The time has come to start thinking of our next move. I know, I KNOW, we Just moved in right? Sure feels like it. Our two year lease is up in September, and we have started talking about whether or not we will stay here another year, or try to buy something before then.
Here's the thing. We love our neighborhood. Like love love. It's the best. And we love our house. This little brick bungalow has so much charm, and has been perfect for our family of four. But now that we are adding another one to it, I have a feeling it's going to start feeling pretty cramped. It still does some days amazingly enough. But if size was the only issue, I think we would stay here forever!
But it's not.
The biggest issue I have with living smack in the middle of Denver: the schools around. Jaspers elementary school, which is just blocks away from our house is Amazing. Top rated. One of the best in the state. We are so incredibly happy with the education he is receiving there. I really really really don't want him to leave that school. But it's only through 5th grade. And the middle school he would go to next, also just blocks away isn't rated very good. I think like a 3/10? And the high school, I think is a 2/10. Not good. Education is very important to us. And ensuring our kids get a top of the line education is the most important thing for us in a possible house hunt.
Yes, we could potentially stay in this area and try to choice in to a better school. But one, you can try to choice in somewhere, doesn't meant you will get in. And if you get in one year, doesn't mean you are guaranteed a spot the following year. So every year would be a gamble as to wether or not he would keep attending the same school. Problem two with that is I would have to be driving 10-20 min one way twice a day. Which would be okay if I just had one child, or just one child in school. But By then Tindra will be in school as well, and getting two (maybe three if this one is in preschool by then!?) to 2-3 different schools in opposite directions at the same time every morning and afternoon? I just don't see how it would work. And Drew is usually at work by that time, and even if he could potentially help in the mornings, that would still leave afternoons for pick up in different directions.
So we are kind of thinking at this point, our best option is to head a little out of the heart of the city. Still in Denver, I'm not ready for true suburbia, and Drew works right in the city and all of his meetings and events are here, but if we just even head 5-15 minutes South of where we are currently, we could be in an Amazing school district (for preschool through high school) and get more for our money. Sounds like a win win right?
I spent some time yesterday (okay all of Tindra's nap time) looking around on Trulia and just for comparison..
In our neighborhood, we could buy this house for $410,000
Cute little 2 bedroom 2 bath house.
Or 5-6 miles away, for $450,000 we could have this house. 4000 sq feet, huge back yard, four bedrooms, three bath, and exemplary schools.
Can you see why we are even considering moving out of our dream, close to everything neighborhood?
Don't forget to enter the Halo giveaway!
I think the first baby items I was gifted with Jasper, almost 8 years ago (!!) was a Halo swaddles and sleep sack. After he outgrew the size small we promptly got the next size up because it was the only thingthat would keep our baby hulk confined. He slept in a sleep sack forever because I was paranoid about the no blankets in bed rule. Years later, we used those exact same swaddles with Tindra, and I can't wait to dig them out of the garage and use on this baby as well!
From Halo:
HALO Innovations is dedicated to putting the health, safety and well-being of babies first. In fact, over 1,200 hospitals use our HALO® SleepSack® wearable blankets through the HALO Safer Way to Sleep Initiative. This summer we launched our new bassinet, the HALO™ Bassinest™ Swivel Sleeper, furthering our commitment to helping babies sleep safely.
Have you seen the new bassinet they have ? It looks pretty amazing and I'm trying to convince Drew we Need it for this baby.
Halo has some great sleep tips for moms as well:
ALWAYS
- Place baby to sleep on his or her back at naptime and at night time.
- Room-share, but don’t bed share; the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend against bed sharing as it can lead to an increased risk for accidental suffocation.
- Use a crib or bassinet that meets current safety standards with a firm mattress that fits snugly and is covered with only a tight-fitting crib sheet.
- Remove all soft bedding and toys from your baby’s sleep area (this includes loose blankets, bumpers, pillows and positioners). The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests using a wearable blanket instead of loose blankets to keep your baby warm.
- Offer a pacifier when putting baby to sleep. If breastfeeding, introduce pacifier after one month or after breastfeeding has been established.
- Breastfeed, if possible, but when finished, put your baby back to sleep in his or her separate safe sleep area alongside your bed.
NEVER
- Never put your baby to sleep on any soft surface (adult beds, sofas, chairs, water beds, quilts, sheep skins etc.)
- Never dress your baby too warmly for sleep; keep room temperature 68-72 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Never allow anyone to smoke around your baby or take your baby into a room or car where someone has recently smoked.
Follow Halo on Facebook and twitter to keep up to date on all their products!
And now, one of YOU will get the chance to win your very own SleepSack of your choice! Visit Halo and come back and let me know which one you would choose! And make sure you leave your email address so I can contact you if you are the winner!
*WiNNER: Via Random.Org Comment #3, Raising Rockefellers
A few weeks ago I asked you guys if anyone had any really easy bread recipes, and then talked to my mom and she sort of gave me this recipe over the phone. Except she doesn't use a recipe so no exact measurements, but after making this for 4 times now in the past few weeks, I think I have it figured out!
It's really really easy, seriously. This was my first time baking bread by myself and I didn't even screw it up!
Ingredients:
3 1/2 C flour
2 1/2 teaspoons active dry yeast
1 1/2 C water
1 table spoon sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
Directions:
Mix water (a little bit above room temperature, I gaged it on having it be the same temperature of a bottle of milk I would feed a baby) sugar and yeast. Mix it and let it sit for 10 minutes to make sure it 'rises' a bit. You can tell when it does, it looks a lot thicker and 'bigger'.
Next mix in flour and salt with the water/yeast/sugar mixture. Kneed until it's smooth. I threw mine in the Ninja blender with the dough paddle but this isn't necessary, just makes it super quick!
Next place the dough ball into a greased big bowl, cover with a towel and let it rise for an hour.
After the hour is up, punch it down a bit for a minute, form it into an oval shape and cut three little diagonal lines across it (not sure if this is necessary, I just see everyone else do this) and put it on a lightly greased baking sheet and cover with towel again. Let it rise another hour.
Bake it at 350 for 35-40 minutes and EAT it while it's warm! With Butter! And maybe a slice of cheese! And add a cup of tea. That makes it the best. Just trust me.
*I have also made it into two bread tins by splitting the dough in two and making oval shaped balls and placing it in the middle, it spread and covered most of the pan. Make sure pan is greased so it comes out nice and easy.
*Also once I put little pieces of bacon in the dough right before putting in the oven. Super yummy.
Try it! I promise it's SO so easy. I'm not a baker, and I absolutely love this bread. So much I have been making it at least once a week. It only keeps for a few days, but ours is always gone in 48 hrs anyway.
"Mamma has big boobies. Why TeeTee (what she calls her self) has no boobies"
Me "Tindra has boobies too, all girls do" "No those not boobies, those my nipples (pronounced neeeeeples)
"Oh no, what happened to your hairs" After seeing me step out of the shower after a recent trip to the waxing salon since you know, I can no longer see my lady bits.
Me "oh look powpow (her fox) is over there on the floor" Thank god she's easily distracted. Because I'm not exactly prepared to discuss Brazilian waxes with my way too observant two year old.
I think it's time for another one! I'll be 22 weeks in just a couple of days, and part of me thinks this pregnancy is flying, but then the other part feels..the opposite.
We are entering one of my favorites parts of the year though so I now November and December will fly with the snow, and all the fun things we have planned for the holidays, but then January and February are sure to drag on, as they always do, and then March= Baby month!! I can't even believe I'm typing that out. I can't quite imagine yet what life is going to be like with THREE, THREE babies! Okay Jasper is probable not considered a baby anymore. And maybe not Tindra either, but to me they still are so roll with it.
I had my 20 week ultrasound last week and everything is looking good! He was in there and kept pulling his legs up to his head, I could have watched him all day. I think sometimes I forget that there's an actual person in there. I know how idiotic that sounds, but its just easier to imagine that I'll have a baby to meet in 4 months, not that he's actually already in there growing, eating, yawning, playing with his feet, doing those things he will be doing outside of my stomach soon. Sometimes I can't wrap my head around it. And yes this is my third time going through this, and each time it's like it comes as surprise to me that there's an entire human being inside of me.
Lets see, cravings. I have been craving a Sonics Cherry Coke like no other for the past few weeks. To the point where I'll drive once or twice a week 25 min round trip (why is there not one closer??) just to get a cherry coke. Don't worry I ask for extra ice so I'm probably actually only getting like 6 oz of soda and the rest is the delicious little ice cubes that I could eat all day!
Size of baby, wellll my handy dandy what to expect app says that this week the baby is 10 oz..where as over a week ago they told me he was 13 which I think is a 'decent size baby' for 20 weeks. So I'm guessing he's going to be a big one like his big brother. Tindra was average size but Jasper was just a couple oz shy of 9 lbs so for some reason I think this one will be on the bigger end as well.
Weight gain, my favorite topic...never. I'm up 13 lbs, which I didn't think was too horrible, but then I went and investigated (thanks blog) and found that around same time in the pregnancy last time I was up 8 lbs so... I'm going to blame halloween candy on that one. But I cut myself off 3 days ago cold turkey so hopefully not inhaling 6 recees peanut butter cups a day will help slow down that weight gain.
And apparently I haven't taken any belly pics lately (like three this entire pregnancy?) So I'll get on that! Trust me, the belly is out there.
The weekend before Halloween we ventured out early to Boo at the Zoo. We have gone every year since Jasper was two, making this our 5th year! We learned after our first boo at the zoo trip to GO EARLY! It's the busiest weekend of the year at the zoo I've been told (and witnessed!) and parking spots fill up fast!
My goal was to get there at 8:30 and when I told Drew I wanted us out the door at 8 sharp he laughed at me and said yeah right. I should mention this was at 7:35 as we rolled out of bed because Tindra SLEPT IN! Jasper didn't. But did crawl quietly in the bed with us and waited mostly patiently while we dozed some more.
So when I realized it was 7:35 I quickly threw some home made toast in the toaster and got to work getting the kiddos in their costumes. Tindra's was a bit more difficult since braiding a toddlers hair isn't exactly a quick or fun activity, but regardless I managed to have the kids AND myself dressed and ready to walk out the door by 8:07 which was pretty impressive I thought. Colorado Blvd (the main road that takes us directly to the zoo) was shut down for some unknown reason so we had to take a detour and ended up pulling in at 8:33. Still impressive though! We got a decent spot and by the time we made our way to the entrance at 8:45 they were letting people in even though it technically isn't supposed to open till 9. We noticed they did this last year also so Denver Boo At the Zoo tip : GO EARLY!
By going early we avoided any lines (except for the very last trick o treat spot which was the first for some people as they were coming in) and we were completely done and pulling out at 10:45. Perfect! Through the entire zoo in two hours. Drew and I were wondering out loud how different it would be next year at this same event with three little ones to wrangle!
My poor little monkey has been super sick since Friday night so I have been taking a computer break (first time I opened my lap top since Thursday) and enjoying the extra snuggles.
Friday night she woke up in the middle of the night crying so I brought her to bed with us, and then 30 min later she sat up gasping for air. We headed off to ER immediately where we spent the next 4 hrs (till 4:30 AM) getting steroids and breathing treatments and watching bubble guppies on the iPad. Oh and eating popsicles. Jasper and Tindra both thought it was pretty awesome to get popsicles at 3 AM. First time for everything!
After a croup diagnosis we finally stumbled into bed (me in Tindra's room with her) and got a couple hours of sleep. Saturday was spent cuddling and watching movies, as was Sunday, (with a little dunkin donuts run, which really was more for Drew and I who NEEDED coffee) and we found an empty park to let the kids get some fresh air and run around. Don't worry, as soon as I saw another car pull up with kids we headed home immediately.
I took T back to the peds yesterday as I didn't think she was improving as much as she should have been, and they agreed and after another round of steroids, she's feeling much better today I can tell!
When she's cuddling me, she's obsessed with 'petting the baby dinosaur' her hand always has to be on him. And last night, I took her into bed with me (still in her room) after midnight and she kept reaching around me no matter which way I moved to have her hand on my belly. I can't wait to see her as a big sister!
