed, if applicable.
• Fertilize using miracle grow or the generic equivalent according to package recommendations or what the plant tag recommends.
• If you have toddlers, you might want to check to see if plants are poisonous before planting them. For example, lantana is a pretty and drought resistent flowering shrub thing, but its berries are poisonous. And berries ARE tempting.
• If someone offers you plants from their yard, take them. Odds are they will just throw them out if you don't take them, as many plants need to be thinned out at least every couple of years. Even if you don't LOVE them, they will grow on you as you think about the money saved by not spending it at the store (and hopefully knowing who gave them to you will also be a good thing). My Mom planted one variety of sedum about 2 weeks after Bear was born. When we went to Gramma's farm last Memorial Day, she gave me some hastas, black-eyed susans, and another variety of sedum. A neighbor gave me some iris rhizomes that she dug up this spring; I'm hoping at least some of then take to their new home.
• Let your kids help. Bear calls bulbs "onions", and I let her drop them into holes. I also let her scoop dirt into the holes. Yes, it's messy, but that's clean-up is what hoses and bathtubs are for. Teach them how to water plants. Odds are, they will water everything but what you want them to, like rain gutter trays and rocks, but at least they will be occupied while YOU water. (Give them their own small watering can that they can hold/carry.) Teach them what flowers they can pick and what ones they cannot, and tell them why. This Spring, I had tulips and pansies in bloom. Pansies rebloom shortly after being picked. Tulips do not. While we did have some casualities of toddler curiousity, we also had a toddler who identified tulip leaves in the garden center because she listened to Mommy tell her the names of the green things that were poking through the ground. Praise them for what they do right- for not stepping on the flowers, for being nice to the flowers that don't want to be picked, etc... And I still have a few tulips that have not whithered away or been picked yet.
  
• Don't try to tackle everything in one day. Pull old weeds and plants on one day, add dirt/soil on another day, plant new plants shortly after (within a couple of weeks), and mulch within a week or so after that. If you are building a new bed from scratch, after you have killed the grass and weeds and given the weed killer (whether organic or not) time to "fade" so you don't poison the plants you want to keep, it's actually better to till up the old dirt and add in some new dirt, then let them sit and "stew" before planting so the soil pH levels out.
• Be generous with mulch... it keeps weeds down and water in. As your bed is established, you won't have to add so much. The finer to medium mulches compost themselves, adding to the soil over time, but the thicker chipped mulches get ugly and don't break down as well. We prefer a medium colored mulch to the blackest mulch... fading is less noticeable.
  
• To spruce up the look of your beds after the mulch fades, try raking lightly with a hand cultivator/rake so the faded mulch gets turned over. Be careful not to rake out your flowers in the process.
• If a plant doesn't sem to be thriving where you put it, move it before it starts to struggle. I planted 2 columbine flowers a couple of weeks ago. One took well and has lalready doubled in size, the other has stayed about the same size as it was when I bought it. I noticed it was getting less sun, so I moved it to a bare spot that needs color.
  

A good friend spent ALL day yesterday doing yard improvement. Her flowerbed is going to look great (I saw it after sunset, but I am sure it will look great). But I hate that she was sooo exhausted and ready to swear off gardening when I saw her last night. I often tend my garden while Bear naps.... because though there are times I want her to "help", there are times she does get on my nerves being underfoot. I do think if I tried to do everything in one day, it would drive me to need Prozac again. By spreading things out, I enjoy the process more. Especially when things start to bloom.

I should be doing dishes, but I don't want to wake up the rest of my family, so hopefully someone will find this post helpful. Really, I should be sleeping... now maybe I will be able to get some sleep... after I pee again.

bouncing baby boy

Our little guy is quite active this afternoon. It's so much fun to feel his movements inside of me, especially since he is not yet big enough to jab my ribs and hurt them in the process. Just when I get worried that I am not feeling enough movement, he starts doing those somersaults and using my stomach and bladder for kickboxing or some other exercise, as if to remind me that he is just fine.

Today has been better. we had our last Bible study group meeting this morning. It has been such a blessing to go through the Gospel Transformation study with a small group of ladies at our church. God placed each of us in our group for a reason, and each woman has become a treasure to me. Our small group co-leaders have such giving hearts, and their transparency about how the Lord has transformed their lives (and continues to do so) has been an amazing testimony of God's grace in their lives. The best part was that He gave us a group which learned to be honest and vulnerable as we shared our stories and sruggles with one another, knowing that there is no condemnation for those who know Christ Jesus as their personal Savior.

After GT, Bear and I went to Costco. When we pulled into the parking lot, she immediately asked, "See Granddaddy at the store?" The last time we were there, we ran into my Dad and a couple of his friends. She remembered. I am amazed by the things she remembers at just 2 1/2. She already values relationships so much, and is constantly asking to see someone in our family or a friend.

The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and the toddler is napping. Too bad my chores won't do themselves.

just can't keep up

That's how I feel this today. Perhaps because last night's sleep was sporadic and I awoke feeling like a zombie, maybe due to Bear peeing a river through her training pants on the booth at the restaurant where we ate lunch with a friend AFTER previously asking to go to the potty but failing to "produce." (On the bright side, the bill had been paid and we were getting ready to leave, so embarrassment was minimized a little.)

Got home, got her into her room for nap time, and she took an hour to get to sleep. "I'm all alone and cold in my bed." Well maybe if she would have stopped squirming she would have had something besides a pull-up on. And she had plenty of blankets. When I went down to check on her, she not only said she wanted clothes now but she also needed to go potty. She did in fact use it before going back to her room where she proceeded to jabber and sing herself lullabies-a-la-toddler (at the top of her lungs) until she finally fell asleep.

Throughly exhausted and swearing off the so-called adventures of potty training (whether temporarily or indefinitely has yet to be determined), I checked my e-mail where I was reminded that I had signed up to bring a meal to a friend who had surgery a few weeks ago. Not having much on hand, on the verge of a breakdown, I called my friend and apologized, trying to comfort myself with the fact that I had seen her at church on Sunday and at least she is no longer in the immobile-doped-on-pain-killers stage but is well on her way to recovery. Still, I feel bad. But the prospect of figuring out what to make since I did not have the ingredients on hand to make what I had intended to and drive 30 minutes in each direction to deliver whatever it was I might come up with was not helping me looming breakdown. So ticked at myself, and with the noises through the baby monitor having ceased, I went downstairs to get a nap of my own.

It helped. Except I woke up with sciatic nerve pain that hit as soon as I stepped out of bed. It's too early for that in pregnancy! And Bear and I were supposed to go to the Supercenter with a friend to pick out flowers for her flowerbed... obviously that didn't happen, either.

Then there's the whole date mix-up/overbooking. Why does everyone want to have parties and cookouts on the same weekend? I was so excited when I thought we could actually make it to all of them. Then I found out one was actually not planned when we thought it was... oops.

I won't go into the things that I need to do around here... though I am keeping on top of laundry ok. At least we have clean underwear.

Thanks for putting up with my little tantrum in cyberspace without reminding me that I only have one child to keep up with. Now have a lovely evening.

For this week's Tackle It Tuesday meme, I'm bragging on my hubby. When he got his bike (motorcycle) a few weeks ago, he was also bit by the "organize the garage" bug. We began by throwing out a bunch of junk that had accumulated on the floor. Now, considering my parents' garage is 25' by 25' and at best has room for one car in it, ours was in pretty decent shape. But after almost 5 years of living here, it was past time for a little TLC. Here's an "in process" photo:



A lot of the junk was old flower pots, some of which were broken Then we went to Lowe's and priced out shelving and hooks. Our goal was to safely get as much up off the floor as possible without spending a lot of money. While Bear doesn't play in the garage, she does wander in there from time to time. While his Dad was here with the trailer this weekend, they went back to Lowe's and bought a couple of shelves and brackets to haul back to the house. Hubby had discovered that our drill battery does not seem to hold its charge, so Tech Dad brought his drill along, too. Together, they found the studs, made sure they were level, etc...


I went to take a picture of the "completed" tackle (to this point), and my camera batteries are dead. So after the charger does a tackle of its own, I'll post the "after" pic...

Maybe Caslon can post a pic of the jimmy-rigging Tech Dad did on our counter, or e-mail it to me... that was another tackle in itself.

As for my own personal tackles... I am trying to not let Mt. Laundry pile up and to be more conscienscious about gradual pick-up so I don't get overwhelmed. (I seem to live in a perpetual state of either overwhelmed-ness or denial of chores.) I managed to fold 3 loads last night IMMEDIATELY after washing them.

And I moved a mum plant because it was in the middle of the calla lillies which have begun to poke through. (scroll down a few days to see the spikes if you are so inclined.) Now it's at the very end of my flower bed, where it has room to spread out a bit. That entailed transplanting one of my purple salvia flowers, too. Hubby dumped compost into my big pots and I planted the basil plant in the pot with my perennial herbs (thyme and oregano). I also planted some green beans that I started from seed into one of the other pots. They were at least 2 inches tall and needed more space than the little 6" pot they were in could offer. Let's hope the HOA doesn't deny my retroactive "yard ornament/landscaping" approval request that I submitted for the pots.

If you would like to see other tackles, click on the Meme tag at the top of the post. You can also get the code for your own "Tackle It Tuesday" label from 5 minutes for Mom.


Update: After Pics

I am so glad to know the poisonous chemicals are out of our daughter's reach! But in hubby's zeal for cleaning up, he took a raft (that pink blob)out of a box that it needed to be stored in in order to protect it from punctures. Oh, well, I'll find another box for it.

family time

Tech Mom and Dad, caslon (the blogger, not the kitty) & camera man came to visit this weekend. Tech Dad helped hubby hang a couple of shelves in the garage and epoxy and re-caulk our kitchen counter where is was beginning to separate from the particle board underneath (the back splash and counter top are 2 pieces unlike the counters that have a back splash built in). Hubby FINALLY found the caulk that had been missing for 3 years since we had the kitchen painted, much to everyone's relief.

In the evenings, we hung out on the front porch, and the neighbor-kitty which has not been removed by the HOA or Animal Control came to visit/play with Bear. If it makes it down to the end of the cul-de-sac, its owners may not see it again.

Yesterday, us girls took advantage of the Spring tax-free shopping weekend and hit Kohl's. Meanwhile, the boys hit the road on the motorcycles, heading over to the Natchez Trace Pkwy for a scenic drive. In spite of Tech Dad's prompting that Computer Guy (Hubby's brother) would give Camera Man a good deal on his motorcycle so he can get a new one, Camera Man continues to contend that he would prefer a new camera. I can't say that I blame him, especially since a motorcycle won't really contribute to his livelihood.

Last night I even got to ride on the bike with hubby, and I have to say I prefer the full-face helmet that blocks wind from your eyes and bugs from your teeth to the "brain bucket" that leaves your face open to everything. Baby didn't seem to mind the bike ride in the least, though I doubt riding on a motorcycle will be a regular occurrence for us during the remainder of the pregnancy.

All-in-all it was a very good weekend. Bear will miss her company greatly, as will we.

23 weeks and 4 days belly shot
4/27/08

kissing the belly

do i have to kiss it again, mom?

once upon a time...

i ordered a prenatal yoga video from amazon.
i actually watched and attempted to do the exercises on that video.
i felt good and relaxed after doing said exercises (when i did them without a 2 1/2 year old underfoot).

it's time to be able to remember when i last did those exercises...

buenas noches, y'all!

Guess what these are?

(I am not referring to the pieces of mulch. Look closely.)

hint: a couple of weeks ago, I stated I did not think they were coming back this year.
I watered their location anyway, since I read that they like to be kept moist and not dry out.

And now I do the happy dance! Perhaps I should wait until they actually bloom.