Resisting Perfection

One foot in front of the other

2011-02-03T22:12:00.000-05:00

You can apply it to anything in life really. I feel like I'm merely surviving lately. One foot in front of the other...left right left right. There is no "thriving". Just day in and day out, non-stop chaos that I call my reality. Get babies dressed, get lunches and bottles made, get everyone to work/school, get everyone home, fed, bathed, loved on, put to bed, chores, board meetings, bill paying, running, preschool dance class, grad school work, have I mentioned tax season yet? Repeat. I am too tired to keep writing about my tiring days. But I just have to keep moving.

I like running. I don't love it, but I like it. It's my release and what keeps me strong mentally, the physical gain is just a side-effect to me. I love a good challenge and running is just my speed. If I'm feeling depressed, a long run is the remedy. Stressed? Let's do a quick 3.1. Regardless, I always feel accomplished when I hit the "end" button on my watch.

I long to be able to hit "end" at the end of a long, tiresome, day...at least "pause". I just want to be able to feel accomplished at the end of the day. But there is always something unresolved that causes my mind to continue running. They say "run a race in thirds: the first with your head, the second with your personality and the third with your heart." I have the first two covered, but for whatever reason, my heart just isn't in this day to day race.

I just want to be with my babies, I feel like I'm missing too much and everything is just running in a blur past me. I want to keep up, I want to catch up...but wherever I am running, to or from, I never seem to reach the finish line.

So let me tell you about December....

2011-01-14T22:04:00.000-05:00

In pictures, of course!

We welcomed "Frederick" our resident Elf on the Shelf

Rex, Kinsley and Stevie are birthday week friends for life (yes that's Stevie's real hair ;)

I think he was about 13-14 pounds around this point

Layla starred in her very first Christmas Musical

My sweet first baby

Too many Target shopping trips took place, and too much Tinkerbell lipgloss was applied

The backseat was never empty

Layla had her very own Hello Kitty pink girly girl tree in her bedroom

Rex turned into a man

I, and Nordstrom, wrapped much too many gifts

We all (planned on) particpating in a wedding....$1,000 dollars in dresses, tuxes, Vegas bachelor parties, showers and extra strenth tylenol later, plus one sick flower girl who had to be taken home 20 minutes before the ceremony....at least we got a decent photo out of it?

Wild child got spoiled with her first pair of Ugg boots by Aunt Angela...unfortunately, Uggs are not waterproofed against toddler barf...just sayin'

My sweet baby boy's first Christmas

What we call our house

There are just too many things wrong with this picture

So, I got a little excited

My heart was full

It took an act of congress to get this photo, and it's not even that great....so goes life with 2 babes :)

Stay tuned in 3 more months for the next mediocre blog post...I kid. I'm back....I think.

Newborn Photo Sneak Peek

2010-10-10T09:59:00.001-04:00

Welcome Baby BOY Rex!

2010-10-04T16:19:00.000-04:00

I'll let the pictures do the talking for now, I have a hungry baby and a wild 2 year old on my hands!

Born September 22, 2010 8:46 pm 8 lbs. 5 oz. 21 inches

Camels & "All the Animals"

2010-09-13T22:08:00.000-04:00

We have been taking Layla on outings each weekend to spend some quality time with her before her baby sister or brother arrives. Weekend before last we took her to the zoo. She kept saying "there are ALLL the animals here Mama". Her favorites were the baby penguins and the flamingos. She was terrified of the giraffe, if I had let go of her she would have still been able to cling to my chest she was holding on so tight. It is neat there because you can go on camel rides (which her and Daddy did) and feed the giraffes, etc. They also have neat fountains and water features for little ones to splash around in. She loved it and Mommy got a good workout too :)

Baby update: Praise the Lord they flipped to head down!!!! As an added bonus, as of last week, I was one centimeter dilated and "soft". I go back for my 38 week appointment tomorrow morning so hopefully I've made even more progress since then. I can't wait to meet my sweet baby girl/boy. I joke with Mark that the baby is going to have whiplash from me flipping him/her over to see what it is ;)

Hello Strangers

2010-09-05T19:07:00.000-04:00

I know, I know. It's been over 10 days since I posted last. Bad, bad blogger! Life has just gotten hectic lately with Layla's new school starting, September 15th coming up at work (tax return extension deadline) and preparing for our new arrival :) Soon I will have much more time to update...I hope!

At my 36 week appointment last week the doctor said the baby had flipped into a breech position. She said that if baby is stilll breech this coming Tuesday (when I'm 37.5 weeks) that they will have to schedule a c-section sooner than later because they don't like women to go into labor with breech babies because of the chance of an emergency c-section. Needless to say I am very disappointed...I was so hoping for a natural birth and not have to deal with the recovery of surgery. I've tried handstands in the pool (yes, this is a way to get baby to flip head down...let's just say it must have been a sight to see!) to putting frozen veggies on my tummy and I still think baby is the wrong way.

We've been getting our bags packed and are installing the car seat tonight. Now it's starting to seem so real....so exciting and bittersweet at the same time. I can't wait to meet this sweet girl/boy but I am trying to take in these last few moments with Layla as my only "baby". We took her to the zoo this weekend and we're going to Disney on Ice next weeked (if baby cooperates) to make her feel special before her little world is turned upside down. I am still just so worried about my little angel and how she will adjust.

Layla's impersonation of my pregnant pose!

The Rainbow Room

2010-08-25T14:00:00.000-04:00

Layla started the school year in the 2 year old room, The Rainbow Room, yesterday. As I walked her into the building I spoke to a Dad walking out who had tears in his eyes and he said "be prepared...I almost lost it!". I immediately thought to myself, that will never be me, it's JUST the 2 year old room, we aren't sending them off to college for goodness sake! Well, cut to about 10 seconds later and there is me, a huge 9 months pregnant lady sobbing at the door of the Rainbow Room. I guess I shouldn't judge! I'm not even sure what set me off, I guess because she just looked so big with her lunchbox and ponytail. I don't even want to know how I'm going to react to the Kindgergarten ordeal one day!

She clung to my leg as she walked in but then warmed up as soon as she saw her friends from her old classroom. Her teachers are so sweet, they said she had a wonderful first day. She even got two smiley face stamps on her hands :) It doesn't take much to make this Mama proud.

This morning as I walked her in on her 2nd day, she looked at me and said "you no cry today Mama?" and then patted my back and said "it's OK, I will miss you and love you, have a good day". What kind of role reversal is that? My 2 year old comforting me. I wouldn't trade this child for anything in the entire world. My little Rainbow makes me absolutely complete.

I hope all your children had a great first day back at school, whether it be pre-school or college...it's still emotional to watch your babies grow their wings, for they are only ours for a season.

A little apprehensive...

Her best friend Gracie is in her class!

Hospital/Labor Bag- What to Pack

2010-08-19T10:01:00.008-04:00

My friends who are due with their first babies have been asking my advice on so many different baby related topics lately but this one seems to top the list: What do I need to pack in my bag?

With Layla- I had no clue what to expect so I essentially packed my entire room and her nursery. Rolling luggage and all. I may have used about 1/5th of what I brought! I was clueless and wanted to be prepared. Truth is, after you deliver, you don't have energy to be "playing board games" and "writing in a journal" like some books suggest. That is laughable to me! Here is a rundown of what items made my list and which ones are useless (in my humble opinion of course!). If you want my complete list, email me and I can send you the excel spreadsheet. (Have I even mentioned I have ~~OCD~~ a tiny issue with being super prepared?)

MUST HAVES:
- Boppy pillow: it serves two purposes, obviously breastfeeding and then also as a cushion to sit on (it's no secret it's like a warzone "down there" after labor and it helps if you're not putting pressure on it

- Nursing gowns: (or ones that can be easily pulled down). You won't want pants style pajamas, you will be using the restroom quite frequently, plus the bands aren't always comfortable
- Flip flops: hospital showers aren't always as clean as a 5 star hotel, feel me?
- Your own pillow
- Makeup bag: yes, you will want to look presentable for the ~~5,000 people~~ close friends and family who will be coming to visit ~~at all hours~~ at respectable hours
- Chapstick: for some reason labor makes your lips crack like crazy
- A Chain: to put your wedding/engagement bands on before they give you your IV. Don't leave them on your fingers, they will swell up and hurt!
- Bath towels: the hospital I delivered at the ones they provided were about the size of a washcloth!
- 3-4 Newborn Gowns: try to bring ones with the sleeves that roll up over their hands to serve as mittens

- Mittens: lots of them! They get spit up on and just plain dirty and they are a necessity to prevent baby from scratching up their faces for all the photos. Don't be like us and have to resort to socks...

- Baby wipes: the ones the hospital provided were dry and you had to literally wet them to use them, not pre-moistened
- Baby book: have it out and ready for when they stamp the babies feet and hands right after delivery

- Swaddleme blankets: these are lifesavers, I am horrible at using a real blanket to swaddle plus these stay tight and are just more convenient
- Pacifiers: if not, you will be stuck with these monsters: (they tend to stand out in pictures)

Oh and don't forget about hubby- they need clothes, shoes and toiletries too :)

DO WITHOUT:

- Diapers: most hospitals provide you with diapers for your stay

- Books, magazines, etc.- trust me that you won't be "bored" and if you are, by all means, SLEEP woman!

- Panties: they give you some gorgeous, fashionable mesh giant panties that will be your BFF...I'm sorry I couldn't resist the photo op- please don't report me for pornography.

- Breast pump: if you need one (which you probably won't because your milk won't be "in" yet), the hospital has them

- A Calling Card?: say what you ask...yes, google "hospital bag list" and I promise on every single one it says "calling card", are we living in the 80s where not everyone has a cell phone, I am confused on this one!

Moms: what was/is on your lists?

34 weeks and an update

2010-08-16T18:57:00.002-04:00

First, thank you all for your kind words and prayers for my Dad. He is still in the hospital but the heart surgeon says there was only minimal damage to his heart. He is still in a lot of physical pain from the fall but will be coming home sometime this week. God is good!

I won't be doing the pregnancy surverys anymore but I will post occassional pictures and updates on how I'm feeling.

At my 35 week appointment I'll be getting the group b strep test and from then until baby decides to grace us with their presence, it's weekly visits for me. My feet are starting to swell by the end of the day and I am getting a little uncomfortable while sleeping. At this point, I usually wake up once or twice a night to use the restroom. Tons of braxton hicks that sometimes stop me in my tracks. My wardrobe is becoming more and more limited as the days go by with my 24 pound weight gain. Baby gets hiccups at least 3 times a day, usually more. I am ready for the baby to be here on one hand but on the other, time is going by so quickly and I'm trying to savor every second with Layla as an only child and make her feel important before her world is changed forever.

Lord- give us a little more time...

2010-08-14T22:05:00.001-04:00

a little more time to tell him we love him
a little more time for hugs
a little more time to watch him push Layla on the swing
a little more time so that he can meet our new baby
just a little more time with my Dad...

My Dad had a heart attack this morning while playing tennis. This wouldn't be such a huge deal (with the medical advances we now have) but this is his 10th heart attack in his life. After his 8th one they told us to expect the worse next time this happened, that his heart is literally hanging by threads. He proved them wrong once but this time we aren't sure. He currently has 5 stints in his heart and has had multiple open heart surgeries and bypasses. He really is a walking miracle, living on borrowed time.

He is 78 years old and in perfect health other than the bad heart he inherited from his father. His father and brother didn't live past 50, both died from heart attacks. He still plays tennis 3 times a week but this time it was just too much for his heart. He passed out while playing and landed face first on the concrete. My parents stay half the year in the mountains of North Carolina and that's where they are now. They airlifted him to the closest heart center and did a catherization and added another stint. However, now another one of his passages appears blocked and it can not take a stint so a bypass will probably be the only option. This is an issue because he is on blood thinners and he could bleed out during surgery so they are giving him blood plasma currently to thicken his blood.

My Mom says he has a softball size lump on his forehead from falling and 8 stitches in his mouth from a busted lip. She said he looks like he got hit by a train and is in a lot of pain. It's difficult being so far away and not being able to be there for them, helpless is more like it. The fear of not knowing if the next time I see my Dad will be in a casket is paralyzing to me. I'm not sure if I could handle this pregnant or not, I pray that if God puts this on me that he gives me the extra strength and peace I need to handle it. It's hard to describe but I am trying to mentally prepare myself as much as I can for the worst. Please keep my family in your prayers. I just want a little more time.

Baby Showers Past....

2010-08-09T18:25:00.001-04:00

I've been to so many baby showers lately, almost every weekend this month! I just love looking at party planning ideas. Shopping for adorable outfits, going to Babies R' Us and looking at registries brings back so many memories of Layla's baby showers. I know I shouldn't be upset, but I really am a tad jealous that this baby won't be getting one. However, we are planning to have a "sip and see" (a Southern tradition) after the baby is born; something simple at our house so that close friends and family can come "meet the baby" and eat desserts, drink cocktails and punch. I had three baby showers when I was pregnant with Layla. One large one at a country club, a family one my MIL threw me (I can't find any pictures of this one) and a pottery painting one where we made pottery for her bedroom (photo frames, cups, piggy banks, etc....such a cute idea!). Here are some pictures, we were, are still are, so blessed!

The centerpieces were made out of baby onesies and washcloths that look like flowers, so cute!

Chocolate carriage lollipops were the favors.

One of my lovely hostesses and great friends

Pottery Painting Shower

Adorable wine bottle labels of Layla's 4D Sonogram

The favors were soaps made to look like flowers! (Can you tell both parties were hosted by event planners?)

The Gift of Fear

2010-08-05T11:21:00.003-04:00

Excerpt from the book

We have all had the feeling. Whether it be walking alone to our apartment late at night in college, at a gas station in the wrong part of town, or even when we are at home, locked "safely" inside. The feeling of uneasiness, something is amiss. Some call it intuition, gut feeling or even paranoia. It is a natural reaction to our environment when something seems "off" to us. When I was a former Oprah addict, I watched a segment with Gavin De Becker who authored the book "The Gift of Fear". I was intrigued because it is so correct, we are provided this innate fear for a reason, to keep us alive. It's survival instinct to its core.

"Intuition connects us to the natural world and to our nature. Freed from the bonds of judgment, married only to perception, it carries us to predictions we will later marvel at. "Somehow I knew," we will say about the chance meeting we predicted, or about the unexpected phone call from a distant friend, or the unlikely turnaround in someone's behavior, or about the violence we steered clear of, or, too often, the violence we elected not to steer clear of. "Somehow I knew . . ."

I remember one time when I was alone waiting for an elevator to arrive and the doors opened up and there was a man in there. Immediately I felt fearful of him. I brushed this aside as anxiety (which I suffer from) and told myself I am not going to let myself live this way, afraid of things, so I stepped into a soundproof, metal box with a man that I was scared of. Looking back, I see how ridiculous that is. Fortunately, nothing came of it, I stepped off safely on my floor. But why should you risk it? If you have any kind of odd feeling about someone, it won't hurt to wait an extra minute for another elevator in the sake of self protection.

Numerous stories of survival are told in this book that are truly amazing. Simple things such as observing that your trashcan is in the wrong spot or you are "sure you had locked that door before you left the house" should all be tips to be on the alert. In addition, it dedicates chapters to violent relationships. It details red flags and warning signs of behavior indicative of future violence or even murder. The number one murderer of women is their spouse or ex-spouse.

"It may be hard to accept its importance, because intuition is usually looked upon by us thoughtful Western beings with contempt. It is often described as emotional, unreasonable, or inexplicable. Husbands chide their wives about "feminine intuition" and don't take it seriously. If intuition is used by a woman to explain some choice she made or a concern she can't let go of, men roll their eyes and write it off. We much prefer logic, the grounded, explainable, unemotional thought process that ends in a supportable conclusion. In fact, Americans worship logic, even when it's wrong, and deny intuition, even when it's right."

It's easy to think your life will never be touched by violence, but it happens every day in our world to too many people, especially women because most are "easy" prey. How about you, do you have a healthy dose of fear? Are you paranoid to an extreme? Or do you believe that you are immune to violence? It's often hard to gauge if we are being unreasonable in our fear or if we have a legitimate reason. Often times, we make decisions such as to not walk to our car in the mall parking lot in the dark, etc. without knowing we had just avoided a deadly incident.

A year or two back, I decided I wanted to learn to shoot a gun. I went to the range and was so nervous that my hands were shaking. I have always had an extreme fear of guns. It went pretty well and we were going to buy one but decided not to at the time. I am still so back and forth about it. On the one hand, if hubby were gone and someone broke in, I would need a way to defend myself. However, I don't agree with keeping guns in the house (even if locked away) when you have children. As they get older, they get curious and I just couldn't risk them getting their hands on one. Now, we have a good alarm system and my parents live across the street so I feel much safer. How do you all feel on this issue? I know it's a heated topic but just from a Mother's standpoint, I can't justify having one.

Simple Pleasures

2010-08-03T11:58:00.001-04:00

TOP 2 SIMPLE PLEASURES:

1. Waking up and laying in bed on a weekend morning with Layla and hubby. Something about having the 2 people I love most in one spot warms my heart. I love how sweet and cuddly she is in the morning.

2. Hot tea on a cold, rainy day. I love Earl Grey tea with a splash of lemon in a cute mug, so comforting.

Some others that top my list:

- running with no destination in mind

- having absolutely nothing to do (this rarely happens)

- eating homemade mac and cheese

- having my hair shampooed at the salon

- putting Layla to sleep at night: reading bedtime stories and saying her prayers

- getting dressed up for date night

- getting a hand written note in the mail

What are your simple pleasures in life?

Miscellany Monday

2010-08-02T10:15:00.002-04:00

ONE: Is it old fashioned that I still follow Emily Post's book of manners even for my 2 year old's birthday party? I've always been told by my Mom; "You must send out thank you notes either immediately or before 2 weeks after the occassion". I have lived and died by this rule since I can remember and I am nearing my deadline...better get to work!

TWO: I made a delicious salad this weekend if I don't say so myself. It's not gourmet by any means but it's as close as it gets in this house! It's baby spinach, mozzarella, diced apples, grape tomatoes, almonds and pecans and a red wine vinagrette. I didn't go by a recipe, I just threw things together that I had in my pantry and it tasted delicious. We made it with bacon cheeseburgers on the grill and grilled corn on the cob. Yum.

THREE: Lately, my little diva enjoys "striking a pose". Here is her latest one. At least she didn't demand her sunglasses this time.

FOUR: I signed up for the Gasparilla Half-Marathon for February. It's going out on a limb since it's during tax season and I'm going to have 2 babies, BUT I know I can do it if I was able to run a full one 5 months after giving birth to Layla. M Daddy's cousin, A, is going to run it with me and she is having her second baby in November. I can't wait!

FIVE: I am thinking of starting to sell "Stella and Dot". Do any of you have experience with this? Is it a good money maker? I know their jewelry is ADORABLE, but I'm wondering if it's worth it. It may be just to get discounted jewelry like this little baby ;)

32 Weeks

2010-08-02T08:51:00.002-04:00

My good friend is almost 34 weeks pregnant with her 1st baby (a little girl), this was taken at her shower today ;)

How far along? 32 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 21 lbs.

Sleep: Baby moves ALL night, but I still don't have to get up and pee yet (knock on wood!...I know it's coming).

Best moment this week: My friend Candace's baby shower (although it made me wish I got another shower this time around....SUCH cute things she got!). Also, M Daddy, Layla and I went to Babies R' Us Friday night to finish up getting essentials like a bouncer and diapers for baby "R" or "E".

Movement: Tons. Killing my ribs!

Symptoms: Spider veins in my legs from the decreased circulation. I didn't get them with Layla so it's freaking me out and I'm already researching procedures to fix them!

Food cravings: Rice Krispy Treats (homemade)

Food aversions: None

Gender: It’s going to be a surprise!

Labor Signs: No. Braxton hicks contractions though.

Belly Button in or out? In. It will never pop out, my belly button is freakishly deep.

What I miss: This week it was BEER! I had one sip of M Daddy's and boy did it taste good. Funny thing is I'm not even a beer drinker.

What I am looking forward to: Finally finding out girl/boy so I can decorate the nursery and the kid's bathroom

Weekly Wisdom: Take it one week at a time. I'm trying to enjoy the last 8 weeks seeing as I will never get to experience it again.

Milestones: Baby is approx. 4 pounds at this point.

Taking off your mask

2010-07-29T08:23:00.001-04:00

My question(s) to you is: do you care too much what others think about you? Do you act certain ways around different people in order to either impress them or have them accept you?

I'd like to believe I'm a genuine person but when I really think realistically, I am guilty of this. For instance, I planned this whole birthday party down to every little detail but was it for Layla's happiness or my own benefit? I know that she would be happy with just a cupcake and her friends to play with so in reality, I am not doing it for her so why on earth would I put this sort of pressure on myself at almost 8 months pregnant?

I guess the answer lies in the fact that I want people to think I have it all together, to maintain a certain image. But why do I care SO much? I know society tells us we should be "supermom" and all the other expectations we as Mothers already have to live up to, but this goes deeper than that. It's about acceptance. If you're not secure in yourself, you look elsewhere to fill that void and hope that it's enough to make people "like you". It's silly when you think about it but I am sure there are many others out there who do the same.

I was watching "Toddlers and Tiaras" last night and was horrified at how these Mother's push their tiny children into being on stage and spend thousands of dollars on one costume, etc. Are those Mom's doing it because their girls want to or for themself? Most of them, when interviewed, seem insecure and their whole world resides in that child. Their success rides on whether a crown is placed on their head that night. It's so twisted. But then I had to step back and ask myself if I don't do the same thing but on a different level and scale. Who am I to judge?

This is one aspect of my life that definitely needs improvement. If I lived for God as much as I did for others, how much better of a woman and Mother would I be?

Do you struggle with this? Are you ready to take that mask off?

It's My Birthday...

2010-07-26T21:35:00.001-04:00

Whew, I need a vacation to recover from our vacation! Baby L's birthday was a huge success. About 40 of our closest friends and family showed up to celebrate her special day. I wore myself out planning and executing this party, I enjoyed it but am glad it has passed. She absolutely loved it. The look on her face when she saw the decorations and balloons was priceless. She is still talking about it and told all her friends at school about it today on her first day back. Her playroom is now overflowing with toys, it is outrageous. Next year, we are going to have everyone bring an unwrapped gift to donate to charity instead because it was just extremely excessive. I am really glad the weather held out because the tropical storm was making it really gloomy that morning so I limited my planned decorations for outside. The balloons and table cloths kept blowing around though which was a bummer. Overall we had a great time, now on to planning next year's!

I LOVED her cake :)

Photos of her birth, 1st birthday and 2nd birthday

Favor area

Pink for girls and red for boys- these had Minnie or Mickey: bouncie balls, silly straws, fruit snacks, hair bows (for the girls), maracas, dum dums and sticker sheets in them

This airwalker was the hit of the party, all the little ones kept going up and hugging her!

Appetizers: "hot diggity dog" pigs-in-a-blanket, minnie/mickey shaped cheese and crackers and a fruit salad

My Minnie Mouse dum dum creation

I served sweet tea, capri suns, water, coke, sprite and raspberry lemonade with slices of lemon and real raspberries and everyone commented how good it was and wanted the recipe (it was just crystal lite) lol .

Potato salad, smoked turkey, chopped pork and rolls

The baby play area

I loved the minnie head confettis I found on etsy, so cute and inexpensive

She is OBSESSED with her Minnie balloon

Baby L and her Nanny (My Mom)

Greeting her guests. Baby L and her friend "Dilly"

They are both due in November, these babies will have lots of friends!

Her and her friend Brooke

Some of my bible study girls!

Baby L and my sister

Can we say DIVA?

She was intimidated with about 40 people singing Happy Birthday to her!

Ice cream makes it all better...

All these gifts and all she wanted was the Hello Kitty marshmallow lollipop, go figure!

She's her Mama's girl

Playing dress up after everyone left

Happy 2nd Birthday!

2010-07-23T10:14:00.002-04:00

Baby L's 2nd Birthday was yesterday and so we celebrated alll day long although her big birthday party is tomorrow. We've made it a tradition to sing happy birthday right when she wakes up and videotape her getting out of bed. She loved it. Then we proceeded to the Minnie Mouse pancakes with candle and then opening gifts. She swam and played with her toys all day then we took her to a park on the golf cart and then my parents and sister came over for a dinner of filet, homemade mac and cheese and green bean casserole (and of course, birthday cupcakes).

First candle of the day

Mommy's masterpiece

Loves her American Girl Doll Baby

Just what we needed, playdoh and silly bandz

Little DIVA!

Thanks Nanny and Pappy for my playhouse!

She rang the doorbell about 1,000 times yesterday

Reading her Birthday card with Nanny

Eatin Mama's homemade mac and cheese

Posing

Baby L and her Pappy (my Dad)

She was a little timid of the candles so Dada had to help

We're Back!

2010-07-21T22:10:00.002-04:00

We had a great time on our mini beach vacay to Lido Key. We got way too much sun and icecream to be legal :) (my excuse was I am pregnant and it was Baby L's Birthday week). Here are some pics to recap our trip. I didn't get many great shots because I decided I was going to enjoy my time instead of playing photographer....memories last just as well as pictures do as I've learned!

Off to the beach we go!

2010-07-18T19:30:00.003-04:00

I apologize for the lack of posts (and commenting on your posts!) from Saturday through this Wednesday. I have a much needed week off from work and we are headed to the beach for a few days with some friends of ours (don't get too excited prospective robbers, we have a house sitter and a mighty loud alarm system ;). I promise when I am back Wednesday you will get some cute photo spam going on! Plus, I will be super busy getting ready for Baby L's second birthday party when we get home. Yippee! Here is a shot from our weekend so far :)

This is my best friend's daughter, Little J, she is 10 months older than Baby L and about half her size!

Show Us Your Life Friday

2010-07-16T16:11:00.004-04:00

This week at Kelly's Korner, we are supposed to show a single guy in our lives....

Meet "D"...he is my husband's twin brother.

Artist, Teacher, 28 years old, Florida Resident, Surfer, Free Spirit!

Here is some of his amazing art...

Five Question Friday

2010-07-16T16:03:00.002-04:00

1. Do you collect anything? Snowbabies at Christmas time.

2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking. Bradley Cooper from "The Hangover", Robert Pattinson from "Twilight" and Ed Westwick (Chuck from "Gossip Girl")

3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)? I have one under my chin from falling out of a laundry basket when I was a toddler (oddly enough my husband has the SAME scar as me) and one on my arm from falling off the top of a swingset.

4. What is a food that you like to eat, but others might think it's gross or weird? Brie and apples together.

5. Have you ever seen a tornado in real life? NO, thank the good Lord. I would probably pass out. I have nightmares about them all the time though, I think I watched "Twister" too many times as a kid!

My runners out there....

2010-07-16T13:57:00.000-04:00

I am about to register for a half-marathon for either January or February 2011. That gives me approx. 3-4 months to train after I am cleared to workout after delivery. I know I trained for a full in 4 months but I really don't think I was ready at that point. I am wondering if any of you have experience with a half and the time it takes to train for one (I've never ran one, the FIRST ever race I ever ran was a full, lol I am crazy or just plain stupid). I was thinking I would do a few 5 and 10ks along the way to gear up mentally too. Anyway, the races I am thinking of doing are either the Tampa Bay Gasparilla, A1A Ft. Lauderdale, ING Miami or Naples. Anyone ran these before? If so, were the courses nice, etc.?

Oh and D.A.R. you know you wanna come fly down and join me, right?!

I'm so excited about the thought of racing that I'm already refreshing my IPOD song list.

And Babies Don't Keep...

2010-07-15T14:53:00.001-04:00

It's so true that once you're a mother, time goes by in the blink of an eye...my advice for today is cherish your babies as long as you can! Because "it won't be like this for long". I can't believe my baby will be TWO in a week, it seems like yesterday that we first met.

Song for a Fifth Child

By Ruth Hulburt Hamilton

Mother, oh Mother, come shake out your cloth

empty the dustpan, poison the moth,

hang out the washing and butter the bread,

sew on a button and make up a bed.

Where is the mother whose house is so shocking?

She's up in the nursery, blissfully rocking.

Oh, I've grown shiftless as Little Boy Blue

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

Dishes are waiting and bills are past due

(pat-a-cake, darling, and peek, peekaboo).

The shopping's not done and there's nothing for stew

and out in the yard there's a hullabaloo

but I'm playing Kanga and this is my Roo.

Look! Aren't her eyes the most wonderful hue?

(lullaby, rockaby, lullaby loo).

The cleaning and scrubbing will wait till tomorrow,

for children grow up, as I've learned to my sorrow.

So quiet down, cobwebs. Dust go to sleep.

I'm rocking my baby and babies don't keep

Wordless Wednesday

2010-07-14T13:58:00.003-04:00

My First Award

2010-07-14T09:30:00.001-04:00

Thank you to 3 Men and a Lil' Lady for this award! My first one in fact :) This is quickly becoming a day of many firsts for me!

The rules for this award are to thank the person who gave you the award, share ten things about yourself, pass this award onto ten bloggers who you recently discovered and think are fantastic and finally contact the bloggers to let them know you’ve picked them for an award. So, without further adeu...

1. I put parmesan cheese on just about everything.
2. I rode horses competitively (hunter/jumper) from the age of 7 until 21. I miss it SO much. My horse I owned since I was 8 died a month or so after Baby L was born....here is my sweet girl...

3. My adult drink of choice is gin and tonic. Tanqueray only please, with a splash of lime.
4. My eyes look like daisys up close, they are green with a ring of yellow around my pupil.
5. I hate being tall. I am 5'9" and always tower above all the other girls. I won't wear tall heels either and those are the only cute ones! I am going to start a line of mid-height heels one day that is FABULOUS.
6. I became an aunt at four years old.
7. My birthday parties when I was a kid were always outrageous. I think that's why I put so much effort into making Baby L's fabulous. I think my favorite birthday was when my parents had a train brought in with a real conductor that drove us around the neighborhood.
8. I graduated with my bachelor's degree a month before I had baby L. So technically, she's already graduated. Talk about good timing!

9. As most of you know, I ran a marathon five months after giving birth to Baby L. See my story here.
10. My husband and I both have a scar in the exact same spot under our chins from when we were little, so strange.

I am sending this award to:

A Three Strand Cord
A Wedding Story
Extraordinary Love
Hanging with the Hewitts
It's a Love Story Baby Just Say Yes
Karen at Home
Life as a Twin Mommy
Mommy Musings
Rachel and John
The Truth About Motherhood

(I know some of you may be award-free blogs so no pressure peeps!)

100 Followers???

2010-07-14T08:06:00.001-04:00

Wow! 100 followers? And appropriately it's also my one month blogging anniversary. I am so humbled that so many people want to read about my "boring" life. I am seriously so excited and I love all of you. Your support and encouragment mean more than you know. In honor of this occassion, If you would like to learn anything more about me or have any questions, feel free to post a comment here with the question and I will answer them by the end of the week. Thanks again!

Laundry Room

2010-07-13T14:44:00.003-04:00

Natalie @ Extraordinary Love is featuring laundry rooms on her home tour today.

Not very big but it gets the job done! The door on the right is a cleaning supply closet.

Can I mention how much I ADORE our electrolux machines? They can literally wash and dry a load of clothes in under an hour.

I love my clothes line decal although I thought I was going to lose my religion trying to get the thing put up. It took me almost 2 hours.

I love the crown molding on the cabinets and all the amazing storage in here. I use it to store party supplies and crystal and silver serving ware etc.

"The Laundry Room, sorting out life one load at a time"

Top 2 Tuesday

2010-07-13T10:16:00.002-04:00

Top 2 Summer Recipes

Corn & Bean Salsa:

Mix:

2 Cans black beans (rinsed and drained)
1 Can of white corn (white corn is key to this recipe, don't use yellow!)

2 Tomatoes- chopped

4 Limes- juiced

1/2 Red onion diced

Handful of cilantro

Serve with yellow corn chips, so refreshing and low fat too- now if only I could have some tequila with that!

Banana Pudding:

Ingredients:

1 (8 ounce) package low-fat cream cheese

1 (14 ounce) can sweetened condensed milk

1 (5 ounce) package instant vanilla pudding mix

3 Cups cold milk

1 Tsp.vanilla extract

1 (8 ounce) container frozen whipped topping, thawed

4 Ripe bananas, sliced

1/2 (12 ounce) package vanilla wafers (don't use the generic brand, big mistake because the consistency is not the same)

Directions:

1.In a large bowl, beat cream cheese until fluffy. Beat in condensed milk, pudding mix, cold milk and vanilla until smooth. Fold in 1/2 of the whipped topping.

2.Line the bottom of a 9x13 inch dish with vanilla wafers. Arrange sliced bananas evenly over wafers. Spread with pudding mixture. Top with remaining whipped topping. Chill.

I'm also joining the Tag Along Tuesday....go on over and check out her blog :)

Miscellany Monday

2010-07-12T13:43:00.002-04:00

UNO: I only have ONE week of work left until my ONE week vacation in Sarasota. Hallelujah!

DOS: M Daddy is a way more creative than I ever thought! Plus check out this robot he built from Mega Blocks...pretty impressive ;)

TRES: I discovered a love of swimming this weekend. When Baby L was taking a nap I decided to lay out, which led to me swimming 50 laps in our pool. It felt awesome and I didn't even feel "pregnant" because the water makes you weightless. Love it.

QUATTRO: Baby L REALLY enjoys putting her dolls and babies on her potty....she goes through all the motions "go pee pee baby"..."let's wipe baby"...."yay, good job, marshmallow for you baby!" Look, she even has the proud Mommy face.

CINCO: Really want this dress from Arden B....and the body to fit in it would be nice too.

SEIS: Sunday School really hit home this week about giving your burdens to God. I try to do this but I always give the issue/matter to him 99% and hold onto that 1%, just to maintain control in some small way. I've learned I need to COMPLETELY hand it over and not just bring my problem to the alter and pick it back up to bring back to the pew with me.

Minnie Mouse Dum Dum Tree

2010-07-12T13:17:00.002-04:00

So I have been working tirelessly on this project for Baby L's birthday party coming up next week. I got the idea for a dum dum tree online and I told M Daddy about it. He says nonchalantly, "why don't you add minnie mouse ears to it?". Why didn't I think of that!? Maybe I need to use him for ideas more often ;)

Basically I reused a cheap planter, spray painted it black, hot-glued ribbon around the top and then put a matching gift bow on the front. Then I spray painted some styrofoam black and placed in planter. I bought styrofoam balls (1 large and 2 smaller ones) from a local craft store. I then cut the dum dum sticks in half and arranged them haphazardly (this still needs a little touching up because some foam is still showing but you get the idea). Then I took wooden skewers and attached the foam balls to the foam base to keep it sturdy.

Let me just tell you, I started off buying 3 bags of dum dums for this...I ended up going back to the store TWICE for 4 more bags. I think it's worth it though, I love it!

P.S.- I will be straightening up her ears too, I just noticed she's lopsided ;)

29 Weeks

2010-07-12T09:58:00.001-04:00

How far along? 29 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 20 lbs.

Sleep: Getting a little uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach

Best moment this week: Knowing I'm one week closer ;)

Movement: Tons. Killing my ribs! Baby is measuring 3 weeks ahead

Symptoms: Harder to get up and down off the floor and to carry my 30 pound 2 year old, although not sure if you'd call those symptoms

Food cravings: Apples and cupcakes

Food aversions: I wish!

Gender: It’s going to be a surprise!

Labor Signs: No. Braxton hicks contractions though.

Belly Button in or out? In. It will never pop out, my belly button is freakishly deep.

What I miss: Running, wine and raw sushi (this stays the same throughout!)

What I am looking forward to: Finally finding out girl/boy so I can decorate the nursery and the kid's bathroom

Weekly Wisdom: Be grateful for your miracle, no matter how tired of being pregnant you are!

Milestones: Baby's lungs are maturing.

Lazy Pool Days

2010-07-11T08:33:00.000-04:00

Yesterday was spent hanging out by the pool with friends and M Daddy's twin brother....

They both look pained to be taking a picture with the pool taunting them in the background

She insisted on trying out the goggles. It took me 10 minutes to adjust them. Guess how long she left them on? 10 seconds.

See photo above, we need an outdoor storage trunk for pool toys/cleaners etc. Anyone recommend a certain one?

Today will be more of the same....I'm not complainin'!

P.S. (I am working an an ADORABLE project for Baby L's birthday party, can't wait to show yall!)

Addict

2010-07-10T07:00:00.000-04:00

I literally miss running so badly right now that my body hurts. I feel like a crack addict with no money. When I see someone running in our neighborhood, I have to turn away because of the envy that I feel. Have you determined that I'm a drama queen yet? Thought so. But really, the high that I get when I've ran so long and hard that I feel like falling down on the side of the road. I love it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. You know, when you start feeling chills because you're so exhausted. I thrive on that. The only time I feel chills now is when I eat too much ice cream. Not. The. Same. It's such a mental release too, I get "depressed" when I don't have that outlet.

For now, I will just stare at reminders of my running days and reminisce and know that in 11 weeks, I will never be limited from tanqueray or my mizunos (not specifically in that order), ever again. Also, I would like to look like this again 5 months post-partum. Please and thank you.

Fill in the Blank

2010-07-09T16:45:00.001-04:00

1. My favorite thing about this week has been: that it is a short work week!

2. The weather this week has been: Gloomy. Here in FL it's been rainy, muggy and overcast since before the 4th weekend! I'm ready for some sunshine, and so is this pale preggo belly of mine!

3. The last (interesting) item I received in the mail was: Baby L's birthday outfits seen here :)

4. The last movie I saw was: New Moon. I hadn't seen it yet and if I'm ever going to make it to see Eclipse, I needed to get caught up!

5. If I could be doing anything I felt like today I would: be anywhere besides my desk. Preferably at the mall with unlimited funds or laying on a raft in our pool.

6. As a teenager I was: insecure and totally confused about who I was. But then again, I'm not altogether sure I'm much different today.

7. I wish I could trade lives for the day with: a professional runner/marathoner. I want to feel what it's like to run so effortlessly and quick.

Chicken Tortilla Pie

2010-07-09T13:34:00.003-04:00

I got this recipe from the Cooking Light website and decided to give it a shot, but with my own twists. Here is the actual recipe:

Prep Time: 18 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Yield: 4 servings (serving size: 1 wedge)

Ingredients:
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast
1/4 cup Fresh Salsa
1 cup spicy black bean dip (such as Guiltless Gourmet)
4 (8-inch) multigrain flour tortillas (such as Tumaro's)
1/2 cup (2 ounces) reduced-fat shredded Monterey Jack cheese
Cooking spray

Preparation:
1. Preheat oven to 450°.
2. Combine chicken and salsa in a medium bowl.
3. Spread 1/4 cup black bean dip over each tortilla. Top each evenly with chicken mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese. Stack tortillas in bottom of a 9-inch springform pan coated with cooking spray. Bake at 450° for 10 minutes or until thoroughly heated and cheese melts. Remove sides of pan. Cut pie into 4 wedges. Serve immediately.

As you can see, my ingredients are more excessive because well, MORE is MORE to a pregnant woman. I added corn and fresh cilantro and I used black bean dip with chipotle instead of plain black bean dip which gave it an extra kick. And I obviously did not use a "springform pan"...if I even knew what that was. I'm a novice housewife yall ;) Overall, this meal isn't unhealthy besides the cheese. My husband and Baby L liked it which is a win in my book!

Too bad my picture doesn't exactly look like the one on the website...why is that always so? Maybe the same reason a big mac does not look like it does in the commercials....oh and don't even get me started on hotel room photos....I digress.

Show Us Your Life- Favorite Bible Verses

2010-07-09T07:30:00.006-04:00

Favorite Bible Verses

[12] In those days when you pray, I will listen.[13] If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.[14] I will be found by you," says the LORD. "I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes. I will gather you out of the nations where I sent you and will bring you home again to your own land."

- Jeremiah 29:12-14

Usually verse 11 is the most popular but I tend to lean more on the remainder. These verses mean to me that all you need to do is talk to Him. He wants a relationship with you, and if you would just come to Him, he would listen and answer. I consider "captivity" to be anything that has a stronghold over you. Whether it be money, work, a toxic relationship or addiction; anything that distances you from the Lord. If you are fully willing to repent and come to Him "wholeheartedly" he will rescue you and bring you back to his presence. I find comfort in this and know that no matter how far I stray, He is a conversation away. See my post here for a more detailed look at a more specific reason these verses are important to me.

Thanks for visiting!

Blog Hop Friday

2010-07-08T21:05:00.004-04:00

Just one of those WEEKS

2010-07-08T13:33:00.002-04:00

Disclaimer: this post may contain highly unreasonable displays of emotion, such that only someone who has been pregnant could possibly comprehend. Just imagine PMS times like 230,000 to those non-mommys out there.

I go to Walmart (aka satan's warehouse) on my lunch break to get a random assortment of items I needed. I was there about an hour. Cart about 3/4 full. Walk to the register and notice my purse is feeling rather light. It hits me. I have a flashback of Baby L playing with my wallet when I was paying bills online last night. I start freaking out and then realize. I still have my checkbook! Well, the man at the register kindly informed me I would need to show ID for that. ID was obviously in my non-present wallet. Long story short, I asked for them to hold my purchases at the front while I go home and come back with money. His reaction was nothing short of "not my problem lady", it's going back where it came from. The embarrassment combined with the frustration caused the tears to flow. Right in the middle of Walmart, for all to see. Poor, crazy pregnant woman. I wouldn't have been surprised to hear "clean up on checkout line 4, we're gonna need a mop for this one". I eventually willed my way out the door without my cart, cussing everyone I could think of all the way to my car. (Ok quit laughing, I know in hindsight this was a TAD dramatic of me).

To put the cherry on top. I get home, go to move the trashcan out of the MIDDLE of our driveway (why sanitation specialist, why?) so I could pull in. Trashcan proceeds to spill dirty water ALL over my shoes. This leads to another cussing under my breath session.

I walk into work and someone asks me what's wrong. I then realize I had never thought to look in the mirror and wipe the smudged mascara off of my face.

Moral of the story people, make the trip to Target. That or don't let your child play with your credit cards.

Birthday Gear

2010-07-08T09:43:00.001-04:00

T Minus 16 days until Baby L's 2nd Birthday party! I am getting so excited. Her party outfit came in this week from etsy.com and it's SO stinkin cute. Here is what it looks like, but with her name obviously ;) It also has a matching polka dot bow.

Don't you love these jelly shoes?? Brings me back to elementary school!

The costume change...

Then of course, since her actual birthday is the 22nd, she needed something to wear on that day ;)

Top Three Thursday

2010-07-08T08:40:00.004-04:00

Over at Kelly's Avenue, we were asked to choose 3 musicals we want to see. I am blessed that my parents always exposed me to the arts as I was growing up, especially of other cultures. They took me to Europe multiple times where we saw plays and musicals at the London Palladium and Royal Drury Lane. Just the atmosphere of those places makes me long to go back there! They take you back in time. Needless to say, you will see a theme of my three musicals!

ONE: "CATS"- I've seen this twice but I'm in LOVE so I'd definitely see it again. It's my all time favorite.

TWO: "Phantom of the Opera" - I saw this when I was 8 but don't remember much of it so I'd like to see it again.

THREE: "Mary Poppins" - I have never seen this one and wanted to see it so bad when it came to Tampa recently but never got around to it. It was my favorite movie growing up.

Oh My Word.

2010-07-07T10:27:00.001-04:00

Can I just cry to yall right now? I just got back from my doctor appointment with some unexpected news. The doctor kept measuring my stomach with her tape and then looking at my chart, over and over again and finally she says "was your first baby on the um, large side?". I mean she was 8 pounds 5 ounces but I wouldn't consider that huge or anything. Come to find out our baby is measuring TWO TO THREE weeks ahead. Begin heart palpitations....now. She went on to explain that the baby is looking around being 9-10 pounds at 40 weeks and that I may need to be induced and or given a C-Section as soon as I am full term at 37 weeks. This is me FREAKING out. I have been studying, planning, researching these natural birth methods and have been insistent that I will not even get an epidural this time. Now this!? This was not in my plans. Lord, help me relinquish control right now and be at peace that your will will be done, because the control freak in me is FREAKING out.

Wordless Wednesday- See Any Resemblance...?

2010-07-07T08:48:00.002-04:00

This is a picture of me on my 2nd birthday :)

Change of Plans

2010-07-07T08:00:00.002-04:00

We had planned on going to our friend's beach condo for the 4th to swim and watch fireworks but it was POURING in FL allll weekend so we cancelled since Baby L would not be OK cooped up in a small condo all day. We decided to take her to a nearby mall that was having a carnival type thing with fireworks. We ended up shopping, riding the carousel and eating instead.

On Monday my husband and I both had the day off so we just hung out at the house all day, watching movies, playing games with Baby L and cuddling. I LOVED the quality time we spent together. It's so rare to have "nothing" to do. Later on that evening the rain let up so Baby L and M Daddy went swimming together. Baby L had never worn a bikini before and I told her what it was and she keeps on saying "I love my Bikina" in the cutest little voice ever.

This pan was finished by the three of us in under 2 days...that is just wrong

"No take-a my picture mama"

M Daddy's face cracks me up in this picture

Top 2 Tuesday

2010-07-06T09:43:00.002-04:00

Top 2 Favorite Purchases Made This Year

{ONE}

{TWO}

Tuesday Tag-Along

2010-07-06T09:07:00.002-04:00

Head on over to Twee Poppets for her "Tuesday Tag-Along".

Children's Museum

2010-07-06T08:39:00.002-04:00

It rained all day here on Saturday so we decided to get out of the house and head to a nearby town's children's museum. It's really neat because it's all hands-on and learning based. Plus it was only $5 per person and children under 2 are free. Great deal. Baby L loved it, especially the play grocery store where she could shop with her own cart. Get ready for picture overload!

I tried to hand her vanilla icecream and she said "no, I want chocolate". That's my daughter.

They had an "orange factory" where they pretented to juice and process oranges.

28 Weeks

2010-07-05T18:59:00.003-04:00

How far along? 28 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 19 lbs (I think I am going to stop there, lol)

Sleep: Getting a little uncomfortable sleeping on my stomach

Best moment this week: Baby L asking when her baby brother or sister is going to "come out and play"

Movement: Tons. Baby is already all up in my ribs!

Symptoms: Vericose veins and sore legs

Food cravings: Blueberries and blackberries. Rice Krispy treats.

Food aversions: Meat

Gender: It’s going to be a surprise!

Labor Signs: No. Braxton hicks contractions though.

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Running, wine and raw sushi (this stays the same throughout!)

What I am looking forward to: Finally finding out girl/boy so I can decorate the nursery and the kid's bathroom

Weekly Wisdom: One week at a time!

Milestones: I've passed the 3rd trimester mark

Baby L and Lily

2010-07-03T08:15:00.003-04:00

She has had her "Lily" since before she was born. She attends pre-school with her. Sleeps with her. Shops with her. Even goes potty with her for goodness sake. We are not allowed to "wash" Lily. However, she will allow us to give her the occassional bathtime. Baby L especially LOVES taking pictures with her. She will hold her up just so, ensuring her face is the right angle for the camera. Lord forbid we photograph Lily's "bad side". Please hear my prayer, do NOT let us ever lose her. I have searched online for a duplicate Lily with no luck. She is our one shot at maintaining sanity.

We're still working on the modesty issue...she's not even 2 people!

Excuse the lipgloss mark on her cheek, Lily applied a tad too much this morning.

Living Room- Advice Needed

2010-07-02T09:51:00.001-04:00

We moved into our current home about 3 months ago and so it's still a work in progress. My main issue lately has been our high ceilings (not that I'm complaining!). I just don't know how to work with them. From the photos, our furniture doesn't look big, but in real life it really is. Our ceilings are 12 feet. Any suggestions on what, if anything, to do with them? Especially having an issue with the empty space above the entertainment center and back lanai doors.

I had to sneak in my favorite painting of all. This was a wedding gift from my husband's twin. He is an artist and did this rendition of Bonnie and Clyde....but look close, it's me and my husband!

Dream Vacation for "New Friend Friday"

2010-07-02T08:41:00.003-04:00

I am linking up with The Girl Creative for her "New Friend Friday". This week we are asked to share our dream vacation.

This was a tough decision but I am going to stick with my "life-long" dream of going to Machu Picchu, Peru. I am so intrigued by the mystery and the history behind this ancient city and their past civilization.

Imagine walking among architechture that is over 500 years old on the top of a remote mountain top. It just gives me the chills to think about! The coolest part to me is that it takes 3 hours to climb to the top from the base. What a beautiful hike that must be. Plus, the resort is absolutely AMAZING (considering it costs around $900 a night, they should throw in someone to ride you on their back all the way up the mountain).

I am also linking up to a few other Friday link-ups...Check em' out.

A Taste of the Islands

2010-07-02T08:19:00.002-04:00

I am all about presentation, which is why this amazed me this morning! A co-worker brought these "Island Way Sorbets" in this morning to share. I had the pina colada flavor in a REAL pineapple half. They also have lemon in a lemon half, apple in an apple half, etc. etc. Not to mention, they're absolutely delicious. They are sold at Sam's Club for $10 for a 10 pack. Not too bad for a resort style treat! Perfect for a pool party.

http://www.islandwaysorbet.com/products.cfm

4th of July Past

2010-07-01T11:04:00.001-04:00

Thought I'd share a few pics of last year's 4th of July celebration. We went to the beach condo of a good friend of ours and grilled out and just hung by the pool and watched fireworks. I LOVE living an hour from so many beaches. Here is my little patriotic princess...

I made this yummy treat last year and plan to make it again this weekend. It is white chocolate pudding, whipped cream, angel food cake, blueberries and strawberries all layered on top of each other and then chilled. I don't have a photo of the side view but it looks really cute if you put it in a clear bowl. Delicious and refreshing! Plus, it's really low fat.

Enough Room for Two?

2010-06-30T11:27:00.004-04:00

I have struggled through this pregnancy bonding with the new baby. It may be a combination of being busier, more stressed and less anxious about their arrival but it has truly made me wonder, is there enough room in my heart to love two babies?

With Baby L, I would read and sing to her every day, wrote in a pregnancy journal, took weekly photos of my belly and had every detail prepared for her arrival about 3 months in advance. She was the center of my life before she even took her first breath. I really bonded with her.

Which leads me to this pregnancy. It took us 9 months to conceive this baby, which isn’t unusually long but it did take a toll on me because I just “expected” to get pregnant our first try like we did with Baby L. You would think I would be even more appreciative this time around because it took a lot more work to accomplish. I’ve taken maybe 4 photos of my belly, there is no baby book to be found, and their nursery sits essentially untouched.

I feel like a horrible mother. The worst part is, I know how a pregnancy ends. It ends (God willing) with a beautiful baby who I know changes your life. How am I not excited about this? I worry more about how Layla will feel and if she will be upset when the new baby comes home than I do about actually getting to meet this new life we’ve created. I just pray to God that once I hold he/she in my arms, my heart size doubles. Because right now, it’s as full as I feel it can get. I want Baby L to stay my baby. She made me a Mommy and no other baby can have that same effect on me. No one can replace her in my heart. So I hope there is room for two.

Wordless Wednesday...Almost

2010-06-30T09:21:00.003-04:00

This is how we eat dinner, with a ~~baby bird~~ vulture eyeing our food.

Extra Bedrooms- Nursery & Big Girl Room

2010-06-29T19:24:00.002-04:00

Natalie is having a home tour of extra bedrooms over at her blog "Extraordinary Love".

We had some things hung up in Baby L's room over the weekend. I took a few photos of the progress. I still would like to paint one wall a sparkly pink and do a mural over the bed. Plus, I'm debating on curtain sheers for her window but I don't want to take away from the shutters/molding. Please feel free to suggest ideas! It's hard with tall ceilings. I also plan on getting crown molding in both of these bedrooms.

The nursery is obviously nowhere near done because we're waiting until little one arrives to find out the gender. And I am not all about neutral colors!

Summer Must-Haves

2010-06-29T14:53:00.002-04:00

(Warning: this may contain more than one food related item)

BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches- these are sooo easy if you use the McCormick seasoning pouch. All you do it add ketchup, brown sugar, cider vineger and the pouch to your crock pot with the pork shoulder or butt, put on low for 8 hours and you have DELICIOUS pulled pork. Seriously the best flavored BBQ ever! Try it. Perfect for a summer night out on the patio.

Havaianas- I discovered these little beauties long before they became trendy. They only had plain colors then but I've ventured out into the design ones. Aren't these peacock ones precious?

Del Monte Fruit Chillers- These are the perfect snack by the pool on a hot day. They have only 55 calories and they taste so smooth and creamy! Baby L loves them too. She calls them "Sicles".

Cute Beach Towel and Bag- I'm not a brand snob in this area, soo many places have such adorable bags and towels out right now I can hardly choose. Mine from last year is Vera Bradley. The towel was in this print too.

Clarins Energizing Leg Emulsion- This may just be a pregnancy thing but my legs get achy and tired in the summer months and this cooling sensation lotion is AMAZING. It's pricey but works so well. It tingles a tiny bit when you first put it on but it seriously helps tired legs!

Raybans- I have tried every designer sunglasses under the sun and these are truly the best. They look proportionate to my face, are super light weight and don't leave the weird red line/mark underneath your eyes like Coach and Chanel plastic ones do. They're practical, fairly inexpensive and stylish. I'm all about versatility.

Trashy Novel- Since I spend the majority of my time reading tax law and literature for my master's degree and work, anything I read that's not required must be as low-intelligence inducing as it can get. Hence my choice of trashy books. Ah, the liberation it brings me!
Bubble Rompers- For my toddler, of course.

Fresh Flowers- potted plants, fresh flowers in a vase. They make me think of summer even when I'm stuck indoors. My favorite are hydrangeas.
Wall Flowers- Bath and Body Works always runs deals on these for $5 each. You can mix and match scents or have one throughout your whole house. Some really summery fragrances are the carribbean escape and the pineapple orchid. They even have cute colored ones to match your decor.
Banana Boat- The smell of this stuff makes me just die. I can't use any other brand because it just doesn't seem right to me. I do use the 15 spf as I need to feel somewhat responsible.

What are some of your Summer must-haves? I'm always open to new ideas!

2010-06-28T16:42:00.001-04:00

Stephanie...you are SO sweet for featuring me on your "Stalk-worthy Friday" list. Thanks for showing some love! :)

Miscellany Monday

2010-06-28T10:58:00.002-04:00

ONE: Blackberries are my new BFF. Something about them makes me recall walking down the long dirt roads around my parents home in the mountains, searching for blackberries to pick. Bringing them back home and my Mom ~~making blackberry cobbler~~ eating them with me. (My Mom is not a cook...hence my lack of basic knowledge of the art) Regardless, they are juicy and delicious, not too sweet but not too bitter either. Perfect combo, what's even more perfect is they no longer cost an arm and a leg at Publix.

TWO: My little fishy still knows how to swim! We put her in our own pool yesterday to see if she retained the knowledge learned at swim lessons the past week and she did as good as could be! She kept asking to "use her spoons" (spoons is what the teachers call their hands)

THREE: As I was going through Baby L's things that I wanted to put on the shelving in her room I found her piggy bank. She has over $200 in that thing! Mama may need to take a loan sweetie ;) Half of that was in coins so I took it to the store and put it all in the Coinstar machine. If you've ever used one you know how fun this is. As the coins go down the slots you hear a whole bunch of clanging and see the number of dollars increase on the screen. I thought mine was never going to end. It kept going up and up...all the way to $42.31! I felt like I was at a casino.

FOUR: Having a sister who works at a dental office is a priceless commodity. I mean, we won't have to buy toothpaste/toothbrushes for years! Sweet!

FIVE: I have vowed to myself that from this point on, no more looking at the scale. It makes me feel too guilty and then I eat even more. Completely opposite effect it should have. I've realize that I only have less than 3 months left and by gosh I am going to enjoy it! I will never be pregnant again, this is my last hoorah :) Peach Cobbler got my full attention this past weekend and I am not ashamed.

SIX: I would so rather be floating on the raft in my pool again that at work doing tax returns today ;( Boo!

Bedtime Birdie!

2010-06-25T09:12:00.004-04:00

Her bedding came in yesterday and I'm so in love with it! We're having someone come hang all the items on the floor next to her bed this weekend. I am debating whether to have my husband's twin brother (who is an awesome artist- check it out: http://www.drothman.daportfolio.com/gallery/226344#15) paint a mural behind her bed or else painting it a sparkly pink and then having him paint something on a canvas. What do you think?

Proud Mama

2010-06-24T14:13:00.004-04:00

She reached up and grabbed hold of the side on her own. She came up for air and then went right back to swimming. She learned how to float on her back. She went under and grabbed a ring on a lower level step. She did not cry. She may or may not have convinced Mama to give her ice cream before dinner.

I wish you could have seen the huge grin she had on that chubby face when I pulled her out of the pool...but I was way too busy kissing her to take a photo.

Toddler Activity Ideas

2010-06-24T12:00:00.003-04:00

1. Finger Painting- When she was small and not yet mobil, I would just use regular paints but now I use color wonder fingerpaints. They are clear until they react with the special paper, eliminating messes! It even has a sponge in the middle of the container that you wet and they can wash their fingers off. Love it.

2. Water Play Table- Baby L's plays music and squirts water.

3. Bounce House- I waited in line for FIVE hours at midnight at Toys R' Us on Black Friday for this thing! It was on sale for $120 and it was worth every penny! It can be blown up indoors or outdoors and it inflates in under 60 seconds AND can hold an adult, can't beat that!

4. Car Wash- Oddly enough Baby L loves to help Daddy wash the car. Free labor and entertainment, what's more to love? Great for a hot day.

5. Feeding the Ducks- Every Sunday after church and lunch it's our ritual to drive the golf cart down to the local golf course and feed our duckie friends our leftover bread from the week (because does anyone actually use a whole loaf?)

"Tylenol Tuesday"

2010-06-23T09:41:00.001-04:00

I would like to officially rename this day of swim lessons "Tranquilizer Tuesday" as that's about what I needed to survive 45 grueling minutes of my baby screaming/crying for her Mama to save her. I think M Daddy has an ever harder time than me as he pretended he was sleeping half the time....or maybe he was just bored? Regardless, he asked that I take her solo today and that he "can't take it anymore" and that I am torturing our child. I had to laugh a little. I'd hardly call it torture as I'm sure it's even harder on the parents than it is on the children.

I just wanna pinch those thighs!

Before she even stepped foot in the pool, the waterfall began.

She went under and got the ring off the steps.

Bless her little heart.

Looking for Mommy.

Doing really well with the swimming part!

She's teaching her to reach up and grab the side.

Right when I walked her back into the porch area, through the tears she asked for a lollipop and then told me "I swam fast huh Mama?"...yes, yes you did sweet baby!

"Migraine Monday"

2010-06-22T09:42:00.003-04:00

Baby L went to her first day of swim lessons last night. The teachers warned us before it started that they deem Monday's as "Migraine Mondays" because all the kids cry so hard. Luckily, today is only "Tylenol Tuesday" so it's supposed to improve....we'll see about that! As a sidenote I think it's neat that the same family of girls taught me how to swim when I was 3.

She started off well and happy, listened to her teachers, sat still and went swimmin' like a little fish...

Miss K told her she swam like "a little mermaid", Baby L liked that! She was the littlest one in her class and swam just as good as they did!

Then it happened...she spotted us...here are the progression shots:

All is well...

All is unwell....and it went downhill from there!

The kids weren't allowed to stand up so she was scooting along on her booty towards us on the screened in patio that we weren't allowed to leave (hey, at least the kid follows directions)

Bless her little heart, all she got for that torture was a dum-dum and a swollen red face :(

Her only words regarding swim class on the ride home, "Mama, I sad, I want nother lollipop"

Unfortunately, I got no cute photos of her in her swimsuit beforehand because I arrived late from work...hopefully she has a break through today!

Home Tour: Master Bedroom

2010-06-22T08:41:00.001-04:00

Today I'm participating in "Extraordinary Love's" Home Tour Part Four: Master Bedroom

Keep in mind we just moved in 2 months ago so the decorating is hardly finished. I am pretty particular with what goes in my home so it's going to be a gradual process.

The two mirrors over the bed are really special to me because they were my great grandmother's. I also adore our tray ceilings, we were going back and forth whether or not to paint them a darker color and we went with it and I love it.

Our bedding is from the Macy's Hotel Collection

Drapes are from Pottery Barn

As you can see, we only have one bedside table. When we originally bought our furniture we were living in a smaller house so we didn't have room for two. We went back to Ashley to get a second one and they've been discontinued. Any suggestions on where to go from there? I have no idea!

I want to get some more wall hangings for near the TV, etc. but am not sure whether to go the gallery photo route or an actual piece of artwork. Any decor suggestions are more than welcome!

Miscellany Monday

2010-06-21T09:12:00.004-04:00

ONE: I am super excited that my points from my credit card usage allowed me to buy a Pottery Barn bedding set for Baby L’s new big girl bed! Here it is. (I will be stalking the UPS man all week looking for my package).

TWO: These new “Bagel Thins” aren’t nearly as good as the real deal! I should’ve figured as much from the name and the fact they say “110 calories”, nothing under 200 calories ever tastes good to me. Precisely the reasoning why I just ate a brownie for breakfast.

THREE: The number of times Baby L went pee-pee on her potty yesterday!

FOUR: Somehow a red marker got washed with a load of white laundry last night. I have no further comments.

FIVE: Don’t ever assume a swim diaper will hold pee….regardless of the fact that it is a diaper. So deceiving. (I just realized that's my second point about baby pee...I may need a life.)

SIX: Baby L starts swim lessons today! Be on the lookout for her daily swimwear modeling photos, because the fashion is what it’s all about, right?

"Happy Birthday Father"

2010-06-21T08:48:00.004-04:00

We woke up Sunday morning and I whisper to Baby L, "tell your Daddy, Happy Father's Day". I guess she had birthdays on the brain when she leaned over and told M Daddy "Happy Birthday Father!". We laughed so hard that she proceeded to tell every man "Happy Birthday Father" alllll day long. She's too funny. Our day was filled with....

Church...

Cart rides...

Feeding our duckie friends...

and swimming and eating with friends and family...

"Happy Birthday Father" to one of the best Daddies in the whole world. Baby L is one blessed child.

And to my own Daddy, I love you more than words!

26 Weeks

2010-06-20T16:37:00.002-04:00

How far along? 26 Weeks

Total weight gain/loss: 18 lbs

Sleep: I sleep like a rock with this pregnancy!

Best moment this week: Baby L feeling the new baby kick

Movement: More so at night and when I eat something sweet (like Daddy like baby!)

Symptoms: Achy joints, small bladder, mood swings

Food cravings: Anything sweet. Anything cold and fruity. I am obsessed with Del Monte fruit chillers at the moment.

Food aversions: Meat

Gender: It’s going to be a surprise!

Labor Signs: No

Belly Button in or out? In

What I miss: Running, wine and raw sushi

What I am looking forward to: Finally finding out girl/boy so I can get to shopping

Weekly Wisdom: Enjoy pregnancy, it’s over in the blink of an eye and you can’t ever get these days back

Milestones: The baby would be able to survive if born now

I don't wanna miss a thing

2010-06-19T09:00:00.010-04:00

Every morning when my alarm goes off for work I cringe. Not because I dislike getting up early. Not because I am stressed about what my work load will be like. But because I have to leave this precious girl behind.

I work from 8-5 every weekday. During tax season it’s more like 8-who knows when. This last February through April was hell. I honestly don’t know if I can "survive" it again, especially with TWO babies. I would get home and Baby L would be nearing her bedtime and it would break my heart that she wasn’t getting to spend the time she needed with her Mommy. M Daddy would pick her up from pre-school and she would always say, “I miss Mama…she at work”. I wish he never told me that! Way to break a Mama's heart. To top it off I would get home and have to do my online master’s class all while having morning (I mean….all day) sickness. Did I mention we moved into a new house on APRIL 13TH!?! If you’re an accountant, you feel the utter pain right there. I got burnt out, to the max. I’m still not over it. I have nightmares that involve fixed assets.

Fortunately Baby L isn’t disturbed by going to pre-school which is a complete blessing. She loves her friends and teachers which makes dropping her off much less painful than if she were attached to my leg screaming to stay with me.

(First day in her "Little Dinos" 1 year old class)

I envy those stay-at-home Moms who get to cherish every milestone and every stage of their child’s life. You can’t ever get those days and moments back. Baby L came home from school the other day and counted to 10 and I started to cry. I was proud and yet it broke my heart. I didn’t teach her that. I didn’t even know she was capable of that. That’s MY job. I felt like a failure to be completely honest.

I’m currently in slow season (which is what prompted me to begin this blog journey) and have more time because I get home earlier. But I still don’t feel right about our situation. I love having a career but I don’t like it to be my life. My life is my family and it’s so hard to balance the two. I graduate with my masters in January 2011 and then I’ll go on to sit for the CPA exam. I’ve worked so hard for so many years to get to this point. I don’t want to quit and make all of that education, time and dedication worthless. And truthfully, I pride myself on being able to juggle it all, even being on boards in the community and the like. I feel like God is trying to break me down and humble me. I CAN'T be everything to everyone. I am by all means not perfect. If I spread myself too thin, no one gets the best of me.

I wish there was an easier way to support our family than me working full-time. I pray daily that God will open a door for my husband so that he can earn enough to comfortably support us without a second income. I know that’s a lot to ask for. I know that realistically we need a second income to support our current lifestyle. We could survive on one, however, we like to be able to have a nice home and take vacations, etc. It makes me feel selfish to even write that. I know that you have to sacrifice one thing to get another, so am I sacrificing time with my child for the luxuries in life? I think I already know the answer to that. But it’s not the answer I want to hear. So what's your take. Do I trade in the stilettos for the simple life, or can you really "have it all"?

Are you kidding?

2010-06-18T09:25:00.003-04:00

I'm participating in Kelly's Korner "Show us Your Life: Engagement Story" today.

Our 2 year dating anniversary was coming up and I had an idea that M Daddy (not a Daddy at the time, lol) was looking at rings for me. We talked about marriage often so it wasn’t a huge surprise but I definitely wasn’t expecting it when/how it occurred.

He told me we had plans to go to a cocktail party at one of his boss’s homes in Tampa. I got all dressed up and as we were driving there he told me we were going to stop on the way at this jeweler’s store where he wanted to show me a few things. Once we got there he asked me to pick out what kind of ring I would eventually want as an engagement ring. I walked over to the display case and pointed out a round solitaire non-chalantly and he asked if I wanted to try it on. I agreed and as the sales lady slipped it on my finger I glanced at the price tag just to see what something like that would cost. My eyes got wide and I immediately began taking it off as I thought there is no way he could afford that!

I turned around and he was on one knee and told me “that’s yours, will you marry me”? It turns out he had already set everything up and purchased that exact ring before I even chose it. How in the world I chose the right ring out of all of them is beyond me, it must have been meant to be! So, right there, in the jewelry store (as a UPS delivery guy walked in), we were engaged. I was in total shock. I even asked him if “he was kidding”. He assured me he was not. They had champagne and roses waiting for me there and we toasted with the owner’s of the store. (Now that I come to think of it I was only 20 years old…not legal drinking age, whoopsie). We then went to a famous steakhouse in a nearby city, Bern’s Steakhouse, to celebrate. I still remember it like it was yesterday (which is impressive considering my major lack of brain cells lately due to mommy/pregnancy brain).

Here is a photo from our engagement party a few weeks later....

Here is me in my "Soon to be Mrs." shirt that I loved sporting around!

(excuse the quality of these photos, my D40 was not yet my BFF)

Complete lack of regard...

2010-06-17T13:55:00.005-04:00

This is a challenge for me to share as well as put into words, but I feel like if I am going to share my every day happenings with you, you should know my background. I also need to do this for me so that I can see it in writing and get it out of my head. This is by all means a condensed version of my early years…there are also many things I do not know, most likely because my grandparents try to spare me from even more damaging details.

My birth mother did not know she was pregnant with me until she was sent to a drug rehabilitation center where they tested her. I had already been subject to more chemicals than I want to imagine at this point. She reluctantly stayed pregnant with me and gave birth on January 31, 1986 with a baby girl that she had no desire to even so much as hold. Thankfully, my grandmother (my now, real mother) fell in love with me instantly and was the first set of eyes I would ever see, and the first pair of hands to hold my fragile body. It really was a miracle that I was born healthy due to her reckless disregard for herself and for me.

Regardless of the fact that she did not want me, she kept me with her boyfriend of the week, despite my grandmother’s plea to leave me with them. My grandfather is a lawyer and he immediately began filing paperwork to get the adoption process started and a case begun to prove that my birth mother was an un-fit parent. Once I was legally theirs, my birth Mother would still visit me every few weeks. She convinced my now legal parents to allow her to take me away for the day and then bring me back that night. Little did they know they would not see me again for weeks, with no knowledge of where I was.

They hired a private investigator and my case was deemed a kidnapping. They discovered me at a daycare on the site of a military base in another state. I was returned to them and my birth mother was not heard from again for 15 years.

I’ve struggled my entire life with something that I can’t even remember. It may not make sense to some because my life after that point was a charmed one. My grandparents lovingly raised me as their own. I had any material possession I desired as well as emotional support.

But at times, I still can’t shake that feeling of abandonment. Someone did not want me. Someone didn’t really even care if I lived or died. Someone didn’t even know who my father was. These things have had a choke hold on me and I won’t ever be able to fully let them go. I feel anger over any other emotion. Anger that I was robbed of a mother/daughter bond at a critical age. Anger that someone could not love a baby. Anger that I had to be born to such a horrible person. I push these memories away in a back corner and rarely think or talk about them. But they’re there. They will always be there.

These feelings resurfaced when I was pregnant with my first daughter. There I sat in the waiting room at the doctor filling out paperwork about my family history. The words “does your Mother/Father have any history of _______?”….it hit me, I have no idea about my Father. Not only do I not know if he has heart disease, I don’t even know his name. I realized that my child is going to have blood that I don’t even know about. I feel shameful and guilty for this and don’t want her to ever know this secret that I have.

Then I was scared. Scared that I would turn out to be my mother’s daughter. What if I had some gene that made me unable to love another human being like a mother should love her child? I was overcome and was in a pit of despair. Satan was using his best artillery on my heart through those dark days.

Then came her delivery. As I think back on the best day of my life, I wonder over and over again how it was my birth mother’s worst. How could you not fall in love instantly with this living, breathing, precious creation that you carried for nine months? How is that even humanly possible? My fears were not confirmed. I loved that child with every ounce of my being. God got the glory that day when my heart overflowed.

I know that God had a purpose for my life and that all those painful memories and feelings are normal. He can repair any heart because he repaired my broken one. There are still days when I feel overwhelmed or the feelings are brought back. It does still have an effect on how I parent and other specific things. I never had a baby book, no photos from my first birthday party, no real tangible memories from my infancy so I tend to go overboard with expectations for myself to provide Baby L with the best I possibly can. I’m pretty sure she has about 3 baby book/scrapbooks. Although, it will never make up for my missing one.

My life verse from Jeremiah:

11For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. 12Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. 14I will be found by you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back from captivity.b I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you,” declares the LORD, “and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile.”

I thank God each day for my Mother and my daughter and most of all, my ever loving, all knowing God.

Bye Bye Baby Mullet!

2010-06-17T08:44:00.001-04:00

Our child has never had much hair...as you can see. She began to grow what we lovingly refer to as the "baby mullet", it just will not grow in the front! So she had her first haircut last night (or trim as you should call it with a toddler so they're not scared of the word "cut"...who knew?) in order to try and get it to grow quicker. She was a little apprehensive at first and requested to sit in Dada's lap but other than that she was very well behaved.

She acted like she had been doing this for years...note the upside down magazine, silly details Mama!

The "I'm not too sure about this" look.

At this point, I believe she was saying "I have tinkerbell hair Mama?" (she is obsessed with her and so when I bush her hair every morning I tell her I'm making her look like tinkerbell so she'll sit still)

All that hard work warranted a "pe-pop" (lollipop), and then she decided she wanted to wear the cape...after her hair was already trimmed. Notice her bare feet....we live in the country, yall.

My little baby is growing up!

Happy Birthday to Baby L

2010-06-16T14:00:00.005-04:00

No, it's not her birthday yet, but I am already in planning mode. After our trip to Disney World in May, Baby L’s love for The Mouse prompted me to make the theme of her 2nd birthday party pink Minnie Mouse.

This awesome Etsy seller created the most adorable photo invitations that go perfect with our theme: http://www.etsy.com/shop/andreagerigdesigns

I don’t want to give too much away yet, as I’m still working on details. But I am really hoping my vision turns into reality. There will be plenty of photos and posts to come about this as I am obsessed with planning any type of party.
Last year for her 1st birthday party we did a ladybug theme. Here is a recap...

I am excited because since the color scheme will be similar to last year's, I can re-use some staple items that I already have in different ways! If you have any great Minnie Mouse ideas...I'd be thrilled to hear from you!

Let's Play...

2010-06-16T08:52:00.004-04:00

Where's Baby L???

I heard noise in her playroom last night, walked in and didn't see her. Then I hear "right here Mama" and look over and this is where I find her. She stayed there for at least 15 minutes just talking to her animal friends. She was also a little proud of her accomplishment, considering this huge cheezy grin.

I just love being her Mom, she is SO fun.

Edited to add: As we were reading our daily bedtime stories last night, I came to this page in her new "Big Sister Blue" book....now I think I know where she came up with this idea!!

Delaying The Inevitable

2010-06-15T15:34:00.001-04:00

Let me give you a little background on M Daddy. He’s a stock broker, golfer extraordinaire……. and quite possibly the hardest person to buy a gift for on the face of the earth. Every.Single.Item. I buy for him for any holiday is promptly exchanged the following day. I’m really not sure why I don’t just skip the hassle of the gift buying. Maybe because it would feel strange without the day after Christmas and Birthday ritual of digging out gift receipts and heading to the stores. This brings me to my current dilemma….Father’s Day Gift. I’ve been avoiding it like the plague which is most unlike me and my type A personality. I’ve finally compiled a list of items that M Daddy will return on June 21st.

The Dopp. The male version of a cosmetics bag. I had never heard the term before I found this on a website.

This is like one of those bad late night infomercials that you just can't seem to turn off because it intrigues you so much. Either that or hypnotizes...I can't decide. Here is the description from the website: "With the Golf Club Drink Dispenser, get the perfect drinks from the ‘club’ every time you hit the links." Catchy. I like that. M Daddy will think this is absurd. I do things for the shock value sometimes.

Another interesting fact about M Daddy. He insists on replacing his toothbrush what feels like weekly. I figured this ultra-sonic thingy majig may preserve the life of the "germ harborers" as he refers to them. We'll see about that. It may go over as well as the loofah I purchased for him...the nerve of me!

The one gift I think he may actually like (and will be unable to return) is an "ice cream of the month" club. The man is a sugar addict. He eats more dessert than he does his meal. Good thing he likes to brush his teeth often with fresh toothbrushes.

And finally...the infamous "I got you this gift so that I can use it" gift. This little gadget is actually really neat. I don't care to shell out hundreds on a Garmin watch with all the fancy (read: will never use) features on it so when I stumbled upon this Nike+ Sport Band I fell in love. He will so know that this gift's fate will end up like the Ray Ban's from his last birthday....in my purse.

What will you be buying the man in your life this Father's Day?

Is THIS my body??

2010-06-15T09:00:00.002-04:00

I've always been a relatively thin girl...although not too athletic considering my horrendous lack of balance. The only "sport" I am decent at is running. It makes sense that I can run considering it's merely a one foot in front of the other process, not too much skill involved!

All that being said, I MISS running....almost as much as large glass of Pinot Grigio (well not quite that much...). You always hear these women say "Oh, I ran all the way until my due date". I hate them. I attempted to go running, if you could even call it that, last week and let's just say the neighbors got a show. Envision me, 25 weeks pregnant, stuffed into my Nike Tempo shorts and a dri-fit top...not pretty to begin with. Then, enter the actual attempt at "running" and you've got serious you-tube material. Baby L kept looking back at me from the "B.O.B" and saying "Mama, are you running?....you OK?". I guess she sensed that I was in danger from the horrendous sounds I was probably making. Did I really run 26.2 miles a year ago only to feel like I'm dying one lap around the block??

Seriously....I need these last 15 weeks to be up, pronto. I can't wait to see my Mizunos stick out past my belly again. I have a serious case of identity crisis going on. This disasterous run added to the doctor scale obviously lying to me the last few visits, has really put a damper on my late night banana split binges. Because let's face it, I run to eat!

I have a feeling next time I run, I will be pushing one of these. Lord help me!

Show Us Your Life- China Patterns

2010-06-14T13:49:00.003-04:00

Our wedding set of China is Waterford's "Kilbarry Platinum" which is a simple offwhite with double platinum bands. Since at the time we didn't have a dining room and didn't know what colors we were going to decorate with in the future, we thought it would be best if we registered for a neutral set. It ended up turning out perfect with our now charcoal blue/silver/crystal themed dining room...

Our newest everyday set is Misto's "Angela" dinnerware...I've gotten so many compliments on it since we moved in the new house. It also holds up really well in the dish washer.

If I could choose a new set it would be this newly released (and too expensive for me!) set from Lenox called "Simply Fine: Chirp" dinnerware. It is so sweet and delicate!

The Pink or Blue Dilemma

2010-06-14T13:17:00.001-04:00

Now don't get me wrong, I am undeniably anticipating the excitement of hearing the doctor call out "it's a boy" or "it's a girl" on delivery day, BUT it sure is difficult preparing for a baby when one certain Mama doesn't having a liking for green or yellows. My sweet Mom took Baby L and I to a new store in a nearby town, "Buy Buy Baby" to register for the upcoming newest addition to our family. Although I'm not having a traditional baby shower this go around, I will be hosting a "Sip and See" at our home for close friends and family to celebrate the new baby.

As we were browing the aisles, gun in hand, I began to question my sanity and rationalization for not finding out the sex of this baby. The sweet baby blues and chic zebra prints were just begging for me to take them home with me (while Baby L was begging to destroy the registry gun). My Mom and I made the decision to register for girl as well as boy items so that she could easily come back while I am in the hospital and purchase the correct items. But it sure wasn't as fun as bringing it all home then! We did end up deciding to buy enough supplies to last for the first few newborn days ie: footed sleepers, caps and mittens in both genders and then we will return half of it after the big gender reveal.

As if Baby L isn't confused enough about the elusive "baby in Mommy's tummy", we've now determined that she thinks she will be getting both a brother AND a sister. Bless her sweet heart, she asks me when "brother" and "sister" are going to be here. It's hard to explain these things to an almost 2 year old!

While we're on the subject of baby gear...do any of you Moms with children close in age recommend a certain double stroller? I am thinking of getting a front and back version only because side by side would make it really difficult to accomplish my shopping habits while knocking down aisles of racks....perhaps that may not be too bad of an idea to M Daddy! Actually...let's not mention it to him.