The Value of One Hand

, originally uploaded by apkoski.

Here lies a 12-pound baby. If she is not lying on her back losing hair, or on her tummy squawking, or in any various baby containment apparatus, she is in arms. This creates challenging tasks for once-simple activities. Try typing an email using one hand, or fixing breakfast, or going to the bathroom. Huh?
Anyway, what I've created has revolutionized diaper changes away from home. Prepare yourselves...

for the One-handed diaper change travel mat!

Fold

Roll Mat

Roll Strap

Fasten Velcro

Ta-Da!

Now in reverse!

No, I'll spare you. Maybe these will end up in my etsy shop someday.

-A

Hop Shortage? I Think Not!

Tis the season in the Pacific Northwest. The rest of the homebrewing world may be suffering from high hop costs, but here at your local A&P, hops are plentiful. This is my third year with these two vines, one Cascade and one Willamette. This year is by far the most productive. I figure I have about 3X last years yield, so I should have about a pound and a half of dried hoppy goodness. The only down side is the loss of some great shade the vines provided on top of the arbor. To my bro-in-law, you can expect a few ounces of koski-cascades in the mail one of these days to brew with. I just need to do some picking, drying, and vacuum sealing first. If anybody is eager to try a fresh, ultra hoppy IPA in about 5 weeks, feel free to stop on by. It's on my to-do list within the next couple of weeks!

Running Around

Running, originally uploaded by apkoski.

WE just returned from raucous tour of grandparents, Aelaide's that is. We saw not two, not four, but six grandparents in fewer days! Lucky girl; we only had four...

We made our triangular way from G&G plus cousins in St Louis to G&G plus uncle in Columbia, MO, to G&G plus cousins in Washington, IA. We played basketball, ate meat off the grill, toured the best student Rec. Center in the country, ate at a microbrewery/enjoyed MW microbrews...
took walks, watched the municipal band concert, went to the Farmer's Market, got McDonald's for breakfast (woo-hoo), went letterboxing, had an summer birthdays party, got a manicure and massage.... oy.

I am sad to say that we have very few pictures from the trip - busy trigger fingers. (If you're reading this and have a couple shareable pics, we'd love to get a copy, digital or otherwise!)

-A

Have I mentioned that we like beer?

Yes, and not just homebrew! We visited the Oregon Brew Fest downtown yesterday. It was the final day of the festival, and if you don't like rubbing elbows with frat boys and women dressed like their favorite Bratz doll, then attend the brew fest on Sunday before 3pm. Even the baby liked it (the festival, not the beer people)!
-A

Doing something else besides feeding and cleaning

Rocker is done, originally uploaded by apkoski.

If you think that I pretty much quit sewing things, then you're wrong. Sticking with the new apparent theme of this blog, I've been finishing up a few things that I intended to have done for Adelaide's birth day, like my nursing apron and a diaper/wipes envelope. But the most royal pain was doing the upholstery on that rocking chair. A friend, who incidentally donated nearly her entire nursery to us, gave us the chair too, which carried the wear of 2 children. I found some BH&G outdoor (so stain- and water-resistant) material at JoAnn and proceeded. Let me just say, folks, you have little business re-doing upholstery if you own a cheap Singer that you picked up from Wal-mart. It was a wrestling match.

Totally worth it though! We've already logged many hours in that thing.
Oh - Before pic is below:

- A

Eight Weeks Later...

Earlier this week a friend reminded me that we never blogged an official birth announcement for Adelaide. So here's a digital copy of our snail mail announcement - never too late, right?!


Anyway, if you need photo birth announcements, invitations, or holiday cards, check out this non-macro company called Doodlebug Dezigns. Their work & customer service was wonderful.

So here we are at 8 weeks (but not yet 2 calendar months -- how does that work?). We're happy to be here!

-A

Can't wait to take her shopping for new shoes and a pocket book!




-A