The place where we dwell

Here it is--the long awaited apartment tour. I'll put the captions *above* the picture that I am describing. I don't really know what is standard in that regard.

A view of the living room.
And this is the view into the kitchen/dining area. I love the open floor plan, but could use a bigger kitchen for sure.
And here is a view from the couch. The door on the left is the front door and the door on the right is Easton's room. That ugly grill is our air intake for the heating and A/C (yes, we do have A/C-hallelujah!) so we can't cover it up.
A view of the kitchen. We are going to be putting up a shelf next to the cabinet that in set into the wall for the microwave to live on. That way I can have a *tiny* bit more counter space.
And here is the dining room. That bin is awaiting all of the clothes that Easton has outgrown so it can go to long-term storage.
Now we will move into Easton's room. Here is the view straight ahead from the doorway. You can see the door to the walk-in closet (BOTH bedrooms have one) and the built in bookshelves.
A view of the office/stamping space part of the room.

And a view of where Easton's area starts.

Here is the crib. Easton has almost made the adjustment to a new home. He is still waking up twice a night (instead of the once he was doing previously), but I think he feels like this is home now.
This is the view of the built in shelves I just mentioned. They are great for game and kid book storage.
You know that I really love you since I am showing you the inside of this closet. The closet in Easton's room houses all of my craft/stamping stuff as well as our short term storage (or things we get into more than once a year).
Another shot of the closet. In order to redeem my organization status, I'll have you notice that every drawer is labeled. Does that count for something?
As we exit out of Easton's room and turn left, this is the view. The bi-fold doors on the right are the laundry closet and the other door on the right is the linen closet. The open door on the left (of which you can only see hinges) is the bathroom.

And here is the bathroom. Nothing too exciting, we put up the over-the-toilet cabinet to try and combat the lack of storage in this room.
And here is my laundry closet. I love my new washer and dryer. Why is the blue protective plastic still on, you ask? I am my mother's daughter. Taking it off means that they are no longer "new." My previous washer and dryer (which we sold before moving to Laramie) still had the plastic on after a year and a half. My grandparents (who purchased them for their cabin) were THRILLED.
And now we walk into the master bedroom. I really need something above the bed--but have no idea what. Suggestions? The major problem is that the height of the headboard means that normal artwork doesn't look quite right.
A slight turn to the right from the doorway.
And now I am standing by the headboard. The door to the outside leads to the patio area (which can also be accessed through the kitchen) and the closed door is the one that goes to the hall.

The closed door on the left is the one that goes to the hall and the other closed door is to our walk-in closet. (yes, that is a moose antler on top of the armoire)
A view into our closet. I just have one thing to say about this. It is HUGE!
And these are the shelves that are on one entire side of the closet. I am in love with them.
Finally, this is our patio area. The open door goes into the kitchen and the door straight ahead is the one I discussed in our bedroom. You can also see our storage closet.
Do you feel at home? I'm starting to. No pictures of the outside since this is a fairly recognizable complex in Laramie and while I like to believe there are no crazies out there, the truth is--they exist.

Oh, and I forgot to mention that our patio opens right up to the playground and sandbox for the complex, which I am sure Easton will LOVE in the future.

Feet

We discussed my feet quite a bit (I’m sure more times than you cared to know about) when I was pregnant. But really. Those elephant feet were dying to be documented.

Summer is now upon us and I have again realized….

My feet are SENSITIVE.

I mean really, really sensitive.

Walking outside barefoot? Out of the question. (Unless I have just swept the sidewalk myself)

As a kid, I always looked at the kids who ran through the neighborhood without shoes on in awe. My own sister was one of them—and I hated that. She would run out the door without a care in the world as I stopped, located my jelly shoes, put them on and THEN went out to join in the fun. There was a time when I thought that I could train my feet to change. If I spent enough time barefoot (all the while moaning in pain) surely, I could get “tougher.”

It never worked. So here I am, with my shoes on.

Do you have tough feet? Were you born with them—or was it something you were able to obtain over time? I'd love to know the secret--if there is one.

One less worry

The universe has seen fit to bless me with one less worry.

My office? It has a number pad lock.

My apartment? Only has a deadbolt lock.

I can never lock myself out again.

[except the dang car, that option is still out there…]

A Talent

Some people have amazing voices.

Some can write profound words.

Some can create works of art.

Me? I can tell you which way is north.

Remember that the next time you want to go hiking.

KaLee's Baby Must-Haves (plus other things I couldn't weed out)

{I apologize in advance for the length of this post}


So, I’ve been a mom for six whole months. Which pretty much makes me an expert. (yeah. right.) I remember well the job of preparing for that joyous little bundle. The lists I made. The online shopping I did. The reviews I read. So, to make things a bit easier for those of you out there who trust my opinion above all others (which is all of you, right?...RIGHT?) I put together a list of baby things that I LOVE, and then some that I like and a few things I didn't ever really use. Obviously, I am having a hard time narrowing it down.

Items I can NOT live without
1. The SwaddleMe Blanket by Kiddopotamus. Granted—not every baby will want to be swaddled. Most newborns want it for a while and Easton wanted to be swaddled for 5 months. These blankets made the process painless. I also believe that Easton slept for WAY longer due to the fact that his flailing arms didn’t wake him up. They are now my baby shower gift. Source: My Wal-mart doesn’t carry them, but you can order site-to-store online and save on shipping.
2. Pacifier (binky in our house) by MAM. Again, not every baby will want one, but Easton had a very strong sucking need and would have TOTALLY been a thumb sucker if I would have let him. I opted for something that I can take away when he is older (this is where I would say that “the weaning” will happen around his 1.5 to 2 year mark, but if motherhood has taught me anything—it has taught me to never have an opinion before the event takes place). Source: Any major retailer. I will warn that the classic ones (pictured) are getting harder and harder to find.
3. A Nursing Cover. I purchased one from milkchic, but now that I have it in hand—they would be incredibly easy to make. I love the stiff portion at the top that allows me to see Easton and the strap around my neck that prevents him from pulling it down. Every time I use one in my church Mother’s Lounge, I get compliments from other moms. Source: milkchic.com or your own sewing machine.[note: there are TONS of online sources for these—just choose your favorite]
4. Triple Paste. Unfortunately, Easton has sensitive skin. A trait he gets from both his mom and his dad, so he was doomed from the start. There are a lot of great diaper rash creams out there—but this one was recommended by our doctor for heat rash and all of Easton’s dry skin problems and it has cured things that nothing else can. Source: I got mine at Wal-mart (you may have to ask for it at the pharmacy, but you won’t need a prescription).
5. Clip and Go Mobile by Tiny Love. I love, love, love this mobile. It has made car rides possible and has entertained Easton for more hours that I should probably admit. The best part is its portability. You can Velcro it on the car seat, then attach it to the Pack n’ Play when you visit friend’s houses. It has black, red and white sides for when your little one is tiny and then turns over with soft bugs for older babies. Source: Again, I got this at Wal-mart (can you tell that it is the only store in my town?). And again, I would order site to store and save money if I were you. [note: the only con is that it doesn’t really work on a crib. See “Items I really like” for my recommended crib mobile]
6. Suede Mini Diaper Bag by Carter. I cannot count the number of times that I have gotten a compliment on this bag. It’s little. It’s cute. I didn’t register for it originally, but instead the larger version, but then my genius aunt saw this and decided that it was the size she was always looking for and could never find when her kids were younger—so she bought it. I love the size. Large enough to hold all of the essentials—plus some, yet small enough that it is not a pain to carry around. This bag has been everywhere! Source: My aunt got it from Babies R Us and it is the only place I could find it online as well.
7. Bumbo. This is a great little chair. It allowed Easton to sit up at a young age and be a part of family meals and game time. We are currently using it to feed Easton while we research and purchase a high chair. Make sure to follow the safety instructions to ensure your child’s safety. Source: Any major retailer.
8. Papasan Cradle Swing by Fisher-Price. This was a fantastic asset to our household. Easton loved the side-to-side swinging and was mesmerized by the mobile and music. He sent hours in it as a newborn and it was great to have my hands free for a few minutes. There are just a few cons: It takes up a fair amount of floor space and runs on batteries only although our D batteries were only changed once (after 4 months). As Easton got more mobile, he became uninterested (around 5 months) but every baby is different. Source: I recommend searching around for the best deal. Currently on Amazon.com it is cheaper than I paid for it and as long as you don’t need it RIGHT away you can get free shipping.
9. Bundleme by JJ Cole. For a winter baby, this was KEY! I loved that I didn’t have to mess with coats, etc, but instead could stick on a hat, zip up the Bundleme and hit the road. The BEST part was that it never blew off in the wind and was impossible to drop in the store, parking lot, etc. If it worked for me in frigid Wyoming—it will definitely work for you! Source: Any major retailer (I’m pretty sure I got mine off Amazon.com).

Items I have really liked
1. Bounce Bounce Baby Activity Zone by Bright Starts. Let’s face it, the reason I originally bought this one over any of the others was that it was half the price. Since then I have grown to love it. Easton is entertained by bouncing and playing and I am guaranteed that he is right where I put him. Source: I got mine at Wal-mart, but I am sure they are available a few different places.
2. Baby Carrier Original by BabyBjorn. I’ll admit that I don’t use this all of the time, but every time I have used it, I have loved it—and so has Easton. There have also been countless times when I have wished that I had brought it along. Source: Any major retailer (mine was ordered from Target.com).
3. Rainforest Musical Mobile by Fisher-Price. When Easton finally transistioned from the bassinet to the crib (at 4 months) I lost the use of my beloved Clip and Go Mobile. Since Easton puts himself to sleep for naps and bed, a little music is necessary. I have loved this mobile. The music has two volumes and you have three music channels and one rainforest noises channel to choose from. It also has a remote—for those times when seeing mommy would not be a good thing. I also really like that the mobile part is removable and it can still be used to play music and as a nightlight as Easton gets older. Source: Any major retailer. I ordered mine site to store from Wal-mart.
4. Bath seat. You can see the one we have in this picture of Easton. I love that it is not a separate bath that I have to figure out storage for (key in an apartment), but still provides Easton with support while bathing. I was unable to find it anywhere online—so I apologize for the lack of a link. Source: I bet you can guess—Wal-mart.
5. Pump In Style Original Breast Pump by Medela. I realize a pump of this magnitude may not be necessary for every new mom—but as a working mom, it has been a life saver. I would start looking at these earlier vs. later so you can find a good deal. I was tipped off to a sale and was able to get mine for $175+shipping. {just wanted you to have a price point} The link I was able to find has it for MUCH more. Source: Any major retailer but I’ve only seen the sales online.

Items I thought I needed, but haven’t really used
1. Boppy. Everyone will tell you they are wonderful. I thought I totally NEEDED one, so I bought one. It made nursing MORE awkward and as soon as I stopped using it, things got easier. I used it minimally when Easton needed tummy time and I have put it around him twice as we are now working on sitting up. Bottom line? Not worth my money.
2. Bouncer. Again, a product that was highly recommended. I was an extremely lucky mom—whose child was not colicky. Easton preferred the swing and since the swing could move on its own and the bouncer required some human help—Easton was in it one time. I’m still hanging onto it incase my next child loves it, but if I had it to do over again I would wait to purchase one until I needed it (especially since you can get them anywhere).

Are you tired of reading? I apologize again for the length of this post, but now when anyone asks me my opinion—I can just refer them here.

Note: I [unfortunately] did not get paid for this post. Take it for what you think it is worth.

A Slip of the Tongue

Yesterday, Ronnie had a softball game. It was nice weather—hallelujah! So Easton and I decided to go watch. As we pulled up to the fields, this happened:

RJ: Do you want to get Easton out while I get his wheelchair?
Me: What?
RJ: Stroller, I meant stroller!

It gave me quite the little laugh.

The List (no more)

So, I have this list.

A list of things that I want to blog about.

It is completely random and has been an ongoing thing for the two years I have been blogging.

Until it ran out.

That's right--it ran out and now I am stuck. I could continue to blog about my organization tendancies and how my apartment was looking like this a week ago.


It's better now, but not quite up to photo taking condition.

So instead of boring you--how about you give me a few suggestions?

Things you want to learn about me (as if there could be anything left), my family, my beliefs, my opinions, etc. Let's face it, I'm an open book.

Really. What do you want to know?

6 months

Easton turned 6 months old last week! I can't believe it (and now know why every parents says this sentence when talking about the age of their children).

He continues to enjoy rice cereal and Ronnie did a much better job capturing it on camera. Enjoy the next four pictures of the process.

Easton also loves to grab his bottom lip and create that bub-bub-bub-bub noise. I hope you all know what I am talking about, because I don't know any other way to describe it. Again, here are a few pictures of that little trick. [try to ignore the shine coming off of his face due to all of the drool]



No teeth yet, but lots of drool and lots and lots of chewing. He has perfected the "sneak attack" as we call it. You will be holding him completely normally and then all of the sudden--he attacks your hand to try and chew on it. At the doctor's yesterday he weighed in at 14 pounds, 13 ounces and 26.25 inches long. Not big at all, but just fine. I figure if he is anywhere near as skinny as I was as a child, it will be a while before we call him "big." He is rolling all over the place and has conked his head many, many times on our furniture. He also pulls his knees underneath himself, but then has no idea what to do and falls back down. He is constantly babbling and I love it! This is such a fun age! We just love our little "Bubbers."

The Good Genes

I think we have discussed (probably too many times) that I like clean. I like organization. That gene was inherited from my mom, and she got it from her mom (is Easton cursed? We shall see).

In the past month my sister and I have moved out of our respective apartments. This has meant that deep cleaning has taken place. Both times, my mom came over to help (Erc even got the help of Grandma and Grandad, but I was not so lucky). In my sister’s apartment we cleaned for four hours. My mom spent the ENTIRE time on the stove and oven. You read that right, the entire four hours. When Erc and Dan checked out, they got rave reviews of the cleanliness of the oven. They were the first people to not be charged an additional fee for the management people to re-clean it.

When it was time for Ronnie and I to clean my mom came over to help us as well. I had not planned very well and my oven was still in the self-clean mode (which takes about one bazillion hours), so my mom tackled other areas.

Like the light fixtures.

And the top of the cabinet doors. (note that this was not just the cabinets, but the top ridge of the cabinet doors—they had some NASTY residue that I’m sure had been there for years and years).

And the light switch covers.

I would venture to say that the light switch covers and screws had never looked so good. (do you know anyone besides my mom that would take a toothpick to them?)

I teased her a little bit (all the while being eternally grateful for her help).

And then, we received our deposit check in the mail a few days ago.

For the FULL amount. Every. Last. Penny.

I hope my mom realizes that this means that for the rest of my life, I will be flying her out to help with the final cleaning. (Note: I also hope that my apartment/renting experience will end sooner vs. later)

Thanks, Mom!

See? I told you there would be more.

Easton showing you one of his new favorite past times--sticking out his tongue.

We were able to stop in Tremonton on our way to Sun Valley for my work event and see Matt and Laura! Please excuse my ivebeentravelingforoversevenhours look. Do pay attention to Easton though--he was actually smiling for the camera! {Laura, Easton, Me} {Laura, Easton, Matt} Here, Easton is showing off his new "scrunchy nose" face.
As I mentioned on my blog, Easton has started eating rice cereal--and he loves it. I asked Ronnie to document the process (we took video as well) and these are the pictures I got. I'm not sure if he really is Ray's son. I guess I better check that video's quality. :)

A teaser

Easton is 6 months old now, but his doctor's appointment is on Monday, so I'll delay my monthly post until then. In the meantime--here a few pics that were on my computer that never got uploaded.

Easton in his daddy's hat when Grandma Cali was visiting.
With Jared [who will forever be J-Dawg to me].
Another view of his straining lips. Anytime he wants something. This is the face you get! Hilarious.

Wherein I apologize for my absence

Miss me?

Probably not if you use Google Reader.

Possibly if you actually come here to check it out.

It's been an insane two weeks. I have pictures, but the camera got left at home this morning-I HATE when I forget things. So, in lieu of pictures, let's have some bullet points, shall we?

• We moved. Saving money is a wonderful, wonderful thing. Moving is not (unless you count all of the items that left our little family--oh, how I love de-cluttering). [If you actually know me and I have your email, expect an email with updated information, if I don't have your email--leave it in a comment].
• I had a work event. Does it seem like I have a lot of those? It sure does to me. Luckily, I don't have another one until September, so I have a bit of breathing room.
• Ronnie had his work study [read: summer job] taken away from him and then given back. I was about to state how the Univ. of Wyoming reminds of a *certain* type of "giver" but then I thought about the Seinfeld episode on that very topic, so I'll refrain.
• The Lakers are down 2-1 in the finals. If you know Ronnie, you know the anguish this is causing him. To add to it all, we haven't had cable for over a week.
• Easton is six months old--yesterday! He also started rice cereal and LOVES it. [Due to a few studies on decreased allergies in children if they are exclusively breastfed for the first six months, we delayed starting him on cereal sooner. Ronnie has some wicked allergies that I would rather not have Easton have to deal with.]
• I was in charge of a scrapbook at our Stake Girls Camp [Erc is the director]. Preparation was horrible, but everything went off without a hitch. I fear I am now getting a reputation in the stake for this sort of thing, which is a double-edged sword. [what if my next project is not cute?]

Thanks for sticking with me--look for pics here and on Easton's blog soon!

Brown Eyes? Blue Eyes?

The first thing most people say about Easton is “Look at those big, brown eyes!” And every time, in the back of my head, I think, “Where did he get those?” Ronnie’s eyes are hazel, my eyes are hazel-y green. Pondering this the other day, I remembered a project we probably all did in the 8th grade [or thereabouts].

We were assigned partners. Partners of the opposite sex. (gasp!)

We rolled the dice and created our own baby. (double gasp!)

I remember wanting so badly to be paired with Sean. Never mind that he was shorter than me, he was the cutest kid in my science class. The teacher announced the pairs. My partner was a girl. [unfortunately, there was not an even boy/girl ratio]

We did the assignment and I don’t remember anything about the traits our baby had, just that I wished I was partners with Sean.

I know this is an incredibly random memory—I have a lot of those.

Who did you want to be paired with in 8th grade? [Bethany—it is so unfair that your answer will be Casey]

And now, to reward you for reading this fairly pointless post, I’ll give you a view of the beautiful browns that brought it all on.

This American Life

My new obsession.

After hearing about this program from hola,isabel and the love of NPR in general from Jen, I was intrigued.

Work has slowed down. The move is over, my office is organized and all is well.

I’ve been typing minutes from meetings, editing newsletters and the like—a perfect opportunity to have something on in the background.

I went to the This American Life website and decided to start from the beginning. If I was going to be truly educated on all things pertaining to the American life I lead that seemed the logical place to start.

Love it.

Not every episode, not even every part of every episode. I tend to skip the episodes about current events (like the presidential election of 1996), and occasionally skip a story I don’t like, but overall I’m in love.

So go ahead—give it a listen and then tell me about your favorite episode. [I’d list mine, but I’ve listened to the first 37 (more or less) and already love many].

Where DO babies come from?

The question that every parent dreads.

At the ripe old age of four, I knew I had the answer.

It made perfect sense.

There was a staging area for the babies to be organized and a direct connection to each hospital. Another connection left the staging area and headed (I was sure) straight to heaven.

Pretty smart for a four year old (If I do say so myself).

Many of you have seen the “baby station.” I would even venture to say that several of you will recognize it instantly.

So, without further ado…


Have you placed it in your mind yet? It is located just at the mouth of Provo Canyon. Who knows where those pipes really go, but to four year old KaLee each one went to a different Utah hospital. This picture doesn’t capture the connection to heaven, so I found one online. The pipe below runs all the way up Provo Canyon and when you can’t see it any more it is ascending to heaven (right). [please ignore the random runner]

What falsities made perfect sense to you as a child?

It's Official

Ronnie has completed his first year of law school.

Way to go babe! I'm so proud of you and the hard work it has taken to get you through!

(Ronnie is pictured on his recent birthday--27 years!)

5 months!

Remember this little guy? Yeah, he's still around. His mom has been a little busy lately, so she apologizes for the break in posts.

Since Grandma Cali is here visiting, Easton has been sleeping in the pack and play. One morning he was playing and watching his mobile and then we came upon this.
He had completely pulled down the "toy bar." Silly boy.
One of the many funny faces he pulls. I call this one "total disgust."
He has also taken to sucking on his bottom lip if a binky is not handy. Cute for now, but not something I want to encourage. Can you imagine if he still did this in college?
Easton also loves to run his fingers through my hair. He does not pull it, but just touches it. This was the best picture we could get--although he normally does it with a much larger chunk of hair.
When he wants to put something in his mouth he strains with his lips--achieving this look...
"I want those buttons! Give me the buttons!"

Ah-ha! I got them!

And finally, I'll leave you with this--just a reminder of what a little cutie I have all to myself--and I guess Ronnie too.

Just a few thoughts

You know how you think your family is the best? Well, I'm here to tell you that you are dead wrong, MY family is the best.

My wonderful mother-in-law, Karen, came up to help out during finals--SUCH a blessing!

My favorite dad was down in Utah and went all the way to Payson to pick up some things for our Relief Society Enrichment. Plus he took a picture of something I have been wanting to blog about for a long, long time--go ahead, anticipate it.

I'm so grateful to have these wonderful people cheering for me and my little family all of the time.

What would I do without them?

Joy

I'm not trying to exclude anyone, but only mothers will understand the pure joy I felt today.

Easton pooped.

Easton pooped after 82 hours of non-pooping.

My heart swelled with joy.

Pure Joy.

Taxes

Nothing is certain but death and taxes. ~Ben Franklin

I was astounded by a human being last night (as opposed to when I am astounded by butterflies, Bear Grylls—I don’t care what you say, he is not a human being, or science).

It’s the first of two finals weeks for Ronnie. Have I mentioned that? Well, let me say it again. It’s the first of two finals weeks for Ronnie—translation: our house is a little hectic.

So I went to Little Caesar’s to pick up a pepperoni pizza, crazy bread and sauce. I walk in behind another lady (AL) and patiently begin my wait.

AL orders: “One cheese pizza please” and then hands over her five dollar bill.

The worker-guy-with-greasy-hair-that-I-am-trying-not-to-notice-or-think-about (WGWGHTIATNTNOTA) finishes pressing all of the buttons on the cash register and announces, “That will be $5.30 please.”

AL looks at him. WGWGHTIATNTNOTA looks at her.

He waits.

And then repeats, “That will be $5.30 please.”

AL finally responds, “But the sign outside says $5.”

WGWGHTIATNTNOTA: “With tax it comes to $5.30”

AL (as she digs in her purse for spare change): “You guys should really change the sign then.”

WGWGHTIATNTNOTA: “The sign says ‘plus tax’ at the bottom.”

Completely frustrated now, AL slams her change on the counter, takes her pizza and storms out of the building.

And I am left to wonder, are there really people who never think about taxes? (besides those people who live in states that don’t have taxes—I’m talking to you, Carissa)

A Dream

I have a dream…

This particular dream does not involve world peace, unity, sunshine and flowers (although I have all of those dreams separately).

I dream of seeing one of these driving on a railroad.


During the countless hours I have spent on Interstate 80, I have seen many Union Pacific vehicles with the capability of driving on the railroad, but have yet to see one in action.

Can someone explain what is so appealing about this whole thing? Is it the fact that you are driving on two skinny rails? That you are driving where almost no one else can drive? I have yet to answer those questions, but continue to dream anyway.


(sigh)

Fears

We all have them. At least I really, really hope we all have them. Otherwise I am one lonely, fearful human being.

I’ve found a new one.

Something so irrational that at first I hesitated blogging about it, but what is this blog good for if not to tell embarrassing stories?

My breath catches each time I come upon it (which happens at least 8 times a week). My foot hesitates (involuntarily) before I step closer.

I’ve really got your minds spinning now—don’t I? What is this horrible thing that KaLee has to encounter so often?

I’m not going to tell you—I’ll just show you.

See? I told you it was irrational. I know that I’m not going to fall through the holes or even twist my ankle on them but that doesn’t seem to matter. My fear is not increasing but it is not lessening either so I’ll take that as progress.

Please tell me I’m not alone in stupid fears—what are yours?

Oh, to be 5 again: Week 12

Erc recently told her kindergarteners that she is pregnant. She began by telling them that she had very exciting news—she was going to have a baby. She then explained that when the baby grows, her tummy will get bigger. The following conversation then proceeded.

Mark*: Are you having a boy or a girl?
Erc: I don’t know yet.
James*: Yeah, the baby doesn’t have any hair yet, and you have to wait until they have hair to tell what they are going to be. A boy will have short hair and a girl will have long hair.
Erc (after deciding that James’ explanation was suitable for 5 year olds): Yep!

* Not the children's real names.