Cowboy Baby

I do not like it, Sam I Am

I have recently acquired some new knowledge. Apparently you are supposed to dump poop out of diapers into the toilet before putting them in the trash can. Sorry, I gave you absolutely no warning that this post was about poop. But now you're reading and too curious to stop. So, since Wade's diaper productions are now solid (since he eats solid food) I am feeling obliged to follow this practice. And I just don't like it. There is really no totally clean way to do it. It requires touching the dirty wipe again. Then hoping that no little poop pebbles miss the toilet. And those that do, ultimately cause a plop and water splashes everywhere. Listen, I'm really sorry to paint this picture so vividly for you. But I really don't like doing this. Oh, and I forgot to mention the most unpleasant part. After taking off the dirty diaper you have to set it somewhere before you can go dump it out. Where should that be? And what if you forget you set it there? Or what if you have a crying baby and cannot immediately dump the poop?



You don't have to feel convicted to report me to the authorities, I'm still going to dump the poop. I just needed to share with someone how I despise this task.



You're lucky I'm not including pictures.

It's About Time!

August 23rd @ 6:48pm

Finally, Wade decided to roll from back to front! It's been over 3 months since he rolled front to back. He isn't doing it much without prompting (read: holding an object over his head just out of reach and expressing extreme excitement over that object). But soon he'll be rolling across the room!

(Email readers: if you didn't get the video in your email, you'll probably need to click here to watch it)

Goodmorning

I use that phrase to greet you, not so much to describe our morning at 1112 Pineville Rd. It rained all night long here. Cats and dogs. What a day for a duck! Lately I've been longing for a good batch of rainy days. Except I expected the rain to stay outside. Yup, leaky roof. Very thankfully although there are several spots, the roofer thinks they can all be fixed for under $1000 and he didn't even charge us for coming out and getting on our roof in the pouring down rain! I am continuously reminded that our dwelling here on earth is so temporary. Despite our best efforts we cannot build ourselves a home that will last forever! I long for my home in heaven where no roof will leak (or toilet get stopped up or shower stink b/c the p-trap is missing)!

On a completely different note I need some advice. As you see, I've changed my blog layout design lately. I'm not sure how I feel about it. So I've decided to take a survey. Do you prefer the new layout or the old one? Now if you read the blog via email, you'll have to click here to actually see the new layout. Be honest, my feelings won't be hurt!

Coming soon...exciting post that's actually about Wade!

Reduce, reuse, recycle!

The final act of the Disappearing Photos Saga occured today. An old friend, Greg, gave us some good advice. He said we ought to focus on recovering the pics from the computer rather than the external hard drive. So we started researching the software you can purchase to find files once they've been deleted. In the midst of that research, one of us (I think it was me but I'm not usually prone to such brilliance) says "wait, have we checked the recycle bin?".



Pause: for those of you less computer literate, your recycle bin is kind of like a holding cell where files go when you hit delete. Eventually they are deleted from there and go somewhere mysterious on your computer (the software we were going to buy finds them from the mysterious black hole).



Ok, continuing with the story. We click on the recycle bin and pray.......woooooohooooooooooo! There they were...every single one of our beloved photos appeared before our eyes! Hallelujah!!! Happy day!



So, in order to celebrate this blessed occurence I will share with you a handful of my favorite pics that were lost but now are found.

Good Idea Gone Bad

(Names have been replaced to protect identities)

Approximately 3 weeks ago...

Scharff Family Member #1: "Hey, SF Member #2, let's transfer all of our pictures from the computer onto this external hard drive. Then we won't be taking up all this memory with pictures. And if something were to happen to the computer our pictures would be safe. "

(Anyone remember that word from English I called "foreshadowing". This conversation would be a PRIME example of the literary term.)

Scharff Family Member #2: "Great idea. That'll also motivate us to finally get all our pictures of Wade organized by month."

SF Members # 1 & #2 spend HOURS organizing and transferring pictures that weekend (and deleting the originals from the computer). They are so pleased to be able to easily locate any picture they want. One member is even motivated to work on Wade's scrapbook!

Approximately one week ago.

SF Member #1: "Honey, the computer won't read the external hard drive."

SF Member #2: "Ok, stay calm. Maybe it's just a fluke. Wait and try again later."

They try again later...and then again later...and then a week later. No luck.

Turns out the external hard drive crashed. Was this related to the massive dumping of pictures onto it...who knows? We have discovered that the files may possibly be recovered if we send it off to a "clean" lab where they can take it apart. As you are probably guessing, this costs a pretty penny. They charge by the file! Woah! You can imagine how many pictures are on that thing. It could cost upwards of $500!!!!!

Stay calm, Robin.

So, does anyone happen to have a "clean" lab in their basement and the mad skills required to recover files? Yah, I didn't think so.

Plan B (like we would even consider the costly plan A, ha!) is to amass the pictures of Wade we have loaded on the internet and that we can beg, borrow & steal from you guys.

Today's lesson: Always back up your files immediately.

My apologies...

It's definitely been a while since I've posted. But you get a post plus a new layout, so no complaining. As Laura Wilkinson takes her final dives, I'll try to sum up what's been going on around here for the last couple weeks.


After my mom's visit we hurriedly packed for a week in Pigeon Forge. We headed out on Monday to meet Andrew's mom, Connie at a massive, all entertainment included, cabin in a secluded piece of the Great Smoky Mountain National Park with a breath-taking view. Ok, that may not be entirely true. While the cabin was nice and completely served our needs it was located about 1/2 mile from Dollywood. I definitely wouldn't call is massive. And there was some entertainment included but you can't really play pool 2 feet from where your kids are napping. The view was breath-taking...of the cabin next door. But it wouldn't be a Scharff vacation if we got what we expected (we once expected a lake house and ended up with a double wide trailer that hadn't been redecorated since 1960)! The purpose of the trip was to get away and relax & play together while remembering Andrew's dad (Wade Scharff) who passed away one year ago. To that end it was an amazing week!

Cousins Sydney and Wade (8 months apart)

Since we've been home Wade and I have been concentrating on sleeping! His sleep-not mine. Throughout this summer Wade has digressed in his nighttime sleeping habits. Between travel, moving, sickness (of Wade & mommy & daddy), visitors and more travel he had gotten to where he was waking up at about 2am, then 4am and then 6am. So Sunday night I went to bed early prepared for a long night. When Wade woke up at 2:30am I was determined not to nurse him (as I had gotten into the habit of doing). As you can imagine he was not thrilled about this plan. He continued to be "not thrilled" (code for "cried") until he fell asleep at about 4:30am. I set my alarm and checked on him every 10 minutes. Surprisingly naptime went much smoother on Monday. Monday night I was all geared up for another rough night. He woke up at 3am or so and whined/groaned for about 30 minutes (I don't think he was even fully awake) and then fell asleep. Tuesday and Wednesday nights he slept right on through until 6am! Woohoo! AND naptime is continuing to improve as well! I am so so so thankful that this process has been so quick.

Aside from that life has pretty much returned to normal. Andrew and the guys are working very hard on the upcoming 1st Annual Wade Scharff Memorial Charity Golf Tournament planned for Sept. 20 in Spartanburg, SC. I am SO proud of all they are doing and know that their dad would be so proud of them.

Well, the hurtles are about to start which means I've been working on my blog for way too long!

Halfayear Birthday!

Bocce Ball

This is Andrew's pre-victory celebration. He was totally unprepared for the beating he was about to receive.

Bocce Ball involves one person tossing a little ball (like a ping pong ball) onto the court. Then the players take turns throwing large heavy balls attempting to get as close to the little ball as possible. Now this is our version of Bocce Ball. Or at least how we played at a picnic once. As we were playing a guy came along and tried to tell us how to play. His way sounded fun but

involved more people and little balls than we had. Well, looky there. It's a little hard to tell but that's my green ball about 5 inches from the little ball. Andrew is starting to get a little scared.
Wade cheering for mom!
So, in the end the score was Robin-5, Andrew-4, mom-3!!! Woohoo. Let this post serve as the record that I beat Andrew at a (somewhat) athletic game!

72.7%

Apparently the steepest incline railway in the WORLD is right here in Chattanooga. But it only earns that title for a couple feet. I guess the grade is record breaking for just long enough to top some other incline in the Himalaya's or the Alps or Pike's Peak.

Just like Disney
View from atop Lookout Mountain...
wow...i'll pay you $100 to wear that all day

we practiced this pose all morning

look, i can put my ENTIRE paci in my mouth

Thunder Rolls

This afternoon we had a thunderstorm that would rival the best of Florida's summer 3pm storms. It started just as I layed Wade down for a rest. Somehow he fell right to sleep despite the crashing thunder. We lost power numerous times and there was a peculiar "pow, hiss, snap" sound at one point but still not sure what appliance got fried! Anyway he slept right on through it. Sammy, on the other hand, was completely stressed out. He was about 2 in. from my heels the entire time. But at one point I noticed I didn't trip as I walked to the laundry room. Where was Sammy? First I checked our bed because that's his most favorite place in the world. He knows that we've buckled down and made it completely off limits but he still sneaks up there occasionally. But he wasn't there. He wasn't in either of his beds or on the rug in the kitchen. That only left Wade's room. I wish I could have gotten a picture. I went in there and Sammy was laying right beside Wade's crib. (A little note: Sammy's demeanor towards Wade has been slightly curious/I'm way too cool for you/why are you taking all the attention?/do you have food...if so, we can be friends/if I pay attention to you mom will pay attention to me). I figure his logic was either to fulfill his role as protective big brother OR (probably more likely) if something went seriously wrong he knew that's where I'd run to first. Anyway, next storm I'll get a picture!

Grammy is coming to visit in about 16 hours!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Baby Food

Since Wade is eating solid food now I decided I would try my hand at making baby food. Although I do appreciate the benefit of homemade baby food not containing preservatives that's not my real motivation. Making your own baby food is just a fraction of the cost of store bought food. And since I'm not working I figured I have the time to give it a try. It turns out all you have to do (at least for veggies) is buy them fresh or frozen, steam and then puree them in the blender or food processor. Of course, assumed in that process is that you know how to work a blender...which it turns out wasn't quite true for me.

I got up Saturday morning and while the boys were still sleeping decided to give it a try. How long could it take, right? Yah. Well, about 2 hours...for a bag of peas, a bag of green beans and an apple. The steaming of course is simple and I had no issues there. I started out trying to use my hand-me-down food processor. I haven't used it since the move and I'm wondering if perhaps it sustained some damage without my knowledge. Of course I had all the green beans in it before I discovered it wasn't working. Well, no big deal, I thought, I'll just use my B & D Mini Chopper Plus that I've raved about. I transferred the green beans and was thrilled to find the appliance actually turned on. But soon the beans were spinning around on the sides of the container and no pureeing was happening. Ok, it's time to bring out the big dog. So I haul out the blender which has only been used once and that was to blend a Happy Meal (you probably shouldn't ask about that) so I didn't even know if it'd work. I stick the beans in (I've now dirtied 3 appliances and there are green beans all over the counter); press puree and it starts whirring away but soon it's doing the same kinda thing as the mini chopper. So I add a little water. Not much of a difference. I'm starting to get real frustrated- one, because I'm thinking I've wasted these beans but honestly moreso because I have dirtied 3 multi-part appliances. As a last ditch effort I fill the blender up almost to the top with water and press puree. Well, what d'ya know...that did the trick. Apparently liquid is a key factor in the pureeing process. (I went back and tried the mini chopper with lots of water and of course it worked too!).

After you finally get the food pureed you just pour it into ice cube trays to freeze. After they're frozen you can put them into a ziplock bag and thaw them out as needed. If you want more info about making baby food check out this great website I found here.

Just a small portion of the mess I made.

In the end the blender worked great though!

Pureed green beans and peas ready to be frozen

Wade drinking homemade "apple juice" (aka pureed apple w/ lots of water)

Apparently he like it cause this was the face he made when I took it away to add more water!

Look ma, no hands!

P.S. Even though he turned his nose up at Gerber Green Beans, Wade LOVES the homemade ones!

A Weekend to Recover

Aside from emptying 2 entire boxes of tissues, a container of hand sanitizer, a bag of cough drops and 4 mugs of hot tea what does a young family intent on getting better do for the weekend? Pretty much nothing. So here's some photos of our weekend of nothingness...

Goodmorning Wade! He's a morning person - can you tell?

Feet work just as well for sorting the pieces

I promise I didn't eat that piece, mom!

Wade has discovered that green beans are good for nothing except spreading all over your belly!

And of course, Sammy is willing to lick you clean if need be.

I'm so bored...I wish these people would get better!

Andrew just finished the puzzle but it turns out the last piece is missing! How depressing. Well, at least we're both feeling remarkably better and ready to start a new week. I may even go to the Y in the morning!

Happy 5 Monthabirthday! (only 2 wks late)

Moving to a place where freedom rings for spoonfeeders!

Sorry about that title...it's Saturday morning and I'm having my first cup of coffee in 5 days so the caffeine is probably messing with me. Anyway, this is a combo post. I realized I needed to share pictures from moving day, the 4th of July weekend and Wade's new & improved adventures with cereal. So, let's get going here....

First up is moving day!!! I may have mentioned before that our awesome friends from small group helped us move. Our awesome realtor has this awesome truck her awesome clients get to use. It was supposed to rain that day but was absolutely gorgeous. The Lord was definitely pouring out his blessings that day.

Sandy

Andrea

Ben & Steve stop for a hug

Steve

Emris

Thanks to everybody who helped...including the 10 or so of you who I didn't get a photo of!

This next batch is from the 4th of July weekend . . .

The Calvary picnic totally wore out our Little Firecracker.

5th of July Pool Party at the Smith's (sister-in-law's parents)
"You wish you were half as cool as us!" - Wade, Anna and cousin Sweet Pea (in Anna's belly)
Chillin' with Myrtle the Turtle and the flappy old man hat!
Ryder & Wade (2 days apart!)

Can you see the cold germs jumping from Ryder's hand to Wade's?

Ok, I said "new & improved" rice cereal adventures because we tried cereal about 6 weeks ago and Wade definitely wasn't quite ready for it. It dripped right back out of his mouth after he finished trying to suck on the spoon. This time it was like feeding a different kid!

Yum! You're not cool unless you eat with a spoon!

Oh, you didn't say eat the spoon?

So, Wade will begin touring with the Professional Eating Federation next week. He specializes in rice cereal but can also put down a mean portion of apple sauce. A hint for his opponents: you'll win every time with green beans, he can't even get through a spoonful!

You're in luck because I just realized I also haven't yet posted the 5 monthabirthday shots! So, double posting coming right up today.

So, since my post last Monday Wade is feeling much better. I wish I could say the same for the rest of our household! Last Wednesday or so Andrew came down with a horrible cold. You know the kind where you're pretty much miserable all day but it's not exactly bad enough to stay home from work. I really thought I had escaped...until Monday. My throat started hurting, which is my normal first sympton when I'm sick. So I didn't really think anything of the fact that Andrew's throat never hurt. When I could hardly swallow this morning I decided I ought to go to the doctor. Apparently I have strep throat! Who gets strep throat in the middle of July!?! Anyway, I've got it. Thankfully the doc said it's very rare for babies under 3 to catch strep and I am able to take amoxicilon (sp?) so in a mere 44 hours I'll be safe to kiss on Wade again!

In other news, we had our garage sale last weekend and made more than enough to pay for a garbage disposal (which was our goal). And Aunt Cheri gave us this great Jumper thing that Wade LOVES!

First...

So Wade has these onesies that say...

First Ball
First Rattle
First Teddy Bear
First Bath (not sure about this one-what baby doesn't take their first bath until they wear size 3-6mo. clothes?)

Anyway, today he needed an outfit that says "First Cold"! :( Yup, after 5 months he woke up with a yucky cough. It was a pretty rough day today for both of us but hopefully he'll feel a little better after a good night's rest.

New Digs

So I'm finally posting after our move. The move itself went great thanks to our small group...they moved us in 3hrs flat! And for the last week we have been working hard to get unpacked. As you can tell from the pics the main level is just about unpacked, the basement- not so much. But I just close the basement door and I don't have to think about it! Today is Andrew's birthday and his most valuable gift from me is not having to hang anything for 48 hrs! I'll just let you look at the pictures now...think I might actually take a little nap since the Wadester is sleeping.