Purge Week

We are in the middle of Purge Week in the Sjolseth House. It means we are going through EVERYTHING to try and downsize the volume of stuff that we have. Transitioning Erik's office to the basement and creating a room for Everett are top priorities. We were able to paint the basement and move furniture this week.

It is taking a lot longer for us to do this than I had anticipated; so, Purge Week is going on Week 2. Erik and I are still on good terms with one another, and bit by bit we are going through stuff.

Part of me hates Purge Week (even though it was my idea). We are getting rid of things I know that we will need once we move, but we just don't have room for right now. At the same time, it is fun trapsing down memory lane going through stuff and very exciting to imagine what the house will feel like when we are done.

I am now becoming active in freecycling--people giving and taking stuff to decrease how much unused stuff is sitting out there.

Resource for BirthMoms

I came across this while doing my daily reading. It is "an organization and website that provides peer counseling, support, encouragement, and friendship to pregnant women considering adoption as well as women who have already placed children for adoption."

BirthMom Buds

Grape Jelly

This is Luigi. You know, from Cars. Preston brought Cars into our lives this summer and Everett was quick to adopt the movie and cheerful characters into our home. (Thank goodness because I was sick of Clifford.)

This Luigi is Preston's. I found him under the sofa today just before I vacuumed. Do you want to know how our house has changed this summer because of the Moores? Good.

Grape jelly. I do not like grape jelly. We had it ALL the time growing up. I never liked it but it isn't polite to gripe about the food that your parents work hard to provide.

Preston is particular to this flavor. We have a jar of it in our fridge, and Everett is more than happy to dine on a sandwich with it. Preston is particular to wheat bread without any "nuts" or other unidentify-able bits in his bread. We have Preston approved jelly and bread in our home now. I have the habit of going to that section of the bread aisle now, first. Preston is always analyzing the world around him--questioning those things that don't add up. His laughter is infectious, and he was always looking out for Everett to make sure nothing happened to him.

Canned or jarred peaches in my pantry. I had them first at Mandy's awhile ago and then saw them in her fridge early on in the summer. This has been my food of choice when I could keep nothing else laying stable in my stomach. Thank goodness for a peek into her fridge.

Lady Smiles, or Riley, created the opportunity to bring out the baby toys. It is so fun to go through them remembering when Everett enjoyed them and knowing that another child will enjoy them in our home very soon. For now, I'll pack them up and put them back in the attic. I just put the pack-n-play up and was sad that Riley won't be snoozing in it for awhile. Riley was always on the move, squealing, and smiling with her bright eyes tracking all the chaos brought on by her brother and cousin. What a treasure to get to know her this summer!

Our bathroom is forever changed because of the Moores. I'll also never think about poison ivy or furniture damage (chair) without thinking of Phillip. He will always keep you laughing at his quips and marveling at his engineering feats. Ever the food connoisseur, he kept us looking for good food to eat. Rockfish is Delish! Summer of Cafe Sano. "I'm moving to Greece!"

Mandy brought sanity to this summer. I was fully expecting to be able to go home this summer and get ready to raise my family nearer to family. That ended up not being the case, and if Mandy weren't so close during this time, I'd be climbing the walls or walking them like the lady in the "The Yellow Wallpaper" by Charlotte Perkins Gilman. I enjoyed talking with her, cooking with her, learning from her, and how well she listens. She is the stable, calm, ready to laugh, ready to play, problem-solver sister that I love!

The Weekend

This past weekend was relaxing and fun. Pooltime, chattime, eatingtime, and playtime were the main events.


The parents were able to go to dinner WITHOUT the children (Thanks, Meg!) We dined at Zaytinya, most assuredly the splurge of the summer. The mushrooms, the octopus, the eggplant, the DESSERT!


Mother Nature, not to be outdone by the human chef, provided peaches, corn, apples, and honey when we went fruit picking Hartland Orchard. Peaches were the fruit of the day and were deliciously perfect right off the tree, as Everett discovered.

We finished off the weekend with peach cobbler and said goodbye to our good friends and family the Moores.

Chills and Thrills

Thrill--The Moores came to visit for the weekend.

Chill--The Moores have left to go back to the Homeland for good. We are sad. We even tried to hold a couple of things that they left behind hostage so that they would drive back and get them. No go.

Other Moments:

Mom: Everett, what do you want for dinner?

Everett: (pause) Mmmmm, (pause) TREATS!

Everett loves to watch Twiggy eat. He'll put back crumbs that fell out while she was eating. I think he is trying to figure out the secrets of her skill because I keep catching him trying to drink out of her water bowl.

A Day in Time

Today's weather was fantastic--rainy, rainy, rainy! I love rainy days. Seriously. Erik, on the other hand, has a tendency to mope when the raindrops are coming down and his beloved sun is nowhere to be seen.

Everett's behavior was better today. Not as many time-outs for hitting as yesterday. And, he was such a help in making bread this morning.

Nothing out of the ordinary or otherwise occurred today. Just a calm day of rain. Oddly cool temperatures even for northern Virginia.

At Play . . . with Bubblewrap

In all the textures that Everett and I experience together and play with (including a hot pink feather boa), I totally forgot about bubblewrap.

He sat with that bubblewrap for at least 15 minutes, and I think he only got up because I was going to the mailbox. It was interesting to see him manipulate his fingers and hands to try and "pop" the bubbles--first one at a time and then trying to get as many as possible to pop at once.

Project Update

EVERETT'S BOOK IS HERE!

I watched the progress of the book's publishing and then travel to my home on an hourly basis, it seemed like. With every new city in the shipping progress, I gave Erik a HiFive.

Here are a couple pictures of Everett's First Year (this book includes every blog about him and that includes no less than over 500 pictures).

I am relieved it turned out so well because his second year is up-to-date in their software. I used BLURB, http://www.blurb.com/

If you want to preview Everett's book online just to see if it is something you want to do with your blog, email me and I'll send you an invite (you'll get to see the first 15 pages of the book). I am thrilled with the colors, how the pictures turned out in the printing, and the quality of the book overall.

I am off doing other things now. In preparation for the baby, I am putting together Everett's room. We still need to buy some secondhand furniture (dresser and toddler bed), but I am able to reuse several things I already had (canvas, rug, end table). The splurge for his room will be his blanket. I am going to make our Everett-Linus his own larger than life minky-silky blanket. I've made him silky blankets before but never with a minky side.

The rug has a "road" side that is in the shape of a firetruck. The other side is a bunch of shapes that I haven't talked to Everett about yet. (rug is one we've had awhile, I just updated it with by painting images using acrylics.) The truck painting is the middle of three that I am working on right now. Painting for decorating rather than self expression has never been supermotiving for me, but I am enjoying visualizing how it will look in his room.

I just received the material I ordered today. I was excited because I could only find the colors I wanted (especially the chocolate brown minky) online and was a bit leery of buying it without touching it. But I was so pleased when it arrived. The fabrics are perfect.

Laziness Spurned

So, I don't list of all the blogs (whether friend or stranger) that I frequent on my blog. It is because I am just lazy and don't want to have to make sure the links are active or whatever as time goes by. It is easier for me to keep track of my faves through a folder on my desktop. I think that I've sufficiently cluttered my blog's layout with all the other stuff I have, too.

I've been thinking about this practice, though, since this happened. I found about about it because I read her sister's blog CJane Enjoy It. Since Nie's accident, I have seen word of the misfortune and the opportunity for prayers and service burn through blog postings like wild fire. Evidently, Nie had quite a readership and this whole blogging thing has created opportunities for connections, friendships, and now miracles for Nie's family.

BTW, I don't know CJane; I enjoy how she writes. In fact, I don't know the person that I found CJane's site from--I just enjoy her take on life. Maybe I will start sharing with you the blogs I read because it might be a nice idea. In any regards, allow Nie and CJane to enter your life if only for a chance for you to help their family.

Chills and Thrills

Presented Family Style

Chills: The Shoe Loss Recovery costs were well in the triple digits. Erik basically sliced off the top of one of his digits, and that ER visit was in the triple digits. No worries. He is fine. Both of the boys are sleeping and it is only 8 pm. Erik never goes to sleep early, and he never naps. He was asleep by 6:00 this evening. (He sliced off the top of his finger doing yard work. Good thing our area is not high in gunshot or stabbing victims--the ER saw him right away, and we were still there for 2 hours. He was really lucky--just a few stitches and a tetanus shot.)

Thrills: Everett is just talking away. He has added: "greepps" (grapes), "OK", "bumps" (speedbumps), "I like", and several sound effects. He loves speedbumps. He requests them before we get in the car and likes to count "1, 2, 3, BUMP!" when we drive over them. The pregnancy is at 25 weeks (this far last time I was on restricted activities forced to work from home 2 days a week), and the sonogram this week went well. The baby is now at average weight (thank goodness, don't need extra pressure on the cervix) and is still laying cushed up against the cervical wall. I am still slated to go in for more sonograms every two weeks. I finished translating the blogs about Everett into a book and am eagerly awaiting it in the mail. His second year is basically up to date. Everett's attachment to Dada is still strong, but it isn't as fierce. He has a better understanding about what is going on around him.

Here is a shot of Erik and Everett reading a letter Everett received in the mail today. The occasion was much more exciting than the camera captured. I think they were just so exhausted by the events of the day. Everett really enjoyed the stickers that were on it.

Need Help Choosing Winter Play

So, given that we'll be saving up again to buy Everett his winter toy (I took care of paying for the replacement orthodics and shoes today), I have a chance to get your feedback on what would be more useful.

We'll be in DC for the winter, and I want something that an active toddler can really get into on the days that it is just yucky outside. Don't make fun of me for thinking of this now. The leaves are already falling in the backyard and Baby S will arrive right around Thanksgiving.

Everett has shown equal interest in the following play structures, and I just wanted to know from the more experienced reader what would be best.



Please take the poll on the side to provide feedback. (BTW, I don't buy into the idea that some toys are only for girls and some are only for boys. Everett doesn't either.)

Little Tikes Gym or Playcube (or a version similar to below)

Little Tikes Kitchen (a version of the following)

Little Tikes Workbench (a version of the following)

Today's Remarks

"Cool! . . . Wow!" he exclaimed while viewing his bus and dumptruck "parked" in an empty diaper box.
-------------------

On the way upstairs for naptime--

Everett: Bub
Sheila: Bump?
Everett: Bubb
Sheila: Blankie?

Everett then proceeds to burp.

Sheila: Oh, burp!
Everett nods his head.

ShoeCalamity Strikes

Long story short, when I was getting Everett ready to pick up Erik from the bus stop, I couldn't find his shoes. You know The Shoes. The ones that were hard to find. The ones that include the specially ordered and fitted orthodics.

My first thought,"Oh, no! I left them in the car. They'll have melted by now."

No joke. You aren't supposed to leave the orthodics out in the heat.

And, no. They are not in the car.

Second thought, maybe Everett put them in a wastebasket (his new thing since the special spot for these shoes is a basket by the door).

And, no. They are not in any of the wastebaskets.

The shoes are nowhere to be found.

Third thought, did I leave them on the car after getting Everett into the car after our morning errands? (Kid does not like to have his shoes on when he is not walking. Takes them off when he is in the shopping cart or stroller.)

Fourth thought, the windows were open for a portion of the drive home . . . and come to think of it, Everett kept yelling, "TWO!" or was it "SHOES!" . . . he could have thrown them out the window. (and, yes, the average person would think that you would notice when your kid throws something out the window. But, no, kids can throw stuff out the window and you never know it. Everett has done it before.)

Erik called all the stores near where I parked, no less than five stores. No shoes. (Could you specifically tell someone over the phone the exact spot you parked in when you went to the grocery store this morning?)

We ate a quick dinner and drove for 20 minutes back to the parking lot of the possible shoe loss and scoured the sides of the road along the way. No shoes.

Erik, with flashlight in hand, thoroughly examined the parking lot. No shoes.

We went over which lane I was in at every point in the drive home and tried to figure out where the shoes might have landed. No shoes.

Guilt had already set in by this time, and tears had already been shed. (Tears aren't hard for me to conjure right now.) Of all the things to lose! Why not his $10 sandals or his annoying Diego phone? Because I was being a good mom and making sure that he was wearing his shoes as much as possible. (They are helping the severity of this pronation, BTW.)

I just don't want to be the one to tell his physical therapist. Getting the orthodics in the first place ended up being a set of nightmare transactions for her (first set were too small/second set were lost by FedEx/replacement set for the ones lost by FedEx were lost by the manufacturer, etc, etc). It is like the shoes are cursed.

Okay, maybe I didn't make a long story short. And the money I was going to use to buy a used Little Tike kitchen or workbench will have to be put towards replacing the lost shoes and orthodics. Makes my stomach sick.

(At least I didn't lose Everett or my wedding ring. With kids it will always be something. I'll take being at fault for losing a high dollar set of items over my son having an emotional or physical ailment.)

And next time, our phone number will be branded into the soles.

Bragging Rights

Erik just received word that he got a big award for all his hard work on his last project. We are high-fiving it around here (sad that Evy is asleep and missing this Hi-Five opportunity) and wanted to share the good news with you.

Great job, Erik!

(and he was able to manage to do that and keep the homefires safe and sane with a pregnant wife--that takes skill, people!)

Four current favorite songs. Enjoy!

At Play with Cars and Trucks

Watching Erik work with painters' tape this weekend created quite a brainstorm in our house. I figured that I could use the tape to build a motorized vehicle play area without committing to any set carpet or other vehicle table to provide Everett more structure for his play (hoping he'll refrain from using the walls as his "train track").

It worked out really well! The painters tape is a dream to come off (I've used it for lots of things other than taping for painting) and we can change it up as often as we want.

Please admire the DC inspired rotary!

Chills and Thrills

Everett: My Thrills this week included watching Twiggy eat her food. I like to lay on the floor next to her (and even try and feed her myself). I am a pro at brushing her and making her run around the house. My new words this week were "home"--"in here"--and "COOL!" (as in very neat).

Erik: I was thrilled to be able to take a day off work to go to the truck show and get in some pool time with the family. I even did a bit more renovation in the kitchen to finish out a project. As Activity Committee Chairman for my church congregation, my busy season is about to begin again, and I am looking forward to getting that squared away and organized.

Sheila: My big chill for the week has been my war with the kitchen and butler pantry. My food supply, cooking tools, dishes, and machines are just too much for my limited cabinetry. I did, due to some creative genius on my part, find several ways to make peace and even set up an area for Everett's art supplies. I'm not done yet, and each time I attack it, it gets better. My thrill came as I surrendered to the fact that we'll be here in DC when the baby comes--the thrill being I think I found a way to rearrange the home and make sure all office and bedroom needs are fitting together. Erik and I are still in negotiations of what goes where but we are on our way.

Everett's first "talking" phone conversation without an adult prompting to answer.

Everett: HIII!!

Mom: Hi Everett. How are you doing?

Everett: MOMMA!

Mom: Everett, where are you?

Everett: PHOOL!

. . . then the rest was the basic toddler repetition with babbling.

TOTALLY TRUCKS

Today our homeowners association held a "Totally Trucks" event where they showcased the trucks they use to take care of our area. There were also firetrucks and a prisoner transporter truck.

When the firetruck came rolling into the event, the kids started cheering and clapping. It was hysterical. I bet that brings a smile to the firefighters to see 250+ kids and parents cheering for them. The event organizers also had a "live" show going on where a dumptruck, bobcat, and a bulldozer were moving dirt around. One man stood in a platform that raised him over 30 feet in the air--just so we could see him go up and down and up and down.

Everett loved sitting on the shelf in the mailtruck. He, in the end, got up enough nerve to sit in the firetruck. Here are other shots of him trying out the trucks, inside levers, horns, and comfort of the driver's seat.

At Play with Art

Everett is getting to the age that he can handle and really enjoy art projects. I've been doing some research on links that have some great projects ready for me to use. Key are projects that won't frustrate him and won't frustrate me.

For those of you with toddlers, you might find the following handy:

Arts and Crafts Activities--Toddlers
The Artful Parent
Activities for Toddlers
ToddlerCrafts
ToddlerToddler
TheIdeaBox

OR, if you are trying to save money (who isn't) check out this lady's blog.

FHE-Great Weather Style

Growing up, we never ate the "butts" of the bread. Come to think of it, I still don't. Having clever parents who never wasted anything, they saved the bread butts and stored them in the freezer until we went to feed the ducks. I loved feeding the ducks.

The weather was great this Monday and our FHE activity was going to feed the ducks. All three of us enjoy feeding the ducks. However, Everett is the most directive with the ducks, encouraging them to eat, making sure that the "out" duck get some of the grub, "GO! GO!" In fact, at one point, we weren't fast enough in portioning out the bread, and he stared helping himself to the loaf in order to get it out in a timely fashion.

Our treat was a yummy strawberries and cream frappuccino. TASTY!