Some Quickety Quick Takes for August

1.  Mia, while playing with her dolls, had quite a world adventure yesterday.  She recounted them to me, and I, being the ever-loving tattler that I am, shall recount them for you:

We ran all the way from Africa, so our feet are very tired, and we were chased by lots of animals (because Africa is FULL of animals) on our way to China.  But when we got there!  We realized that we were ALLERGIC to Indians!  And you know China is FULL of Indians.

We apparently have some work to do in both geography and politically correct assumptions.




2.  I know it seems really inconsequential, but one of the things that keeps me all bottled up and self-contained on my island comes in the form of not knowing how to find something.  So...can you help me? 

I want a good baby carrier and have no idea which type or brand or style to look at -- it's all so overwhelming.  Neither is an expensive carrier in our budget right now.  I have a pouch sling type thing that I got for free (excellent!) and it seems like a good one...but I know I'd like another option or two.  I've heard great things about Angelpacks, but can't afford to go that route. 

What do you think?  What baby carriers have been your favorite?  And how affordable are they?




3. While we're on the topic of help, here's another one:

I need to make a bunch of freezer meals sometime soon so we'll not starve once the baby arrives and I am no longer in possession of brain-power.  I have a small repertoire of recipes that work well frozen, but was hoping for some inspiration.  What do you stock your freezer with in preparation for a new baby?



4.  One of the only TV shows Justin and I have been watching this summer was Expedition Impossible on ABC -- did you see it?  There was a lot of mountain climbing and hiking and swimming and mind-puzzling, all in exotic Morocco.  Anyway, one team that continually impressed me consisted of one able-bodied-guy, a blind man, and another able-bodied-guy-turned-gimp halfway through the competition.  They blew me away with their ability to follow through on difficult adventures even though they had less manpower than other teams.  They were brave and encouraging of one-another and intelligent.  They'd done a lot of adventure-race-type things together and knew each other and trusted each other.  Really an awesome team.  They ended up in second place, which is amazing; a blind man and a man with a broken ankle STILL made second place.

But that's not my point.  My point is this:

Justin and I are about to enter another baby adventure.  We're a little nervous.  Mostly about the lack of sleep headed our way.  Oh, and braving the terrible-twos again.  And just all the logistics of adding a child.  But we work well together and we trust each other and we've done adventures like this before, surviving intact. 

He counts as the one able-bodied man; I qualify myself as the blind and the lame all rolled into one.  But still!  We can do it!


5.  I'm curious: if you live on the East Coast, how are you feeling about the approaching hurricane?  How are you preparing?  Since living through the tornado, I find myself constantly wondering how others prepare for disasters.  Assuming this hurricane will be a disaster, which isn't a stretch of the imagination. 

What's your plan?



6.  Yesterday, Lauren made a very clinical observation about my burgeoning belly and its map of faint purple squiggles:

"Mama?  When the baby is ready to come out, I think those cracks on your belly will open up and that's how he'll be born.  Right?"

Sometimes it feels that way; I've never felt so stretched-out before, and I'm certain there are moments when I can actually feel my skin stretching.  Ouch.



7.  I was so excited about our first opportunity to take snacks to kindergarten this week!  I've been less-than pleased with all the sweet, crackery type of snacks the kids eat every day, so I brought bananas.  The teacher assured me that fruit always ends up being a big hit with the kids.  And I love to be loved...and healthy at the same time.  At the end of the day, Mia said everyone really liked the bananas, which made her happy!  They were a success!  And healthier than cookies, which made me happy!

The next day, she came home and told me that the snack for that day had been cupcakes and fruit snacks. 

Sigh.  No banana can compete with that.



I'm out!  Have a fabulous weekend!  Stop by Conversion Diary for more Quick Takes!