Wanna-be Gardener.....

Here's my first post for the Happel Garden 2010!

(it may also be the last post, depending on how things go.)

Last year, we tried to have a garden. It seemed like there was plenty of sun in our back yard, so as soon as we moved in we dug out a little patch, tilled, planted, watered, fertilized,

battled the slugs, and.... pretty much got nothing out of it. Corn: complete failure. Not an ear. Basil: pretty good crop. Tomato: sad. Probably 5 (albeit tasty) tomatoes total. Chives: excellent. Salad: slug food. Cilantro: no show. Parsley: also a no show. Carrots: darling. The smallest little carrots you ever did see. Multi colored and quite tasty for the whole bite. Spinach: slug heaven. Sugar snap peas: yum-o!

For a few days, I went outside each hour (so long as it was sunny) and recorded just how much

sun our little patch was actually getting. Turns out, only 4 full hours, plus 3 hours of part sun. Bummer. So this year, we are re-thinking our crop selection. I did a little research on part sun crops, (or at least ones that will supposedly survive without full sun all day) and planted a few things as soon as the soil was workable. Now that we've had some sun and rain, I'm happy to

report that things are sprouting, I took a few photos this afternoon to share with you our bright start!

garlic! mmmm

potatoes coming up- aren't they cute?

sweet peas sprouting around the teeny garden fence. I'm hoping peas wrapped around the barely visable fence will help Rowen not trip over it. Also, the chives came back bushy and beautiful!

leeks! Oh, how I hope I have success with leeks. I l.o.v.e. leeks. See the teeny tiny sprouts coming up in this little trench? mmmm....... I have a few planted indoors too waiting for transplant. I thought I'd see which set did better.

Also barely sprouting are beets and spinach. I'm going to try to keep the slugs out of my spinach this year, as it's supposed to do well in the shade. Eggshells, hazelnut shells, more beer traps, something....

I just transplanted brussels sprouts and broccoli. They don't look so hot, but after setting them outside to "harden off" many of the sprouts "broke" so.... I don't know if they'll keep growing or not. I might just plant more directly in the soil.

We also have a few mystery sprouts! I'm guessing a little gift from the compost pile. There are... oh... five? of these little guys scattered throughout the garden. I may transplant them into a sunny spot once they're bigger just out of curiosity. Zucchini? Cantaloupe? Any guesses? Darling little things. (Like my scattered broken egg shells to ward of slugs?

Judging by the bite taken out of this leaf, they aren't that effective.)

And....... HERE'S the view from standing in our garden into our neighbor's back yard.

I have a feeling my battle with the dandelions is going to be fierce throughout the spring and summer. Oiy.

On another gardening note....I was wondering why our tulips weren't budding. There are just a small handful of them that came up around the base of the big tree. I've been just waiting and waiting for their happy little heads to shout "welcome, Spring!" Upon closer inspection, they've been decapitated. All of them. I hate squirrels. (See the tiny purple evidence at the bottom of the photo?)

Last fall our iris' (also planted around the base of the big tree) showed some signs of disease. So I dug them up, cut off the bad portions, split them, and replanted. The squirrels dug them up. So I replanted. And the squirrels dug them up. After several weeks of this game I gave up and threw all the poor little tubers into a bucket in the garage and forgot about them until January. I put them in a new spot by the house where the nasty squirrels left them alone, and I'm happy to report they are now all sprouting. :) They survived!!!

We had planted a couple ferns around the tree last year which did not survive the crazy squirrels. I'm hoping to plant my rosemary around the tree- seems like a really good spot- but I'm going to have to think of some sort of squirrel protection plan first. Hm.....

Okay, enough already! Obviously I've got spring fever!

Rowen's Big Boy Cup

Rowen's First Chores

This video is kind of long... but I couldn't help but post it :) Rowen puts all the laundry from the dryer into the basket, and then pushes the basket to his room. Love it!

6 Months

37.5" 115#

Here we are, in our third trimester already- time just keeps flying by! I can't think of anything new to report- but, an uneventful pregnancy is good. :) According to averages, she should be about two pounds now and 15" long, and would have an 85% chance of surviving if she were to be born now. (Not that she has permission. For heaven's sake.) She's blinking and sucking her fingers and going through some major brain developments. Time to eat more salmon! mmmmm.....

I go in Thursday for our next prenatal check up. They've all felt super quick and none-too-exciting this time around, but it's still nice to go and hear her little thumpity-thumpity heart beating away, and to chat with my OB who I just adore. This time, though, I "get" to do the 1 hour glucose test, which means I'll be guzzling that "yummy" glucola and then get my blood drawn an hour later. (I think it's mostly to test for gestational diabetes?) oh, yay.

We haven't added any new names to the list yet, although Matt is in the middle of a name book and has jotted a few down. We're pretty close to crossing Brynlee off the list as it's starting to sound too trendy every time I hear it out loud. All in all, not any closer to figuring out what her name is. The Lord knows her by name- we just have to keep listening. :)

The Progress:

pre-pregnancy: 105#

One Month: 100#

Two Months: 101#

Three Months: 102# 29"

Four Months: 107# 34"

Five Months: 111# 36"

Six Months: 115# 37.5"

Rowen inside at Six Months 118# 37"

April Resolutions

January - read through the bible in a year.

I'm....... fairly on track. it's certainly still holding me accountable to more consistent quiet times.

February - be better about using the envelope system.

Did better this month than last month- still using my debit card here and there but the budget isn't breaking anywhere.

March - only use facebook/check blogs during Rowen's nap.

After 15 days, I decided this was a rather silly resolution. I use facebook much like email and don't spend THAT much time reading blogs... so, I gave up on this one. Not continuing it. I do, however, want to be deliberate with how I spend my time and making sure my priorities are my Savior, my husband, our son, and our home. So, keeping an eye on that.

April - this month, I'm going to walk any day it's not raining/threatening to rain. Today was the first break in a rather crummy week weather-wise, and Rowen and I packed up as soon as he was awake and fed and we strolled four miles. LOVED it! We were out for almost two hours (a few groceries were part of the trip) and though my feet will probably be sore, it's a great form of exercise for me in this.... uh.... condition. :)

I know it's a little ironic that I picked April for my weather-dependent walking resolution (what brings May flowers?) but- here's to hoping for a little sun. Or, at least sun breaks :) Also, Rowen loves going for strolls, even if our destination isn't the park. Or so it seems at this point, anyway. So, maybe it's a perfect month for it!

Names

For some, naming a baby is a very personal and private matter. I completely understand why. However I personally feel like our community will one day become her community. Your initial reactions will be similar to the initial reactions of her peers throughout her lifetime. Therefore, we'd love your input before it's "too late." Leave a comment about your thoughts, if you would. I'll create a poll after posting this, though I know many of you will read this on facebook and not bother to actually come to the blog and vote- but we'll take your comments there too. (You can vote for more that one if you're indecisive like that.)

Currently, our list is five names long. It grows, and shrinks, and grows, and shrinks again, as we mill over names in our minds, tossing them back and forth for a few weeks. We haven't even begun to explore the nearly infinite array of middle names- so, we welcome your suggestions. After each name is it's popularity ranking for 2008 according to the social security administration, and it's origin & meaning. (Possible nicknames in parenthesis.)

Without further ado:

Ainsley - 441. Scottish "my meadow"

Annalise - 702. Hebrew "grace, favor" (Annie, Ann, Lisa, Alise)

Brynlee - 895. "hill"(Brynn, Brynne, Lee)

Charlotte - 87. French "petite, feminine" German "free man" (Charley, Lotte)

Violet -184. Latin "violet"

Some possible middle names (we really haven't thought about these, seriously, I'm just throwing some together right now from names that got the axe from the list.):

Ainsley Josephine

Ainsley Rose
Annalise Teagan

Brynlee Joy
Brynlee Jordan

Charlotte Avalie

Charlotte Ann

Violet Eloise
Violet Elora

silent protest

Lately, this has been Rowen's silent protest to me doing dishes. (Lying on the floor at my feet.)

Just wait until YOU have to do the dishes, Rowen. Muwahahahaha

A Tale of Two Pitters

When we were pregnant with Rowen, we picked out this caterpillar toy for Rowen. We dangled it from his play gym when he was tiny, tied it up over his car seat as a desperate attempt for him to play with something and stay happy while strapped down for a drive, though he never took much interest. It was soon added to a basket of un-touched toys. Not very long ago (well, long ago in his short life) he found the caterpillar and played with it all day. It got cleaned up with the rest of the toys, and he found it the next day. And the next. And the next. It soon became his very favorite lovie, and earned the nickname "pitter." (Caterpillar -> callapitter -> pitter.) Mind you, Monkey has also been the tag-along lovie for just as long. But Monkey was kind of forced on him, haha. He certainly "chose" pitter for himself.

Pitter and/or Monkey come with us nearly everywhere. Walks, grocery store, park, church, you name it.

One day, I thought I'd look up the ASL sign for caterpillar to teach to Rowen. It's simple enough. He picked it up that day.

And it's a good thing, too. Because a couple days later we were at Mother Nature's and of course Pitter came along. When seeing all of the fun, brightly colored plastic potties that were great for toting and stacking while Momma looked at new diaper covers, Rowen cast Pitter aside. Momma paid, grabbed Rowen by the hand, and walked out the door. (After putting away all the fun, brightly colored plastic potties.)

Before we even had a chance to cross the street, Rowen started fussing and looked at me with desperate eyes and signed "caterpillar."

(proud Momma moment)

So, we didn't have to drive back to Southeast Portland later that day to retrieve the beloved caterpillar toy, we merely had to turn around and walk back inside and rescue him from the floor. Thank Heavens.

The following week, Pitter went missing. I turned the house upside down. (you never know what might be hiding in the pot & pan drawer, plant baskets, sock drawers....) Pitter was no where to be found. Rowen was asking for Pitter all day with his giant eyes and his sweet little sign. I knew that day we went to Trader Joes and the 5th street park, so we went back looking for him. No where. So sad.

We of course went to Seagals' and bought Rowen a brand NEW caterpillar. I forgot what it looked like originally. heh heh. mmmm..... New Pitter seemed to satisfy Rowen enough that he at least stopped asking for it. Though it was definitely all about monkey for the next several days. Pitter never even left the bed. All fluffy and shiny and new.... and clearly unloved.

Last night Rowen woke up soaking wet at 2:30am. Matt & I went in to change him & the sheets (unusual for Rowen- this is maybe the 2nd time ever. Ever. that I've had to change the sheets in the middle of the night.) As I was getting new pj's for Ro Ro, he signed "pitter" for the first time since we bought the new one. I thought "ooooh, he's finally growing on you!" until Matt asked when I had found the old Pitter. What? That's right folks, old Pitter was lost in the bed all this time! I swear I looked in the bed. Twice... I swear. Whatever! Now we have two Pitters and one very happy boy. He's had his lovie in position all day (nasty red bow thingy in palm while sucking thumb.) Rowen clearly knew the difference between his beloved toy and this new impostor!

So cute, I had to share :)

Five Months

36" 111 lbs

Another month whizzes past.... only four to go! Hopefully in those four months we'll agree on a name. For now, baby girl is just going to have to be "little miss." She's settling into a routine of movement vs. sleep, which Rowen never did. (Always moving.) And she's really not giving me too much trouble yet. Guess we're still in the 2nd trimester honeymoon :)

The Progress:

pre-pregnancy: 105#

One Month: 100#

Two Months: 101#

Three Months: 102# 29"

Four Months: 107# 34"

Rowen inside at Five Months 35.5" 114#

March Resolutions

January- read through the bible in a year. So far, I'm still on track. Well, i'm a day behind. I got really behind for a while, but spent two mornings really digging in and caught up. It's amazing to me how often I skip getting in the word. i didn't think it was nearly so much, but now that I'm on a reading plan with a checklist, it keeps me really accountable!

February- use the envelope/cash system. Well.......... I didn't do 100%, but much better than the past several months, for sure. I stayed under in my grocery budget, went way over in the dining out budget (pregnancy cravings and buying a birthday dinner don't fit into the plan very well! ha!) but it helped us to see we need to revamp our budget a little bit in that area, at least. For now, anyway. For the most part, I did well and I'm trying again this month.

March- less time on Facebook and Blogs. In one way, Facebook and blogs have been such a blessing, helping me stay/become connected with people. Especially other women from church. Since I've had to stay home from church so often the last several months with a snotty toddler, I feel like Facebook is my Fellowship! But, I think I can get the same idea in much less time than I'm currently spending. After all, my toddler is needy and I'm exhausted. I don't need one more thing demanding my attention. (Probably another reason I skip my time in the Word many mornings. Sad!) So, here's my "resolution" for this month. I will not go on facebook or read blogs except while I eat my lunch after putting Rowen down for nap, (a little "lunch break" if you will) and when Matt's putting Rowen down for bed at night. We'll see how I do! Wish me luck ;)