How does your garden grow?

A new start. I just deactivated my Facebook account. I kept lurking, but there wasn't anything on there I really cared about. Well, except maybe that my futureSIL was going to take her first Zumba class. I wanna go!!! Everything else was just kinda blah. I enjoyed looking at the pictures on FB mostly. But, most of the people in my friend's list aren't people I get to see all the time. In fact, I might hear from just a small percentage once or twice a year. I think this will be the easiest habit to break.

Kaylee is eleven months old. That means this is the last month where I will be using months to describe her age. Well, at least that's what Brian insists on... we'll see. I'll probably lose count eventually anyway.

She's completely off purees and the bottle. She self feeds herself everything but yogurt/applesauce or things that require a spoon. Basically, she just got even easier, making it even harder to leave her for any extended amount of time. And by extended, I mean more than 5 minutes.

eating breakfast


eating lunch

We went fishing our in Rockdale Saturday and had packed up everything to take her with us. But, while visiting Mimi, she mentioned to her sister that she was keeping the baby. I was confused by this, but assumed Brian had just arranged it so I could have a break.

While I had a ton of fun catching grasshoppers, frogs and large catfish -- I've caught bigger ;) -- I missed her the entire time. She's dancing even more, crawls into me and giggles and squeals constantly. Who would want to leave that?!? So, that makes this coming weekend even harder to deal with emotionally than I thought it would.


I leave for Halifax on Thursday morning. I'm super excited because that means I get to see several of my Montreal girls. I also get to meet some other kickass people. It's sure to be one big party the entire time.... with of course, lots of crying at the end when we realize our visit is over.

In other news, my garden is doing much better than I expected it to. I've already harvested a bunch of okra. We have a ton of tomatoes coming in. Our jalapeno plant is doing well, although they aren't very hot, which depresses me. I haven't tried the banana peppers, but I have 2 good size ones ready to go. I've already picked 4 cucumbers and 2 zucchinis. Now, my sugar snap peas are failing. I have 3 pea pods out there. I figured out my mistake and will try again next year. Basically, you are not supposed to water the actual plant - only the base. Well - guess where the sprinkler was? Yea... so I'll plant them around the perimeter next year and see if I do any better.



There's 2 zukes hiding under there


Okra flowers are pretty. Supposedly, okra is yummy, but I have yet to taste a good okra... These are all for Brian.


One is the loneliest number... and unfortunately for about a week, he was the only peapod I saw trying to grow. Now he has 2 siblings. What can I do with THREE peas?? Fail.


My one tomato plant is doing fabulous. Oh and that pretty green foliage next to it is chocolate mint. Mojitos anyone?

Months of contemplation....

Have you ever been addicted to something that you don't like? Have you tried quitting numerous times but have just failed miserably? I have...

It's called Facebook... Dooce... Twitter... TMZ... CNN...

All of these sites are nothing but something to waste time on. And the thing is, I really don't have time to waste... I have a daughter who is growing up quickly and needs my attention. I have a house that I'm trying to keep up with, which includes remodeling projects and landscaping - most of which has been ignored. I have a husband who needs more of my attention. I have exercise classes so I can continue to improve my self image and health. I have friends I have neglected. I have friends I lost but have regained that I'm trying to do better with.

But, day after day, I spend hours mindlessly staring at the computer. Reading and reading. Typing and typing. I will admit, there are some pretty awesome people I have met online and IRL. I intend to keep up with those people. Just not where I met them. There's still email and texting... well, that's assuming I don't cancel my cell phone, which has crossed my mind a time or 10...

In fact, all I'm really hoping to do is manage my time better. I want to setup a schedule of the day that I can go by. We'll see how this works out... quitting all of those sites cold turkey is going to be difficult. But, I know I just need to keep my mind focused.

Zumba

I think I might be obsessed. I'm sitting here staring at the clock hoping that it will magically become 4:45 so I can take Kaylee to my grandmother's house. Class is at 5:30 and it's with a rather intense instructor. I couldn't be more excited.

While I haven't lost any weight (STILL!) I have toned up quite a bit. I can tell that my body overall has changed. There's less jiggly goin' on. Less indentions (gross, right??).. and less curves (curves that would eventually become rolls... do not like). Going up and down the stairs all day with Kaylee doesn't exhaust me either. Plus, my back feels better. That all makes me happy. :) My MIL is convinced that if I keep at it, I'll lose weight, but I'm starting to wonder if this is my new "normal" weight. It would make me a little sad, but I think I'd come to terms with it.

Today, I did something big - well, big for me. I bought the Zumba DVDs, which basically means I can do it every day at home if I want. I still want to go to class because I need out of the house... but I think it'll be a good supplement.

My schedule is getting beefed up as well. The sessions I'm in right now will end in a few weeks.

Monday - which will be a tough one for me to commit to will be at 8pm. It uses weights and is with the same instructor I'm going to tonight. I imagine this class will kick my ass more than I ever realized dancing could.

Tuesday - this class will get pushed up to 6:15pm (from 6:30) and will change locations. Boo. I dislike the location, but I like the instructor.

Wednesday - this class is at 5:30... my MIL will watch Kaylee so I can go.

Thursday - this one is up in the air. I need to see if my grandmother is busy... if not, this one will be at 10am with a new instructor.

Bye Bye Baby...

I started transitioning Kaylee from a bottle to a sippy cup... as well as from purees to finger foods. She's taken to it so well that I guess it's time to put the bottles and blender away. She's been doing both for months now, but *I* always went back to the other things... so I guess technically, she could have been done with all of this about 2 months ago. Next stop.... walking. And it's going to come before I know it... she's standing pretty well by barely holding on to me - it's just a matter of her letting go.

It's a sad realization that I just had...

10 months....

Kaylee is a complete joy. Really. I have never seen another baby this good. I asked my SIL a few weeks ago "When is my karma going to run out?" Because there's no way I deserve this kid.

She's happy. She's developing on track. She's funny. And most importantly, she's the sweetest thing ever.

Kaylee is cruising all over the place. She's definitely a climber. Her favorite game is to crawl from one side of the sofa to the other and over to the recliner... then back. With two people, this is fun. Without, it makes me dizzy going back and forth.. On Easter, she stood by herself without assistance. She hasn't done it since, but I know it's comin'...

Kaylee sleeps like me... all over the place, which cracks me up.


I'm hoping she has a similar relationship with my Meme as I do... so far, so good.


If she could stay outside all day, she would...



Too bad her sunscreen was MIA for a week, so we didn't get to do much outside. I'm not buying $9 sunscreen when I know where it's at... it was just a matter of getting it back. Currently, we have a hummingbird and lots of ferel cats that visit this window, plus the wind in the trees to keep her occupied for hours - literally.. I have to pull her away to feed her at times.


I finally figured out what to do for her birthday next month. We're going to a park. Simple. Cost effective. But it'll be hot. I'm making the little girls these:


The theme is rainbows. And I'm excited. Rainbow cupcakes... rainbow tutus... a mishmash of colors on the tables. Easy peasy. And, I can shop for the majority of what I need now - with coupons and sales... score! Hoping to pull this off for under $50.