We spent today just exactly how it should be spent. Making deviled eggs, veggies and Uncle Dan's, and then arriving right before turkey is served at the host's house. We were invited over to a couple from church's house. The menu consisted of turkey, ham, cornbread stuffing, wild rice stuffing, cream corn casserole, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce, some kind of Southern onion deal and it seems like I'm forgetting something.
I didn't want to show up empty handed, so I took a veggie tray and deviled eggs. For I think the first time in my life I was able to boil the eggs perfectly. When I cut them open they weren't too soft or too hard. This is usually a problem area for me.
Then, I couldn't get the right mayo/mustard/s&p ratio for some reason (I blame hormones). I also tasted it so many times it just started to taste the same. I finally recruited Dapo for a taste test and asked if it needed anything. "It's good" he said (he is well trained, but not always forthcoming). So, I prodded, "does it need anything?" "Butter?" he replied. Butter?! At this point, I excused him from his tasting duties. I called my dad, the master deviled egger, and received a few tips and a secret ingredient. I added a little more mayo and the secret ingredient, and had a wonderful looking (even if I couldn't taste it) egg tray. I used a squirter deal from Pampered Chef that my mom gave me. I honestly spent about an hour on these darn things...and there were only six eggs.
I managed to get ready and we were loading the car when the phone rang. I answered it, because I thought it was the host calling to see if we were on our way and it was a friend of ours from church who has since moved to Indonesia. That took about 20 min out of our day, and we were borderline late for the food.
When we showed up at the Pollocks, Teresa had already done a couple dozen deviled eggs! Oops, I didn't remember her saying she'd be doing eggs, or I would have went solely with the veggie tray. I took both, and ate my eggs. I was surprised at how good they tasted, it seemed like they got better from the time I put them on the tray to the time we got to their house 5 min away. I guess absence makes the heart grow fonder?
Jimi woke up at 530 this morning and would not go down for a nap. Finally after dinner and several spankings, he started to lay down on the floor at their house. This was about 330 or so, so I commend him for his longevity. We got home and all took our nap. Then we woke up and watched the Seahawks lose miserably.
Now I'm ready for some pie! Tomorrow I am skipping the sales and we are going to put up Christmas decorations as a family. Hopefully I'll remember to take some pix!
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Monday, November 24, 2008
Chuck E. Cheese
This weekend Dapo's best friend and his wife and daughter came to visit us. It was a short trip, but one where we enjoyed each other's company. Dapo had mentioned to me that Gbenga would like to try to find something fun for his daughter, Temi, to do. They came in too late to go to the Children's Museum, so I suggested a trip to Chuck E. Cheese on Sunday after church for lunch.
I didn't take my camera (boo!) so I guess you'll have to use your imagination of how much fun Jimi had. There was a kiddie coaster, which is a roller-coaster simulator for little tykes. He wanted to ride it over and over, until the pizza came. I managed to sneak my way into the big kids' area and play a couple of games there as well.
The place was surprisingly clean and the food was surprisingly good. It was pretty busy, but the wait was surprisingly short. The "pizza time theater" part of it is lame when you are +30, but I think they have tried to make some technological changes in the past couple of decades that just didn't jive with the original concept of the show. We were there for close to two hours and the only show that was played was for a kids' birthday and Chuck E.'s mouth doesn't even move, just his head. We did see a live Chuck E., who must have had dual duties that day, because he only came out for the birthday show, and went right back to his mouse hole. He didn't have time to pose for pictures with the camera I didn't have.
It was nice getting to know Gbenga's wife, Foluke, and playing with Jimi. We had a bunch of tokens left over, so maybe I'll take Jimi back for a token trip.
The only down side to the adventure is that we think we left Jimi's brand new winter coat there. I can't find it anywhere in the house, and Dapo said he didn't put it on him when he took Jimi to the car. I went back to the booth and picked everything up that was left behind and didn't see it. I even picked up Dapo's tie from the floor, so if Jimi's jacket had fallen down, I think I would have seen it.
It just occurred to me that perhaps his coat got put on their side of the booth, which I did not check. I can't imagine, though, that they would just leave it for us to find or not find. Anyhow, we're looking for the jacket.
Dapo's friends went back to Houston, where he works, and then they'll be going back home to Nigeria next week.
p.s. Good news! I called and they have the jacket in their lost and found. Hooray!
I didn't take my camera (boo!) so I guess you'll have to use your imagination of how much fun Jimi had. There was a kiddie coaster, which is a roller-coaster simulator for little tykes. He wanted to ride it over and over, until the pizza came. I managed to sneak my way into the big kids' area and play a couple of games there as well.
The place was surprisingly clean and the food was surprisingly good. It was pretty busy, but the wait was surprisingly short. The "pizza time theater" part of it is lame when you are +30, but I think they have tried to make some technological changes in the past couple of decades that just didn't jive with the original concept of the show. We were there for close to two hours and the only show that was played was for a kids' birthday and Chuck E.'s mouth doesn't even move, just his head. We did see a live Chuck E., who must have had dual duties that day, because he only came out for the birthday show, and went right back to his mouse hole. He didn't have time to pose for pictures with the camera I didn't have.
It was nice getting to know Gbenga's wife, Foluke, and playing with Jimi. We had a bunch of tokens left over, so maybe I'll take Jimi back for a token trip.
The only down side to the adventure is that we think we left Jimi's brand new winter coat there. I can't find it anywhere in the house, and Dapo said he didn't put it on him when he took Jimi to the car. I went back to the booth and picked everything up that was left behind and didn't see it. I even picked up Dapo's tie from the floor, so if Jimi's jacket had fallen down, I think I would have seen it.
It just occurred to me that perhaps his coat got put on their side of the booth, which I did not check. I can't imagine, though, that they would just leave it for us to find or not find. Anyhow, we're looking for the jacket.
Dapo's friends went back to Houston, where he works, and then they'll be going back home to Nigeria next week.
p.s. Good news! I called and they have the jacket in their lost and found. Hooray!
Friday, November 21, 2008
Close Call
Today Jimi woke up with a great deal of congestion and mucous across his beautiful face. He's been fighting off a cold for awhile now. I'd say it's been at least a week that he's had a fever on and off again. This morning was the first time I'd heard him cough, and he woke up with a fever of 101.5. So, I decided enough was enough and after checking with Dapo we made a doctor's appointment for him.
His appointment was at 10:10, and it takes about 20 min to get there, so I left here about 9:45. The road you take to get into town is a two-way road, one lane each direction. It is that way for all 8 miles. The speed limit is 45 until you get closer to town, where it goes down to 40. Usually at that time of day there is not any traffic. I was not on the phone, or speeding, or talking or anything.
All of a sudden, I realized I was about to rear end a string of 10 or more cars stopped. I slammed on my breaks and after a second or two could tell I wasn't going to make it in time. I was actually skidding and felt the back of the car start to fishtale. I let off the brakes and turned into the skid, and gassed it. I wound up running off of the road, into and out of a ditch, and coming to a stop near a green belt.
It took me a minute to realize what had just happened, and why I was parked off in the country side. I checked Jimi out and he was okay. I felt okay, but was really shaken up by the experience. Hormones + Adrenaline = Bad Combo. I took a few minutes to compose myself before getting back on the road and continuing to the Dr. office. I called Dapo once I got there and started crying. He told me he'd be right there. He came and comforted me. He is so good at making me feel better.
I was just shook up, mostly because of the feeling of knowing I was going to slam into all of those cars with my two babies in the car. I called my OB to see if they wanted to see me even though I didn't make impact with anything (just some off roading experience). They asked me to come down and just get checked out. Her heartbeat was fine, and they hooked me up to a fetal monitoring machine just to make sure that I wasn't contracting. I had a couple of little ones, but nothing of concern. They sent me home with orders for rest and water.
I am so thankful that Jimi is ok, and that my unborn baby is ok, and that I am ok. Dapo's entire family was in the car today. Everything with us is fine, but today reminded me how precious every moment is and how quickly it can all turn. I am thankful for the angels which were encamped around about me to protect us from any harm or danger.
Thanks be to God, who always gives us the victory!
His appointment was at 10:10, and it takes about 20 min to get there, so I left here about 9:45. The road you take to get into town is a two-way road, one lane each direction. It is that way for all 8 miles. The speed limit is 45 until you get closer to town, where it goes down to 40. Usually at that time of day there is not any traffic. I was not on the phone, or speeding, or talking or anything.
All of a sudden, I realized I was about to rear end a string of 10 or more cars stopped. I slammed on my breaks and after a second or two could tell I wasn't going to make it in time. I was actually skidding and felt the back of the car start to fishtale. I let off the brakes and turned into the skid, and gassed it. I wound up running off of the road, into and out of a ditch, and coming to a stop near a green belt.
It took me a minute to realize what had just happened, and why I was parked off in the country side. I checked Jimi out and he was okay. I felt okay, but was really shaken up by the experience. Hormones + Adrenaline = Bad Combo. I took a few minutes to compose myself before getting back on the road and continuing to the Dr. office. I called Dapo once I got there and started crying. He told me he'd be right there. He came and comforted me. He is so good at making me feel better.
I was just shook up, mostly because of the feeling of knowing I was going to slam into all of those cars with my two babies in the car. I called my OB to see if they wanted to see me even though I didn't make impact with anything (just some off roading experience). They asked me to come down and just get checked out. Her heartbeat was fine, and they hooked me up to a fetal monitoring machine just to make sure that I wasn't contracting. I had a couple of little ones, but nothing of concern. They sent me home with orders for rest and water.
I am so thankful that Jimi is ok, and that my unborn baby is ok, and that I am ok. Dapo's entire family was in the car today. Everything with us is fine, but today reminded me how precious every moment is and how quickly it can all turn. I am thankful for the angels which were encamped around about me to protect us from any harm or danger.
Thanks be to God, who always gives us the victory!
Thursday, November 20, 2008
Mr. Chairman
On my recent trip to WA, Jimi and started watching Sesame Street together. I haven't really thought about introducing him to kids shows before. He really enjoyed it. His uncle Kunle bought him a tickle-me-Elmo last year, and he loves to play with him. What fun it was for him to recognize Elmo on tv!
I told my mom how much Jimi enjoyed it and she told me that when I was a little girl I had a wooden rocking chair that I would sit in and rock and watch Sesame Street. Evidently I sat and rocked so often that I wore a notch in the end table from rocking up against it.
I vaguely remember the rocking chair part, but do remember loving Sesame Street. Dapo and I went shopping last Saturday and bought Jimi a little rocking chair. I thought it'd be cute to get a little Elmo chair, but bright red/orange/green/blue/yellow is not a look I favor for my house decor (you'll recall we built a window seat to hide all those toys)! So, we opted for the brown micro-suede.
It was funny because we got three chairs down and had Jimi sit in them. The Elmo chair was too small, really, and the stable chair w/o rocker he barely sat in before climbing into the rocker and setting up shop. He looked just like Dapo does in our chair and a half, so we bought it.
Here's some pix of Jimi enjoying himself!
Two peas in a pod! I'm convinced with Jimi having a pair of glasses and a mustache, they would pass as twins.
They seem happy, don't they?
Now they are laughing at each other.
Sit up, sit down, sit up, sit down
Dapo: Jimi, look at Mommy. Jimi: No way!!
Flying solo
Watching Sesame Street
Finally, a Coke war not involving the DEA. Jimi wanted a drink, and kept trying to grab it. Dapo won.
I told my mom how much Jimi enjoyed it and she told me that when I was a little girl I had a wooden rocking chair that I would sit in and rock and watch Sesame Street. Evidently I sat and rocked so often that I wore a notch in the end table from rocking up against it.
I vaguely remember the rocking chair part, but do remember loving Sesame Street. Dapo and I went shopping last Saturday and bought Jimi a little rocking chair. I thought it'd be cute to get a little Elmo chair, but bright red/orange/green/blue/yellow is not a look I favor for my house decor (you'll recall we built a window seat to hide all those toys)! So, we opted for the brown micro-suede.
It was funny because we got three chairs down and had Jimi sit in them. The Elmo chair was too small, really, and the stable chair w/o rocker he barely sat in before climbing into the rocker and setting up shop. He looked just like Dapo does in our chair and a half, so we bought it.
Here's some pix of Jimi enjoying himself!
Two peas in a pod! I'm convinced with Jimi having a pair of glasses and a mustache, they would pass as twins.
They seem happy, don't they?
Now they are laughing at each other.
Sit up, sit down, sit up, sit down
Dapo: Jimi, look at Mommy. Jimi: No way!!
Flying solo
Watching Sesame Street
Finally, a Coke war not involving the DEA. Jimi wanted a drink, and kept trying to grab it. Dapo won.
Harvest Fest
Every year our church puts on a Harvest Fest party. This is so kids of families who don't celebrate Halloween can get candy playing carnival-type games in lieu of trick-or-treating.
Jimi pretty much hated everything but the balloons. He was not in the mood to party. I wanted him to play the games and win me some candy! Oh, I mean win him some candy! It was a lot of fun, and everyone there except for me was cold. Go figure.
Here's some shots of the fun:
I tried to dress him up as a drumline drummer. He hated it. He hates dress up.
Balloons, on the other hand, are his favorite. We wound up taking home two bunches.
We tried to get Jimi to play the games. He just wasn't having it.
Dapo finally starts to play the games while Jimi watches. This is the ring toss, which he won.
Step aside, kids, let the pro through. Dapo won this, too.
All bundled up. Mittens: another item on his list of not enjoying tonight.
Dapo wound up carrying Jimi, and his drum, too.
Jimi pretty much hated everything but the balloons. He was not in the mood to party. I wanted him to play the games and win me some candy! Oh, I mean win him some candy! It was a lot of fun, and everyone there except for me was cold. Go figure.
Here's some shots of the fun:
I tried to dress him up as a drumline drummer. He hated it. He hates dress up.
Balloons, on the other hand, are his favorite. We wound up taking home two bunches.
We tried to get Jimi to play the games. He just wasn't having it.
Dapo finally starts to play the games while Jimi watches. This is the ring toss, which he won.
Step aside, kids, let the pro through. Dapo won this, too.
All bundled up. Mittens: another item on his list of not enjoying tonight.
Dapo wound up carrying Jimi, and his drum, too.
Harvest Time in Harvest
The name of the town we live in here is Harvest, AL. Alabama has a beautiful fall season. The foliage peak is a little later than I think most area's is, it hits right around Halloween. Since we live about 6 miles from town, we drive by a lot of beautiful countryside during our trips to civilization.
I can't describe and didn't take pictures of how vivid and diverse the colors of the leaves are here. It is prettier than the Wasatch Mountains, and those of you in Utah know that is pretty spectacular. Washington state has a fall foliage, but nothing too grand, as a majority of their trees are Evergreen. We have Evergreen trees here, too, but lots of other trees I've never seen grown before.
I remember when Dapo and I came here on our home finding trip two years ago. The cotton had just been harvested (they harvest corn mid-end September and cotton mid-end October) and some of the picked over cotton balls were still hanging on to the stalks. "OMG! Is that cotton?!!?! Honey, look!" Both Dapo and the realtor thought I was nuts. I couldn't help it, it was something that only existed in history books to me.
Anyhow, here are some pictures of cotton right before harvest time.
I can't describe and didn't take pictures of how vivid and diverse the colors of the leaves are here. It is prettier than the Wasatch Mountains, and those of you in Utah know that is pretty spectacular. Washington state has a fall foliage, but nothing too grand, as a majority of their trees are Evergreen. We have Evergreen trees here, too, but lots of other trees I've never seen grown before.
I remember when Dapo and I came here on our home finding trip two years ago. The cotton had just been harvested (they harvest corn mid-end September and cotton mid-end October) and some of the picked over cotton balls were still hanging on to the stalks. "OMG! Is that cotton?!!?! Honey, look!" Both Dapo and the realtor thought I was nuts. I couldn't help it, it was something that only existed in history books to me.
Anyhow, here are some pictures of cotton right before harvest time.
Wednesday, November 19, 2008
Dr.'s visit and Swimming With the Oldies
I had my prenatal checkup today. I am 30 weeks tomorrow. I "get to" take a Glucose test this week. I gained 5 lbs and I was a bit disappointed to see that (I worked hard at eating right and exercising, more on that later).
My blood pressure was 120/78, which is much lower than it has been. I actually dreamt after my last visit that my pressure was 360/80. Ha. Anyhow, I think that must be because of my efforts to exercise more. The baby did not want us messing around with her heartbeat, and hid from it at first. Then, once the nurse found her, she moved. The nurse finally got her heartbeat at 130, although she kicked the entire time (the baby, not the nurse).
Dr. Rushing told me I could have an occasional Tylenol PM to help me sleep at night. Between the kicking and snoring and crying it is hard to get a good night's rest. Dapo had some corporate visitors today and couldn't get away to join us. Jimi did pretty good and only stole one sealed urinalysis test today.
Last visit Dr. R told me to start watching what I eat and start exercising more. I've done both. Since I've not kept up a solid gym routine in my pregnancy, and I'm 6 1/2 mos along, I thought it'd be best to go to water aerobics. I love to swim and I remember when I was pregnant with Jimi we went to the Redneck Riviera and swam around in the Gulf. It was so wonderful not to feel the weight of the baby on my back. And I'm a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kinda gal. So, to the water I went.
Anyone who has ever been to a water aerobics class knows that these are usually senior-dominated classes. All the young, skinny girls are in the gym or kickboxing. Right? I don't have a problem with this (except, I can't help but think that I'm sure they are leaking urine into the pool. That's gross, I know, but very realistic, too.) and swim along with them.
In every class, there is a group of women who consider this a social hour and swim in a circle and chat and visit. There are usually one or two gaggles that flock together and the rest of us actually work out. It is annoying, because it distracts me from hearing the instructor. They usually drift into your space because they aren't paying attention. I guess I think it is disrespectful, too. But, I don't say anything, I just work out.
The other day I was in a very crowded class, and there were at least three groups of women engaged in conversation. I would go to the other end of the pool, except that end is the one that you have to step ladder into the pool. Not happening in my current physical condition. I did my best to tune out why the lady originally got their orders to move here in 1973; or why he wasn't invited over for Thanksgiving after what he did last year; or how her daughter in California finally met somebody on MySpace (ew).
And then it happened. "The water is warm today, don't you think?" I turned my head to find a borderline AARP member talking to me. "Uh, yeah, I guess so". Back to the workout, I go, hoping she didn't just pee. "I love to go to the steam room. I went to Vegas and we went to the steam room and they have all these herbs and..." Dang it! I'm trying to work out and she's trying to make friends. Why me?! I kept turning my head to the instructor, and then back to her, hoping she'd get the drift that I wasn't interested. I didn't want to be rude, because down here manners are emphasized. I didn't want to talk, either, but how do you tell a person you'd rather not talk? Finally! The instructor tells us to jog/swim a lap back and forth. I managed to get away.
Some of the exercises actually hurt because you are tightening your abs and etc. I have a baby in my abs, who is heavy and sometimes I tweak a muscle the wrong way and go "ow". So, then another lady approaches me. She is definitely a pee candidate. "Are you ok?" "Oh, yeah, I just tried too hard for a minute there. Thanks for asking." She replies, "do you know any midwives? my daughter wants to go into midwifery, but she thinks she'll have to do it in Tennessee". I try to be as brief in my response as possible, "I know there's a midwife community here, but I go to an OB". She seemed to get the hint and went back to her spot. My water just so happened to be back by the first ladies' area. But, I need a drink.
I knew it. "Does your shoulder hurt? I saw you grimace" "No, I am in my third trimester and sometimes I try to hard. Thanks for asking". "Well, who should we call if you go into labor?" "Oh, I won't go into labor yet. I'm only 30 weeks" And, the thought which stayed in my head was "a doctor, dummy".
I made it out of the pool and managed to get my heart rate up amidst a couple of exercise-killing conversations. I will keep going, thanks to my new blood pressure, but I really would welcome anyone's comments on how to stave off a chit-chat attack.
My blood pressure was 120/78, which is much lower than it has been. I actually dreamt after my last visit that my pressure was 360/80. Ha. Anyhow, I think that must be because of my efforts to exercise more. The baby did not want us messing around with her heartbeat, and hid from it at first. Then, once the nurse found her, she moved. The nurse finally got her heartbeat at 130, although she kicked the entire time (the baby, not the nurse).
Dr. Rushing told me I could have an occasional Tylenol PM to help me sleep at night. Between the kicking and snoring and crying it is hard to get a good night's rest. Dapo had some corporate visitors today and couldn't get away to join us. Jimi did pretty good and only stole one sealed urinalysis test today.
Last visit Dr. R told me to start watching what I eat and start exercising more. I've done both. Since I've not kept up a solid gym routine in my pregnancy, and I'm 6 1/2 mos along, I thought it'd be best to go to water aerobics. I love to swim and I remember when I was pregnant with Jimi we went to the Redneck Riviera and swam around in the Gulf. It was so wonderful not to feel the weight of the baby on my back. And I'm a "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" kinda gal. So, to the water I went.
Anyone who has ever been to a water aerobics class knows that these are usually senior-dominated classes. All the young, skinny girls are in the gym or kickboxing. Right? I don't have a problem with this (except, I can't help but think that I'm sure they are leaking urine into the pool. That's gross, I know, but very realistic, too.) and swim along with them.
In every class, there is a group of women who consider this a social hour and swim in a circle and chat and visit. There are usually one or two gaggles that flock together and the rest of us actually work out. It is annoying, because it distracts me from hearing the instructor. They usually drift into your space because they aren't paying attention. I guess I think it is disrespectful, too. But, I don't say anything, I just work out.
The other day I was in a very crowded class, and there were at least three groups of women engaged in conversation. I would go to the other end of the pool, except that end is the one that you have to step ladder into the pool. Not happening in my current physical condition. I did my best to tune out why the lady originally got their orders to move here in 1973; or why he wasn't invited over for Thanksgiving after what he did last year; or how her daughter in California finally met somebody on MySpace (ew).
And then it happened. "The water is warm today, don't you think?" I turned my head to find a borderline AARP member talking to me. "Uh, yeah, I guess so". Back to the workout, I go, hoping she didn't just pee. "I love to go to the steam room. I went to Vegas and we went to the steam room and they have all these herbs and..." Dang it! I'm trying to work out and she's trying to make friends. Why me?! I kept turning my head to the instructor, and then back to her, hoping she'd get the drift that I wasn't interested. I didn't want to be rude, because down here manners are emphasized. I didn't want to talk, either, but how do you tell a person you'd rather not talk? Finally! The instructor tells us to jog/swim a lap back and forth. I managed to get away.
Some of the exercises actually hurt because you are tightening your abs and etc. I have a baby in my abs, who is heavy and sometimes I tweak a muscle the wrong way and go "ow". So, then another lady approaches me. She is definitely a pee candidate. "Are you ok?" "Oh, yeah, I just tried too hard for a minute there. Thanks for asking." She replies, "do you know any midwives? my daughter wants to go into midwifery, but she thinks she'll have to do it in Tennessee". I try to be as brief in my response as possible, "I know there's a midwife community here, but I go to an OB". She seemed to get the hint and went back to her spot. My water just so happened to be back by the first ladies' area. But, I need a drink.
I knew it. "Does your shoulder hurt? I saw you grimace" "No, I am in my third trimester and sometimes I try to hard. Thanks for asking". "Well, who should we call if you go into labor?" "Oh, I won't go into labor yet. I'm only 30 weeks" And, the thought which stayed in my head was "a doctor, dummy".
I made it out of the pool and managed to get my heart rate up amidst a couple of exercise-killing conversations. I will keep going, thanks to my new blood pressure, but I really would welcome anyone's comments on how to stave off a chit-chat attack.
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