Kitchen Repair - Part Seven and Final

I realized I never finished updating my blog for our kitchen repair. So either you came over and saw it, or don't care. But for documentation purposes, and my own (in)sanity, I will catch you up.
We upgraded the countertops to a nice stone. For whatever reason, it was really nerve wracking, trying to pick the details out and insure they all matched. Everything from paint, to floor, to countertops was outsourced, and all at the same time. We didn't really have time for one to finish before picking out the next detail. I'm sure we looked hilarious carrying ceramic tiles to the slab lot to make sure our flooring didn't clash with the stone.

Here is a picture of the counters the day they went in. You can see the floor is not done and there are still a few details to work out, like the plumbing. . .

Here is my new sink. And while I wanted a nice white porclain coated cast iron bowl to match my appliances, I do like my deep uneven sink bowls. It hides more dirty dishes, too. The handle and faucet didn't get installed in the right holes, but I think Daddy Dearest can fix it the next time he comes down. (I just haven't asked him yet.)

But the reason I haven't done this blogis that my kitchen is never clean enough to take pictures. So today, I bit the bullet and am showing you the state of my kitchen on a regular basis. The computer is usually out on the counter, and the baby seat where Lily hangs out when I am in the kitchen doesn't typically leave the kitchen. Most of the dishes are clean but are out drying on the counter.

Here is a picture of our "wood" tiles. It is ceramic tile with a faux wood finish screened on top. And although I should have picked a darker grout, I really like the tile. It is unfortunate that things (like glasses) don't bounce like they used to on the wood. With this image, you can also see the used burp rag in the door way. The picture shows how I "really" live.

Here is a better shot of the stone but you also get to see my baking sheet left out from breakfast as well as my dirty stove and almost empty goody jars.

The other counter shows more clean dishes, and my produce that I need to cook and prepare before it goes bad.

The kitchen is done. We love it. I am mostly glad to not be doing dishes in the bathroom sink and can cook with large dishes not fearing how I will wash them!

Mango, Mango

The last week of March we went from having hail, to 100 degrees on April 1st. It was a crazy week. At the same time, Lily was cutting her two bottom teeth. I randomly found two of these doohickies (I have no idea what they are called) leftover from a visit from Brendan when he was Lily's age. You can put anything inside of them for babies to chew on, but the fan favorite has been frozen mango. Since Winco had mangos (which after googling, can be spelled mangos or mangoes) at 68 cents a pop and the ladies at work gave me a mango splitter in my going away basket, she may get mango the rest of the summer. At first, they were simply a great way to sort of numb her gums when she wasn't feeling well, but she just loves them. When I pull one out of the drawer she drops whatever toy she in holding in pure excitement. Here are a few pictures of Bug enjoying her frozen treat.

P.S. I have to admit, everytime I say mango twice I think of Chris Kattan and Saturday Night Live.

Fourth Time's A Charm?

Almost exactly one month ago I was fighting (more like crying) with Kaiser to find someone who would see our sick baby girl. After countless phone calls, and three separate visits, we were on our way to getting better. The antibiotic seemed to be working and we were on to our general teething crankiness.

Lily's sleeping and eating patterns have changed the past couple of weeks and I decided I would see if she was ready to drop down to two naps. But just as I decided to play with the schedule, she went crazy! She wouldn't nap for more than 45 minutes. I blamed the teething. She stopped eating solids after maybe 3 bites. I blamed the teething. She was cranky overall, and not her normal self. She wanted to be held all of the time, and cried every time I left the room. I blamed the teething. This was not my baby! That night as we battled to eat sweet potatoes (her favorite,) she started playing with her ear. I finally called my sister and said "I can only blame teething so long. I think she is sick." Then the cough returned. That terrible body wracking, mucus rattling, makes you want to cry for your child, cough.

I began the mind games. Am I a crazy paranoid mother? Is it just a virus she needs to get over? What if I play the wait and see game and she gets worse? Do I really want to pay my copay just to hear my doctor tell me "It's ok Mama, she's fine?"

I ran the humidifier for two nights and on Tuesday morning I made an appointment for 2:30 that afternoon. By 3:00 I was heading to my car antibiotic in hand. (Yay! for no longer waiting in Family Medicine for 30 minutes after my appointment time just to see my doctor!) She may have a new ear infection, but it is quite possible that the previous one never fully cleared up. So we got a stronger, longer, antibiotic and directions to eat yogurt.

After two doses she is already napping longer, eating better, and is no longer crying every time I walk past. Although, antibiotics made for some crazy diapers this afternoon. But she is on the mend and hopefully her normal, mellow self shortly.

Sacramento Visit

I have so many posts to catch up on but often forget when I post pictures to Facebook. But my Grandma reminded me, "I love your blog and I don't have that face page thing, so keep updating." So this is for you Grandma.

Kevin and I drove up to Sacramento a couple of weeks ago for an extended weekend. The drive made me even that much more appreciative that my parents make the trek so frequently. It was long! We had to stop twice to feed Lily, but she was a trooper. Not as easy as when we went for Thanksgiving as she doesn't sleep quite as much, but she entertains herself really well. She was definitely done by the end.

The trip was relaxing. We girls did some post-pregnancy shopping on Friday as I needed non-work clothes. Shopping is different now. It's not as easy to hop in and out of the car to pop into a store. I seriously planned a route in my head so that it would work around naps and feeding schedules. No more all day shopping marathons for us. Even if I had left Lily with her daddy, I would have to take a break to pump. Overall it was a successful outing.

We, of course, headed to the train museum, for a little jaunt and walk around downtown just to get out when the rain let up. Have I ever mentioned the California State Railroad Museum? It really is a great facility, but it's become kind of a joke in our family because I keep asking Kevin if he has ever been. Years, and years ago, we first visited the museum while camping in the area; long before we moved up here. I recently found a picture of our visit and wish I could have scanned it in for you. Dad is in short shorts with a fanny pack and J.Thomas (Bud) is probably only 4. We have always been a train family. If there was a train to be ridden, we were on it. If it was stationary, we were taking our picture by it. So when we moved to Sacramento we headed back for another visit, only to find the annual membership was only a few dollars more. That was fourteen years ago. But my parents take people who come to town to visit. Even Bud has taken friends and I would have thought he was way too cool for the museum. And now, of course, they hold on to it for the grand kids. We went to visit their newest exhibit about the fruit packing and the railroad and they had a bunch of stuff for sale about the orange fruit brand Lily.

The trip was simple. A couple of family meals. A Netflix movie or two. Brothers, grandparents, and great-grandparents. It was very enjoyable.

I forgot the stroller (can you believe it?) but Lily loves the front pack. She loves bouncing around and seeing everyone and everything.

Uncle Bud and Lily Bug. Because all uncles have mustaches right? Mine always did! Granted it was the 80's. Bud just had his for Mustache March.

Uncle Jon with his braces off!