A Quarter of a Million Dollars in Eighteen Years, They Say!

We hear ALL. THE. TIME. about how darn expensive babies are. But what no one talks about is the ways babies save you money.

Yes, you read that right: Gabe has saved us money.

Say WHAT?

Let's discuss:

- I feel like stopping for Starbucks on the way to get groceries, but Gabe has fallen asleep in the backseat and I really don't feel like waking him up. Money saved weekly: $5

- I'm running into Target for some mouthwash and Spin Pins (I lost my first set and they are essential for long-haired girls!). I don't feel like dealing with a cart, so I decide to just hold Gabe and run in and out, thereby avoiding checking out the clothing department, the baby department, and every end cap clearance section. Money saved weekly: $50

- In the first month Gabe was home, we didn't go out to eat like we normally do a few times a month. Instead of our usual budget of $75 for going out to eat, we spent $15. (Okay, so this hasn't really been as gigantic of a savings in the month since, but we certainly go out to eat less since it's more of a hassle with a baby.) Money saved weekly: $20

- While running errands, I drive past a cupcake shop/Target/fun little store and instead of getting out and indulging, I drive right by - since the hassle of getting Gabe out of his car seat and back in would negate any enjoyment I find in said cupcake. (I need a roller coaster harness in my car instead of a car seat. Push a button, Gabe is strapped in. Presto.) Money saved weekly: $10

- Buying new clothes for Gabe is far more exciting than buying clothes for myself these days. I know he'll look absolutely adorable in anything without having to try it on. I, on the other hand? Not so much. Since baby clothes are cheaper than adult clothes, I can spent $30 and get him six outfits. $30 would get me maybe three shirts. (Bargain shoppers, unite!) Money saved weekly: $20

Total money saved each week: $105. 

Plus, I'm hyper-motivated to cut corners so we can afford for me to only work part-time. (Hellooo, cloth diapering while traveling.)

Here's to half-full glasses, my friends. And money-saving babies.

On Encouragement and a Family Photo Session.

"Forget about that craft stuff, you should find a way to make money from your photography." - My dad, February 2011. 

I'm lucky to have a family that is so supportive and encouraging of me. Their words empower and inspire me. They make me feel like I could maybe, possibly, someday do this whole photography thing. For real. Thanks, family. 

A few weeks ago, I had the priviledge of photographing the Wojtkun family before their son/brother left Ohio for a new job (yay!) in Atlanta.

Reasons why I love this family: 

- they are fun. Really, really fun. They are silly and goofy and I had a blast photographing them.

- the parents met at my alma mater! Go Flyers. :)

- they adore each other - it's obvious how much they absolutely love one another. They even love being around each other.

- they made me laugh. And each other laugh. And were hilarious.

Thank you for asking me to capture your family and for making me giggle. :)

Ten Months.

He:

- is basically as mobile as it gets without actually walking. He crawls as quickly as the speed of light, pulls up and cruises around while holding on to things.

- is a cautious little guy. I keep trying to get him to walk or stand just holding one of my hands, but he'll try to sit down instead of doing that. At least he knows his boundaries and limits?

- cannot handle being 'fenced in.' If I try to create a baby-safe (not baby-proof) area, he whines and cries until he can roam free. He doesn't actually get into much trouble roaming and it makes him far happier (ie: easier for me), so I oblige. He's ten months old and we've already given up on the idea of baby-proofing. J-j-jaded.

- can most often be found holding on to the side of his crib and jumping up and down on his mattress after he wakes up. It's pretty much adorable.

- continues to overlook his toys in favor of ANYTHING and EVERYTHING else. Alas.

- is still 50th percentile is height (29 inches) and weight (22 pounds) for his age. After growing so fast and breezing through his outfits, I'm sort of glad that he's going to be able to wear the same clothes for a while, since we already have SIX boxes of clothes he's grown out of.

- got a new stroller. Hurrah!

- has his own version of baby signing: when he wants to nurse, he pulls down the front of my shirt or hugs my boobs and buries his face in them. It's quite charming in public.

- still doesn't exactly have a schedule.  It's a day-to-day exploration of how much he'll want to nap and eat. I am honestly amazed by parents who give their babies three meals a day, nurse them every three hours, and have naps at 10 am and 2 pm. I just...am far too lazy for that. He has a bedtime that we stick to (except if we want to go somewhere at night, which we've been doing...most nights lately), so there's that. Some people might say that I am not giving my child enough structure, but I say I would likely go insane if I had to plan everything around when Gabe is napping or his bedtime, and Gabe needs a sane mother more than he needs a rigid schedule. (I am not saying my way is better, Some People. I am saying it works for me. I feel like I have to clarify myself a lot lately. I don't think I'm a better person than anyone.  Except maybe Casey Anthony. I encourage you to find out what works for you and do that. We can still be friends. Promise.)  (I was just kidding about Casey Anthony. She might be a better person than me.)

- sleeps through the night most nights (he'd just started to do this last month, but I forgot to tell you.) I never thought I'd get to sleep seven or eight hours a night. HALLELUJAH!

- has been wonderfully affectionate lately, what with the kissing and the cuddling.

- is just FIFTY EIGHT days away from being an entire year old. It's both insane, exciting, and makes me weepy. No more baby! :(

I: 

- made my first 'mom friend' at a park. We went out to coffee and baby storytime at the library. I want to blog about making mom friends. Because, dude.

- am really good at saying, "I'll blog about that," then failing to. Oops. I currently have half a dozen posts in draft, which I never do.  (I'm more of a blog-and-post-right-now, then a scheduled-post kind of blogger. It's sort of how I am in everything, actually.)

- bought Gabe's first birthday present! A set of five wooden toy cars from Etsy. I may not have any birthday party plans, but I have a toy that I know he is going to LOVE and it's handmade and not plastic and I AM SO EXCITED YAY.

- have been completely swamped (in a wonderful way!) with design work this month. So many blogs, invites, and resumes have been designed! I also have mastered WordPress. Word.

- have officially been living in the same place for more than a year - which I can't say has happened since...2002. Yes. I have moved my things every single summer since 2002. I'm elated to not have to deal with boxes and U-Hauls and unpacking. We love our apartment and expect to be here for a few more years, until Mike is done with school.

- say, "I need to do yoga" nightly. NIGHTLY. And, yet, I am not really working out. Unless you count some walks and doing The 30 Day Shred...once every 30 days. Ha. Is that not the way it works?

- have had a really full social calendar this summer. It's wonderful. But also tiring. But mostly wonderful. I have great family and friends. Perhaps we were all hibernating in the winter.

- tried on one of Gabe's t-shirts last night. Mike dared me to. I have no idea why I'm including this in Gabe's monthly update, except that it's a perfect illustration of Mike and I as both parents and spouses. (It fit. But just over my boobs. My wimpy arms even fit through the arm holes. It's slightly stretched out.)

- have never felt more special than when Gabe said, "Mama," grabbed my face with both hands and kissed me right on the lips. I love when he calls me Mama.

His "Hey Mama!" smile and pouty-lipped-model look.

The many feet, teeth, and goofy faces of Gabriel.

Handsome dude and completely flummoxed by the 10 Month sticker.

Obsessed with the toothbrush. And tolerating yet another attempt at a mama-Gabe self-portrait.

Corn on the cob, cuddling with Lion, and a Lion portrait.

His "Oh, heeeey" look, "How can you expect me to sit in this chair when ALL MY TOYS are right below me??", and naked on a hot July day (teeny tiny pecs!).

A Cookie Jar and Some Chocolate Macadamia Goodness.

Almost eleven months ago, we celebrated our third wedding anniversary by getting veggie burgers  and tater tots at a drive-in restaurant and using something called a Groupon for the first time (maybe you've heard of it?) to go to one of those paint your own pottery places. I'd been wanting to go to one of those places since I was about ten. 

After taking a solid twenty minutes hemming and hawing over what we were going to paint together - something for the baby? something to hang on wall? - we decided to paint a cookie jar, with the agreement that I would always keep it filled with cookies. Amen.

The other day, I realized the cookie jar had been empty for quite some time. A travesty! And breaking one of my marital vows. This was unacceptable.

I'd been wanting to make some kind of cookie with macadamia nuts for a few weeks after compulsively buying a bag of them at Trader Joe's. I adapted a recipe and made some tasty little cookies.

The ingredients. Everything I have is from Trader Joe's or the bulk foods store.

What, you don't take photos of your ingredients for a recipe next to an old record player while your son eats a teething biscuit in the corner? :)

Chopping up macadamia nuts is hard. The little buggers slide around.

 

I've only been able to make cookies ONCE without eating some of the cookie dough.This was certainly not that time.

The little cuties all lined up and ready to go in the oven. Love my Silpat, man.

They are delightful, just soft enough, with big yummy chunks of nuts and chocolate. I love almond extract, so I put some in most of my cookies - it really makes them tasty.

They're delicious with some coffee or a cup of iced chai.

Macadamia Chocolate Chip Cookies

adapted from here
Makes 2  and 1/2 dozen

2 cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
2/3 cup canola oil
2/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup milk (cow or non-dairy)
1 tablespoon ground flax seed
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon almond extract (or more vanilla)
1 1/3 cups unsalted, chopped macadamia nuts
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350F.

Beat together oil, sugars, milk, flax seed and extracts. Add flour, baking soda and nutmeg slowly until well mixed.

Fold in nuts and chocolate chips.  Dough will be extremely thick and sticky. (Eat some.)

Drop tablespoon-sized portions onto a parchment paper-lined (or Silpat!) cookie sheet. Keep them roughly 2 inches apart.

Bake for 12-14 minutes.  Let them cool on the cookie sheet for 5 minutes after removing them from the oven – this lets them set. Cool completely on a wire rack.

Somewhere Between an SUV and a Smart Car.

Mommy Blogger Alert: An entire post about stroller. You've been warned. Proceed with caution.

Internet, I know you. I know you are smart and interesting and full of opinions and experiences. And I know you are helpful and stuff.  

So, I come before you today and ask for your assistance in finding a new stroller. 

See, we have two strollers and neither one is perfect for us. We have a big huge stroller which is clunky but comfy for Gabe and a tiny light stroller which is bare bones umbrella stroller. 

Big huge comfy stroller:

The bad part is, it takes up our entire trunk and is super heavy. Plus, it has a MAMMOTH footprint. I feel like I'm taking over the sidewalk/coffee shop/doorway/room when I use this thing.

Most of the time, we use our little umbrella stroller and clip our awesome diaper bag on the back. It's easy to carry and small enough to not feel like the Mom with the Giant Stroller.

Itty bitty umbrella stroller:

The bad part is: there is no storage at all, the sun shade is pathetic, and it doesn't recline (reclining is awesome when Gabe falls asleep on a walk...I can sometimes squeeze a nap out of him if I play my cards right.). Also, Mike can't push this without hunching over. (Look at me, including my husband's needs in my evaluation of a stroller. It's so selfless! And considerate!)

Since we didn't buy either of these strollers (hand-me-down and gift yay!), I've decided that we if we can find our perfect stroller, we'll splurge and buy one.

Wanted: 
- less than $100...okay, $150 (big spenderrrs)
- cup holders (allowing for caffeine containment)
- not heavy or unwieldy (allowing for my pathetic upper body strength)
- reclining seat
- basket storage (I have books to get from the library and a vegetables from the farmer's market, like a good little hippie yuppie.)
- tall enough for Mike (he also adds, "I should be able to throw it 20 feet." Mmm kay.)
- legit sunshade

So basically the pros of both our strollers with none of the cons. Not unreasonable at all, right?

If you're reading this and think, Oh! My stroller sounds like that! Please PLEASE tell me. Please.

If you're reading this and think, Oh! I have a lot of time at work and nothing to do! Perhaps I shall scour the internet and read reviews. Please. Please do.

Just June.

This is my life. The ukulele is a staple in it right now.

We've begun to settle into a routine of sorts this summer. Our days start with coffee and breakfast together (around the table - we're doing an experiment where we don't eat on the couch....that's the whole experiment: eat like civilized people), followed by a few hours of designing and answering emails while Gabe practices walking around the edge of everything he can get his chubby little hands on.

My work station: MacBook, chalkboard, coffee, and juice water. And, yes, I need a more sophisticated way to keep track of clients. Suggestions? (I have a spreadsheet, too. I'm not completely inept.)

I am home for two entire months, and Mike only works in the afternoons four days a week - this means we get a lot of family time. And I get a lot of time to work. My design work is really bustling and keeping me on my toes. I also had a photo shoot last weekend (squee!) and I was even able to finagle some sewing time this week. I don't know whose idea it was to put my entire sewing machine/fabric/crafty bits in Gabe's room, but it makes it difficult to sew during nap time. 

Sweet, sweet success.

I also updated my Etsy shop with all kinds of earrings and coasters and reusable coffee sleeves. It's been so quiet for many months, so I'm hoping to breathe some life into it. (Have I mentioned that getting things done with a baby is challenging? Oh, just yesterday? Okay, then.)

I packed away more of Gabe's clothes - and realized he has more hoodies that currently fit him than I do. What can I say? I love a baby with a hood.

This is a *3T* Snoopy hoodie we snagged from the thrift store. It's my favorite thing in existence.

We finally bathed our child for the first time in ages. Bathing babies daily is overrated - it's like with clothes, no need to wash unless they're visably dirty, am I right? (I'm not right? I'm just gross and an awful mother? Well.) Giving him a bath has gone from a pain to an-activity-that-keeps-him-busy-and-I-can-read-Bossypants-in-the-bathroom. I think there will be more baths in our future.

We also started a garden, which, judging from our history, is likely to end up in dead plant nubbins. Only time will tell.

Gabe hamming it up at the apartment community garden.

I finally took a few photos with the nine month stickers and just couldn't help but share this face:

Because, really.

If I were a kid, I'd probably call this summer 'boring.'

But as an adult? It's pretty wonderful.

And now I think we'll go for a long walk with my boys and pick up this book from the library.

Gabriel Goes to the Beach.

When I was growing up, my family took yearly trips to were to the beach with my extended family. I looked forward to sharing a giant beach house with a dozen aunts, uncles, siblings, parents, and grandparents. I looked forward to spending hours learning how to make friendship bracelets from my aunts. I looked forward to packing peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to take to the beach each morning. I looked forward to eating those tiny boxes of cereal for breakfast. II even looked forward to getting a pound of sand in my bathing suit from sitting at the edge of the shore.

I still love the ocean.

I love the sound of the crashing waves. I love the heat that radiates from the clear skies. I love digging my feet into the sand while I read book after book at the beach. I love the expansiveness. I love how life is slower and days are longer and there is nothing my to do list but reading and relaxing.

I spent a semester in Hawaii my sophomore year of college (rough life, right?). I worked at an ice cream shop on Waikiki Beach and during my breaks, I'd go to the pier and lie down on the wooden planks, soaking up the sounds of the crashing waves. The ocean soothes me.

Except when there's a baby at the beach. (And also, baby aside? I am becoming my father because I JUST CAN'T STAND THE SAND. It's EVERYWHERE.)

It was a lot of fun, but certainly not quite relaxing: sand-coated baby crawling around on the beach trying to eat seashells. He had a love-hate relationship with the ocean, as well.

I contemplated writing a post about how to go to the beach with a baby or a post about cloth diapering on vacation (including cloth swim diapers). But in the end, I decided to go with the photos. Because, really, don't you love being forced to look at someone else's vacation photos?

Here, LOOK: *shoves photos in your face*

My little Gabriel.

The beach corral (our camping tent), cousins, and a tiny banana for a tiny baby. :)

Tie-dying fun. And chalk art.

The beach is tiring for my little man. :)

He loved running towards the ocean. And away from it. Kid just thinks he can run.

Gabe's cousins.

Mama and Papa time. Melty heart.

Oh my word. The way he looks at his papa...

Apartment, Sweet Apartment.

My, oh my.

We are finally home from nearly three weeks away from our little apartment and I am elated.

I looked back at the post from a month ago when we first went on a little vacation, and laughed. We spent ONE night in a hotel. ONE. And I was all, "We're flexible! Yippee! But glad to be back home." Ha. HAHAHAHA. 

Three weeks of changed routine later...I think now I can legit say that.

What has happened in the last three-ish weeks?

- We went to Asheville, North Carolina and I lost my wallet for the first time. Which I told you already. Gabe went swimming for the first time, we ate a lot of food, and saw friends.

- We went to the beach in South Carolina and stayed in a beach house with eleven other family members. I have yet to tell you about this -but Gabe experienced sand, the ocean, and tie-dye.

- We house-and-cat-sat for my parents. Giant house all to ourselves. Fun times, aside for the scary, lots-of-places-for-murderers-to-hide business.
 
- Gabe started to become a Very Mobile Baby. Life has changed, friends. He's constantly pulling up on everything, walking while he holds on to the couch or coffee table, and giving us a run for our money. We dropped his crib mattress down, too. We haven't done much in the way of baby-proofing yet, but I think we're going to have to re-arrange our living room to accomdate Mr. Curious and Mobile. No more Mr. Lump who lies around happily.

- Summer arrived. Three weeks ago, it was cold and my summer clothes were still packed away. Now, I'm in Tevas, shorts, and tank tops. Whee! Time to pack away the sweaters.

- Baby's first baseball game. We went to an Indians game, and Gabe was in the newspaper (front page!) the next day. Baby WIN.

- I bought a super fancy new lens. Like, SUPER FANCY. I can't believe I spent this much on it, but it all came from profits from Etsy and my design work. I am serious about becoming a portraiture photographer, and it's time to put my money where my mouth it. (Also, this lens weighs 20 pounds, so I should get more buff. BONUS.)

- Gabe is 9 months old. Also: 40 weeks old, so he's been out longer than he was a fetus.

- 3 weeks of erratic bedtimes. Ready to get back to Gabe going to bed EARLY. I need it for my sanity, my businesses, and my marriage. Amen.

And, now, I'm staring down the happy circumstance of having two entire months off for the first time since high school (aside from my two-month maternity leave, because, well, that doesn't COUNT.) I have high hopes for this summer, namely: more simplifying (only driving our car three days a week...eep!), business scheming, photographing, and designing, blogging (and open up advertising opportunities), and gardening (community garden at the apartment!)/farmer's marketing, and cooking. And plenty of time with my two favorite boys, of course. Mmm, summer.

Summer Adventures, Part III: Asheville.

 Our trip to Asheville could be summed up in three(ish) words: Food, Friends, and Lost Wallet.

Food: So much goodness. Sweet potato pancakes with whipped peach butter butter. A vegetarian Havana Cuban with swiss cheese, tempeh, black bean spread, and pickles. Rooibos iced tea with local honey. Salted dark chocolate caramels. Red wine-infused dark chocolate truffles topped with a crystalized rose. Indian street food (potato samosas with a sweet chickpea stew) and chai tea. Pimento grilled cheese and cream of mushroom soup. Strawberry lemonade. A grilled sweet potato and goat cheese burrito. A peanut butter and marshmallow sundae. A delightfully flaky croissant. A bagel sandwich with arugula, swiss cheese, and egg. And plenty of coffee.


True to our vacation motto – we ate and walked. And that's pretty much it. We saw all sorts of interesting things and people and musicians. Asheville is a fun little town with a vibrant downtown. We really, really enjoyed our time there.

Gabe even got to experience a swimming pool for the first time at our hotel! :) He was unsure about his feelings on the matter. (And that top right photo is GABE KISSING ME. I love his sweet kisses so very much.)

Friends:

We had an impromptu meet up with two friends (and one husband of a friend) from college. They live in Nashville and Atlanta, so we don't get to see them as much as we'd like. It was so much fun. Gabe got to hang out with his godmother and I enjoyed getting to see Elizabeth, who is a few months pregnant with their first child. We ate, we visited the drum circle, and we walked forever in pursuit of a coffee shop that doesn't exist.

Lost Wallet: So, I lose things a lot. A LOT. But I've never lost my wallet long enough to actually have to deal with it – canceling credit cards and getting a new driver's license and all that. And I've certainly never lost my wallet on a vacation. But I did. We had $56 and no credit cards or IDs. Mike left his wallet at home and realized it 15 minutes into our trip, but I assured him I had my wallet, so no worries. Sometime between visiting a chocolate shop and getting to our hotel room, I lost my wallet and no amount of backtracking or scouring the city, parking garage, hotel, and car turned it up.

Lesson learned: have your phone number in your wallet. If someone found it, they'd have no way of contacting me. Blerg. (Thankfully, Kat spotted us some gas money and my mom broke into our apartment and overnighted us Mike's wallet.)

Despite the whole wallet fiasco, Asheville was wonderful. I'd love to go back and try even more restaurants. Mmm, food.

 Friday night drum circle. So fun and quirky.

All's well that ends well. :)

More photos here +
Summer Adventures, Part I: Dayton.
 Summer Adventures, Part II: NYC.

And now we're on day seven of our vacation, and day four of our beach vacation with the in-laws... being at the beach with a baby is quite the adventure!