A Public Service Announcement

So. You know how dishwasher detergent doesn't have phosphates any more? And, you know how if you live anywhere with even slightly hard water everything comes out of the dishwasher covered in a film of white crap? And, you know how this makes your dishes look and feel dirty, even though they've been through the dishwasher? And the more they go through the dishwasher, the more said white crap builds up? And, you know how the "rinse agent" that's supposed to help does absolutely nothing to resolve the white filmy crap on your dishes problem? And trying to scrup the white filmy crap off your dishes is entirely unsuccessful? And you consider using CLR on your dishes but then decide that that's probably not the best plan since you, you know, eat off those dishes and all? And this whole situation just frustrates you to no end (or maybe that one's just me...)? Well. I have found a solution and as a public service, I am sharing it with you (although I recognize that perhaps you have already figured this out and I am just really,really slow. Maybe everyone already knows this and I just didn't get the memo. Don't tell me. I'm kind of feeling like a genius right now. Don't spoil it.)

The solution?

Diet Coke.

Not. even. kidding. Time for a small-ish chemistry lesson: Diet Coke has phosophoric acid in it. Phosphates are just a salt of phosophoric acid. Which means that, because a lack of phosphates caused this problem in the first place, the phosophoric acid in Diet Coke will get that white crap off your dishes. Visual proof:

See the bowl? See the dull, white, filmy crap? I took that bowl right out of the dishwasher! GROSS.

See the plate? Came out the same dishwasher cycle. It was covered in the same, white, filmy crap. It took a Diet Coke bath and...drum roll please...now it's sparkling, clear and clean. HAPPY DAY.

You're Welcome.


P.S. I used cheap, generic "Diet Cola". It's, like, 75 cents for a 2 liter bottle. I bought 4.

P.P.S. I seriously filled my sink up with it and soaked my dishes.

P.P.P.S. I keep touching my plates and glasses because they finally feel clean. Good thing I wash my hands a lot. I'm doing all my little rubbermaid containers next. I can't wait.

P.P.P.P.S. Make sure it's Diet Cola, otherwise you're going to end up with sparkling, sticky dishes. Which sort of defeats the purpose.

Awwww...

Little Levi is 2 months old! He's also in the 100th percentile for height, weight and headsize. He's an overachiever. :-)
We had some pictures taken the other weekend and oh my goodness, so ridiculously cute! If you are in the market for some fabulous pictures and a super fun time, check out A-M Photography. We had a great time and Angie did such a fantastic job. Here are a few of my favorites:

Baby Fat (and not the cute kind)...

3 weekends ago, I found myself headed to the mall, in search of new clothes. While I am close to my pre-pregnancy weight (notice I didn't say my "ideal" weight, merely my pre-this-must-be-what-a-baby-whale weighs, weight), pregnancy has left me lumpy in odd places and none of my pre-pregnancy clothes fit right. As anyone who knows me at all knows, I hate, with a burning passion, shopping for clothes. You can imagine, then, that the lumpiness combined with the prospect of facing a task I hate had left me in a less than stellar mood. Throw in some killer post-pregnancy hormones and this was a disaster waiting happen. I should have known better.

Before undertaking this task,  I drove through a fast food place near the mall and bought myself a Diet Coke. I also threw caution to the wind and bought a cinnamon roll. I'm already lumpy, right? What's a cinnamon roll going to do? I pulled into a nearby parking lot to eat said cinnamon roll. I should have paid more attention to where I'd stopped to eat my fast-food breakfast...I looked up to see myself sitting 10 feet from the entrance to a "Curves" fitness center. Adding insult to injury, this particular "Curves" was getting a jump start on the New Year Resolution fitness buffs and had a sign across the front declaring, "Re-discover the "real" you in 30 minutes!" I thought,"HA! It'll take a whole lot more than 30 minutes to 're-discover' anything remotely resembling the 'real' me!" At which point I cried. Kind of a lot. HORMONAL, remember?! All this just added to my already black mood. Looking back on this, I think the universe was trying to tell me something at that moment. And that "something" was, 1. What on earth were you thinking, eating that disgusting cinnamon roll in the first place? and 2. Clothes shopping right now, a mere 4 weeks after having a baby and  in the mood you are in, is a very, very bad plan.

I ignored the universe.

I attempted to find clothes. After multiple failed attempts which culminated in trying on a skirt that was 4 sizes larger than I usually wear (yes, 4.) only to find that it still didn't fit right (way too big in some places, while way too clingy in others. LUMPY, I TELL YOU!) I gave in and cried. Yes. That's right. I cried. Again. In the dressing room. At the mall. What? Did you think this was going to be some inspirational, "I came to terms with the fact that I am fat and lumpy and can't find clothes that fit and now I love myself just as I am!" kind of post?! Not a chance. I'm fat and lumpy and it's irritating and I hate it and I don't really 'do' inspirational.

Which brings me to my point. After spending the weekend and the better part of the next week in quite the bad mood, I determined to do something about the residual lumpiness.  It took 2 weeks to get Isaac on board with my brilliant plan, but now: MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ME!

It is being delivered on Monday. There will be no more crying in parking lots. Or dressing rooms.

The end.

Finally!

Well. After a year (yes, you read that correctly A YEAR) of endless paperwork, dozens upon dozens of trips to the recruiting office, multiple physicals, a wide variety of tests and one flight to Phoenix for an interview, we finally received word this week that Isaac has officially been selected for Army flight training!

HOORAY!

The Warrant Officer Flight Training program is extremely competitive and we are so blessed that Isaac was chosen to enter the program. We are so excited to finally be moving forward and to have the very difficult and stressful application process behind us. Even though this means Isaac will be away for several months early next year to begin his training, I couldn't be more thrilled for him.

Happy dance!

3 Weeks!

Our
little Levi is three weeks old today! It's amazing how much he's grown and changed in just that short time. We are so very blessed to have him in our family. And now, pictures!

His first bath. He was not a fan.Good thing my mom was there to help speed things up!

With my mom, the day after he was born.

With my dad. So cute!

Tummy time is exhausting!