SwagBucks

Showing posts with label in-laws. Show all posts
Showing posts with label in-laws. Show all posts

Friday, November 6, 2009

Two Years Ago Today

This day two years ago both my parents and my in-laws were waiting as my due date for String Bean came and went. I remember going to the OB that day and being told that I was not in the least dilated, the baby had not dropped, and they didn't suspect I'd be going into labor any time soon.

6 days later, I was induced since there was still no sign of an impending arrival and String Bean had gotten too cramped to do much moving anymore.

After 26 hours on pitocin and zero contractions (and saying farewell to my father-in-law who had to get back to work), I was wheeled into the operating room and we welcomed String Bean into the world. She was worth the wait!

Friday, June 5, 2009

Cooking 101

Today I went to a live cooking demonstration by Dan Smith of The Next Food Network Star and The Party Line fame. He co-owns The Hearty Boys business with his co-winner of TNFNS, Steve McDonagh. They have a pretty neat idea of doing "cooking karaoke" in their Chicago-based TV studio.

Photo courtsey of Mr. Bean.

It was fun to watch (live) the process of making a meal by an actual professional. (If you only know me on this blog, you do not know that I am a HORRIBLE cook. Mr. Bean does the cooking in our house.) Besides sharing some history on how he got into the business, it was fun to hear some of the behind-the-scenes secrets of having a cooking show.

String Bean enjoyed eating his Orange Blossom Pancakes with Mascarpone Cream and Fresh Berries. Well, she didn't eat the mascarpone cream and only ate the blueberries, but she enjoyed those and the pancake quite a bit!

As an added bonus, the official photographer for the event took a lot of photos of the Bean family (including my in-laws) since we scored front row seats and we had an adorable child with us. How could he resist?

If you haven't had the opportunity to enjoy a live cooking demonstration, the mirror over the counter alone is reason to check it out. Free samples don't hurt either!

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Not String Bean's Day

Despite the rain, we are having a good time on vacation. String Bean...has had some challenges.

It all started this morning when we took her swimming. There is a kid's pool here at the hotel! Perfect. We took her down and Mr. Bean got in the pool with her. She was standing up and the water came up to about her chest. I took her bouncy ball she'd been playing with all weekend and kicked it into the pool. I did not know she was going to dive head-first into the water to retrieve it. After a couple seconds fully emerged in the water, Mr. Bean picked her up and she coughed a couple times then signed "all done" repeatedly. For the rest of the 10 minute pool trip, she sat crying, clinging her ball, and signing "all done" whenever she felt like we might make her go in the water again. Sorry, kid. Just because you have a near-death experience does not mean you get out of swimming lessons later. Following the pool, she got a bath. It may as well have been just another pool. Same reaction.

This evening, we were in the hotel room. After a few coughing fits and several looks of "Mom I have something in my throat," I invited String Bean to come sit on my lap. As she was passed from dad to mom, she started dry heaving. Of course, Mr. Bean squealed like a girl and jumped in fear of puke getting on his fashionable clothing. Nothing came up on him.

While sitting on my lap, String Bean started puking up the contents of her stomach. Being the quick thinkers we are, my mother-in-law and I caught all the throw up in our hands. We went into the bathroom and cleaned up the rest. A little on the onesie and a drop on the hotel room carpet and the rest in the sink. Mr. Bean cleaned up the sink, I cleaned up the little bean and my mother-in-law cleaned up the solitary drop off the carpet.

An hour later, and String Bean is sleeping soundly in her room (Yes, it is a 2 bedroom condo we are staying in). It was definitely not her day. Hopefully tonight she does not wake up every 2 hours and hopefully tomorrow is better.

Monday, May 25, 2009

Door County, Wisconsin

Starting today we are on a mini-vacation! Mr. Bean's parents invited us to join them for a few days in Door County, Wisconsin. For all you stalkers out there, we're staying at this hotel in Sister Bay. We'll see you poolside.

Last night, we spent most of the evening preparing for this trip. Kids need so much stuff when you go on vacation. I think Mr. Bean and I are taking up half a suitcase and String Bean takes up the other half plus a diaper bag, a books bag, a toy bucket, and food galore since she's so picky and we do want her to eat this week.

We'll be back in the Chicagoland area on Thursday just in time for our friend, McParkinson to visit!

Bon voyage!


Sunday, May 24, 2009

No Dinner

Our dinner last night didn't work out after all. Instead of putzing around and not doing anything, we went over to the in-laws' house.

My in-laws have been gracious in letting us store all of our overflow (read: things that were in String Bean's room when it was a guest room back in the day) in their attic while they've been in town this past year. The gravy train ends in August.

Last night we went over to start going through all of our storage things to get rid of some so we can (hopefully) store them back here once the in-laws move. I'm happy to say we filled Mr. Bean's trunk and more with all of our donations to Goodwill.

We only got through about 2/5 of the storage. So, we'll have to do it again, soon!