1st Year Pictures

Our visit with Donna Quarles yesterday was successful as evident by these beautiful pictures. I won't lie and say Sydney was the perfect subject. I won't tell a fib and say that she didn't cry continuously, fuss obnoxiously, or throw a fit when you picked her up. No, I won't lie...
But, Donna was amazing and was able to capture those split second smiles in between the tears. I don't think a runway model is in the list of her career choices. She may hate the camera, but the camera loves her.
http://www.donnaquarles.com/

Whirlwind

Ever feel like you live in a whirlwind? You're so busy, busy, busy, that you have to just grab tasks and complete them quickly as they fly by? The last few days, that's what it has been like at our house.

Sydney is fully recovered from her double ear infection and upper respiratory infection. She is running around the house again at warp speed having conversations about "da da", "hi", and "neh, neh."

The newest super cute thing she does is run to the phone when she hears it ring, raise one arm up (as in highest praise) and say, "hey! hey! hey! hey!" My interpretation, "Uh, mom, the phone is ringing...it is ringing...can you hear that the phone is ringing, come answer this phone and say hi to the nice person who is trying to call and talk to me, I need to say 'hey' to this person on the phone...come on!"

We are going to take pictures today with Donna Quarles in Lufkin. From what I've seen of her work, she is phenomenal. I hope Sydney behaves better than she did for her 7 month session. That was a nightmare. Read about it here:
http://sweetereveryday.blogspot.com/2009/11/sydneys-portraits.html

Expect an update from our session with Donna tomorrow. It should be super fun!

I'm off to vacuum up Froot Loops, pick up shredded paper, get outfits out for today, pack a diaper bag, take a shower, get dressed, dress the baby, and and rescue the cat from Sydney's clutches...oh, and do whatever else the swirling winds throw my way!

Oh, and on a completely random note....whoever designed the cute little strap that is supposed to restrain your child on the changing table surface, DEFINITELY did not have kids.

I have a new design...

What? You don't think the strait jacket attachment would be a big seller?

Well, I guess you haven't had to change a thrashing baby who is trying frantically to dig their hands in the army green nuclear waste you are desperately trying to wipe up before the diaper goes flinging across the room in a mad dash to rid your environment of the smell that can only be described as putrid and toxic.

I really think this idea would fly...but maybe sewn in a cheerful polka-dot fabric, with big bow where the arms are latched down. I can see it...call me a visionary.

Poor Girl's Playhouse

Isn't this darling? And it can be yours for the low, low price of $3.99.

Wait, I need to move my decimal point.

It can be yours for $399.00.

Well, then how about this beauty? For the same price, you can have this in your backyard.

or...

You could realize, like Sydney does, that a playhouse of this magnitude is not happening anytime soon and invent your own bungalow of joy.

Behold...the breakfast table a.k.a microwave table a.k.a junk infested wooden fixture in my kitchen...and also the soda pack holder. Can you just see her dreaming about the possibilities? A little paint here, a window, a door maybe...

 Let's just move right in.

And of course, no home is complete without a chicken.

 Submit, chicken. Submit!

 Couldn't resist a close up of the "Harley Baby" t-shirt I bought on-line.

Sydney sees this not as the wasted use of a perfectly good tree,

but a playhouse in the making.

A room full of toys that light up, make music, beep, and dance...

and she spends an entire 30 minutes under the breakfast junk table.

Gotta love it.

Pebbles, Eat Your Heart Out

Hair has never been a problem for Sydney. She was born with a head full of it, and it is growing longer and thicker by the day. Check out my first attempt at a pony tail.

Don't let the happy-go-lucky expression fool you. She was not entirely cheerful about her new hairstyle. The bow was ripped out in 4 minutes and 27 seconds.

I am jealous of her soft, beautiful hair and those sickeningly, long eyelashes. I've measured them. They are nearly 1/2 inch long...No Maybelline for this chick for a WHILE!

Cleansing Power, Hallelujah!

It's not often that I use my blog as an outlet for an impromptu infomercial, but I must share the latest health remedy I have discovered. You may read this and think, "She's a dolt. That's been around for years." Well, maybe so, but I'm usually the last to know about stuff, well about anything for that matter.

I inherited the gene that affects the inner workings of your sinuses from my dad. Not just the occasional seasonal sinus attacks that hit when the pollen begins to coat everything in its path, but throughout the year, I get sinus headaches that are debilitating. In my medicine cabinet, your eyes will gaze upon a plethora of nasal sprays, decongestants, and prescriptions that target the sinuses, or as my dad affectionately refers to it as, the snot locker. Because, that's what it is.

For 2 weeks now, I have dealt with sinus pain and pressure. I've gone through every medicine in the cabinet. I posted this on FB, and a couple friends suggested doing a nasal rinse.

When I first heard the term, "nasal rinse," you don't want to know what I envisioned. Upon further investigation, I discovered that it's really quite simple and has amazing results. You pour a saline solution into one side of your nose which goes into your sinus cavities and washes them clean. Sounds like a plan, eh?

I trekked to WalGreens, picked up a "Neti Pot" by NeilMed (it was even on sale) and took my treasure home. I closed the bathroom door, read the directions with great trepidation, looked at the pictures (ewww) and then with a rapidly beating pulse, gave this baby a whirl.

WARNING: THIS IS NOT SOMETHING YOU WANT TO DO IN THE PRESENCE OF ANYONE...ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO CAN MAKE YOU LAUGH AT THE SIGHT OF FLUID DRAINING OUT OF YOUR NOSTRIL.

There are not words to describe the burning sensation that you feel when you first use a nasal rinse. I had an IMMEDIATE flashback to swimming lessons at the YMCA when I was 7 years old. They forced us to jump off the diving board at the end of every lesson, and I never held my nose. Chlorinated pool water would shoot up my nose and burn a hole in my head. I will never forget the feeling. It always scared me to death and I thought I was going to drown. Well, I had major deja vu this weekend when using the rinse...I was right back in that pool.

Every square inch of my inner nasal contents was cleansed and immediately, the pain and pressure was gone.

A miracle. I KID YOU NOT.

I have used the rinse twice a day now for 3 days and I feel 100 times better.

Now, if the weather in Texas would just cooperate, I could get my respiratory system back in tip-top shape. Yesterday it snowed. Today, it was 75 degrees.

Why, hello again, my sweet little snot pot.

...and the winner is...

The $25 credit to Millie Pie goes to...


Julie @ 4itsawonderfullife.blogspot.com

Congratulations! I'll visit with you soon about how to redeem your prize!

Pricey Penny Cookies

I'm feeling a tad stupid right now. Indulge me as I relate to you my flawed thinking.

I have lost 50 pounds since the birth of my child. That's right. 5 X 10

What's sad, is I have about 25 to go. You heard me.... I was one bloated preggo woman with multiple complications.

As of late, I am striving harder towards my goal of returning to pre-pregnancy weight and have made positive changes in my life.

I am drinking lots more water and eating healthier foods. I am exercising more.

Best of all, I am buying into the idea that purchasing snacks prepackaged in "100 calorie" units will allow me to indulge without being too indulgent.

STUPID. STUPID. STUPID.

Exhibit A: Chocolate chip cookies - yum

Look at those morsels...

Microscopic morsel is more appropriate.

Math is not my thing, but I can add, subtract, multiply, and divide, so here goes.

I paid approximately $3.50 for this box of pre-packaged cookies. There are 6 packages in the box. A REAL chocolate cookie by this manufacturer has about 50 calories. So, if there are 100 calorie packs, then there is the equivalent of 2 cookies in each package of miniscule bites.

So, I paid $3.50 for a dozen cookies. Albeit really tiny ones.

If I was to purchase an actual size package of the SAME cookies, I would be spending approximately $3.50 as well.  But here's the kicker.

There are about 24 cookies in a regular package. You've figured me out by now.

I paid double the money for tiny cookies.

Next time, I'll just buy the regular package and eat as many as I want.

By the way, the Look, Look picture from yesterday was a close up of....

My freshly pedicured toes.

Yes, I know they look like fingers.

No, I can't play the piano with them.

But, I've tried.

Look, Look # 1

Can you guess what this is?

I'm thinking about starting a recurring segment on my blog of close up pictures of things....just to see what kind of sharp eyes you've got out there...Don't ask me where this hair-brained idea came from...maybe I need therapy?

Go ahead. Take a look, and give it a try. Leave a comment and tell me what you think this might be. I would like to compile a book of all of these close ups for my kid. Who knows...maybe it will help her "drawing conclusions" skills.

I'll post the larger picture tomorrow. Have a happy weekend!

Adventures in Parenthood: Chapter 1, Bodily Fluids

My daughter will probably not appreciate what I'm about to share when she gets old enough to realize I chronicled her life on a blog viewable to nearly everyone with internet access.

But, I just feel the need to share...and sharing is good.

This story is funny, yet sad, and then is funny again. Then, it's just annoying...

Our house runs on the rythmic clock of routine and schedule. Schedule and routine, or as I like to refer to it, the 3 P's....patterns, procedures and protocol.

Every night without fail, Sydney has her bath between 6:00 -7:00. Then, we have our last mini-meal of the evening, an 8 oz. bottle of milk. Mmm...Then we have our few minutes with Daddy as he comes in from work...then, with Rudy in tow, it's off to bed we go.

Mama's routine was interrupted last night by an onslaught of the unexpected.

After the bath, Sydney gets to enjoy a few minutes (2-3) of unencumbered diaper freedom. She is allowed to run around in her room for several moments just au naturale. Barely a few minutes, mind you....And there are foam tiles on the floor in case....you know.
We've done this for MONTHS now without incident...

Last night, she is enjoying her time and as I turn to grab her pajamas...she opens her door and bolts down the hall. This is just a game in her book - let's run around the house in all my glory!

Just as I'm about to step into the hall I hear the sickening sound of baby skin going splat on the hard floor. Then silence. Then more baby skin splatting...I look out the door and Sydney is laying flat on her back wailing. I spring into action to rescue her and she attempts to get up again...SPLAT! And then, as she scrambles to her feet a 4th time, she performs a perfect 3 Stooges style backwards fall as her feet slip out from underneath her again. This fall was the doozie. 

I pick up a distraught child wondering...where did all this water come from?

Well, I think you can figure out WHERE the "water" came from.
Not only did I have a bruised up baby from multiple back and face plants into the floor, but my floor was now covered in tinkle.

So, we started ALL over. Washing, drying...the baby and the floor. With much fuss, we finally went to bed, feelings and self-esteem battered.

Baby bodily fluids...I thought I had experienced the gamut, but alas, I was wrong.

Oh, and I won't tell you how tonight, she did the SAME thing...only this time, on the rug.

Yep, like a bad puppy.

Millie Pie Giveaway

It's official. I'm doing my FIRST giveaway!

If you've noticed the precious little girl in the right hand margin of my blog but have yet to click on her cherubic face, do so...go ahead do it now!

Millie Pie is a mother daughter crafting adventure that is based right here in good 'ol East Texas. They have discovered great fame in this neck of the woods by selling their ever popular appliqued team spirit shirts.

Marcia and her mama, Bobbie, can create just about anything you want when it comes to customized and personalized clothing. Baby clothes, t-shirts, outfits galore! Sydney has some of the most adorable outfits imaginable and they are one-of-a-kind...

Take a moment to browse their little collection (which is expanding every day)and LEAVE ME A COMMENT on which item you think is PERFECT for you! Remember...they will personalize just about anything.

You have till Friday evening  at 9:00 p.m. to leave your comment and to be entered into a drawing for a $25 gift certificate to http://www.milliepie.com

I will leave you with a couple of my favorites...

Super Fun Spring Break?

Double Fisted Binky Diva

After a week of snottiness, fever, and irritability, I took my child to the doctor today and lo' and behold, we have a double ear infection on top of our upper respiratory infection. So, now I feel like first runner up in the "Jerkiest Mother of the Year" pageant since I let her "cry" it out last night several times 'cause I was so blame tired I couldn't move. The pediatrician's office was filled with cranky sick children. There are few things more torturous than trying to restrain your cranky, sick child while watching other people's cranky, sick, and obnoxious children run amuck.

My precious mama went with me to the pediatrician's office, 'cause I SURE wasn't going to drive an hour and 20 minutes with a screaming child all by myself. Somebody else was going to HAVE to share this experience with me. We skipped lunch and jumped in the car and were both starving to death by the time we got to Nacogdoches...you know, so hungry that you're sure you will pass clean out if you don't eat something pronto. We stop at Chicken Express (which deserves an entire week of blogging by itself if you are unfamiliar with this fantastic fried fast food establishment) and we didn't have time to stop and eat, so, chicken tenders and corn nuggets are flying from the back seat to the front seat while mom is attempting to soothe my irritable child. It's pretty funny now that I think about it, so I guess you just had to be there. Oh, and whoever was making the sweet tea today read the recipe wrong. It's 1 cup of sugar and 2 quarts of water, not the other way around. You could literally pour that sweet tea out of the cup like maple syrup. Geez...guess they knew I needed the sugar boost.

Anywho, Sydney didn't pull her ears or have any other symptoms of an ear infection, so I didn't suspect it. She is nearly 13 months old and has been the picture of health. A minor sniffle in October, but that was it.

I really didn't have any major plans for Spring Break, so I guess that works out well since I will be taking care of her. Hopefully, in and amongst the earaches, I will grab a few winks of sleep. Thank goodness my coffee supply is well stocked!

Roasted Potato Wedges - Delicious but Deadly

If you've not read Saturday's post, please do so before adding this recipe to your repertoire. You  may think twice about doing so after processing what happened Friday evening!

Ingredients:
2 pints fingerling potatoes or regular potatoes sliced into quarters
2 sprigs fresh rosemary (or 1 tbsp of flakes will do)
2 to 3 sprigs fresh sage (or 1 tbsp of flakes will do)
3 sprigs fresh thyme (or 1 tbsp of flakes will do)
6 cloves garlic, left unpeeled (in the jar is fine)
3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus for sheet pan
Salt and pepper

Directions:
Preheat oven to 500 degrees F and place a baking sheet inside to heat.

Add potatoes, rosemary, sage, thyme, and garlic to a medium bowl. Drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Remove sheet pan from oven, lightly coat with olive oil, and pour potatoes onto pan. Place potatoes in oven and reduce heat to 425 degrees F. Roast for 20 minutes, or until crispy on outside and tender on inside.

Kitchen Carnage

Today, I take a moment to mourn the passing of a dear friend very useful piece of kitchen bakeware.

The one, the only, Pampered Chef baking stone left this world last night at around 6:30 at aproximately 425 degrees.

I know! This is the same stone I blogged about in this post http://sweetereveryday.blogspot.com/2010/01/wifus-domesticus.html

a few months back. Pardon me...but I need a moment.

Just a second...

Okay, I've pulled myself together long enough to share with you the details.

DISCLAIMER: the following images and dialogue may be disturbing to kitchen gadget/bake ware lovers and Pampered Chef consultants.

I hadn't cooked dinner all week. Sydney's been sick. I've been sick. Chris is, well, just sick.

Every night it has been take out of some flavor or another, which in Jasper, is not very varied or flavorful for that matter.

So, in the spirit of domestic duty, I told myself, "Nesha, you're going to make your hard-working man a fabulous dinner tonight!"

Friday night menu: Mexican round steak, roasted potato wedges, fresh garden salad, and warm baked bread. I retrospectively apologize for not inviting you...another time, perhaps.

I should have known better than to proceed with the potato wedges. The look in their eyes could have only been described as sinister. There was evil afoot, and I should have done something about it.

The round steak was smothering nicely, the salad was crisp and inviting, the smell of warm baked bread filled the room. Ahh... The pototoes were next.

The recipe said to preheat the baking stone to 500 degrees, remove the stone, add the seasoned potatoes, return to the oven for 15 minutes and turn down the heat to 425 degrees.

I followed those directions pea-zactly. Yes ma'am. You MUST believe me.

But, unfortunatley, these were the directions I failed to recall.

Well, there MAY have been a little liquid in the bowl of marinating potato wedges. Just a tad. Oh, and I might have spread that liquid around on the stone to just give it a little more flavor. Just maybe. But the details are so fuzzy right now, I can't be absolutely sure. Not really...

5 minutes after putting the maniacal wedges into the oven, I heard gunfire. I hit the deck, grabbed Sydney, and waited for the smoke. I then realized the gunfire came from the oven. Yes, I now KNOW what an exploding baking stone sounds like. Not pretty, my friends, not pretty.

I was determined that these potatoes would not have the last say, so I left those babies on that broken and sad baking stone until cooking was complete. I even SERVED them from the injured stone...not to be denied or defeated.

Chris comes in the door, and like all husbands looking at an obvious explanation of what happened, says, "WHAT HAPPENED?"

I say, "I don't think I have the time nor the energy to explain it to you," and not another word was spoken.

On a high note, dinner was great. Chris dove in like a starving nomad straight from the Sahara.

So, in memoriam, I leave you with a picture of how I would like to remember my dear baking stone. Lovely, seasoned, and holding a herd of heavenly chocolate chip cookies. Ahhhh..

Those were the days. I shall never forget you, dear friend.

Oh, and by the way, my mother is giving me her stone 'cause, and I quote, "I never use that old thing anyhow. It's yours." Nothing like a mama to apply healing salve to the wound.

I shall post the offending recipe tomorrow, just in case you'd like to try it for yourself! Those potatoes were really good, even if my baking stone had to give the ultimate sacrifice.

Birthday Slippers

I told my mom that all I really needed for my birthday was house slippers. My old ones have been around since the college days at S.F.A. (about 12 years ago) and they probably house their own colony of bacteria that has yet to be discovered. The dear child, Sydney, loves to chew on the grodiest of things she can find and of course, she loves to chew on the aged, yucko house slippers like a puppy dog. So, for her health and my comfort, new house shoes were in order. So, I picked out these lovely, pink, super plush, Dearfoam slippers. The store only had them in Size 9-10 and I wear a 7, but I was so desperate for a new pair, I told Mom it didn't matter.

Sydney has already discovered them and finds them to be quite tasty. Only the best for her, ya know. You do what you can for the "cheelrin."

These shoes are HUGE mom, but I can't get enough of the fuzziness!