I’ve bought some of the Ella’s Kitchen and Plum Organics foods since they’re tasty and convenient but I like to make as much as possible at home when I can.  When I say I like to, I mean that I thoroughly enjoy every step — from shopping for the organic produce and grains to steaming/cooking to pureeing — the only step that I’m not super fond of is the freezing process because it takes such a long time.  I’ve still got a good stock in my freezer of bananas, pears, sweet potatoes, green beans, carrots, blueberries, and some other things too but I’ve been meaning to add to it when I got a chance.  For my birthday, my sisters bought me the book Cooking for Baby and it has made me so, so happy.  It doesn’t assume that I know how to cook things like millet (a grain) or risotto.  It doesn’t assume that I know the best way to cook lamb to process it for baby food.  It is simple and uncomplicated while also giving a broad range for recipes, things that I never would have thought to put together or to feed to John.  I’m in love with that cook book.

Yesterday we hit up the organic foods store for some of the less common items and then went to Meijer for the rest (Meijer has a really great organic food selection).  Last night Noah and I stayed up well past our bed time but we now have a good stock of zucchini, apricots, asparagus, millet, cauliflower & sweet cherries.  After John gets up from his nap we need to go out in search of a few ingredients to make “baby’s stock,” an ingredient in many of the meat and other more hearty purees in the book.  Hopefully I have time to make up some chicken puree, sweet peas, and some green beans with mint today as well.  I might be overly optimistic about how much time I have on my hands though.

It’s not easy finding time to do all of the cleaning and housework, play with Johnny, run errands, make baby food, research the best products and foods for Johnny, etc., etc., all in addition to working my full-time job, but I’m glad that I do.  If I didn’t get to do everything I want to do in regards to John I would not be as happy or fulfilled as I am.  It’d be nice if I didn’t have to work outside the home right now but I don’t feel like John is in any way missing out on something.  Sure, I put in major overtime hours at home but it is so worth it at the end of the day.  Who needs sleep anyway?

I’m currently on a stretch of 7 straight days working; 3 down, 4 to go.  God, I miss him.

I just keep telling myself that Noah only has one more year of school and then it will hopefully be my turn to stay home with the boy.  I do get a lot of time at home with him now — I really do — but when I work more than 2 days in a row I always get a little weepy because it feels like I NEVER see John.  It’s not as bad as my mind thinks it is right now.

There’s a budget problem.  Problem is there isn’t any money… or so they say.  The real problem is that our union people did their homework and found that there actually is money.  There have also been resignations and gains/income not previously budgeted for.  So, where there was no money, there is now.  But we are still being asked to vote. Why vote for furloughs when the need isn’t there?  Why should my pocketbook take a hit because they want to keep a little extra?

Why vote for furloughs?  Months ago, when we were first addressed with this “furloughs or layoffs” decision, it was made clear that if we didn’t do furloughs then two officers would lose their jobs.  (But it was also made clear that this was an issue because we didn’t have $x.xx … but now they do have $x.xx.  Frustration… I digress.)  None of us want two (or even one) officers to lose their jobs.

So, do we give in?  Do we let them have our money even though the need isn’t there anymore, just to ensure the security of the jobs that hang in the balance?  Do we play it safe?  Do we protect the welfare of others above our own paycheck?

Or, do we say “no” to furloughs?  Do we say “you can’t bully us”?  Do we call their bluff?

Another factor: our contract has just begun renegotiation.  If we give in now will they expect us to give in later?  If we give them what they want now, will they be more willing to give us what we want later?  If we give a strong, united, “we won’t back down” will they play nice?

It was a really challenging decision.

We all attended mass at our beautiful church and following the mass was the baptism.  So many of our family and friends were able to make it to the ceremony and even more joined us once we got back to the house for the luncheon.  In all I believe we had about 45 people over to our house which made us very glad that we finally finished the basement because we definitely needed that space.  It was a gorgeous, albeit hot, day outside so there were plenty of tables and chairs set up for people to hang out outside too.  I love being surrounded by so many people that I love at one time and it makes my heart glad knowing that there are all of these wonderful people in Johnny’s life that love him immensely.

We had a fantastic day visiting with everyone and we didn’t even throw off Johnny’s schedule too much either.  Now we have a fridge stocked with delicious foods and plenty of cake to get us through the week.

My sister the photographer sent me a few snapshots to tide me over until she edits the whole batch.

“The old Irish, when immersing a babe at baptism, left out the right arm

so that it would remain pagan for good fighting”

• Bought myself an iced latte from Starbucks on the way to work.
• Work friend, Lacey, made me a cake! (ate cake as 2nd breakfast with co-workers)
• Chinese food for lunch.
• Played Uno all afternoon with a group of kids at work.
• Used my “treat receipt” after work to get a $2 Java Chip Frappuccino from Starbucks.
• Took Johnny to get his haircut (his 2nd but still notable) and visited with my friends Corey & Mary.
• Got birthday cards from my parents, Noah, John, and one from all of my co-workers too.
• Had a couch date with Noah that consisted of pizza and When Harry Met Sally
• Currently enjoying some “free time” and munching on the “Birthday Cake Remix” from Coldstone that Noah picked up for me today.

FANTASTIC DAY!!!

It got me thinking… SIX YEARS?  Seems like a lot but at the same time it feels like we’ve been married much longer than that.  When you figure… we spent the first 10 months doing a long distance/commuting relationship from 850 miles apart, a whole year apart due to the deployment, lived in 3 houses together, moved 4 times… but I guess that was really all in the first three years of our marriage.  It has definitely been nice being in one place for the last three years; it has been great being TOGETHER for the last three years.  It just feels like we’ve lived a lifetime together already, and maybe we have.  Together we have accomplished so much — from our multiple and on-going home improvements, to the easy way we go through the day-to-day joys and hiccups of life, and lest we not leave out our greatest accomplishment of all: our amazing son.

Life together hasn’t gotten boring… it feels like we’re always readjusting to new things.  At first it was the “honeymoon phase” and adjusting to life together but apart; there was then the adjustment to being together at last but so far from family and friends; we adjusted to life on separate continents; we embraced our move to our very own home but had to learn how to live together again after being a year and worlds apart; life settled down for once into the mundane stresses of work, school, and wanting to start a family; we loved the pregnancy and Noah seemed happy to make daily trips to the next town over to bring me whatever I was craving at work; and for the last 7 months we’ve had the best and most challenging adjustment of all which is obviously life with our baby and learning to do the parenting dance.  It’s been a long and sometimes bumpy road but generally we’ve had good weather and few stops for repairs along the way.

There is a song that I came to love years ago, it’s called “Life’s A Dance.” I didn’t know it until years after first enjoying the song that the lyrics are so true: “Life’s a dance, you learn as you go.  Sometimes you lead and sometimes you follow. …”  Life really is like a dance… grab your partner and go, trying not to trip the other or fall over yourself, and all the while holding onto one another.  It’s nice.
I am blessed to have found my perfect partner so early in life.  How many people meet their soul mate when they’re 13?  There is no one I would rather snuggle up with, parent with, or be in love with.

Life’s a dance you learn as you go / Sometimes you lead, sometimes you follow
Don’t worry about what you don’t know / Life’s a dance you learn as you go

The longer I live the more I believe / You do have to give if you wanna recieve
There’s a time to listen, a time to talk / And you might have to crawl even after you walk
Had sure things blow up in my face / Seen the longshot, win the race
Been knocked down by the slamming door / Picked myself up and came back for more

I write like
Cory Doctorow

I Write Like by Mémoires, Mac journal software. Analyze your writing!

Who is Corey Doctorow?

My most recent trip to Trader Joe’s was a great one, as they all are.  I purchased some frozen food stuffs for me to take with to work for lunches, delicious juices, and some burritos for Noah.  (Noah loves burritos.)  I have already enjoyed some tofu pad thai and dinner seasoned with soyaki sauce.  Yum.

Friday we had some car troubles before leaving town, so we were a bit behind schedule and didn’t get to see some friends I had wanted to see that night when we got into my hometown.  “The best laid plans,” and all.  Saturday we spent the whole day with Noah’s side of the family which was awesome in and of itself but really extra great because we got to chill out and see lots of family we rarely see.  They were all congregating up near Madison, WI which was a pleasant 110 minutes or so drive and we were in the great company of Noah’s dad, Andy, during the drive so it was just that much better.  We took a walk; visited with family from Georgia, Maine, Massachusetts, and New York; ate yummy food; and just relaxed.  Much needed and looking forward to next year’s gathering in Maine!

I’m taking a break out from my day today to tinker on the computer but I’ve already gone shopping with my mom — I love Trader Joes and Babies R Us! — had lots of play time with Johnny, and went swimming.  A great 4th of July weekend!