Art Project: Dying Eggs

I pretty much expected Jackson to be all about coloring the Easter eggs.  Usually his eye light up at anything that has potential to be messy - markers, ketchup, finger paints, Sharpies, lipstick, grape juice, etc.

 However, despite the bold colors, fizzing bubbly color tablets & the promise of stained fingers, Jackson gave the egg dying set-up a once over and went back to color his Grover coloring book.

The one aspect of egg dying in which Jackson wanted to participate was the messiest - of course!  He wanted to help get the eggs out of the colored water, using the dinkiest metal loop that barely even fit around the egg.  After multiple attempts, dropped eggs & cross-contamination, all eggs were safely drying out of reach of 2 little hands.

The final result -- a menagerie of speckled-dotty-textured-mottled-brightly colored eggs! 

Dr. Benjie

Since I have a history of preterm labor and my doctor could not determine the cause or any risk factors, the only way to reduce the risk of a recurrence is to take weekly progesterone shots, from week 16 to week 36.  Those who know me well know that I have major needle fears, as in hyperventilating-I'm-gonna-throw-up-and-pass-out type of fears.  So the news of weekly injections for 20 weeks was pretty traumatic.

But have no fear, Dr. Benjie is here!

Rather then shell out hundreds of dollars for the porta-nurse to drop by and prick me in the butt each week, Ben was adamant that he could administer the shots himself.  (In his defense, he did give himself allergy shots for years; however, he was quite eager to do the job.)  Dr. Heidtman was very supportive of showing Ben how to give the shots and said it was somewhat common for hubbies to do it. 

To compound my fear, the compounding pharmacy where I had to pick up my serum made a unnecessarily big deal about these being intramuscular shots & the 1 1/2" needle had to go all the way into the flesh.  And the helpful annoying pharm tech pointed out that she'd "heard" these shots were really painful so she gave me a lower gauge needle (i.e. bigger) so it would go in faster.  Thanks for the tip.

So the fateful day rolled around.  I got home from bible study and faced the inevitable.  Ben was a bit too excited.  He made a especially big (and unnecessary) show of washing his hands, disinfecting the the vial, loading the weapon syringe and prepping a cotton swab.  I was armed with my US Weekly, laying on the bed so he would have access to target.  Trying my hardest to be distracted with Hollywood's latest gossip, I honestly did not even realize he had given me the shot.  I didn't feel a thing - no the prick of the needle, the sting of the meds, nothing. 

And of course, I assumed he'd done something wrong since it went so smoothly.  After a chat with the nurse the next day, I was reassured that he most likely hit the right spot & some people just don't find the shots painful.  We are 5 weeks into the shots now and Dr. Talbert still have a perfect track record of pain-free pricks!

Friday Fun: Children's Museum

A year or two ago, a state-of-the-art Children's Museum opened up in downtown Greenville.  Its the 7th largest in the country and we've been wanting to check it out for some time.  A few weeks ago, Julie & I took the boys & they had a ball!  I will say that the activities were a little limited for the young toddler set but there were plenty of things to wear these two out in less than 2 hours.

Shopping in "Bi-Lo".  He didn't understand the concept that its

pretend shopping so you have to put it back once you ring it up.

They LOVED the splash pools...and we loved the water smocks they got to wear. 

They looked like little angels in a Christmas pageant!

Riding the "horsey"

Its official...

Its official....my remaining days in the working world are numbered. I have officially let Fabric Editions know that my last day will be June 16!!  Yippee!

I have had the privilege of working for a very flexible company doing a job I love for nearly 6 years.  They very graciously let me return to work post-baby on self-directed schedule of 2 partial days per week, with the flexibility to take off time as needed, no questions asked.  Its bittersweet to willingly walk away from a job that I enjoy and that serves as a means to the much-needed "me time".  However, Ben & I both grew up with stay-at-home Moms, and we both knew that we wanted that for our children as well.  After much thought & prayer, we decided that now was the time to make that transition.

Now that I have put a date on my impending departure, it can't get here soon enough.  Its like how you feel at the end of a long semester in college -- the end is in sight & you just can't wait to check out.  If it wasn't for me wanting to complete a current project before I hit the road, I would totally be out of there sooner.  I am so excited about a fun summer with just me & Jackson before New Baby's arrival!

I mean, who wouldn't want to spend more time with this little rascal?

March wrap-up

Rather than actually blog, I figured I'd just post a few pics from the past couple weeks.  We've been playing outside & having lots of playdates plus some fun times with grandparents!

Best buddies.

Neighborhood cookout...Anna, Jackson, Campbell,  Nolan & Cooper.

Happy Bday Slade!

Having a bday cupcake!

Looking suspicious...

Splashing outside in the sunshine.

Sesame Street Live with Bebe & PopPaw

After the water table splashing, we ditched the clothes & played naked for a while.

Chillin' in Mommy's shades

Helping Daddy mow the grass.

Jackson loves Poppy - playing in the creek, nutty buddies....

Get 'em while you can!

Several years ago, my best friend Alisha & I started an apron business, making & selling cute, reversible designer aprons to boutiques across the Carolinas. However, due to the busyness of mommy-hood and other factors, we have decided to liquidate our inventory & dissolve our business. (If you don't know, Alisha was diagnosed with colon cancer last April and has since had surgery, moved back to Ohio & undergone chemo. As of March, she is cancer-free!)

We are in the process of selling our remaining aprons, mainly to local boutiques, but also wanted to offer them to friends and family. These aprons typically retail for $40, with a $20 wholesale, but we are offering them for $10 each to quickly liquidate. These aprons make excellent wedding shower gifts, hostess gifts or are great for housewarmings!

Each apron is 100% cotton and reverses to a solid coordinating fabric. The pocket is monogrammable and all aprons are handmade in the great state of South Carolina.  If you are interested in purchasing an apron, just email me at missy_talbert@bellsouth.net!

February's Top 10

It's so hard to believe its already March! February was came & went and I've barely had time to upload pics, not to mention come up with clever anecdotes to blog about. Here's the Top 10 list of fun times we've had this month (excluding the circus & Alisha & Ethan's visit, which I've already blogged about!)

#10: We met Daddy at work one day & had a picnic lunch and splashed in the fountain at RMC.

#9:  We went to visit Mawmaw Isaac & Jackson got to eat TWO chocolate chip cookies.

#8: Uncle Mikey & Aunt Jenn came to visit

#7: Bebe bought Jackson a set of little chairs and he loves putting his stuffed animals in them & reading them books.

#6: Poppy taught me how to climb the front door.

#5: Daddy took a day off work and took us to the Bounce House & park!

#4: Jackson + Bella = Best Friends Forever

#3: We went to the zoo and Jackson got to hang out with his little friend Emerson.

#2: Its amazing how much joy a baby with a 103-degree fever can get out of an inflated surgical glove.

#1: Jackson's going to be a Big Brother in August!!!