Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Hats for Boys
The boys are just that much closer to ready for the fall and winter! I've got their jackets on my knitting needles right now and am hoping to have them done for our upcoming vacation!!
Sunday, September 6, 2009
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Our First Japanniversary!
We've lived in Japan for one full year as of today! So much has happened in our year here. We moved twice, welcomed Jude into our family, Bennet started school, we learned how to drive on the left side of the road, Tim got his first engineering job, and we've had the opportunity to visit so many cool places like Hiroshima, Miyajima, Tsuwano, Yokosuka, and Shimonoseki. We're really settling into Japan now and enjoying so much of the food, culture, and people.
And to celebrate it, we're all going to Chicken Shack for dinner tonight. It is one of our favorite places to go around here to eat. It's actually got a Japanese name but all of us gaijin just call it Chicken Shack. I'll be sure to take lots of photos tonight and post them tomorrow so you can all experience it with us!
We have a lot coming up for the next year too! Tim will continue training for his first marathon, Bennet will be in school again, Jude will be busy learning to walk and talk, and we're planning several more trips around Japan. We cannot wait to see what our second year in Japan will hold for us!
Monday, August 17, 2009
3 Months Old!
My little redhead is 3 months old already! Yes, I said redhead! I've suspected for some time now (and Tim has been in denial) that his blonde hair was more of a strawberry blonde. Other people have commented on this too, and now that it's getting longer in the back, there is an undeniable red tint to it! Sadly, it's near impossible to capture on camera because he's so nearly bald, BUT Tim has finally admitted that it is truly red! I know there is plenty of time for it to change, but I kind of hope it stays red!
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Sweet Baby Giggles
Jude laughed for the first time ever yesterday at 12 weeks old! I was tickling his tummy during a diaper change and all of a sudden, the sweetest little sound in the world came from him! We've suspected for a time now that he was ticklish but simply unable to figure out how to handle it. But it would seem that he's finally figured out the appropriate response! I tried to get it on video, but no dice!
Since I couldn't get a video of him laughing, here's something to make YOU laugh!
Pirate Jude! Yar!
"Fixing" Daddy's bike!
Friday, August 7, 2009
Jude's Fishy Vest and more....
As promised, photos of Jude's new vest!
Besides knitting, I've been baking up quite the storm! Tonight we had pizza from the olive oil dough. Over the last week, we've had homemade soft pretzels, bialys (OMG good!), prosciutto and rosemary focaccia, chocolate ganache filled brioche, wheat artisan loaf, parmesan and sundried tomato wheat bread, and a spinach calzone. YUM!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Here's what we've been doing lately...
What have we been up to?
Tim has perfected the art of drawing a bubble bath, while Bennet has been working on styling his "hair".
Jude is big enough to use his jumperoo (with some blankies for support) and he is LOVING the new freedom!
I've been having fun experimenting with my wraps...
Why yes...that IS a 30 lb child on my back!
Jude is learning to grasp toys and is really getting into "play".
And I've been getting into another knitting frenzy...babies do that to me! This is a little sundress for Stella, and I've curently got a little vest on the needles for Jude (pics to come later).
And, as you can tell, Tim has been busy BEHIND the camera, honing his photography skills! Hopefully this weekend I'll get some of him too! He's been extremely busy lately, training for the Iwakuni triathlon that will take place September 20th! We're all very proud of him, if not a tiny bit resentful about how easily he's able to lose weight while some of us are struggling with baby weight!
BUY NOTHING NEW CHALLENGE UPDATE:
Well...it's going...not great...but it's going. We've had a few lapses here and there, but we can definitely see a HUGE difference in the amount of stuff (not) accumulating in our house! Sadly though, I can't say this is something that we'll be able to stick to 100%, but I do think it will drastically cut down on our (my) spending in the future!
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Babies!
So, this is a few days late, but as of July 24th, Bennet and Jude have a cousin!! Tim's sister, Sharon, and her husband, Nate, had a beautiful baby girl! We are so thrilled to be related to such a gorgeous little girl!
Stella Elizabeth
6 lb. 5 oz.
19 3/4 inches
Jude had his 2 month check up yesterday and he is weighing in at a whopping 13 lb. 8.8 oz. and 23 1/2 inches! When he was born he was in the 5th percentile for weight and 25 percentile for length. He's now in the 95th and 75th respectively!!! He's actually starting to grow out of his 6 month clothes!!! The doctor gave him a clean bill of health and he got his first vaccine (DTaP) yesterday. We've chosen to do a selective delayed schedule of vaccinations for him. We are declining the rotavirus and varicella vaccinations completely (although if he still hasn't gotten the chickenpox when he's a teen, we'll consider it then). Otherwise, he will be receiving all the other recommended vaccinations, but spread out and several will be started later (such as Hep B, MMR, and Polio). Tim and I spent a LOT of time researching and deciding what to do about vaccinations and we truly feel that we are making the best decision for our family's situation. I was really nervous about him being pumped full of chemicals when he's so small, but I really think we've made the best possible decision for ourselves! AND, just to be on the safe side, I took extra fish oil, vitamin C, and probiotics in addition to giving Jude a 1/2 dose of baby vitamins to boost his immune system. So far, he's been a tiny bit fussy, but no fever or other side effects. We go back in a month for two more vaccines (HIB and Pc) and then monthly for boosters until he's 7 months. If anyone is interested, we came across a GREAT resource for vaccinations that is about as unbiased as you can get for such a heated topic! The Vaccine Book by Dr. Robert Sears. It's absolutely wonderful and is pro vaccine, but offers a great schedule for vaccinating that includes ALL the recommended vaccines, just spreads them out, so your baby isn't getting more than one aluminum containing vaccine at a time or 6 in one day! We actually used the schedule as a starting point and made a few changes to suit our family. SO, if you have children, are currently pregnant, thinking about becoming pregnant, or just may have kids one day in the future, you NEED to read this book! Whether you choose, to fully vax, delay, or not vax at all, you will be able to rest comfortably knowing that you have made the best decision for your child(ren)!
Bennet's potty training is going well! He peed in the potty last night before bed and then stayed dry all night (the FIRST time ever) and even peed in the potty this morning!!! Which means, Bennet got a cookie with breakfast. It's acutally really cute! He sings a whole song whenever he pees in the potty. Tim and I started it, but B has added his own verse to it!
Pee-Pee in the Pott-Y!
Pee-Pee in the Pott-Y!
Now I get a cook-IE!
I'll let you guess which line was added by Bennet!! :)
Friday, July 24, 2009
Baby on the Way!!
It's official!! Tim's sister is in labor!! We're getting a niece or nephew today!!!!!!!
Thursday, July 23, 2009
Buy Nothing New Challenge!
This fall, we'll be heading back to the states to visit family and we couldn't be more excited! Or shocked at the cost of things! Between flights, rental cars, and hotels, let's just say it's gonna cost a pretty penny! So that's gotten me to thinking about our finances a lot lately. We also recently purchased a new computer and financial software. And any of you that know Tim very well, know about his penchant for charts and graphs! WELL, after one too many pie charts showing just how much we're spending, I started going a little nuts. We waste a LOT of money! I started looking into ways to reign in our spending and came across some interesting articles about a group of people in San Francisco called The Compact. Basically, they gave up buying anything new for a year. They could buy essential edibles and some hygiene products, but beyond that, anything else had to be free, borrowed, bought used, or bartered for! I'd heard of them before but never thought I could commit to something that intense. But it got me thinking!! IF we could buy nothing new for just one month, we could really save a lot! And learn a little about our spending habits as well as really see the difference between necessities and luxuries.
So, Tim and I chatted about it last night and decided the best thing to do would be to start immediately! That way there's no time to "stock up" before hand. So we came up with our rules and it starts NOW! No new clothes, household goods, toys, tools, makeup, salon services, gourmet foods, restaurants, etc!
1. Buy Nothing New period lasts from July 23rd to August 31st at midnight.
2. Groceries may be bought, but only essentials, no luxuries or prepared foods. (i.e. cookies and frozen pizza are out, flour, butter, sugar, chocolate, cheese, and tomatoes to make cookies and pizza are in!). No going out to eat either! OR coffee runs!
3. Basic hygiene and cleaning products are ok, but makeup, salon services, etc are not (with the exception of Tim's haircut ever other week -- it's technically part of his uniform).
4. Going out cannot cost money, with one exception: Harry Potter is coming to our theater on base next week and we've been waiting a LONG time for it! So at $2.50 each for Tim and I, we are "splurging"...but no popcorn or soda!!!
5. Any prescription or non-prescription products for health reasons are ok to buy.
6. Any car repairs are ok.
7. Postage costs are ok! As are any communication costs (phone and internet).
8. Obviously, we will pay our bills as well!
9. Any thing that comes up that doesn't fit into these categories must only be bought used, free, bartered for or borrowed!
Luckily, Bennet started potty training a few weeks ago, so he's out of diapers, and Jude is breastfed and in cloth diapers, so we don't have to worry about those expenses. I do foresee a few challenges though! Namely the pampered chef party I'm hosting next week and the fact that I am going to be an aunt sometime within the next few weeks!
I'll try to update once in awhile on our progress. I'm actually kind of excited about it! I'm a wee bit of a shopper and I really think that being restricted will open up a whole new world or cost-free hobbies and fun to us!
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