Happy (Belated) Mother's Day!

I guess I didn't even realized that I was supposed to celebrate Mother's Day for myself too this year.  I spent most of the day with my baby. Sara and Kary came over and hung out with Dexter so I could go to Yoga class. (Justin was busy getting his hand tattooed.) Later that day we went grocery shopping. The above pics are from that outing.  It was the first time I used the Baby Bojorn. I think he liked it!  It worked well, but I wouldn't be able to do house work or anything wearing it. I guess I should have bought a wrap or sling a while ago, but I just don't see myself using that often.

On Saturday my Aunt Corky and Uncle Bob came to visit. They were on their way from PA to Charleston, SC. This was the first time they got to meet Dexter. We had a wonderful day. 

This is a little basketball hoop toy they got him. He'll be able to play with it a bit more in a couple months. For right now he's just trying to figure out how to get it in his mouth, haha.

Here he is, getting ready for the day. This little outfit is from Nana. He looks so freaking cute in it!

Dexter's new thing is putting his hand out for Bateman to lick, he thinks it's hilarious!

If I turn my back for even a second after feeding him, before cleaning him up, Bateman runs over and cleans his face, Dexter just laughs.

R.I.P. Uncle Gary (Giggins)

August 22, 1952 - May 4, 2010

This week my Mom's Brother, my Uncle Gary passed away.  He was 57 years old. His primary cause of death was cirrhosis of the liver, caused by alcoholism.
I've been putting off this post all week.  I started it, saved it, and tried to write it a few times now.  I tend to avoid being emotional, but it always ends up catching up to me at some point. I have a very close family and although we knew this was coming, it's still not easy to think about never seeing him again.  So, here it goes...

When I was a little kid I remember my Uncle picking me up and taking me places and taking care of me from time to time. At one point, he lived with my Great Grandmother, whom I spent a lot of time with.  I remember him always being funny and very caring. It wasn't until I was around 10 or 11 that I became aware of how bad my Uncle's drinking was. He drank from the time he woke up until he went to bed, every single day.  Still, it was "normal" for me to see people drinking and doing whatever. So, even then I never really realized the severity of his situation.
There are other alcolholics in my family, but my Uncle Gary is in a class of his own. Drinking, and a lot times drugs, carried him through life.

As far as I know, he never went through treatment. I don't even know if that would have even helped. It helped my grandma (Ammy) get sober and stay sober. 
But, other family members getting help only helped them for a while.  It angers me to think that his life was ruined by an addiction.  He had no relationship with his three kids. I don't believe that was entirely his doing but, his way of life was a reason.  I see other people I love hurting themselves like this and it makes me want to scream.  Besides the alcoholism and addiction in my family, alcohol also played a role in the death of my cousin, Ryan. He was 16 (I was 13 at the time) and was killed walking to my house by a hit-and-run drunk driver. (That whole story is for another time, maybe.)
My point is, all of these things were reasons for me to go Straight Edge (complete drug and alcohol free lifestyle) about 12 years ago, when I was 19.  I don't think there's anything wrong with people (other people) having a drink or getting loose from time to time, I just hate seeing it take over people's lives that I love.  Enough said on that.

Uncle Gary was definitely a character. He was known for his hilarious, usually inappropriate jokes.  I have many funny memories of him.
Here are a few:
*He stole cowboy boots and wranglers from K-Mart when I was a kid and we had to go get him from jail.
*When I was really young, he was sleeping on our couch and he thought the door to the downstairs was the door to the bathroom and he peed down our carpeted stairs. The carpet had to be taken out.
*I came home one day (during my late teens) and uncle gary ran out of my house in his underwear.
*Christmas about 6 or so years ago, he pulled out a bag of weed at the dinner table to show everyone what his friend got him for xmas.
*(I wasn't there) But he punched my brother Joshy in his face at his high school graduation party. Joshy was instigating this.
*This past summer was the last time I got to see Uncle Gary, at my diaper party.  He was looking frail, but still funny as ever. Justin interviewed him about his tattoos. Here is the link. Warning: It may be offensive to some :)Uncle Gary's Story Time

I love this picture. Christmas 1980.  I am the little blond girl sitting on the guy with the plaid pants lap, that's Uncle Gary. My Mom is standing behind him.  This photo is actually pretty hard for me to look at because my Grandma (Ammy) is in it too.

I'm not sure exactly what year this is, maybe 1990 or so, my Brother Joshy is in the background, so funny. This is how I'll always remember Uncle Gary, laughing.  Laughing his loud raspy smokers laugh :)

This is from Xmas 2008. This is when I think his hep C and other issues really started to show. He started getting skinny and way older looking. He spilled that beer on the carpet right after this photo was snapped, haha.

I know that this coming xmas when I go home just won't feel right. 

Uncle Gary will truly be missed.

Uncle Gary's Obituary

"Someone's got a case of the Mondays"

Mondays are so rough. It's hard leaving Dexter after being with him all weekend. By tomorrow it will just be routine.  We had a good weekend. We went to a birthday party for my friend's daughter that turned one. I'll post some pics when I get some. Dexter was a little overwhelmed at the party by all of the people.  The pic above is before we left for the party. This one is the only one where both of us are looking straight! He wanted to look out the window :)

The sitter sent me this pic of Dexter and Hudson this past week. So freaking adorable!

We celebrated Earth Day! Well, he wore a onsie to celebrate.

Monday, Monday, Monday...back to work.

Play Date. Cookies. My Happy Baby.

Yesterday my friend Maggie and her daughter Rachel came to visit for the day. We had a great time at the park, and then a little playtime back at my house. Dexter has recently discovered how flexible he is and is obsessed with holding onto his feet :)

 Awww...cute babies...

Here they are holding hands :)

I made some delicious Iced Oatmeal Cookies for the outing. I've been wanting to bake lately. It's been since before Dexter was born since I've baked or really made anything interesting.  So these were great, easy and good for you too!

ICED OATMEAL COOKIES

• Tbs. flaxseed meal
• 1 cup oat flour
• 1 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
• 2 Tbs. vegan margarine, softened
• 1/2 cup light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup applesauce or prune purée
• 1 tsp. vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cups old-fashioned oats
• 1/2 cup raisins or dried cranberries

Icing

• 3/4 cup confectioners’ sugar
• 2 Tbs. lemon juice

To make Cookies:
1. Stir together flaxseed meal and 3 Tbs. water in small bowl. Set aside. Whisk together oat flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon in large bowl. Set aside.
2. Beat margarine, brown sugar, and sugar in large bowl with electric mixer 1 to 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy. Add flaxseed mixture, applesauce, and vanilla, and beat until smooth. Stir in oat flour mixture with spatula or wooden spoon. Add oats and raisins, and stir to combine. Cover, and chill 2 hours, or overnight.
3. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment paper, or coat with cooking spray. Roll cookie dough into golf ball–sized rounds, and place dough balls 1 1/2 inches apart on prepared baking sheets. Flatten each cookie to 1/4-inch thickness with bottom of drinking glass dipped in water. Bake 10 to 12 minutes, or until cookies look dry on top and are just beginning to brown.
Meanwhile, to make Icing:
4. Whisk together confectioners’ sugar and lemon juice in small bowl until smooth; Icing should be thick, but spreadable. Gently brush Icing on hot cookies with pastry brush. Cool 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack to cool completely. Store cookies in airtight container.

Recipe from www.vegetariantimes.com

Dexter used the Jumperoo for the first time last week. He's still a little small for it, his feet are barely touching the ground. But, he loves it. As you can see he is focused on checking out the details. 

I love that you can see Joe from Blues Clues in the background of this pic, haha!

(Yep, I know, this post is all over the place.)  

Happy Baby!!!!

Happy Easter!

My family arrived from PA on Wednesday afternoon. We had such an awesome long weekend together! Dexter was so good, of course! I'm so happy my family finally got a chance to hang out with him. He is such a happy baby and has so much fun "talking" and playing with people.

We tried to take some family photos on Easter. The one above is the best of the bunch. I look awful, but both kids are looking forward, so I had to post it.

Highlights:

Dexter ate rice cereal for the first time.

Dexter drank apple juice for the first time.

We spent a few hrs at the emergency dentist on Good Friday so Paul could get his tooth pulled.

My brother, Josh, ate free lunch uptown that is meant for homeless people.

Paul waxed my hardwood floors, by hand.

We ate Field Roast instead of Tofurkey and it was delicious!

Nana and Grandpa Holt came on Sunday for Easter dinner.

Josh & Justin went the skate park, and no one broke any bones.

I got to sleep in until 9am while Mom took care of Dexter!

Photos!!!