Moving to WordPress

I've finally gone and done it! I've moved blog to WordPress. There are still a few things to work out, but for the most part, I'm slowly getting the hang of it and I'm decently happy with how it looks.

It is still the same old Battlefish, just with a new URL. If you'd like to keep following me, please find me at http://rowan6.wordpress.com/.

The biggest reason for moving to WordPress is the ability to make some posts private, while leaving the rest public. With the private posts, I think I'll be more willing to share some pictures of Paxlet. If you follow me and would like to see private posts, email me at jsththr @ gmail and I'll let you know the password for them.

Tapioca pudding: it was just so yummy, I couldn't help myself

Yesterday, Paxlet had his 4 month check up. He weighed in at 7 kilos and 935 grams (~17,5 pounds) and measured 65 centimeters (25,6 inches). When the doctor did her examination of him, she checked his moro reflex. Let me just say that Paxlet hated that, with a passion!! He screamed worse than bloody murder and even when I picked him up to try and calm him, it took me longer than normal. When he was laid back down to continue the exam, he started crying and then screaming again. After the exam was over and I was dressing him up, he didn't want to be laying in my lap, but more so, he kept twisting his head and body to see where the doctor was. Paxlet also told the doctor what he thought of her. It's pretty cute in a sad sort of way. I don't think he wanted that lady anywhere near him.

Today I had a quick doctor's appointment. I was in with the doctor maybe 8 minutes total. At around 12 weeks of Paxlet's age (he'll be 19 weeks tomorrow), I started noticing some white-ish/yellow-ish discharge. It sometimes smells/smelled a bit, but nothing alarming. Also, I have had no other symptoms. No itching, fever, rash, bad smell, tenderness, etc. I wasn't too worried about it, but it was something different than what I am used to and what I've had before. So, I made an appointment to get it checked out. The doctor said all looks healthy and normal. If anything changes I'm to go back. I'm thinking this is just my 'new normal'.

After the doctor's appointment this morning, when Paxlet and I got home, I made some tapioca pudding. As soon as it was ready and in the fridge to cool, we left home again to go to our weekly Wednesday mom & kid group. Then, when we got home in the afternoon, I ate my half of the tapioca. (The box says one batch makes 6 1/2 cup servings.) I ate a bit of lunch, changed Paxlet's diaper, twice and played online a bit. I then decided that I had to eat the other half of the tapioca. I mean, I just couldn't stand the idea of Mr Siili eating it in front of me this evening and me not having any to eat. Plus, what he doesn't know (that I made tapioca) won't hurt him, right?! Bad me! LOL

2013 request

Can I make a request of all of my readers/commenters so early on in 2013?  Often I read your comments on my posts and would LOVE to send you a reply via email but your email is not listed on your webpage.
Pretty please with a cherry on top could you update your profile/about me/etc to show your email address?

(If i ever get around to figuring Wordpress out, I'll be able to get emails automatically via their comment generator.)

(Thanks KT at Non Sequitur Chica for the words.)

Play date at my house

For the most part, I am the last one to have a kid in my group of friends. Most of my friends' kids are 2-4 years of age, with one of them as old as 8 years and one of them 5 weeks younger than Paxlet. Being the last to have a kid and basically the only one on maternity leave right now, it is pretty lonely in my circle of friends. Everyone is busy with their families, work and just at a different stage of things than we are. It is rare that I get to see any of my friends and I find that quite sad.

Before everyone had kids, we'd get together semi-regularly at one another's house or in a pub to chat and eat. It's been ages since that has happened. To remedy this situation, I thought I'd have a play date at our house! And what better way to start the new year than to have it in January (20th to be exact), after all the hubbub of the holidays has died down.

In order to try and be more accommodating to everyone's daily schedules, I stated that from 11am-ish until 4pm-ish is the time for people to come over for as long as they wish and fits their schedule. I figured if Paxlet is awake, great! If not, oh well, I really just want to see my friends...and uh...their kids too.

I sent the email out on December 20th, a whole month in advance, as that is what seems to be needed these days. I know two mom&kid(s) won't be coming for sure, one has said she'd come and a couple others will try to make it. The rest haven't replied. I sure hope more people will show up.

In the mean time, I need to get our downstairs area mobile-kid-proofed!

Counting my lucky stars

I ran into a former co-worker/acquaintance at the grocery store yesterday. I worked with her during my second year in Finland and don't think I've seen here since sometime during my third year here. Any who, she asked what I had been up to. I pointed at Paxlet and told her it took us 4 years to get him (among other things that I've been doing since we last spoke). She told me that her and her husband tried for many years and went through all the treatments under the sun (her words) that they possibly could and nothing worked. They are now learning to live child free. I told her I'm sorry.
This is a change: I'm feeling sad for someone else and happy for myself. It still isn't a great feeling.

Cookies as gifts, Xmas 2012

For the last few years, I've been giving my in-laws (MIL, FIL,SIL*2) cookies for xmas. I just got tired of stressing over what to get them and giving them something that they probably didn't want anyway. So, they now get cookies. I figure that even if they don't like all of the cookies, they will hopefully like some of them. Plus, they can pass them on to someone else and they won't be stuck with yet another thing that collects dust.

This year I made 4 different types of cookies and they are not something I have gifted before.

In the top left corner (clockwise) are the original Kellogg's Rice Krispie Treats, Holiday Pinwheel cookies from Christmas Your Way blog, Chocolate-Marshmallow-Fudge-thingies from my friend and White Chocolate & Raspberry Cake Pops (without the sticks).

The recipes for the first two can be found by following the links. The recipe for the chocolate-thingies from my friend can be found below. And the cake pops were sort of my own creation using a couple of sources for hints and tips and a cupcake mix & topping packet. I know there are many recipes out there for them right now as there are the 'in' thing, but if someone would like more details on what I did, I'd gladly share my process.

All of the cookies were easy to make, some of them just took a little bit of time, such as the pinwheels and cake pops. To help things along, I made cake pop innards on the 21st (Friday) and they firmed up over night, the chocolate-things on the 22nd. The pinwheel dough was prepped (rolled & cut) at the beginning of December and then frozen until I wanted to bake them on the 23rd (Sunday). The cake pops were rolled in melted chocolate on Saturday so that they could set up over night. The Rice Krispies were fully made on the 23rd.

Chocolate-Marshmallow-Fudge-thingies recipe
(I have no idea what these are called, except for yummy!)
Ingredients*:
325g (11,5 ounces) Chocolate
3dl (1 cup) marshmallows (They are different than the ones you can roast over a fire.)
1,5dl (1/2 cup) Vanilla Fudge squares
15 x 30cm (6 x 12 in) pan
parchment/baking paper

Break the chocolate into pieces and put in a microwave safe bowl. Microwave in 30 second intervals, stirring in between until all the chocolate is just melted. Don't over heat the chocolate. Stir in the marshmallows and vanilla fudge squares. (If the chocolate gets too hot, you have to wait a bit before you can add the marshmallows to the mix or they will melt.) Spread the mixture into your lined pan and let cool. If you want it cooled faster, stick it in the fridge for a bit. Once the chocolate is hard again, break it into pieces and serve!

*All measurements are rough estimates and you can substitute or add different items into this.

Holy screaming meemies, Paxlet!

Paxlet is such a happy little boy. We get so many smiles and tons of laughter from him. He goes down for naps (best in his stroller) and bed time (on the boob) quite easily. We've not had to deal with colic. Nor has he had that much gas, especially after the first couple of weeks and even then that wasn't too bad. (More sad and pitiful than anything.) He's easy going, not very fussy and just all around happy. Mr Siili and I know we are lucky and are very thankful for this.

Except for the very few times, like tonight, when nothing seems to work. Paxlet is oh so very tired but we can't get him to sleep. I've put a clean diaper on him, changed him into his pajamas and laid down with him to give him a feed before he falls asleep. He ate, then puked a tiny bit. Paxlet then got a bit fussy, but that was because he drained the boob he was on and he was still hungry (so I thought). We switched boobs, he ate a bit more, spit up a bit (ate too much at once) and then he became fussy. He didn't want any more boob. I tried burping him, but that wasn't his issue. I tried feeding him in a different position, he only took a few sucks and fussed some more. I tried sitting him up, I tried laying him down with his dolphin and he only fussed and cried. I tried two different binkies, which he didn't want and they only made him cry and scream. I tried laying him down on the bed, with a binkie and he only screamed more. I let him be on the bed, screaming, because I couldn't think of what else to do with him. After he screamed, gasped, choked and screamed bloody murder for 3-ish minutes, tops. I couldn't handle it any more. And in that moment of desperation, I get it why/how some moms shake their kids. Not that I agree with that, but I get it. Thankfully, I took Paxlet to Mr Siili and here I am writing this trying to collect myself in order to take care of my crying baby some more.

Update a bit later:
Paxlet fussed a bit more with Mr Siili, but he also goo'd and gaa'd with his dad. After 10 minutes or so of Paxlet not screaming, but being a little bit fussy, I went to collect him. Paxlet was still extremely tired, but he wasn't screaming anymore. Mr Siili and I wondered if it was the spiced/flavored chicken that I ate for dinner that upset his tummy. The few times Paxlet has really fussed and screamed seem to coincide with times that I've eaten something with spices in it or too much chocolate. I ate some bread with cheese and some cereal in hopes of getting that into my system and the chicken out or at least diluted (no idea if it really works that way, but I did it anyway). Paxlet and I came back upstairs, I fed him a bit more and he passed out immediately. He's right now laying next to me in bed peacefully sleeping.

Creme de la Creme of 2012

The 2012 Creme de la Creme list is now up and ready to read*.

The Creme de la Creme list showcases the best of the ALI (Adoption, Loss / Infertility) community blogs, chosen by the blog writers themselves. The 2012 list is closed for entries, but if you'd like to participate in the 2013 line-up, keep an eye out for Mel's sign-up announcement at the Stirrup Queens in October. Don't forget to write, write and write some more on your blog so you have a selection to choose your best from. Happy writing.

*It was posted yesterday, January 1st, 2013.

20:14

As I walked into our kitchen last night, I looked at the stove clock and it said 20:13 (8:13pm) and I thought that was cool. I went to get the camera to take a picture of it to share here on my blog, but by the time I got back time had already moved on. Mr Siili said I could always change the clock back to still get the picture ("it's not as if the clock is correct anyway" he said), but that just isn't as cool and it would be cheating.

I had been thinking what to write as my last post of 2012, but never really got anywhere and then it came time to think what to write as my first post in 2013. I still don't have a clue what to write as I don't feel like hashing out 2012 nor do I feel like speculating on the future. Don't get me wrong, 2012 was an amazingly wonderful year for me and us. I'm also sure this coming year(s) will be great too. So, I'll leave you all with the following...

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

...and just get on with it.