Fall welcoming activity that does not included baking and gaining weight:





Birthday present surprise that may turn into a Christmas gift because my machine can not handle quilting and neither can my hands:

Thank goodness for access to better sewing machines in Washington!

And Lastly, a trick or treat bag for Bella I wiped up using only scraps which is why it is such a funny shape. It looks a little too country cute for me but I will only have to look at it once a year so I think it'll be OK:



[also, thank you for not shunning me and my blog because of the horrible quality photos. At some point, our lives will be pieced back together and my camera, usb cord, and battery will all be together and better quality pictures will once again be shown on this blog..... I can dream can't I?]

bathtime with an almost two year old

We have two more weeks of being only one! [Although, if you ask Isabella she is turning three.] The only time I still feel like she is one is when she is in the bathtub. Something about not seeing her long legs, her entertaining herself [still] with bubbles and water, her not wearing any big girl clothes to give away her real almost age. This mama is a little sad to see her little girl turn two already. I am more than excited to see what this next year will bring. Already she is showing us more and more of herself. Wish me luck on being strong and not overly sentimental on her birthday DAY.

bringing fall inside

because it still feels like summer outside

our fall table:

• different kinds of pumpkins


• acorns


• acorn squash


• pumpkin cut outs


• small pumpkin and spider confetti


• glue sticks


• fall colored crayons


• leaf stickers


• fall colored yarn


• scissors


• pencil


• paper

• and one pumpkin chair

Letter From Senetor:

Dear Mrs. Brown:

Thank you for contacting me about efforts to reform our nation's health care system. The American health care system faces a myriad of complex challenges: rising medical and prescription drug costs, a lack of stable insurance coverage, and a medical bureaucracy that is increasingly difficult to navigate. I appreciate having the benefit of your comments on this important issue.

I am well acquainted with the frustration of many Americans struggling to meet their health care needs within the current cumbersome system, and I understand the urgency to implement sound revisions. According to the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), spending on health care will account for nearly 17 percent of Gross Domestic Product in 2009—totaling as much as $2.6 trillion. Health care costs have more than doubled over the last ten years and far outpaced wage growth, and I believe that meaningful health care reform is very important. However, I believe reform can be achieved by lowering the cost of health care without spending more money and without giving Washington more control over the decisions of doctors and patients. [this is the end of where we agree on anything]
Health care affects every American and I believe we need to take the time to listen to the patients, providers, families, and small businesses that will be significantly impacted. America has a highly complicated system and it is important to ensure that changes are thoroughly considered and not hastily passed by Congress. It may interest you to learn, that I am helping lead a Senate health reform working group that meets regularly to discuss the most pressing areas for reform in our nation’s healthcare system. It is important that Americans have access to affordable health insurance and therefore, I believe we must reform our health care system, emphasizing individual choice and trusting patients, their families, and their doctors—not lawyers or bureaucrats—to make health maintenance and treatment decisions. I am committed to improving access to quality, affordable health care, and you may be certain that I will keep your views in mind as I work my congressional colleagues, as a member of the Senate Finance Committee, to address this critical issue.

As Congress works to reform our health care system, I will adamantly oppose the creation of a Washington-run government health insurance plan, which I believe is unequivocally a gateway to a single-payer system. I believe that a new government-run health insurance plan will devastate private insurance markets by acting as a competitor, [why is acting as a competitor a bad thing?] regulator, and funder. Independent estimates have found that such a plan could result in 118 million Americans losing their current health benefits, and leave 130 million Americans to rely on a government-run health care plan. [I would love to see the supporting evidence behind this and who funded it] Additionally, I cannot support punitive health benefit taxes on small businesses, which will hurt wages and jobs.

Successful health care reform will put patients in charge,[why is this a good idea?] and improve the insurance system so that providers will compete for their business by delivering high quality care at affordable prices. I appreciate having the opportunity to represent the interests of Texans in the United States Senate. Thank you for taking the time to contact me.

Sincerely,

JOHN CORNYN
United States Senator





517 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
Tel: (202) 224-2934
Fax: (202) 228-2856
http://www.cornyn.senate.gov

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PLEASE NOTE:
Due to the nature of electronic communication, if you did not receive this e-mail directly from my office, I cannot guarantee that the text has not been altered. If you have questions about the validity of this message, or would like to respond to this message, please use the web form available at my website, http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact.

Have you contacted your senator about health care reform yet?

Newborns and diapers

How is it that I feel even less prepared and more nervous for baby number two? I think we have the clothing, feeding, bathing, and how to sleep with an infant thing down now. But that still leaves diapering, commuting, packing, preparing to move and eventually moving across the country with an infant. I still have [at least] 6 weeks so I am going to tackle one thing at a time. Right now I've been hard at work on making diapers. I am still at a loss on just how many diaper covers will be needed for a newborn! I don't want to purchase too many knowing this most likely will be the last baby and he will be growing out of them very very quickly. But, on the other hand not enough could be trouble for a tired mama. My mom finally agreed to come visit after the baby is born because I am a little nervous for miss Bella.


During my last diaper shopping trip at Young and Restless they finally convinced me to try wool covers. I've been thinking long and hard about making the switch when we move to Washington anyway for warmth and mostly for the small environmental impact they have. So I bought four covers [don't worry I've purchased a few newborn pockets as well] and have found numerous resources for how to care for them online. Can I just say how freaking cute are these? If they work out I will definitely try to make a few of my own. They look very simple and I've found quite a few patters online not just for knitting but how to use an old wool sweater for diaper cover fabric. It seems like a lot of work but then again so did all cloth diapers when I started out.


A few of the diapers I made from an old t-shirt pile.

October... I welcome you with open arms!

Top 4 things I love about October:
cooler days (I keep checking the weather in Seattle and dreaming of the COLD days to come.)
pumpkins to eat and decorate with
APPLES lots and lots of apples
halloween: candy, costumes, and crafts

I guess I've been missing me some apples. We went to the grocery story and I am embarrassed to say how much we spent on apples. They just looked soo delicious and ripe and fresh and... they were! I think I may need to invest in an apple tree in the somewhat near future!

To celebrate fall's arrival [finally] Bella and I headed over to a little family run farm/park to pick out a pumpkin, play some games and pet some animals. We also have been eating a lot of apple crisp, drinking apple tea and of course eating them fresh. Its really hard to believe you can get apples in Houston almost as good as in Washington. But yet when it comes to finding good peaches or avacados in Washington it is IMPOSSIBLE no matter what season it is.





Have I mentioned I have officially turned into that parent who puts their child in the only halloween outfit they own to go pick out a pumpkin? [disclaimer: I did not buy said outfit]



Also, sad to announce, we just happened to show up at The Woodland's Children's Museum on its last day at their current location and they have no idea when or where they will be reopening! I will really miss that place. The arts and crafts area was worth the five dollars alone. Not to mention it kept my daughter busy and happily entertained for HOURS. I am back to square one with finding affordable non-religious activities for me and Bella!