Crunchy, Chewy: Granola

I've been craving snacking granola this week and it dawned on me as I perused foodzie (for the hundredth time) and considered other fruit/nut combinations at my mixed nuts, that I could make my own. So I did!

Recipe:

4 cups rolled oats

3/4 cup coconut oil, warmed to melting

1/2 cup honey

2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

1.5 cups dried cherries, unsweetened

3/4 cup sliced almonds

1.5 cups cashews

2 tablespoons flax seeds

1 tablespoon chia seeds

1.5 cups banana chips

1/2 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips

3/4 cup white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl combine the oats, coconut, almonds, flax seeds and chia seeds. Pour in melted coconut oil and honey, mix until all the dry ingredients are evenly coated.

Spread onto a baking sheet and bake for 45 minutes or until the granola is nicely toasted and brown. Turn the granola every 10 minutes or so to ensure even cooking.

When the granola is mostly cool, add in the banana chips, cherries, and cashews. Once the batch has cooled completely add in the chocolate chips and store in an airtight container.

This recipe provides a nice granola base to which you can add whatever yummies you're in the mood for.

Enjoy!

The way I like it

Today was a welcomed lazy day. The area was gearing up for our first real Winter snow (the snow is falling now!), and it was nice to be cozied up inside for the afternoon. I logged off of work at 1:00 and caught the last 20 minutes of Roscoe's nap on the couch.

One of my goals for this year is to bake on a weekly basis some of the staples that we typically buy. So after lunch clean-up we started the process of baking cinnamon-raisin bread. I'm never very confident when dealing with yeast so my expectations of this recipe were not especially high, but it seemed like an easy and homey thing to do on a freezing, wet, and slushy afternoon. Roscoe and I whipped up the dough in no time and set it out to rise.

The craft closet that was recently created to house all of the art supplies that I gathered in one impulsive and Christmas present-inspired trip to Michael's, was just the thing. We painted, and glittered, and glued for over an hour.

Then it was time to punch the dough and let it rise again.

Andy came home early to avert the inevitable traffic hysteria and we promptly hightailed it to the loft where we intended to complete the final phase of yet another huge project that we had started over the weekend: organize the loft closet. For some perspective, the closet is 80 sq. ft., and when we began we couldn't fully open the door--it has served as a dumping ground for the last 3 years. Of course, all attempts to organize must first result in more chaos as the contents are emptied, redistributed to other areas of the house or thrown away so that whatever remains can be strategically returned to a new (roomier) location. All week I've been working amidst (and tripping over) the many scattered piles and piles of stuff that we evacuated but didn't have time to really tackle--Sunday evening came too soon.

Needless to say, with help from The Adventures of Milo and Otis (recommended for its variety of animals and toddler appeal, not recommended for the many animal cruelty allegations) we were successful in crossing off of our pre-Little Sears to-do list "Loft Closet".

After returning to the kitchen we divided the dough into three equal parts, rolled them out, and liberally sprinkled each with rum soaked raisins before we rolled them up and tucked them neatly into their loaf pans to bake while we ate dinner.

When our little loaves were baked and cooled we brought out the butter and honey and devoured almost an entire loaf. Dense, moist, nutty, and dotted with just the right amount of raisins, I would definitely make it again. The addition of walnuts, or even chocolate chips alone would be a nice variation.

Next up is a shower...still haven't done that today! And then a movie date on the couch.

One is never enough

There are several things that I bought for Roscoe during my pregnancy that I have felt compelled to also buy for Little Sears. The desire to be "fair" to both kids seems inherent, already. Actually, you know how much I love product and gear, and when I find something I love I have to share it. Who better to share it with than my other kiddos?

Tiny Sprouts is one of my favorite small companies, and one you may already be familiar with. For Roscoe we purchased a growth chart and when there was a tiny little bump in the shipping process Tracey gave us a newborn gown embroidered with his name. It was his first outfit after birth, and it was way too big.

I've been prowling the Tiny Sprouts site for months, and finally ended up choosing a "big brother roscoe" shirt and a "little brother x" onesie with mitten cuffs. Today they arrived!!!

I wish I could show you just how tiny and sweet the onesie is, but it would reveal little brother's name (I guess you get a small hint, anyway). Do you think this is just the start of matching outfits for these two because I have to admit, it is kinda fun.

At the top of my wish list is the embroidered hand prints, and as soon as Little Sears is born those teeny tiny hands are going to be traced (as well as Roscoe's) and sent off for their first piece of brotherly artwork.

Momma's Monday Check-in: 29/40

Note: McFatty Monday's is no longer! Instead I will post Momma's Monday Check-in. Join me as I eat and exercise my way through the next 11 weeks.

Due Date: April 8, 2011

Total weight gain: 24

Cravings/Aversions: I have been so thirsty this week!

Sleep: My new schedule of waking at 5:45am to begin work at 6:00am has taken some getting used to. Otherwise I've really been enjoying snuggling with Roscoe at night even if I do sleep lighter and wake more frequently when he's around.

I can't live without: Lists. I've been a fanatic again lately with my lists, and I haven't felt this insanely productive in a long time.

I miss: Putting on pants is a challenging balancing act these days, and I feel sick when bending over to put on and tie my shoes. I like the belly, but I look forward to dressing with ease in a few short months.

I am looking forward to: I've been wanting to take a knife skills class for over a year now, and knowing that I will be more or less attached to a newborn for many months to come, I'm taking every opportunity I can find to carve out (ha!) "me" time for "me" activities. Luckily Andy has been obliging me. Wednesday I'll spend the evening julienning, mincing, and de-boning!

Best moment this week: The nursery is 98% complete! We're just waiting on the chair, which is half painted, and possibly a rollie pollie if I can first find a fabric that I love, and then convince my mom to sew it for me! Oh, and a crib mattress, I guess--even though we have no intention of having the baby sleep in his crib. Still it just feels weird to have a crib in the nursery without a mattress. We also created a craft closet for Roscoe, which was a big organizational chore that I've been itching to tackle. Finally, our birth plan and "after birth" plan are written, which just feels nice.

Aha Moment: My list will not get shorter if every time I cross an item off I add another (or two).

Milestones: I now more or less weigh what I weighed when I gave birth to Roscoe! Remember that I started out heavier this pregnancy. Still, I thought I had gained 46 pounds with him, but my midwife says 36--I'm not so sure about that. And I passed the glucose tolerance test!

Movement: It seems that the baby rarely sleeps--he's always on the move.

Gender: Boy!

Exercise: Ugh.

Diet: Ew.

Goals for the upcoming week: To continue to make progress on my Bradley certification requirements, try out a cinnamon raisin bread recipe, and seriously though--figure out how I can continue to stay active despite all the challenges I'm experiencing right now.

Belly Shot:

Labor Signs: None

Taurus and Aries

(ursa minor)

We chose a color called "Mac and Cheese" in a flat finish to paint the constellations onto the wall of Little Sears's nursery. After much debate over how to paint the stars onto the wall (projector? free hand?), we decided to buy stencils for the boys' zodiac signs, and then threw into our cart at the last minute Ursa Major and Ursa Minor, a mythological mother/son pair, which include the recognizable big and little dippers.

I have to say that the room is feeling quite cozy and space-like.

29 weeks

Today we again drove to Maryland for a rescheduled 28 week prenatal appointment. The big highlight? Glucose tolerance test complete! I drank 11 ounces of concord grape juice in 5 minutes, which is harder than it sounds. I actually felt a little sick afterward. The baby remains head down, and continues to favor my right side. His heart rate was in the 130's. When I shared my current weight, my midwife double checked her chart and then said, "oh, yes. That's a lot." 24 pounds so far. I think she meant "that's a lot of gain since our last visit." Either way, I'm cursing winter right now.

From here on out prenatal visits will be every 2 weeks (32, 34, 36) and then every week after that (hopefully he'll be here before 40!). We got a copy of THE home birth supply list, which includes everything we need to gather and prepare before I hit 36 weeks. Oh I can't wait for birth-day!

Update: I passed! & my iron levels are great.

Momma's Monday Check-in (28/40)

Note: McFatty Monday's is no longer! Instead I will post Momma's Monday Check-in. Join me as I eat and exercise my way through the next 12 weeks.

Due Date: April 8, 2011

Total weight gain: 22

Cravings/Aversions: None

Sleep: I can barely climb up into our bed now. But once I'm in, sleep is pretty good, even with Roscoe crawling all over me.

I can't live without: Tums are still saving the day.

I miss: The ability to turn over in bed with ease. And sleeping on my stomach.

I am looking forward to: My prenatal visit was rescheduled at the last minute because another client of my midwife was in labor that morning. So now I'm looking forward to THIS Friday.

Best moment this week: I washed the baby's cloth diapers, and purchased all the miscellaneous items like shampoo and pampers swaddlers for the early days. It feels good to know that we're basically ready for his arrival. My list of "before baby arrives" to dos is getting shorter and shorter.

Aha Moment: I can't wait to see the Roscoe/baby brother dynamic. This morning he told me that the baby is "sleeping" and "growing", then cradled his arms together to show me how he wanted to "hold" the baby. Then he offered my belly his vitamin and his sippy cup. Melt my heart!

Milestones: Our nanny had her last day with us on Thursday (sad!), and the new nanny starts on Tuesday. As for the pregnancy: fat fingers, the swelling has begun!

Movement: In addition to the usual, he's been creating an overall belly shake/vibration with what I can only imagine is full body stretches.

Gender: Boy!

Exercise: I did my workout and I didn't enjoy it. No!!!

Diet: Nothing to report here. I gained a pound last week.

Goals for the upcoming week: Repaint a wooden chair for the nursery, and paint the constellations on the wall.

Belly Shot:

Labor Signs: None

12 years ago today!

We don't really celebrate our "dating anniversary" but we like to acknowledge when it passes every year.

I wanted to share two classic high school photos:

Junior Prom 1999

Senior Prom 2000

Little did we know what the future would hold!

First Haircut, 19 months

I have been growing out my hair for what feels like forever, after a botched highlight job back in 2008. While a trim is recommended every 6-8 weeks, I tend not to get around to maintenance but every 6-8 months. The truth is that I'm even less inclined to find time for myself when I'm pregnant or otherwise preoccupied, so I can't even remember the last time I paid Mikel a visit.

And then there's poor little Roscoe. We've never before cut his hair, mostly because he's had so little of it since he was born. Over the last few months it's become pretty unruly--curly when wet, but super fine and unable to hold shape once it dries. I was certain that the weight of almost 20 months of baby hair was dragging his curls down. Add in the static of Winter and it's been quite unfortunate. We realized the extent of it last weekend while browsing in Ikea. Ragamuffin came (lovingly) to mind.

I decided a month ago that a double date haircut was in order, and I've been looking forward to this day ever since. For me: the experience of infrequent pampering in the form of a salon shampoo. For him: the opportunity to unearth the true nature of his auburn locks.

We decided from the start that Roscoe in my lap would offer up our best chance of success. He donned a little animal print apron and sat happily in my ever-disappearing lap until Mikel's comb stroked through a little dried yogurt camped out in Roscoe's bang--that was the beginning of the end. Tears ensued, and his eyes never completely dried out.

This photo sums up Roscoe's first hair cut:

After a few gimmicks, we found that a good 'ol chat about goats and goat poop (never fails!) calmed him down enough to complete about 80% of the cut.

We decided to give Roscoe a break from the stress and so I got my hair cut while he impatiently observed. He asked no less than ten times if I was "done?", and when the blow dryer finally stopped buzzing, the answer was yes and Roscoe did his happy little trot dance saying "OK! OK!".

But we still had 10% finishing touches to add to Roscoe's cut, and the results were achieved with similar unrest.

Mikel snipped tiny bits of hair as he went and never cut off anything substantial, so the "first haircut" envelope in the baby book will remain empty until next time.

Afterward, we stopped next door for a quick dinner and Roscoe picked out a raspberry tart and a yogurt as a special treat.

Back at home, after bath and half-way through bedtime routine, I snapped a few "after" pictures. Since Mikel did a dry cut, it was hard to know what the final results would be.

I'll have to wait for tomorrow to see how it behaves when it's dry, but so far so good!

Feeling behind

I realized last week that I have only until mid-February to finish all the requirements needed to complete my Bradley Birth certification. November feels like it was only a few weeks ago, where has the time gone?

With Andy in California all week, I'm taking advantage of the lonely nights and instead of blogging or doing anything else, really, I've been reading and outlining the required books (three down so far!).

Still, I have what feels like a long list of unfinished items to complete in the next month, including to:

• Attend one more La Leche League meeting, and write a report on my experience
• Attend one Bradley class
• Read the final book: Husband Coached Childbirth: The Bradley Method of Natural Childbirth
• Write a book report and identify 20 questions with answers for each of the four required readings
• Compile a comprehensive binder of local resources for expectant and new parents
• Interview two local hospitals on their labor and birth policies, and procedures

Think it can be done?

With my job winding down (and last minute projects ramping up), a new work schedule and a new nanny starting next week, and 'round the clock mothering, it's been a challenge to balance my and Roscoe's needs over the past two weeks. Roscoe's been in bed by 8:00 and out of necessity (early rises, and no naps) I've been asleep by 10:00. Two hours a day isn't a lot of time to do much of anything, so I've had to prioritize.

I can tell that the days and weeks left between now and the time that Little Sears is born will be jam packed with necessary to-dos and a lot of well intentioned effort to accomplish all the other things that will help us to feel prepared for the baby's arrival--because we now know that for at least the first few months I won't be doing much more than nursing, and kid tending.

Momma's Monday Check-in: 27/40

Note: McFatty Monday's is no longer! Instead I will post Momma's Monday Check-in. Join me as I eat and exercise my way through the next 13 weeks.

Due Date: April 8, 2011

Total weight gain: 21

Cravings/Aversions: none

Sleep: Co-sleeping with Roscoe is proving not to be the saving grace we first imagined. He's such an active sleeper, and prefers to be in contact with my body at all times. The belly makes it difficult to find comfortable positions to sleep as it is, and Roscoe's constant tossing and turning is making our bed even more uncomfortable.

I can't live without: Tums....the heartburn is BACK.

I miss: Still waiting to get well, and going on five weeks of sickness. Make the coughing stop!

I am looking forward to: A prenatal appointment at the end of the week, and hopefully passing my glucose tolerance test.

Best moment this week: Andy came home!

Aha Moment: Parenting as a couple is so much more fun than doing it alone.

Milestones: I experienced my first middle-of-the-night leg cramp. Yay?

Movement: Like Roscoe, Little Sears seems to prefer the right side of my uterus.

Gender: Boy!

Exercise: I made lots of prep progress this week! I finally purchased a weight bench, which will be delivered tomorrow. After being honest with myself that my typical "all or nothing" approach just isn't working at this stage in my life, I decided that scaling back my expectations would help me to follow through with a workout plan. So I identified a workout routine that is only three days a week, includes a weight component and a cardio component and can be completed in a little over an hour. The important thing right now is to do SOMETHING.

Diet: After several weeks of wild weight gain, I decided to write down every morsel of food that went into my mouth. I didn't intend to cut calories but of course I was on better behavior since I was holding myself accountable. I averaged about 2000 calories every day. Hopefully I'll hold steady for the next couple of weeks...or maybe I'm just on the path to gaining 46 pounds like last time!! I also planned out my meals this week to help me to stay satisfied and on track while Andy is away (again. boo.).

Goals for the upcoming week: To have a successful first week on my new fitness plan and find time to blog more!

Belly Shot: For fun and comparison, here is my belly at 27 weeks with Roscoe:

and 27 weeks with Little Sears:

Labor Signs: None

Growth

This is news only because Roscoe's stats have been comfortably hanging out in the bottom 25th percentile, and during his infant months were in the bottom 2%: Roscoe is in the 58th percentile for weight (27 lbs.) and 40th percentile for height (32.5 in.)! He grew 2.5 inches and gained 2.5 pounds in just three months, which substantially altered the trajectory of his growth curve. I'm 5 feet tall so I can't help him out much, but here's to hoping that he will blend in with the crowd as he continues to grow. I finally had a chance to record his height measurements on his growth chart which was a fun thing to do.

On another note, Andy was out town for most of the week and while we got along just fine, his absence left me and Roscoe pining for his return. There have been very few times since Roscoe was born that Andy has had to travel--this was only the second time that I can recall. For someone who rarely has the opportunity, I was exhausted and empowered by the responsibility to mother Roscoe day and night, and also functionally run the house. I enjoyed the time that I don't typically get to hang out with Roscoe, namely the early morning hours that this week nicely lent themselves to pancake breakfasts, finger painting explorations, and Internet video browsing--the favorites of which turned out to be a chicken laying an egg, and a goat pooping.

I have yet to share our Christmas recap (I really hope to find time soon) but the highlight for Roscoe of five days in Walt Disney World, was a goat in the Animal Kingdom that "ate hay", and "pooped". We haven't heard the end of it yet! He becomes overwhelmed with sudden excitement in the middle of everyday activities and begins belting "Goat!" "Goat!" "Goat!" It's fascinating how his little mind works.

Big Dreams

Over the past few years we've felt increasingly out of sync with our core values; passionate about authenticity, but short on time, and stretched thin by the demands of work, parenting, and suburban life.

It all began when we purchased our home (click for a tour!) in a bedroom community that feeds into the urban sprawl surrounding Washington, DC.

Next came the realization that commutes into the city require multiple forms of transportation and total upwards of 3 hours every day, that the traffic is relentless no matter the time of year, time of day, or day of week.

Too far away from any meaningful community center and not a thing within walking distance, we're a little lonely out here, and recognize the limitations that our location has on the pursuit of health and fitness when forced to jog in loops or else meet head to head with major traffic byways ill equipped to cater to pedestrians. Even the gym is a 30 minute drive away.

Then we regretted not having a fenced yard for safety, privacy, the pursuit of a garden or the enjoyment of an outdoor space intended for people gathering.

Our list goes on and on.

So to counter the creeping lack of control over what is, at times, a depressing reality given the state of the housing market, we devised another list to describe the ways in which we hope to eventually live (some of which we manage to execute now, even in the face of circumstance), and that we Intend (with a capital I!) to achieve with our next move.

To live in or near a small urban city: Richmond, VA or the greater Sacramento area, CA are our top picks

To dwell in a custom bungalow that we design and build from the bottom up: Ever heard of Sarah Susanka and The Not So Big House? This is the heart of what we want for our home. Oh, and we want a little piece of land for the kids and our pets, and room to live outside where the air is fresh.

To live a more active lifestyle: Yes, the gym is one thing, but a lifestyle more conducive to activity is what we crave--do we have easy access to natural amenities like hiking, camping, and parks? Is our neighborhood an enjoyable place to spend our time, and was it designed with it's homeowners in mind? Can we easily access and explore on foot the local fare and culture?

To love the environment: Recycle! Compost! Make our own cleaning products! (We do recycle)

To eat for health: Buy local, organic produce and animal products whenever possible, eat clean, bake and cook daily from whole foods. (We do buy organic eggs, meats, and dairy, and occasional produce.)

To increase our self reliance: Less dependence on our cars, a vegetable garden to harvest from throughout the year, bake and cook staples like jams and breads, learn to can fruits and vegetables, own a couple of chickens for their egg laying skills.

To simplify: Less spending, better organization, and better use of our home space, more focus on people and building relationships--these days it feels like every ounce of our effort is focused on ourselves and making it through each day, it would be great to have more time to truly relax, and enjoy each other, our friends, our family, and our neighbors.

To give back: Make time to volunteer as a family, for our neighborhood and the larger community. (Andy volunteers hundreds of hours each year for the neighborhood in which we live, but I would love to find some kid-friendly options as well as focus on some of the social issues that I'm passionate about.)

In the spirit of New Year's Resolutions, of which I am generally not a fan (LISTS on the other hand, yes!), we identified some steps we can take now to propel ourselves forward and make due while we wait and wait and wait for a stroke of luck and a market change.

I'm thinking that routine and tradition will be our motto for 2011. The activities that bring rhythm and meaning to every day, those are the ones I want to focus on, as well as a few extras:

• I'm already anticipating my transition to stay at home mom, although I may have accepted an offer to return to work on a part-time basis for the summer and early fall months of 2011, I do believe that establishing a new routine with two kids will bring a certain element of needed predictability, and make big returns in helping me reign as domestic goddess while remaining organized and sane with something left to give at the end of the day.
• Explore Prince William County park system for pleasant walking and hiking trails
• Try our hand at mixing up some effective, and family-friendly cleaning products
• Find an easy, tasty recipe for whole grain bread, and another for cinnamon raisin
• Join a CSA in the Summer and add eggs and cheese to our share
• Take advantage of the local Farmer's Market for fruit, pasta, and meat
• Organize the black holes of our house--the walk in closet in the loft, a craft closet in the family room, my office space, and the kids' closets
• Establish a better system for chores
• Declutter! We've already identified several big items to unload onto Craigslist, but I bet we can find more.
• Volunteer for Community Cleanup, and identify a local opportunity for Roscoe to volunteer some time and energy, perhaps something related to animals.

So there you have it. We're looking forward to the new year, as a family of four, and in pursuit of our best life, we hope to continue to make choices that bring tangible value to every day that we have together. Happy New Year!

Momma's Monday Check-in: 26/40

Note: McFatty Monday's is no longer! Instead I will post Momma's Monday Check-in. Join me as I eat and exercise my way through the next 14 weeks.

Due Date: April 8, 2011

Total weight gain: meh...20.

Cravings/Aversions: none

Sleep: Roscoe begins the night in his bed, and ends the night in ours. I think Andy and Roscoe are sleeping better, with fewer interruptions, but I never have been able to sleep deeply with Roscoe near. Also, he prefers to sleep on or as close as humanly possibly to me, so I often wake contorted into different positions to accommodate his acrobatic sleeping style. I've had less insomnia since he joined us in bed, and I do prefer our bed to the couch in the loft, so overall I think it's working out for everyone.

I can't live without: Stretch leggings! They are not the most flattering item in my wardrobe, but really, they can't be beat for comfort.

I miss: I've been sick or recovering from various colds/bronchitis for the past 4 weeks. I'm tired of being sick! I miss being well.

I am looking forward to: A 1 1/2 hour prenatal massage on Sunday. Oh I can't wait. My body feels so pregnant right now.

Best moment this week: We finalized Little Sears's name (and bought the two brother's matching Big Brother/Little Brother shirts with their names stitched onto them--there's no turning back now!), we found a storage solution for Roscoe's clothes, since his dresser now belongs in the baby's room, and I washed and put away the newborn layette. We hung up most of the accessories and also purchased the paint to refinish a wooden chair for the nursery, which is about 80% complete! It felt out of the ordinary and so productive to make that much progress in one weekend.

Aha Moment: I have only 10 weeks left until I take maternity leave.

Milestones: I'm officially in the third trimester!!

Movement: I know that fetal movement can be really amazing, but I've reached the point where I find the baby's constant movement to be a little nauseating. He rolls and bolts around most of the day, which mostly feels like a huge rumble in a big empty stomach.

Gender: Boy!

Exercise: When I was pregnant with Roscoe, we were still in our normal routine of working 9-5, commuting home, and heading straight from the commuter lot to the gym. No excuses. Andy and I both worked out 6 days a week, even when we didn't feel like it. Relatively speaking, I've been a total slacker this pregnancy. Over the past month or so I've averaged 2 times a week. So many things are different now, but my desire to be be fit, and strong hasn't changed and I'm hoping to make the most of the time left in this pregnancy. Unfortunately, I know it won't get any easier once the baby is born.

Diet: The month of December was far too kind. I'm so glad that January is finally here.

Goals for the upcoming week: Andy is out of town for the remainder of this week, and Monday through Friday of next week. My mom volunteered to babysit a few evenings so I can go to the gym, but otherwise, I may just lift weights and do some plyometrics in the garage. I was feeling motivated over the weekend and bought a new food journal, and a new workout resource book to help inspire me.

Belly Shot:

This is the worst quality belly pic yet!

Labor Signs: None

One for the books

As independent and adventurous as Roscoe is, and for all the freedom he has been given to explore, it's a small wonder that Thursday night marked Roscoe's first major trauma.

We can only guess that he tripped on his own two feet--running full speed, no doubt--and made contact with a set of unforgiving free weights on his fall to the ground (no one actually witnessed the event). In less than the two minutes required to hike the stairs to our loft, a purple contusion protruded madly off the front of his brow. Caught in the middle of a work day, and alarmed by the size and severity of the injury as it continued to swell, I quickly signed off for the afternoon.

A nagging concern was a possible bone fracture. In an effort to avoid subjecting him to unnecessary procedures and possibly grueling wait times I opted for his pediatrician's office over the emergency room. They confirmed that neither his eye nor the surrounding muscles were damaged, and agreed that the severity of the swelling was extraordinary--we were ordered directly to the hospital for an x-ray.

Luckily, everything checked out just fine, and all that lingers now is a first shiner.