Secret Thursday: food

Nothing too juicy today and maybe not all that secretive, but I'll still share cuz I'm nice like that. Today's edition is related to food. Baby food. Of course. Duh.

1) Lovie adores bananas. But now that she refuses being fed and must self feed only, she doesn't get to enjoy bananas too much because they're slippery and she's like her momma in that when she wants something she wants it NOW and doesn't want to wait twenty minutes (or one) to figure out how to pick up the piece of banana (and at 10 months- TOMORROW OMG!- she can't peel a banana and eat that way of course) and get it into her mouth without it slipping out of her hands or smooshing it.

She also loves her cheerios.

So how does a working mom with little culinary ability get her baby doll to enjoy bananas again? GRIND UP CHEERIOS, DUMP THEM IN A BAGGIE, ADD BABY BITE SIZE PIECES OF BANANA, SHAKE, AND SERVE! It's really that easy. And she's up to eating 1/2 a banana these days this way. Go sweet Lovie!

2) Now that Lovie is, again, only wanting to self feed, what the hell do I do with all the containers of store bought (for shame) baby food in the cabinet? BOIL SOME WHEAT PASTA AND USE THE BABY FOOD AS A SAUCE!! Bingo!! Winner, winner, chicken dinner!

Do you have any secrets to share?

Secret Thursday

Another Thursday, another secret. This one's not so juicy and not very fun, but it's life I suppose: My Oma (grandmother), the namesake behind Lovie's middle name, is dying.

She had a piece of her lung removed 10 years ago when they told her she had lung cancer (she's never smoked a day in her life). Four years ago, while at a baby shower for my niece, Oma told me that the cancer was back and that she wouldn't be doing anything about it because of the pain she endured last time and because Ota (my grandfather) was no longer alive (he passed away the year prior to this conversation). She insisted she was old and had lived a long life already.

It took everything in me not to break down into hysterics. I know I welled up, but I tried to just remain calm and listen.

I've cried many a night since then.

The thought of a world without my Oma breaks my heart. The warmth and goodness this woman exudes is indescribable. She's everything I could ever hope to be in life and I've known for a very long time that should I ever have a girl child, she would be somehow and someway named after my Oma. 

About a year ago my mom, who now lives with Oma, told us (me and my brother and sister) that Oma had congestive heart failure but that she would be OK as long as she didn't overexert herself. I was pregnant with Lovie at the time and it had been my dream that Oma at least be able to hold my child at least once- that I could have at least one picture of Oma with my own child. 

And she has. When Lovie was only a couple weeks old, we made the drive out to Oma's house despite the frigid temps. I was still healing from my c-section and Lovie was this itty bitty little thing. Seeing Oma's face light up as I handed her my Lovie is an image I will never forget. And it's one that we've been able to redo at least once a month since then, not taking any time we have with her for granted.

Then just a couple of months ago my mom told me that she was at the doctor with Oma for a check up and not only does Oma have congestive heart failure but that the lung cancer that was removed 10 years ago and returned 4 years ago was completely covering her lungs.  She said the doctor showed them both the x-rays to see just how much was covered. Fortunately, her heart wasn't covered though.

She didn't come right out and say it, but she basically said that it's only a matter of time.

*inhales deeply*

I met my mom for lunch today. I talked up a storm about Lovie and how she survived 6 days of diarrhea and the worst case of diaper rash. And then my mom nonchalantly told me that she thinks Oma is getting pneumonia.

Surprisingly I didn't cry.

Of course now as I type this... it's a whole other story.

Secret Thursday

Last week I shared a secret on Thursday. This week, I think I'll do the same. Wouldn't it be groovy if I could do it again next week, too? And then you do it on your blog and it will be a blogging revolution that we share secrets on Thursday. Or not.

So today's juice isn't really baby related, shockingly enough. Well not all of it, at least. Ready?

Secret #1:
I think I found my old grammar school crush. I'm about 99% sure it's him, in fact. On Facebook of course. Good old Facebook.

It's funny because I've "looked" for him and others (because there were just so many others, uh huh) in the past but it's hard to know if you've found the right person if it's been TWENTY-FIVE YEARS! Fortunately this one has a more unique name and is the only one on Facebook. Not sure what possessed me to even look for him, but I did and I found him and it just brought back so many memories...

his long black hair flowing in the wind
his teeth covered in metal that sparkled when he smiled
his tight jeans and heavy metal t-shirts
his walk (like a stick was up his ass- must've been the tight jeans)
the way he'd shake my chair in class (he sat behind me, would shake chair with feet)
the way he'd tap his pencil on the desk until I'd turn around and tell him to stop
the way I tried not thinking about him but it didn't work

Ah to be 13 and in 8th grade again.

NO FUCKING THANKS!! I hated my teen years. HATED. Wouldn't go back for anything.

Anyway a part of me wonders if he would remember me. I mean, we only went to 8th grade together (I transferred in) and that was that. Like I said, it's been 25 years. A part of me would love to "friend" him and ask but I won't do it... I just don't think it's fair to my husband even though nothing ever happened between us. Plus it would be weird. I mean, it's already weird considering I'm BLOGGING ABOUT IT!

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Secret #2:
Meijer, the grocery store, sells baby shoes!! They sell a lot of shit but they sell baby clothes, too. And SHOES. Baby shoes! At the Meijer (cheap!) price!

If you know anything about me, you know I'm cheap (I should put that in my About Me, huh?). And it pains me to spend lots of money on Lovie's clothes and shoes. I have no qualms with buying used- especially when it comes to baby clothes/shoes. Why not? I mean, how often do wee ones wear their clothes before outgrowing??

My biggest problem is shoes, though. It's so hard to find Lovie shoes because a) I'm cheap and b) her feet are TINY. Ugh. But I saw these cute mocs on this adorable baby in another blog and have been searching (because I was too timid to ask) for them to no avail. Well said blogger posted today about them! And I just bought two pair! WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE I can't wait till they come!

But. That's not at all my secret. My secret is that I found a pair of furry boots (not mocs but still furry and fucking cute!) at MEIJER of all places for ... $7.99.  Did I buy them?  Well, no - but only because I just spent $50 on two pair of mocs earlier.  We'll see what happens when they come- if I don't like, I'll return and get the cheapass boot things from Meijer for $8!!

Why didn't I know that MEIJER had baby shoes and shit? Well, now I do. And now you do, too!

So do YOU have secrets to share with the class this week??

secret, secret, i got a secret! *

Okay so it's not that good of a secret so don't get all excited.  It's just something I thought of and did on my own without hearing about it from a message board or friends, and something that I've kept to myself for some stupid reason. And it's something that I don't think many people would even think to do unless they happen to be moving or purging or something.

WTF is it?!?

Well, here's a picture of it:

Haha, I'm sure you're just rolling your eyes- if you're even still reading.

Yeah so it's a storage tote you can pick up from Target or Home Depot, etc. Sometimes you can get them on sale (which is the only time I buy them), but they're great for storing things. Anything: Clothes, pots and pans, books, toys, whatever. Right? Hell, I've even heard people turning them into litter boxes for their cats. Point is they're very useful!

That's not my secret though. My secret is ... why not place one in the center of your infant's room and use it as a table of sorts? You can store toys in it if you want, too. Or Christmas stuff. Or whatever.

My point is that Lovie loves the storage tote we've left in her room (we just moved end of August and well, it's taking us quite some time to unpack and set up and crap). She plays with it every single time she's playing in her room (I will get pics some day). She uses it pull her self up to stand (great idea, no??) and bangs toys on it. Or her hands. She loves making noises and this allows that. She also loves walking around it, etc. And there aren't any sharp corners in case she gets a little crazy and lets go of it while standing (which she's been doing lately!), possibly resulting in her forehead or chin kissing the tote (fortunately this hasn't happened).

I'm telling you it's one of the best things we've discovered in a long time.  And all for like $5.

Whodathunk, right?

So now that I've shared my secret, I want to hear one of yours. What's something goofy, cheap, off-the-wall, etc that you've discovered that you've been keeping to yourself to make you think you're the most awesomest, most brilliant person ever to walk the earth? : )

* and an extra 5 points if you tell me where today's title originates from! (but don't ask me what you can do or get with those 5 points)