Well, it’s been a busy back to work day… Nathaniel slept in until 8:30, so I got a little time in the garden this morning, pulling weeds and pulling up some baby carrots. Then it was off to work for the first time since vacation.

I didn’t get home until a bit after 5, and mom had already put Nathaniel down for his afternoon nap. She knew he’s been sleeping through the nap from his naps, so she’d already put him in a night diaper (FuzziBun) and pjs… Since he slept so late, I didn’t really get to spend much time with him today, and that was sad. Gabriel didn’t see him at all today, expect for peeking in on him while he’s sleeping this evening (he left for work long before N was awake).

I am thinking that I need to develop a schedule for myself… I’m not getting much accomplished lately (since school finished in March) and there’s tons to be done. Some lists will help me to figure out what I want to tackle first, and then a schedule will help prioritize me time.

This evening I decided I HAD to bake some scones to use some of our yummy boysenberries from the garden… I used this recipe and they turned out lovely, though since I used fresh berries instead of dried, they aren’t as dry as scones typically seem to be. Which is fine actually! I also whipped some fresh cream to go along… It’s not the same as being in Ireland and having Eileen’s scones, but it will have to do for a few years.

Then I decided we really should have more than scones and cream for dinner (sad, but true), so I defrosted the chicken sausage and whipped up a batch of squashsta (my own creation… pasta + summer squash + chicken sausage + parm/romano cheese + splash of EVOO & basalmic + yellow pear tomatoes when we have them [not this time - plants haven’t fruited yet]). I tossed in a bunch of fresh basil too since we got a bunch of that this week in our CSA box. YUM YUM, it’s lovely to have squashsta again! It’s a summer food and it’s one of my favorites.

I didn’t get any cleaning done this evening, but I think with the baking and cooking, I have been adequately productive for the day. I’m going to sit and knit for a while and see if I can come closer to finishing up my first knitting project (shorties for Nathaniel), while enjoying a cup of tea and watching The Closer. I’ll be productive again tomorrow. LOL

Well, we have been home just a few days from our trip to Ireland. It was amazing, though I would have liked more time in every location we stayed.

Pictures are going up today in the gallery. We have lots of video too, but not sure when we’ll get that up. And I’ll start writing the recap of our trip here on my blog soon.

Since we have been home, Nathaniel has been a sleeping machine. Wednesday night he slept a normal amount (we got home about 8 pm). But the next three nights, he has slept increasingly longer hours… from 4 pm until 6 am Thurs/Fri, then 3 pm until 6 am Fri/Sat, and then from 2:30 pm until 7:30 am Sat/Sun. He did stir a bit this morning at 6, but was happily chatting to himself so we didn’t rush to get him… 20 minutes later, he was back asleep. At first I thought it was jet lag, but now I’m thinking growth spurt or perhaps simply his teeth (his top 2 1-year molars are coming in). It’s been a quiet few evenings around here… rather strange!

Shortly before we left for Ireland I started knitting my first project… shorts for Nathaniel. I made great progress during the trip and today have been working on the seed stitch cuffs… If I can grab a few more hours to knitting, they should be done this week. It wasn’t nearly as hard as I expected, and I’m really loving my Harmony needles.

That’s all for now… I’ll try to get the first portion of the trip written up this evening.

Just unpacked the co-op box of yarn from Mosaic Moon. Crafters, enjoy and try not to drool on the keyboard.

After 18 (technically 20) years, 9 schools, and 3 changes in my major…
I have FINALLY finished my bachelor’s degree.

89-91 (still in HS): Antelope Valley College… Yep, I was a geek & took college classes while still in high school.

91: Baylor University… Nursing Major

92: University of Alabama… Still a Nursing Major
92: Calhoun Community College… ditto

93: Cuesta College… Computer Science

94 or 95?: Ventura College…Computer Science

98-02: Antelope Valley College (Grad Dec 01 with AA)…Started with Computer Science and then realized I hated programming and switched to English.

08: American Military University (online) for a history class to transfer in for my minor

03-09*: California State University Bakersfield, AV Campus
*(dropped out 04-05, returned in Jan 06)

So when I woke this morning I definitely noticed that I’d worked out last night… Sore upper back, sore shoulders, sore chest. Not miserable DOMS but just the nice soreness that gives you that “I had a good workout” feeling.

By this evening - when we started out plyometrics workout, my legs really like lead. Really heavy lead. And we had an hour plyo workout? Ha. Somehow though, we got through it (admittedly, the second half I didn’t do much jumping, and my legs trembled like crazy during the multitudinous squats).

So. We have survived day 2 of P90X. Gabriel thinks that tomorrow we should do the workout in the morning, since his WoW group normally starts at 8… but I don’t think there’s any way either of us will be able to get up at 5:30 to do a one hour (legs!) workout and then actually survive through the day…

My husband borrowed some workout CDs from a friend at work, so we started this (insane) program tonight after we put Nathaniel to bed.

Our first workout was chest & back + ab ripper… Talk about one heck of a workout!

The goal is to get in shape before our trip to Ireland so we have the stamina for all the walking we have planned there (and carrying Nathaniel through all that walking!).

It feels great to be working out again, even if it’s not in a gym. Honestly I’m so squishy right now I’d be a bit embarrassed to go the gym anyways. Nathaniel thought it was funny to smack my belly last night and watch it jiggle (like a bowl of Jell-O, seriously). I thought it looked gross. I want to be in shape! And most importantly, I want to have seriously strong abs/core muscles to prevent my stupid back from having further issues!

By March 1st: Pay off credit cards AND NEVER USE THEM AGAIN
Between March and mid-May: Save $6,000 for trip to Ireland
Between June and December: Pay off my car ($10,000) and save for midwife fees for next baby ($4,000)

How it feels not being in debt: PRICELESS!

Nathaniel is 1!!!

I will get his birthday party pictures uploaded soon - possibly tomorrow. We just had a small party with my parents, brother, and the three of us. We had pizza for dinner and then of course, CAKE.

Nathaniel had a great time with his gifts and the cake too. Well, the frosting. He wasn’t too keen on the cake itself, but he had a great time playing with the frosting.

******

Imbolc is tomorrow. May Brigit’s blessings rain down upon you!

I got a bit confused with the calendar this morning and thought today was Feb 1st, so I did my ritual cleansing today. LOL Gabriel asked if I had to redo it tomorrow… I imagine I could, but I suspect it won’t matter.

It was so refreshing to have all of the windows open and burn the sage with the fresh breeze. Little else has that special feeling of new beginnings as when I perform a house cleansing during the sabbats of the cooler months… The combination of the crisp fresh air with the pagan music heavy with drumming and the warm scent of smoldering sage… mmm… It’s something that I find full of promise and renewal.

*****

Perhaps this should be it’s own post. We’ll see how long it gets, I may have to break it out.

Books… I’m a fan of most of them. From fluff novels for pure entertainment (depending on your perspective, that could be anything - for me, fluff = romance & mysteries) to historical fiction that is entertaining as well as a bit educational… I read many genres, as does my husband. So of course we hope that Nathaniel will be an avid reader too (and I think perhaps we may even be shocked if he is not…).

However… I must say that I have discovered a type of book which I loathe. Despise. And even perhaps would like to burn.

Books that talk, make noises, and most especially READ the book for you piss me off. This is NOT what books are meant to do, and I find it indicative of the development of the “entitlement” generation that such books have become so commonplace. They disgust me and I would love to throw them in the trash can (since burning wouldn’t be safe as these “books” are comprised of poisonous plastics unlike REAL books made simply of paper).

Books are tools to unlock the imagination. They are not supposed to talk, make noises, or otherwise “entertain” in the manner of a television or computer. If all children’s toys/books do the imagining for them, what will happen to our children’s own imagination? How will it develop when there is no opportunity - or need - because everything does the work for them???

Ugh.

So I know this is horriblely against etiquette to say, but I feel compelled to do so nevertheless. If anyone reading feels inclined to give Nathaniel (or our future children) a gift, please, please, PLEASE, do NOT give him books that require batteries/talk/make noise/etc.

Books are wonderful gifts. But they should be REAL books - made of paper, words, and doors to the imagination.

Ok just a quick qualifier - yep, I know, I’m way overdue for posting. It’s been a busy few months. I’ll catch up in the next post. Right now I have something under my skin itching to get out.

Last night I was depressed… Between my latest back injury (Jan 4th) and PMS, I have been feeling really crummy for weeks. A friend on facebook asked me yesterday if I EVER feel good, and for some reason that really hit me… No… not for weeks.

The last few weeks of December I was actually feeling pretty good - I’d started working out again sort of regularly. Exercising has been a challenge since Nathaniel arrived. I just can’t seem to fit it in often enough.

*digression begins*
Then, on what should have been (and was, until…) a FANTASTIC day - Gabriel’s birthday and Nathaniel’s first trip to Disneyland - my back went out. That morning I felt great and was so excited to be at one of my favorite places in the world, I was literally bouncing.

Not long after entering the park - maybe 1 hour - I noticed my back felt a bit off. I suggested Gabriel do the baby hauling or keep N in th stroller, and limit my lifting him.

After another hour, maybe less, my back felt worse - not really in pain yet, just taut and I could tell things were not looking good. I tried to ignore it because 1) it was Gabriel’s birthday and I didn’t want to ruin it nor 2) Nathaniel’s first trip and 3) I LOVE Disneyland and had really really been looking forward to the trip and didn’t want to ruin it for ME either.

*sigh*

My back had other plans. After a while I decided perhaps laying down for a bit would help, so we found a nice shady spot & I stretched out on the brick wall area (across from the lake where the raft & canoes are, next to the Haunted Mansion) while Gabriel pushed Nathaniel around in the stroller, hoping he would crash out for a nap.

Well, getting Nathaniel to nap worked. But the lay down actually made my back worse.

We had reservations for lunch at the Blue Bayou (pretty much the coolest place to eat ever - for those who don’t recognize the name - is the restaurant in The Pirates of the Carribbean ride). I was determined to enjoy that lunch no matter how much pain I was in, and we still hadn’t been on one of my favorite rides (Haunted Mansion). So, I walked and tried to stretch a bit while we waited to be seated.

Aside from my back pain, lunch was PERFECT. We had a great seat on the edge, closest to the “bayou,” so we could see the boats glide past and the fireflies twinkle. It was probably the best seat we’d ever had there. Nathaniel slept through the entire meal. We had gumbo and cold shrimp starters (like a shrimp cocktail but slightly different… very yummy). And then our usual - split the Monte Cristo sandwich. YUM. Divine. And like a million calories. But with all the walking at Disneyland, they don’t count.

Sadly, I was hurting throughout the meal, but it wasn’t too bad, yet. We had grabbed fastrip tickets for Haunted Mansion before eating, so afterwards we headed there for one last ride before giving in to the back pain. (For some reason I think we went on something else after lunch too, but I can’t remember for certain…) HM was excellent, decked out in the Nightmare before Christmas theme (we were there on the last day of the holiday decor).

We walked around a bit more, I was hoping that my back would suddenly knock it off… to no avail. We hopped the monorail back to downtown Disney to save some of the walking back to the hotel. By the time we got there I was done. I took a hot bath and felt better while soaking, but within minutes of getting out I was miserable. We had room service burgers for dinner and Gabriel rented a wheelchair (they didn’t have walkers) so that I could use it to get around in the room (I used it like a walker, not sitting in it). Fortunately Nathaniel napped when we needed him to again…. Once he was down for the night, Gabriel headed out to find a drugstore to get some Thermacare heat wraps in hopes it would help me sleep. (it and the million Advil did)

The next morning Gabriel had to do all of the packing up and loading by himself - plus take care of Nathaniel.

*digression ends*

Anyways, I have completely digressed from my original post intent. Which was, last night, I as feeling pretty miserable. I’ve been in pain for weeks, unable to hold my baby. I had to stop nursing him since I 1) couldn’t sit up and 2) couldn’t lift him. That sucked. The constant pain really sucked. And then last night I had the PMS blues on top of feeling like I will never have a life without back pain. Ugh. The weather (drizzly & cold) hasn’t helped.

So this morning I decided I needed to be productive to make myself feel better… I needed to accomplish something. Since my mom wasn’t coming over early like she has been (had a dr’s appt), I was going to be totally on my own with Nathaniel for the first time in weeks. I was a bit nervous about overdoing things and reinjuring my back, but so far, so good. (And mom is now on her way!)

I decided that part of my problem (feeling like I accomplish nothing) is that I spend too much time on the computer. It’s on normally as soon as I wake up, and off only minutes before I go to bed. Not that I sit here all day, but, certainly, more than necessary. And if it’s not the computer, it’s the TV or the DS. Lots of electronic devices sucking my life away!!!

So. I did not turn on the comptuer this morning. I did not turn on the TV. I got up, took a shower, made my family breakfast, packed my husband’s lunch, and played with my baby. I cleaned breakfast dishes right away, and then cleaned a bit in the kitchen while Gabriel took Nathaniel to brush his teeth. I changed Nathaniel and got him dressed, and then we played a bit more… He decided he wanted to head to the kitchen, so we did and he had fun tossing a water bottle around while I cleaned. Every so often he’d take a break from the bottle and get up and walk around the kitchen (holding on to my pants or the cupboards).

It was a lovely morning. Truly. Peaceful. I feel tons better than I did last night.

And I accomplished something! My kitchen looks lovely, white and shiny.

Peace… unplugged

New rule: no computer or TV before Nathaniel goes down for his nap. Really, there’s plenty to do and it’s not like my life will end if I can’t get online until 10 am.

Tiny Lady Cooperative