mb

applying for fellowship.

ironically, i started this blog during the residency application process and so many things have happened since - mainly two little girls. 

even though we won't be making a move for two more years, there is no real process for obtaining a fellowship so the chaos begins now.  the cover letters.  the cv updating.  obtaining recommendation letters.  the planner in me loves that we should know where we'll end up in the next six months or so.  possibly sooner.  i love all the possibilities.  friends that we might live closer to.  new experiences.  and then there's the reality that with fellowship we'll be moving somewhere for only a year, possibly two.  i'd like to think that i could make it anywhere for that short amount of time.

here are the current list of locales that andy's plans on applying to :

phoenix - he sent his info to them this am and already received a request for an interview.  i fear the heat.  and lately my friend bridgette who happens to live there has been sharing stories of scorpions.  this is why i like to live in cold climates.  creepy crawly things don't survive winter temps.

portland, or - be still my tree hugging heart.  at a recent lunch with friends, i've realized just how green i've become since moving here.  definitely not a bad thing.  i think i'd love the weather and we have friends that just moved there this past summer.

indianapolis - most likely the most affordable place on the list.  granted, pretty much anywhere seems more affordable than here at the moment.  friends and family live close by and it's still reasonably close to our parents.

miami - hello hot.  and humid.  i'd need a new hair style for sure.  i've really got no pros on this one...  i don't even think i know of anyone close.

as i'm writing this, three others that were on the list might've gotten the boot...

buffalo

philadelphia

atlanta

we'll see if he ends up sending paperwork or not.  atlanta could be fun.  i don't know that we know a lot of people near any of those cities though.

so now we say prayers that we end up where we're supposed to be.  it's a fantastic adventure.  and i continue to be along for the ride.  this time i just happen to have a couple of sidekicks in tow.

ten on tuesday : 3.29.11.

1.  L has decided that climbing things is a fun activity.  that's new for me as C wasn't ever a climber.  i also feel the need to explain the crazy outfit - it was near the end of the day and she had ruined the day's original outfit so this is what she ended up with.  and that box of fun she's sitting on?  my attempt to corral andy's mba stuff that's constantly hanging out in the dining room.  onlyeightmoremonths.  onlyeightmoremonths.

2.  you would think that after leaving together for 2+ months that thomas and duke would be the best of friends.  incorrect.  although i think they secretly like each other.  perhaps they cuddle when nobody is watching?

3.  hoping that andy gets the final recommendation letter he needs to be able to send out fellowship stuff.  i say stuff as the fellowship game is totally different than applying for residency.  there are no rules.  there are no deadlines.  all systems are go.  and the planner in me is thrilled that we might know where we're going to be living after residency within the next six months or so.

4.  i was able to go out for lunch and cupcakes with girlfriends who are all resident/doctor wives this past weekend.  so nice to compare notes about where we all are right now.  and yes, i'll still be the only one as a resident wife when their husbands have moved on to the next stage of their lives.  

5.  after finishing C's kicken hat, i'm thinking about starting this adorable halter style top for L.  a great summer knit.

6.  i love winter.  but i swear this is the longest winter we've had since moving here.  we had a couple nice days a few weeks ago and now we're back to cold and snow.  so ready to get back outside with the girls.

 

7.  C has become quite the watercolor artist.  this is her activity of choice this week during L's morning nap.  and i'm sure that blue will be the first color to disappear from her set as it's her favorite.

8.  the shepherd's pie i made for dinner?  i actually enjoyed it!  unfortunately, neither of the girl's cared for it so they ended up with a pb+j and leftover pasta from last night.  a great teaching experience as C now has the phrase "i don't care for this." in her vocabulary.  much better than her usual "i can't like this."

9.  last month was cake decorating.  this month's new skill i'll be teaching myself?  cascading style sheets.

10.  so.  beyond.  tired.  three words that describe how i feel about our state's ongoing budget chaos.

menu plan monday : 3.28.11.

 

last week it was all about recent favorites.  this week, i've got three new recipes in the rotation.  love having all of my "want to try soon" recipes divided in a binder so that i can easily flip through them and incorporate them into our weekly menu.

meatless monday : sliced baked ziti.  this was a recipe i found in parents magazine a few months ago.  basically, baked pasta in a loaf pan that then you can slice.  it should be a hit with the girls.

i've selected monday as a night of the week for our family to eat a meatless meal as it tends to be more budget friendly as well as a friendlier option for the environment.  my meat and potato eating husband tends to go along with this idea because i also make him a yummy dessert in addition to his meatless meal.  what can i say, i'm nice like that.

tuesday : shepherd's pie.  another one from my "want to try soon" recipe file.  andy loves shepherd's pie and i'm okay with it but it's so heavy.  this one has extra veggies so i'm hoping it makes a difference.

wednesday : baked potato bar.  it's really sad how much i enjoy my baked potatoes slathered with plain yogurt.  so good!

thursday : chicken in a pot with garlic.  i was going to try this a few weeks ago but we didn't get to it.  it's gotten great reviews and it looks amazing.  i doubt it's possible to go wrong with 35 cloves of garlic!

friday : pizza.  happy birthday to andy!  maybe i'll but some bacon on his side of the pizza to celebrate... 

weekly scrapbook layout : 3.27.11.

i swear this one looks better in real life - by mistake i ordered our october photos in glossy instead of matte so it was more difficult to photograph without a glare.  ugh.  in better news, i almost completed a second layout this week so i think i'll be back up to date with my one layout a week goal for the year by this time next week.  woot!

note to self - dress your children in appropriate fall colored clothing when going to an apple orchard.  C's purple shirt is a bit bright!  i used my slice to create the apple shape and then used three different mists over it to create the negative shape in the titlework.  i love my slice!

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u pick supplies

patterned paper : coral blooms
alpha stickers : limemade sunrise thickers
mist : turquoise maya mist, iridescent pearl maya mist, pink lemonade maya mist
tools : slice, fall | back to school design card, slice hands free kit
pen : black precision pen 03
kit : into the woods

kicken hat.

 

 

or better known as a chicken hat.  it depends on who in the house is talking about it.  i hadn't made C a new hat this year and after finishing up a few other projects, started on this one in late february.  it fits pretty much perfectly but it also fits L well too.  it'll likely be L's next winter.

i've been told by the wearer that her chicken also needs a belly button and legs.  i'm not really sure how i'd go about doing that.

additional project details available on ravelry.

big girl bed.

 

 

 

for the month or two leading up to her birthday, we told C that when the big day arrived we'd move her into a big girl bed.  she had never asked to be moved from her crib, nor had she ever tried to climb out so it had never really been a topic of conversation.  in fact, i think she rather liked her crib as we allowed her to have a few books and animals in there and when she was awake she found countless ways to amuse herself.

when i saw this diy upholstered toddler bed post on ohdeedoh a year and a half ago, i knew that i wanted it to be the transition from crib to large bed.  it's perfect as it uses the crib mattress and is inexpensive and easily put together.  C is lucky to have a nana and papi that go along with her mama's crazy ideas as i asked them after christmas to help pull off this undertaking.  specifically i asked papi to assist andy in the creation of the bed and nana to create a quilt.  i simply acted as project manager and fabric selector for the quilt.

the finished project is as perfect as i hoped it would be and the three year old in our house agrees.  she's been in her bed for two weeks now and still looks forward to getting into bed.  the cost of the bed frame was on target with the plan.  i selected a natural muslin for the base as it was inexpensive and i didn't want anything competing with the fabrics in the quilt.  the fabrics i had selected all coordinated with her current room scheme and enabled me to continue to use the same crib sheets.  (i won't tell you how much an individual sheet cost for her crib set when i purchased an additional one to have on hand.  i'd have to pick your mouth off the ground.  thus we're reusing them.)

i won't lie.  it was more than bittersweet to take her crib apart and shuffle her furniture around.  we both have such fond memories of getting everything ready for her arrival.  but it's also been a new stage to enjoy as well.  each time she wakes up, she'll holler for me and ask if she can get out of bed.  it's been nice not to have to retrieve her each time.  i think my back is enjoying that fact as well. 

luckily, she hasn't tried to escape it's confines yet either.

the dubuque aquarium.

 

a few weeks ago when andy was on vacation, we decided to take a day trip to dubuque to the mississippi river museum and aquarium.  we had originally wanted to go to chicago but figured with L still taking a morning nap and a longer trip there and back, this was a better option right now.  the facility is actually located in two buildings which you have to walk outside to go between.  not the greatest of ideas for a cold day but we did notice that they were doing some work between the building to add more interest to the site.  a place for bands to play, etc.  great for when it's warmer.  although march in iowa equals not warm.

without realizing that there were two buildings, we walked into the building that housed the saltwater animals.  granted most of the building was more museum than aquarium, but that octopus was amazing to see up close.

 

this wall was one large aquarium with stingrays, fish and even a shark.  very cool.  we wished that the displays were all like this as they were easy for both of the girls to view.

 

a handful of cheerios kept L entertained throughout the trip.  she loved just sitting in front of this tank and taking it all in while andy was working to corral C.  it was perfect to go during the week as there weren't many people there and we could let her run more freely than usual.

 

then it was a chilly walk over to the freshwater building.  they had a large enclosure that housed these turtles and below the rocks you could see various fish.  they also had ducks housed in the same enclosures which both of the girls loved.  there were glass panels on most of the exhibit so that you could see the fish easily and we were able to point out to C how the ducks were moving their feet to swim.  not a vantage point you get every day!

 

and see who was more intent on grabbing a bite to eat than the enormous catfish swimming by?  this girl is easy going.  there were several fish of that same size in that particular tank.  there was also an alligator in a nearby exhibit but he was close to the back and we weren't able to see him that well.  disappointing as i know C would've absolutely loved it.

 

had C been older, she would've been more able to enjoy the great interactive centers to learn more about the river.  here andy was choosing whether to flood a town or not.  i'll admit i told him to flood it as i wanted to see what happened.

 

proof that C does smile nicely on occasion.  too bad L was more engrossed in a duck that was bathing itself and splashing about. 

 

waiting for daddy to bring the car by the door so we didn't have to be outside as much.  did i mention it was quite chilly by the water?  and windy?  take a peek at my hair if evidence is needed to support that statement.  holy windblown-ness.

and of course, before heading home we made a stop at the golden arches.  the girls were on their best behavior and L slept nearly all the way afterwards.  all in all, a great trip but not sure if it was worth $40.  the fact that we had to pay $10 for C because she was three was a bit much.  perhaps if she was able to read the exhibits and more actively participate in the museum portion.

12 months.

 

my sweet one year old baby girl.  i'm still wondering where the last year has gone.  12 months ago we introduced a newborn into our family and now we can't imagine us as anything but a family of four.

at 12 months, L :

• weighs xxx (to be completed after her doctor's appt.  i'm guessing about 25 pounds.)
• is xx" long  (also to be completed after her appt.)
• current nickname = ladybug and the occasional little baby reference.
• wakes up around 7a and goes to bed between 7:15 and 7:30p.
• takes two naps - her morning nap is usually and hour to an hour and a half and her afternoon nap is around an hour.  at times i think she's ready to give her morning nap up and then she goes and proves me wrong.  she falls asleep immediately for both naps so i think she still needs both.
• favorite foods : pancakes, avocado, peaches and spaghetti.
• can tell you what a cow, duck and kitty say.
• smacks her lips to make kissing sounds and then attempts to give either thomas or duke kisses.
• will give you a kiss if you ask for one.  half the time she bumps foreheads with you and thinks that's good enough.
• is becoming quite the fan of "yaya" just like her sister and will call it by name when it's on.  yaya, otherwise known to everyone else as sesame street, is the name coined by C after the preschool version of the show had that word in the theme song.
• is surfing along and pulling up on any surface that stand still. 
• she'll walk when holding onto our hands.  i feel that by next month she'll be walking on her own and then the girls will be chasing each other.  a new form of chaos.
• is really becoming quite chatty and trying to repeat words that we say.
• is obsessed with "brown bear brown bear what do you see."  she'll pick it up every time we're in her room and then say "brown bear" over and over again.
• crawls with exaggerated hip movements.  seriously hysterical to watch.  daddy calls her a salamander.
• loves playing with the play kitchen and food, especially the fridge that she and her sister got for their birthdays.
• hates getting her face washed after meals.  unless i sing her "pop goes the weasel" - somehow it makes the task become bearable for her.

menu plan monday : 3.21.11.

 

this week's menu features a lot of recent favorites.  a quick one to put together as i simply relied on what we had enjoyed eating the past couple of weeks.  well, except for tonight's dinner which was a favorite from a while back.

meatless monday : quesadilla casserole.  i've made this before, but it's been awhile.  as much as the girls love black beans, this should be an instant success.

i've selected monday as a night of the week for our family to eat a meatless meal as it tends to be more budget friendly as well as a friendlier option for the environment.  my meat and potato eating husband tends to go along with this idea because i also make him a yummy dessert in addition to his meatless meal.  what can i say, i'm nice like that.

tuesday : pot roast glazed with red wine and cranberries.  i have a bottle of merlot in the pantry just asking to be used.  i used a shiraz in this recipe last time so we'll see what happens with a different wine.  planning on adding more cranberries than called for this goes wrong.

wednesday : nachos.  this is usually leftovers or baked potato night to help clean out the fridge but nachos sound so good right now! 

thursday : chorizo potato frittata. we tried this for the first time a couple of weeks ago and there weren't any leftovers.  the girls are probably in the minority of babies/toddlers that eat chorizo.  i love how diverse their tastes are.

friday : pizza.  have i mentioned lately how i love kicking off our weekend with pizza?  a perfect chance for us all to unwind and enjoy each other's company.

weekly scrapbook layout : 3.20.11.

 

i didn't get a layout completed last week and had hoped to do two this week, but this is all i have to show.  so i'm one off my pace of one layout a week.  hopefully this week i'll be able to get back on track!

oh how my daugher will hate this photo when she's older.  although when she saw it on this layout, she was thrilled.  totally inspired by a layout created by miss kelly noel.

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future blackmail supplies

patterned paper : remember roses, a wrinkle in time, leafy sew cute calendar
alpha stickers : limemade sunrise thickers
embellishments : star chipboard banner pieces, remember buttons
mist : turquoise maya mist, iridescent pearl maya mist
pen : black precision pen 03
kit : into the woods