Home Improvement

We did a little spring cleaning and home improvement this weekend to make our ghetto fabulous house a little less ghetto and a little more fabulous.

When our house was originally built, the room we use as our living room was the garage. Somewhere along the line, someone converted it to a bonus-type room. Like most garages, it was not vented with heating or air conditioning and separated from the rest of the house by a door.

When we moved in, we took out the door and opened the room up to the rest of the house. The house really doesn't have a living room, so we spend most of our time of this room. Only problem is, it is super hot in the summer time and cold in the winter (imagine that!).

So this weekend Manuel decided to run a vent into the living room. After a short jaunt to Home Depot, we -errr he- was all set. After a couple hours of body contortioning work in our not-so-tall attic, we have heat!! That makes it seem like I did anything to complete this project . . . all I did was hand stuff up to the attic and watch Tyler =)

See how pretty she is?? I am really look forward to seeing how this baby works in the dead of summer when its 100+ degrees outside!!

My Pinterest experiment

If you haven't joined pinterest yet- you are missing out! It took me awhile before I "got it" and really understood why so many people are addicted to that website. In case you don't know . . . its chalk full of cute ideas, recipes, crafts, decorating ideas etc. Basically anything anyone thought was cool in on there. Go check it out! I'll wait . . . . .




See what I mean??

I made ribs in the crock pot using a recipe I found on pinterest . .  they were yummy. I let them cook a little too long I think. Next time I will try with less time (or maybe on low?) and see if I get different results.

I found a really easy looking recipe for a breakfast bread (looking for the recipe? Click here!) using a bunch of stuff I already had in my kitchen. So I decided to give it a try . . . I got to use my fluted pan (that still had the original packaging on it!) that was a wedding present. You know, for the wedding we had over three years ago . . . . Basically you take Grands rolls, maple syrup, brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon and bake it til its all melted and delicious.


Here's the pictures from the website (just in case you are too lazy to check it out yourself)


I was fully expecting mine to look nothing like the photos above. To my complete surprise- it came out looking so YUMMY!!!

See???

Now let's just hope there is some left for Manuel to try when he gets home!

I used Grands biscuits. I think next time I will cut the biscuits into four pieces before baking because as it, they make for a pretty big serving. If they were small bit size pieces I could just graze on them all day long . . . .

Where was Tyler during all the yummy food experimentation? Sleeping in his CRIB! His his room!!! If you know us, you know how big of a deal that is! Thank you homedics sound machine!! All I heard on the baby monitor was the calming sounds of the ocean. It's very peaceful actually.

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What I miss about teaching

Every once in awhile, someone will ask me if I miss working/teaching. In a word: Yes. There are lots of things I miss about working.

What do I miss the most?
My teacher friends.
Ag teachers are a special group. There is just something special about someone who is willing to get up before the sun six (sometimes seven!) days a week in the springtime, just to go hang out with a bunch of high school kids. Maybe that's why we get along so well. Mommyhood can be very isolating. Now I'm up before the sun everyday, but it's not for the same reasons!

(Ag teachers don't pose for pictures very often!)

My students.
High school kids are entertaining. If it's not an excuse why they can't do something, it's something they said, did, or tried to do. I used to have a student who would come into my room (EVERYDAY) and draw silly pictures on my board, just for fun. The same student also dubbed herself my "self appointed favorite student". I genuinely liked teaching high school. I know people used to cringe sometimes when I told them I taught high school. It's the Kindergartners that would scare me!

My salary/insurance
I would be lying if I said I didn't miss the extra income we used to have. I thought I stressed about money when we had two incomes! I also really miss our insurance. We have insurance now through Manuel's work, but its not as good as what my school insurance was!


Would I change the ways things are now to go back? Not in a million years . . . .

Four Months Old

My little man turned 4 months old yesterday. I usually try to get a cute picture of him laughing or giggling on his month birthday, but I didn't get the chance to yesterday! Here's some cute pictures of him anyway!!

We attended a fundraiser dinner for the Fresno City Baseball Team. It was a quasi formal affair with dinner, dancing, and a silent auction. We were originally told "no kids", but there was nothing on the ticket that said so. As a baby, Tyler gets an exemption anyway. As we walked in, I heard two old men say "This is not something I would want to bring a baby to". Since Tyler won't take a bottle, we had no choice but to bring him. I don't really care what old men have to say about my baby anyway! He had a great time! He loved looked at all the people and the music. We got home far after his usual bedtime but he was still in a good mood!

  

This is a picture from the next morning . . .  everyone was tired! He napped while holding onto my arm. His chubby little hands get me every time.

Tyler's newest talent is sticking out his tongue!! Yesterday he figured out how to stick it out the side of his mouth =)

What we have been up to . . . .

I originally wanted to have a weekly update with pictures and such of Tyler's happenings. Turns out I am terrible at taking pictures for said update. So here is what we have been up to for the past couple weeks, well when I remember to take pictures!

Last weekend we headed to Tenpanyaki at a local restaurant. It was delicious! I was nervous that Tyler was going to flip out because it was near his usual bedtime and he can get very cranky if he's tired. He loved it!

Here is Tyler and a friend thoroughly entertained by the chef. He wasn't even scared when he lit the cooking area on fire. We may have a little daredevil on our hands!

 The fried rice was amazing, as was my steak. Tyler's dad even said he liked the vegetables (he hates vegetables!)

After dinner, we received a ton of hand-me-down clothes! I think we could not buy another outfit for Tyler until he's three and we would be OK! I'm still going though all the clothes and I'm not sure where I am going to put them, but they are all so cute!

I recently got out Tyler's Laugh and Learn Jumperoo. It's his new favorite. I think he would rather be playing in that than being held sometimes!! Below is a video of the first time he used it. Notice the Scene It? board game- doesn't everyone have the Seinfeld version?

Yeah- I think he likes it!

My mom and cousin were up visiting for the weekend and brought lots of gifts for Tyler! The baseball mitt is a gift from my dad (he's a bit of a sports nut). Tyler also made out with new outfits, books, videos, burp clothes, and toys! I think he did OK =) We had a great weekend of shopping, cooking, eating and hanging out!

After the death of one of my mom's beloved cats, she has been on the hunt for a new cat to join her kitty family. Meet Buddy. Disregard the strange glare on his cute little face. He was rescued from the Fresno SPCA. We get to pick him up after he gets neutered. Yeah for saving an animal from the pound!!

I know I missed some stuff that we did, but its a start! Next week I promise to try to take more pictures!

These are a few of my favorite things . . .

I can't read the title without singing it in my head!

Among all the baby gear we have for Tyler, there is really only a few things that gets used everyday. The rest of the stuff is just nice to have . . .


Our Circo Pack n Play probably gets the most use out of all the baby junk we have. Tyler LOVES to look at the animals on the mobile. This model also plays music, vibrates, and has a light. We only use the music portion. It's so handy to be able to put him down and know he's safe and somewhat entertained. It came with a changing table thing, but you can't have the mobile and changing table attached at the same time so it never gets used.


I originally registered for the Fisher Price Bunny swing, but when we didn't get it for our baby shower, we went to the store to get it. When I saw the lamb swing I just had to have it. It was $5 less than the bunny swing, so I thought I was getting the best of both worlds. Wrong. The lamb swing only operates on batteries where as the bunny swing will plug into the wall. Fail. Batteries or not- Tyler loves this thing (he's actually in it right now). He did go through a phase where he didn't care for it, but it's back on his love list. I love it because he falls asleep in it rather quickly!



This is the Nojo Farm Babies Mobile. We have the entire bedding set, lamp, and mobile. The only thing that really gets used is the mobile. Its crank operated, and I'm pretty sure we broke it by cranking it too hard. Tyler would watch the animals go around all day if we let him. I just wish it lasted a little longer.


I thought the Nap Nanny was going to be the end all to our sleep problems. I was wrong, but it's still handy to have. It's basically a piece of foam covered in fabric. The incline is 30 degrees which is supposed to be optimum for babies. Tyler won't sleep in his, but I put him in it in the mornings while I eat breakfast. He likes it because he can look around, without being flat on his back. For whatever reason the incline also helps him poop! You can almost guarantee that he will poop within the next ten minutes after you put him in it!


The Fisher Price Laugh and Learn Jumperoo is the newest tool in our baby arsenal. Tyler is just old enough and almost tall enough (we improvise with books) to be able to use this toy to it's full potential. Right now, his favorite toy is the chicks in the bubble. I haven't put the batteries in it yet, I'm going to hold out as long as possible before he realizes it makes noise.

I'm sure there are more essentials that I am missing, but that is all I can see from where I type on the couch =)

Tyler's Birthstory

** Disclaimer** I am indeed married to Tyler's father. When you see him referred to as "Tyler's dad" it's because he doesn't want his name used on the blog.

I wrote the events of Tyler's birth shortly after he was born. I thought I was going to be able to save it, but no such luck. So I am going to try to remember what happened almost four months ago with accuracy (we will see how it goes!)

Thanks to a little gem called gestational diabetes I had a scheduled induction for 6 pm Wednesday September 21. Tyler's original due date was September 30th. We had a fairly warm summer (who am I kidding- its always hot in the valley in the summer!) so I am anxiously awaiting the 21st.

I was very worried about my first baby, Spencer (the dog) so it was nice to have a concrete date set so I knew when to have someone look after him. My mom came over to watch Spencer and the cats so we could proceed to the hospital without worry.

We had dinner at Luna's Pizzeria in Clovis. I figured I was going to need my energy for labor so I didn't feel the slightest bit guilty about eating carbs. I was instructed to call at 5pm to make sure there was a bed available for me. For whatever reason, just calling the hospital made it all seem real.

We got to the hospital just before six and proceeded to make our way to the admission area. The hospital was under construction so there was no main entrance. We walked in the outpatient entrance and around a bunch of corners and hallways before figuring out where we needed to go. They even gave us a map! The admissions guy was funny, joking with us and making us feel more comfortable. You could tell he was used to dealing with crazy pregnant people!

We took the elevator up to the labor and delivery floor. I was put in a room at the end of the hallway, from what I remember from my hospital tour was bigger than the rooms on either side of the hallway. My nurse, Irene, was cute and young, but extremely knowledgeable, which made me feel at ease. The original plan was to give me cervadil in the evening and start pitocin 12 hours later. Irene determined that I was already 3 cm dilated and contracting every 2-3 minutes. I couldn't feel a thing! She checked with my Dr. and it was determined to go ahead and start the pitocin and skip the cervadil. The started the pitocin drip and upped the dosage every 30 minutes until I could feel the contractions. To my surprise it was at least an hour or so before I felt anything at all. I have never been one to think I had a high tolerance for pain for I was pretty surprised. I had to ask Tyler's dad to look at the contraction monitor to confirm that I was indeed having a contraction when I finally started to feel something. Out of a possible 16 (the highest pitocin dose) I was at a 9. I'm not sure how much time passed before I really started to feel them and ask for an epidural- an hour maybe?? Irene had said I could have an epidural at anytime because I was already at three centimeters, but warned if I wanted one and the anesthesiologist was in surgery, it would take an hour before he could get to me. I didn't hesitate to jump at the first chance to get out of pain. The Dr. was AMAZING. I think the whole thing lasted maybe 10 minutes. I have been in more pain at the dentist. I remember watching Seinfeld and napping after the epidural. Irene checked me again after I was out of pain and determined I was five centimeters. Progress! I took and nap and took it easy after that. Hospitals are not for the tired however. They check for blood pressure often, like every hour or so. Then Tyler would move away from the monitor and they would have to reposition it. Tyler's dad is a pretty light sleeper so I don't think he got any rest.

Sometime around 2am, I started to feel pain/pressure. I thought I wasn't supposed to feel anything!! We called for the nurse and she checked me again and said I was at a 9! Somehow I went from 5-9 centimeters in just about an hour! So so glad for the epidural!

Irene called my Dr and said I could try to push. And push I did. For over an hour. NOTHING happened. I pushed some more. Still no progress.

Finally just before 4 am my Dr arrived. She confirmed what Irene had suspected. My pelvis wasn't big enough to get the baby out. I was tired of pushing and exhausted in general so we decided to go ahead and do a c-section.

The actual surgery was pretty uneventful.I threw up from the anesthesia, which sucked, but I didn't feel any pain for pressure. Tyler's dad had to sit in a chair next to me, but couldn't see anything going on. Tyler's head was stuck in my pelvis and they had to try pretty hard to get him unstuck. My body was moving around the table, but still no pain.

Finally they got him out and cleaned him up before they showed him to me. I wish I would have been able to do skin to skin with him, but that just wasn't in the cards. Tyler's dad walked him the nursery where they weighed him, bathed him, and warmed him up.

Tyler Anthony arrived September 22 at 4:28 in the morning.

Two hours later I was transferred to my room,  and only then was I allowed to hold my son. I was pretty high on pain killers so my memory of this is a bit fuzzy- I'm glad Tyler's dad was there and we have pictures.

Gender Confusion

Tyler is 3 1/2 months old. He, like most babies his age,  he looks pretty unisex when naked. Which is why most moms of little girls dress their kids in frillies with pink and boys get trucks and such. It has come to my attention that maybe I am not doing a good enough job broadcasting to the world that my son is indeed, a boy.

Thursday I had the privilege of having lunch with a couple of friends from college after getting measured (oh so fun) for one friend's wedding. We were having lunch when someone said "what a cute girl". I smiled and kinda laughed it off, both friends were quick to correct her and we went on with our meal. He was wearing a white onesie with dinosaurs on it and brown pants.

Fast forward to Saturday. An elderly man stopped me and said what I cute baby and then asked if the blue dinosaurs he was wearing was for a boy or a girl. Seriously??? Blue. Dinosaurs. Does he need a sign that says he is a card carrying boy? Maybe I should dress him in all pink and see what happens.

I made a post on facebook about this to see what my other parent friends had to say. Most agreed that people just don't pay attention to determine the sex of babies. I think if I couldn't tell. I most certainly wouldn't ask the parents. What happened to the days of politely asking "How old is your baby?" or "What is your baby's name?" both could lead to determination of said babies gender. Maybe I am getting my panties in a bunch over nothing. Probably.

Another possible explanation is Tyler has REALLY long eyelashes. Like he could model baby mascara or something. He gets it from his dad. I will be interesting to see what happens the next time he wears an outfit with dinosaurs in it.

So this is it . . . .

I thought long and hard about when and if I should start a blog. What would I write about? Would anyone even read it? Do people even care about a blog that is sure to be riddled with baby pictures and baby stories? After careful consideration I decided it didn't matter if anyone read my thougths. I wanted to the record events and stories so I would be able to remember Tyler's babyhood with fond regard.

So here goes . . . .

I am taking a year off from teaching high school to care for my baby. They are only little once, right? So far, I love it. Do I get bored? Of course. Do I sometimes I think I am not a contributing member of society? You betcha. But being home with Tyler watching him grow up means more to me any paycheck. What else I miss about teaching will be a hole other post in itself. 

How could you not love that face?

So my goal is to post at least twice a week, maybe more as Tyler gets a little older and can entertain himself for longer periods of time.