After Pregnancy...

your body will never go back to how it was before. This has never bothered me, it's part of the passage of motherhood and worth it for the life we are able to bring into the world.

Last night, mother in law invited us over for dinner, we had 3 showings yesterday I wasn't about to turn down a meal that I don't have to clean up, and she invited the hubs uncle. Afterwards, we were all sitting around chatting and he was talking about his neighbors (our soon to be neighbors in 1 1/2 months as we are buying his house), and how the wife was very beautiful but she hasn't been able to lose all of the baby weight, since having her son earlier this year. And then he turns to me, no offense. Um, wtf?, I lost all of my "pregnancy" weight with Emma, yeah my body shape might be a little different but honestly? You're going to talk to me about my weight? He who has for 40 some years been extremely overweight and just in the past year and a half loss a massive amount 130+lbs. Perhaps it's just me, but just because you've finally had your wake up call and done something about it doesn't mean you can judge.

Some men seem to only see the Hollywood version of moms who go right back to how they previously looked and have this idea that is how it really is. Puh-leaze! Your bodies change just as much as ours over the years but for some reason it's ok for you, and yet you don't go through carrying children, your only excuse is age and gravity.

Pregnacy hormones are running very strong - as I didn't express any of this to him, the hubs had to be subjected to my steam let off, some of the ride home. Thank you honey for being understanding and just listening, I swear I will be back to me in a few months and not so RAWR'ing at people as much.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. I feel happy & content.

2. Laughing with my family is always fun.

3. Right now, I can hear these things: a car going by, the radio, the keys tapping.

4. The baby is really moving right now and I'm glad to make it this far in the pregnancy and be able to feel all of this.

5. The last time I slept through the night was 1 1/2 weeks ago.

6. We're going to be too busy this Labor day weekend.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to dinner and shopping with my mother-in-law, tomorrow my plans include cleaning for a showing & visiting family and Sunday, I want to relax and stay home!

An Open Letter... or perhaps 2

Dear Emma Rose,

Things have been a roller coaster with you lately but we were finally starting to break through and have good days regarding your behavior. Somehow, with Daddy going back to work this week this has all gone down the toilet. I know that we got spoiled with having him around so much with his lay off & him and me fell into him being the disciplinarian role more than me, but this does NOT mean that rules are out the window with him going back to work.

Between the sass and you not sleeping, you literally had me dragging so I could have fallen asleep anywhere today.

So, here's a reminder for you of some things we follow in this house:

1. 3 am is not play time with me! If you don't see the sun up this means you should keep your cute little butt right in your bed and close those eyes! I do not function before the sun rises.
   
2. When you do get up for the day, come straight to me in bed. Do not sneak through our bedroom and downstairs looking for Daddy who has already left for work. You're going to give me a heart attack.
   
3. We are done playing games at nap time, you still need a nap, and you seem to think that you don't need any sleep, but my dear you definitely do for all of our sakes! So, we are done with warnings, if you can not stay in your toddler bed form, then I have no problem putting the crib front back on to keep you in there. You are going to see that this is non-negotiable.
   
4. Saying "please" and talking to someone, instead of demanding and yelling gets you much further in life, it'd just be easier if you learned this now, because I just do not seem to hear you when you talk any other way.
   
5. When someone is talking to you and you don't like what they are telling you, do not sass or yell back. You only end up punishing yourself with an automatic time out.
   
6. I understand that you are curious, but could we please move away from the land of "But why?" a little? I give you reasons and answers and they just seem to go in one ear and out the other without hitting your brain to register. Take a moment and actually listen.
7. For some reason the past couple weeks you have become very non-dependent. Saying "I can't" for many things that you are quite capable of doing. I do not know where this thinking came from, but you are capable of doing many things for yourself, so please start saying "I can" and not "I can't".
   
8. Lastly - You have been daytime potty trained for over two months, in the past two weeks you have started peeing in your pants, or you will go in the bathroom, and stand right in front of the toilet and pee on the floor, and you find this humorous at the time but remorseful after the fact. You are a big girl, so let's stop with this.
   

You are such an amazing intelligent little girl who is greatly loved by many. No matter punishments are a stern talking to that you receive, that fact is never changing.

Love,
Mommy



Dear Hubby,

The other night after you felt the baby kick for the 1st time in the pregnancy I could not fall asleep thinking of how blessed we are and I am to have you in my life.

The past few months have been very trying between you being laid off for almost 4 months, our house on the market and us waiting to move into the new one. But we never let it get us done, we kept our heads up and stood by each others sides throughout it all. I feel like we have finally reached a new level in our marriage.

I also want to thank you for being so helpful with things around here lately. For carrying all of the loads of laundry, making the extra trips to the car to carry in the groceries up a flight of stairs instead of both of us, cleaning without me asking, giving me a break from Emma when I need one. Not only the big things but the little thoughtful things you do all the time. I do notice them even if I do not comment on them all.

I know your are not that ecstatic about the new job location you are at, but we both know that it's a paycheck and I thank you for doing it anyways. I hope that in the coming weeks you begin to like it more.

Lastly, I just want to thank you for being you, for standing by my side these 8+ years. Our love and marriage has grown so much. I am proud to be your wife & best friend.

Love,
Me

Friend Makin Monday

So I noticed a bunch of these kind of posts in my reader today and decided to check out what it's about. Visit Amber if you'd like to play along.

1. Do you cook every night?
I cook pretty much every night, just about every weekend we have one meal either at my parent's or the in-laws. But I love to cook and enjoy coming up with menus and new recipes to try.

2. What kind of laundry detergent do you use & why?
I switch it up, currently using All and Downy Simple Pleasures (Vanilla & Lavender), and if I can find it the Tide Simple Pleasures same scent. So good smelling!


3. Do you do laundry every day or loads at a time?
Since our house is on the market I try and do a load every day/every other day depending on what I have.


4. How often do you eat out per week?
Hardly ever, esp. since the hubs has been laid off since May.


5. Where do you usually eat out?
If we do, we hit up the dollar menu at a fast food place, but we also love Chili's, Texas Roadhouse, Friendly's.


6. What is your favorite retail store?
Tar-Jay

7. What's your favorite thing to drink?
Turkey Hill Iced Tea


8. Do you take vitamins? What kind?
No - I'm horrible at remembering.


9. What percentage of the household chores to you do?
75%


10. Do your children do chores? {Or will they, did they, etc}
Emma cleans up after herself and as she gets older she'll be given more. But she loves helping us with chores.


11. Do you go to church?
Just occasionally.

12. Do you have a housework schedule?
I used to follow the Fly Lady's schedule, but have gotten off of it, the house never gets horrible so that I can have it looking great for a showing in about 30 minutes.

13. Do you keep a working budget?
No. And honestly right now only money going out is bills/groceries/gas.

14. What do you do at night as a family?
Eat dinner, play time, bath, and then we head up to our big bed and all snuggle and watch America's Funniest Home Videos.


15. How do you prepare yourself for a new week?
Now that I'm a full-time stay at home mom, days and weeks don't really start or end, just see what's in store and needs to be done.

16. What do your mornings look like?
Emma comes to wake me up b/w 6-6:30 am, we lay in bed until a little after 7. Get up eat breakfast watch morning tv. Play or do some preschool lessons.

17. What time do you get up in the mornings?
See Above.

18. What time do you go to bed at night?
Normally between 11-1, but now that I'm preggo, I need a good 2+ hour nap during the day to even make it to 11, so whatever time I zonk out.

19. How do you manage all of the paperwork that floods into your household? {bills, school work, magazines, ads, etc}
I def. need a better system for this. I have piles all over and drive the hubs nuts.

20. How do you keep your household organized? {calendars, charts, etc}
In the past months I keep a calendar on the fridge and fill in everything we are doing and also have my personal pocket calendar for my purse. The fridge one is so that the hubs knows what's coming up and he doesn't ask me a gazillion times because he forgets and will ask me that many times, saves both of us some frustration.

S.W.S

Thirteen days until the ultrasound, ahhhhhh!

I really hope today goes better!

Farkle, you've sucked me into addiction.

Friday Fill-In

1. He was a knigh in shining armor when I need one.

2. Fall coming is what I look forward to most this time of year.

3. My best friend knows me better than I know myself sometimes.

4. This is supposed to be the energetic part of my pregnancy but I can't seem to get enough sleep to be honest with you.

5. Appearances can be the most deceiving.

6. The last person I gave a hug to was my baby girl.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to homemade corn chowder, tomorrow my plans include a playdate and Sunday, I want to work on my organization and relax!

Wordless Wednesday

She gives the baby kisses and talks to him/her a couple times a day - one of my favorite things. 17 weeks 1 day here.

I never...

want to go through selling a house again in my life! It's so stressful. Why does no one really share this tid bit? I mean really - perhaps it's me but I'm getting annoyed at some of the buyers and our realtor.

Examples:

• Our agents office calls yesterday morning @ 10:20 to see if someone can look at our house @ 10:30. Um - that gives me exactly 10 minutes, I have a toddler and hubs (who is still laid off) and me are both home, the house is not "show" ready. Not only that but it specifically says in our file for 24 hrs notice. I had them push it to 11, because honestly I just needed time to straighten up the house, and then the people decided to re-schedule for later in the week.
• Buyers who give a 2 hour frame for the showing, and then don't even show up until the end of those 2 hours and are still there afterwards, I only know this b/c we stopped by the house after an hour hoping they would have come already. It's hard trying to find things that can be entertaining for a toddler and cost no money for that length of time, especially over dinnertime, again have I mentioned the hubs is laid off = no money.
• Perhaps it's just pregnancy hormones but I just feel like people do not think about the seller at all. When we looked we showed up promptly at the time we asked/scheduled for. And I just really don't feel like continuing to bend over backwards.
  
• Our realtor is a total dunce! I can't wait until the beginning of October when our contract runs out and we can find someone new if the house isn't sold by then. She's so forgetful, and has forgotten to tell us about showings. Last time it happened I had company over and everything!

I also know that you want the house to look as big as possible, show off it's better aspects - we were supposed to move in July,which has unfortunately been post-poned until I have no clue! So majority of our house is in boxes stacked against the walls, under the dining room table, our basement only has a small pathway. Perhaps, if we could just get out of this house then I wouldn't be feeling like this. I just hate having disarray in my life, and miss my "home", we are only living in a house at this moment. And to top it off - I freak out more as the pregnacy progresses - this fall is going to fly by and then it will be baby time!

Sorry to be a debbie downer but I do feel a little better now.

Good Cop / Bad Cop

Our little one is leaving terrible 2's & entering the treacherous 3's. The past month has been very trying on all 3 of us. Where did my sweet little girl go?

Now I get to hear backtalking, defiance, and major attitude. I feel like the hubs and me are constantly having to bring out the "Bad Cop" & I hate being that person. For nap today I dragged the hubs inside from what he was doing to be the "Bad Cop". We have transitioned her crib into the toddler bed, but nap times seem to be horrible. We tell her she needs to stay in bed. If she gets out then we will be forced to put the front back on. Some might say she's getting too old for naps, but she definitely still needs them. Otherwise we are dealing with an even bigger bear the rest of the day. The worse part is when he does go to put the crib front back on she pleads for him not to, b/c she hates it so much. He says that he feels bad.

I feel that follow through is one of the best things we can do. We have to go through with whatever we say we are going to do, b/c she needs to realize we are boss, not her. I'm feeling at a loss for the right course of action to take with her. I'm finding that staying calm and just talking to her is working the best so far, but I still can't seem to get through to her!

Any suggestions?

Six Word Saturday

I want to eat those meatballs!

Prenatal Appt & Other such non-sense

Had my scheduled 16 week appt this morning. All is well and the baby sounds great. Next appt and the BIG u/s is scheduled for 9.11.09, we can't wait! While there I rummaged through the magazine racks on the wall to see if I wanted any of the freebies offered. Picked up two. When I got home I was flipping through and two ad's caught my attention and alls I could think was WTF? Are these items for real?

The 1st one I'd like to bring up is the Tummy Tub USA. (See picture below) Now I don't know about you but the first thing that came to my mind was those 5 gallon buckets that have the warnings to not let your kids in them with water b/c of risk of drowning. Seems very similar. But this site says it's stressfree for the baby, they adopt the fetal position, and this is good up until 18 months. I just don't really see the ease of actually washing the baby in this or feeling really safe using it.

This next one literally had me laughing out loud, just trying to envision the comfortableness of it. It's called the Kush Support, (See picture below). This product offers comfort for C-cup breasts or larger, proper spine alignment, side sleeprs, breast impants, pregnancy, nursing mothers, menstrual cycles. Perhaps it's me but when I think of my gi-normous breasts - I just don't see this staying in place - yet according to the testimonials this little thing is amazing.

I think a lot of this is in how the ads are done - what are your thoughts? Would you consider using either of these?

*I have not seen or tested either of these products - these ramblings are just from seeing the ads in a magazine and the humor I found in them. *

Friday Fill-In

1. I remember, I remember that kiss & that night.

2. Dear Emma I want you to know that I understand you're growing up, but want my sweet little girl back, instead of my almost 3 yr old going on 15 yr old I seem to have stumbled upon.

3. Is that my belly bump I see when I look down towards my feet !!???

4. I'm trying to resist the temptation of re-reading the Twilight series, yet again .

5. I'm saving a popsicle just for you!

6. If I made a birthday list house sold and all settled in the new one would definitely be on it!!!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing with the family, tomorrow my plans include girls' day with Emma and Sunday, I will be at a family gathering!

Wordless Wednesday - Lake Tobias

Weekend Wrap-UP

What a nice weekend it's been. I swear even though I don't "technically" go to work during the week anymore, there's just something about those weekend's that makes the time even more enjoyable.

Little one has pretty much completely made the transfer to a toddler bed. This is a good transition b/c once in the new house she'll be in a twin bed. Only down side - is she keeps waking me up earlier and earlier - today it was 6:02, the sun wasn't even up yet! - although I think another part of today's was she really wanted to see Landyn b/c the first words out of her mouth were Can I play with him now? I told her tonight that if it's dark she needs to stay in bed, lols, we'll see how tomorrow morning goes.

Want to wish my sister-in-law a Happy 20th Birthday today!

We celebrated today with my cousin and his family on his son's baptism. It's always nice to visit the family - especially since we don't get to see each other very often.

Now for the pictures:

Little one on her first night in the new converted toddler bed.

Gramma with her two Great-Granbabies, she looks so happy!

He is just so adorable!!!

Emma holding him - this just proves to me more that she is going to be a rockin' BIG Sister!

Mom, Sister & the 2 little ones. Something was very funny!

Landyn & me.

Friday Fill-Ins

1. When will someone buy my house?2. Bones was the last good book I read or movie I saw or tv show I watched.3. Everything has its beauty but many people don't take the time to actually see it.4. Whole wheat lasagna with ground turkey is what I had for dinner.5. I'd like your every wish to come true.6. At the beach is where I want to be right now. 7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include birthday for SIL and Sunday, I get to see my 2nd cousin get baptised!

Locks of Love - Cancer is a bitch!

So - my hair has been growing out for a year or so. It was getting to the point where it was just too long to really do anything with except throw it up in ponytail or bun, and overall just a big ole' pain in the ass when it was down. We found out that my Gramma's cancer was back with a vengeance this spring. So - I thought why not do something to honor her & help someone else out. And can I just say I feel like a new woman! It's amazing the miracles a good haircut can do!

This is the morning of the haircut - before shots. Oh so long and pretty!

And here it is later that day all chopped off with some very puuuurty layers and a flip thing going on.

And I needed a front shot, but unfortunately little 2 year old girls make funky wonky faces so cropped her out of this one.

1. Being at the pool is my favorite summertime activity.

2. My favorite John Hughes movies is Sixteen Candles. (he directed this film)

3. Soft blankets are something I love to touch.

4. The full moon makes people CARRAAAZYYY.

5. I'm ready for a snack right now.

6. When daylight fades the little one is in bed and it's adult time.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to the carnival, tomorrow my plans include nothing and Sunday, I want to visit my family!

Hi-YO!

I have been reading up on everyone - just not really posting. But back in May I said I had some news and now that I'm at the end of my 1st trimester and with past history of miscarriages, I'm ready to share that we are expecting another bundle of joy EDD {2.2.10}. It's been an interesting pregnancy so far - completely different then my daughter's.

In other news - we're currently in limbo with the moving process - waiting to get into the new house. Our house still hasn't sold. At this point I'm just tired of half of my life being packed up and lots of showings so having to keep the house clean and nice. Bleah!

Girls - - They want to have fun, OH GIRLS just wanna have fun...

Come on, you know your singing along with me now! The hubs left for his annual fishing trip this morning so it's just the little one and me. Looking fwd to a weekend of girly fun times!

We dropped the hubs off at the mini mart at the end of town for his ride. Emma seemed to be doing well since he was leaving. We went and ran some errands, and then as I'm turning into our town, we pass the mini-mart and then the total meltdown came b/c Daddy wasn't there anymore. You really have got to love kids logic on some things! Lols.

Found out some exciting news today - hopefully I can share it soon.



1. Moving is a great time to purge through your stuff.

2. Laugher & Smiles & Hugs & Kisses are free.

3. My best quality is ME.

4. Forget the details.

5. In nearly 10 years, I'll be in a total different place.

6. Rest is what I need right now!

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to crab dip and curling up with a chick flick, tomorrow my plans include shopping, house ready for showing, being with family and Sunday, I want to welcome the hubs home and go to a family picnic!

Thursday Thirteen

Thirteen things in my life that are why I've fallen off of Bloggy-land. Oh - how I've missed you, but I'm BACK!

1. My Dad was in a really bad accident two months ago - he fell 20 feet from a tree, has had a miraculous recovery, the hospital calls him their miracle case, although still a ways to go - he is at home now!
2. Was in a vehicle accident a month ago - finally just got back our van yesterday, what a relief!
3. The hubs got laid off two weeks ago.
4. My work is picking up finally again - but I'm leaving there in June to prepare our new house and get set up watching kids from home.
5. As stated above - we're MOVING!
6. Our house just went on the market last week - already 3 showings - keep those fingers crossed!
7. Packing up stuff - keeping the house clean.
8. My gramma's cancer has returned she starts treatments in June.
9. Over this past weekend my Pappy was found to be internally bleeding - still not sure what is wrong though.
10. Helping the hubs uncle prepare for his estate auction 5.30.09.
11. Back to full-force potty training.
12. You know having a toddler just keeps you busy, especially one as klutzy as mine!
13. And just everday life.

So - most of all - it's been a rough couple of months - here's to looking to the brighter side of it all and on to the good times!