girl at large

I like to write about life when you have a job, some kids, a fixer upper and a fatal disease.

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  • The Great Outdoors

    We made it out into the world on Wednesday of week 2! We wrangled her into the carseat in (in a 2 door!), went to a museum, ate in a restaurant, changed a diaper in a bathroom, and nursed in public. A very big day!

    On Friday we went to the grocery store, and on Saturday to Target. Baby girl loves the sling, as do I—the freedom to roam!
    Or to roam as far as 2 hours before the next nursing will take us anyway.

    Who knew going to the store could be so exciting. I was so happy to be out of the house, I wanted to kiss the ground.

    The Great Outdoors

    The Great Outdoors

    The Great Outdoors

    The Great Outdoors

    The Great Outdoors

  • Yes, I am a Wisconsin Mom.

    Puffy vest, check. Stretchy pants, check. Six pack on the way back from our first walk, check.


    Yes, I am a Wisconsin Mom.

  • Shhhhhhhh……

    Things not to say to a new parent:

    “In my day…”
    “Oh, thats just normal”
    “You know what you should do…”
    “Why aren’t (or are) you using bottles/formula/pacifiers/breastfeeding”?
    “You can’t do ________ with a baby!”

    Things that you should say to new parents:

    “Here’s the lasagna, I’m leaving now.”
    “The laundry is done”
    “The massage therapist is here!”
    “Tell me the story”
    “You are amazing!”


    Shhhhhhhh......

  • Cousin Jack Sums It Up

    J:Hey Kate, I gotta tell you something you should already know.
    K: What’s that Jack?
    J: You’ve got a big day coming up.
    K: What day is that?
    J: Um hello, PREGNANT!! Duh!! (big gesture pointing at my belly) So, when are you going to have it already?
    K: Not sure, could be any day now.
    J: Are you going to have it here at OFR?
    K: I don’t think so, but what do you think if I did, would that be hilarious or what?
    J: I bet you’d get overtime.


    Cousin Jack Sums It Up

  • Parents Say The Darnedest Things

    There have been some memorable moments over the past none months:

    “You got pregnant so quickly, its like I got you pregnant from across the room, KAPOW!!” -guess who

    “I never thought it would happen for you!”. -Paul’s mom when we told her the big news

    Paul, holding up a onesie in my direction: “Fill it!”

    “Guess what honey, you get to pork me one last time!” -Kate, reading the baby book chapter on ways to get labor started.

    “Where does the umbilical cord go, back in?”-Paul (I will forever imagine a self-retracting vacuum cleaner cord).

    “I gotta go, I’m heading to Target for an emergency bigger pantie run” -Kate

    “Will your mucus plug come out if you take Mucinex? Mucus is mucus, right?” -Paul

    “Was it vigorous? It’s got to be vigorous!” – Mom, explaining how sex can help get labor started.

    “My part is done, the rest is your job!” -Dad, on completing the cradle.

    “I think I can make it that long!” – Grandma Mickey every week when I tell her how much longer til the due date

  • Parents Say The Darnedest Things

    There have been some memorable moments over the past none months:

    “You got pregnant so quickly, its like I got you pregnant from across the room, KAPOW!!” -guess who

    “I never thought it would happen for you!”. -Paul’s mom when we told her the big news

    Paul, holding up a onesie in my direction: “Fill it!”

    “Guess what honey, you get to pork me one last time!” -Kate, reading the baby book chapter on ways to get labor started.

    “Where does the umbilical cord go, back in?”-Paul (I will forever imagine a self-retracting vacuum cleaner cord).

    “I gotta go, I’m heading to Target for an emergency bigger pantie run” -Kate

    “Was it vigorous? It’s got to be vigorous!” – Mom, explaining how sex can help get labor started.

    “My part is done, the rest is your job!” -Dad, on completing the cradle.

    “I think I can make it that long!” – Grandma Mickey every week when I tell her how much longer til the due date

  • How Many Onesies Can One Little One Need?

    The nursery closet is finally organized. It’s chock full of clothing—onesies of every description, sweaters, snowsuits, and an endless supply of sack thingies. All of them are gifts and pass alongs from friends and family. There are four more dresser drawers chock full. And thats not counting the two bags of duck-embellished items I’ve regifted.

    The second photo is the sum total
    of clothing items that I myself have bought for the baby. Seriously, that’s it.

    How Many Onesies Can One Little One Need?

    How Many Onesies Can One Little One Need?

  • Countdown

    I’m 37 weeks now, Baby is head down and I’m having lots of Braxton Hicks contractions. Now, if only I could get this project done at work! I have a feeling that as soon as I get work wrapped up, real labor will kick in. Until then, though the nursery is ready, the kitchen is stocked and the childbirth books are read—I’m not yet mentally ready. I’m as ready as I’ll ever be to be a mom, but it’s leaving work behind I’m finding difficult to do!


    Countdown

  • Simple Things

    The pressure is on to be ready for baby! Only 6 more weeks. The house is coming along, thanks to some outsourcing.

    We are in the trailer this weekend—-more work! I’m going to deliver this baby with a screwdriver in my hand. Or in the case of the trailer, a screw driver with a specially ordered “clutch” bit for the clutch style screws used briefly in the 1950’s and 60’s in the automotive industry, and apparently for every single attachment in an old trailer.

    Enjoying a wonderful hot cup of coffee on a cool morning after a camp shower, hearing crows in the distance, Miss Ruby at my feet. I really do love camping. And wi-fi.


    Simple Things

  • If it is the Thought that Counts, I’m in Trouble

    Photo (3)

    Paul, enthusiastically as usual: "I love being married to you. I really love being married!"

    Me, with what I thought was the same enthusiasm: "I'm getting used to it!"