As far as husband's go, I think mine is pretty amazing. He is thoughtful, kind, and generous and he works his tail off going to school full time and working more than full time so that I can stay home with our little girl. He's not perfect and sometimes I complain about him when I really shouldn't but overall I think I basically hit the jackpot. :)
My husband is the best gift giver...ever and somehow manages to find money outside of our normal income/budget to get me nice things. He got me a day at the spa for our anniversary back in November. I guess after carrying a baby for 9 (10) months relaxation is somewhat necessary, although difficult to find time for. He even said he would watch the munchkin while I went for 4/5 hours!
So it's been 5 months and I FINALLY decided to use my gift certificate. Holy moly was it ever wonderful and exactly what I needed. 5 hours of being pampered from head to toe and treated like a queen. Everyone needs/deserves/SHOULD do this at some point, if not once every year or 2. My day ended with a yummy frappuccino from Starbucks thanks to a giftcard from my friend for my bday!
And on top of everything, my girl was apparently an angel for the hubs. You know, the same girl that has been screaming non-stop for 3 days for mommy... At least maybe he'll watch her again without hesitation. :)
Friday, April 23, 2010
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Life
The first time I remember meeting and talking with Lois was following a visit to a new church. After church that Sunday I was invited to a women's get together at the pastor's home. We gathered for tea, crafts, prayer, and chatting. I sat at a table with Lois and another young woman.
I quickly learned that Lois wasn't an average mother, grandmother, or friend. She had spunk and wasn't afraid to share her opinion but she was also the sweetest, most generous person I had ever met. Her heart was truly made of gold, and she touched every person she came in contact with.
Lois had many health problems. I honestly don't know much of the details except that she battled leukemia and recovered from it. There were days that she could barely breathe and we would still see her in church. During prayer she would thank God for life, her daughters, church, and all of her blessings. When things were really bad, she publicly asked God for help but was sure to thank him first.
Through the best and worst of times, Lois was ALWAYS overflowing with joy and happiness. Her relationship with her daughters was astounding and precious to see. She went on cruises and trips with her husband and they had one of those marriages that everyone dreams of and admires.
I think Lois touched more lives than she knew, and I was one of them. If there is one thing I learned from her life, it's that I can have joy in the worst of times. I hope that when things get tough for me, I have just a small amount of the perseverance and joy that Lois exuded everyday.
Lois, you will be missed, but we know that you are in a better place waiting for us. We love you.
I quickly learned that Lois wasn't an average mother, grandmother, or friend. She had spunk and wasn't afraid to share her opinion but she was also the sweetest, most generous person I had ever met. Her heart was truly made of gold, and she touched every person she came in contact with.
Lois had many health problems. I honestly don't know much of the details except that she battled leukemia and recovered from it. There were days that she could barely breathe and we would still see her in church. During prayer she would thank God for life, her daughters, church, and all of her blessings. When things were really bad, she publicly asked God for help but was sure to thank him first.
Through the best and worst of times, Lois was ALWAYS overflowing with joy and happiness. Her relationship with her daughters was astounding and precious to see. She went on cruises and trips with her husband and they had one of those marriages that everyone dreams of and admires.
I think Lois touched more lives than she knew, and I was one of them. If there is one thing I learned from her life, it's that I can have joy in the worst of times. I hope that when things get tough for me, I have just a small amount of the perseverance and joy that Lois exuded everyday.
Lois, you will be missed, but we know that you are in a better place waiting for us. We love you.
Monday, April 12, 2010
I think I can, I think I can...
Gardening is not my forte. I kill mums in a matter of weeks and you aren't supposed to be able to kill mums. You would think after killing dozens of plants, I would give up but that's just not the case.
This year, I was/am absolutely determined to plant a garden. And because I have orange clay for "dirt," I knew it would be quite the feat. We tilled a 12 foot square in our yard and placed it strategically by the kitchen window so that I would see it every day and remember to water it. The tilling? It sucked because clay likes to be together. If you have it, you understand.
Then we started to build a garden box around the tilled ground, so we can pour topsoil in and keep the deer out. (I like the root vegetables so extra depth was important to me.)
We're hoping to have the box finished tomorrow and the seeds in the soil. I did start some veggies in egg cartons so we're not too far behind.
Hopefully I will be picking fresh lettuce, beets, and green beans (to name a few) soon!
This year, I was/am absolutely determined to plant a garden. And because I have orange clay for "dirt," I knew it would be quite the feat. We tilled a 12 foot square in our yard and placed it strategically by the kitchen window so that I would see it every day and remember to water it. The tilling? It sucked because clay likes to be together. If you have it, you understand.
Then we started to build a garden box around the tilled ground, so we can pour topsoil in and keep the deer out. (I like the root vegetables so extra depth was important to me.)
We're hoping to have the box finished tomorrow and the seeds in the soil. I did start some veggies in egg cartons so we're not too far behind.
Hopefully I will be picking fresh lettuce, beets, and green beans (to name a few) soon!
Saturday, April 10, 2010
One of my favorites...
We have a store in the area that sells products at least half off of their retail price, called "Liquidation Outlet". Sometimes this store has specials when they get an abundance of certain items. And sometimes they have specials plus "half off days" (an extra 50% off everything in the store). Today you could purchase hot/cold humidifiers for $2, coffee makers for $5, nice filing cabinets for $2.50, Wii remotes for $9 and the list goes on...and on...and on. Usually the only problem with the items is that the box is a little warped.
"Liquidation Outlet" has quickly become my FAVORITE store because I can get things that would normally hurt the bank account for super cheap. And I can try things without feeling guilty for spending a ton of money on them. It's wonderful. And the fun and even more addicting part is that their inventory is constantly changing and they never know when they're going to get a new truck full of goodies.
Sure liquidation stores get a bad rap, but this place is run by, from what I understand, a great family who really cares about their customers. The employees are all friendly and helpful and you simply can not beat the prices.
It is such a blessing to find a place that is well run and inexpensive and it makes me wonder if this is a rare concept or if there are other stores like this in different areas.
"Liquidation Outlet" has quickly become my FAVORITE store because I can get things that would normally hurt the bank account for super cheap. And I can try things without feeling guilty for spending a ton of money on them. It's wonderful. And the fun and even more addicting part is that their inventory is constantly changing and they never know when they're going to get a new truck full of goodies.
Sure liquidation stores get a bad rap, but this place is run by, from what I understand, a great family who really cares about their customers. The employees are all friendly and helpful and you simply can not beat the prices.
It is such a blessing to find a place that is well run and inexpensive and it makes me wonder if this is a rare concept or if there are other stores like this in different areas.
Thursday, April 8, 2010
My day was great, how was yours?
You know those days where you just want to crawl back under the covers and start over? Today was definitely one of those days.
It started at 3am. I tried to ignore the sweet cries coming from the monitor, but as they turned to screams I knew I was going to have find the strength to get up. I cradled my darling baby and nursed her for what seemed like hours. There was a lot of dozing and a lot of random screams because she couldn't latch back on. Pretty sure this went on until 6:30 at which point I gave up on her falling asleep next to me, and put her in her crib. Not 30 minutes later, there was screaming again. This time she had a stink. (That's what we call poopy diapers here.) By then she was wide awake and nothing I could do would make her go back to sleep.
As I got up from the recliner, my phone slipped off and landed in the cup of coffee I didn't finish the night before. I quickly pulled it out and tried every trick in the book. Blotting, blow drying, a bag of rice... Every once in a while I had a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't enough. The screen was gone. Kaput. No more.
Then I went to check my email and my computer crashed. My Mac that never ever crashes, crashed. And although I thought I had learned my lesson about backing up data, none of those beautiful pictures of my baby were backed up. Luckily I was able to eventually restart it and quickly backed everything up.
It didn't really end there. As if to mock me, my baby was happy the rest of the day. I managed to drop a fork on a can of coke and create a teeny hole of which soda began to spew. And probably the worst part was pinching my finger in our backup car seat that I had never used, having the baby laugh at me because I made a silly face, and having to unlatch and lift the car seat one handed to free my index finger. OUCH!
All in all, it was a very interesting day. On the upside, it all happened at once so hopefully that will be the end. My husband and I are due for upgrades on our phones and I still have a warranty on my computer.
Everyone is safe, healthy, fed, and happy. And when everyone else is happy, mommy is happy.
It started at 3am. I tried to ignore the sweet cries coming from the monitor, but as they turned to screams I knew I was going to have find the strength to get up. I cradled my darling baby and nursed her for what seemed like hours. There was a lot of dozing and a lot of random screams because she couldn't latch back on. Pretty sure this went on until 6:30 at which point I gave up on her falling asleep next to me, and put her in her crib. Not 30 minutes later, there was screaming again. This time she had a stink. (That's what we call poopy diapers here.) By then she was wide awake and nothing I could do would make her go back to sleep.
As I got up from the recliner, my phone slipped off and landed in the cup of coffee I didn't finish the night before. I quickly pulled it out and tried every trick in the book. Blotting, blow drying, a bag of rice... Every once in a while I had a glimmer of hope, but it wasn't enough. The screen was gone. Kaput. No more.
Then I went to check my email and my computer crashed. My Mac that never ever crashes, crashed. And although I thought I had learned my lesson about backing up data, none of those beautiful pictures of my baby were backed up. Luckily I was able to eventually restart it and quickly backed everything up.
It didn't really end there. As if to mock me, my baby was happy the rest of the day. I managed to drop a fork on a can of coke and create a teeny hole of which soda began to spew. And probably the worst part was pinching my finger in our backup car seat that I had never used, having the baby laugh at me because I made a silly face, and having to unlatch and lift the car seat one handed to free my index finger. OUCH!
All in all, it was a very interesting day. On the upside, it all happened at once so hopefully that will be the end. My husband and I are due for upgrades on our phones and I still have a warranty on my computer.
Everyone is safe, healthy, fed, and happy. And when everyone else is happy, mommy is happy.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
Silence
Aside from the clicking of the keys as I type, it is completely silent in my house. This is a very rare occasion in our home these days. Between the two dogs, baby, and my constant need to accomplish something, it gets pretty chaotic.
As much as I am attempting to savor the calm, I can't help but hear the baby cry. I'm typically really in tune to her and I know if she wakes up from a nap from the opposite end of the house, even without the monitor. But now I think I'm past the "in tune" part and onto a little crazy. I guess it's probably normal when you go through phases where baby cries a lot but its a little odd.
(Of course it might also be that I'm hearing the neighbor's crazy rooster that crows at all hours of the day.)
As much as I am attempting to savor the calm, I can't help but hear the baby cry. I'm typically really in tune to her and I know if she wakes up from a nap from the opposite end of the house, even without the monitor. But now I think I'm past the "in tune" part and onto a little crazy. I guess it's probably normal when you go through phases where baby cries a lot but its a little odd.
(Of course it might also be that I'm hearing the neighbor's crazy rooster that crows at all hours of the day.)
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
Who took my baby?
They say that the first 6 weeks after your beautiful bundle of joy arrives are the hardest. Between the big CHANGE in your life, lack of sleep, feeding around the clock they figure it can't get worse. Maybe I'm not like most, but I thoroughly enjoyed those first 6 weeks. But now... either I'm getting my 6 weeks a little late or they LIED to me.
My sweet, innocent, loving infant has become a monster. Okay maybe not quite, but seriously it's been tough. She is 5.5 months and into everything. She can never really decide what she wants except when I'm eating she HAS to have what I'm putting in my mouth. Not that I let her, but the grabbing gets old quickly.
Mostly, its the chasing and the weird schedule and the sometimes all I want to do is nap and sometimes I need to nap but there is no way on earth I'm going to. OR better yet, the "I'm going to play games with my mommy and roll over in my crib, get stuck on my back, and throw a fit so that she comes and puts me back on my tummy."
She refuses to cuddle with me and I'm really hoping that that is just a phase because her and I were cuddle buddies up until a couple weeks ago.
And the squealing...oh the squealing. To those who only have to hear it for five minutes at a time, it's absolutely adorable. But when you hear it for hours and hours and hours, it makes you want to pull out your hair.
So, you're probably wondering... What does all of this mean? Why the sudden changes? (OR you're a mommy and you've been in this place so you're laughing at me right now.)
And the culprit for most of the items listed above is... the TEENY TINY sharp little ridges scraping at my poor baby's gums. There is one poking through that has cut my hand a few times, but there are more little buds just lingering and driving her and me insane.
Please don't get me wrong, I love her dearly and I still stare at her and wonder how someone so beautiful and incredible came from me, but we're having a little rough patch.
My sweet, innocent, loving infant has become a monster. Okay maybe not quite, but seriously it's been tough. She is 5.5 months and into everything. She can never really decide what she wants except when I'm eating she HAS to have what I'm putting in my mouth. Not that I let her, but the grabbing gets old quickly.
Mostly, its the chasing and the weird schedule and the sometimes all I want to do is nap and sometimes I need to nap but there is no way on earth I'm going to. OR better yet, the "I'm going to play games with my mommy and roll over in my crib, get stuck on my back, and throw a fit so that she comes and puts me back on my tummy."
She refuses to cuddle with me and I'm really hoping that that is just a phase because her and I were cuddle buddies up until a couple weeks ago.
And the squealing...oh the squealing. To those who only have to hear it for five minutes at a time, it's absolutely adorable. But when you hear it for hours and hours and hours, it makes you want to pull out your hair.
So, you're probably wondering... What does all of this mean? Why the sudden changes? (OR you're a mommy and you've been in this place so you're laughing at me right now.)
And the culprit for most of the items listed above is... the TEENY TINY sharp little ridges scraping at my poor baby's gums. There is one poking through that has cut my hand a few times, but there are more little buds just lingering and driving her and me insane.
Please don't get me wrong, I love her dearly and I still stare at her and wonder how someone so beautiful and incredible came from me, but we're having a little rough patch.
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