Mid Jan 2013

 As I have told you we live on Table Mountain. The main road is called Cherokee and Cherokee runs straight on the very top of the flat mountain for a few miles. There are cows up on the flats and as we drive through them we always slow down so that Wallace can get a good look at them. As we were driving past the cows Dylan and I saw something funny recently.  A calf had gotten out of the fence and was running away from the herd on the side of the road. Inside of the fence it's mother was chasing it. We were going slowly so we saw them running for over a half-mile before we passed them. All three of us laughed at the cows.
 On our road we have to go through three gates to get onto the road leading to Cherokee Rd; there are cows of all shapes and sizes inside of the gates. Some cows with great big horns and some painted in wild patterns. We get to drive right past where our neighbors feed them. They often stand in the road and we have to wait for them to move before we can drive past them. I'm scared to honk at them because they each weigh more than half as much as our van and I don't want them to turn those horns on us!!
 I have had a really full and fun few weeks. Aside from grocery shopping and washing diapers we have gone over to our friends Jeremy and Randi's house for a turkey dinner, and we have also gone to a number of thrift stores. We found a great big entertainment wall unit from the 70's to put in our chicken coup. It makes up 7 roosts. We got it for the price of one commercial nesting box. Also, I have a new chicken love. One of our Silkys is a big beautiful white rooster. He struts around and crows all day. I named him Mr. Big Fluff. He hasn’t warmed up to me yet but he comes to my window to crow and scratch around. I love to watch him; he is a beautiful, beautiful bird. I have been pressing the rooster button one of Wallace's toys that makes noise and Mr. Big crows back; it's really fun.

We did have one sad thing happen. Dylan brought home the tiniest goat one cold night. It was the runt of the litter and we only had it for 4 days before it died. It was about 4 pounds and it had scours. It was always shaking and it stood in what is knows as a sickly stance. Dylan was of coarse very upset about the goats passing. He learned a few unforgettable lessons about farming from the little goat. Not all animals live and that is something we have to except since this is the business we have chosen to be in. Dylan is very strong but I know this was hard for him.

 My friend Nicole and I drove to Chico for the day on Wednesday 1-16. We went to story time at the Barns & Noble. Wallace and her daughter Tari had a really fun time. They got to play with lots of other little ones, run, climb steps, play with toys like: puppets (Wallace's favorite), big logos, stuffed animals, trains, and books. I found a book there that I really wanted for him but sadly I have other things I need more than that book this month.

After story time we went to Koles, a mall type store where you can get anything. Wallace got a talking book for Christmas that didn't work so I needed to return it. I was able to find him the most perfect book it's called "Around The Farm" by Eric Carle for the same amount as the store credit I got back. Eric Carle is one of my favorite illustrators. The book has 30 different animals. It has buttons to push that say the animal’s names and then the make the animal noises. When we got home tonight we all played with the book for over an hour. I can tell already that it is going to be a big favorite.

  Next we went to the Trader Joe's, a specialty grocery store.  I had a cup of really good coffee called Pea Berry, and Nicole and I bought a pound of it to split. I got a few things I can only get there like red curry sauce. I have been concerned that Wallace hasn't been getting enough vegetables in his diet so I bought him some green juice. He likes it ok but he is yet to finish a cup of it.

Speaking of nutrition, I realized after doing a little arithmetic that I am only getting around 800 calories a day after I subtract all the exercise I get. This is a big deal. After I tallied up all my calories I got up and ate about 1,500 calories and then I felt a little sick. I even woke up in the night and was sick! I am planning on tallying up my calories every day for the rest of my pregnancy to make sure I'm staying as healthy as possible.

 

 After the grocery store and a little lunch we went to the Cost Plus World Market. The store is like going to a flea market with only the best stuff. I didn't buy anything but Wallace and I had a great time looking around.

I had a good time in the city but I felt like a hillbilly. I have begun to feel uncomfortable, as I get closer to my due date; it's only 11 weeks away. I waddle a little now and I feel frumpy in my maternity clothes. For me pregnancy is not a time that I feel beautiful even though everyone tells me that I'm glowing. I feel awkward in my own body and that never feels good. Helena is growing and kicking steadily. She has gotten big enough to kick me in the ribs and press on my bladder at the same time.

 On Friday 1-18 We all drove to Paradise and went to Bille Park. The park had a few fun playgrounds and miles of trails. We took a switch back trail down to a grotto and a waterfall. Wallace had a really good time holding Dylan's hand and walking on the trail while I pushed the stroller behind them. He walked for about a mile.

We ate tacos for lunch and then we went to a thrift store and I found a pair of little purple pants for Helena and some soft fabric I can make 6 new baby wipes out of. I got the pants and the fabric for 35 cents. I love thrift shopping. For $6.75 I have now acquired: 6 night gowns, 5 pairs of socks, 2 shirts, 3 pairs of pants and 4 onsies for Helena. I think I may need 2 cardigans for her still but other than that I think she may be set for her first 3 months. We have been saving most of Wallace’s clothes and he has a lot of gender-neutral things for her to wear. The best part of all of these little garments is they are mostly Classic Winnie The Pooh, or they have rabbits on them. I must say I feel pretty proud of my shopping and bargaining skills!

After the thrift store we drove up the mountain a bit to the town of Yankee Hill. There was snow on the ground. It was a beautiful day for a drive and it was nice to spend a day with my boys.

 My baby shower is going to be on the 23rd of February. We are planning a Valentines theme. I'm getting excited. I want to go shopping to find a pretty red or purple shirt to wear to the party. I have been brain storming decoration ideas and registry items. I realized that registering anywhere but a diaper website is a little unnecessary. I made a list of the things we will need. The things we need are things from hardware stores, home goods, and even things from thrift shops. I have decided to include a list of needs in the invitation so that if a guest wants to give us 10 feet of extension cord they don't use, a pants hanger and a pack of clothespins they can, without needing to go to Target or Wal-Mart and print out a registry list.

 

 Dylan and I are planning on putting together a laundry room. We will put a washer in a shed so that I can wash diapers as often as I need to. Right now we are going to a Laundromat every few days and it takes us 5 hours round trip just to wash diapers. That is going to be imposable when the new baby arrives. If the new baby needs changed as often as Wallace did the first few weeks we will need to wash every day, not including our laundry. Since we are getting a new trailer and ripping the kitchen out of the one we have now I want to move the water tank to the laundry room so that we won't have to run the well the entire time we are running the washer.

 

If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden...