Book 47 - Me For You - Jojo Moyes

This book "Me Before You" by Jojo Moyes, was on just about everyone's book list so I read it.  People had gone on about how great it was.  And while it was good and a fast read it wasn't amazing of course it's a novel and I rarely read novels. The story is good not the typical story, although the end I wasn't a fan of.  Not because it's sad but because it was predictable.  It will probably be a good movie though.  

Anyhow I I am in the home stretch with my books 5 more And that's cause to celebrate.  

Book 46 - The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer

Goodness I haven't finished a book in a while partially because I keep starting but not finishing I started Mindy Kalings Book, I started the art of non-conformity, and I started something else that I immediately was bored with.  But this latest Book The Art of Asking by Amanda Palmer was a much faster read.  It actually was not what I was anticipating when I read it.  I initially actually got it because the forward is by Brene Brown (I think she's pretty sweet).  anyhow I digress - The Art of Asking is sort of a book about Amanda Palmers (from The Dresden Dolls life) but sorta not.  It was full of very interesting stories and tidbits about Kickstarter, Crowdsourcing, Ninja Gigs, the idea exchange and asking.  Her story is really interesting she was a 7ft bride in Cambridge Square for a long time how fun is that.  I plan to watch her Ted Talks now and investigate your Ukuele music now as well.  Anyhow it was worth the read, but then again I generally like memoir like books.  

Anyhow book 46 will be finished soon as well I went for a fiction book that seemed to be on everyone's must read list.

235/1000 miles

I have been really bad about trying to hit my daily step goals.  Really bad.  

No excuses.

Weather has been relatively nice.  Jones and I have been walking to the park a few days a week and other days we like to go shopping or something else but somehow I still have been short.  

Regards as of May 1 we had 235 miles, I added 79 in the month of April which was twice what I did in January almost.  Anyhow starting today actually I got up early and walked 2 miles before work.  Jones was up so we went together if he's still asleep I plan to use our fancy garage gym.  

My goal is to have 150 miles at least in May - that's doable right?  Putting it out there so maybe we can get there?  

April 2015 - Family Photos

The beginning of April Dustin worked worked worked and we didn't see him much but we did snag the above selfie him on the way to work and us getting ready to play.

We went to Colorado in the middle of the month and got a few more.  Here we are in the reflection of the mirror bubble wall at the Denver Children's museum.

And outside casa Bonita we are all blurry.

And family + auntie Lo and uncle Jono counts too.  Note large broom shoot also blurry.

And then we did get a few others of just us like these guys.  I will have to share more from our trip to Colorado soon.  I am behind on blogging just like walking 1000 miles.

#22 - Make Jones a National Park Book

I found a book for $4 on clearance that came with sleeves and snatched it up knowing it would be a good book for Jones's National Park Stamps.  I decorated the cover with just a few stamps and ribbons and rub ons and washi tape.  Since I plan to have us put national park stamps in this for a long time I wanted the cover to remain pretty flat.  Inside I slid his first stamps from last winter at the Freedom Trail.  I had stamped them on a postcard which was perfect to slide into the first sleeve in the book.  

I also want to print a photo of us at the naval yard to add in as well but I haven't yet.

Tuesday 10 - Cinco De Mayo

Here's another list because we all need more lists:

1. Babies and ice treats adorable.

2. Indianapolis Blues Baseball is back.  My favorite player playing with Jonesy on the sideline.

3. Flip flop season is back.  

4. Winning at Trivia tonight it feels good after so long not many teams came but alas we still had good scores.

5. Thrift store finds for 50 cents

6. New recipes - meatball stroganoff it was excellent.  I need to refind the recipe and share soon.

7. Jones sleeping thru the night.  At 7 months he stopped and now he's back to it for the last 4 days anyhow.

8. Chubby little fingers

9. His weird tintin curl pretty cute.

10. Zipper pouches.  I dug out a bunch of these old friends for our trip to Colorado and I am still using them they make things much neater.  

Things We Can't Live Without - Diapers

We use cloth diapers and disposable diapers here.  We started out 100% cloth but as Jones got bigger and we traveled more the need for a disposable alternative came.   

So here's my ten cents about cloth diapers - 

1. They are not any grosser than disposable diapers.  If you have a baby there's poop and pee involved people get real.  

2. We tried four brands:

A. BumGenuis Allinone - by far these are our favorites.  Super simple, colorful, durable and aside from the 4-5 hour sleeps not many leak issues.  

B. grovia (only the infant ones were good otherwise they leaked most of the time when you need extra inserts it's not worth it to me. But hello cute patterns.)

C. Happy Henies all in one Organic - I was super excited about these as they are an Indiana company but they lay funny and are always out of shape. I thought it would get better when jones got bigger and we washed them more but they did not, as a result almost every time they leak.  

D.  GDiapers - someone gave us these and I find them confusing and difficult to use.  They are always the very last option used.

E. Charlie Banana - I read such good things about these and while we aren't totally disappointed - I find stuffing them tedious and it's like the inserts that came with them don't really fit them.  But again cute patterns.

3. My recommendation on brand by far is bum genius all in ones.  You can by them at buy buy baby with a coupon and target often has sales too.

4. If you hear cloth diapers don't leak - it's a lie!  While our diapers don't leak daily they do leak.  Sometimes there's naptime over wetting, sometimes it's tucked funny, when he was small leg leaks.  However we had the same issues with disposable diapers.

5. They are still diaper explosions but probably less with cloth I think the elastic collects it inside better.

6. Yes we wash these in our washer.  We have an old school washer with an agitator in the middle.  When he drank only milk it was all liquid it washed away.  When he started on solids we started with liners which are pretty much genius we have not even bought a sprayer and solids happened 5 months ago.

7. Sun drying REALLY does bleach stains.  This is amazing for diapers jumpers and other stains.  I had no idea I want a clothes line at my next house.

8. There are never enough wet dry bags we have x4 or more.  We like Charlie Banana, and Eco something.  Ps these are also useful for swimming pools and travel and honestly we use them when on days where we use disposable diapers.

9. Simple Human Trash Cans are boss.

10. We like big diaper butts.  

As for disposable diapers...

Aside from at the hospital we've used Honest brand diapers.  They are a little more expensive but biodegradeable and green.  We don't mind paying a little more for them.  There are a few other brands available at target too that are biodegradeable and green but I read some reviews about absorbency issues and leaks so we haven't tried them.  And honest has cute prints

#3 New Van

So we bought a new van.  It's actually a Mazada 5 which is a microvan but it's so much larger than our Honda.  It's 1000xeasier to put Jones into his seat. And it gets better gas mileage than a larger van would.  If we need to for long distance trips we'll just rent a larger van.  We love it so far and it's much more family friendly.  Anyhow crossed #3 off the list with this purchase. 

WIP Wednesday - Lots of Projects

It's been a while but I want to get back in the groove of blogging regularly again.  Here's a few work in progress projects happening:  

First up my rainbow scrap quilt.  I finished up piecing the top.  It's way too many tiny pieces.  But I do love scrappy rainbows.  I am not sure if I want a solid back or if I want to use some rainbow yardage I have, or piece something.   This was going to be a gift but I may opt to keep it.  

Also in progress this random IKEA fabric quilt.  It's not particularly beautiful or soft so I was thinking it might end up as some kind of outdoor playmat and I may skip the batting.  

Also on my table are my Improv Blocks project with Thea.  I started squaring up the blocks and deciding on a layout it's very hard to decide between framing blocks and mushing them together into a cluster. I sent Thea back her blocks the other day so I can't wait to see how it turns out.  

Also on deck is my Riley Blake Modern Quilt Guild challenge quilt.  I am really starting to question my ability to finish this quilt.  It's a little further along than this but I didn't take another photo.  I had grand plans for this but with the timing I may opt for just finishing it.

I am behind on my blocks of the month I think that might be the next priority. 

As for non quilt projects - I do have my master bedroom on the list and the new wardrobe project.  

BabyBurf 10 Months

Dear BabyBurf - 

Your little hugs, wet kisses and snuggles are awesome.  I could listen to you gibber gabber all day.  Being your mommy is so good - so good.  10 months was celebrated with uncle Jono and Aunt Lo in Colorado.  You are quite the traveler little guy.  Here's a list of things about you right now -

+ Favorite food hands down beans.  If there are beans anywhere on the table other things are not eaten.

+ Other foods tried - pizza, spaghetti, ham, raisins, and baby Cheetos.

+ You pretty much like all these things except for some spinach corn mix you tried.

+ You tried bananas again and decided they were your jam too. 

+ You can drink from a straw now and continually want grandma, mommy and daddy to share. 

+ You love to rubberneck when we go out especially when girls are nearby.

+ You LOVE to play with balls.

+ you test most roundish toys to see if they throw/bounce like balls.  

+ You crawl like crazy now.

+ You took Cruising to a whole new level and now can stand by yourself.

+ you sing along with the Elmo song.

+ You squirm and try to get off the changing table when we change you.

+ your favorite word is Addah which we have no idea what means.  

+ you also like to scream when you want something since you can't talk although we are working on sign language.

+ you probably weigh about 25lbs and are starting to thin out and up.

+you are very similar to Ivy the cat the similarities are insane. 

+you like to help aka open and close the dishwasher/dryer

+you love to go outside even just the porch, if the front door is open you love to push out the screen and try to crawl out.

+ Daddy likes to toss you up in the air.  

+ Daddy likes to take you to see his friends in Seymour.

+ Daddy enjoys when we take you places like the zoo, or park.

+ Mommy constantly wears food you smeared on her all day without noticing.

+ Mommy has been trying to take you for a walk everyday.

+ Mommy does not like how you scream when trying to tell me you want something.

+Mommy loves how you follow me around and will actually come when I talk to you. 

+Mommy often mimicks your noises which you like.

+mommy picks up after you between 5-10 times a day.

+Mommy loves when you smoosh your little face against hers in delight.

Your getting so big and smart little man.

Love you lots.

Mommy