Suggestion Box

Today I did something I have never done before - I sent in a suggestion to a company for a new product. I recently bought a bottle of Clorox Anywhere Sanitizing Spray because it seems like it is really handy for moms. It is safe to use on just about anything and with a baby who gives everything the taste test I thought it would be useful. Well, my idea is that they should make it in purse sized bottles so that we can stick it in the diaper bag and use it to spray down high chairs, carriages, changing tables, table tops, etc. in public places. Maybe I am the only crazy mom out there who dreads putting their baby in a high chair or carriage covered with another baby's drool and who-knows-what-else, but I don't think I am. Good idea, right? So, if you suddenly see said purse-sized bottles in the store remember who thought of it first! And hope that the kind people at Clorox decide to share their riches with me for being so smart.

Rand-tucket

Thanks to my old pal, Randy, Joel and I got to spend a night in Nantucket this past weekend. It was fun and, yes, my emotions were well behaved. It was much easier than I thought it would be to leave Oliver for the night. I shed a few tears at goodbye time, but thoroughly enjoyed our time away. I guess 11 months without a break is long enough, huh? We stayed at a cute little inn, ate tons of expensive food, walked around and went to the Nantucket Whaling Museum. Not much was open because it is off-season, but we enjoyed the quiet and solitude.
Our waitress in the Rose and Crown for lunch on Sunday commented at length on what a cute couple Joel and I are. I told Joel that by cute she meant short... Anyway, she said we were going to be like one of those old couples that you see walking down the street holding hands and you think "How cute!" I hope we still hold hands when we are old.
In other news, I went to IKEA for the first time yesterday. I think I am in love! Everything was so nice and so CHEAP! We bought a dresser for the babies' room. I can't wait to put it together and organize their clothes. I am totally into organization these days. Gotta love the nesting instinct. I cleaned out the fridge today and even wiped down the shelves. But, back to IKEA, if I could I think I would furnish our whole apartment with IKEA stuff. Oooh, an IKEA shopping spree, how fun! The only thing that disappointed me was their lack of trash cans. I need a new one for the kitchen and they only had 2 to choose from and neither were to my liking. Maybe I will check the website. Uh oh, this could be dangerous.

Emotions Gone Wild

If my emotional state during this pregnancy is any indication of how my daughter is going to be then we are in big trouble, people! Yesterday was pretty much the most emotional day I've had yet - and nothing really happened. We went to breakfast with my parents and some family members and I had no patience with Oliver throwing every blessed thing on the floor. I could feel myself getting flushed and frustrated as the meal progressed. Then, we decided to let Oliver go with my mom to a St. Patty's parade in Scituate while we had some alone time. You would have thought I was sending him to East Africa for month. I felt guilty and sad and cried almost hysterically after they left. Then, we decided to go to the movies. We are totally ignorant of what is out there, so we chose "The Hills Have Eyes" thinking it might be a cool science fiction story. First of all, the volume in the theater was so loud that I was tempted to go and ask them to turn it down. Then, the movie was super bloody and gory and STUPID! At the "climax" of the movie, the blood and guts was getting to me, the extra loud screaming was getting to me, and the scene of the guy biting off the head of a bird and drinking the guts out did me in. I was crying and I got up and left the theater without even saying anything to Joel. How humiliating to walk out of a dumb movie, that wasn't even that scary, crying. I just hope maybe people thought I was in labor and not a big, giant wuss. So, not so much of a fun day with no baby. We're taking an overnight trip to Nantucket next weekend to celebrate my birthday - lets hope the hormones are somewhat settled by then.

Forced Family Fun - rated PG

As many of you know, every Tuesday night is Family dinner night at my parents' house. It is something that deep down we all enjoy, but we make fun of alot. We had our first family night in 6 weeks last week. (my parents had been away) Usually there are alot of laughs and many more inappropriate comments, but last week's shenanigans took the cake. I hope I can communicate it well. We were all enjoying our dinner and listening to my dad recount his vacation in Florida. He mentioned the three rules of life that he had heard from someone. One was to always stop at a bathroom when you pass one. (I think these were geared towards seniors) Then he said the other one, which I forget and then he started in with the third one, "Never waste a..." and my mother put up her hand to stop him. Now, we McLouds know that if Mom stops him, we do not press further. But, my wonderful, yet inexperienced with family night husband, keeps pressing him to finish his sentence. We thought we were safe when my sister started another conversation, but my dad says, in his "quiet voice" which is no longer quiet due to some hearing loss, "Joel, hard on!" To hear my dad say those words was beyond funny. We are all hysterical laughing except for my brother-in-law. He is acting all offended-like. Then he says, "There is a classier way to say that, you know." So we all look at him waiting for this classy term and he says. "Sporting wood!" AND he was serious! Well, now we are laughing even harder - Joel had to actually leave the room. Good thing we were about done with dinner otherwise there would have been choking and drink coming out the nose. Fun times, fun times.
I hope this isn't one of those you-had-to-be-there stories.
Tune in this week as we celebrate Becka's 29th birthday at Family dinner night.

In-ter-act

Main Entry: in·ter·act
Pronunciation: "in-t&-'rakt
Function: intransitive verb: to act upon one another

C'mon, I know you are out there!

Let's Interact!

So, I'm curious...What is everyone's favorite dinner recipes? Things you serve often that are yummy and simple? I'm trying to be more organized in my dinner prep/shopping by making a weekly menu. I have tried this before to no avail. Now I want to do it again, but I feel like I need to add to my repetiore. We have turkey burgers at least once a week. I have also made this really good ham and scalloped potatoes in the crock pot. Here's what's on the menu at Chez Bielawa this week:

Tonight: Crispy Oven-fried Fish
Saturday: Turkey Burgers
Sunday: We're going to the flower show
Monday: Chicken and stuffing
Tuesday: Family Dinner night - Becka's off the hook!
Wednesday: Chicken Enchiladas
Thursday: Turkey Tacos
Friday: Ham and Scalloped Potatoes

Looks good right? Well, we'll just have to see if all goes according to plan. I've been feeling super pregnant lately so who knows what I will actually be motivated to make, but the list is made and groceries are purchased.
Talk amongst yourselves...

Told You So

That is probably what God is saying to me now. He provided for us in an awesome way. It is so amazing how He ALWAYS is faithful and how I ALWAYS doubt. As we were in major panic mode last week about our financial situation, all we could do was trust in God to provide for us. There was nothing we could really do. So, we decided to call the church and see if they could help us out at all. I left a message and didn't hear back right away. Then I decided to do our taxes. We have a nice return coming our way. That will be helpful. Problem potentially solved, I thought. Well, then, I got a phone call from another woman that I know whose family just got a bunch of money from two deaths in the family and decided that she wanted to share some of that money with us. We got a check from her the next day. The woman from church called back and I was able to tell her that we were all set for the time being and we didn't need help. Yay God, right? THEN, I was sharing in my Bible study group how all this worked out and how cool it was to see God's provision and a woman in my group, who I only know by name, (she didn't even know mine) wrote us another check! We are going to be able to pay ALL of our bills and then some this month. We'll even be able to give some to someone else in need! I am so ashamed for doubting and so thankful that God is faithful even when we do.