Berry Patch Farms

We just returned from Berry Patch Farms, which is located about 30 minutes North of Denver. We met up with three families to enjoy Fall festivities, which included - a bluegrass band, a straw maze, strawberry picking, pumpkin patch and a fabulous little country store.

Conversation With Mom

I was chatting with my mom today and she said, "I probably should have taken up my father's offer to make me the first woman oral surgeon in Washington DC."

To which I said, "but you bought the monkey instead?"

Not Kidding

So today Chase sat down at the top of the stairs and we had this conversation.

C: I'm sitting down.
Me: Why?
C: Because I want to talk.
Me: Okay
C: So how are you doing?

I'm not making this up; I promise.
It was one of the craziest mom moments to date.

New Bed For Chase

It's official - we're set to move Chase into her new, big girl, room. The only problem? Too much time passed between asking her if she wanted to move and actually moving, so now she doesn't want to move. So unless we can talk her into it, she'll be staying in her little room.

In Other News

First - Welcome Auntie Lockett! We are looking forward to hosting Auntie Lockett and Uncle Courtney when they return from Aspen. We were lucky enough to have Lockett come by and spend the afternoon with us. She was such a good sport and read loads of Dora stories to Chase.

Second - We bought Chase a Skuut bike. With a little more practice, she'll be able to keep up with us with no problem. On our walk, we ran into Cooper, one of Chase's little beaus.

Thanks, Nana Cris!

Thanks, Nee Nee!

Politics

So I've been avoiding blogging about politics, but I had to post this!

Dear MomsRising.org Member,

Yesterday, MomsRising.org members tried to deliver our letter--signed by over 21,000 people--to Governor Sarah Palin's office in Washington, D.C. The letter simply asked, "Where do you stand?" on key issues of importance to moms and families.

But, we were turned away at the door.

When pressed, Palin's staff told the group to drop the letter in the mail, refusing to acknowledge the crowd of moms (and adorable baby) who were in the office to hand deliver it.

Snail mail can take a while, and we want to make sure that this election covers more than moose burgers and body surfing. All candidates--male, female, Democrat, Republican, and other--should speak to these issues. Some are, and others aren't (1). So, we're bringing our questions to the next level: getting our questions front and center in the Vice Presidential Debate on October 2nd.

Email PBS Senior Correspondent Gwen Ifill, who will be moderating the debate, to tell her you want these important questions asked: http://www.momsrising.org/VPDebateQuestions

The MomsRising.org team has written five questions we'd like to see posed to both Palin and Biden in that debate (see the questions below (2)). Let's get these questions to the debate moderator so the American public gets a chance to hear both candidates, side-by-side, answering the same questions.

When you click the link above, you'll send a message to Gwen Ifill and cc both of the presidential campaigns to let them know that over 21,000 voters want to hear them talk about these issues (which impact millions of Americans) at the debate.

Tell your friends to email Gwen Ifill, too! She needs to know how deeply important these issues are for millions of Americans--and that we demand they be addressed now!

Thank you!

--Kristin, Joan, Mary, Katie, Laura, Roz, Ashley, and the entire MomsRising.org Team

1. MomsRising members are tracking all of the candidates' speeches, tallying any mention of issues that impact moms. See their tallies at www.momsrising.org/candidatesbingo. If you plan to watch the presidential debate tomorrow, September 26th, you can tally the issues, too! Get your scorecard at www.momsrising.org/bingocard -- and keep an eye out for opportunities to get involved as the campaigns continue!

2. Our questions:

* Right now, the birth of a child is the number one cause of a "poverty spell" in America, and 1/4 of families with young children are living in poverty. Do you support a policy to provide paid family and medical leave to parents following birth or adoption of a new child?

* Nearly 1/2 of all full-time, private sector workers in the U.S. have no paid sick days. Do you support a policy to provide paid sick days for workers to use when they or their children get sick?

* In most American families, both parents work outside the home. Please tell us what your administration would do to help parents secure excellent, affordable childcare?

* Studies show that moms are paid 73 cents and single moms are paid about 60 cents to the dollar for doing the exact same job as men. Do you support the Fair Pay Restoration Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act?

* A child is born every 41 seconds without healthcare. What kind of Health Care Policy could Americans expect in your administration?

Littlest Skis Ever

Today we went to get skis for Chase. They are SO cute. They are about as long as chopsticks. Okay, a little longer. But totally cute. We are leasing them for the season; I've heard there are some great tiny tot ski programs at Breck and Keystone. We'll post pics when she's all dressed-up in her bibs and boots.

Baby #2 Update

Nothing much to report, except this baby is REALLY active. Much more active than Chase was. The baby is still really LOW. And as of next week, I'm in my 3rd trimester, so I am starting to think more and more about getting this baby OUT.

Unlike when we had Chase, I feel totally prepared this time around. We have the car seat, the stroller, the baby carrier (that we should have had two years ago), a baby cot, and a baby travel cot (which Nee Nee has volunteered to help us out with).

I have even registered with Babies R Us, so that friends and family who are scratching their heads as the holidays approach have somewhere to go for a list of items we still need. I must also say that while I don't believe in baby or wedding showers, I know people enjoy giving gifts - so gift away if you feel so inclined!

http://www.toysrus.com/registry/index.jsp

Kitchen - What's Left?

All we need now is our new window (arrival TBD) to replace a very old, cracked window, and some lovely custom curtains from Nee Nee, who was kind enough to volunteer to help us out. There's a little touch-up, that can wait until I can paint, and a cookbook nook.... And then, we're done!

Updates

So we've hosted people over here three nights in a row, and I have to say, it could be the secret to keeping a clean house! It's exhausting, but it's been really fun showing friends our new kitchen.

Hubs did the backsplash this weekend and it looks terrific. It's SOOO close to done.

The one strange thing that has happened, is that ever since we added a disposal, it's like it tipped the delicate balance in the house. Next thing you know, the wallpaper the last people painted over is going to start falling off (oh let's hope not). Anyway, we've got "burping" happening in the second sink (the one without the dishwasher), and last night we experienced some DISGUSTING burping downstairs, caused somehow by water coming up (with veggie bits) in the sink next to the washing machine (strange but true) and then today, there was water coming back up from our the spot where the soapy water is supposed to go. And then there was the standing water in the bathroom next door to the washing machine (really weird).

Got Milk?

This from AFP ... Luckily we never drank Chinese milk or used Chinese formula - but we did love Chinese yogurt. Ah well.

This news makes me so sad - take something you think should be safe and find out, guess what, it's killing you.

Speaking of which, if you want an interesting read, check out the China Study!

Death toll rises to four as China milk scandal escalates

10 hours ago

BEIJING (AFP) — China's milk scandal escalated dramatically on Thursday as it emerged the illegal chemical blamed for killing four babies had been detected in a wide range of dairy products, leading to mass recalls.

Authorities in mainland China said melamine, the chemical normally used in plastics that was initially found in infant milk powder, was also in regular milk being sold by three of the country's biggest dairy companies.

In the southern territory of Hong Kong, the government there said melamine had been discovered in drinks, ice creams and yoghurt made by Yili, one of the big brands that was selling the contaminated milk on the mainland.

"We urge the public to stop drinking products from the brand," Constance Chan, the head of Hong Kong's Centre for Food Safety, told reporters, after saying melamine was found in eight out of 30 Yili products.

The tainted products in Hong Kong and on the mainland were all being recalled on Thursday.

The discoveries came as Chinese officials reported a fourth baby had died in China's northwest Xinjiang region from drinking infant milk powder contaminated with melamine.

The Xinjiang fatality added to three deaths confirmed on Wednesday by Health Minister Chen Zhu, who also said more than 6,000 babies nationwide had fallen ill.

The scandal had already caused panicked parents around China to besiege hospitals seeking check-ups for their children, and the news that all other types of dairy products may be infected was sure to raise further alarm.

Melamine, banned in foods, was apparently introduced by dairy suppliers in China to give watered-down milk the appearance of having high protein levels.

It then made its way into the baby formula of 22 Chinese dairy firms, authorities said this week.

The three brands identified on Thursday as having melamine in their regular milk were Yili, Mengniu and Guangming, according to a report on the government-run television news station.

Meanwhile Chinese police made 12 more arrests as a probe widened into who added the melamine to the milk, Xinhua news agency reported, bringing the number arrested to 18.

The new arrests came in the northern city of Shijiazhuang, where the dairy manufacturer originally at the centre of the scandal, Sanlu Group, is based.

The mayor of Shijiazhuang was also sacked Thursday, according to Xinhua. Police had also detained the sacked chairwoman of Sanlu on Wednesday.

China's cabinet on Wednesday slammed the dairy industry as "chaotic" and said "flaws" were rife in supervision systems.

Seeking to rectify some of those problems, the government said Thursday it would cancel an eight-year-old system under which food producers could gain exemptions from safety inspections if they had good quality records.

Xinhua said one of the companies utilising that system was Sanlu.

The government also ordered stepped-up tests on livestock feed in an apparent signal of official concern over possible melamine contamination in the wider agricultural sector.

Even before the milk scandal, foreign media investigations had discovered wide use of melamine in China to give livestock feed the appearance of higher protein content.

China has endured a litany of scandals in recent years over dangerous products including food, drugs and toys, many of which were exported.

Two of the 22 milk companies found to have contaminated products exported to Bangladesh, Myanmar and some African countries. However, there has been no evidence yet the tainted products were sold overseas.

While praising China's response since the scandal broke, WHO China representative Hans Troedsson said authorities must determine why it took months for the risks to be made public, even though babies began falling ill several months ago.

"If this was deliberately not reported, that is a serious thing and must be addressed to make sure it is not repeated," Troedsson said.

Changing Eating Habits

So it's not because the doctor told me how much weight I've gained - honest. It's more about my experiences eating in different parts of the world and about three books that have found me (at the same time).

I'm not one to jump into a fad diet, in fact, I haven't dieted or much cared about what I ate since college, I've mostly tried to make solid decisions about what I eat day-to-day.

At any rate, after reading three books (again, they found me, I didn't go off looking for them) - (1) Younger Next Year, (2) Culinary Medicine and (3) The China Study, I am seriously considering the Macrobiotic lifestyle.

I've asked Hubs to read the 1st and the 3rd and let me know what he thinks. But I think it basically comes down to how to eat to live a long, healthy life.

Potty Training Update

So I'm sure Chase will H-A-T-E that I've blogged about potty training, but I have to share that the Make-Believe-Diaper-Fairy is, well, the best thing EVER. Maybe it's because we just got her excited enough to buy in to the entire idea.

First day, five pairs of pants. For the past four days - no accidents. None.

Amazing.
(Knock wood it continues)

Eager Reader

Every day Chase points to things and asks us what they say. It's totally outrageous. We've started reading to her and pointing at the words as we go. I can't believe she's 2.5 years old and seriously cares about words. It's fabulous.

Kitchen Remodel Update

So how is the kitchen remodel coming along? VERY WELL.

We are happy to report we are nearing the end of our project. Hubs is probably happiest, as the only major things left to do are the backsplash and a cookbook nook. There is also just the smallest amount of painting left (thank goodness). I've already told Hubs that after the baby comes he'll never have to paint anything again.

Also happy to report we pretty much stayed on budget. We did end up needing to replace the window over the sink - it's on order. And we will likely give each other a stainless dishwasher for Christmas (oh how romantic). We're also on the look-out for a eat-in kitchen table, although I'm pushing to move one of our couches into the eat-in space and making it an ultra comfy nook.

We're pretty pleased that we managed to update the kitchen and make it feel like it belongs with the house.

And a special thanks to Nee Nee Kar Kar who has agreed to make curtains for the window over the sink and the long window at the back of the eat-in space. I found lovely french tapestry (looking) curtains that I'm loving!

Next time I post pictures it should be done!



























And of course -- Silestone countertops...

The Itch

No, I'm not talking about my tummy - although it does itch a little.
I'm talking about the itch to move. We're both feeling it.
Singapore? Seattle? Boston (the city Hubs and I both feel is our home away from home)?

Here's the thing. If/when we move, we would/should do it in the Spring of next year, because we really should be *somewhere* we could be for a good while once Chase starts school.

Why not stay in Denver? For me, there's no ocean. And I'm really feeling it. I can't explain it, but I've talked to other people and they "know" the feeling. Hubs is a great sport and always game for a new adventure. So we just need to find somewhere that has an ocean and mountains - oh and a good economy.

The Weight

So I went to the doctor's office yesterday. I told my doctor I was done with being pregnant and she gave me this look like, what could I possible mean. She said, you still have four months to go. I said, no, I have three and a half months to go. And she told me how many weeks, which is like talking to me in Swahili - and why was she arguing with a pregnant woman anyway? Seriously.

And they weighed me. I have to say that I think the British really have it right by not weighing women during their pregnancy - and basically not even caring. I wonder what the doctor would do if I refused to be weighed, like a toddler refusing to eat spinach.

So I thought I could handle any number they threw at me, but I guess I can't. I was horribly upset yesterday afternoon, and even this morning. The doctor, by the way, said I'm on track for the average American when it comes to weight gain. But have you seen the average American lately? So I've totally lost my appetite. I can't bear the thought of eating. I'm sure it will pass, and it's not like I didn't invite it in - by basically eating anything and everything I wanted until now, which included about a half a cake over the course of four days.

So the buck stops here.

Potty Training

So we have been doing potty training, on and off, since the middle of Summer. And then I realized Chase was choosing to use her diaper over the potty - she actually TOLD me she wanted to use her diaper instead of the potty. That's when I knew I needed back-up.

So I told her that the make-believe diaper fairy was coming. And that if she put her diapers outside her bedroom, she would get presents and the fairy would re-distribute the old diapers to other children that needed them.

Interestingly, on diaper-free Day 1, she had 5 accidents. On day 2, she had 1 accident. Today, day 3, she had no accidents and she really seems to be getting the hang of it. I guess time will tell.

a - MAZE - ing

Tonight Chase did a maze. It was the first time we have ever showed her one. It was fairly basic, but there were a couple places where she could have gotten mixed-up or confused; she didn't. Not even for a moment. She just took the crayon and drew the line, without backtracking, from the mouse to the cheese. Hubs and I were totally amazed.

Berry Picking

Admittedly, there are no pictures of actual berry picking - Chase mostly did Berry eating, with her friend Linus, at an organic farm about 30 minutes outside of Denver.

Blogger's Choice Awards

Got this in my email from blogger, wanted to pass it along in case any of you blog readers has a little extra time...

http://bloggerschoiceawards.com/main/login

Time is running out! Blogger's Choice Awards voting will end soon. 3...2...1...the countdown has begun! Well, sort of. October 1st kicks-off the two-week countdown 'til voting closes at the Internet's coolest blog voting site, BloggersChoiceAwards.com. Know of a hot mommy blogger? Have a favorite Celebrity blogger? Is there a blogger that annoys the heck out of you? Have you discovered the "best blog of all time"? Why not nominate them for a Blogger's Choice Award, and give them a shot at the ultimate in blog bragging rights. Nominate and vote now or they could miss out. And if your blog has been nominated in any of the 36 categories (or multiple categories) don't forget to have your badge(s) posted so your readers can vote for you. A "reminder" post on your blog might not be a bad idea either. Be loud, be proud...after all, whoever nominated you thinks you're worth it. New nominations and voting will resume on January 7, 2008. Fresh year...fresh start!

Chase's Great Grand Dad Victor's Frock

A huge thanks to Mom for coming out to visit last week. Chase (as well as Hubs and I) loved having you here. We look forward to having you out again, after the baby is born.

I have baby-brain big time ,so I forgot my camera ALL WEEK LONG.

Mom had a copy of a frock her father had worn as a child. There are pictures of him, pictures of her and a picture of me in the same dress. And now there are (multiple) pictures of Chase wearing it, too. I finally got it together and took pictures. So there are a lot here!

Big Smile

This is Chase's "biggest smile" - and her self-portrait.

We were at Home Depot, paying for the counter (which has yet to be installed) and the woman behind the counter gave Chase a pink pen and yellow post-it note. Chase drew a picture of the woman - the woman took it and stapled it to her orange apron with pride. Chase then drew a picture of herself and stuck it onto her dress and wore it for the rest of the day.

I must say, her drawings are really impressive (said the crazy proud mom of her daughter).

New Dress

The dress Chase is wearing is from Nee Nee, who unfortunately never got to see her in it while she was here. It's in black and white because the color was a bit off - a shame, because she insisted on wearing her little belt with it.

New Shoes

Chase's FAVORITE shoes of 2008 have been her Dora slip-on (crock-like) shoes.

Hold on to something. Or sit down.

Today she picked out a new pair of shoes. Little girl kicks (sneakers). Pink and white. No silly characters on them. Just a couple of sparkles and small silver flowers.

But I checked her feet just about an hour ago and they were already getting red (where the shoes were rubbing). So we slipped on some socks, in hopes of stopping any blisters. Fingers crossed when I take her shoes off tonight for her bath I don't find them red and swollen.

If I have to put her back in the Dora shoes, I'm not sure I'll ever get them off again.

Another Friend

There is a little girl up the street, who Chase loves almost as much as she loves Chase. So I decided to ask her if she would come and read to Chase once a week. So starting next Thursday, I'm planning to hold a tea party for them. They can munch on little scones, drink tea and read books.

The little girl up the street has three brothers, so I think it will be a welcome break to do "girlie" things with Chase.

Make Believe

Chase's ability to self-entertain grows daily. The content and complexity of the conversations her Einsteins have with each other is amazing.

The Einsteins started off speaking in Mandarin to each other - they would say "Ni Hao"to each other. When they started speaking English, they said only basic pleasantries - "please," or "thank you" to each other. But recently I overheard them having complete conversations with each other.

Tonight, for example, they are talking about having "boo boos" on their knees (while the other is saying "your knee is okay"- and then the conversation evolves to one asking the other if she is wearing underwear, training pants or a diaper.

And now, she is putting all of them to bed and singing little songs to them.

So sweet.

Why Silestone Quartz?

After debating Silestone vs soapstone, it came down to money - which we don't have much of at this point - and resale potential.

Hubs and I both love soapstone, and will probably install it in our "forever" house (if there is such a thing). It's old. It's gorgeous. It ages naturally. It is quite common in Europe.

Silestone, on the other hand, looks more like granite. It's been featured in all kinds of home decor magazines, as well as the street of dreams. It has no VOC emissions and offers consumers the joy of preparing food on a antimicrobial surface (sort of freaks me out but whatever). It's also one of those counter tops that is more appealing to the masses.

And the real kicker - the Silestone, thanks to two promotions running simultaneously, is MUCH more affordable.

Kitchen Remodel: More Pictures

Cabinet installation took three days... (have I mentioned how sick we are of all things grilled)














Finally














And then Hubs began to tile...




















Hubs worked late into the night...



















The tile is set...













So now we have a working sink and a dishwasher (which will be replaced once we have money again) - our fridge is still in our dining room - and our stove is still on the back porch.

What's next?
1) Counter top needs to be measured and ordered (we're going with Silestone Quartz)
2) Floor needs to be grouted and sealed
3) Back splash goes up
4) Wainscoat and trim goes up

Kitchen Update - Go Hubs Go!

The cabinets are installed. The workmen are gone. Now we're on to tiling the floor, the back-splash, the trim, the wainscoat -- and if we're really lucky, we'll be able to move the fridge and stove back in to the kitchen by Sunday.

Bless Hubs; he has done amazing things with this house and has probably increased the value of our house by 50K (at least). Go Hubs, Go!

I am so tired of all things grilled.

I tried to get the downstairs nice and clean today, but everything has a thin coat of dust on it. I think we're going to have to call in back-up.

On Being An Adult

Two nights ago I was invited to attend a sneak peek of the new Children's Garden at the Denver Botanical Gardens. It so fabulous to be invited - really fun. I actually pitched a fundraising idea (shocker, I know), so we'll see if any work comes out of it. It would be a great project (not that I have any time)!

New Room For Chase

I have asked Chase several times if she wants to move into the "big bedroom," so that her little sister have have her room. She has said no. And no. And no. So I decided not to push the issue.

But last night, she told me she wanted the big room and that her little sister could have her room. So after Nana Cris and Auntie Lockett visit, we're moving her into her big girl room!

Bushel & A Peck

Nee Nee will be happy to hear that Chase sang the Bushel & Peck song last night while we were eating dinner!

ABCs

Two nights ago, Chase sang her ABCs - with excellent diction - but when she got to V, she jumped to "double-X" and then Y and Z. So cute.

Monkey-Butt

So I would rather not post this, but Hubs promised he will stop calling our dog Monkey-Butt in front of Chase if I did.

Yesterday Brian was outside, trying to call Taggart, our dog to come out of the kitchen. He said, "come here, Monkey-Butt."

Chase, who was right beside him, said, "No, Monkey-Butt, No." For some reason she likes Taggart to stay inside.

Hubs thought this was hilarious. I was scared for the future of our child. I mean what if she called another kid Monkey-Butt?

Just one of many things that makes parenting so, very interesting.

Kitchen Remodel Pictures

So when we bought this house we knew the kitchen needed a face-lift if we were ever going to resell it. I did not take a picture of our old kitchen because I disliked it so.

Picture white-painted cabinets, a mustard counter, mustard backs plash, a very funky plaster "blue sky" and grubby white plastic tile floor that showed everything that ever touched it.

This, combined with a very weird downstairs entry (back left on second picture) made the kitchen even more confusing, as it was covered over and left like a giant, unusable shelf. We decided that instead of opening it up, we could keep it covered, but insert cabinets above it and panel the wall below it, so that a person coming in would not even suspect a stairwell was beneath it.














Note the blue plaster "sky" - oh lovely... It was in the main kitchen too, before we put beadboard over it.













Yei Yei managed to take a little time away from the kitchen to enjoy Chase...














And Nee Nee spent countless hours reading and playing with Chase...














And Yei Yei helped us install our new light fixtures (just one of his many talents)...




















And Hubs worked until he was too tired to stand...














And Nee Nee helped us paint over the yellow and rust colored walls...














And then the cabinets arrived...

Butterfly Dreams

Me: What did you dream about last night?
Chase: Butterflies
Me: Oh? What color were they?
Chase: Red
Me: How many were there?
Chase: Two
Me: Were they big or small?
Chase: Small
Me: So what did you dream about?
Chase: Two red, small, butterflies

Remodel Tip

Couple things we've learned...

1) Some things on Amazon.com are less expensive than they are at Home Depot

2) You can live with just a BBQ and a garden hose (it's hard, but it's possible)

3) You can remodel with a toddler in the house - and they can sleep through anything if they are exhausted enough.

Kitchen Remodel: Day 4

Has it really been four days already?

Besides the dog running through the floor leveler yesterday (while it was setting), and my father-in-law burning his forearm, the kitchen remodel seems to be running (knock wood) on time. Hubs goes back to work tomorrow, so it's really important the ceiling gets put up tonight (it will cover a "charming" sky-blue, plaster mess).

We're all tired. Long days with no rest. But it is saving us about 10-15K, so in the end it's worth it.

Chase, who hasn't napped since Nee Nee and Yei Yei arrived, crashed at 7:30 tonight, unable to keep her eyes open, despite the insane noise of an air compressor, staple gun and circular saw humming away in the background.

Kitchen Remodel Update

The cabinets have been removed. The old plastic tile has been removed. The sink is gone. The fridge is in the living room. The stove is outside on the porch.

And today Hubs and Yei Yei start putting the kitchen back together. Starting with leveling the floor. They also have to level the ceiling. But that's another story.

Only casualty - the kitchen window. Cracked. And probably should be replaced. So far we are only just over the original budget, but with the house across the street, which is smaller (and does not have an updated look) on sale for 100K over what we paid for this house (amazing!) we feel pretty good about spending the money on the kitchen.

Now we're off to confirm the counter top. We found a GORGEOUS piece of soap stone yesterday.

It's A Girl

That's right, on December 29th (or thereabouts) we will be welcoming our second daughter to the world.

At our Dr. appointment, yesterday, everything looked great - the measurements are right on the mark, all of the tests have come back pointing to a healthy baby, so we're quite excited. I'm halfway through and I've gained 6 lbs. The baby weighs 1 lb. Chase was born weighing just under 7 lbs, so I've got to gain at least another 5 lbs in the next four months (which I'm sure won't be a problem). The most significant difference in the two pregnancies are (1) my diet - alas, no full English Breakfasts here!, and (2) activity level:rest - activity level is very high, rest is very low this time around. With Chase I took 2 naps a day - oh, lovely naps.

Hubs is already planning the girls will play soccer and ski, so that he can do it with them.
SO SWEET.

Kitchen Remodel Update

We've decided to go with a soapstone counter, as it has no VOC emissions. Slate-colored tile floors (no slate, as it emits radon). Now we're on to lighting, back-splash, as well as the sink and faucet.

What's This?

Chase

Crazy Week

So this crazy guy almost punched me in the face (I'm not kidding) - I was crossing the street and he was coming from the other direction. I could tell he wasn't "all there," so I put as much distance as I could and stepped away from him just as I passed him, which turned out to be a good move, because he just missed me (I felt the wind).

We had our first Tornado experience - but the sirens sounded outside (pretty amazing warning system actually) and we headed for the basement - with Chase, the dog and the cat. We were down there for a half hour, checked the warning and unfortunately I misread the second warning and we stayed down there for another half hour (even though we didn't have to). Ah well, better safe than sorry, right? Good thing I had taken some of Chase's toys downstairs - she entertained us by whacking on her drum set and singing.

And Taggart (the most expensive dog in the world) visited the vet (yet again). He's had a rather large bump that won't go away over the top of his eye and there are three others that seem as though they are growing fast - turns out he has mites (yuck-o). So we just need to give him more meds.

Busy Bees

We are heading into another busy streak here... expecting Hubs' parents next week (hurray!) to help us with our kitchen and nursery. From there, Hub's little sister and her hubby will be in town, as well as some friends from Portland (for the Democratic Convention) - and then my mom returns! My dad may be able to come visit in October. And November/December should be nice and quiet, with many a fire in the fireplace - and many a hot chocolate.

Living in Denver has been so great. It is SO nice to have company and see family. We love it.

Counter tops

And so the much anticipated kitchen remodel begins in less than two weeks. Hubs' parents will be in town - Yei Yei will help Hubs demo and prep the kitchen for the contractor to install the cabinets, while Nee Nee will play with Chase and help me stay sane.

The custom cabinets have been ordered. We have selected the tile. Now we are evaluating counter tops. Who knew that the counter top would be the hardest part?

We've decided (okay, I've decided) we are going green. I just need something that isn't going to emit radon and radiation (like granite), something without toxic polymers and sealants, and something that is going to be a safe and sanitary cooking surface. Is that so much to ask? Apparently it is.

So being everso slightly obsessive compulsive, I have contacted a number of stone vendors in the area, as well as "green builders." And while they say their stone is safe, they can't actually provide me with recent radiation/radon readings. The green builder wasn't even aware there might be a problem with granite counter tops.

The New York Times recently wrote an article about radon and radiation coming from granite counter tops and noted "The E.P.A. recommends taking action if radon gas levels in the home exceeds 4 picocuries per liter of air (a measure of radioactive emission); about the same risk for cancer as smoking a half a pack of cigarettes per day." So I guess smoking three cigarettes is okay? Whatever. Is that seriously their guidelines for when to take action? Oh and there was no mention of the toxins in the polymers that hold granite counter tops together.

And of course all of the granite people are telling me that the story was placed by quartz people - and then go on to provide me with a tutorial of what PR is (seriously!). It's always interesting to hear what other people think PR is, so I have actually only told one that my background is PR. The others I figured, well, whatever.

So granite is out. Soapstone and quartz are possibilities (if anyone could actually provide me with a picocuries reading from them, which they don't have even though they say it's safe). And then Ice Stone is supposed to be good, but I'm weary of the glue that holds all the recycled stuff together - it clearly isn't water soluble. And did you know they are actually putting antimicrobial agents in counter tops now? That's a little scary too.

But the one on top? Glass. Recycled glass. Pure, simple, non-leaching and easy to clean. It doesn't get better than that, does it?

Is It Hot In Here?

We have just survived Denver's 21st consecutive day of record-breaking heat - every day has been above 90 degrees. Seriously. And we have no AC. We do, however, now own more fans than I have ever owned in my whole life.

We leave the house first thing and by 10:30 a.m., it's too hot to be outside. The weather guy seems to think it will break this week. Fingers crossed. I would be happy with anything in the 80s at this point. I would be VERY happy if it rained. And I would be elated if we could have a couple days in the 70s - although I think we'd have to pull out our winter jackets and boots because we've become so accustomed to this heat.

And let me say that being pregnant when it's hot is SO UNFUN.

Anyway - on to Chase. Hubs and I marvel at her growth - mental, physical, emotional. At 2-years, 4 months, she is capable of completing a 24-piece puzzle with very little help. She has the concentration to complete 5 puzzles in a row, which seems to prove she has a powerful ability to focus for her age. She has started loving the game of memory (we have a Pooh set). I'm starting her on Dominoes this week and may even buy the game COOTIE for her some day in the near future. Her ability to self- entertain is growing -- she can play for about a half hour at a time before she needs attention. She loves her friends and talks about them constantly.

And her Chinese is coming along beautifully. She can sing songs and repeat Chinese words with ease. And yes, she even plays with her dolls in Chinese. Speaking of which, we have decided to have Chase's latest tutor give us 6 hours a week once baby #2 comes along and we have also decided to apply for DIS's Fall 2009 class NOW - they just merged with another private school so it looks like it's the best we could hope for! - Now she just needs to get in...

On another note, we took her to the pool and used a swimming aid (not wings, it's this yellow pad that straps to her back. The child really has to work to stay afloat.) and she was swimming short distances, un-aided, by us on the third day.

And she continues to grow. After she gains another 2 lbs she can ride on the volvo booster seats - goodbye car seat! She will be in to 5T clothes (does T go that high?) this fall - and wearing size 8.5 shoes.

She still loves the Einsteins, Clifford, Elmo and Thomas the Train. She enjoys books and being read to immensely. We start a dance class in September.

It will sure be interesting to see what number 2 is like...s/he is already kicking and moving about like mad - much more than Chase. Both Hubs and I have had dreams that s/he is a boy. Hmmm. We'll know in a couple weeks.

Happy Birpy To You

Chase sang 'Happy Birpy To You" to her little friend, Anna, who turned two yesterday. CUTEST ever. I really have to start using a video camera to capture this stuff!

Testing, Testing

So baby number 2 has tested negative for downs and spinabifita and something else I can't spell or pronounce. We are busy counting our blessings.