Back-Them-Up or Smack Yourself!

 My husband and I are far from technologically savvy; in fact if we were rated on a scale ranging from inept to genius we’d be two clicks up from the former… Well, to be fair we have both learned how to maneuver our way around the world of technology in the areas we are most interested in – for Matt that’s music, and for me it is photography (and now blogging).  A couple years ago we acquired an external hard drive from a friend and backed up all our IMPORTANT pictures, videos and music – that was a real PAT-ON-THE-BACK kind of move in our opinion.  

I don’t know if we have bad luck or we’re just morons, but despite our vigorous efforts to protect our life-moments and music (less important in my opinion), we’ve ran into quite a few problems – which eventually lead to us losing everything, thanks to an old computer that practically crumbled to dust before our eyes and a not-so-trustworthy external hard drive. This would be a big “bummer” if it were just pictures of pre-baby life, but because 99% of those lost videos and photos are of our son “bummer” is much too mild of a word to use, more like “life shattering” I’d say!

Now, as we are facing this awful predicament we are learning some very important lessons.

1.       Burn a CD every month or so as a hard copy backup (don’t be lazy and put it off).

2.       Uploading pictures to Facebook provides a convenient (though not the most reliable) backup -  This has been my saving grace.

3.        Store websites that offer online printing is a great way to backup your photos. I use Walgreens- it has awesome online deals, it’s super convenient with a baby and the photos are great quality.

4.       Actually PRINT your photos – the longer you wait, the more photos you have, the more overwhelmed you become, the more $$$ it will cost to print etc…

5.       Data recovery is expensive with no guarantees (there isn’t a magic little leprechaun that crawls into your computer and saves your treasured data).

6.       There are online data backup programs that are ridiculously affordable and easy to use (nice to know now).

So let my mistakes be a lesson to you – print those pictures and burn those CD’s... Because technology will fail you, and when it does you should be able to laugh in its face and say, “Ha! Nice try, but I’m one step ahead!”  

Also, if there are older family pictures that you adore but they belong to a family member, don’t hesitate to ask to make a copy (and back it up). You’ll want those photos in a memory box – someday your kids should have the opportunity to see them. 

Here are a couple cherished shots that I’ve managed save from my own destruction:

She either hated hats or hugs

Classic Disneyland

photo booth

'Tis the season- Halloween!

brothers

Mommy moment

sisters

Daddy Time

  

Pictures speak louder than words-

 Joy of my days Friday...

 

- Babies don't keep -

a not-so-real-life depiction

Today I cleaned my house  - it was an exhausting and frustrating affair! I had a buildup of all those little jobs that I continually scratch off my To Do List without doing - The “save for next time” kinda chores that pile up. Yuck. I keep a pretty tidy house, not excessively clean, but tidy. Don’t scoot my coffee table out of its imprinted place on the rug and don’t lift my couch cushions, that kind of tidy. 

Yet, if you looked around my house now, after everyone else is asleep, you might scoff at my “cleaning-day claims.”  Between the time I tossed the last dirty rag in the hamper and tucked my sweet mess-maker into bed he managed to keep himself busy undoing what I had worked so hard to get done. The curse words came to a grinding halt against my tightly pursed lips as I observed  my little bobbleheaded boy meandered around the living room taking little bites of his carrots then spitting them on the floor. I shrieked in panic as I ran down the stairs with a fresh diaper only to find a puddle of “pee-pee” soaking into my freshly vacuumed rug. I rubbed my head and held back tears as he yanked at my clothes and screamed for a SECOND pickle as I tried to make dinner. And I whimpered in defeat as every toy was taken from the toy basket and every pillow pulled from the couch.

Now, as I slump back in this chair with an aching back and bleach dried hands I have to take a second look at my day. Despite today’s obstacles I have to say that, in the end, today was a good day…   

Because despite it all I also got to swoop my groggy eyed baby up in my arms after his nap (the one time of the day that he lays calmly and cuddles), I got to watch him giggle with glee as he kicked the ball around the yard and stomp his feet with delight as he drank his “special treat” - apple juice. I got to feel his little arms wrap around my neck and vigorously squeeze me (not violently), as he gave me a Big Bear Hug. The “Mama’s,” “Peese’s” and even the “No’s,” are little words I cherish – and I have to remind myself of that. No amount of shredded, scattered food, messy toys or pee can take those moments away from me. 

So in the end I say, “Do your worst little boy, do your worst!” And tomorrow I’m sure he will, but I can handle it - As long as the hugs keep on coming and the giggling outweighs the screaming. I also feel a little comfort knowing that tonight someone could scoot my coffee table or lift my cushions, because all you’d find is clean, clean, clean!   

This poem was published in the Lady's Home Journal in 1958 and is one that both my dear Granny and my mother-in-law repeat(ed) often. 

SONG FOR A FIFTH CHILD

by Ruth Hulbert Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth,
Empty the dustpan, poison the moth,
Hang out the washing and butter the bread,
Sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?
She’s up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.
Oh, I’ve grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue.
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).
Dishes are waiting and bills are past due.
(Pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping’s not done and there’s nothing for stew
And out in the yard there’s a hullabaloo
But I’m playing Kanga and this is my Roo.
Look! Aren’t his eyes the most wonderful hue? 
(Lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,
For children grow up, I’ve learned to my sorrow.
So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.
I’m rocking my baby and babies don’t keep.

Babies don’t keep.

The magic remedy!

- a remedy to write home about -

Well, well, well, the apple cider vinegar seemed to do the trick! I’ve been sniffing/sneezing free since last night. We’ll see if it withstands the test of time - regardless, I’m grateful for the relief.  Apparently it also remedies sinus infections, acne, high cholesterol, flu, chronic fatigue, acid reflux, sore throats, arthritis, and gout. 

Luckily I’m not suffering from any of these conditions, but if bad luck strikes again I won’t hesitate to gulp the vinegar. I take that back, I won’t be chugging vinegar if I get the flu - and gout sounds pretty serious, I might opt for a doctors visit with that one. My faith in ACV (abbreviation) only goes so far...  

A pretty hankie and an ugly truth…

And to complete my outfit today I tucked a hankie into my belt and let it fly. No it wasn’t a fashion statement, but I do think it served its purpose a little more prettily than a tattered, wet paper towel would have. Despite my efforts to dab at my eyes and nose like a lady there was no way to prettify my nose running, throat scratching, eyes watering appearance. It didn’t matter how cute the hankie was (though it is adorable), it was still soaked in snot while its beloved owner moaned in pure misery, cursing every sniff and sneeze. If banging my face into a wall would have relieved my symptoms I would have done it – gladly. 

Allergies, allergies go away...

Now there was a day, not too many years ago – a little over two to be exact, that I considered allergies to by a mythically convenient condition that was used as a tool to coax undeserving pity upon its supposed victims. In short, I thought it was BULL. My sister would snuffle around the house blowing her nose and I would shriek at the piles of used tissues and lecture about getting some sort of drug to make it go away!!! My husband would wake up with watery eyes and grumble about allergy season, I’d roll mine, at him, and tell him to take a Benadryl without an ounce of compassion. I know that I’m painting a pretty heartless picture of myself – but there is something to be said for honesty, right? And I am getting my payback…or as my mom would say- my come-up-ins!   
 

Apparently pregnancy doesn’t just thrash your body, abuse your bladder and cause you brain to shrink (or at least that’s how it feels), but it also makes you more prone to allergies. Well that proved to be true for me at least – lucky me. According to the New York Times, “Being exposed to allergens when the immune system is weakened, as occurs after a viral infection or during pregnancy, can also set off an allergy. It is not uncommon for women to develop allergies after pregnancy.” (www.NYtimes.com) Now, don’t get me wrong, I LOVED being pregnant. I loved feeling the life within me; I was amazed by what my body (and God) could do. A baby was BUILT inside me – insane! However, the point is that as fall approached and I went into my second trimester I started to get a runny nose, then my eyes began to water. I assumed that it was a cold, but this cold lasted well through Thanksgiving. I finally had to admit that I was experiencing the full wrath of those supposed “mythical allergies.” Shame on me for doubting the damage constant sniffing and sneezing can do to ones sanity.   

As spring approached and my son was born the allergies returned with vengeance. On one Sunday in particular my eyes were so watery and itchy that I couldn’t open them at all. As I sat in our pew at church I kept my eyes closed through the entire mass, and when I did open them tears would pour down my cheeks. People probably thought I had some vigorous prayers, and I should have been praying for forgiveness for my lack of sympathy for the allergy afflicted… Instead I was considering the possibility of plucking out my own eyes. 

Well, to date I have experienced three falls and two springs as a victim of the now dreaded allergies. They are nothing to baulk at! I look at my strong and healthy son (praise God) and I can’t help but think that he sucked the immunities right out of me – and I would willingly give them to him, but I wish he had asked! And so today in desperation I looked up home remedies to cure allergies and numerous sites suggested this: Apple Cider Vinegar - take either as a daily tonic or at the first sign of an allergy (i.e., sinus headache, stuffy nose, watery eyes), one can completely stop the histamine response or allergic reaction.

Mix 1/8th cup of the apple cider vinegar in 16 oz of water and sip it throughout the day. The other method is to gulp the mixture at once. (www.earthclinic.com)

Of course I gulped it, and almost barfed in the process - Even though I love Dirty Martinis’ and pickle juice! I will let you know if it works - And if it doesn’t I plan on laying on my couch, draping my pretty hankie over my face and waiting for winter.

Joy of my days Friday...

Yesterday at 6:00 am Francis woke me up by banging on my face with his little palm yelling, "Ogurt, ogurt Peesss!!!" He wanted his early morning yogurt and fruit breakfast, but I literally felt like it was absolutely IMPOSSIBLE  for me to get out of bed. If he was old enough to understand the value of money I would have given him $100 for 20 more minutes of sleep. I know I'm a wimp but I don't care!!! When he finally coaxed me out of bed with screaming, whining, pleading I gave him his BLOODY yogurt and read him Up by Dr. Seuss. The last page perfectly fit my mood and quickly became a joy of my day!

 This week my three sisters and I had a sister dinner that we plan all year and reschedule numerous times! We plan it in December and never get to it until the following fall. Though we all see each other often, getting together as a sisterly foursome allows us to enjoy some unique sister time. Lots of laughing, teasing and reminiscing...

Found the very first CD I ever bough in an old CD case the other day, so many memories...So many Joys of so many days! 

Francis put himself to sleep! It was a time consuming, restless experience but he did it and didn't cry once. He just kicked his left foot (just like dad, Lord help me), and swung his arm around until suddenly it stopped, went limp and fell to the mattress! It was bittersweet, glad he's learning to do things himself, a little sad he needs me a little less...

One of my Writing Class students always asks if I want coffee when I come to teach - Of course I always say, "Yes!" She brings it to me like this and makes my day every time! How thoughtful is that?

 Once in a while Francis will sit through a story, and even seems to enjoy himself as you read to him. It's irreplaceable, uncommon and therefore a great joy.    

Making a Memory Box...

Many, many years ago my siblings and I made my mom a memory box for Mother's Day. Though we left the outside plain we filled the inside with "I love you," notes and pictures of all of us with her. Recently, my dad asked for a "Memory Box" like my mom’s so that he had a special place to gather and save all those little notes and pictures that he has collected and cherished over the years. After we made my dad a box much like my mom’s I decided to take the process one step further for a Father's Day gift for Matt. I liked the idea of giving him a Memory Box that would mark this era in our lives and also give him a little treasure chest of his own to collect all the special little things Francis will inevitably give him over the years to come. I liked it so much that I made one for my sister on her 30th birthday - On hers I wrote, "To Your First 30 Years."  The evolution of the Memory Box has resulted in a pretty awesome gift idea that is easy, reasonably inexpensive, pretty dang thoughtful and definitely something that will be treasured. Basically, it's a Slam Dunk kinda gift if I do say so myself.

And here is the building process...

1. Buy a box with a latch and hinges. You can do it with any type of box, but the hardware really adds to the look. This kind of box is abundantly stocked at Ross and most stores like it. The design on the outside doesn't matter because you will be covering it up, but make sure the interior is plain. 

 2. Gather decoupage glue, a paint brush, a "Paint" Sharpie pen, and plenty of pictures. You will be cutting up the pictures so make sure to print more than you think you'll need. 40 pictures is a pretty safe bet. I like mixing colored with black and white, but make it according to your own style. 

3. Start cutting up the pictures and gluing them to the box with the decoupage. I like the collage look and I also included stickers that said things pertaining to the theme of the Memory Box.







 4. Once you have covered the ENTIRE box with pictures paint over the pictures with the decoupage, paying close attention the the corners. It will be cloudy as you paint, but it dries clear. Let it dry and repeat two more times. 

 5. Finally, use the Sharpie to fill in the small places around the hardware that a picture wouldn't fit in. Also, sometimes you need to color in the edges where pictures meet as well.






And Voilà - Your work is done!