The Theory of Relativity

According to weather.com the expected high in Austin, Texas today is 97 degrees, the high in Birkenfeld, Germany is 78 degrees.

I spent 26 consecutive summers residing in the HOT Texas summer heat and never once did I feel that 78 degrees was hot, in fact, to say such a thing would be probably get you exiled from Texas.  So I feel somewhat guilty in confessing that 78 degrees in Germany is wearing me out!  It is flippin' HOT today and no amount of open windows can help!  I know, I know, cry me a river its 78 whole degrees but in Germany that really does feel hot!  I guess heat adaptability really is relative.  If you live a place that cools off significantly in the evenings the temperature differentials really can seem extreme, it's all relative!  And I better brace myself because tomorrow the high is supposed to be....*gulp*.....82!  I am beginning to think that there is just no way we'll make it through summer without buying an A/C unit, the $400 just might be worth it after all!

Now, go forth all you Texans and enjoy your A/C while I sit in front of my fan!

Monday was a big day for me.  I think I have already mentioned before that I am unusually cheap, I am pretty sure that I actually may very well be allergic to spending money.  So my husband has come to learn that whenever there is a decision that requires spending money, I will generally (ok, always) get cold feet.  Case in point: you may remember from a previous post that the nasty 220 electricity here and a cruddy transformer blew my KitchenAid a few weeks back.  I loved that kitchenaid!  So I instantly knew that I had to have another one, I was so certain that I had to have another one that I called Andrew, who was at training at the time, to proudly announce that I was going to go buy myself a new one!  I made the 25 minute drive to the giant PX/mall at Ramstein with the sole intention of buying a new Kitchen Aid mixer.  I picked up a buggy, briskly walked directly to where the mixers were, fully knowing the EXACT price of the mixer, I was on a mission!  My mission however, got derailed when I reached the row of KitchenAid's, saw the price (which I knew before I made the 25 minute drive) and proceeded to stand in the aisle glaring at the price as though if I stood there long enough the price would magically reduce, or maybe a coupon would drop from the heavens.  So I left that Ramstein mall KitchenAid less, with cold feet and a bottle of Lysol disenfectant. 

This leads me to this past Monday, when my husband bought me this sweet gadget!  We bought it from that same PX that I previously visited and left empty-handed, my husband is prepared for my frugal antics and has generally learned to tune out my, "but it costs......, but there are so many other things we could buy..." and just do it!

We also picked up this sweet ride.

It's definitely the nicest car I have ever had; though I should probably mention that both Claire and Grace were great cars and I loved them!  I am so excited to have a car again, sweet freedom, sweet, sweet freedom!  No more waking up at 0530 to drop Andrew off, work out while he's at PT just to wait around for another 2 hours for anything to open.  I am so excited, I can go anywhere, whenever I want....SAWEET!

But, the car itself is pretty cool to have too.  It has leather automatic seats...a real novelty in my mind, and bluetooth compatability so when I want to use the phone it calls through the car and you hear the phonecall through the speakers.  I don't even ever have to get my key out of my purse to unlock the doors or to start the car, the car recognizes that I have the key in my purse and unlocks/starts upon touch......I mean really, who comes up with this stuff???? 

Child Rearing

I have been thinking alot about how I am going to raise my children lately, for obvious reasons but also because I saw this bizarro couple on an HGTV show called Clean Sweep.  The minimal choice of television shows aired on AFN leads, Andrew and myself to watch shows that I may or may not have watch back in the states.  Last Saturday morning, the AFN tv show lineup was particularly lacking which lead me to watch a show about an incredibly interesting couple who were border line hoarders.  To make a long story short the husband refused to get ready of anything leading to a ridiculously dirty (I mean disgusting!) house.  After four years of marriage he refused to share half of the closet and  left all of her clothes/things just lying around the house.  The couple had an 18 month old son, the Mom slept with the son and made her husband sleep on the couch.  The kid had a "nursery" which was filthy, it did have a crib but they claimed he didn't like the crib.  To make a longstory short this couple got me thinking at great lenghts about what I plan to do and not do in the rearing of our children. 

I will start this by saying that everybody is free to raise their children as they please and the choices you make are well....your own chocies.  These are a few of my own thoughts, not intended to offend anybody who is choosing to raise a child/already raised a child/ or was raised differently than I plan to.  With that said, I would also like to say that these are my plans and do hope that through great prayer and with an open heart the Lord will help show me the way He intends me to raise His children.

First and foremost, I intend to put my husband first!  I know that it is probably so easy to put every need of your child above those of your husband.  I simply can not fathom the great love and bond that is between a Mother and her child and I can see how it would be easy to put the child first in all things and your marriage second.  I personally believe that there is no greater gift you can give a child than a happy, healthy home life and marriage.  Marriage is hard work and just because you have kids doesn't mean that the work on your marriage should cease.  I simply can not imagine sleeping with your child and not your husband!  If kids are always in your bed, how are you supposed to keep the intimate relationship that is so important in marriage alive?  I don't get it.  So with that, my first pledge is to keep our marriage bed, just that OUR marriage bed, no kiddos allowed!  Beyond, the 3-4 month point when the baby outgrows the bassinet and is sleeping through most of the night, it is my plan to keep the baby in the nursery! 

Secondly, I pledge not to be too overprotective.  Now, this is the one I will probably need help with!  I am seriously protective of my dog, so I can hardly imagine what it is going to be like when I have a real, life child!  People have been raising children for years!  Years and years, without books, manuals, studies, and monthly Doctor appointments.  I think it is going to be ok if you give the baby rice cereal before 4 months of age!  And it is probably not necessary to check what books say before doing every little thing.  Somebody, please remind me that I said this in a year!

I don't want to be that crazy parent who won't do things that are beneficial for the development of the child simply because I want to keep them a baby.  I am sure the time they are little is precious and expeditious but the cycle of life is for the child to grow and become big and strong...why would you wish them to stay a baby?  That is unnatural!

Finally, breastfeeding.  I definitely want to breastfeed.  I will probably need some encouragement, because I am sure that the idea of formula will seem quite convenient, especially when going to public places.  I am a private person and I just can not picture myself breastfeeding in public, so some encouragement to pump and plan ahead will likely be needed.  My goal is to make it to 6 months, but if I make it to 12 months (and I hope I do) somebody please remind me that is old enough to quit!  Breastfeeding an 18 month old like on the TV show I watched this weekend, just seems for lack of a better word....gross.  At 12 months you can switch to whole milk and so somebody please remind me! 

Fair Family Update!

SURPRISE (to us all!)  we are expecting a new addition to our family!  After a couple of long weeks filled with days and days of prayer we are happy to annouce that we are expecting a baby sometime around December 16.  This is how we told our family: we compiled the pictures into a PowerPoint slideshow and sent it in an e-mail attachment....I think they were a little shocked!

 

OK, four counting the dog!

Aggie Muster

I don't have anyone to Muster with this fine Aggie Muster day, I am saddened that there is no Muster ceremony closer to me and even sadder that I have no Aggie friend here to even just go to dinner.  But I am forever grateful for the dynamic Aggie family that I am so humbly a part of.  I believe Muster is the greatest Aggie tradition, it is important to pay tribute to those that have gone before us and there is always that great assurance that when your time comes you too will be remembered. 

I planned an Aggie Muster last year and I am inclined to volunteer to plan next year's Muster to ensure that there will in fact be some Aggie Muster ceremony in this dense Military populous area that I am positive must have plenty of Aggies.....softly call the Muster.

"Muster is the most solemn and sacred of all Aggie traditions, but it is a time of joy and happy remembrance. Those who have gone before us are those whose lives have touched ours. May we do the same for those who come after us. May we expect no less of ourselves." - Dr. E. Dean Gage '65

This past week, I have had the pleasure of watching this little cutie-patootie, Mrs. Heidi.  She is a young beagle puppy and I was watching her for a friend who went traveling around with her family for a few days.

 

Autumn and little Heidi got along fabulously!  They cuddled on the couch, on Autumn's bed and they rough housed a plenty. 

After a several hour long battle with persistent little Heidi, I decided that fighting her getting on the couch wasn't worth the effort, so I just put a sheet over the couch to keep it clean and dog hair free!  Autumn got to cuddle on the couch a few times this week too because I felt guilty when she would give me those little puppy dog eyes which were clear to say, "How come she's on the couch?  I am not allowed..."  

 She had it really rough while she was staying at Aunt 'G's house.

Heidi trying desperately to recover the many Autumn toys/bones lost to the couch over the past month.

  Drinking water at the same time...two peas in a pod.

Heidi had an obsession for chewing ONLY the bones that Autumn was chewing (even though I would give them both identical bones at the exact same moment, she would only want the one Autumn had).  

Autumn trying to evade her bone stealing attempts.

Heidi's persistence paid off and Autumn gave her the bone and got the one I had originally given Heidi.  Fortunately, Autumn is not possessive with her stuff at all, she just wants a bone she doesn't care which one!  She was such a fabulous dog this past week, I wouldn't trade her for a million dollars!

Andrew's gone but the dirt remains

My husband left yesterday and now I am left with tiny reminders of his visit: muddy bootprints, tiny chunks of dirt that fell off his yard work laden tennis shoes, blue jeans strewn on the floor, toothpaste remnants in the sink, and loads and loads of laundry!  All just tiny reminders that love resides in this busy though admittedly untidy (at the moment) household.

I am dog sitting for the next few days so I am doubtful that the mud on the floor will dissipate any time soon, even though I gave it a good go today!