Two steps forward, no steppin' back

Today is the official "first steps" day. Daniel has been standing by himself for about a week and a half, and this week we have seen a few "accidental" steps as he moved and fell down right afterwards. Today he's done it about 10 times. And stayed standing after he walked a bit. From here it is just going to get more fun...

Also, he's decided he is really into the stairs. Dave wanted to see just how far he would go, so he shadowed him and Daniel climbed the entire set of stairs twice today. Both times I was upstairs with either Grandma or friends so he had incentive to get up there. He was so proud of himself but panting like a little puppy. It's hard work to be mobile.

Not so Green Thumbs

At some point in my life, I realize I will have to wake up and face the yardwork. Dave and I realized early on that neither or us likes to deal with the great outdoors. We come by it honestly. I can't think of anyone in either of our families with a great passion for all things green. We tend to ignore things until they are completely embarrassing. The first summer we were married we spent an entire Saturday pulling weeds out of our backyard that were taller than Dave. I remember our next door neighbor coming over to chuckle at the first time homeowners. We struggled with that yard for three years, then hired a friend to overhaul all of the landscaping. He did a fabulous job, which we believe helped sell the house so quickly the next spring.

Our current house has a blank slate in the backyard and some out of control issues in the front yard. We called our landscaping friend again, but he seems to have ditched us. We called another landscaping contact and he hasn't called back. Note: If you are in business for yourself, it helps to actually call people back. It's how you earn money. Ugh.

Today was the first day under 90 degrees in a few weeks, and tonight it was downright pleasant. So we took Daniel out to "observe" daddy mowing the yard and so I could do a little weeding. It turned out to be a lot of weeding because things were much worse than I initially thought. I had not been looking down at the ground when I went out to get the mail.

Our master plan is this: Convince Daniel that yardwork is fun and it's the only way he will ever get a car. Specifically, yardwork will earn him money to buy the Grand Marquis from us. Yes, we're going to save it just for him. I see a yard cutting business in his future....

A Dave by any other Name.... Part 2

So far Dave's secret identity has not made it onto the TSA watch list (see earlier post with this title), but a lot of other folks are out there feeling the pain:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8705746/

It's only a matter of time before half of America is on the list.....

What We're Reading/Watching/Listening To These Days

Dave-
Reading "The Broker" by John Grisham, and anything by Ted Dekker, who was introduced by Josh & Carolyn. Watching "The Winds of War" dvds (almost done).

Chris-
Reading"May I have your attention please?" by Chris Hillicki about personal branding, "Split Second" by David Baldacci, and "Fish Tales" (a motivational book on the Pike Place Fish market in Seattle we're reading at work). Listening to all of the Harry Potter book on cd (I've never read them). I'm just starting the third. If anyone has books #4 and #5 on cd and can loan them, let me know!

We're both enjoying all of the taped tv on our Media Center. We're taping Frasier, Oprah, West Wing, and Law & Order (looking for missed episodes). It's so easy!! Movies: We borrowed "The Aviator" from the library and turned it off after 45 minutes- too bizarre. We also rented "Ocean's Twelve"- good clean robbery fun.

Daniel-
Reading lots of Sandra Boynton. His favorite is Pajama Time and Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs. Listening to Harry Potter on cd with mommy. Still watching Praise Baby (although he likes to play while he's watching) and some Baby Einstein. We're looking to introduce some Veggie Tales Silly Songs soon.

We still haven't made it to another movie since Star Wars Episode 3- but we're hopeful for August....

Dumpster Diving

Yesterday, we were test driving Josh's new car and I spotted a few treasures in a dumpster near some construction. Josh climbed into the dumpster (which was too hot to touch since it was 100 degrees here yesterday) and pulled out a toddler basketball goal and a playset with a slide- similar to this but without the castle design. They were in great shape, just a little dirty. Probably would cost $75-85 new. I can't believe the stuff people just throw away! Thanks Josh!!

There it is!! 

The ICU- they can see into every ICU room from the nurse's station. 

A beautiful patient room 

Daniel is overwhelmed by everything and falls asleep. 

The ambulance garage- a necessity in winter. 

Daniel approves of the design of the lobby. 

Daniel's first bus ride. 

The coolest thing in Milwaukee- the art museum. 

Looking up in the lobby 

The lobby of the MAM 

It is FINISHED (almost)

We're back from West Bend, Wisconsin (near Milwaukee) after attending the best hospital grand opening ever!

This hospital was 3-1/2 years in the making, twice as long as normal, due to the fickle minds of the administration and endless requests for changes. And of course they all seem to think they designed it themselves.

It is a beautiful facility, and we had a great time celebrating the end of the St Joe's era. Congrats to Dave on a job well done!!
(Pictures to follow!)

Library Snobs

The beautiful Brentwood country club library is actually going to now function as a country club library. They have stated they intend to charge a $50 annual fee to anyone outside the city of Brentwood to use their library after 9/1/05. Apparently public libraries are not public anymore...

The issue is the library is currently open to all county residents (I live in Franklin but the same county) but only receives 5% of its funding from the county. Its position is the rest of the county is growing too fast for them to continue to be open to everyone who lives here. (about half of the cards are held by non-Brentwood residents). My take is they should stop taking all county funds if they are going to start to charge county residents $50 each.

Goodbye, Brentwood library. I'll miss you, you were my favorite! But I'm going to take my time returning your "honor system" paperbacks....

Target Love

I've been trying to make myself love Super Walmart the last few months. It's convienent, cheap and has everything under one roof. But sometimes I still miss Target and all of their cool stuff. So I could not pass up an opportunity to visit the brand new Target in Brentwood on Thursday after I finished a lunch date with a friend nearby.

It had been open for two days, and it was beautiful. Everything was still in stock, aisles were clean and arranged neatly, and I had check out clerks begging me to choose their line. There's even a Starbucks inside.

For a more complete review including pictures, check out these two posts by Patrick and Lydia!

Daniel with Balls

Daniel with Balls, originally uploaded by Stewsolutions.

How Ironic- I have this great Chicago Cubs outfit and no baseball (but evey other kind of ball!)

Hello out there

Hi
This is
Daniel
I like
the
C
omputer
I
want to blog too
It's tough to be
a
baby
and
not
be allowed to touch things
(except the Enter key)
I love
to play
Come see me soon!
Love, Daniel

Encores and More

I've never seen so many clothes in a school gym... I knew these types of sales existed, but now I'm a mom, it's finally my turn. This consigment sale rocks....

http://www.encoresandmore.com

Two are better than one

I guess I'm recycling post titles here, but this is still ringing true in our household.

Why is it that the purchase of our new media center computer and subsequent voyage into the wireless network world has led us to now need a laptop computer for our home use? We immediately realized that adding another computer to our home was long overdue, since we are usually both needing to be online at the same time. Or it could be because everytime we try and get on the computers, Daniel makes a beeline for them and it is impossible to keep him out of our office when we are in here. He especially likes the "Enter" key. Or it could be just because we want one....

Also in this category, Daniel seems to be entering the nap transition from two (morning and afternoon) to one nap. It's a sad (we miss our free time!) and ugly time. It's been a cranky week as Daniel is refusing afternoon naps and is taking shorter ones when they should be longer (if we try for just one nap). I've been reading up on this topic and I'm not sure what my next plan of attack will be, nothing we have tried seems to work so far.

Gotta go, Dave is surfing on the other computer and wants to discuss laptops.....

Peek a Boo

Today Daniel played Peek A Boo with me as an active participant, for the first time. He held the blanket and moved it up and down over his face as I asked "Where's Daniel? There he is!". And he giggled the whole time.

We went on a nice cool and windy walk after the remains of Hurricane Dennis came through early this morning. Daniel spent the whole time pulling himself forward in his stroller using his hands, one in each cup holder (he has two), and at one point had his face down so he could get a good bite on his food tray for about a block. Hard to explain but hilarious to watch. We do think tooth #8 and possibly #9 are coming right along.

Of other news, Dave got to visit the doctor and Walgreens today to treat his new ailment, Pink Eye! We love to spread the Walgreens joy. I do wish they had some kind of card to punch, like: "After 5 prescriptions, get one free!" So far, Daniel and I are in the clear. Daniel is of course, still on antibiotics so perhaps he just passed it on for daddy to enjoy.

Out There

We made the big jump to a wireless network this weekend. We're out there.... and we're loving every minute of it! (anyone remember where this line is from?)

PS. Three other unsecured networks within our range.... hello neighbors, good thing we are looking to pay our own way....

IKEA alert!

I am spreading the word among the masses, IKEA has opened a store in Atlanta!

There will be a road trip in the van in the next few months. We now have plenty of room to buy things and haul them home. We have one extra seat, or two if we get a babysitter for Daniel, so if you want to go, start kissing up now!

HP, We have Contact!

We are actually watching TV on our new HP Media Center computer right now! The new replacement card actually works. We have TIVO ability!! Patrick says I am not allowed to say TIVO, since I actually don't have one, but I am pretty sure TIVO has the status of Coke, Kleenex and Xerox at this point. What other verb am I to use?

Right Store. Right Price

I've always been a loyal Kroger shopper. Really. I remember when they used write your cart # on the back of your receipt, so you could drive up to the door and they would load your groceries in the car. My favorite Kroger promotion that has been missing in the past few years is double coupons, no $ limit. I used to have them pay me to take stuff out of the store.

But, my patience has been tested by the Cool Springs Kroger. First, I had a run in with Customer Service where they forgot to subtract my coupons at the register and then they wouldn't double my coupons. I was pregnant at the time and it actually brought tears to my eyes.

Lately, it's been coupon confrontation with Isadora, the charming but stubborn clerk. She's an older lady who barely speaks English. Every time I check out (and I try to avoid her but last time she actually came up and switched with the clerk in the line I was in), she looks through my coupons and asks "Did you buy this?" if the coupon does not scan immediately. Come ON! The first time it was funny, but after four times, I am beginning to feel like I might be a candidate for America's Most Wanted Coupon Frauder.

I have switched to the Hwy 96 Kroger, and today I actually got something free because it rang up at the wrong price. The clerk practically ran to go check the real price and then apologized to me for the problem. The love affair is back on, at least until Publix opens in our neighborhood....

Look UP Daniel! This is Niagra Falls! 

The whole gang (notice ratio is 1:1). 

The happy couple- congrats to Julia and Tai! 

Claire and her mommy are BEAUTIFUL! 

Look at all of these happy Stewart Fish! 

Daniel and Grandpa Stewart 

Daniel and Mommy 

O Canada

Official Lyrics of O Canada!
O Canada!Our home and native land!True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,The True North strong and free!
From far and wide,O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.

We're back!! July 2nd was Dave's cousin's wedding in Ft.Erie, Ontario, near Niagara Falls. We enjoyed all of the wedding festivities (including my participation in the DIVA bachelorette karoke party) and visiting with family. Several members of extended family attended, which made it an impromptu Galloway family reunion.

I finally got a donut from Tim Horton's (a goal of mine I never accomplished the last time we were in Canada).

Daniel had a rough time towards the end with his ear infection (it's back to the doctor tomorrow for a check up). Yesterday we visited the American side of the Falls and had a nice trip home to the good old USA...


Pictures to follow soon...