Wishful Slacker

Toddler Gear Guide- 15 months

Here is an update on the toys, books, etc, that strike Ellie's fancy, now that she is almost 15 months old:

1) Baby dolls
Jim and I got Ellie her first real dolly for Christmas.  There are many makers of baby dolls, and the brand that Jim and I were really looking at were those made by Corelle.  They have a plastic head and limbs with a cloth body, and come with different outfits.  The big problem is that they are PRICEY.  And the thing is, does our toddler really understand that she's been given an expensive dolly?  She's thrilled playing with cardboard shipping boxes, so there's our answer.  We got Ellie a $20 Madame Alexander plastic baby doll, and she is really starting to carry her around.  In addition, Ellie has started playing with her Baby Stella doll, which we received as a baby gift.  Baby Stella is an all-plush doll.  Ellie seems to really enjoy both- she picks one up, drops it, and then picks up the other one.  She likes getting Baby Stella's magnetic pacifier to stick to her mouth, and she slings both of them into her grocery cart and baby stroller.


This morning at our toddler class at Pied Piper Eleanor began to feed the baby dolls there with a plastic bottle.  She took it very seriously.  So, apparently we must now add "doll feeding accessories" to our list of future do-dads to acquire around here. 


2) Push carts
For Christmas Ellie received a little plastic shopping cart, which she really, really likes.  She places her bunny or one of her dolls in the front, and sometimes throws the others into the back.  Having a shopping cart at this age is great for her infatuation with constant movement.  At first, she kept leaning on her shopping cart as though it was a walker, and it would tip over and she would get frustrated.  She seems to now have gotten the knack of it.  There are many brands of shopping carts for kids. 


At a friend's house over Christmas break, Ellie had a great time playing with their doll stroller which my friend said she found at Target for about $10.  Sure enough, Target has these umbrella strollers (that actually fold up), and Ellie really loves hers.  I didn't know if there was a need for her to have both a stroller AND a shopping cart, but she really does seem to enjoy having both. 


3) Crayons.  Ellie is starting to enjoy coloring.  Jim got her a set of jumbo Crayola crayons for Christmas, and now we have one more thing to do on rainy days.  :-) 

4) Mega Bloks or other Lego/block sets
I got Ellie and Jim a killer set of Mega Bloks for Christmas.  I got a great deal- 100 pieces in a plastic tub from Walmart.com, for just $10!  It was right before Christmas, so I think I benefited from a good Christmas deal because I haven't seen them that inexpensive since.  Other Mega Bloks sets come in a zippered pouch, and I like the sturdy bin that came with our set.  The Mega Bloks are really easy for Ellie to snap together.  In the play area of a Barnes & Noble she was really enjoying playing with their Lego table.  My biggest issue with the blocks is that she always knocks down my amazing skyscrapers.  Sigh. 


Along the blocks theme, Ellie also received this train set for Christmas and really likes it. 

5) Corn Popper.  Yes, I am referencing that classic toy that we all enjoyed when we were kids.  We got one for Ellie for her birthday.  It took her a while to be able to push it forward properly without falling, but now that she is much sturdier on her feet it has become one of her favorites, especially when she needs to run off some steam. 

6) Laptop.  I still feel that I don't want all of the toys in our home to be electronic and an imagination-zapper.  But there are some battery-operated toys that Ellie just LOVES, and her little laptop is one of them.  We now bring it along for long car rides because it is great entertainment for her when she starts to buck in the backseat.  Hers is a little Vtech laptop, and there is a larger model at Pied Piper.  She loves that one too, and today almost launched into a full temper tantrum after another child TOUCHED it.  Yikes. 


7) Shape sorters.  My mom got us this one for Christmas.  I knew Eleanor would enjoy playing with it, but I was surprised to find after the holidays that it was probably her favorite new toy.  After she inserts the shape into the hippo's body, she pumps the plunger at the top and the shapes spin around inside and come spitting out the hippo's mouth.  She really likes that part. 

8) Maisy books.  Ellie likes all of her board books, but we have gotten several books about Maisy (who is a mouse, apparently, but I think she looks more like a rat.  Don't tell Ellie that).  They've got great illustrations and Jim and I like the stories.  Okay, maybe it's really Jim and me that love Maisy, and we are pushing that onto our child.  That may be more of the underlying picture here.  But, I have to say that if you tell Ellie to go get her Sweet Dreams, Maisy book, she goes and gets the correct one, which tells me that she must like it, right?  Oh, and we have gotten many of ours used (but in quite good condition) from Amazon.  We also like Moo, Baa, La La La by Sandra Boynton. Ellie is starting to say "BOW WOW WOW" in a deep and husky voice when we get to that page.  Cracks me up. 

So, yes, bottom line is that Eleanor received many toys for her birthday and the holidays, and I am pleased to say that we will be taking quite a toy-purchasing break for the time being.  In 2-3 years, when I need to buy another munchkin a gift and my memory is fried, I can look off of this list.  :-)

Oh, one more thing!  We have had some friends inquire about the little play area that we have in our living room.  It is the playzone sold from the One Step Ahead catalog, but we found ours used on Craigslist.  We have the basic set plus two extensions, and then we got the foam tiles to go inside. 

Baby Gear Guide

Out and About

I wanted to highlight some of the handy baby tools that we have used to get around in the past 10 months and found to be very handy.



Uppababy stroller-
The decision of what kind of stroller to get is a big one.  Especially in a city- "Your stroller is your car" was a phrase we heard several times in the months before Ellie was born.  And honestly, it is true.  We take our stroller everywhere, over uneven sidewalks and divets and potholes while crossing a street.  This doesn't say much for the state and quality of Chicago sidewalks and roads, but at least we are able to confidentally maneuver and plow over these potential stroller-blocks.  

We contemplated a few types of fancy strollers, and first settled on getting a BOB stroller before we saw friends of ours using their Uppababy Vista.  I also learned about the Uppababy from a patient's mother, who recommended it as a cheaper yet excellent alternative to the Bugaboo brand that is so hyped among the city elite.  Now the Uppababy is by no means "cheap."  Looking on Amazon today they are listed at $675.  We were fortunate to receive ours as a gift, and we really love ours.  

When we went stroller shopping, I never honestly gave much thought to the basket beneath the stroller seat.  And thank God the basket under the Uppababy is HUGE- so my lack of consideration of that feature hasn't led me to repeatedly curse under my breath when we have needed more space.  Yes, your stroller is your car in the city, but it is also your GROCERY CART.  I knew we needed enough room beneath the stroller for our diaper bag, but I never thought about needing room for milk and bread and produce and Gerber snacks.  Thanks to our Uppababy, I can easily head over to Whole Foods or Jewel or Walgreens and throw everything under our stroller while we shop.  We are able to get a LOT under there, and our midweek shopping excursions have happily been quite easy.

The Uppababy has many other nice features.  There is a bassinet attachment (which we used more at home rather than while out and about for a walk.  I think Ellie perferred the normal seat even when teeny tiny since she could be strapped in and didn't bounce all over the place).  The seat is comfy and can face backwards or forwards when they are ready to take on the world.  Ellie has slept overnight in it many times when she's had a cough and benefitted from being propped up, or when we took our city staycation back in April.  There is a rain shield that zips around the baby and keeps her dry (and warmer in the winter).  The handles adjust in height, which works great when you are a tall husband:short wife combo like us. 

Stroller caddy-
A fail on the part of the ritzier strollers is that they don't always come with the accessories that you really need- like a cup holder or organizer.  Uppa Baby does make a clip on cup holder that you can buy separately, but it hasn't received good reviews on Amazon.  What we use instead is this stroller caddy by Jolly Jumper.  It was inexpensive ($12) and works great for us and the Uppababy (it supposedly is able to fit many brands of strollers).  It has two cup holders which are best used for closed containers like water bottles or travel mugs.  A regular cup from a coffee shop still sploshes all over the place in this caddy, even after you drink most of the coffee out of the cup first.  I also roll up burp clothes and put them in the cup holders, or throw my cell phone in them, etc.  There is a middle zippered pocket where I keep my wallet, and there are small pockets that we use for chapstick, hand sanitizer, travel Kleenex, band aids, and Neosporin (I am a former girl scout, remember). :-) 

Now that we have the stroller seat facing out, we can't put the seat in the full recline position with this stroller caddy when the stroller handles are at the shortest setting.  The easy solution is that I pull the handle back out to the full length, recline the chair, and then move the handle back to my setting. 

Jujubee wallet-
When we first started going out with the baby last winter, I found it to be a major annoyance to pack her diaper bag one day, then my work bag the next, then the diaper bag again, then the stroller three days later, etc etc etc.  To make life easier, I got this wallet from Ju Ju Be.  It is a basic wallet with a bit more room than usual for those critical items (in my opinion they are critical!)- chap stick, keys, and travel hand sanitizer.  It has a tiny little pen inside too (which is surprisingly a great pen).  I got mine one day from a www.babysteals.com deal, but they have them on Amazon too.  Having this wallet allows me to throw it around from bag to bag and to always know that I have everything I need in one spot.  It has a handy wrist loop too so I can take it from my huge work bag when I grab lunch.  For me, it works.  I have thrown mine in the washing machine too with good results (ie, it didn't shrivel up into a shrinky dink).  It also fits in the main zippered pocket of the stroller caddy, as I mentioned above.  

Chicco Umbrella Stroller-
Once a baby is about 6 months old, you can begin using an  umbrella stroller.  We really like ours.  It is small and lightweight, and can be easily folded up and thrown in the back of our car.  In fact, we just keep ours in our car so we always have a stroller on hand if needed.  I have used ours for longer walks here in the city, including a time when I walked to another Mom's house for a play date.  I was able to take the baby out, fold the stroller one handed while holding the baby, and then carry it up a set of stairs into the house.  There is a handy strap (that can be detached if you don't want it), which makes it possible to sling it across your shoulder.  And it is CHEAP!  $70 on Amazon!



Baby K'tan-
I loved the early cuddly months with the baby and my favorite carrier during that time was the Baby K'tan.  I was able to use a friend's Moby wrap at first and loved it once I got it all wrapped around me and had the baby nicely inside.  However, Ellie and I had plenty an afternoon where she screamed on the bed while I turned and turned and did circles while hushing "hold on baby! Hold on!" and turned around again to get the long sheath of fabric tied on correctly.  I loved the concept of the Moby wrap, but my execution left much to be desired.  Then I learned about the Baby K'tan from a baby blog.  It is the same concept as the Moby, but the biggest difference is that it consists of two simple loops that you throw over your head.  You lift an arm, adjust, lift the other arm, and boom- pass me the baby!  I had great success with ours.  We could still use it but now I think that Eleanor does better with the extra support provided by our Ergo carrier.    

Ergo carrier-
And ta da! That leads us to the Ergo.  We use the Ergo a LOT now.  When Ellie was really small, I wasn't so sure, as she seemed to get swallowed up inside.  There is an infant insert for newborns which we used, but it is now so simple to get Eleanor strapped in and ready to go without having to factor in the newborn insert or anything like that.  There are many other carriers available for babies, and the Baby Bjorn is another brand that you hear that people like a lot.  But I tried a Baby Bjorn a couple times and just never found it to be comfortable (though others swear by it).  The Ergo, on the other hand, is really comfortable for me.  

To get down to our parking garage we have to get through 3 heavy doors, and no matter how much I tighten my abs or work on my biceps, I cannot gracefully get all our gear through those doors with Ellie in the umbrella stroller.  I've seen other parents do it- even women my size- with no problem, so I don't know what my deal is.  But I learned that the easiest way to get the kid, the breast pump, the diaper bag, and my work bag all out to the car is to just strap her to me in the Ergo, and then carry the bags with my arms.  It took me about 5 months to figure this out, but now, happily, I've got it down :-)

I also use the Ergo carrier to get the baby from our car to her daycare room and back at the end of the day, for all the same reasons that make using it in our building a great solution.

I should say that the Ergo does not fit Jim's build, and the Baby K'tan is sized, so these baby carriers don't work for him.  But he also has the strength of Zeus and no heavy fire doors hold him back a second, so I don't think it is much of a hardship for him!  I also mainly use the Ergo for carrying Ellie in front of me (facing me).  I have only put her on my back a couple of times.  It is not as comfortable, and I need someone there to help me.  With using it in the front, I can easily get Eleanor strapped in on my own, and she seems to have no problems being in that position, even now at the age of 10 months.


Anyways, I thought that I would type this out in case these reviews could help others.  :-)  Let me know if you have any questions or other recommendations! 

 

A skunk, a ladybug, and a happy baby

We went and saw Dot & Ziggy this morning (click here to see pictures on their site), a play by the Chicago Children's Theater that is currently being performed at the Biograph Theater just down the street from us on Lincoln Avenue.  We got tickets through a Plum District special- $9 instead of the regular price of $18, plus I had a $20 credit through the site, so in the end our outing cost us a lovely $7!  The play is for the target audience of 0-4 years old, and we had no idea how little Ellie would react.  Well in the end she loved it and the three of us had a great time!  The "play" takes place in a large room and families sit on pieces of carpeting while the characters move all around the carpeted pieces.  Basically, the story is about a skunk and a ladybug who become friends, but first encounter a few conflicts.  For example, they find a dandelion and both want it at the same time.  Such a problem!  Well, along comes a SPIDER who calmly reminds them that they need to SHARE!  It was really, really cute and well done.  The baby really watched a lot of it too.  When Dot the ladybug skipped by the baby held her arms out and tried to touch her pretty tutu skirt.  She bounced on Jim's lap and squealed at the toddlers who were dancing nearby.  Occasionally when the action was occurring on the other side of the room Eleanor preferred to chew her teether rather than follow the storyline, but then again she's only SIX MONTHS OLD.  I think Jim and I have so been wanting to do these types of things as a family of three (remember, we're the couple who honeymooned in Disney World and sat through a Wiggles concert even before having kids of our own), that we were freakishly looking forward to seeing Dot & Ziggy.  :-)

My parents called us using Apple's Facetime this afternoon to watch the baby.  She was just not in her happiest place (no thanks to me, who tried showing my parents how the baby could momentarily sit up, and in the act of doing so the baby dove headfirst into the laptop.  Another "Mother of the Year" trophy to add to my collection....).  I kept trying to get her to laugh for them but it was just not going to happen.  An hour later Eleanor did finally break a smile, as you can see for yourself!

Eleanor laughing 5/14/11 from Lindsay Rhodes on Vimeo.

Mmmmm cupcake

Jim headed out Wednesday afternoon after the blizzard to dig out some Zipcars from nearby parking lots (I was like, "Man, hon, I wish I could help, but you know, I need to take care of the baby and all...").  He came back a few hours later holding a Starbucks coffee cup and a 4 pack of red velvet cupcakes.  "Starbucks is selling their cupcakes in 4 packs now!" he exclaimed, setting the cakes down on the counter.  I was going to remind him that there were actually two of us (well, 3 really, but the third hasn't started on solids yet), and not four, but I was momentarily hushed by the beauty of this arrival.  Red velvet cupcakes.  I love red velvet cupcakes.

I wasn't so sure how I would like Starbucks red velvet cupcakes.  But holy goodness, they are really fantastic.  I have never been a huge fan of cake frosting (honest!), but the frosting on these cupcakes is unbelievably good.  It's not too rich and not too bland, not too firm yet not too creamy.  The actual red velvet cake is also terrific, really moist and delicious.

Remember how there were FOUR cupcakes?  Well, this is what a good wife I am.  Jim brought the four cupcakes home on Wednesday, at which time we each had one.  This left two cupcakes, and Jim left early the next morning for Boston.  Thursday night I had one more cupcake, and then ALL day Friday I eyed that one remaining cupcake but DID NOT TOUCH IT.  "EAT THIS NOW BECAUSE I'VE BEEN STARING AT IT ALL DAY!" I urgently pushed the remaining cupcake toward him as soon as he walked through the door.  Then he let me have a little bit of frosting off the top.  Because he loves me that much.

And whoa- I just found the link on the Starbucks site for the cupcakes!  These babies are fattening!  Damn I wish I hadn't seen that...

Good cloth diaper summary

Below I've posted a link for a good quick video on the basic options available for cloth diapering.  We continue to be very happy with using our cloth diapers for Ellie.  And, so far, my favorite technique has been using the more traditional prefold diapers with simple diaper covers, which is also the least expensive option (I bought 10 more Indian prefold diapers last week for $1.50 each)!  I'm still happy that we have the fancier pocket diapers and I think these will be easier for our relatives and other caregivers to use and will also be easier once this kiddo becomes more wiggly on the changing table.  For some reason typepad won't let me insert the actual video, so here's the link:

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7131550n

And here is a You Tube video on the different ways to fold a traditional prefold diaper.  With the new ones I just bought, I like using the twist method.

 

I have taken careful notes on what we have spent on our diapers these past few months, and I plan to create a future post on comparing those costs with the average cost of disposable diapering.  We used ebay and craigslist for many of our cloth diapering finds, including new and very gently used diapers on which we got some great deals. 

There is really nothing nicer than a sweet little baby bum wrapped up in a cloth diaper :)

A Good Read

I'm trying to whip up this post quickly as I can hear the baby stirring from her nap.  Type woman, type!

I came home one evening from work when I was very, very pregnant and discovered a gift bag waiting for me at my spot on the couch.  There was a sweet card from my husband, who was working late that night, and I was tremendously surprised when I looked inside the bag to find a new Amazon Kindle ereader!  Just for me!  Apparently my moaning throughout the night as I rose to pee for the 17th time or tried turning over in bed like some beached whale "kindled" enough sympathy from my husband to lead to that very nice surprise! 

I have been very impressed with the Kindle and really appreciate it now that I have the baby.  The size of the Kindle is perfect for me and fits so nicely in one hand.  I knew that I would never choose an ipad as my only ereading device because it's simply too large to comfortably hold while kicking back on the couch (not to mention how expensive it is).  The appearance of the text on the Kindle is great- you really forget that it's different than a paperback book in your hand.  You can move the cursor around the page to get an instant defintion of a word, which I used often just recently when reading Dickens' A Christmas Carol (which I got as a free download, as you can through Amazon for many classic books).  I always like to physically see my progress as the bookmark moves deeper and deeper through a book, and I feel that I can get a similar experience on the Kindle by looking at the bottom of the page, where it tells you what percentage of the book you have read. 

With the Kindle, I can keep the baby propped in one hand and read in the other.  I don't need to keep a book held open or use a second hand to turn a page.  We got rid of cable several years ago, and those of you stuck at home during the day know that daytime tv can be almost unbearable at times.  So having an easy way to read has been great!

Now, I ended up with a second great ereading surprise.  I had taken a research survey MONTHS ago through my professional organization and to entice people to complete the survey the researchers announced that there would be a drawing for an ipad.  The Monday before we had Eleanor, I received an email saying that I had won!  I couldn't believe it, and upon returning home from the hospital my brand new ipad sat waiting for me. 

I am loving both devices now.  Of course the ipad is also great to have for times when I'm sitting on the couch with the baby and want to web surf (and I don't mind the size of it as much when I am web-surfing as compared to wanting something compact for a long period of leisurely reading).  There is so much you can do on the ipad that I haven't really even gotten around to doing.  But I now also use the ipad for reading at night when we're in bed and the lights are dimmed.  The Kindle is not back-lit, so there are limitations there when it comes to reading when everyone else has gone to bed.  The best part about using both the Kindle and the ipad for reading books purchased through Amazon is that both communicate with Amazon.  No matter which one I pick up, I can get to the page where I left off in seconds.   

So, if you're asked what you want for Christmas, and are curious to try out an ereader, I give the Kindle two thumbs up :-)  And even if you aren't asked, the price point is reasonable enough for the Kindle that you could go ahead and treat yourself! 

Baby's awake!

Winter's Cruelty- aka, the hotter the shower, the drier the skin

I have the winter itch.  The colder the temps, the more I itch.  The colder I feel, the longer I stand in a steamy hot shower.  And the longer and hotter the shower, the more I itch.  How is this fair?

In our new apartment, we have one of the most amazing showers I have ever seen in my life.  Do you see all those shower heads?  When our lease is up, I may handcuff myself to the towel bar.  I love me a hot shower or bath.  Sometimes during the day when I am cold, I imagine myself walking around wearing a large box full of hot water.  An opaque portable bath of sorts.

To be totally honest, my wish for this portable bath was a desire of yesterday.  In actuality, I really haven't been very cold during the day recently, mainly because I am now addicted to my long johns.  I bought a pair of long underwear from REI last year, and it was probably the best $30 I've ever spent.  They are thin and breathable and the best accessory ever invented.  I've become so addicted, that even after the temps creep back up into the 20's and 30's, I can't take them off.  If I leave without them, it feels like the tundra.  I almost accidentally wore them to my pedicure last Saturday. 

So, back to dry skin.  When we were at Ikea last month, we were surprised to see that they have come out with a line of toiletries- body and hand lotion, and shampoo and conditioner.  Having left my chapstick at home, I had hoped with all my might that there was new Ikea chapstick, but I was not that lucky!  All of their products seemed to be very decently priced at less than $3.  We bought a body lotion to try out, and I have to say that we've been very pleased with it.  It is pretty thick and is fairly quick-drying.  I would definitely buy some more in the future, but Jim and I have forbidden ourselves to return to Ikea for at least a few months! 

 While I love finding nice lotions and other toiletries for cheap, I've also discovered a deep down desire to splurge every so often.  We took a Chicago staycation last spring and stayed at the Hotel Monaco downtown.  If I could, I'd say that it's the best hotel in Chicago.  But I am far from having been in every hotel in the city, so therefore this is a claim I cannot support.  You get the idea though, I loved this hotel.  The soap freebies at this place were L'Occitane products, the verbena scent.  Oh they were just lovely.  The scent is so fresh and lemon-y.  I happened to have a ziploc bag with us and actually brought home the used soap that we had used while at the hotel because I could not BEAR the thought that it'd be thrown away (ARGH I'M MY MOTHER!!)!  As for the other unused L'Occitane travel products that we brought home from that stay, I found myself using them slowly over the next few months when I really needed something nice.  Since I loved them so much, when it came time to ask for things for Christmas, I put it down on my list.  I received L'Occitane bar soaps, lotions, shower gels, and shampoo and conditioner.  Oh, happiness.

Let me finish by sharing a really nice website, Real Food Rehab.  I saw Dana Joy Altma on our local news a few months ago, and really like her message.  She is all about promoting healthy living through eating good, pure foods and practicing self-care.  I particularly liked her blog post from after the New Year, Ten Ideas to Make Your Life Better in 2010. 

Quality trumps quantity.  After I run out of my L'Occitane Christmas gifts, I may actually head out and buy some for MYSELF!  Shocker!

The Help

I have to say that I am really surprised that certain offices, including mine, are closed in recognition of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.  My coworkers and I experienced a true slap in the face as we were preparing for our clinics that are to take place this week.  One by one you could you hear one of us shriek, "OH MY GOD THAT'S RIGHT!  We aren't here on Monday!"  Someone could read this and envision the exclamation blanketed in tones of bliss and happiness.  But that person would be mistaken.  Rather, imagine the sentiment sounding similar to one groaning about owing taxes or needing a root canal. Like The Biggest Loser's "last chance workout," Monday is our day to prepare for the madness ahead.  You get the picture. No Monday= big problem.

But, que sera, sera, and here I am at home with the whole day to myself.  And I am hoping to enjoy it sans work as much as possible.  Since today is designated as the day to honor Martin Luther King, Jr and all that he stood for, I wanted to share with you one of the best books that I have read in a very long time, The Help by Kathryn Stockett.  My mother-in-law was the one who tipped me off to this book, and when I went onto Amazon and saw that it received 4.5/5 star ratings from over 1,000 reviewers, I decided that it was worth it to purchase my own copy.  The story takes place in Mississippi in the 1960's and describes the lives of black women who serve as "the help" for white families.  The narrative is rich and complex, and features several strong women with whom you find yourself truly connecting as the story unfolds.  When I finished the book, I found myself missing Aibileen, Minny, and Skeeter as though they were real friends of mine.  The story makes your heart ache in some areas and rejoice in others, and it reminds you of how far we have come in the past 50 years.  I hope that you enjoy it as much as I did.

   

Two if by Sea

A week ago I finished the book 1776 by David McCullough.  I had never read one of McCullough's books before, but I loved his narration in the Ken Burns' Civil War series, and would really like to read more of his works in the future.  My friend and I heard him speak at Oakland University years ago.  We had horrific seats but that didn't matter because we were able to hear his voice, which is so amazing.  So of course when reading through 1776, I heard McCullough's voice in my head the whole time.  It was similar to when I read Stephen Hawkings "A Brief History of Time" and through the whole book imagined his computer voice talking to me.  Needless to say, it took me a long time to finish!

I have to say that 1776 had the most sudden conclusion to any book I've ever read.  No, don't worry, we still gain our independence (oops, did I just give away the ending?!).  It seemed so sudden because I am not used to reading books with pages upon pages of citations, and therefore did not realize I was so close to the end.  I nestled into bed one night to read a few pages, and then, what do you know, I had finished it!

I started reading 1776 in preparation for our weekend trip to Boston a few weeks ago.  Thankfully, the Revolutionary War started during the British occupation of Boston and I was able to get through that part prior to our trip!  I would have thoroughly enjoyed going to the historical sites in Boston even if I hadn't read the book of course, but being immersed in the book while going through Boston ended up being really, really cool.  The book picks up after the Battles of Lexington/Concord and Bunker Hill, and I wish McCullough could have included these battles and the events leading up to those initial conflicts, like the Stamp and Townsend Acts and the Boston Tea Party, just to get a bit more of that background.     

That aside, the book makes you realize how very easily the British could have won that war based on the moments of that year.  McCullough also does a tremendous job at describing the incredible hardships soldiers faced at that time.  Walking miles and miles with the barest of clothes and shoes.  Freezing to death during overnight secret marches.  Being overcome by disease.  Suffering for days and days before dying from war wounds.  Prisoners of war being bayoneted after their capture, or being kept on prison ships for months.  Horrible, horrible things.

Jim and I went to the Minute Man National Historical Park during our visit.  I had been once before and Jim thought it to be just as powerful an experience as I had 5 years ago.  Within the Minute Man Park are the historical remnants of the Battles at Lexington and Concord and the trail taken by the British in their retreat back to Boston.  April 18, 1775 was the night when the lanterns were lit in the Old North Church ("one if by land, two if by sea") and the midnight ride of Paul Revere took place, when Revere took off for Lexington and Concord to warn them that the British were coming (Paul Revere was also joined by a guy name William Dawes, who we just don't seem to talk about at all!). 

    With the Old North Church in the background

The British were met with huge opposition at Lexington and Concord, and at the Old North Bridge was "the shot heard 'round the world."  The British retreated back to Boston, but along the way were met with resistance from thousands of militia men who showed up from surrounding villages.  By the end of the day, 273 British and 93 Americans were killed, and the Revolutionary War had begun.

 

 

Old North Bridge, the location of the Battle of Concord

The trip from Boston to Concord is about 18 miles.  The British marched through the night on their way to Lexington and Concord, and those battles occurred in the early morning.  Just imagine walking that far, through the night, only to find yourself under fire the ENTIRE way back.  That's 36 miles in one day.    No sleep.  No food.  No water.  No Nike tennis shoes or blister band-aids.  Oh, and you're being fired at the whole time.   

If you ever go to the Minute Man National Park, there is a travel center that has a somewhat cheesy video presentation that is still pretty well done and informative.  Leave some time to just wander and picture what went on there over two hundred years ago.  And, when you're ready to leave that behind and switch to more transcendental thinking, Walden Pond is just down the road.  War and Peace, and so near each other.

 

 
 

I love this man

See this man?  Thanks to him, I was able to come home from work, run the dishwasher, get our dinner started, and receive all my groceries at my door as my chicken cooked on the skillet.  The timing could not have been better, and now thanks to Peapod, we have a stocked fridge.  This man must have sent his friend to our place instead today, but I was still more than happy to receive any Peapod employee this evening.

In buying from Peapod and comparison shopping, there are a few things I have learned.  Peapod is great for when you need basic interchangeable food items and can do most your shopping from their weekly specials list (which, be forewarned, runs from Wednesday-Tuesday, not Sunday-Saturday like most stores.  I found out the hard way when I saved an order on a Tuesday night only to log in on Wednesday to find everything back to regular price).  Outside of weekly specials, Peapod's prices can be a bit on the steep end, especially for meat and name-brand items like Nabisco crackers, etc.  We've even come across some fruits and vegetables that we feel are expensive, whereas other produce items have come at a great price.  Speaking of their produce- I've not once been disappointed.  The bell peppers we've received have been gynormous (yes that's a word), and everything we've purchased has arrived very flavorful and fresh.  Tonight we received some blackberries, blueberries, strawberries, cherries, cucumbers, zuchini, squash, apples, oranges, nectarines, and peaches, and they all arrived looking stellar. 

Peapod also has weekly specials on non-food items, and (FINALLY!) they ran a special on a facial cleanser for which I also had a manufacturer coupon.  You just give your friendly Peapod delivery man the manufacturer coupons when he arrives, and the next day you receive an email with your adjusted total.  The first few times you use Peapod you're eligible for some good store coupons (like $5 off your first order and super amazing things like that).  As much as my husband and I have googled " Peapod coupon codes," nothing has come up that is legit for us to use any longer.   So, alas, no cheating with coupon codes.

And, let's please not forget one of the best parts of ordering from Peapod, which is the convenience factor.  Good God there's nothing better or easier.  For me, when I have what can be called a "Peapod kinda week," the $7 fuel and delivery charge is worth every penny to not have to get in the car, slowly inch along Diversey or Wrightwood for 30 minutes, to then weave through 500 other people at the grocery store at its busiest time (which, when you don't get home until 6pm most days, is basically any time you're not at work).  I have to say, that while you need to be cognizant of some of the pricing, I feel that you save oodles using Peapod because there are no impulsive purchases that have tempted each and every one of us, without fail, while walking past the display at the grocery store (ahem Scooby Doo toy in the cereal box!).  

So, my vote is two thumbs up for Peapod.  If you live in the Peapod-less 'burbs, I am sorry.  It is a terrific benefit to have this option.  However, you folk can usually zip to the store and back while reaching speeds of greater than 30 mph, which from a city dweller's viewpoint, is comprable to having super powers.  Who needs grocery delivery with that?!