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!!!!