tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-31946340852250640812024-03-13T23:36:24.620-07:00The Day Started Walking"All journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware" - Martin BuberRebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.comBlogger151125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-64307578291547156952013-08-01T19:47:00.002-07:002013-08-01T19:49:56.577-07:00Teething: the nightmare has begunSuperbaby has turned into Grumpy McGrumps the past couple of days. Add to that an inability to fall asleep or stay asleep longer than an hour at a time, an insatiable urge to suck and bite everything she can grab, and an almost constant urge to nurse, and we have what is known as teething.<br />
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Today I found proof that teething is the culprit of all of this: a white line of teeth showing through the gums. Granted, it's hard to see, especially since superbaby doesn't like it when I look.<br />
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Please let us get through this stage quickly.<br />
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Grumpy McGrumps needs to be a very short phase or I will completely lose my sanity. (Though, she seems to be happy playing and gurgling with daddy.)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-47001880235019171992013-07-29T10:32:00.004-07:002013-07-29T10:32:54.914-07:00Going SwimminglyLast weekend, we decided to hit up the air conditioning and pool down and grandma and grandpa's house since it's been so hot here. So, since it's in the 90s here, it's probably 100+ there.<br />
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We had fun with a pool party/BBQ to celebrate grandma and the Russian's birthdays this week. There were fun purple cupcakes just for the occasion! (You'll have to check out Miranda's blog for pictures of that, I don't have any.) We saw a lot of aunts and uncles and cousins.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zzLB8cwBeY/Ufak_iZD1uI/AAAAAAAAA1U/I311cvxIKkY/s1600/swimming3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="217" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zzLB8cwBeY/Ufak_iZD1uI/AAAAAAAAA1U/I311cvxIKkY/s320/swimming3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We have lots of fun talking to cousin Maggie </td></tr>
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The swimming was great fun! We went swimming both days and couldn't get enough. Superbaby swam for hours with daddy.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HymjyD4xKk/Ufak_yoqbjI/AAAAAAAAA1c/ynGs1ZqurGU/s1600/swimmingshark.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="222" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9HymjyD4xKk/Ufak_yoqbjI/AAAAAAAAA1c/ynGs1ZqurGU/s320/swimmingshark.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daddy pretended to be a shark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWLJt0QBrNE/Ufak_AzSKNI/AAAAAAAAA1k/sMOUaL9X0og/s1600/swimming2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yWLJt0QBrNE/Ufak_AzSKNI/AAAAAAAAA1k/sMOUaL9X0og/s320/swimming2.png" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Almost like doing tummy time</td></tr>
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It's a good thing the water was so warm, or superbaby might have frozen. She cried a little bit the first time she got in the water, but was fine once mommy cuddled up to her. (Daddy was holding her far away and swishing her through the water...not as fun in the beginning.)<br />
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Superbaby didn't sleep much on our trip, since there were just too many people to watch and new things to see. But she crashed on the way home. She's slept more than 12 hours last night, which means I should probably go get her up.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-87974150581276893052013-07-25T22:15:00.002-07:002013-07-29T09:57:56.126-07:00Trying so hardWe get a workout each day...especially superbaby. Check out the latest skill she's almost got!<br />
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She's so close. So close. She's done front to back, but this back to front business is just hard. We'll get it soon, though!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-82757444794910092212013-07-23T16:18:00.000-07:002013-07-23T16:18:39.654-07:00Addiction<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Addiction: a compulsive need for and use of a habit-forming substance</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some people have coffee, some people have pop, and some people have tea. We have tea. Seriously, we spend way too much money every time we hit up the tea shops. Our cupboards are full of green, white, roobios, herbal, black, grey, you name it - we've got it. (There's even some stashed in the freezer - we'll always have some!)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">We start to get scared when we finish a bag or two, and take another trip tot he store to ensure our need is met.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Then we started looking online.*</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Hello, Teavanna.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">We usually have a chance to hold, smell, and then decide on the teas we want, so we have a more educated guess as to whether or not we will like the teas. That luxury is not permitted when ordering online. So, we decided to get the smallest amounts possible this time. We can decide if we like it or not and get more next time.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">An hour and a credit card bill later, and our order was complete!</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdwNHVdeZTg/Ue8Nb2yk5mI/AAAAAAAAA0w/gc-fHi5B7JE/s1600/teas1.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="234" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gdwNHVdeZTg/Ue8Nb2yk5mI/AAAAAAAAA0w/gc-fHi5B7JE/s320/teas1.png" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">Our teas arrived today - seven different flavors. <i>(Yes, I know there are eight bags there. We did get two bags worth of one kind.)</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">So far, I've brewed only one. A mix of roobios and herbal tea, I really like Citrus Lavender Sage/Opus Rouge Blend. It's also a very pretty pink color once brewed.</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN0W0jfms2w/Ue8Nb8I9KBI/AAAAAAAAA00/WMVEJ0M2Bn8/s1600/tea+brewed.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gN0W0jfms2w/Ue8Nb8I9KBI/AAAAAAAAA00/WMVEJ0M2Bn8/s320/tea+brewed.png" width="232" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Anyone have suggestions of good online stores to buy tea from? Or great flavors from Teavanna?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">*Another reason we're looking for tea online...tea bags have a huge mark up in the store. Seriously, $8.80 for a bag of 60, when I can get the same pack for $3.45, or 100 bags for $5.25.</span></span><br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-26136613439561212952013-07-21T00:47:00.001-07:002013-07-21T00:47:19.294-07:00I'm so dividedSo, I had an interview for a job for next year.<br />
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(Background: We decided I lived too far away from the district I worked in last year. It was a killer drive and I always crumpled into a heap on the couch when I got home. Was it the drive? Was it pregnancy? Who knows. But I couldn't handle it very well. Plus, I had to be out the door by 6:30 in the morning.<br />
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Now, if we add in time getting superbaby ready in the mornings, well, I'd have to wake up at 4:30...give or take half an hour. Not gonna happen. Plus, the Russian decided that daycare was a no-go after hearing some horror stories.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fytnHtCeOmE/UeuPw1_CvgI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/d0K85lPUo7E/s1600/cutie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="144" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fytnHtCeOmE/UeuPw1_CvgI/AAAAAAAAA0Q/d0K85lPUo7E/s320/cutie.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How can you send this cuteness to daycare and go to work?</td></tr>
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But then I spied with my little eye a job posting for another part time position. This one is in the district we live in. Perfect! The drawback? It's still a 3 day a week position. We were hoping for only 1 or 2 days.<br />
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Can't hurt to try, though, right?<br />
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I filled out the application and sent it on it's merry way. A few weeks later, after I had decided they must not have been that interested, I received a surprise phone call requesting an interview in two days. Okay.<br />
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I never know how interviews go. I prepared myself for the questions it seems like every district asks me, plus the typical "what's your biggest strength/weakness?" and the like. Unfortunately for me, all the questions were situational or related to my knowledge of the field (i.e. blah blah blah, explain the criteria for qualification for grade students and how it differs for preschool). Not bad, but I didn't get to use some of the excellent answers I had come up with to the questions they did not ask.<br />
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<i>Ah well.</i> I can be a stay at home mom. It <i>is</i> the best for superbaby, isn't it?<br />
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Then I heard they were actually checking my references. That's probably a good sign, but still not a guarantee of being offered the position. I'm so split.<br />
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I don't want superbaby to go to daycare, even for a couple of days a week.<br />
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But I don't want to lose my certification and job experience.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsu9HkPvXc/UeuRy_A8VqI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RXO0SnNe-Oc/s1600/thinkyoucanleaveme.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yMsu9HkPvXc/UeuRy_A8VqI/AAAAAAAAA0g/RXO0SnNe-Oc/s320/thinkyoucanleaveme.png" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You really think you can leave me?</td></tr>
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Buuuut, maybe I could handle daycare for a day or two a week if the end is in sight, which it would be. This position is a long term substitute covering maternity leave and ends in January. Even better! I guess we decided we'll take it if offered.<br />
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But inside I still go NO! YES! NO! YES! NO! YES! Gaaaaah!Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-38338787225194073492013-07-19T16:13:00.001-07:002013-07-19T16:15:03.799-07:00Shots and allWell, we had a 4 month well child check this past week. Superbaby took a nap right before the appointment, so I hoped it would go smoothly again. She's been pretty good about the doctor so far.<br />
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As I was driving to the office, some not-so-pleasant sounds were emanating from the back seat. When I checked the mirror, my hunch was confirmed by seeing a straining face. Uh oh. We couldn't stop. I mixed up the addresses since the appointment was at the office further away, but we managed to arrive right in time.<br />
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Unfortunately, there are always papers to fill out when we arrive. So, there wasn't time to think about the unpleasantness of the car as we walked in.<br />
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Superbaby really enjoyed talking to the nurse, who thought she was really cute. She was all smiles throughout the undressing and subsequent diaper change (seriously, how does that much poop fit into such a small person?).<br />
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Then we went to the scales. My guess? Somewhere between 13 and 14 pounds...well, I was right! Superbaby weighed in at 13 pounds 10 ounces, and was 24.75 inches long, which means she's in the 50th percentile for weight and 75th percentile for height.<br />
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The best part about the doctors office? The mirror! Superbaby was having the time of her life standing on the counter watching herself while I filled out the paperwork (Does your baby support their weight for 3 seconds? Hmmmm....I'd say that's a yes) and we waited for the doctor to come in.<br />
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When the doctor did arrive and decided to look superbaby over, well, she sat on the counter and it shifted enough superbaby freaked out. She really doesn't like it when things move underneath her. But in the end, the doctor said she was developing really well and she's surprised at how strong she is. (Daddy is really happy about that - he makes sure to work with her every day on it.)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bjvUybhTmk/UenHx3cn3lI/AAAAAAAAA0A/A_FEL2DoZHA/s1600/4+month+shots.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-1bjvUybhTmk/UenHx3cn3lI/AAAAAAAAA0A/A_FEL2DoZHA/s320/4+month+shots.png" width="250" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After shots - give her hugs and links and she's ready to go!</td></tr>
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Then there were those dreaded needles...we had the second round of shots - three in the legs and one oral one. I got to give superbaby the oral one this time, and she was all smiles with the nurse while she cleaned her legs. That quickly gave away to screams as the shots were administered, and we had more crying this time around, but it lasted all of 1 minute once I could pick her up.<br />
So, all in all, it was <br />
a good appointment.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-34503283098073046722013-07-16T00:57:00.000-07:002013-07-16T00:57:48.917-07:00Time passes quicklyJust the other day, I was making a picture in celebration of being two months old. Before I knew it, we were at the three month mark!<br />
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And then I turned around and we made it to four months.<br />
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Four months - shots (again), sleep regression, laughing, shrieking, and drooling. We've got it all. Superbaby loves to laugh at daddy when he claps. Or eats. Or swings her. Or does exercises with her as the weights.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIA0z7uWGkc/UeT8NqNTDvI/AAAAAAAAAzk/axLIuJMvN9s/s1600/eattoys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sIA0z7uWGkc/UeT8NqNTDvI/AAAAAAAAAzk/axLIuJMvN9s/s320/eattoys.jpg" width="236" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I must eat ALL the toys!</td></tr>
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But possibly her favorite activity with daddy...to sleep! Well, kind of. Not if he reclines her. Or puts her down. And definitely not at night. At night it's all about mommy. But she sure loves spending time with daddy (or papa, as he is known in Russian).<br />
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Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-64092005056565391142013-07-11T18:35:00.004-07:002013-07-16T00:58:22.771-07:00It's been a while...Well, what with pregnancy, working, creating a speech website (check it out <a href="http://www.rebeccaslp.com/" target="_blank">here</a>), and life in general, I haven't been updating this blog.<br />
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Buuuut, since I have about a million and one pictures and I know people like to keep up outside of Facebook, here's a quick recap of life. Hopefully I'll be able to update some during nap times.<br />
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So, on March 13, 2013, little miss Tamara Liana was born. We were all glad Sergei got paternity leave and was home for the first two weeks. Even hours old, he was protective of his little girl.<br />
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Time passed, and she grew. Before I knew it, she was a month old. We had to get an ultrasound on her back/spine because she had a sacral dimple, but it came out fine in the end.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fJTkUdD13Q/Ud9chNazaBI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TcXwquyuCoA/s1600/Tamara+waiting.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9fJTkUdD13Q/Ud9chNazaBI/AAAAAAAAAyw/TcXwquyuCoA/s320/Tamara+waiting.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Here she is waiting patiently for her ultrasound...so many people to look at!</td></tr>
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Then I blinked and she was two months old. She did well after getting her 2 month shots, with only a little crying.<br />
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And with that, nap time is over. I'll update again soon with more recent pictures and some actual stories about life.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-80056537051204535612012-11-09T15:01:00.000-08:002012-11-09T15:01:00.043-08:00'Tis the seasonFor cookies! (And cake pops...and gooey butter cake...and pumpkin pancakes with homemade whipped cream...) Mmmmmm!<br />
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It started snowing last night, thankfully after I made it home from work. But by the time the Russian walked in, he had a light covering of snow on his jacket.<br />
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Today we awoke to more of the white powder. It's been coming down, sometimes lazily, sometimes with determination, all day. It's the quintessential winter afternoon for me.<br />
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And I just can't help myself.<br />
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I want - no, scratch that - I need cookies. The ultimate comfort food in my book. Ooey, gooey, scrumptious, warm cookies (maybe with a side of hot chocolate). Yes, this is what today calls for. I even ventured to the store for the eggs we ran out of.<br />
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The main problem is this - cake batter. It somehow finds its way onto beaters and fingers. My first inclination is to lick it off like I have for years. (Would you expect anything less from the queen of sweets?) But about halfway to my mouth, I remember I'm pregnant and the raw egg is a big no-no.<br />
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With a sad sigh, I keep washing fingers off in the sink, bidding farewell to small bits of deliciousness. But now I finally have this:<br />
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Oops. Looks like I broke one...or is that two? Quality control time! I'll settle for a side of regular milk for taste testing. Maybe the hot chocolate will come out when the Russian gets home.<br />
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(The other problem with cookies and pregnancy...I grab one and walk away, forgetting to put the next sheet of cookies into the oven. It might take me a while to actually bake them all.)<br />
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(And before someone gives me a lecture on how I should be healthier during pregnancy, well, these are whole wheat cookies, so that's something, right?)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-44082204346752565392012-10-19T09:45:00.000-07:002012-10-19T09:45:39.585-07:00Gender results<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Results are in! Baby did cooperate for the ultrasound, which means the inside of the cake pops was not yellow or green.<div>
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(It also means that I went out shopping for clothes! And found some really cute outfits, it was so hard to just choose one...well, technically, I got two, because there was a buy one get one half off sale. I struggled not to buy another three outfits.)</div>
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Cake pops have been dispersed. Well, most of them were. The Russian ate a lot of them before they could be given away. Every time I turned around, there would be another two (or 5) empty sticks creating a pile on the counter.</div>
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I've heard back from those who received cake pops in the mail, so it's now time for the moment of truth. If you don't know, make your guess now before you scroll down...</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><i>It's a girl!</i></b></span></div>
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(And I found the cutest little blue outfit with monkeys - perfect - that I wanted to buy! But it said "Auntie's Favorite," so I couldn't buy it. It also happens to be the only blue girls' outfit that I've seen!)</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-1498735559390444472012-10-15T15:48:00.000-07:002012-10-15T15:48:08.516-07:00Cake pops and ultrasoundsBright and early this morning was 18 week ultrasound day. Dutifully, the Russian arose early to accompany me to the doctor's office.<br />
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Among the anatomy and measurements, pictures were taken. Baby didn't want to be bothered by us, and had it's hands up by the ears. (Maybe to tune us out?) Baby also chose to face away from us for most of the scan...but here's the best face picture we could get.</div>
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See the elbows sticking out?</div>
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We also chose to find out the gender. Baby cooperated in that regard, at least. I know I could just tell you all, but I can't resist the urge to make cake pops. (Or go shopping*. Do you know how hard it is not to buy everything in the baby section?)<br />
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Using the cake pop maker I received from my fantastic sister for the wedding, sadly, no frosting was required. (Sorry all of you who like the frosting/cake mix.)<br />
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Mmmm, tasty. I'll post results in a few days for those who are too far away to get one. If you want to know earlier, come grab one or three from me. :)</div>
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So what's your guess as to what we're having? Think we're having a boy? A girl? For the very limited number of people who know the answer, don't give it away!<br />
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<noscript><a href="http://polldaddy.com/poll/6610718/">I think you're having...</a></noscript>
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*The cutest outfit at Target is a little white bag-like coat-ish contraption** with a little brown bear and the words "snow cute." Even the Russian told me it was adorable. Anyone know what the little slits are for that go through the front and back? It's like the perfect size to shove your hand in...but that seems a bit awkward...<br />
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**Unfortunately, it's gender neutral, so I didn't buy it, though now I'm tempted to go back...</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-80859749281786411762012-10-14T10:57:00.000-07:002012-10-14T10:57:12.283-07:00Ever had a stomach massage?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Massage chairs. Wonderful, luxurious massages. I think I may have to get me one. Arguably my favorite part of shopping at Bed Bath and Beyond is taking a break in the demo chairs. Thankfully, I had a few minutes to spare while waiting for the Russian and settled into a chair.<div>
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About 30 seconds into my massage, I had the strange sensation of an echoing feeling in my stomach. At first, I startle. Then laugh. Apparently baby likes the sensation and decided to extend it to my abdomen. I'll take it (although it is really odd to feel pulses on both sides of my body).</div>
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The Russian returns and we try out all the demo chairs. (Gotta know which one is the best in case one of the chairs is on a great sale or it's shortly deemed necessary.)</div>
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"Must be a girl," is the response from the Russian after hearing what happened. Of course it is, if she likes massages.</div>
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Too bad we don't know yet. Hopefully that's coming soon. (Very soon.)</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-63163092522111311012012-10-07T13:37:00.003-07:002012-10-07T13:37:39.018-07:00GuysStick a group of guys in a room and this is what you get...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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This is the scene I walked into last weekend, as one brother's family stopped by and another brother was around helping with the sprinkler system.<br /><br />
Like bugs to a bright light - games are irresistible.</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-54345038610373914082012-09-26T20:35:00.001-07:002012-09-26T20:35:14.757-07:00Autumn<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ywepXUe0-Lk/UGPIkSJIm5I/AAAAAAAAArU/oxKdLjyjAzg/s1600/autumn+colors.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ywepXUe0-Lk/UGPIkSJIm5I/AAAAAAAAArU/oxKdLjyjAzg/s320/autumn+colors.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small; text-align: left;">Image courtesy of Dan / Freedigitalphotos.net</span></td></tr>
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You have to love the fall...<br />
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The scarves...<br />
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The shoes...<br />
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The cute jackets...<br />
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The soup...<br />
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The flowers...<br />
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The fog...<br />
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(Well, maybe it's just me who loves the fog.)<br />
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But I'm ready for it to get here already. C'mon, crisp, cool weather. I can't wait for the brisk mornings kissing my cheeks as I clutch a warm coffee in my hand. Of course, the sun is always shining (after morning fog slowly burns off) in my oh-so-realistic imagination that paints my fall. And, of course, I never get tired of hearty soups and potlucks in my head.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-13141744669114664142012-09-19T09:54:00.003-07:002012-09-19T09:54:39.416-07:00The Pillow Saga, pt. 3Sleeping with the body pillows worked for a while, but slowly I began to notice the back pain creeping back into my body. Maybe I just don't know how to sleep with the pillows appropriately. I don't know.<br />
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Needless to say, I needed to come up with a new solution. Even having two body pillows wasn't fixing the issue. Yes, I could simply roll over and use the a pillow on each side. (<i>No more stuck under my pillow wake-ups.</i>) But the backaches were persisting.<br />
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I did happen to read online about sleeping in a recliner. <i> Well, well, well, what an idea</i>.<br />
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The Russian and I found a great local sale on furniture and figured worst case scenario was that I could rock the baby and sleep during late-night feedings. That alone makes buying a recliner worth it, right?<br />
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So we bought a recliner that takes up approximately half of what will be the nursery. I don't care - we'll figure something out. At least the chair matches the soon-to-be thematic decor of the room.<br />
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Last night, after the 4th straight morning of back pain, I decided to bid the Russian farewell and take up residence in the recliner. <i>Let's just see how this works</i>. I snuggled into pillows and blankets the Russian was kind enough to bring to me. It's kind of odd falling asleep not completely laying down, but after a few minutes, it doesn't seem to matter.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My night haven</td></tr>
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My night was filled will strange dreams about a family painting contest and matching the artist to their work. The garbage truck came at too early an hour, and barely registered in a hazy almost-awake state. I heard the alarm go off in the other room, yet I could not force my eyes open.<br />
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Finally, I woke this morning with<i> no back pain</i>. None. Not a twinge. Victory at last! Hopefully, this will last throughout the rest of the pregnancy.<br />
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(I might not sleep with the Russian again for the next 6 months. Granted, he's not too upset, as I'm not taking up 3/4 of the bed with myself and the pillows...and sleep is a very important necessity.)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-43572334344430251942012-09-14T10:31:00.002-07:002012-09-14T10:31:11.357-07:00The Pillow Saga, pt. 2<br />
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After learning that my backaches are indeed pregnancy related (seriously, already?), I decided a body pillow (or two) was exactly what I needed.<br />
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A trip to my parents' house cemented the need for a body pillow in my mind. My brother oh-so-graciously allowed me to claim his unused pillow, but I forgot to pile it into the car for the trip home.</div>
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The solution: buy a gigantic pillow as we near the house. Fantastic! A pillow, a couple pillowcases...all for less than the cost of a 'maternity' pillow.</div>
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Falling asleep with my log isn't a problem. Unfortunately, I only have one.<br />
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This leads to a new problem... waking up flat on my back with the pillow clenched in my arms above me. I feel like a beetle stuck on its back with no way to flip over.<br />
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Apparently, what is happening is that I feel the urge to roll, but the weight of the blankets is too heavy for my sleep-laden appendages. <i>I guess I <b>do</b> need two pillows.</i></div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-65514201228034829732012-09-09T17:10:00.002-07:002012-09-09T17:10:29.430-07:00The Pillow Saga, pt. 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It started two weeks ago. I woke up with a backache and a pulling on my side. At first, I think I just slept too long on one side. But then it happens again the next night.<br />
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I have a sinking suspicion that this is pregnancy related. But all I can think is: <i>Are you kidding? I'm 11 weeks along there, 11. I can't imagine what it will be like when I'm 8 1/2 months along with a ginormous stomach to boot.</i></div>
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Needless to say, by the end of the week, I'm looking into maternity pillows. Anything "maternity" seems to mean insanely expensive, so this option isn't too thrilling.</div>
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Imagine my luck when I take a trip to visit my parents and find out my brother has a body pillow...one he doesn't use. As we're stealing his room from him while we're in town, I have the opportunity to use said pillow to my heart's content.</div>
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As sleep weighs heavy on my eyelids the first night, I crawl into bed. Laying on my right, I snuggle into my body pillow as the Russian props an extra pillow against my back for support. Perfect! This should be a great night's sleep. I don't even mind as I feel the Russian cuddling the pillow at my back.</div>
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I groggily wake up and wrestle my pillows around to face toward the Russian at some point. (Of course, I can't spend the whole night on one side.) A few hours later, I wake again and stumble down the hall to relieve myself. Climbing back in bed, I realize something unfortunate - the Russian has a new best friend. I go to grab my pillow, but it's cemented in his grasp.</div>
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Sleep slowly comes back to me, but I am devoid of my new comfort. I wake again a few hours later, an ache slowly claiming my back. That's it. I grab the body pillow and pull with all my might. The Russian finally lets go, sighs, and rolls over.</div>
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Victory at last!<br />
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(That's not to say that I didn't wake up with a backache again from spending half the night without the pillow...)</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-75299765674784258512012-08-24T11:39:00.000-07:002012-08-24T11:39:18.037-07:00Pickled peppers, anyone?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Pepperoncini. Golden Greek Peppers. Pepper-ccini. Tasty little peppers pickled in vinegar. Yes please!<br />
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I remember having contests with my brother: who could eat more straight from the jar before someone puckered? If I remember right, I probably lost most of those contests, but they were a ritual we enjoyed when they were placed upon the table.<br />
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Those times are long since gone.<br />
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But my affinity for the peppers has not waned. No matter how many people stare in wonder when I eat my pickled peppers, no matter how many people pick them out of their salads, I forge on in my love affair. Nowadays, I buy myself a jar and finish it in about a day.<br />
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(And no, it's not a pregnancy thing.)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-45795596371337450312012-08-20T21:02:00.000-07:002012-08-20T21:02:32.288-07:00How much is too much?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I consider myself a fruit lover. From apples to strawberries, pineapple to passionfruit*, lychee to kumquats, I love it all.<br />
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But then I met the Russian.<br />
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We frequent the farmer's market each weekend while it runs to stock up on fruits and vegetables. This is our typical Saturday haul: 2 heads lettuce, 1 bunch scallions, 1 onion, tomatoes, random mix of additional vegetables, occasional potatoes**, and fruit that is in season.<br />
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(Newsflash for those who don't pay attention: it's berry season.)<br />
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Lately the haul has morphed into boxes of fruit. (Keep in mind that a box of fruit contains at least 6 cartons of berries, or is exploding with tree fruit.) We have strawberries and raspberries - not mixed together, but rather a box of each. There is a gallon sized bag of huckleberries (sorry, don't ask, he doesn't share), and a box of peaches. We decided to pass on the cherries this time, being that we finally arrived at the farmer's market 10 minutes before it closed this past week.<br />
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Plans are still in the works for bananas and pineapple as well...for breakfast and smoothies, you know.<br />
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There's two of us. How we're supposed to eat all this fruit before it goes bad, I'm not sure. But we'll make a valiant effort.<br />
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*aka, the best food ever.<br />
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**A hearty potato-based diet, anyone? Don't fear, we always have some. We typically end up buying huge bags from the store instead of the farmer's market.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-67477021695007856292012-08-13T21:13:00.001-07:002012-08-13T21:13:37.040-07:00Coupons<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I've never been one to cut coupons. It wasn't really a part of my upbringing, and frankly, it's a hassle that hasn't really appealed to me...although the price at the register each week doesn't appeal to me either.<br />
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Lately, I've watched some episodes of Extreme Couponing... you know the show, people go and buy $1,000 worth of groceries for $100. They're a little crazy. They clear shelves. They get things for free. They build up negative money to pay toward non-couponed items.<br />
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I have no wish to be an extreme couponer. But not using coupons (ever) makes me feel guilty that I haven't used a coupon in 15 years.</div>
Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-14940626071385775742012-08-10T13:33:00.000-07:002012-08-10T13:33:35.514-07:00I'll beat you with a stick<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Last night the Russian and I were lounging around the living room, watching youtube on the tv. (He's still trying to convince me that I want a dog.)<br />
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As we're laying in our various positions, terriers prancing around the screen, I notice a brown spot rushing across the ground.<br />
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"Uhm, honey, do you see that spider?" The moment the words exit my mouth, the spot stops moving. Brown on brown. Of course the Russian doesn't see it at first. But this arachnid makes one fatal flaw - he doesn't wait long enough and starts zooming across the floor again. This time, instead of heading toward me on the loveseat, he changes directions and careens toward the Russian on the couch.<br />
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Now, I'm laying there with nothing but my sweats and a blanket. The Russian is lounging around the couch with shorts, a t-shirt, and the remote. There isn't exactly a weapon handy - no shoes, nothing heavy.<br />
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This bad boy is quickly encroaching on the Russian's territory. With no other option, the Russian beats it dead with the remote control. It took multiple swats and there might now be spider guts on our remote, but the man lived up to his purpose.<br />
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At least he didn't have to hit it with his bare hand.<br />
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<b>Update: </b><i>I wrote this a couple days ago. Since then, the Russian and I were playing our respective PS3s when I hear "do you see that big bug?" Uhm, I'm watching my screen so I don't get shot, so no. But, as we're both shoe-less and the only item he has at his disposal is the PS3 controller (which isn't exactly flat), the Russian had to beat it to death with his hand.</i><br />
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<i>I don't think I could have done that. But that's why he's the man (and I'm not).</i>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-19242621773544570892012-08-07T15:14:00.000-07:002012-08-07T15:14:10.359-07:00Ode to ketchup<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Those who know me know that I try not to eat high fructose corn syrup. I buy into the thought that it's bad for me - worse than regular sugar. I know, I know, there are ads out there that claim high fructose corn syrup is the same to your body as regular sugar. But have you looked at who funded that research? The National Corn Grower's Association.<br />
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Now, the first thing you learn in a research methods class is that it's not a good thing to have someone with a vested interest fund your research...results might be skewed.<br />
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I'm assuming they're skewed. I've read enough evidence contrary to this claim. But even if they're not, HFCS is not something I choose to put in my body. I try to avoid a lot of processed sugar, too, preferring to use natural sugars instead. (Though I can't claim I don't add sugar to my cake pops.)<br />
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Anyway, the other day I was searching for ketchup. Mmmm, ketchup. I like my ketchup with the hearty potato-based diet the Russian insists on.<br />
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So, I'm happily trucking along down the aisle of Fred Meyer in search of my yummy sauce when I arrived at a small red section of the store. Aaaah, ketchup. Heinz, you're a tasty friend.<br />
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Imagine my dismay when the Russian grabbed a bottle of my red goodness and perused the ingredients list. "This has high fructose corn syrup." In ketchup? Are you kidding me? I know it's in practically everything. But ketchup?<br />
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One by one, we pull each type of ketchup from the shelf. High Fructose Corn Syrup. Over and over again. Finally, we find an organic ketchup that does not contain HFCS. That (small) bottle lasted all of a week.<br />
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Last weekend at Huckleberries, we found a much larger selection of organic ketchup. Apparently, this is the only kind of ketchup that does not contain HFCS.<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-3CIQs7tzA/UCGSsAwLocI/AAAAAAAAAcg/W9JUs0tc6FE/s1600/ketchup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x-3CIQs7tzA/UCGSsAwLocI/AAAAAAAAAcg/W9JUs0tc6FE/s320/ketchup.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-62511091199257867302012-08-02T15:24:00.000-07:002012-08-02T15:24:00.821-07:00The newsSome of you may know; most of you don't. Let me enlighten you about the newest development in our lives:<br />
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<br />Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-83325870952343612262012-07-31T13:44:00.001-07:002012-07-31T13:47:19.410-07:00Berries!Blackberries are coming....<br />
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So are blueberries....<br />
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Aren't they pretty?<br />
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Too bad the birds got to almost all of the raspberries. (I managed to pick two before they were gone.)Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3194634085225064081.post-91353951218340643082012-07-27T17:17:00.000-07:002012-07-27T17:17:24.559-07:00The urge to sleep<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I don't know what it is, but lately, I cannot resist the urge to sleep. It doesn't matter how many hours have passed since my previous nap or night of sleep. It's just always time for shut eye.<br />
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Right now, for example, I'm laying on the love seat with my laptop cradled on my legs. My eyes are closing quicker and opening heavier with each blink.<br />
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Keep in mind that I've already had a two hour nap today in this very spot; the same time the Russian dropped his pants and fell onto the floor to sleep with the fan blowing on us. (What is it with men and walking around without pants?) He was so fast asleep that he didn't notice when my feet landed mere centimeters from his face as I woke up.<br />
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Last night, we enjoyed plenty of sleep, so no complaining there. I mean, we might not have hit the hay early; it could have been around 2 in the morning when we fell into bed, but we did sleep for a whole eight hours.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00060047068112699104noreply@blogger.com1