always remembered...never forgotten

its seems like it was just yesterday when i was in front on the downstairs tv watching this horrific tragedy unfold.  so surreal and unimaginable.  what was going through those thousands of innocent peoples minds? were they crying, holding someones hand, praying, scared, screaming, helping others? what would i have done? all of these questions come back each year we remember this terrifying day.  

our lives have been changed forever.  when ever i see the flag waving, a few goose bumps always appear...i truly am proud. we will always have this day, where we as americans share the pain, sorrow and pride of where we come from.

to all of those who lost their lives, we will always remember you. you are forever in our hearts.

...today is for you...

faces

its amazing how smiles from a few sweet little faces could make such a huge difference in my day.  lets be honest there are very few people in this world that really enjoy getting up each and every morning to go to work. but when i think about what i get to see and be a part of each day ... it makes getting up and out of bed a whole lot easier and makes me love my job even more:)

<3  happy weekend to all  <3

Half Birthday...here's to you lil man!

6 months already...where has the time gone?!?

so much as changed over these months, its hard to imagine what life was like before.

here are some things that we ALL have learned in the past 6 months:

* time flies by...it is so true what everyone says...it goes by SO fast

* making dinner is even harder when you have a little one screaming in your ear

* he only screams his head off when he is hungry

* he LOVEs school (aka daycare, makes me feel better to say school!)

* babies are WAY expensive

* sleeping through the night is AMAZING

* getting ready in the morning takes WAY longer

* there is no more privacy when going to the bathroom or showering

* baby toys are EVERYWHERE...as much as i tried, it has happened, they have taken over my house

* going for car rides/walks really do work when someone is being a fuspot

* grandparents are the BEST

* mommy/daddy time is even better and much needed

* dinner time always starts off quiet but never ends that way...watch out!!!

* routines are KEY (especially at night)

* baby teeth are SHARP

* sleeping on his tummy=heaven

* peas are not good

* as much as your try to have a normal conversation, you always end up talking about him

* his smile can melt your heart

* my better half is an incredible dad and husband

* he is loved beyond belief

* always carry a bottle, diaper and change of clothes

* going out to dinner is great but not the same, but still important to do

* its OK to vacuuming when he is napping/sleeping

* he has a few nicknames...my fave is goose

* LOVES the hospital pacis...so important to have them located everywhere in the house just in case a breakdown occurs

* bottle washing is the worst job

* labeling them is the a close second

i could go on and on, but the one thing i know for sure that we have all learned is that life is so much more amazingly better today all because of one lil man.

he is the most precious gift we could have ever been given!

so, to our lil man on your half birthday...thank you for all the joy you have given us each and everyday. you are super cute and we can not wait to see what the next 6 months is going to bring:)

we love you...

mommy & daddy

happy day to US

i remember the day just like it was yesterday...it honestly feels like it was just yesterday.
the smells, sounds, feelings, thoughts- they are all so vivid and unforgettable.

*smells: hairspray, deoderant, body spray, beer, "old people" aka church, flowers, food, rain, humid air, cologne, sweat, wine
*sounds: laughing, talking, glasses clanking, music, people clapping, high heels on the ceramic floor, loud conversations, forks and knives on the plates, thunder

*thoughts: am i going to trip down the aisle? will i say the vows correctly? (like repeat them the right way...not say someone else's name or anything!!!) do i really have to talk to everyone at the reception? who didnt i talk too? is he gonna like my dress? when we can we leave for hawaii? will the dj play good stuff? will people dance? are we going to have enough beer and wine? do i smush the cake in his face or not? dont forget to eat dinner! STOP stepping on my dress! how did i get this lucky?

*feelings: excitement, nervousness, sweaty, clamy hands, hungry, tired of smiling for pics, exhaustion, sore feet, happy, loved, blessed, grateful, thankful, tired eyes, fortunate

2 years ago yesterday was one of the best days of my life.

i married the most amazing man...my best friend, my soul mate (cheesy, but so true!)

life has been beyond incredible to me/us these past two years.

words cant describe how truly blessed i feel!

so, here's to US and many more years of amazingness!!!:)

<3 sRg <3



12 week makeover

who would have thought that 12 weeks...3 months...90 days could go by so fast!?!  not me:(

it is amazing how much my life has changed in that amount of time. 
i never thought that it was possble for someone to become such a different person in just a few short months or that you could learn so much about yourself.

as i look back at the past 12 weeks and look forward to what life has to offer once the "real world" starts again tomorrow, i think about what i have learned about myself/life/etc....

* i am a MOM... forever!!!
* i can change a diaper way faster than my better half and use a heck of alot less wipes than he does
* i could watch my lil man all day and not feel bad that i didnt get anything accomplished
* i have learned to tune out a blood curdling scream when showering, talking to someone, making dinner, burping him
* i am obessed with a clean baby...even if it means his skin is peeling because his skin has turned so dry due to being over bathed!
* i am in love all over again
* i seem to always talk in a high pitched voice when i talk to him or others...baby talk
* i seem to refer to my hubby as "daddy" all the time..."hey daddy, can you help with this?!?!"...a little weird
* i take pictures of everything even of poopy diapers...gross i know! but im proud of those blowouts:)
* i get excited when he wakes up in the morning and i can pick out his outfit for the day
* i love when he smiles at me
* there is no such thing as quiet dinners anymore or eating with two hands on the table...one is on the food and the other is rocking him in his seat
* i would rather be with my family than anywhere else
* i talk ALL the time because i feel bad that he has to sit in silence
* i am WAY more budget conscious than i have ever been...i guess i owe that all to my hubby-thanks alot!:(
* i so look forward to tubby time every night
* did i mention, that i just love my lil guy to the moon and back!
* i have learned to cherish family time because it is so important...so is mommy and daddy time
* i would rather buy him clothes than myself...i mean who really cares what i look like!;)
* its definetly not about us anymore!
* my mom is my HERO!!!!
* i hate clutter more than i did before baby...but it seems like with baby, there is so much more...looking for suggestions on how to make that go away!
* i have learned that i can not do everything...i have to ask for help (as much as i hate too!)
* there are alot of stores that have carts that are not baby seat friendly
* everywhere you go, you are asked "oh, how old is he?"
* packing for an overnight or a weekend away, is ridiculous!  there is SO much stuff to bring-i mean is it really necessary to bring that much stuff????
* i forget to eat ALOT
* it is really hard to just "run in" somewhere and pick something up...they really should make these cart seat thingys lighter
* i LOVE my new life and family!!!

to tomorrow...
i am nervous, excited, sad, grateful, scared, hopeful, anxious, strong.
here's to the next step...wish me luck!!!

lil man in a tent

just a little sunday  singalong at the beach!!!

soda or water?

this is a constant discussion in our household every time we go visit one of my most favorite salad bar restaurants...if you order water, get water!!!

here is how it always goes down:
i go up to order the usual...one salad bar please...and then they always ask, "would you like a drink with that?!"
this is where it gets tricky, as i look over at the wonderful selection of drinks (aka fountain diet coke and diet dr pepper...oh and did i mentioned they have crushed ice too!!!) and see the same cups for both water and soda. so, do i say "yes" and get my drink or say "no, just water" but i get really get a soda.

according to my ever so honest better half, it is crime to order water and get a soda.
really?!.. how many people do you think really order water and gets water? 
his argument back is if they didnt care what you got, they would never ask you if you would like a drink.
i mean honestly, its not a huge crime like where they will lock you up if you get soda when you order water...but the good ole boy hubby is afraid i am going to be a bad influence on our lil one and teach him that its ok to take things from places. 
i mean come on...its like 2 dollars and ion top of that-they have the exact same cups for water and soda that are so strategically placed by the fountain machines...its like they are asking for this to happen every time.

so, this past weekend, we decide to visit this establishment and of course after i order, i am faced with that question i dread every time "would you like a drink?".
i look over at the selection, then the hubby, and then think do i really want to have this discussion again...so, i say "no" and order water which i really did want.
but, as i get up there, the diet coke with crushed ice was calling my name, and since my better half was eating his chili and watching the lil guy, i make my move!
i got the diet coke!!!

so, i go back and sit quietly at the table, start a convo and begin eating and acting like nothing is going on.
and then, thats when he looks at me and says "babe...really?!?"  i dont even have to ask "what", i already know he is pissed and says you know i hate it when you do that.
i explained that i just couldnt resist and i also changed my mind when i got up there.
then the fun convo begins...
is this what you want to teach our son? why cant you just pay for the drink? they dont owe you the drink just because you order food. do you go into the gas station and just take candy because you got gas? 
yes...the convo is the same every time.

after i lose the discussion AGAIN, his next response is "well, you need to up there and pay for it."
um...are you serious?!?
yep, he was not joking (dead serious). he really wanted me to go up and pay for the drink i took and explain to the cashier (who could really care less- in my opinion) that i changed my mind and would like to pay for the soda i took.

the dinner had ended and it was time for me to go and pay and of course i refuse to do so because i think its stupid and  i promise not to do it again.
the nice guy that he is, goes and pays.

ok...so lets be honest...how many people really do this? order water and get something else...is it really that big of a deal?
apparently, it is and next time i think i need to poll the other guests there to see if they do it too.
if so...favorite salad bad place- please get rid of the cups at the fountains and then make them a different color, so stealers like me are not torn between water and amazingly good soda!!!!

30...not so bad

one full day down, and i have to say 30 aint so bad.
besides feeling weird saying that i am 30 and my expired license, i really dont feel like i am 30.
but, what does 30 even feel like?! old...grownup...wrinkly...achey...fun...the same...im not quite sure yet.
maybe it takes a few days for that feeling to come, but overrall, things seem pretty darn great to take that big turn from the 2's to the 3's.

i was blessed to have spent the day with my most favorite people ever, received AHmazing gifts (huge perk of turning 30- you get GREAT gifts), a perfectly overdressed and relaxing dinner with the hubby (fit into a great pair of jeans that made me feel skinny...well slimmer), the most delicious cookie cake with the best icing (no more ice cream cake for this girl) and got 8 hours of sleep thanks to my sleep baby and mimi (now it was not 8 straight...but 2 sets of 2's and a 4hr stretch....ahh, so nice...its the little things these days).

life is good...30 aint to shabby either!!!

my hiatus

ok- so i guess i took a bit of a hiatus from my new project.  i know, way to start something and just ditch it! dont get me wrong, i have been thinking about blogging alot... but life has taken a little bit of a busy turn over the past few weeks (aka...A BABY).  but, i am back and ready to blog;)

as i return, i am faced with a huge milestone...the big 30!!!  yep, thats right- today is officially my last day in my 20s. tomorrow i will begin a new decade of memories and adventures.  exciting, yet scary.

looking back over the past 29 years, i cant believe that i have been able to experience so many memorable and amazing things with some of the most bestest people in the world.  i have been thinking alot today about how could the next 29 years even come close to the past 29 years?!?! could life get any better than getting married to your best friend, graduating college, growing up with the best little sister ever, moving to place where your life really began, yearly family vacations, having your first baby, meeting new friends, summertime swimming in the backyard, getting my first job...the list just keeps going and going. so, is it really possible?!?

all i know is that i am looking forward to seeing what my future holds and cherishing every memory and adventure that i have had up until today.  life has been great...i have been blessed with the best family and friends a girl could ask for. to you all...thank you for making these 29 years absolutley incredible and unforgettable!

30 you may be a very scary number, but im ready for you...so bring it on!!!

childhood buds having babies

yesterday was a great day...not only did i get to cuddle with the most amazing lil boy ever, but he got to meet one my childhood besties and her lil one.  what a great and memorable experience!

after all these years of catching up every once and awhile, we finally set up a day to have lunch and a playdate (well, not much a of playdate with a 3 month and 3 week old...mostly sleeping and crying-but hey, it was fun for us).
it was just like old times...the conversation just was so natural and flowed like we had never been apart. 
growing up, we were inseperable and spent as much time together as possible. but, after a move, new schools, different groups of friends, college, the "real world", getting married and now having babies...life kind of took us in different directions.
but you would have never known that because from the minute the front door opened, there was never that awkward silence that can happen when you havent spent much time with someone in awhile...nope, not at all-just lots of laughs, baby talk, sharing ridiculous stories and meaningful discussions.
not only was the convo great, but the food was just as perfect...everything you can imagine, we had it and ate it. cravings even happen after baby is born (gotta love some chocolate, sweet tea and chicken salad!!!)

i wouldnt trade yesterday for anything, and im so looking forward to more days like it...and our two lil ones experiencing the friendship and memories that we have shared over the years (its one of those friendships and memories that last a lifetime no matter what direction life takes you...you will always have that connection!!!)

and so...

after 17 days...they finally meet!

if i have to stay so myself, i think it was love at first site:)
i am not sure if poppy took his eyes off of him the whole day.  every noise he made, move he made...poppy was there to make sure everything was ok.

friday was probably one of the most precious days yet.
no tears...just tons of smiles and so much joy that the room could have exploded.
my dad was so smitten with my lil guy...i know i am biased, but honestly who couldnt be with him...he is just perfect!  he barely walked in the door before he grabbed him out of my arms and started lovin on him. it was amazing to see the instant bond they had.

it made my day to see my dad so happy...i know that they are going to be the best of buddies!!!;)

the little things

lately i have noticed that its the little things that have really made my heart smile.

here are just a few:
extra sharp cheese and reduced fat triscuits...getting more than 3 hours of uninterupted sleep...walks with my mom...tummy time with daddy...a smiling sleeping baby...mustard poop on the carpet...burning yankee candle...windows open...bird chirping at 6:00am...lunch dates with my hubby...thin mints...shower...feta cheese...a text/phone call from a friend...holding his own bottle..the hiccups...dreft detergent...pushing a stroller...organizing onesie...johnson & johnson baby lotion

its funny how some of these little things happen each and everyday, but sometimes we are just so busy- we dont even notice them.  i guess since i have been home with my lil man, i have been able to take everything in...maybe it is because i have nothing else to do but take care of him and enjoy my time off...but it has helped me realize how important it is to not get so caught up on the things that stress me out-but to remember how the little things made me feel.

so the annoyances that i have when my hubby slurpes his cereal each morning or snores so loud i cant fall asleep, are the things and thoughts i need to look past and realize that the list above is what really matters.
ok, well lets be honest, those annoyances are going to always be annoying...i guess on those days i just need to try hard to think of something that made my heart smile rather than cringe!!!;)

the new man in my life

the lil guy has completly taken over our lives...and we would not have it any other way!

every move, noise or face he makes, we are in his face saying "did you see/hear that?!?"
proud parents...maybe just a little.

along with watching him like a hawk, we have also taken at least 20 pictures a day.  maybe we are afraid we are going to miss something and so we feel the need to document everything that happens in his little life. nothing wrong with that. but lets be honest- do we need to take 5 pictures of him just laying there?!?! no probably not...the way i look at it though, you never know which one is going to be the best shot. so why not keep taking them.  shoot-he cant talk yet to say "mom, stop! no more pictures", so until then, the pictures will keep rollin.

so, as a tribute for my lil man and his first week of life, here are just a few of my favorite moments thus far:)

our father, for this day, for our friends...rest and relaxations...hand knit red hat with white snoball...tummytime with daddy

straight up pimpin'...morning naps (precious)...a wide awake "good morning"...photo shoot and ridiculous outfits

my world

tuesday, march 8th at 11:36pm we welcomed the most precious gift from god, and life as we knew it changed within a matter of minutes.

when sutton arrived (yes, we chose a name), we immediatley fell in love and could not understand how or what we did to be blessed with this little creature.  he is just perfect...even after 28 hours of waiting...it was well worth the wait!.  he has the longest fingers and feet- takes after his daddy.  his face is perfectly round and as smooth as silk.  he has such a cute botton nose and some of the funnest faces i have seen. he was smiling from the get go and takes everything in. after we looked at every little nook and craney and memorized everyone of his features, the shock of becoming a parent started to set in.
especially when the nurse brought him to us after all of his "inspections".
she came into our room and rambled off all of these things we needed to know (where we can walk with him, how to plunge his nose, how to treat his belly button...def a topic for a another day, what each name band means, what to do when he crys, etc) the info just kept coming and all i kept hearing was charlie brown's teacher talking!  didnt get one bit of the info she delivered except "here is your son and congrats!!!"  my first thought...WHAT-wait-where are you going-what do i do now!?!?
then the shock quickly turned into a little bit of fear.  am i going to do the right thing? what was that noise he made? is he going to sleep or cry all night long? am i going to be a good parent? the list just kept growing and growing...
but, as the week went on in the hospital, things started to fall together and we became a team.  we looked at each other and said we can do this. so the hospital decided friday was the day to let us go and fly on our own...and so we did and now here we are on monday, just about his week birthday.  wow-what a week it has been.

each day that we have been home with him, we have learned so much about him, each other and how this parenting thing really works.
we have learned that he loves to roll on to his side when he lays in his crib/floor or really just anywhere.
we have learned that you must cover the boy parts when changing (fire hydrant).
we have learned that he gets the hiccups alot after each feeding.

we have learned that sometimes it really just takes two people to change him (crazy wiggly legs).

we have learned that he can almost put his own paci in his mouth.

we have learned that pampers diapers (right now) are amazing.

we have learned that sleep saks are the best thing invented.

we have learned that his eyes are sometimes crossed, but its normal and only happens when he concentrates hard.

we have learned he hates to be naked (poor guy shakes and shivers).

we have learned that we love him more than we ever thought we could.

we have learned to take pictures of everything possible.

so, as i look back at the past 6 days and all they have entailed, i am so in love with my life right now and can not imagine it being any other way.

a letter to "sj"

hi you:)
so, tomorrow is your big day (well, the docs say tomorrow into tuesday morning...but your dad and i would like to think and hope that tomorrow is when you will be welcomed to the world). 
we have been waiting for this moment for so long and now it is finally here.
words cant describe how excited we and everyone else (that you will inherit as family-like it or not) are to finally meet you.
to be honest, we thought that you would have been here by now...but no worries-we are still ready and excited for you to arrive. we are probably more ready since we have had extra time preparing. so, thanks for staying in there longer...you really have helped yourself by giving us more time to "mentally" and "physically" prepare.  and of course, gave yourself more time to get bigger than you already are:)

as your parents, we would like you to know a few things before you come into this world...
* we still are unsure of your what name is (we have been working on this for months and months and its a lot of pressure to pick a name that you will be stuck with for the rest of your life)... but we do promise to name you before we leave the hospital
* you have a lot of pjs to wear...please do not grow too fast
* your dad thinks you will be able to walk and swim on your own in september...we will work with you as best we can, but dont worry it will be ok if you cant
* i like things to be clean all the time...so i am going to appologize now for always cleaning and making you change your clothes when you get them dirty or take a bath after any kind of nastyness that happens
* you have two sets of amazing grandparents...they are going to spoil you (i promise;))
* your aunt and uncle are even more amazing...so much fun and have already promised to babysit (we will try not to pass you off to others too much, but mommy and daddy need some time too!)
* you already had a "valentine"...le'ts just say you are going to have a lot of girls around you in your life...not a bad thing for a guy, but between you and me...your dad is going to teach you alot, but being a "player" is probably not one of them!
* we are always on the go...hope your ready to be lugged around everywhere (if you are really good, we will get you a prize)
* you can be anything you want to be when you grow up...anything...well, as long as you play sports (that would be your dad's request)
* lastly...we love you soooooooo much. 

so, to you son...we can not wait to see your face, touch your little fingers and toes and bring you home so we can finally be a family of 3.

love-
us

fresh market

im not sure what it is about this store, but it makes me want to hang out there all day.

maybe its the classical music they have playing or the really cool basket carts or the fact that they always have samples up at the register.  i am not 100% sure...but without a doubt, i never walk out of there without spending at least $15.

they have the best looking flowers, freshest fruit, huge salads (asian chicken ... so yummy!!!), great muffins (i love the chocolate chip) and cookies (brownie pillow is my fave) and there" by the pound food" is AHmazing (tortellini and cucumber salads are delicious).

oh... lets not forget all the candy they have.  you name it they have it. all the candy are in those really cool glass jars that have heavy tops with circle knobs.  i love those!
just a few examples of what they have: any kind of jelly belly beans, chocolate covered everything, all the season/holiday candy that is you could think of (did you know that they make sugar free peeps?!?!  oh yes and they sell them there!!!), huge gumballs...the list keeps going and going.
some of my faves: red licorice wheels, sour gummy worms and yogurt covered pretzels.  i have to admit that i always look for the cheapest one in the stack, but can never walk by them without getting a pack.

as of late, i have been going in there once every other week to pick up a "prize" for the hubby to eat for dinner. i hate seafood, but he enjoys it and they have some great sushi (well, so i have heard!).  i would have to say they have a ton to choose from and its pretty reasonable. i couldnt even begin to tell you what kind they have because it all looks the same to me...rice and raw fish! yuck-

tonights pick up, shrimp and grits cakes.  the best part about them, is they come already ready made and have directions on how to cook them.  i think it was a hit.
actually, i know it was...when he came home, he asked what is my "prize" for dinner. 
rather than having it ready and on the table, i pulled the tray out of the oven, to keep him in suspense, and said shrimp and grits.
he was like really...you made these!?!?
i so wanted to say yes, but i didnt think it was fair for me to take the credit away from one of my new fave places. so i was honest and said no but fresh market did:)
the impressed level shrunk but the excitement level was still high. so mission accomlished!

overall...a great choice and it def made the list to buy again.

math major

i knew i married a math major, but i had no idea that i married a math geek!  maybe being a math major automatically makes you a math geek...

lets just say that over the past few days my wonderfully smart hubby has been working on this math packet. for what you ask?!?!

good question...i asked myself the same question the other night when i saw what he had brought home from work and so nicely placed on the counter.

at first, i thought, oh wow...looks like he has alot of work to do and this must be some big project he is taking on.  i guess im probably looking at some quiet nights with all this work he has to do. but then as i looked closer, i noticed it was more a "test" like packet that you would complete and turn in for a grade in a class or maybe some type of math contest or even test prep questions. 
and then i said to myself "really...why would he be doing this?!?! and does he really need another commitment?!?!"
so when he arrived home that night, i asked him what this thing is he brought home.
his response..."oh just a few problems i am working on...you know testing to see how much i remember from school"
my response..."for what? are you in some type of contest?? and REALLY- this is what you are choosing to do in your spare time???"

oh and dont forget my other response..."what a dork...who does math for fun????"

so the past few nights have revolved around this math packet. but dont worry, he is almost done. 
however, on sunday he did get "stumped" on one problem....it was not looking so good.
thank goodness he did have to go to "class" yesterday to turn it in...whew-it gave him an extra day to work on it and he finally got it!
it was touch and go there, but he pulled through;)

frozen food

does this look familar to anyone? maybe your freezer...orquite possibly my moms!?!? this is actually not my freezer but could very well be.
i guess you could say that i have inherited a problem- overstocking my freezer.  i am not sure if i would call it a problem, or a habit,... but today i would def call it an issue.

so after my sunday morning grocery run (which is one of my favorite parts sunday...its extremely relaxing to walk up and down every aisle, except when you are hungry. this is no good and too much money spent!  something that i have learned and my bank account thanks me everytime i eat before)...anyways...i get back to the house and need to put a few items in the freezer (you know the norm- frozen veggies and meat).

sidenote...we have two freezers due to the fact that we cant fit all of the frozen foods inside the house. so we a refrig/freeze in the garage for extra drinks and food.
hoarders...im beginning to think so!

before i can place my items in the freezer, i put the bottle water in the refrig.  as i open the door, i notice some grossness on the bottom of the refrig.  kind of looks like spilled beer with some stickyness. so, i think, so big deal...this can just be wiped off. as i clean it up, i realized thats not what it was...i looked up and noticed that the freezer was not completley closed.  automatically my mind goes, "great what nasty food of my better halfs defrosted!?!?"

another sidenote...my hubby is an avid fisherman and hunter.  and when i say avid, i should say he enjoys to fish and hunt, but has really only successfully fished this year. hunting...thats a whole other story and possibly another blog post!  so over the past few months, we have been lucky enough to store all of his "wild game".  he would say we could eat for months off of what he has gotten, but me, i would starve for the next few months if we really had too.

ok, so now, i open up the freezer and notice that everything has been partially defrosted! wonderful...semi frozen fish, deer meat, chicken, duck and veggies.  talk about a great surprise. the good thing was there was no smell attached to the nastyness (yet?!?). 
what do i do know?  i am faced with a few options here: start emptying the freezer out so it can be reorganized so the door can close completly, get rid of some items that have freezer burn or to wait until the hubby gets home and tell him to take care of it.

so, i did what any good wife would do...
i waited till he got home and had him clean it out as i watched!!!;)
and i made sure to tell him most of the stuff in there was his and he should really do a better job at closing the door when he is done...that probably didnt help the situation, but at least i felt good getting my two cents in!

other than keeping the freezer door closed tightly...lesson of the day- stop buying frozen food!!! we have plenty...probably enough for the whole neighborhood.

here's a lil shout out to KWAK...ghostbustas 4 eva;)

duty calls

so the day has finally come where i have had to face the fact that my dad, my hero is not going to be here to meet my little guy...
i think that i have been hoping and praying that our lil one would make an early appearance so he can meet his poppy. But as of right now, that is not looking like its going to happen.  its very hard to think that your dad, who has been a constant figure and support in your life and has been there through everything for 29 years, is going to miss the birth of your first child and his first grandchild.  i hate it...i know its not his fault or something that he can even control...i most hate it for him.  i know he has been looking forward to the big day for over 9 months and probably has imagined what it was going to be like to see his little girl become a mom.  (trust me...so have i) and now he will have to witness it through pictures and video's.  it is very hard to grasp, but i know that he will be thinking of us each and everday until he returns.
i will miss him more this trip than any other time he has traveled. he travels alot and is always missed, but this trip brings some many more emotions to the table than just the normal every other month trip.
i hope i can make him proud as i become a mom and raise my son in the way he has raised me- to be a caring, strong, and independent person with solid family values and a good head on his shoulders.

so, to my dad, my hero...i love you very much and am going to miss you more than you know.
i cant wait for you to come home and meet your grandson:)
...travel safe and hurry home...
all of my love and more

curly or straight

each morning i am faced with this question...curly or straight?!?  they both have their pros and cons.

pros
curly: its way easier, takes less time to get ready, natural looking, can be ringlet curls if the weather is great, humidity=great hair day
straight: easy to manage, can be brushed, pony tails are fun, no humidity=awesome hair day, lasts longer than one day

cons
curly: can be flat if weather is bad, no humidity or its raining=terrible hair day, can not take it down after its put up, makes my face look fat or like a little kids
straight: humidity or rain= terrible HUGE hair day, takes way longer to get ready, must be flat ironed after blow dried, can be too flat and look greasy after awhile

some mornings are easier than others to make this difficult, day changing decision and it does not matter what the list says.
if i am running late... then curly is the answer...takes half the time to get ready and i can basically leave the house with it wet.
if i have to get "dressed" up, then straight is the answer...feel more professional and older looking.

but if i wake up on time and no need to "dress up"...is when the day begins to turn tough and my list comes in handy. life is tough i know...who would have thought that hair could pose so many decisions.

i honestly have to say, the way the hair looks can totally set the tone for the day.

mr clean...nesting?!?

not only was yesterday the last day of the weekend but it's also my only day of the week to get all of my cleaning, grocery shopping and laundry done. and looking back a few days ago, you know how much i love laundry!!!  of course, it was one of those days that we had one commitment after another...so the stress level set in very quickly on how the heck am i going to get all of this done today with the hour or two of time i have left before bed. and everyone knows that when you are preggers your bedtime is way before an elementary school child's bedtime...so that really left me no time to get a things done. woof...

just when i wanted to cry and thought that the world had come to an end and this day is the worst ever (no...i am serious...this is a huge deal for me to go to bed on sundays feeling productive and ready for the week and now its looking like this is not going to happen...way tragic) my better half (lets call him mr clean today) pulls the "im going to do the nesting today!" card.

WHAT?!?! are you serious...as serious as he can be, he states as soon as we get home let the nesting begin- i will take care of everything.  ok...me being me...thinks yea right, you will get one of things i need done and find some way to sit on your chair and watch the race or find other things to keep you distracted.  nice,i know...a lot of faith i have. but can hubby's really nest or even nest long enough to call it nesting?! and is nesting even real??

so before i leave for my last commitment of the evening, i was asked to make a list of things that i needed to get done.  the list consisted of vacumming, laundry, unpacking the gifts from the car and bringing them upstairs and touching up a table for the nursery. not an unreasonable list and he even added a few of his own items on there. so it must have not been that bad.  the clock was set...3 hours to get it all accomplished...and go!

3 hours were up and i was headed home...a little skeptical as to what i might find.

as i walk through the laundry room door with dinner, the washer and dryer are running.  i step into the living room and there he was...sitting in his chair watching tv and working on some "work" stuff. but the couch was covered with folded laundry and there was even some in the basket on the floor, the house had been vacuumed (even the stairs) and he was working on his list.  the table was not painted but pictures were hung up (not even on the list but a great surprise) and he wasnt done- his late night project...closet cleaning and bills.

wow...i guess hubbys can really nest too...but most of all, how did i get so lucky!?!?

fyi...he did leave the toilets for me to clean though:( still a great guy...

oh and a follow up to a few posts ago about the laundry and who really has more...jury is in...i def do!!!



two of my favorite meals

within the past 24 hours i have eaten at two of my most favorite places...you know the food that just makes you smile and super excited but totally full at the same time.  o and at the end makes you think "why did i just eat that?!?"  yep...thats what my past two dinners have been like...AMAZING and so worth it.

my first favorite...cracker barrell

the order...chicken and dumplins, hashbrown cassarole and fried apple (betcha would have never guessed i was from NY with seeing this order)

the drink...duh- sweet tea with lemon

now i have heard that their coca cola cake is great, but lets be honest...i do not think that i really needed it after what i partaked in. maybe next time

my second favorite...cookout (this is actually my most favorite place but i ate it second)

the order...regular chicken tray with only honey mustard, double fries (yep thats what i said- double!!!)

the drink...duh again- HUGE sweet tea (they have the best ice there- you know the rabbit terd kind!!!  its so great)

for those of you who are "preferred/frequent" customers at cookout, know that the cost of the trays have increased to $4.39.  yes, almost a $.50 increase but still a great deal...a whole lotta food for less than $5.00- now thats a great place to eat:)  with tax = $4.77...just in case you wanted to know.

laundry: wash, dry, fold, hang, repeat...

this would be one of the things i probably dread the most each day when i come home...i'm not sure what is the worst part about it-carrying the laundry downstairs, folding it and then bringing it back upstairs, or hanging them up?!? o and don't forget to add in ironing...because for some reason wrinkle-free doesn't seem to mean "pressed and ready to wear".  a never ending cycle...

but who really wears more clothes each day is the question, well actually, the weekly debate in our household.  i'm convinced its my better half across from me, but he strongly disagrees. especially since he took over laundry duty for two weeks and felt as if my clothes filled the laundry baskets.

i have to admit, he may be right.  but shhh...please don't tell him. i honestly do not like wearing the same thing twice. i dont think there is anything wrong with that- i just like to be in clean clothes and smell "fresh".

so, i am still going to stand strong with my argument ."you are bigger and your clothes take up more room, so you wear more clothes than i do!!!  and laundry by far the worst part of my week....

my book vs your book

the funny thing is i hate to read.  now dont get me wrong, i can read...i just choose not too. im trying to convince by better half that if i had a nook or kindle i probably would read a whole lot more.  i will keep you posted on how that goes;)

back to reading.

the only thing i really enjoy reading is a magazine...not just any magazine-gossip of course.  usweekly one of my faves and people is shortly behind it.  but since our "newest" adventure has taken center stage, i cant help but read all those "mommy/baby/birthing/what to expect when" books.  my nightstand is covered with every possible baby book available. how much different information could be in each of those books that i would really need to read all 10 of them?!?!  

so last night as i decide which one i am going to dive back into, someone on the right side of the bed holding his nightly glass of wine pulls out his daddy bootcamp book...and game on!  geez...for someone who thought that he was going to trial by fire this whole new adventure sure was quick to compare notes and question me.

cankles, xl t-shirts and a waddle

with the 2 week mark quickly creepin, so has the number on the scale!
its also never a good thing when you cant tell where your calves end or even begin...or that you have completely moved out of your t-shirts into your hubby's because you can barely breathe in your own.

o and have i mentioned i think i waddled for the first time last night.  yep...im pretty sure thats what it was... unless a huge wedgey snuk up on me. either way im sure resembled a duck:(

bags are packed...maybe?!?

37 weeks...full term...figured today was better than any other day to pack the hospital bag.  but, can you really call it packed if it is still sitting in the laundry basket with the "bag" on top?!?
maybe its just me, but i think that i am worried i am going to jinx it and baby will wanna come sooner than he should. hence why everything is still in the laundry basket awaiting to be placed in the the "bag".
well now at least my better half does not have to attempt to pack me clothes in case the lil one wants to make an early appearance.

as for the lil one and what his name is, your guess is as good as mine.
the list is narrowed down but it is such a BIG decision to name another human being. he will be stuck with this name forever...talk about pressure to come up with the perfect name! 
the hubby's way of deciding if it is a good name is singing the elementary school jingle we all sang at one time to make fun of someone in school..."anna anna bo-banna banana fana fo-fanna..." so if the jingle does bring up any names that our child could be scared with for life, then it doesnt make the cut/list. 
Smart or maybe just plain stupid...the jury is still out!

hi and welcome...

to my first ever blog!
i always said that i would never do this, but for some reason i was feeling craftty.
so, here we go folks...
i hope you enjoy my new project!