Why you should never trust your GPS in Japan

Distance to Destination:  13 km  (8.1 miles)
Estimated Travel Time: 37 minutes

LIES!!!!!

Actual Travel Time: 61 minutes.

With a cranky two year-old.  In the rain.

This is normal people.  As in everyday occurrence, not unusual, par for the course, expected.

And family and friends ask why we don't travel much...

I'm Still Alive

So just a quick update, since I appear to have fallen off the face of the planet:

Life's been busy, or not, depending on how you look at it.

I LOVE staying home with Baby Bird and she's been tickling us left and right with the funny things she does and says.  She's entered the age of cute and silly but hasn't quite gotten to the defiant stage.  We're hoping to skirt around that one as long as possible!  We've dabbled in the idea of elimination communication (also known as infant pottying) and so far it seems to have paid off - we're "catching" more and more trips to the potty and therefore having to wash fewer diapers.  I'm a big fan of less laundry.  From the looks of things she may well learn independent pottying early - yay!  Of course now that I've said that it'll probably come back to bite me...

We're at the decision point for military career choices.  We have about a year and a half till our assignment here ends and the enlistment runs up at the same time.  Stay in?  Get out?  Go Guard or Reserves?  Move to Tahiti?  We have way more questions than answers right now but I think that's okay.  God is good and we know He has a plan, we just need to figure out how to listen!

I've always loved baking and recently started decorating cakes for friends' birthday parties and such.  It's been going well enough that *gasp* I'm working on starting up my very first home business!  Thrilling and scary at the same time.  I'm not sure our kitchen will ever be the same.  Did I mention this new line of business is absolutely terrible for my waistline?  Thank goodness for friends who are willing to sacrifice by tasting all my trial run goodies!

Well, that's us in a nutshell right now - busy but in a generally peaceful way, and trying to follow where God leads us.  Life is good and God's even better!

Tonight's Bible Study

Oh. My.

Not even sure where to start on this one.

4:30 decision was made to move our weekly Bible study to our house for the evening.  Quick glance around the house, not too shabby yet since we haven't even unpacked from our halfway-around-the-world trip, so sure, no prob.

5:00 Baby Bird is still sleeping and the last-minute cleaning is going pretty well.  As in the toilet no longer has 3 months worth of boy grime on it.  Wait, that's not fair.  In all honesty my husband probably did clean the toilet at least once while we were gone.  Thank you my husband, for sparing me the worst of the boy grime.

5:30 Baby Bird's up, Papa's on the phone, the dog's begging to go outside and oops I think we forgot to feed her? and my friend is ringing the doorbell which makes the dog go ballistic and the house still looks like a furball exploded in it and we have people coming over in 30 minutes and Baby Bird's whining for food and I haven't started dinner yet but it's okay because we still have time.  We can make it.

6:00 House is vacuumed, dog is crated, child's happily smearing I mean eating peanut butter and pizza dough's in the works.  No sweat.

6:20 Child is now covered in peanut butter so off to the tub you go.  Baby Bird promptly stands up in the tub, slips, smacks the back of her head harder that she ever has before, screeches bloody murder, and gives me a minor heart attack.  The front door's opens, she's stark naked and covered head to toe in peanut butter, I scoop her up so I'M covered head to toe in peanut butter and people are supposed to be here any second and she's not bleeding but she hasn't stopped crying and we're both still covered in peanut butter and at least she hasn't peed on me... yet.  Where's the towel?

6:30 We're both clean.  And dry.  And peanut-butter free.  But Baby Bird has a nasty welt.  And the leader for the Bible study just drove up.  But that welt has me worried, so I call Daddy.  Who's at work.  With the car.  And the carseat.  No worries, he's on his way (thank God!) and my friend is here with her baby and we watch Baby Bird to see how she's doing and Daddy arrives just moments later.

6:40  Baby Bird seems to be okay.  Mama?  Maybe.  Still trying to put my stomach back in its proper place.  Did I mention I still haven't eaten yet?  Everyone seems to be okay.  Daddy and my friend are doing a great job helping me be steady.  Head injuries scare me.  We have experience with those.  They're not good.  But Baby Bird's okay :).

7:30  Baby Bird lets a Big One.  Shoulda' paid more attention...

7:45 Emergency call home has turned into lunch hour for Daddy, and I've enjoyed a catch-up talk with my friend.  The Bible study never really happened since noone else showed up.  We make plans to restart this week's lesson and get ready to send little ones to bed.  Hmmm... Baby Bird's a bit fragrant.

7:50  Really???  I mean REALLY?!?!  Glad we did this diaper in the tub, because there's no just wiping this one down!  Apricots!  In her hair!  And corn!  And oh Daddy, you gotta' come see what you're getting out of tonight!

One baby girl. Two baths.  Three sets of clothes.  And I'm done for the night.

Was that water dripping on my shoulder just now?  No.  I do not have time for a flood tonight.  Where's the Bailey's?

Lemme Tell Ya' about Our Day

We experienced many firsts today.  First sidewalk chalk, first point-to-something-and-Mama-carries-you-there excursion, first tornado sirens of our trip.  Oh wait, back up, forgot the exciting part.  Yes, first I-can-open-my-diaper-and-poop-in-the-crib adventure too.

It's been a gorgeous day all day today, a bit windy but a great day for outdoor play.  So play we did.  We explored so many nooks and crannies in the yard that it required a bath before afternoon nap.  Well, it's been so comfortably warm in the house and baby Bird's napped in just a diaper before, so I opted to give her little body some air time while she slept.  She snuggled down into her crib; I tucked her all 'round with her blanket and softly closed the door, blowing a kiss on the way out.

I didn't hear a peep for probably an hour and a half.  Now baby Bird typically naps about 2 hours in the afternoon, so the early wake-up should have been a clue.  She wasn't fussing though, just talking, so I gave her about another 30 minutes while I finished up some work on the computer.  Hmm.  How much you wanna' bet I should have gone in right when I heard those first little peeps?

Baby Bird did start fussing a little so I went in to rescue her from her nap.  I cracked the door open just a hair so we could play peek-a-boo on my way in.  It took a minute to click that something didn't look right.  Baby Bird was sitting a bit lower in the crib than normal (actually a mesh-sided pack-n-play) and the colors were off.  Even if I can't see her clearly through the mesh, I can usually see the bold swatch of color that's her cloth diaper.  Huh.  No swatch of color.  That's odd.

I peeked over the side and that's when it dawned on me, "You look like you're missing something!"

She peered up at me with her still-sleepy eyes, looking a bit confused.  It took me another few seconds to realize that she wasn't alone in her crib.  Flashbacks to friends' posts about their kids' diaperless naps blazed before my eyes.  How bad was this going to be?!

Well, thank God for solid foods.  It wasn't that bad.  Not that I'd care for a repeat.  Or to try that while pregnant.  Or in a hurry.  Or like ever again.  But ya' know, all things considered, it wasn't that bad.  The poop stayed on the blanket, the diaper was bone dry (phew, because she'd launched it out of the crib!), and since she was already stark naked she just went straight to bath #2 for the day.

Did I mention this was going on at the exact same time we had storms rolling in and the dog was begging to eat and dinner was supposed to be getting worked on?

No sooner did I get baby Bird hosed off and back into a diaper (with clothes over it this time), I heard the tornado sirens going off.  Back into the bathroom we go!

Hmm.  Never a dull moment.

Can I Get a Do-Over?

Our house is a pit.  Why?  Because we have too much STUFF and no place to store it all.  But we're slowly chipping away at the masses and mounds and boxes and bogs I mean bags that are taking over our apartment.  We're actually doing quite well considering in the last two years we've moved from a 4-bedroom house to a 2-bedroom apartment halfway around the world, had a baby, and said baby has reached toddlerhood and all its toy-induced chaos.  For example, we've discovered Flylady and have been "flinging" things for months.  At the rate we're running I figure it'll only take another 10 years or so to find our closets.  Oh yeah, and I forgot to mention that most of our STUFF is actually in storage in the States, so make that 20 years of flinging.  Oh well, it's good exercise.

Anyway, we decided that to at least organize our STUFF and get it off the floor where it's been for the last 2 years we ought to put up some shelves.  Enter the BX's single most affordable shelf.  I mean really, who on a military income can afford to shell out the $1000 marked on most of the furniture on base?  So yeah, $40 some-assembly-required BX special coming right up.

I am a capable woman.  I learned how to change a tire when I was 10 and the oil in the car around 12.  I can fix leaky pipes, build tv cabinets from scratch, and did backflips when we got a circular saw one year for Christmas.  I learned most of what I know from my mother, a mechanic/seamstress/jack-of-all-trades single mom - the kind that makes the world go 'round when nobody else feels like it or can't seem to get their acts together, and she does it all with a smile.  Amazing.  Bring on the philip's head and screws.

30 minutes and several trips to chase down missing hardware and tools that Little Bird decided to "help" carry all over the house later, this is what we ended up with:

Notice anything amiss?  How 'bout now:

Yeah.  Brilliant.  Guess we'll be doing this one again.

Trying

I've been struggling recently with a lot of base drama.  Normally it doesn't get to me, but there was a series of events that I could neither concientiously ignore nor get away from.  It resulted in withdrawing my participation in a group that until that point had been my most reliable source of spouse support, adult interaction, and time out of the house.  I have since found other avenues for support, interaction, and time away so I'm okay with those aspects of the change.  What I'm not okay with however is the nagging feeling of angry and helpless frustration following me around like a storm cloud waiting to break open.

I am well aware that I cannot change someone else's attitude or actions.  That's fine.  I can change mine.  This is a small community.  On a daily basis I am forced to face the situation, the people, and my decision.  Running away is not an option, so neither is ignoring the problem brewing beneath my skin.

"There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who is able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor?" -James 4:12

I am struggling to turn to the mirror so I can see the plank in my own eye.

Lord, please guide me in my thoughts, words, and actions.  Help me to love like you.  In You all things are possible.  Amen.

Thoughts on My Mind

• Daddy's home! (more on that later)
• Raw milk
• Composting
• Prepping our garden box
• What to plant?
• Our baby's turning ONE!!!
• Party planning
• Cleaning the house
• Furniture shopping
• Christmas gifts
• Painting
• Adult faith formation
• Overseas living
• It's way too late and I need to quit writing random lists

On that note, good night!

Jumpin' on the "Green" Wagon

New mission: a paperless kitchen :D.

Things we already do:

• Use cloth napkins till we run out (we have 10, and I only wash towels once a week so this stash lasts a few days or so)
• Dry our hands and dishes on dish towels
• Wipe the CLEAN counters dry with dish towels
• Have a handy place for dirty kitchen cloth

Things that need to happen to go paperless:

• Up our stash of cloth napkins (I'm thinking maybe 30 total? that'll cover guests, too)
• Take the paper towels out of the kitchen (we'll keep a small stash on hand for bacon grease and toilet scrubbing - for now anyway)
• Establish a stash of paper towel replacements (everyday kitchen rags - I think we're going to want a BUNCH of these)
• I think we're fine on the kitchen towel front (we have about 10 or 15, and typically only use one a day)
• Put a small shelf or drawer under the kitchen sink for cloth storage
• Possibly come up with a suitable drying place for kitchen cloth before it gets tossed in the laundry bin (to prevent mold growth.  eew.)

I've talked it over with my husband and he's given the go-ahead (I love my husband!).  His only request is lessons when he gets home :).  It'll take a little while to build up the stash so we'll continue to use paper towels for a little bit longer.  I'm also going to try and limit the amount of money we invest in this, so will be looking at repurposing old sheets or scoping out the Airman's Attic (like a thrift store, but everything is free!) for items than can be turned into kitchen cloth.

Have you made any "green" goals recently? Any tips on the whole "going paperless" process would be great!

2011 Goals

Not 2,011 goals!

I don't think I've ever written a list of New Year's resolutions... and these aren't resolutions persay (something about that word just asks for you to break them!).  The last several months I've been working on re-prioritizing and making healthier choices.  This list is a concrete extension of those changes, something tangible and attainable so I have something specific to look forward to and celebrate.  So, without further ado, my 2011 Goals:

1. Daily Quiet Time with God
2. Memorize 26 Scriptures (that's one every 2 weeks)
3. Continue participating in First Place for Health for the entire year
4. Use up fridge foods before buying new ones
5. Do something "new" with our daughter every week (art, field trip, whatever will work that week)
6. Build and follow a realistic daily routine (Fly Lady)
7. Schedule computer time so it doesn't take over my life!
8. Start training for a Marathon (walking 5 miles by June, 10 by December)
9. Make all gifts homemade

I'm terrible about saying I'll do something then not following through (even though I really want to!) so I'm holding myself accountable to this blog as a goal-tracker.  Wish me luck!

Do you have any goals - big or little, silly or serious, realistic or out-of-this-world - that you'll be working on this year?

Curious

In case you haven't already figured it out, we (and by that I mostly mean me) are on the chewy end of the "crunchy" crowd.  We're willing to try something new as long as it's a) affordable and b) not going to cause undue inconvenience.  Generally we prefer to make lifestyle choices that will benefit the earth and our bodies as opposed to causing harm (seeing as how our bodies ARE temples for God).  Sometimes convenience just plain wins out.  We're not perfect, but we're learning :).

So, the most current point of curiosity for me: using oil as a skin cleanser.  The general gist is your skin generates oil as a protectant and moisturizer.  The problem comes in when your skin's pores get clogged up with dirt, grime, bacteria, and "old" oil.  Oil dissolves oil (yay for science class!) so it should make a fine cleanser.
I've looked up a variety of sites and of course each has its own suggestions for oils and oil mixtures.  The most affordable/viable (yay for a BX that has limited selection!) option for me at this time is probably olive oil and castor oil (if I can find it).

Something tells me husband will think I'm nuts, but at this point he's pretty well used to it.  The running record has been as long as I'm willing to do the bulk of the experimenting and it's not going to cause him problems, then he's cool with whatever tangent I care to explore.  He even jumps on the bandwagon on occassion!  Hopefully I can get all the experimenting/kinks worked out before he gets home from deployment, then we can cross the bridge of getting him to try it.  I'll letcha' know how it goes!

Major Intervention: Day 1

We have a great dog.  She's driving me nuts.

Usually my husband takes her for periodic runs, hikes, and other high-energy adventures.  He's deployed.  Yay.

Most days, just making it to the point of showered, dressed, fed, and dog let out to go potty is quite the feat.  Our daughter's sleeping schedule is a mess, so that means mine is too.  We're all running on tired, stressed, and sick of Daddy not being home.

Our daughter's reaction is fussiness and a new conviction that she is the center of the universe and requiring of my full attention at all times.  My reaction is a shorter fuse and a lack of motivation and energy.  Our dog's reaction has been barking at sounds she can't identify (we live in an apartment, there are a LOT of unidentifiable sounds), jumping on and barking at visitors, and most recently growling at our daughter when our little one has come near the dog's food bowl.  That's a problem.  A big problem.  A big enough problem that without major intervention I think she's going to need a new home.

So.  Friday was Major Intervention: Day 1.  Major Intervention consists of:

• Daily walks of at least 30 minutes.  These aren't just exercise walks, these are show-the-dog-who's-in-charge-through-consistent-discipline walks.  Think Dog Whisperer.
• No more kicking her feet after she goes to the bathroom.  It's supposed to be a show of "I'm the boss" and help spread her scent, so nope, no go doggie.
• Immediate redirection to her bed every time she barks, jumps, begs for attention, etc. until she cools it and is ready to focus on my instructions.
• Eating only one time a day, while the baby is asleep.  If the dog doesn't eat within 30 minutes, the food gets put up.  If she's hungry she'll eat the next time food is offered (she's always been very good about self-regulating her food intake).

Once we get these elements in place we'll work in more tactics, but for now I think the most drastic changes in her behavior are going to be brought on by increased exercise and the constant reminder of who's in charge.  I know these are no-duh things, but the daily walks especially are really going to be a stretch for me.  Please wish us luck - we really need to see a major change in our dog's behavior!

Shoe Surprise

I love rediscovering things I didn't know I had!  Went to pick out my clothes this morning for Christmas Mass and found these gems in my drawer - who knew I had such cute shoes? :-)  (I am typically much more of a sneakers or socks kinda' gal)

Too Much "Little" Time!

You know you need a little more adult interaction when your friend comes over and you tell her, "Beep, beep!" when you get ready to open the oven.

You know you have a good friend when she doesn't even bat an eye :).

Complaining and I know it.

So feel free to stop reading right here.



My head hurts.  My mouth is dry.  I thought I was done being sick then ate lunch today and tummy went into spasms.  I have a 4' x 8' sheet of plywood in my living room.  It's a Christmas card that was supposed to be painted and up by the roadside by last night.  What a wonderful week to get sick.  Got to experience our first mama-puking-so-baby-please-keep-sleeping episode this week.  Brought on pregnancy flashbacks, not the happy kind.  I am so over this deployment it isn't even funny.  Time has completely gone out the window but right now it feels like time is crawling.  Nothing seems to go just right with hubby deployed but we've been doing just fine.  Done now though, thanks.  I'm tired.  Going back to bed.  It's only 2:55 in the afternoon.  Oh well, maybe baby will keep playing and not lock herself into the dog's crate this time (true story).

Goals

for today:

-Shine my sink... half check
-Keep my kitchen counters clean... check
-Work out... yeah not so much
-Replace an unhealthy habit with a better one (water bottle in fridge instead of swiping juice or soda)... check (for today)
-Bake a loaf of bread... almost check (it's in the oven, rising)
-Wash clothes (all the way to putting them away)... check
-Type 2009's Christmas letter... check
-Not freak out over crappy news... mostly check (I love my husband - he gets the credit for keeping me sane on this one :))
-Either find a way to move or embrace this place as "home" for the next 3 years... check in progress?
-Not clobber the dog... check :)
-Love my bitty family... double check!

So my goals might not be the same as anyone else's, but I'm getting there - so life is good :).  And yes, 2009 IS the right year there - we're a bit behind!

Night :)