Fight the Good Fight

AGAINST WASHER MILDEW!


Just discovered how gross the rubber of my front loading washer is. I've attacked it with an old toothbrush and chlorine free bleach, ran the hot cycle, and wiped down the rubber. I've even pulled out the Q-tips to get inside the holes of the rubber ring.

Now, I've got to get chlorine bleach and try again, because it's even close to clean. I'm not a germ freak, but the idea of putting fresh little onesies into the wash to 'sanitize' for my new baby girl is a joke given the present state of my washer.

Girls, to solve this problem and perform preventative maintenance, Martha says:

Clean the rubber seal with 1 cup of chlorine bleach to 2 cups warm water. Wipe with clean cloth dipped in bleach. Fill bleach dispenser with bleach and run the empty washer through a complete cycle using hot water. Repeat every 2 to 4 months. I’d add that wiping down the rubber seal after each use would be a good thing as well.

Let my poor housekeeping be an example to you. CONSTANT VIGLIANCE!

Scrubs and Kisses!

Peccadilloes

Funny little story:
I was giving Jay a bath in the a.m. last week, and since he knows how to climb out of the tub, I hauled him out as soon as possible and placed him on the floor.  He crawls off and finds his big stuffed teddy bear and gives it a kamikaki hug.  I dipe and dress him, and soon notice a big wet stain on the floor.  Then I check teddy.  Wet.  I can only Febreeze the carpet, but I'm able to fluff and fold ol' teddy.  Boys and their territory.

Jay is now in the 91st percentile for height and 85th for weight.  He is around 29 pounds.  He is cutting two more bottom front teeth and can't seem to shake a runny nose and cough.  No runny nose last Wednesday at the doc; wakes up with one on Thursday.  I guess it's the unpredictable weather.

Here's a picture from Thanksgiving weekend.  We went up to Dahlonega to see the Southern Living Idea House and took this picture near his Great Aunt's house site.

I'll include some pics from my sweet shower for Baby Sarah.  It was the bee's knees.  I have the best sister.

I'm gonna get a Santa picture and hopefully a family shot.  Trying to remember that Christmas is about the miracle of the incarnate Christ sent for man, not my need to document a faux perfect family in matching plaid!

Two views on Fort Hood

Cal Thomas on the Fort Hood Shooter in today's article "E. Pluribus Diversity":
"Why do so many Americans seem ashamed and apologetic about America? Holding the view that America is unexceptional and that no idea, policy, belief, or practice is to be preferrred over any other is not diversity. Rather, it is thin gruel; unappealing and unappetizing, and it robs us of our strength."
http://www.news-record.com/content/2009/11/12/article/cal_thomas_e_pluribus_diversity
Eugene Robinson in the Washingston Post "Failing Our Troops at Fort Hood"
A view from the other side the political spectrum.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/11/09/AR2009110902601.html

Both writers are right on in my view. Common sense should prevail.

What do you think?

Ain't No Brag...

2009 Nissan Quest

Mama's got a brand new van! (Duh na na na na, duh na na na na, HEY!)

We have truly succumb to the parenting lifestyle. And honestly, we really like it. When you are using seemingly contradictory phrases like "sweet ride" and "so much space" to describe your vehicle, you probably have two or more young children.

It's hard to believe that we 1) bought a new car and 2) it was a surprise to me. We've had our 2004 Highlander for a year, and it's been great. Sporty and dependable and a huge step up in reliability. But I was kicking myself for not looking at any used vans, especially now that we have another baby coming. I wasn't ready to accept being a mini-van driver.

What a difference a pregnancy makes. You go all crazy. Five years ago, we started out with two twin mattresses on the floor, and paid off $24, 000 dollars in debt in a year and half. We bought a $1500 Geo Metro (in a purple-ish tint) for Alex with cash at auction. No credit cards, nothing.

So, when Alex pulls up to pick me up from tutoring in a NEW mini-van, I was shocked. He had casually mentioned the good deals he was watching. We took in the Highlander for servicing earlier that morning. It never broke down on us, but we had taken it in a few times for various issues. A part that Alex had recently replaced had gone bad, and he mentioned leveraging his interest in a competitor's vehicle with Toyota. But I really didn't expect to be driving home in a different car.

Now, I guess I could have been mad for not being there and choosing the color and making a reasoned decision, but if my "baby daddy" wants to buy us a van, well, I'm okay with that.

So, I guess we have "suspended" our new-cars-are-the-devil's-handmaiden philosophy for the next 6 years.

I agree: Debt is still dumb, cash is still king; sorry Dave, but mama's gotta ride!

Trick or Treat?

Jay and Grandma

The three of us (plus my belly)

Firefighter

Jay and Daddy

At Elliott Farms

A little of both. We had grandparents in town, which is always nice. We enjoyed a big breakfast at Cracker Barrel (try the Apple Butter French Toast) and went to our church's Harvest Festival. Jay's still too little to play most games, but hey-- I got a funnel cake and a prerequisite Halloween ouftit photo of us.

The trick? Around 7 p.m. as I was lighting our jack-o-lantern, Jay opens his mouth and lets forth a mighty stream of yuckiness. Oh yes, projectile vomiting.

He seemed pretty unfazed by the proceedings, but was sick on the hour for most of the night, but at least was so exhausted that he went right back to sleep. I feel ill later that night and stayed in bed (when I wasn't running to the bathroom). I was glad that neither of us ran a fever. Alex got sick Monday. Of course, he was the most dramatic sickie of us all!

The crude is gone now, and hopefully Jay will work out this cough. Maybe we will all be able to attend church this weekend. I'll just keep my bubble in the car, just in case.