2010 / Nelson Notes

Jed's First Christmas

12.27.2010

Our Christmas Tree!

I had a lot of fun one night with the lights and my camera.

I tried making all the lights heart-shaped, but this is the result I got. I'll have to try it again, but I kinda like this.

Playing under the Christmas tree

Nope. He's not crawling just yet.

This was Jed’s first Christmas! I was so excited on Christmas Eve, I could hardly contain myself. I was jumping up and down! I’m a parent now and I get to play Santa. Christmas is magical again! Plus, I couldn’t wait for Bron to open the presents I so carefully wrapped this year to keep him guessing.

I felt Bron tossing and turning around 5:00AM. He couldn’t sleep either; he was excited too! Awesome.

Christmas Eve we each opened a present and read the story of the birth of Christ in Luke II. Then Jed and Daddy wrestled. Slobber kisses!

We were all spoiled this Christmas with so many great gifts; Jed especially with loads of imaginative books and toys. I had a lot of fun seeing what Jed got from family; it was a surprise for me too! Plus, Bron was home all day long. It was wonderful.

The mess Christmas Morning!

Jed had just as much fun playing with the paper and bows as he did his new toys and books.

Bron got a new cowboy hat. It's brown.

Doesn't he look like a stud?

Jed got a pair of cowboy boots too!
And they're still too big. hehe

The Boot Lineup

Jed wore his boots to church the next day, but by the time I got him all ready for church, he was ready for a nap. Typical. There was no way I was going to get a decent picture.

Santa brought Jed a rocking horse! And it’s just the right size. It whinnies and gallops and moves its head, muzzle, and tail. It’s high tech one-of-a-kind and Jed loves it! Every time we come near it, he looks for it and wants to play. That’s a good feeling. It makes me happy to know that this special gift makes Jed happy!

Yup. Jed's first Christmas. I'd say it was a success.

Bron always has a trick or two up his sleeve. He led me to believe that this Christmas was going to be “extremely practical” this year. But he always comes through to pamper me. He bought me a 50mm F1.8 lens!!! It’s the crème de la crème. The pictures are spectacular. They’re beautiful! The colors! Wow. I didn’t realize what I was missing. This lens is amazing! I had a ton of fun tinkering with my camera all day. Hopefully my pictures will improve more and more!

We started a tradition of a warm yummy breakfast. This year it was Belgian waffles topped with fruit and whipped cream. After breakfast, we all took a long nap and then spent the afternoon talking with family over the phone. We really missed them! Dinner included a juicy ham and a berry pie for dessert. Scrumptious. I love food, but especially rich Christmas food!

Making pie in my new apron with my new kitchen gadgets!

The little snow man is chuck FULL of CHOCOLATE!

Jed is a fan of cheese and crackers

Jed turned 8 months old on Christmas Day. We sure are glad to have him as a part of our little family. He brings us so much joy. We both take pleasure in watching Jed grow and develop and love playing and laughing with him. Merry Christmas, Little Guy! We love you and can’t wait to see you light up on many more Christmases to come! Thanks for making this one so special.

12.23.2010

One of the things about becoming a mother that I always looked forward to was getting my child's first Christmas ornament. I spent too much money, but think I found the perfect ornament: it's cute, it's sturdy, and it's personalized with Jed's name. I hope it lasts a very long time cuz I love it!

12.21.2010

My Handsome Cowboy and Me

Jed and I began last week with a nasty flu/cold bug. If there’s anything worse than being sick, it’s being sick and trying to be a mother at the same time. Bron came to the rescue on Monday afternoon though—just after finishing his LAST final for his Master’s Degree!—and allowed me to soak in the tub while he entertained Jed for an hour. Well, we survived the week. And even though Jed is still up to his eyeballs in snot, we are feeling much better.

*****

Friday evening was the night of the Miner Institute Christmas Party! We left Jed with one of my young women with whom I feel very comfortable and enjoyed an evening out together. I got to wear a dress for the first time since Jed was born! (You see, dresses generally don’t allow a woman to nurse very discreetly.) I felt like a million bucks!

We started the night socializing at the free bar. When I asked for a Shirley Temple, the bartender laughed; I don’t think he was expecting that kind of order. haha It's all about those cherries! Then we sat down to eat with our friends.

Looking around, I noticed that the folks associated with Miner range from college aged to the retired and elderly, and their skill sets from competent maintenance men and farm hands to people with specialized Doctorate and Post-Doctorate degrees. It’s quite a community! But everyone is friendly. I think I will miss this someday.

After our meal, tickets were drawn for a silent auction. The anticipation of winning something you don’t need is actually a lot of fun. Following the auction, the lights were dimmed and the music came on. We spent the rest of the evening dancing to corny songs like the Macarena and the Electric Slide. Bron even spun me around a few times during some good country songs. We really enjoyed ourselves!

Anna won a cheesecake!

The tickets...

Lovebirds: Shaun and Natasha

Chris and Jessie. She's due next month. They are going to be great parents. I remember feeling a lot like that just last year!

A smile from Roxanne

*****

Saturday night we hosted a little get-together at our home after Jed had gone to bed. Jed has no idea what he misses when he’s asleep! Anna was kind enough to share her cheesecake she won the night before. It was so rich and delicious! We stayed up late just eating, chatting, and playing games. It was fun!

*****

Sunday was the day of the Christmas program at church. I was asked to sing a duet! I have never sung a solo in church before in my life (or any public place) for a few reasons: nerves and the fact that my voice really isn’t that great. About the only thing I have going for me is that I can carry a tune. But we pulled it off. And that feels good because—keep in mind—this sister wears a hearing aid in one ear. Enough said! I also played my violin. I chose a piece that I learned with my mother when I was just five or six years old. As I was playing, I thought of her and how much I miss playing with her this time of year! Christmas music carries with it so many memories!

*****

Finally, last but not least, Monday December 20th was Bron’s 27th Birthday!!! And there are NO pictures because Bron wouldn’t let me take any. But there was a warm breakfast followed by singing and a present because I just couldn’t wait! That night we enjoyed peanut butter brownies and milk together. I’d say it was a pretty good day overall. I love you, Honey! I am so happy to have you in my life. You deserve a little celebrating for who you are and what you do!

And what's a blog post without a picture of Jed?

It was just a matter of time. Jed scooted, rolled, and manipulated his way to the tree. If I were a baby, I don't think I could resist either. He likes the bows on the presents. I can't wait until Christmas!

Jed Claps for Himself

12.11.2010

While Bron is studying for finals, Jed is studying his pincer grip. We all cheer when he actually gets something into his mouth because more often than not, it gets lost along the way. Boy, I love this kid!

Time for Me?

12.08.2010

One of my biggest fears about becoming a stay-at-home mother was that I would be bored out of my mind, especially during the nasty winter months. Perhaps I’ve become accustomed to the slower pace of home life. Maybe it’s the busy Holiday season. But suddenly Jed woke up and grew into a big baby who is quickly growing into a little boy and I am not bored at all!

I suppose there are two types of boredom. One stems from monotonous repetitiveness coupled with the mental energy it takes to communicate with small children. The other arises from a lack of things to do. I’m still relatively new to the first; I’m talking about the latter.

I’m up before the sun to exercise about the same time Jed is revving up his energy and smiles for the day. Then it’s nursing and changing and breakfast, a book, a nap, a shower, a chore, some play time, and time to eat again, and the pattern repeats itself with errands and Young Women’s thrown in. I’ve also begun babysitting a handsome brown eyed two year old a few days a week. It takes a lot of energy to keep a toddler and a baby occupied!

For as long as I can remember, I’ve always had my evenings to myself to do whatever I wanted. In college I dated, did fun and crazy things, and occasionally did homework. I taught violin lessons, did a little housework, scrapbooked, and vegged in front of the television in my pre-Jed life. Now, however, my days are often cut short because of work with the calves. The other evenings I find myself playing catch-up on the chores that multiply like a plague: dishes, folding laundry, and sweeping the floor so that Jed doesn’t have to digest something ultra funky. And it’s really the only time Bron and I can spend some quality time together. We need to talk; it keeps us close.

What I really need is sleep. I don’t get enough and it is my fault.

Where does the time go? When do I actually get to sit down and do something that I would enjoy doing without interruption? I would love to get the scrapbooks up to date. I would love to play my violin without someone whining to tell me he’s bored. I would love to get lost in a good book. I would love to do a lot of things. Just me. Alone. I miss that ME time!

I know I shouldn’t complain and should quit being such a drama queen. My life is good; my problems are boring and trivial. I just miss those selfish days now that they’re gone forever. I’m writing about it because I just want someone to know who understands. Or am I the only one who feels this way?

Perhaps this is the badge of a mother: to go like the energizer bunny, suck it up, and give life all she’s got! It’s exhausting. I wish I was Wonder Woman. She could do it all!

And to think I want more children someday! I must be insane. Or really happy despite it all.

I think this transition to motherhood is going to make me much, much cooler in the end.

12.06.2010

Jed helped me wrap presents. He got to eat the scraps.

Our home has that special Christmas feeling! There are presents underneath the tree and I am sooo excited! Funny thing is, only one of them is for me. I went shopping one afternoon last week and had a blast! I stopped at the Tractor Supply and just couldn’t resist buying Jed something BIG I am busting at the seams to give him. (It makes Bron grin like a kid too.) Then I checked off all the things on my list for Bron this year. Best part is, I have Bron completely stumped; he has no idea what he is getting for Christmas. I am so sneaky! Hehe

It’s just one reason I LOVE this time of year!

12.02.2010

Note: This post is for journaling purposes. So you don’t need to read it unless you really want to.

We are spending the Holidays here at home in New York this year. We miss family most around this time of year, but I’m actually happy about staying at home with my boys. Jed is experiencing his first of everything! It’s so much fun.

Jed helping me get a head start on the pies Wednesday night

For Thanksgiving dinner this year, we invited some friends from work to celebrate with us. I made the whole shebang all at once for the first time: turkey, mashed potatoes, candied sweet potatoes, crescent rolls, a fruit pie, and a pumpkin pie (from scratch!). I have overcome my fear of yeast. A few of my crescent rolls may have looked liked armadillos, but they all turned out warm and perfect. However, I made the gravy from a packet and stuffing from a box. Ya gotta give a girl a break. Good is good enough. I figured there wasn’t any point in stressing myself out over something that was supposed to be enjoyable. Anyways, I was by myself most of the day with a baby who slept a TOTAL of 45 minutes.

Yes, that’s right, Jed doesn’t sleep much during the day. He never really has. He takes a half hour nap in the morning and another nap in the afternoon that lasts anywhere from a half hour to an hour. If I’m really, really lucky Jed will sleep a solid two hours, but that’s the exception. I guess Jed just doesn’t need that much sleep! He does not take after his mommy in that respect at all. I should count my blessings though; he sleeps a solid 12 hours at night and insists on being put to bed somewhere between 6:00 and 7:00PM. This also means he’s an early riser, but he’s content to sit and play and watch me exercise, so I can’t complain.

Jed is excited for FOOD!

Thanksgiving dinner turned out great! Everything was miraculously warm at the same time. We just had Roxanne, Natasha, and her boyfriend, Shawn, for company. The conversation was great! We girls pigged out on the fruit pie. It was sooo delicious! To top it off, Natasha washed ALL my dishes. Thank you, Natasha! I was getting a headache just thinking about it. It was a really enjoyable evening. Plus, having all the leftovers rocked.

Thanksgiving!

Natasha didn't want to get any berry juice on her shirt. haha

On Black Friday, all three of us ventured out to do some shopping in the afternoon. We were able to get all the things on our gift list. Such a good feeling.

Bron acts tough, but he is secretly a marshmallow when it comes to his boy (and me). We went shopping with one toy in mind for Jed. As we were looking, Bron saw a version of a toy that we both had a kids.

"Does Jed have one of these?" he asked.

"No," I replied

"Really, are you sure?"

"Yup. I'm sure he doesn't have one in his toy box."

"Well, this is a good one. He's gotta have it."

And so we left the store with two toys. It's going to be so hard not to spoil Jed for Christmas!

Saturday, Jed and I went to a baby shower and then Bron and I went on an actual DATE that night. Jed never even knew we left him. We put Jed to bed around 6:00PM just before Anna came over to babysit. I suppose we could have just left Jed completely alone, but that would have been irresponsible. So Anna baked a pie and watched a movie at our house while Bron and I went with a couple of friends from church to watch a Plattsburgh State Hockey game. Apparently, the Cardinals rank first in their division in the nation. It was an intense game. Three points were made in the last period and the Cardinals won! Afterwards, Bron took me to Applebee’s for some appetizers and dessert. It felt so relaxing not to have to juggle a tiny human being and to be out with my hubby—just the two of us. If we weren’t so dirt poor, we’d go out more often! A night out was just what I’d been craving. In fact, I’d dreamt about it. It was a NEED. And it was a great night.

Oh yeah. I have to mention that Jed threw up everything in his stomach all over Bron and his clean shirt just fifteen minutes before we were supposed to leave on our date. Bron and I looked at each other like, "Where do we start? What do we do now?" Luckily, Jed felt much better after that; he nursed and slept like a rock.

Jed Laughs

11.29.2010

Jed has a sense of humor! Watching Jed laugh makes us laugh!

I know his grandparents will appreciate this.

11.25.2010

Happy First Thanksgiving, Bud!

Happy Thanksgiving! I live a life so rich in blessings that I couldn’t possibly list or count them all. I am as content and happy as I will ever be, I think. And for that, I am very grateful.

First, I need to give a shout-out to my husband and very best friend, Bron. I just want you to know how much I appreciate you in all of your efforts to provide for our little family and for being the best husband and father you know how to be. You make me so happy! You know exactly what I need and go out of your way to spoil me and put a smile on my face—like a hug, or tickling me, or teasing me, or preparing a tray of cheese and crackers. I love coming home from an evening at work to a clean kitchen and a sleeping baby. Thank you so much for all your selflessness and thoughtfulness; those are traits I really admire. I love you and am so thankful I can be with you for eternity.

Rivaling my husband at the top of my list of blessings is, of course, my baby boy. Sometimes it still blows my mind to think that I am a mother and that Jedediah is mine. I can kill a cactus, but I’ve managed to keep Jed alive for seven months. I’m impressed with myself.

Jed is seven months old today. I love his smile and the way his eyes look when he’s happy—which is almost all the time. The boy just wants to play, play, play! Lucky for me, Jed hasn’t quite figured out how to move yet. He can roll halfway across a room, but he prefers just to sit and play with his toys. However, he is slowly losing interest in his toys and becoming very curious about people things. When I’m in the kitchen, I help Jed empty a drawer and it provides entertainment for a good long while. Jed has also taken off on solid foods. I didn’t know a little person could eat so much! He’s begun eating three “solid” meals a day which usually consist of cereal or oatmeal mixed with some kind of fruit or veggie. And he’s finally figured out how to drink from a sippy cup! It’s like a special treat; he gets excited when I bring his cup out even though it only has water in it for now. He also enjoys sucking on his toes, wash cloths, water bottles, and even real cups. He is fascinated by straps, especially the ones on his booster seat. And instead of talking, he growls. The kid has personality. Oh, and he gives kisses too. They’re more like open-mouthed slobbers, but I treasure them!

I love you so much, Jed! You have no idea how much joy you bring me. I am so thankful to be your mommy. Happy First Thanksgiving!

I am a little obsessed with little feet. And I love how short Jed is!

Look how his feet barely stick out under the tray of his booster seat.

11.19.2010

Our Nation's Capitol

Since Bron had the weekend off, we wanted to take the opportunity to explore more parts of the East Coast. We decided upon our nation’s capitol, Washington D.C.

We arrived at the Hilton (Yes, Bron got us a room at the Hilton! Quite nice. I’m so spoiled.) in Silver Springs, Maryland where we had the car parked by a valet and were on the metro headed into D.C. before noon. I carried a backpack filled with snacks for all of us, some baby essentials, and something to keep both Jed and me warm—which we wore half the time anyway. Bron had Jed. Jed is finally big enough for the backpack, and he loves it! He just grins like a cheese ball every time we put him in it. We were ready to take on the city! So what if we totally looked like tourists?

Our first sight of the trip was to the Capitol Building where we took a tour. For some reason, I thought the building would be completely updated, but I was pleased to find that much of its historic feel had been preserved. In some parts it was easy to imagine what it must have been like about two hundred years ago!

The Awesome Rotunda

Inside the Capitol

Yes, Jed is tasting his backpack

Then we hit up the Library of Congress. I’ve always wanted to see it. That building is impressive. In fact, all of the old buildings are! There, we got to see an original Gutenberg Bible. Wow. So cool.

Inside the Library of Congress

Next, we browsed through the Smithsonian Air and Space museum. By then it was getting dark. We walked down the National Mall. The memorials are so pretty at night; they’re almost breathtaking! We saw the Washington Memorial, WWII Memorial, Lincoln, Roosevelt, and Jefferson Memorials. This is about when the battery in my camera died. Unfortunately, I’d left the charger in the car which happened to be in said valet parking lot and that was the end of my photography for the trip. I was a little bummed. We bought postcards instead. Bron thinks we’ll probably save money this way. (A sarcastic Haha!)

The Washington Memorial at Night

It is TALL!!!

View of the Lincoln Memorial from the WWII Memorial

Sooo pretty!

Saturday we began our day at the Arlington National Cemetery. That cemetery is something else entirely. It was sad to me to read the dates on the headstones. I know soldiers often die young, but it’s disheartening to see so many! It helped give me a new appreciation for my rights and freedoms as an American.

That day we also toured Robert E. Lee’s mansion on top of the hill, the Iwo Jima memorial, the White House, and finally made our way into the National Archives Building to see THE ACTUAL Declaration of Independence! I couldn’t believe how faded the signatures have become. It was really neat to see. There, we also had the chance to see the original Emancipation Proclamation that is on display only four days each year. It was a great exhibit. By the way, I totally recommend spending time in the American History Museum. I wish we had more time! I felt an overwhelming sense of pride when I saw Old Glory—the 15 star, 15 stripe flag that inspired our national anthem.

That about sums up our trip! We got in the car with the intent of finding a motel that night, but Bron determined he could make it all the way home in one shot. We arrived home at about 4:00AM and took resting on the Sabbath very literally. We all needed a little time to recover after a week like that.

Totally fun week and lots of memories.

We all felt a little like this when we got back

11.17.2010

View of Hershey, Pennsylvania

Jed is exceptionally well traveled for such a little kid. He’s been entirely across New York State, and has visited Vermont, Montreal, and Quebec City. This last week we added Pennsylvania, Washington D.C., Virginia, Maryland, and Deleware and New Jersey, respectively, to his list. We were only gone five days, but it feels like two weeks!

Bron had a conference to attend in Harrisburg, PA for two days, so Jed and I came along for the ride! We left early Tuesday morning. It was an eight hour drive, but I came prepared with a bag of toys and books with which to entertain the little man. Jed even got to experiment with feeding himself for the first time. Man, we’re getting good at this travel stuff! We have been blessed with an extraordinarily good-natured baby. Jed is a really happy boy. He only fusses when he’s tired, hungry, or frustrated. The entire five days we dealt with only one meltdown.

A first time experience: Chowing down on rice crackers

Because the hotel the conference was in had no vacancy, we stayed in a slightly cheaper adjacent hotel. We lived in the lap of luxury for three nights! Bron booked us a suite with a king size bed and jetted bathtub. We found that if we squirted just a little baby soap into the tub and turned on the jets, we got bubbles two feet deep! Jed had a ball.

My baby boy enjoying a big bed after a warm bubble bath

So while Bron was working hard all day at his conference, Jed and I were free as birds to explore our new surroundings. Our first day, we headed straight to Hershey’s Chocolate World in Hershey, PA just seven miles away. It was hands-down my favorite day! Jed went on his first “ride” (twice) and we “both” got free samples of chocolate. I even took a little chocolate tasting class and became a Master Chocolate Taster. (You really do LISTEN to chocolate!) There was also a humungous gift shop and candy store. I didn’t think I could ever get chocolated-out, but I did. After all that chocolate sampling, I was ready for something with a little substance. Then we toured the Hershey Story museum and learned all about Mr. Hershey, his community, and factory.

Chocolate World!

A little kid in a GIANT candy store!

The next day I drove to Amish Country some thirty miles away. Pennsylvania has such gorgeous countryside! I love the green of the East but miss the openness of the West. Pennsylvania seemed to have a little bit of both: green rolling open fields. And the leaves were still on the trees too! It was very picturesque. I wanted to bottle it all up and bring it home.

Outside of Lancaster, Jed and I stopped at various Amish stores to browse (there was a ton of cute decorative stuff!) and even visited an Amish farm to see some miniature horses. It was fun to see horses and buggies driving down the same road I drove and to see Amish children at play in their schoolyard. For lunch, I decided to eat where the locals typically dine to try to get an accurate feel for the community. There was a twenty minute wait. “All right,” I thought, “this is going to be good!” And good it was! Jed attracts a lot of attention. We had every old lady in the vicinity gathered around to gab about him. I also got to sit at my table near the front of the restaurant and watch people come and go. There were all sorts, including all sorts of Amish. I had a great time just people watching. And the food was pretty good too. (Sorry, no pictures of this because I thought it would be a little disrespectful and just plain kinda weird.)

Some snapshots of Gettysburg in the evening

Late in the afternoon, we picked up Bron and dashed out to Gettysburg before the sun set. Bron loves American history. In fact, he just finished reading the Killer Angels trilogy about the Civil War. Gettysburg was definitely high on his list of places to visit. Upon arrival, the first thing we saw was the Cyclorama: a huge floor to ceiling painting that encircled us and told the story of that great battle. It was something else! Did I mention that the painting is like REALLY OLD? Then we hurried outside to drive around the park. Bron was anxious to see Little Round Top. It’s a good thing Bron knows so much about history because when we visit these kind of places I’m always full of questions; I’m practically clueless! But I think he likes reiterating the stories and sharing his knowledge with me. That’s why I married him. He knows everything so I don’t have to.

We watched this soldier sit quietly and play his trumpet as if we had stepped back in time.

Then we watched him drive away in a Nissan.

It was a very good two days. Next, Washington D.C.!

11.11.2010

We're visiting Pennsylvania this week. So far, Jed's favorite thing has been his giant bubble baths.

Living in the lap of luxury, Baby!

11.06.2010

Jed thought it was hilarious to sit on Dad's shoulders and soak his hair with slobber.

I thought it was hilarious too. Bron was just being a good sport, but I think he liked it.

P.S. It is really HARD to get a good shot without the flash inside our home. Any suggestions? The ISO is at 800, I'm shooting wide open, and the shutter speed has to be at about 1/20. Yuck! Or is that the best I can do? Maybe it's time for a new camera accessory. haha

11.04.2010

Ready for work in my new insulated (very important) coveralls

before their maiden voyage to the barn.

Folks often ask how I like my new job. My response: I actually really enjoy it! There’s just something very gratifying about physically working—using your arms and legs—and getting a job done from start to finish. I like seeing what I’ve accomplished. It’s akin to smelling pine sol while grimacing at a filthy mop and admiring a sparkling wood floor. That’s nice.

I start work between 5:00 and 5:30PM and get done between 8:30 and 9:30PM three or four nights a week. Life on a farm is unpredictable: you never know when a calf might be sick or a brand new one will hit the ground. (I love seeing animals born.) That’s why I don’t have very definite hours. I have so much to learn! I want to learn more about the farm’s diets and weaning schedules and how to treat different diseases. But I’ve done my job as long as the calves are warm and fed.

I love working with the calves! They’re so little and cute. They remind of Jed when he’s really hungry; they’re anxious for their food and go to town slurping it up! Sometimes they make me laugh. One had a bucket stuck on her muzzle one night and couldn’t shake it off. Another calf, just hours old, followed me around the pen and came sucking on my boots, knees, and whatever else. It’s kinda fun. And did you know that women usually do a better job than men at caring for calves on a farm? The animals become our babies.

Well, while I’m gone caring for animal babies, Bron is at home caring for our baby. I think it’s been a good change. It’s given Bron a chance to develop a little relationship with his boy, and Jed just adores his daddy. Jed’s face lights up whenever Bron walks through the door. Bron is such a fun daddy that it makes me a little jealous sometimes. He adds a little spice and variety to the bedtime routine. Although Jed definitely doesn’t get as squeaky clean in the bathtub with his dad around, Jed has more fun. The crazy kid likes to dunk his head under the running faucet or stick his nose and mouth in to taste it. But Bron also has to deal with Jed at his most fussy. I think he handles it well. I also think it’s given him a fair taste for what I actually do.

Somehow, though, through our busy schedules, we’ve been able to gel as a family. When Bron is home for lunch we talk, tease, laugh, and play with Jed. In the evenings, Bron has been conscious about turning off the television to spend some quality time with me. I can’t believe we actually talk “farming” now! I often come home from work with a question or two about the dairy and then we start discussing the various ways to run an operation and how we might do it if we had cows of our own. Whoa. I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if we ended up raising calves someday. I guess it’s just one more thing we can add to our list of similar interests. I have to admit, we hit a slight rough spot in our marriage a few months ago around the time Jed was born. I was either very pregnant or adjusting to a new baby and Bron was stressed to the max with work and school. Now, however, we’ve developed a new “normal” that we’re both very content and happy with. We’re in love. We’re a family. Life is good.

P.S. I hate to say that last part out loud because that means something will change to throw our lives for a loop, but I just can’t keep it to myself right now.

11.01.2010

3 Delicious Apple Pies

The only semi-interesting thing I did over the Halloween weekend was make my very first apple pie.

I guess my weekend really started Thursday when Bron left to go to a conference. It was just the baby and me for three days. I had all sorts of plans for late night scrapbooking and playing with Jed, but unfortunately, I got a nasty stomach bug. Jed and I ended up hanging out around the house for two days straight; I think he got a little bored. And there was no scrapbooking either. Note to self: Never watch television around Halloween when your husband is gone! I’m already afraid of being alone in our house by myself at night. I know that we live out in the country and that the chances of any burglar or peeping tom slinking around are slim, but I still worry. It doesn’t help that it’s very dark outside and when the heat kicks on all the walls in our home start to click and clank and even bang. (Yeah, we obviously don’t have central heat.) Plus, the last night Bron was gone there was an animal scratching inside the wall directly above my head. There was no way I was sleeping there! I slept in the other room. So between being sick and paranoid and Jed deciding to wake up every hour to play after 3:30AM two nights in a row, it wasn’t the best weekend. Until…

Saturday night. I was feeling much better and the girls were coming over. We ate crepes for dinner, put Jed to bed, and then started baking and talking and talking and talking. Apparently Anna had a little apple pie business in high school and has made hundreds of them! And she was willing to teach Natasha and me her baking secrets. Anna is a great cook and a great teacher. We made three pies. Just thinking about the amount of butter and sugar we put into them makes my arteries clog, but they were extraordinarily tasty! We baked until after 11:00PM. It was so much fun and sooo delicious!

Thanks, ladies, for such an enjoyable evening! I think we should do it again sometime.

Natasha's model hands

Natasha snitching the crumb topping. Yum!

Anna taking our pies out of the oven.

The finished product! Three perfect apple pies.

Ready to go home with their hot pies!

P.S. No, Jed didn’t go trick-or-treating this year. I’m a lame mommy. You see, he has no teeth and can’t eat candy. Furthermore, we live too far out for any ghosts and goblins to come knocking on our door. I didn’t see the need to dress him up without any reason. However, I’m really looking forward to next year!

Nelson Notes

SLIDER

Jed's First Christmas

12.27.2010

Jed's First Christmas Ornament

12.23.2010

Parties and Life Lately

12.21.2010

Jed Claps for Himself

12.11.2010

Time for Me?

12.08.2010

That Christmas Spirit

12.06.2010

Our Thanksgiving Weekend

12.02.2010

Jed Laughs

11.29.2010

Happy Thanksgiving

11.25.2010

Our Travel Adventure: Part 2

11.19.2010

Our Travel Adventure: Part 1

11.17.2010

A Travel Adventure Preview

11.11.2010

Play, Smile, and Slobber

11.06.2010

The Calf Whisperer

11.04.2010

Apple Pie

11.01.2010

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