Do you allow pets?

Izaak and I have a most favorite conversation that we repeat 50 times a day when advertising a vacant apartment.  (btw the craigslist ad clearly states in bold no pets/no smoking)

After 2-5 minutes of conversation where we are quizzed about all the items in the craigslist ad - the following takes place.

Caller:  Um, you accept pets, right? [guess they didn't read that part in the ad]

Us:  No. We have a no pet policy

Caller: What about... [insert any of the following] 1) a cat  2) a small animal 3) my dog  4) my 18 year old cat/dog that doesn't move 5) if I provide good references for my pet 6)  if I pay a deposit 7) but my lab is used to living apartments. 8) my dog has been to obedience school 9) a well behaved pitbull.  10) it's my favorite cat/dog and I couldn't bear to take it to the pound 11) what about if it was only here on the weekends.

Us: [out loud] Nope, sorry we have a no pet policy.

Us: [In our head] it's an animal still though?  or yep, your 18 year old cat still applies to the no pet policy or really?  or Oh, I guess since you said it was your favorite we will risk it for you - a stranger. 


The reason for this rant?  I just had the joy of overhearing Izaak 3 times in 10 minutes go through the same script.  hehe. 

ahhh. tonight we sleep well.

IKE in Boise is breathing a sigh of relief...and we will sleep well tonight. 

The 30 week baby checkup was great.  New baby is head down.  Iron levels are good - which is big news for a vegetarian with an iron supplement aversion (who me?).  With the 3rd trimester underway...well, life is a-changing

Izaak's big test results came in.  He got what he was shooting for (yippee)...which means the final phase of applications is soon to be underway.  We are so relieved and happy.  But also approaching the next stages with apprehension.  Big Steps.  We think life would be easier if he had bombed the test - albeit disappointing.  Then we could have refocused his grad school on something less demanding.  law school, here we come (Elliot and I are going to attend vicariously).

More photos of this weekend

After the party was over, we had a cousin weekend.  Cousin Boo, cousin Maia, cousin Annabelle, and cousin Rebecca.  Aunt Mariana, Grandma Deb-deb. 

Cousin Elliot had a. ton. of. fun. 

Cousin Boo watching TV with his lil admirer

Annabelle is testing out some of the toys that Elliot picked out for 'New Baby'

Look at all of these beautiful ladies. What is cuter than 3 girl cousins in matching outfits?   

Breakfast bagel run.

Silly faces in the car.  (Cousin Maia is an expert at keeping the little cousins entertained and happy.)

trying out a new (new to us) restaurant.  It was delicious!!! Thanks to grandma Deb-deb for picking it out.

This is my melodramatic Izaak expressing his (over)emotions at another Father's Day.  Tears of happiness for his beautiful girl.  Sorrow that it is going by so fast. 

Elliot dancing to the Greek pop hits at the restaurant.  She just couldn't help herself.

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3rd Birthday Party!

Well, we've done it. Izaak and I have been parents for 3 years...and it feels like it has happened too quickly. Our little one is less little every day. More independent. More and more like the person she is going to be. Less and less the baby she used to be.

Happy Birthday LULU!

This is the cake BEFORE...

and this is the cake AFTER...(yep those are cheeto-candles)

And the after party crash...when those little eyes would stay open a minute longer.

Goodnight sweet angel.  Thanks for a wonderful 3 years. 

Elliot's Birthday with Grandpa Airplane

lots of picture...in summary of a day of fun with Grandpa! 

The morning began with a yummy chocolate airplane to nibble on.  After breakfast, of course.

Out for a walk. Elliot is discussing the stick she found. 

headed out for dinner and ice cream. 

Yummy banana splits!!! Happy Birthday Elliot.  She asked Grandpa to share one with her for her birthday.  Does she look excited or what?

Happy banana spliters. 

chillin' and resting after our sugar high.

Happy Birthday Week, Elliot LuLu!! 

We are so happy Grandpa came to town to help us celebrate.

The Tea Party, really?

If you are pro-tea party, if you refer to yourself as a teabagger (he he),  if you are voting for a tea party candidate....could you explain WHY  to me?  I just don't get it. 






he he.  Did you see the end?  Thanks to Joe. My. God.  for this video.  Gather your armies.  I love it.  Armies, War, Revolution it's expensive and tax funded, right?  So, the taxed-enough-already-baggers are gonna support their revolution how exactly?  by donation?

Here is a funny comment regarding the video. That's right ikahana, this is not my America! (he he)

Okay.  I am on a kick. now.

Sharron Angle (NV) is a precious revolutionary too. 

"in fact, Thomas Jefferson said it's good for a country to have a revolution every 20 years. I hope that's not where we're going, but, you know, if this Congress keeps going the way it is, people are really looking toward those Second Amendment remedies and saying, 'My goodness what can we do to turn this country around?' I'll tell you the first thing we need to do is take Harry Reid out."

Harry Reid better hire more security, the Tea Party is out for blood. 

Cupcakes and Sprinkles

The pictures of a recent cupcake decorating day are in.

Links to some videos.  Part 1 and Part 2.

Be calm.  The cupcake massacre decorating that you are witnessing are for Elliot's special and reserved cupcakes.  The everybody else cupcakes were completed separately and hidden away before Elliot ever noticed.  

These special sprinkles came in the mail from Grandma Deb-Deb. They have topped ALL of Elliot's cooking projects for the last couple of weeks.

(Look at those yummy little fingers.  Isn't she is so serious about the frosting.)

The final product.  The paper has to be peeled back to get sprinkles and frosting on the sides, too.  That's the technique.

Sprinkles aside.  Life in Boise is good.  I had a midwife appointment today and New Baby was so cooperative.  Our midwife let eager Elliot serve as her assistant for the appointment.  Elliot got to turn on/off the Doppler, help fasten the blood pressure cuff, squeeze the gel onto my belly.  She was in 3-year-old happy land.  Shiny bright eyes hero worshipping the midwife.  It is amazing when an adult takes just an extra minute to respect the interests and abilities of a little one.  It rocks their little worlds.  And, as a mama, I am so grateful to that other adult.  Anyone who brings joy to my baby's day, has gotta be on Santa's good list. 

Funny Stuff to look at...if bored

So, a while back I posted some links to Amazon product reviews.  If you didn't see it before- you can follow the links at the bottom of this post. 

There are few others to check out. 
For starters: Sleep Talkin' Man.  Izaak thinks this is a riot - I save it for nights of insomnia. 

Another one is Cake Wrecks.  It can be hit or miss...but usually funny.  The subtitle is "when professional cakes go horribly wrong".  There were photos of some classically odd cakes over Thanksgiving.

Who Am I? Mama interviews Elliot

I wanted to put some information about Elliot on her birthday invitations...her interests, favorites etc.  It morphed into an interview that was too long to fit onto the invitations (which btw, I am planning on emailing out today).  Elliot just had so much to share that the little text box did not serve us well.
So, I am directing everyone (everyone who cares) over here... to learn about soon-to-be-3 year old Elliot.
Letting the chips fall where they may, the answers are verbatim.

What do you like to do?

I love to dance and play dancing girl (wear costumes and tutus). I like the hunting game (from the arcade in McCall)

Elliot, what is your favorite...

• Place to go? Target and the zoo.
• Movie?  Princess and the Frog
• Games? to play castle and duplos with dad.
• Color? Pink and Blue
• Food? soup
• Favorite Toy? my doll house. 

When you grow up what do you want to be?
Big like you, like a mama.  I want a baby when I grow up.  I want to go to the park all by myself and climb up trees.  I want to use saws and chainsaws when I get bigger.  I want long hair not big hair and not little hair.  I want hair like cousin Maia.

What do three year old girls do?
They use guns.  but guns aren't toys so babies can't use them.

What else happens when you turn three?
A lot, but I can't tell you now.  Maybe later.  Cause I don't know.

Fill in the blank sentences:
I love to say bad words.
I like to do good things like say please and eat good food like soup.
My favorite thing to do with daddy is to play duplos
My favorite thing to do with mommy is go on walks and make cupcakes and cookies

picture of Elliot playing duplos with daddy. 

Church: a child's review

In an earlier post I talked about Elliot's church-curiousity.  Well, she went with her aunt and uncle.  And here is her post church debriefing:

Me:  What was church like?

EL:  Some people didn't sing good.  and I wasn't good the whole time.  I wanted to dance.

Me:  Do you want to go back?
EL: Today?  ye-a-ah. (note: Elliot always uses 3 syllables to say this word) 
Me: Not today, maybe in 1 week.
EL:  No, in two-five-forty nine weeks  (note: that is her favorite number)

There you have it folks.  And here is her "going to church photo".  I took it because 1) I am a dork 2) Izaak is a dork 3) she was so excited that it seemed picture worthy. 

(more notes:  Izaak-dork gave her the bible to hold as a photo prop and and our lil'illiterate child insisted on actually taking it with her....
Also, please notice the footwear.  She insisted on wearing tap shoes but mama put her foot down.  Taking the picture in the tap shoes and wearing them out to the car was a compromise.  Because, yes, damn it.  I am one of those parents that negotiates with a 2-year old.)

Notes from the Darkside: Eczema sucks

Eczema

O, Eczema. 

How we hate you. 

Elliot does not appear to be growing out of her Eczema anytime soon.  She does seem to be growing out of all of our methods to soothe her.  We thought we would be on the mend by now - that we only had to put up with it for 2-3 years. However, Elliot's skin is getting worse not better.  And, now she is noticing other people's reactions to her 'owies'.

We have an appointment with an allergist tomorrow.  Fingers are crossed in Boise.  Please please please let the Dr have something (a cure?) that does more then just alleviate the symptoms or coat her in steroids.

Izaak and I have not have a full night's sleep in a couple of weeks.  There is a semi anticipated 3am fit full of intense itching and 2 tired parents trying 101 ways to calm and soothe her back to sleep.  We are getting anxious with a new baby coming in 12 weeks.  SLEEP?  And, then, what if we have two lil'eczema kids? 

So, in the spirit that it takes a village... we are open to any ideas, tips, advice, or recommendations you might have.  Comment here, or send me an email.  I am listing some things that we have already tried over the last few years...

• There are NO common lotions that we haven't tried in the last 3 years.  If it is sold at Walmart or Rite Aid we have tried it. She develops a rash usually after the 3rd or 4th time we use anything.  The only exception is that we can use Vaseline and glycerin.  But both are really sticky and don't absorb into her skin well. 
• We have tried bathing her everyday...with Epsom salts, with vinegar, with oatmeal, with essential oils.  She almost always flares up the next day. 
• We have tried bathing her 1x a week, every other week.  Her skin doesn't get better.
• She has been tested for allergies. Positive only for eggs.  We are have been an egg-free house for 2 years.
• I don't even know the last time we had pine sol or 409 spray in the house.  We are experts at cleaning with vinegar, baking soda, and tea tree oil.  No chemicals that could irritate her.  The only exception is laundry detergent and dish soap.  We use a 'free and clear' version for each of those.
• Dander?  Dust?  We don't have any pets.  We vacuum every other day. 
• OTC children's Zyrtec and Claritin...we use/have used.  But are questioning if they are helping any more.

There you have it.  If you have any ideas, pass them along.  We'd appreciate it.  If we get any interesting tips, I'll pass it along.  Or, if we hear anything promising from the Dr. tomorrow, I'll pass that along too. 



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