Dial-A-Bird?

So after having this bird house that my mother gave me a few years ago when we bought the house, I finally hung it on the fence last year. I didn't see anything even come near it all this time. This type of bird house you can change the size of the opening so it will attract different birds. I have changed it once or twice. I really only had one place to put it (attach it to the fence), so I picked this spot and hoped for the best. I do know that many birds can be very particular about where they decide to nest and if it is on a house are picky if there's a perch or not, the size of the opening of the hole, if it's hanging, attached to a fence, etc. I had no idea what to expect or if should ever expect to see anything. Though I was surprised that I hadn't even seen a sparrow all this time cause they seem to be one of the least picky of nesting birds.

I was walking through our side yard where this is hung to put the full gas can back in the shed for my husband for the lawn mower. I noticed that there was one small twig sticking out of the opening of the bird house. I was thrilled and made sure not to get too close just in case something was inside and I didn't want to spook it. Then later as I was opening the window in the laundry room (the only window in the whole house that faces the bird house), I saw a small little bird flitting about with an even larger twig near the bird house. I got all excited and ran to grab my camera. I took some shots but they looked horrible with the screen in the way. I figured I'd push the screen over and then try to take more shots when it returned. Here is what I captured.

I know it's not a sparrow. I don't believe that it is a swallow or titmouse. It seems too big to be a finch, not sure though? Then I Googled images of a wren and it was similar to some I saw but still not sure. I have a fabulous field guide around here somewhere but can;t remember where. I just love birds, nature, and wildlife of almost any sort. Despite the fact that we want out of this neighborhood, we do get many beautiful birds in our yard and neighborhood. One of the things that attracted us to the neighborhood was all the mature trees around providing shade, beauty, and homes for lots of birds and squirrels. My mother is and always has been quite a nature nut herself, I love that I learned that from her.

I am very excited that there is a new tenant in the Dial-A-Bird birdhouse. I did not think it was a very attractive bird house but love the idea of being able to attract different types of birds by changing the dial/opening. I think it would look better and blend in more if the colors were darker like putty, or gray, or etc. If anyone out there knows what type of bird this is please let me know. Got any fabulous birds in your yard?

Pillow Cover Project

Now that I am getting out the worst of the icky part of early pregnancy I am starting to skip nap time and take on some projects again. AMEN!!! Yesterday I cleaned out the shed and reorganized and got rid of a bunch of stuff on Freecycle. Hurray! Such an awesome feeling. I made Little Buddy and Cop Dad go in back this morning and take a look. Anyway, I have wanted to make removable pillow covers for our pleather throw pillows for some time. They are past their prime and rather than buying new throw pillows I thought I could save the money and use some of my fabric from my overflowing fabric drawer. Here is a picture of our pleather pillows and the three fabrics I have to select from for this project. I think I have already picked which fabric I want but am unsure if I have enough of it. The darkest fabric nearest the pillows is just too dark and I think it will show our dogs hair too easily. The middle fabric is actually an upholstery fabric that I bought to recover chair seats with from an old hand-me-down set we no longer have any more. The last choice is the fabric that is the lightest in color. I think it will hide dog hair and little finger prints well BUT it is thinner fabric and when you have pets and kids you really need durable (& WASHABLE) everything.

I am heading upstairs right now to sit on our bed and unfold the fabric and lay out the pillows and do some measuring. My plan is to make a fabric pillow cover out of one larger piece of fabric folded over several times. Then make a flap in back a lot like you see on the back of some shams so as not to have to use any buttons or zippers, etc. I have done this before a long time age for doll pillows and small projects. I hope I have enough of this fabric to do them both. If all goes right the pillow covers will then match the brown leather sleeper couch that we are about to buy this month. They will hold up well cause the fabric is very durable and they are removable so I can toss them in the wash the minute daddy gets food on them or a new baby spits up on them, etc. Our current couch is a faded sage twill so it won't really go for now but will gladly use them asap cause the old pleather pillows are just kinda pleathery and grungy. Tell me what you think. Ever make pillow covers or do any sewing?

Wordless Wednesday

Beautiful Moment

So Little Buddy is just learning he has to say PLEASE for things. I just recently started to introduce THANK YOU as well, but waited awhile so as not to confuse. I feel that the PLEASE is first priority. So now when we go to the dry cleaners and the lady gives him a lollipop or he demands something he wants really bad I insist on PLEASE. Then I try for the THANK YOU whenever possible. It comes out more like "TANKOOO," which is perfectly fine with me for it is close enough and gets the general message across. Not thinking that this had really sunk in yet, I didn't think I would hear it without prompting for a long time.

This weekend Cop Dad and (retired) Cop Grandpa decided to stain our cedar fence. I was on Little Buddy duty and lunch duty. On day two of the fence staining I picked up lunch for all of us and went home and started to eat with Little Buddy (Cop Grandpa and Cop Dad) wanted to finish the fence before eating and we were starving). After LB was done eating I asked him if he wanted a cookie. I had bought some large peanut butter cookies at Subway. As I'm sure LB is used to getting some little toddler cookies of some sort usually, his eyes got really big as I handed him one of the large peanut butter cookies. He was so excited. He grabbed it and said, "Mommie!" Then gasped very deeply. Then said, "Tankooo!"

I could not believe how grateful he was for the cookie and said thank you in his own way. I was touched and excited all at once. It was a very cool and sweet and beautiful moment. I rubbed his head a bunch and hugged him and cheered with a smidge of a lump in my throat and squeak in my voice.

Drive By Blogging

Here is my first ever "Drive By Blogging." My pal Martha over at A Sense Of Humor Is Essential does these Drive By Bloggings regularly and they always make me laugh, think, and just be glad that Martha is so human and my blog friend :) So here goes. No clue if I'm doing this right.

- Slowly eating my box of See's Candy all the way from CA. YUM! I love this candy swap with Martha. I hope she receives my Fannie May's soon and enjoys them.

- Going to my sister's graduation tonight for nursing school, very proud of her.

- Feeling alot like the before pictures in many of the internet ads we all see so often . . . . . . only pregnant.

- Realizing that genetic testing for a pregnancy after 35 is not necessarily something I want to do again due to the anxiety it generates.

- Despite the fact that I often feel very alone as a SAHM, I realize that I have more friends than I thought I did and family that is distant in their own busy worlds but care very deeply.

- Sooooooooo glad June is almost here with hubby's yearly raise coming and a refinance at %4.8 we will have some extra each month now and things will hopefully loosen up a bit in the budget (including us). Phew!

- Wondering why people do not clean up litter in their yards? It bothers me when people do not care.

- Thinking it was just about the funniest thing that I just gave Little Buddy a chocolate clown from Martha. He has never had that much real chocolate at once. Now he is begging for "Moh, Moh, Moh!!!" Like it's crack or something. Ha!

- Noticing that this year I have no desire to attempt to bend up my bulgy belly and weed our yard and flower beds that I worked so hard on last year. Oh well!

- Just downloaded Felli Fel's song "Get Buck In Here" and really dig it.

- Felt a little kick last night in my tummy while in bed when Cop Dad came home and I flipped over to talk half awake. One kick, but it made me laugh, then Cop Dad too :)

How's that for my first "Drive By Blogging?"

The Modern Wing Review

Just wondered when I posted the funny ad who would be wondering about the review of The Modern Wing at the Art Institute? Yep, my old pal E-Goose was on her toes though I was shocked that she has much time to read many blogs as of late being a very busy working mom. OY, I cannot imagine. Anyway, I got downtown noonish and we headed straight to the Institute. She just lives a mile or so so we walked the whole way for her loft is pretty much dead west of the Institute. Usually I can walk and talk forever with her on any walking/city/art/outing. What wasn't in my favor was the fact that I had a horrible night's sleep, I'm pregnant, and I was rushing around all morning until I got there so I was already ready for a break. So we hoofed it and I huffed and puffed with all my chatty, pregnant, breathlessness.

When we got there we looked around til we found where the mass hoards of people were all heading. The place was packed cause it was free admission the whole weekend and I had never seen it so busy in all my years going there. It was busier than the airport. We started to merge into the massive lines of people heading up the stairs. Then up and up again. The whole place is white and has some type of unfinished hardwood floors. I think this truly looks more impressive from outside where you can see the true shape of it and all the exterior architectural details. We finally got up to where we wanted to be and started to look around. But, it seemed to me that much of the art looked familiar to me. I was under the false impression that this would be all NEW art. Instead it was ALL modern art. Some new, most old that was in the old modern section of the Institute and then some that had been in storage for lack of space. So, this meant that when the new wing was built, many other pieces that were in storage for the other categories (ancient, classical, impressionist, etc.) were also then added to their sections at the museum. Too much to see this time around but definitely means I have to come back and take a look at the other areas that I used to know pretty well.

Overall, the wing was very large and I suppose that many designers and artists and architects would say it was well built. Maybe, but for the visitor it is somewhat of a Escher to me. We looked around for awhile and then not having had lunch and being pregnant I quickly ran out of steam and felt weak, tired and that low sugar feeling. So we tried to head to the cafe for a piece of fruit or a energy bar or something? Nope, they only sold beverages. Then we tried to head to the restaurant. Map says 3rd floor. We got through the crowds and I was sweating and shaky and made it finally up all the stairs. No restaurant? We must have been confused? No, it is on the third floor but another portion of the third floor that isn't connected to the portion of third floor that we were in. OY! Are you kidding? Totally dumb. So we figured out how to get to the other portion of third floor with restaurant access. Down 2 flights of stairs across the hall and then up another single elevator which only goes to that portion of the third floor and restaurant. Finally, I just need a bagel or fruit or anything to get me through til we would leave the museum in a little while and have a nice interesting meal elsewhere. Reservations only? You have to be kidding again? Really? In an art museum? Not a nice big up to date cafeteria of modern sorts that is completely visitor and family friendly? Nope, just for the rich art snobs. Soooooooooo, many people were so hungry and turning away in disgust when they read the sign. So we left and headed to Miller's Pub and had some burgers and fries and then came back to the Institute for just under an hour. (Very famous old Chicago pub, linked this cause it is stuck in the 70's, very famous and if you click on the celebrities button there are some interesting photos to see). I was so pooped. I felt bad but this is what Val is when pregnant. Plus, I started out the day tired and was not going to get a nap that day either. Felt very bad for my friend Maggie, but she was very kind and understanding about it. Thank God! Only another mother truly understands the whole pregnancy thing. I was so wiped. We took a cab back to her loft and say (me with shoes off and feet up) and had a glass of water and gabbed some more. I had to pick up Little Buddy at my FIL's by 6 or 6:30. It was 4 or 4:30 when the museum closed so we had plenty of time to chat. My cell rang and it was ten to 6?!?! What? That Maggie and I sure can talk up a storm. I was off.

Some other annoying things about the museum. The temp was not regulated properly at all so it was fine in one gallery then heat was cranking out in the next. I was dying. Then the gift shop which has always been my absolute favorite part of the museum was completely changed. I liked that they utilized more of their space and organized stuff better BUT, for all the years I went there and wanted Art Institute items and couldn't afford them, this time I had some extra cash. They do not have all the really neat and unique Art Institute items that I remember them having at all. I was searching desperately for a neat item for Little Buddy in the kids area. They had some interesting things you don't usually see at the stores. Typically, I saw many books and items that they sell at Borders and such, I was a little disappointed cause they used to have lots of unique items and toys that were more of a specialty and stuff you don't typically see everywhere else. Oh well.

I was heading back to pick up Little Buddy and my FIL told me that he had bad diarrhea, a bad rash, and would not eat his dinner, oh and went down for his nap at 4? Oh sheesh. Guess that's what I get after a day to myself.

I would recommend seeing the whole museum rather than spending a whole day just to visit the The Modern Wing. I think the Art Institute as a whole is an amazing and incredible place. I would recommend eating elsewhere, there are so many places to eat at that are close by. I would also recommend going on a day that is not so crowded and wearing comfortable shoes and checking your coats and bags. Especially if you're pregnant!

Funny Ad

My pal Maggie sent me this ad that was created at the place I used to work. Thought I'd share. Enjoy!

Goin' To Town!

Actually downtown Chicago this Sunday. I feel kinda weird leaving someone else to give Little Buddy his nap, but keep telling myself that he will be fine. I am going to go with my art pal Maggie to see the new wing at the Art Institute. Yeah!!! We used to work together years ago in publishing in my old graphic design days. She lives in a loft with her boyfriend in Greek Town. We used to do outings regularly both when and after we worked together. She is in her early 50's and has a lot of worldly wisdom no matter what topic comes up between us. PLUS, more youth than many people I know in their 30's.

So, I know very little about the new wing at the Art Institute. I'm so out of the loop nowadays. I promise to share as much as pregnantly possible after my visit. If I remember right they built the wing where the old unused train tracks were on the side of the Institute. It opens on Saturday so Sunday will probably be pretty busy as well. Papa (grandpa who lives in PD town) will be taking LB to the town parade that day. He was in the parade last year as his last with the PD after 30 long, hard years. Cop dad and Sessie (grandma Leslie) will be on duty for the parade. The whole PD has to work that day, this parade is a big deal. I took LB last year and it was a lot of fun and plan on going to many more in the future.

Anyway, thrilled to go visit my pal Maggie and have a girls, art day out like old times. It's been years since we have had an art Val & Maggie outing. We have gotten together since but always had LB with or she would babysit. She is awesome and only one of my two art pals I have left. E-Goose is faraway now and very busy with her job/baby/family, miss her. Hoping that maybe Maggie and I can grab a bite of Greek food in her hood or maybe some other fabulous food, Chicago is loaded with it!

Anyone seen any great art lately (museum, local, children's)? Would this be something that you would go to? Ever been to the Art Institute of Chicago? Besides Watching Ferris Beuller?

13 Weeks And All's Well

Went to the maternal fetal medicine today with cop dad for the testing for Downes as well as a consultation for my bicornuate uterus. I was a regular in this department at the hospital last pregnancy (3 years ago) for the same reason. Last time I had to go every 2 weeks for a level 2 ultrasound and cervical length check. With a bicornuate uterus the cervix can shorten and premature labor can happen depending on the degree of the septum of the bicornuate uterus, baby and the mother. I did well and made it last pregnancy to 20 minutes shy of term (37 weeks). Little Buddy is pretty smart, (despite the fact that he ran out of room in my misshapen uterus and was crouched in the end) he made it to 36 weeks, 6 days, 23 hours and 40 minutes. Not bad. Though he was still only 6 pound and 15 ounces, I fear that if this baby makes it to be a bigger size I may go really fast. I dilated to 7 in 3 hours with Little Buddy and had just left the hospital where the nurses were trying to "chase away my contractions." Ha, it worked for a few hours anyway. When I returned in hard labor just hours later, the next shift was in complete shock that I was sent home by the previous shift. I was raced into the OR cause LB was breech and ready to come out feet first. I usually have faith in doctors but when I saw the urgency in their faces, I too started to freak. Little Buddy was delivered in less than 10 minutes in the OR via cesarean section. It was amazing.

So, for the Downes testing they measure the skin on the back of the baby's neck through ultrasound and send some blood drops to a lab. Our awesome doctor said that the skin measurement looked really good and that they will phone me with the lab results as soon as they arrive. He also said that my uterus held up considerably well with my last pregnancy and that I will not have to come to get checked this pregnancy every two weeks but every three weeks and if all looks good he may extend that to every 4 weeks in a month or so. Hurray! Not that I don't like going for peace of mind BUT it's a lot of running around and I have to keep getting referrals this time cause we switched to HMO last year. Also glad they aren't giving me too much slack because I'd hate for them to not be checking it and miss a potential problem. If they notice a shortening in the cervix early on they can give me a cerclage stitch to help hold me all together and the baby in. These checks are in combination with my regular OB visits. It was kind of an advantage last pregnancy that I got to peek at Little Buddy on a regular basis. I would go to work all the time and show my new ultrasound pics to E-Goose who got a big kick out of it with me. That E-Goose, I miss her, though neither of us miss our old jobs in retail together.

Little Buddy spent the morning with Grandma Leslie (aka Sessie by Little Buddy). She took him to the lake and playground and fed the geese. What a great grandma!

Still have not actually felt an actual kick yet but have at times felt a little something here and there in the spot where the kicking starts. I felt Little Buddy on the very first day that you are supposed to start feeling kicks, think it was 16 weeks exactly. Looking forward to that AND when the baby gets bigger and your entire stomach is jumping all over the place and people can see your shirt moving from across a room. Then people can feel the baby, it's very funny to imagine what the heck's going in in there. We even put a stethoscope up to my tummy last time and cop dad could hear big bang, pow, boom through the ear pieces. Funny! Also hysterical if you eat a brownie and sit really still, they get all crazy.

Feeling bad I have been waking up on my back often. Not too big yet BUT I know that it's a no, no. BUT boy, does it feel good to not be on one side or another. Perhaps I will invest in a pregnancy pillow this time around. I was so miserably uncomfortable last time and then cop husband wasn't around so I got the whole bed to myself. This time he's rolling right over me and taking over the bed too. Who's the pregnant one here? Move over!

Have any fond pregnancy memories of yourself or a friend or family member? Soaking it all in for when you get pregnant one day?

"Imagination is more important than knowledge." -Albert Einstein

Happy Mother's Day!

Hope all you mothers have a nice day tomorrow. Hope someone remembers to do something nice for you and you get to do something fun and/or relaxing. I believe that being a mother is the hardest job I will ever have and love :)

Am I The Only One?

Who have heard some people's sob stories about how the economy has effected their life and had to laugh? Sincerely, I really feel very bad for people who have worked hard for years and are out of work and foreclosing, etc. BUT, then I hear how some people are crying about having to cut back and buy their kid's clothes at garage sales, not eat out with friends anymore, sell their huge house and buy a condo instead, and that kind of thing? I mean really? This is our life before any economic crisis. These are sacrifices that we have made so that I would be able to stay home and raise our children. I used to have a job as a graphic designer in publishing, a nice car, nice career clothes, etc. Big deal! Skimping would be rare and would mean passing on some meaningless materialistic thing(s) of some sort. Did I mention that the family that was crying about buying their kids clothes at garage sales were all eating Pizza Hut on the show? Like even that is a luxury in our world right now. Oh, and they were saying how they couldn't afford a high chair for their youngest. Are people that unimaginative? We have used the stroller as a high chair at many a restaurant and grandparents houses too. Seriously, I wanted to call the show and ask if they could pass some info on for me to that family. I mean, they are totally missing out. What about Freecycle? I have also on various occasions spotted good junk on the side of the road. Am I too proud to stop and grab it? Hell no! Our neighbors threw away a complete working stereo and I went out in the rain and snatched a perfectly good cd player. Sheesh! I don't know why people have such an issue with buying used things and eating at home. Now we live more frugally than this family and both parents were out of work! This is not the first time that I have felt like laughing cause somebody was voicing their hardships and it was like, "Oh, you have to skip your Mexico vacation this year? Awww, poor things." Puh-leaze. I know so many people that are able to live frugally and are OK with buying some clothes at thrifts stores, or skipping meals out, etc. People that DO have money to spend but HAVE money cause they are extremely sensible about all the other little extras that add up. Hear me knockin'?

I got almost all my maternity clothes from my friends that all had their kids before me. I also benefited by the same friends by getting boxes upon boxes of hand-me-down boys clothes for Little Buddy. We shop and have shopped at thrift stores for, well for years. Even when we have more money, I think it's fun. PLUS, then you can spend your money on other things. I have gotten LOTS of things we need for the house and Little Buddy on Freecycle. I have also given away many things on there too. I have made hundreds of dollars having garage sales in the past. Love that! Am I really an odd minority or do any of you thrift shop, garage sale, pick garbage, etc.?

Now if I went back to work full time and we had 2 kids in day care, we would be more behind than we are right now. With just one kid in day care we might be a smidgen ahead. A smidgen, please, I'd rather give up all my extravagances and stay home and watch my kids grow up and eat macaroni and cheese out of a box and pass on fancy vacations and such. I'd even give up my car to stay home. Though it would be hard cause we live in a very non-walk-friendly suburb of the Midwest. Still . . . . . . . I just don't understand people that are so dramatic about having to live more carefully. Have any of you scene or heard any of this on TV or wherever?

Little Bits

Just some random nothings from my life.

12 weeks today. Went to doc with cop husband and they could not find the heartbeat with the doppler thingymabopper so we headed across the hall for a quick ultrasound. Silence, somber mood in room, scan over a very still little baby, then suddenly, kick, kick, kick, and clawing at the side of the uterus. Little stinker, trying to scare us all and hide from the doppler. That's very typical of this family . . . . . stubborn. And wants to do it's own thing just like mommy :)

Feeling worlds better since the prenatal switch but still times slightly queasy and low appetite. Nothing sounds that fabulous usually. Mentioned it to the doc today and she said it was very common.

Possibly thinking about hitting the doc up for a possible VBAC. Though it is much riskier than typical uterus moms. Still hating and dreading all the meds and pain and over swelling-ness. Ridiculous. Hated all the effects of that damn section. Ugh!

2 days til Sesame Street Live, WOO HOO!!!!! Can hardly wait. Cop husband had to request the day off last week. Everyone was asking what he was doing cause he never requests off. Then all the guys got a big kick out of the fact that he was going to Sesame Street Live. Just wish I would have been there to tell them ALL, that it was entirely HIS idea. Too funny, how tough cops try to act around each other. Puh-leaze. lol

Cop husband has been stepping up and getting into all kinds of house projects. To many of you this may sound very normal. Now let me tell you that I am the handy one and he has hated doing any and all house projects. We have redone this house from top to bottom ourselves. Every time we would have project weekend, he would piss and moan like a teenage boy forced to go to clarinet lessons or something. He finally broke down and told me that he was suddenly into all the projects now cause he wants to make sure everything would be done if he did in fact not make it back to us one night. Huh? Very nice gesture, but this is no way for him to live. I told him, he doesn't get out of it that easy. He's bound to us for a LONG, LONG, time :)

Had a great play date with my old pal Becki and her girls the other day. So funny, watching her 2 girls play with Little Buddy. OMG! I planned it when cop husband was supposed to go fishing the other day. Then fishing was cancelled so he was looking for stuff to keep busy with the whole morning so as not to interfere with the play date. Ha! It was also great bonding with her as we talked about marital issues and feelings of being SAHM's. Came to the belief that many women probably aren't as honest as we think they are about their wonderful husbands, marriages, feelings, etc. as we thought they were? No body's that perfect. Oh, and those that are always saying how happy they are, often are trying to make themselves believe it.

Just do not have the do stuff itch like I usually do. Not so tired anymore most days just don't feel like getting all involved in anything when I can be relaxing. I despise being lazy. Bagh!

Oh, yes, feeling like a walrus already but only up a pound? Stomach really knows what to do this time around. Pop out early and fast! Oh, and so glad that my ticker baby no longer looks scrawny. Last week it was looking so thin and now filling out. Phew!

How are you doing? What's new? Got a perfect life or maybe some wisdom to impart?