Bean's Produce Bags

Here's the #1 reason to use Bean's produce bags and not the plastic bags for bulk: Little fingers can poke holes in the bags and empty them onto the kitchen floor. Then it's a sandbox on the kitchen floor.

Var Svenska pojke

So for all of you interested in how this whole bilingual baby thing has been working out, I thought I'd share a little. He definitely understands Swedish much better than English, which is to be expected since he's with me all day almost every day and is exposed to much more Swedish. All the words he says are Swedish, with a mixture of Boozie-isms thrown in. His list of words so far:
-umpa (sock)
-ampa (lamp/light)- his favorite thing to do is turn lights on and off and he recently discovered the touch lamp in his bedroom; he looves it. it's the first thing he says when I get him out of his crib.
-bop (ball. Although the Swedish word for ball is similar to English so who knows how he came up with the -p ending. It's adorable though)
-mama
-papa
-daaa-t (it's his own word for egg. we're not sure where he got it)
-detta (this)
-titta (look)
And I think that's all.
He also looves dogs and barks whenever any dog-looking animal goes by, is in a book, etc... This includes birds, elephants, zebras, lions, etc... This morning at breakfast he realized there are dogs on his pajamas and he was very distracted by them while trying to eat his oatmeal.

the big apple

Well, it's official. We're moving. Not to the big apple, but close by: to New Jersey. So it's a 45-min train ride to the big apple. Any takers? T got a great job offer with Verizon so off we go. We're not sure when we'll go, but most likely in the next month or so. And we'll be staying here for 6 months courtesy of Verizon. The extra bonus? A maid comes once a week. Sign me up. :) So meanwhile, we have to get our house all spic and span. Mulch, weeding, touch-up projects, refinishing the deck, restaining the fence. Fun times. So while I do that, Boozie gets to enjoy the plentitude of mud and his pool. He's a big fan.



(And for all of you who are wondering: no, we haven't cut his hair yet.)

Other updates: he stands! Mostly while he holds onto things, but we've caught him a few times standing all by himself for a few seconds at a time. Where's my baby going? He's going to pick up and walk away soon. Sad.

The Entertainment Book Curse

One evening when T and I were first married we went up to Ogden, Utah to see my cousin perform in a ballet recital. Afterward we decided to use our Entertainment Book because there were tons of coupons for restaurants in Ogden. It was about 9:00 so we figured some of them might be closed. We chose one and decided to call first to make sure they were still open. No answer. We were close to the next restaurant so we just drove to that one. Out of business. Called the next one. No answer. On and on until we eventually settled on a Denny's-like substitute. How pitiful.

Fast forward about 5 years to today. We want to use our Little Rock Entertainment Book so we pick out a sandwich shop close to our house and go online to look at their menu. After finally choosing our sandwiches, T drives over there only to find out it went out of business! We're jinxed. What is it with Entertainment Book restaurants and going out of business? The only thing I can think of is that they must be on their last leg and that is their last try at marketing. Sad luck for us, though.

busy busy

It's been forever since I posted here and there are a few reasons:
1) It's mid 70s here in Arkansas and Boozie and I are taking advantage by running, planting flowers, pruning, weeding, and throwing dirt.
2) I got a sewing machine for Christmas and I have discovered the sewing love. So far I've made 2 tiny skirts, a tiny tunic, and an even tinier diaper (small stuff requires less time and less fabric). So fun! (Don't look too close, Bean)




3) Boozie has discovered how to tear the house apart in 10 seconds or less. Every container is filled with toys, balls, travel shampoos, etc...

He talks!

In case you didn't know, I only speak Swedish to Boozie. I decided when I lived in Sweden and saw all these multilingual kids, that it's very beneficial for a baby to be exposed to 2 languages. That way, they just pick up both, no problem. When I was pregnant I asked T if he wanted to speak only Spanish to the little one. He said no. Okay. So I decided I'd speak Swedish (a very useful language if you're in Stockholm. And let's be honest, Swedes are completely fluent in English. They'd rather see their movies without voice overs and subtitles). So Boozie hears Swedish all day long.

So about 2 weeks ago he pulls off his sock and says, "Umpa" (ooompa). Strumpa is sock in Swedish. I was completely surprised and thought it might have just been a coincidence so in the midst of playing, I pulled of his sock and he said, "umpa". So while the English-speaking babies are saying ball, this Swedish-speaking baby is saying "umpa". How fab.

5 March is the Day

There's a house on our street that had their Christmas decorations up for months and months. It was our standing joke to see if it was still up and how long it would stay. About 3 weeks ago they finally took it all down but left it in heaps on their porch. So for the past 3 weeks, every morning when I get home from work I report to T, "Their decorations are still on their porch, in case you were wondering." Well, today was the day! CB and I were out delivering Children's Market Consignment Sale fliers and I saw someone on the porch putting the garlands, lights, ornaments, Christmas trees, etc... in Rubbermaid bins. What? I gave her a flier and she said, "Can I have 2? I actually don't live here but I'd like one and I'll give one to them too." So, apparently those neighbors are so busy that they had to hire someone to take down their Christmas decorations and today, 5 March, was the perfect day for it. I just had to laugh.

Another funny for your day: a school somewhere had some extra portable/trailers to sell off and someone listed one on ebay, hoping to get $10,000 for it. Little did they know that you have to list it with a reserve to sell it for a minimum price and it sold for $0.99! They are trying to resolve it but ebay said the sale is final. Unbelievable.