Making Happy History

Is it possible to fallen head over heals in love with a plastic jug? Well I certainly have. The plastic jug I speak of is the Dr. Brown’s Formula Mixing Pitcher
. Being a formula feeding mother definitely has its pros and cons. One of the cons is making bottles and making sure the formula is consistently mixed (no lumps is key). This nifty product helps simplify this process greatly. The Dr. Brown’s formula pitcher is just a 40 oz. jug with a spinning pull system that mixes the formula evenly. It allows you to make up to 32 ounces of formula at one time. What I do is use 24 ounces of water to 1 cup of formula and that makes enough formula for about 24 hours worth of bottles. This product has been a lifesaver at night for Ryan and I, because we just pre-pour the bottle for the night before we go to bed, and then when X wakes up for his 4 am feeding we just go to the fridge and grab a bottle. I also love that it makes the formula not as bubbly which means X is less gassy. This gadget is definitely worth its less than $20 price tag!

One thing that has made living in Arizona difficult on some days for Ryan and I is that neither of our families lives here. Both our parents and our siblings live in Washington, which of course is our home. Since being pregnant with and now having X the distance has been even harder. I am often sad that everyone doesn’t get to see him and see how much he is growing and changing everyday. To ease some of this long distance hardship we have fallen in love with Skype. Skype, if you are not familiar with it, is a free program for your computer that allows you to video chat (you’ll need a webcam) with other people who also have Skype. We’ve been chatting with Ryan’s parents each Sunday since Christmas and we love being able to give them the weekly update and see our nieces and nephews because someone is always over at Nana and Papa’s house! My parents just got Skype this month and my mom and I will often just chat together and I’ll hold X on my lap so he can get some Grandma time in. While its not the same as seeing them in person it helps hold us and them over during the long months where we can’t go home to see everyone. I know Skype has been around a while but I just wanted to thank this nifty little program for allowing us to stay close to our families, even when there is great distance between us.

Looking for music that is suitable for children and tolerated by adults can often be a tough search. One of my favorite children’s music series is Putumayo Kids: World Music Adventure.

I found these kids CDs last year when I was looking for fun music for my classroom that would be nice to play when my students were doing independent work or quiet reading. I really wanted something that was not a sing-a-long, which is often what children’s music is. In my classroom I have the World Playground CD. This past year I played it many, many times and my students never tired of all the fun upbeat sounds, they often asked which language or country each song was from because we had discussed that the music came from countries around the world. I loved that I could use the music not only as a calming quiet keeper, but also as a teaching launch point to discuss cultures from around the world.

X is also beginning to enjoy listening to music and Nana and Papa actually sent him a CD from this collection as well, he has Asian Dreamland. This World Music Adventure CD is a bit calmer than World Playground, with lullabies from various Asian countries. Ryan and I have played it for X a few times already and he quietly listens as we get him ready for bed. As he gets a bit older and we start establishing an everyday bedtime routine I’d like to incorporate music into this time, and I know Asian Dreamland will become a favorite, because of its gentle sounds and the variety the soundtrack offers.

So, if you are looking for some different children’s music the Putumayo Kids: World Music Adventure
collection offers some great choices!

a book review.

As a teacher I can’t say enough about the importance of reading to your child. So in that spirit I thought I’d share the first book that I have been reading to X, Bear Wants More. Now X can’t sit up on his own, nor really focus on the storyline, but I think he likes this book all the same.

Bear Wants More is just one of the books in the Bear series written by Karma Wilson and illustrated by Jane Chapman. It is a sweet rhyming story that tells how a bear wakes up from hibernation and is hungry so his forest friends help him eat and eat until he is so full he can’t fit in his den! The pictures are bright and colorful, the animals are adorable with cheerful expressions, and the rhyming pattern allows you to use a sing-song voice as you read it to your child.

I chose to read this book to X as his first picture book because this is my first graders favorite read aloud. At school I have the big book version and my whole class will chant along as we read the book. At home X has the small board book version and his interaction so far includes looking intently at the pictures and making a cute “ooohhing” face.

So whether you are reading to a newborn or a young child this book is sure to be a pleasure to share and one that will quickly become a favorite.

a book review.

Summer has long been the time that I read books. I love to devour a whole book (if its good) in a day or two, and summer is the only time of year that I can actually do such a thing. My latest read was Uglies by Scott Westerfield. This juicy young adult novel is the first in a series of three, and thank goodness it has two more because I couldn’t put it down.

The central theme of Uglies is a coming of age story in a world where average is ugly and at 16 you get a surgical transformation to make you exceptionally beautiful. The best thing? No one is excluded. Tally, the heroine, is only days from this exciting fate, when her future is turned upside down when she befriends Shay. Shay is planning to run and stay an “ugly” and lets Tally in on her plan. On the day of her own surgery, Tally is faced with the hardest decision of her life, betray Shay or stay an ugly forever. The decision she makes leads her on a journey to the mysterious Smoke where everyone is an ugly. At the Smoke, Tally discovers a vicious truth about the transformation to become a “pretty,” that makes her question the motives of the authorities and what she wants in her own future.

Uglies brings to light many questions about the humanity of our present day and Westerfield poses a possible answer in the society he creates, where superficial equality is the law of the land. What kept me reading was the underlying hints as to what lead to this outwardly beautiful society, flawed in its apparent vapidness, and Tally’s struggle to decide at what cost is this beauty not worth it anymore. Westerfield answers these questions while simultaneously bringing the reader along on a fast paced adventure complete with high-tech toys and a love story that highlights the beauty that is found in the originality of being average.

Keep on the look out for the review of the sequel Pretties (Uglies Trilogy, Book 2) because if its anything like Uglies I’m sure Westerfield won’t disappoint.

a book review

I’ve always been a pretty big fan of Shel Silverstien, but I do have to admit, its a been a while since I’ve really looked or read through one of his books. Yesterday, I decided to read the short yet fun book, The Missing Piece (An Ursula Nordstrom Book).

Although the tale is simple and the illustrations un-grandiose, the moral affection I personally took away from ‘the missing piece’ was a little surprising. Take some of the simplest of shapes, give them needs and wants of social acceptance, but then turn it all around by expressing the importance of individuality and personal enjoyment…  am I making any sense? In other words, I think young children will love this book for its simplicity, and cute storyline… however, I also believe you could give this book to a very mature young adult (even as a graduation present) as somewhat of a “Welcome to the rest of your life” tale. It’s nothing like “Oh the Places You’ll Go,” but it’s definitely fun.

Ryan’s grade: A really great short read for kids, but don’t be affraid to pull it out for the older crowd. Lessons of social acceptance and self preservation can be fun sometimes! A-

One of the unforeseen challenges about being a new mom, has been feeding my child. I started all bright-eyed and bushy tailed thinking I would exclusively breast-feed X only to find that route riddled with problems, including but not exclusive to his lack of ability to suck and swallow properly, my low milk supply, his latch, and what seems like both of our overall dislikes for the activity. Enter: the bottle. X has taken a bottle ever since being in the NICU but finding one that really works for both him and I so far has proven to be elusive.

The first bottle X tried at home was the Playtex Drop-In system. Ryan and I had registered for these bottles with the thought that we weren’t going to use them too much so the Drop-In idea would be convenient when needed. Well, here’s the problem… when you are feeding your child 8 times a day that adds up to a lot on drop-in liners, and I still had to wash all the bottle pieces! Needless to say I grew tired of this.

On to bottle number 2: the Playtex Vent-Aire. Besides the inconvenience and wastefulness of the liners both X and I were satisfied with our choice of Playtex so I decided to try the Vent-Aires. Unfortunately the nipple shape of the Vent-Aire is completely different than the nipple of the Drop-In and X’s lips kept folding under when he sucked, which just wouldn’t do. So that meant both Playtex choices were out.

Our next bottle was the Avent. I thought this one looked promising. The nipple shape was the same as the Playtex Drop-In, and there was no extra pieces, plus it claimed to release the air so the baby didn’t suck it in. What Avent doesn’t tell you is that in their quest to release the said air, the bottle is the leakiest thing ever! Every time the bottle was turn rightside up milk would dribble out the sides, not okay. So Avent was out.

This brings us to today, the bottle quest. X and I headed to Babies-R-Us to find our perfect bottle. We came home with two choices the Born Free bottles and the Medela bottles. We decided to start with the Born Free. So far X has had three feedings from these bottles and both of us have been happy! The flow is great for him not too fast which is important, it doesn’t leak, the nipple shape is perfect, and no waste (drop-ins). So we feel satisfied so far. I am keeping the packaging and the receipt as well as the Medela bottles on hand in case the Born Frees end up in disaster all of a sudden. As for the all the others, well they will be finding a good home at a women and baby center near my house, so in the end everyone wins: X and I can proceed into bottle bliss, and hopefully we can help a few other moms and babies do the same.

~Cheers!

Playtex Drop-Ins: 3/5 – I just can’t get over the fact that the waste is ridiculous on those bottles.
Playtex Vent-Aire: 3/5 – Although we didn’t try these more than a few times, the nipple size just didn’t fit X’s mouth.
Avent: 1/5 – Pretty much because they made X screech. Also, they leaked everywhere.
BornFree: 4.5/5 – Works great! My only issue is with the two additional bottle pieces to wash.

As it has been a while since my last post, I decided that it would be a good idea to basically start over and begin from scratch. Therefore, welcome to the new www.MakingHappyHistory.com.

In the future, look for new posts on parenting, babies 101 (from my perspective), shopping, and children’s books! Although I’m just starting out, feel free to make suggestions on books you think I should review! I’m always looking for new and great books to share with my classroom, and my new baby boy!

Until then, Cheers!

So considering it is a lovely cool temperature of 103 degrees currently in Phoenix, I thought it was high time I discuss that lovely season of fall. In Phoenix we don’t have fall. Well not really… but I can’t wait for 80 degree days come October, it sounds perfect. I love to decorate and fall and Halloween have always been some of my favorites seasons. In Washington I loved the crispness in the air, going to the pumpkin patch with Ryan’s family, apple cider, my favorite ceramic decorations at my house, wearing jeans, puffy vest, leggings and skirts. What I hated was the continual rain that the month of November brings. Anyways, as I sit here in the heat I can’t help thinking about all the wonderful fall things.

So this weekend I decided to bust out some fall decorations. So what if it is hotter right now than most people’s midsummer days across the country. I want fall! So I went to the dollar store bought some silk flowers, autumn leaves, ribbon and plastic gourds. Honestly the outcome is less tacky than those ingredients make it sound. And I made a basket for Ryan and I’s front door. I have this beautiful basket from Southern Living I use year around so all I had to do was change out the contents.

I think for my $10 investment the fall outcome looks pretty good. I like how it is a balance between the green colors and the orangy fall colors. It make me think of that transition time right before all the leaves fall to the ground and rot from the rain in Washington.

Well so that is all for my actual fall decorations at the house. But, there are so many things I wish I had to decorate the house with. The hardest thing is that the house is not how we want it renovation-wise so it is hard to want to decorate, especially spend money on decorations, when we could use the money to help pay for the renovations. I am sure I’ll break down and get some things to decorate with in the near future.

Mercury Pumpkins from Pottery Barn

I love these glass mercury pumpkins. I think they would look so pretty clustered with fall colored leaves or maybe some pine cones that were painted white.

Numbered Gourds from Martha Stewart

I think that it would be really pretty to do one for each number in our address and then put them on the front step.

Family Tree from Better Homes and Gardens

I would like to make it in a tall vase so it would be more 3-D then put old photographs of Ryan and I’s families in it. I think the pictures would be especially stunning if we printed them in black and white.

Pine Cone Trees from Better Homes and Gardens

From this photo I am inspired to do a coffee table arrangement with pine cones. I can’t decide if  I would want to do trees like this picture or maybe glue them to syrofoam balls for a bowl of circular shapes, and pair them with moss balls, or something similar.

Pumpkin Hearth from Martha Stewart

I would like to have this fireplace, this mantlepice, and this decor almost exactly. How pretty are the muted colors of the pumpkins and gourds, mixed with the taller foliage? Lovely.

Alright well I’ll post if I do any more decorating for fall.

~Cheers

Well here we are in September… Unfortunately Ryan and I have no changes made to the house yet, but issues keep piling up. I am feeling overwhelmed because it seems like nothing is changing but the to do list keeps getting longer and longer. More below about the list of to do’s on the house. In the meantime I have been spending too much time looking at fabulous blogs about home renovation and decorating, my list of favorites:

1. Young House Love – about a couple who has transformed their Virginia 1950′s brick ranch into a beatiful airy home.

2. Making It Lovely – written by a woman obsessed with pink and brown, all about her cute home, baby, and life in general.

3. My Happy House – a cleaning blog, if you can believe it. I’m following her weekly challenge, because unfortunately cleaning is not my forte.

4. The Nest: Decorating and Renovating Board – the best place to find gazillions of ideas, lots of cool blogs, and general inspiration.

Those are my everyday internet sites I go to. I just dream of when my house looks how it does in my head. I really want to write all about the process, but right now the phase we are in is waiting it feels like. My list of home work right now is still focusing on the kitchen, here is the list so far:

• go to banks to discuss financing for the remodel.
• get more quotes for the demolition of the dreaded wall and for new drywall.
• measure cabinetry and countertops to go to Ikea, Lowe’s, and Home Depot for estimates.
• make a realistic timeline.

So for now that is my goal list for the kitchen. As far as the rest of the house goes I have been cleaning like mad and it is looking better. I don’t know if I mentioned that our sunroom leaks, but that is another issue we have to deal with soon. I can’t wait to share my plans for each of the rooms. One thing I’d like to do for the blog is mood boards. They make them at Young House Love and I want to try them too. I think Ryan can teach me on photoshop.

Okay I think that is all for the house. Otherwise Ryan, Ginny, and I have been enjoying our 3-day weekend. I hung out with Shela and the girls on Saturday and yesterday we went to church where I proceeded to cough the entire service. We rounded out Saturday with a trip to Oreganos. Yummy! Today we are off to Shela’s to pick up my car and maybe do a Scottsdale browse. Life is good, it busy but lots of fun. One more thing: my Daddy is coming for a visit in 2 weeks. Which means it is just 2 weeks until we have a dining table and the best home advisor here with us in Phoenix. I can’t wait for that! For now enjoy some wonderful pictures of our weekend and the adorableness that is our Ginny!

~Cheers

Having some wine fun at Oregano’s last night!

Sleeping in our bed…

How cute is she… smile Ginny!