Adventures in Parenting

What a week we have had.  We (attempted) to go to a wedding last Saturday.  Getting ready was interesting.   I haven't worn high heels for at least a year and bouncing a baby boy around a wedding and reception gave me a good workout.  When we sat down in our pew Fredrik took a big bite out of my program.  I couldn't seem to get it out of his mouth and then I realized it was plastered to the roof of his mouth.  At this point I was in the narthex since he didn't enjoy the enormous spit ball.  The procession started and we snuck back into the sanctuary.  The pipe organ began and he let loose his (usually) funny and impressive scream.  Over and over again.  I hustled outside when the screams (not cries, just loud vocal...screams) didn't stop for the prayers.  He was hungry so I went into the nursery and pointed myself against a wall since I had to pretty much undress from the top down to nurse him.  We made it back to the wedding in time for the recessional.  Oh well.  The first picture below is of Freddy and Jonah in their wedding matching outfits.  The look of can-not-be-contained excitement is apparent to me, but maybe not to anyone else.  He was very over stimulated throughout the reception so we missed most of that, too.  Weddings and babies don't really mix all that well.  At least for this baby.  And this particular wedding.

Peter started school last week so we had a bit of a Women's Commune at the farm with Gma Roz, Aunt Jessa, Cousin Jonah (OK, not a woman), my mom, and my dad(also not a woman). We managed to get the CSA delivery done and also some shopping in Rosedale and Ikea, of course. It was hot so we bought a little baby pool. The boys loved it. The "relaxed" shot of Fredrik is a rare sight so I had to capture it. He's a busy boy.

Double Life

We are in full swing now, leading a double life at the farm near Hutchinson and at our rental place in St. Paul. It is so weird, I can't really handle it. Yesterday we were in the big city for Peter's first day of orientation. I experienced my first day as a real life stay at home mom (SAHM). It was really quiet, not talking with any other adults (except for the cell phone calls I made) for about 5 hours. We went on two extensive stroller rides, checked out the co-op and some other shops. I spent too much money. Fredrik was a hit in every store we visited with his loud happy shrieks. I had not really had people stop me to look at him while strolling about until I was ALONE with him. Weird. About 10 people commented on his cuteness and stopped to say hi. Although it was fun strolling around the city, I have to admit it was quite gorgeous at the farm this evening and very pleasant to take a walk amongst the crops, billowy white clouds, and nature sounds. It's going to take me awhile to get used to life in the city.

Star Boy

Making Our Own Rules

We are all a little under the weather today. FGH has a foul sounding cough (from teething?) and Peter and I just feel wiped out. So, we made the rule that tomorrow is a rainy day even though there is not much chance of rain. We just want to be inside watching movies all day and be lazy. It has become apparent to me that having a kid is a license to make up rules. Sure, there is information on the internet, advice from friends, knowledgeable health care professionals, yada yada yada. But when it comes down to it, we are here, in our house, with our kid. I have become the rule maker in regards to Fredrik for the most part. I am the mom after all. One of my new rules is that disposable diapers are allowed during moving times. As Jessa said, it just isn't practical to be hauling suitcases of pee and poop around. We are already hauling boxes, furniture, etc. I guess this tendency to be assertive over parenting matters is what the phrase, "becoming a mother" is all about.
Time for bed.

It's August, Oh My

It freaks me out a bit to look at the calendar and see that we are already working our way into August. Yet, we might as well get the party started. I'm pretty nervous about the next two months of moving, tying up loose ends on the farm, and moving to a new neighborhood. Everything seems to be going well so far, so all this stress is probably for nothing. Peter had his first law school event last Friday so he feels a little more at ease having talked to some fellow Fellows in the Fellow Program. He reported back to me that it was, "a bunch of nerds nerding out" and he seemed to fit right in. Is that 'nerd' in a good way? I'm not yet sure. I thought the event should have included spouses so I will have to wait for the next thing to check it out myself.

While Peter conversed with other fellows, I was shopping at the mall with my mom, aunt, and Fredrik. I am excited to report that I have officially lost 40 pounds since the birth. So, I needed some new clothes. I don't quite fit into my old duds and I'm not sure I ever will. I have hips now, for example, and most of my pants did not have room for hips. Also, as I pack up I have been throwing most of my clothes away because they are ALL WORK CLOTHES or extremely out of style as they haven't been worn for about 6 years. We actually had a clothes burning ceremony and burned up our spent clothing. I would recommend it. We had commentary for each thing, like, "That was the shirt I received for helping with the ice ballet at Luther," or, "These are the jeans I have worn since 11th grade." Anyway, I have 10 pounds to go until I'm at my pre-pregnancy weight and then another 10 to get to my goal weight. We'll see. I would like to join CorePower Yoga after we move, but it's pretty spendy. If anyone who lives in the vicinity knows of a more affordable yoga option, let me know. I just don't want to run on a treadmill while starting at a wall or a TV playing Weekend at Bernies without sound.

The news with my little Busca is that he cut his first tooth last week. He was very unhappy the day before it happened, and then I finally felt it, a little spot of sharpness on his bottom gum. The neighboring tooth is close, so I expect that to come in a day or two or a week or month. I don't understand how teething works. It takes forever. He has a cough and today it sounds nasty. I've heard that babies get sick when teething, but I doubt they get a cough. I think he found some bad germs when we were shopping.

The Farm News is the addition of three kittens who now live in our porch. Two orange and white males, Ron and Weasley, and a dark gray and white adventurous girl, Hermione. Yeah, sticking with the Harry Potter theme still. (We had Huffle and Puff first).




Gpa and Gma Hemberger were here to help tear down and haul away the hoophouse.


Jessa made these cool knitted nested bowls, who knew they would be the best toy?


Where's Hermione?