Tuesday, September 29, 2009

A Bountiful Harvest

With the possibility of our first frost tonight, I decided to gather the remaining veggies from the garden. All in all, we had a very successful year with our garden.

I canned 43 pints of sweet corn, 34 quarts of green beans, 14 quarts of pickles, 7 quarts of zucchini, 7 quarts of beef and veggie stew, 4 quarts of tomato juice, 7 pints of pizza sauce, 7 pints of spaghetti sauce, 8 pints of whole tomatoes, 7 quarts of chili base, and 20 quarts of salsa.

In my freezer, I have 5 gallon-sized bags of green beans, 10 pint-sized bags of broccoli, 6 pint-sized bags of kohlrabi, 2 gallon-sized bags of chopped green peppers, 6 gallon-sized bags of spinach, and 3 pint-sized bags of carrots.

Lastly, I have a gallon-sized bag of each of the following baby food: green beans, carrots, zucchini, and broccoli.

Today, Doug and I dug up the sweet potatoes (which I need to figure out what to do with them)
I pulled all my onions...these were my "prize winners"
And, I finished cutting the celery
Until next time...

Monday, September 28, 2009

A Delicious Dessert!

I had a busy afternoon today...I made two pies while Dallas took a nap! We cut into one of them tonight, and I have the other one in the freezer for a later date and time.

Any guess as to what kind of pie I made?
It may look like an apple pie, it may taste like an apple pie, but it is not an apple pie...

It is a zucchini pie! And it was delicious - especially with a little ice cream on the side!

Until next time...

Weekend Pictures

Hello All! I believe it has been a little while since I have posted any pictures of Dallas, so I have some pictures of our weekend!

Doug and I decided that we should bring the dogs inside for a while - they have been getting neglected lately due to the remodeling project, Labor Day visitors, and everything else that has been happening in our house. We then decided that they needed a bath before coming in the house! Of course, Dallas wanted to help too.

Dallas helped blow the loose hair from Charlie...
It was such a big task that he then had to take a break...
I wasn't able to get pictures during the actual washing...but here is Charlie and Dallas after the bath.
(my apologies for Dallas being blurry...he doesn't really hold still anymore!)
Until next time...

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Week 32

Hello all...I'm going to keep this rather short. Dallas just woke up from his nap, so I'm trying to publish this before he gets too mad (he is still upstairs in bed).

Here's the ever growing belly at 32 weeks...only 8 weeks until due date! I'm afraid this is going way too fast!
I am still feeling well, just getting more tired each day. I have reverted to the "sleep when the baby sleeps" theory. Therefore, I am not getting much done around the house during the day. Oh, and I am definitely beginning to waddle as I walk, too! Baby Gertie and I go for another check-up on Monday. Then the check-ups go to every other week.
Until next time...

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Happy Fall Ya'all!

Enjoy the new background!

I just wanted to say that we are still here...we are just enjoying these last few days of summer weather. I can't believe it is officially fall. I think this definitely had to be the coolest (temperature) summer I have ever experienced.

With fall upon us, that means:
  • Sorting through the closets and packing away the summer clothes
  • Getting out the long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, and sweaters.
  • Football season is here (Go Colts!).
  • Baby Gertie will be arriving very soon.
  • I need to get things ready for Baby Gertie...
  • Pumpkin patches, pumpkin carving, and pumpkin pies
  • Leaves changing
  • Farmers will be beginning to harvest
  • and, of course, flu season...which Doug and I are going to get our flu shots this morning, so I had better get moving
Until next time...

Thursday, September 17, 2009

18 Month Stats

Yesterday, I took Dallas to the doctor for his 18 month check-up. He did so good at the doctor's office...I was so proud of him. All the nurses kept commenting on how big Dallas had gotten and how cute he was. He just kept smiling and waving at them! Luckily, there were no shots yesterday!!! But, we go back on the 25th for his flu shot and 2nd HeptA shot.

Alright...how big is Dallas?

Height: 34 1/8 inches {90th percentile} - this is up 3 inches from his 1 year check-up
Weight: 28 lb 10 oz {80th percentile} - this is up 4 pounds from his 1 year check-up
Head Circumference: 52 cm {97th percentile}

I apologize for not having a picture...my camera is still on the fritz.

Until next time...

Tuesday, September 15, 2009

My Camera Drives Me Crazy!

I'm sorry for not having posted anything in a few days. Something is going crazy with my camera at the current moment. Each time I turn it on, it says that I need to format my card. It has done this before, and I have solved the problem by either removing the battery and/or memory card for a few moments. I have done this multiple times for the past 3 days, and it is not working. I am scared to format the card because there are pictures from our afternoon at the Grinnell Ag Appreciation Day. They had a petting zoo, and there were some great pictures of Dallas with the animals! I have even tried downloading the pictures to my computer, but the computer won't recognize that the camera is connected. {frustration!}

In other news, Doug and I have been busy over the weekend working on the bathroom closet. We did not worry about it for the Labor Day reunion...so it was still showing the studs and subfloor when all our visitors were here. Over the weekend, we were able to lay the new vinyl floor and hang the drywall. I have been able to complete the spackling (which I'm afraid looks better than the rest of the bathroom) yesterday and today. Tonight, Doug and I finished hanging the supports for the new shelves. With a little luck, I will be able to paint it tomorrow. We still need to cut the shelves and paint them, as well as paint the new door.

Today, I canned more tomatoes while Dallas napped. I did 9 pints of whole tomatoes...they will taste great in chili this winter! We have a few more tomatoes; not sure what we will make next, but we are leaning toward more salsa!

Dallas and I even found time to go to the chiropractor and play outside today, too! Needless to say, I'm tired. With that being said...I'm going to bed.

Until next time...

Friday, September 11, 2009

18 Months...

Where has the time gone? Dallas turns a year and a half today! I can't believe it. He is such a big boy and becoming very independent. I could just sit and watch him play all day - his energy never seems to run out.

I thought I would share/document some of his favorite things...

His favorite thing is to be outside. He lets me know when he wants to go out by bringing his shoes to me and sitting down in my lap, or he will walk to the backdoor and point.

His second favorite thing is to carry bolts around the yard. Yes, I said bolts. Doug brought home a tub from work a few months ago, and Dallas loves to go to the garage, get a handful, and carry them around. Of course, they don't always make it back to the garage, and Doug has found a few of them with the help of the lawn mower.

Tractors...Dallas still loves tractors, and he loves every size from his very small ones in the house to Daddy's real one in the barn and everyone in between. He has learned how to hook the wagons up behind his toys and pull them around the house. He likes to put his barnyard animals in the wagons and take them for rides too. He has recently started hooking up other pieces of equipment up to the tractors as well - but the wagons are his favorite.

Reading...Dallas loves books (yeah!). Hopefully, this love will stay with him for the many years to come. His favorites include ABC's of the Farm, Touch and Feel Pets, and My Body and Words. He will bring a book to Doug or I at night and sit with us and look through the pages over and over and over again.

Dancing is also on the Big D's list of favorites. As you saw in a previous post, he has a cow that sings Old McDonald. He has learned how to start the music all by himself this last week, so now we hear that song A LOT! But, that's ok because it is so darn cute watching him dance along.

Hugs and kisses...my favorite of his favorites. Dallas is beginning to give kisses without being asked. It completely melts our hearts when he walks up and plants a big, wet, drool-y kiss on us.

Animals...of all kinds, but especially his dogs. Dallas likes to help Daddy feed the dogs at night. Doug will take their food and Dallas will take the treats! Dallas' other favorite animal right now is sheep. He will even tell you what sound they make. We are working on other animal sounds too. He has one for cows, chickens, and dogs. He really enjoys it when the neighbors go for horse rides and he can pet their noses.

And, finally, talking. The boy loves to talk...only we don't know much of what he is saying. We can pick out dog, cat, tractor, cup, car, truck, and sometimes mama or dada. I just know one of these days his vocabulary is going to explode!

This is his newest love:
I found it while out shopping garage sales yesterday. I saw one on a sale this past spring and thought Dallas would enjoy it, but for some reason I didn't stop and have kicked myself ever since. So...when I saw this yesterday, I knew I had to bring it home. The car is in great condition and even has a key that makes sounds!!! To give you an idea how much Dallas loves his new toy, he has not been to the garage once to get bolts! And, for those that have seen him with his bolts, you know what I'm talking about.

In other Dallas news:

He is up to 15 teeth now! These molars that have been coming through are giving him quite the fit, but we will eventually make it past this.

He is becoming a little more particular about his food choices. He is still a good eater, but he is definitely getting likes and dislikes.

Fits are becoming more a part of our days with Dallas. He can be very expressive when we want him to do something he is not ready to do.

Finally, I'm not sure on how big Dallas is, but we go for his 18 month check-up soon, so I will give you those stats at a later time.

That's all I can think of for now.

Until next time...

Thursday, September 10, 2009

Week 30

I'm Back! After a couple week's worth of absence, I'm trying to get back on schedule. I once again apologize to those that look forward to the weekly belly pics, but it has just been plain crazy around here!
Baby Gertie and I had our monthly check-up last Wednesday (Sept. 2). I also did my glucose screen at that point for gestational diabetes. I have not heard a thing back from the doctor's office...so we are assuming no news is good news. As far as the monthly check-up, everything is still on track. I was up a whopping 4 pounds since my last visit four weeks ago! I guess that means Gertie is growing.

This last weekend, I was also accused of stuffing my shirt to make my belly appear bigger in the pictures. I promise, this is not the case...I guess the camera really does add pounds!
All in all, everything is still the same: lots of movement from baby, energy level is going down, leg cramps in the middle of the night, and of course, not being able to find a comfortable sleeping position!
Until next time...

Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Robertson Labor Day Get-Away!

We had a wonderful Labor Day weekend full of family, food, homemade ice cream, games, tractor rides, and laughs. Thanks to my mom for being a great photographer and having her camera ready at all times! I will try to keep the words to a minimum, and let the pictures tell the story...

Jerry gives Austin and Vanessa a ride in the wagon
GG loved rocking with little Juan
Dallas and Vanessa share a wagon ride
Vanessa taught Dallas how to go down his slide (which he can't get enough of now!)
Great-Grandpa Robertson with 4 of his 7 great-grandkids...there are 3 more due to come in the next couple months!!! [L-R: Jerry holding Vanessa (who belongs to Jennifer), Rajean holding Dallas, Great-Grandpa holding Austin (who belongs to Jerry), and Jennifer holding little Juan]
Katie and Amy
Steve and Sue enjoyed the first tractor ride of the day on Sunday
Jerry and Bob tossing some corn bags
Trace and Jake prepping for the football game
Craig and Jim playing ladder ball
Austin picnicking on the porch
Grandpa enjoying the rocking chair and sunshine
Doug and Brooke taking a ride on the Oliver
Doug taking Dallas and Nikki for a ride
Austin loved the wagon
Brice and Melissa taking a spin
Dallas sharing toys with Austin
Jerry, Austin and Didi
Bob and Jim playing more corn hole - also notice the campground set up in the yard!
Amy and John waiting their turn to toss
Cindy relaxing after the long motorcycle ride to Iowa
Doug and Dallas
Of course, the potato gun had to come out for a few rounds
Uncle Jim taking Brooke and Nikki for a ride
Uncle Joe, Dallas and I
Katie playing with Austin and Dallas
Craig and Amy
Trace and Doug
One last group picture before heading back to Indiana
Jim, Grandpa, Joe and John
Dallas and his John Deere
When my mom and dad were leaving, Dallas put the plug to the ice cream maker to his ear and started talking away like it was a phone!
Until next time...

Tuesday, September 8, 2009

DIY - Bathroom

As I mentioned in a previous post, Doug and I have been working on remodeling our bathroom. It started with me taking down the wallpaper while Dallas spent the week with his grandparents at the end of the July. Doug and I then ended up taking down all the drywall before my family came for the state fair. Thankfully, we had the help from my dad after the fair with the things we were unsure how to do. He helped us with the plumbing for the new shower; running new electricity for a vent fan, an outlet, and medicine cabinet; and hanging new drywall.

We still have the closet to finish - we had to lay new subfloor in there, so it is taking a little longer to complete. We also want to use the new shower for a while to double check there are no leaks before closing up the walls with new drywall.

Here are the much awaited pictures of the project! I have grouped the pictures to show the progress of each "area" in the bathroom - you will see it from start to finish.

This is the area above the door into the bathroom. As you can see, the wallpaper was falling off the wall, and then I found how much damage there was to the drywall once the wallpaper was gone.
This is the area over the sink and toilet. I am trying to decide what to hang over the toilet where the medicine cabinet used to be. I have either a picture, a shelf, or towel hooks.
This is our floor change...we went from blue carpet, to finding linoleum, to laying a new vinyl floor.
The new shower! Before, we only had a tub unit in the bathroom. We now have a tub/shower unit! I love being able to take showers in our actual bathroom, and not in the make-shift shower that is in the basement with the toads!
We have a small window in the bathroom and half of it is in the shower area. We were told by one contractor that this would cause a problem with a tub surround, but it was not a problem to trim the surround at all - it was rather quite easy.
Doug looked on the Internet and watched a DIY (do it yourself) video on how to switch a toilet. We were about 24 hours without a toilet, but it was well worth the wait! You can also see our new sink and cabinet unit in the last picture.
That's our new bathroom!
Until next time...