Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Babies Are Rock Stars... or tidbits from the first 10 weeks of parenthood **WARNING contains lots of pictures**

* Babies are rock stars... or so I have learned as every where I go, everyone ooo's and ahhh's. How could they not with a face like this:




* My vocabulary has changed...all words now have an "ie" or a "y" on the end. For example, a sentence: "Ok baby boy, Mommy is going to change your diapie, then you get some milkie, and then you can give Mommy a big burpy".

* I fall in love a little more each day, and live for the moments like these:




* It is amazing what you can learn to do with one hand.

* I have lost almost all my brain cells. In the first three weeks, I got into the shower with my glasses on unknowingly 8 times, and got frustrated when they fogged up.

* Sleep is the world's most undervalued commodity.





* It is important to have a support system of people who understand exactly what you are going through.


* My breast pump makes me feel like I should be working on a dairy farm...as a cow.

* I am petrified of flat head syndrome...so I choose to "wear my baby".



*The swing, although a God-send, makes me feel like a bad mom.

* Always be prepared for the unexpected. Pack extra bottles, changes of clothes and the like. You never know what the day might bring.

* I have to be flexible.

* Sometimes being serious is ok.



* Treasure every minute, cause it goes way too fast.

Friday, December 10, 2010

in another "REALY?!?!?!?!" moment...

I saw these while Christmas shopping...



Really? I guess someone buys them or else they wouldn't be on sale.

Friday, December 3, 2010

A Facelift...

I usually leave my changes to the blog title and design for early January.. but I didn't want to wait.. so take a look, and let me know what you think of the new title and header image. More posts coming soon....

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Whoever thought I would become obsessed with poop?

Whoever thought I would become obsessed with poop? That is the question I asked myself, as for five days we waited for our newborn to poop.

On October 17th, we welcomed our son into the world. Labor was the hardest and most rewarding thing I have ever done in my life.



And of course, because we are ridiculously controlling personalities we took to the breast feeding guide that told us how many wet and stool diapers he should be having on a daily basis like it was the bible....and then we waited. And we waited, for this little angel to finally poop.


Whoever thought that I would be on the "Great Poop Watch", but there I was checking every diaper, listening for every passing of gas, and praying our little man would finally poop and that this wasn't a sign of a greater problem. The pediatrician, of course, was not worried "A few more days, sometimes it just takes longer" he would say.

Of course, the entire family (including the extended aunts and uncles) were also on high alert. I can't tell you how many text messages I got asking if the baby had pooped yet. And when he finally did, the giant massive explosion...and I texted everyone that he had finally pooped, there was great rejoicing! Which just cracked me up considering just a few days before all I was concerned about was actually "having the baby". Funny how life changes so drastically, and the shift of what is important and what takes over your life happens so fast. And yet, even with the "Great Poop Watch" over and just a memory, I wouldn't have traded a second of it. Why? because I get to be this little man's mom, and that makes everything worth it.





P.S. - pardon the poor grammar. I am a sleep-deprived, new mom.

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

Baby's Room Subway Art

so I got inspired by my friend Connie, over at The Young and The Relentless, who created subway art for her kitchen.

As it turns out, she was inspired by Tatertots and Jello.

Here is my Subway Art... themed for the baby's room and ready to hang on the wall.



What do you think?

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Really?!?!?!

I saw these in my local Target in the little girl's section. No... not the Halloween section, the regular clothing section.


do mom's really buy these for their little girls and let them out of the house? I am seriously in complete shock over this.

Monday, September 13, 2010

I need to come up with....

a new blog name. I don't want it to be focused on the whole list of to do's anymore, although I plan to keep the list of things I want to do. I do want to capture the idea and spirit of living life to the fullest...any ideas?

Friday, September 10, 2010

It sounded really great....

"I can't drive anymore", I told my doctor this morning, thinking about how my baby bump is touching my steering wheel these days, as I enter into the final 4 weeks of pregnancy. In the back of my head, all I can think is, "This is great.. doctor's note, and no more commute to Hartford".

As I leave the doctor's office, note in hand, I realize, "Ah dang it... this says "NO DRIVING", as in none at all, as in can't take myself to Target or wherever I need to go."

Well, it sounded like a good idea.

Friday, September 3, 2010

I told you....

my beef steak tomato plant is taller than I am. ;)

Sunday, August 22, 2010

An Update

I have to admit, that I am not feeling very productive this year. I set out 32 things I wanted to do, and I really have only accomplished a few of them. Considering that I got pregnant only a few weeks after my birthday, and the start of my list.. I guess I made some progress. I have updated the list on the side in case anyone wants to take a status peek.

According to the little widget I have that is the baby countdown, I am due in 50 days. That is very scary... and I am sure it is going to go like a flash. Don't get me wrong, I am super excited to meet my little man, but the changes that are about to take place are a little nerve racking.

But now that I am in the final stretch, I have a new set of goals and things I want to accomplish (don't worry it's a short list):

1. Live in the moment (and cherish every second with just my hubs before our lives radically change!)
2. Finish getting the baby's room ready
3. make and freeze some dinners, so the hubs has something to eat after this little guy is born.

And so for those of you keeping score at home, here I am at 33 weeks:


And here is my little hellion, giving me the finger at our last ultra-sound:


And here is an attempt to capture his face... including the bubble he was blowing at the time:

Sundays of Grace

Every week I feel like a broken record... thankful for something related to my family or friends... but really these are the joys and most important things in my life.

But sometimes it's the small things, like being thankful for my hubs who fixed the toilet when the handle broke today, or being thankful for the fact that I have a hubs who helped me sort through 3 giant boxes of hand me down baby clothes, or being thankful for the fact that my almost 3 week old niece, slept through church today so her mom didn't have to jump up and run out.

And how about just being thankful for surviving another week?

I guess it is just the little things, and I am thankful that I have been blessed enough to know these are blessings!

Thursday, August 19, 2010

At a bbq....

I saw this...


Since it was also a pool party, I think I eventually determined this was a pair of board shorts, but seriously.... who let this guy out of the house like this?

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Sundays of Grace

This weekend, I was working through a piles of unmarked CD-Rs, and I came across a movie I had put together for my Hubs one Valentine's day many years ago. It was called "The Story of Us (the beginning chapters)" and included lots of pictures of us growing up.

I must admit every time I saw The Hubs as a little boy, I almost burst into tears with joy at the thought that that is what my little man could look like.

I can't even believe there are less than 60 days until his due date. It is truly a miracle, and I am truly blessed that so far so good. Based on our last ultrasound he is healthy, growing well, and positioned perfectly.

I am so thankful for the out-pouring of prayers and support I have received so far.

Thank you to one and all.

Sunday, August 8, 2010

Sundays of Grace

This week I am thankful for my new niece. And most importantly that both mom and baby are healthy!



Sunday, August 1, 2010

Sundays of Grace #4

I think I missed a Sunday, but that doesn't mean I am any less grateful.

This week was crazy as usual, but there are always things to give thanks for. This week, I am thankful for:

1) my Parents, who are busting their butts to do everything they can to help both my hubs and I, and my brother and sister-in-law get ready for our babies.

2) For my hubs, who lugged more stuff up and down the stairs and around the house in preparation for our carpet install, and then the piece of furniture I bought at costco, and then the crib upstairs, and then the crib assembly. He is wonderful.

3) For all of the insanity of my job, the ability to take a Friday off to take care of some errands.

4) For the beautiful weather we are having this weekend.

5) For good friends.

Saturday, July 31, 2010

Adventures in hair color....

I got my hair colored yesterday, attempting to get back to the lovely shade of red I was, and rid of my scary dark roots....what I forgot was how two times ago I got highlights.

Well I'm not sure if you can really tell in this picture or not, but I have these two bright red streaks right in the front of my head framing my face.



It was just too funny not to share.

Saturday, July 24, 2010

Weird Wedding Attire

We were guests at a beautiful wedding last week. But what I so surprsied by was this one guest's pants.


I dunno, is it me? I don't think I would let the hubs out of the house in pants like this.

Because I knew you would ask, here is a closer shot of the material...

Sunday, July 18, 2010

Sundays of Grace #3

This week I am thankful for love. We just got back from a wedding, and it was beautiful. So nice to see two people so caring and loving. Reminds me of my hubs, who I love more than anything.

Sunday, July 11, 2010

Grow, baby, Grow.... and Culinary Explorations

This week, lots of good things popped up in the garden...

baby cucumbers (there are probably a total of seven to 10!!)


baby roma tomatoes (I spotted 4 so far!)...


And our pepper is getting bigger, it's about half of it's full size...


Last weekend, while I had some extra time... I decided to pursue some culinary explorations...refrigerator pickles...strawberry jam...and blueberry jam. All things I have wanted to do for along time. They all came out pretty tasty!





I feel like I am continuing my quest toward domestic goddess-dom... I just wish I could quit my day job and do it all the time!

Sunday of Grace #2

I can't believe a whole week has gone by, but here is my list of things I am thankful for this week:

1)For weekends with Family and Friends. It is always crazy, but I wouldn't miss it or trade a second of it. Thie weekend we got to catch up with a friend we haven't seen in years, celebrate a first birthday, and spend my uncle's birthday with him.

2) For my garden. It is so cool to watch something grow. It is a miracle that I am amazed to witness. Right now we have baby cucumbers and baby roma tomatoes, all just starting out.

Sunday, July 4, 2010

Sundays of Grace

I follow a lot of blogs relating to infertility, stories of struggles and triumphs people have had. It really has been an amazing eye-opener. One of the women I follow has been through so much, it is amazing that she and her husband have not just given up. I am so inspired by them. You can check them out here.

One of the things Mo does is called Sundays of Grace. No matter what she is going through with her struggle, she always takes the time to give thanks. I love this idea, and I have been slacking severely in this area. So starting today, I am instituting the Sundays of Grace.

Today is my first Sunday of Grace. This week I am thankful for:

1) My family. It has been one of those weeks, and they really do keep my going.

2) My amazing hubs. I have been one heck of a B*tch lately(I am blaming my pregnancy hormones), and he has been amzingly patient through it all.

3)That I am lucky enough to be having a fairly easy pregnancy. I feel great, and this has been amazing.

4)For every day I get to wake up and experience the sunshine.

5)It's July 4th. So I am thankful for all of the men and women in the armed forces who work so hard to keep our freedom. Without your service, we wouldn't be the nation we are. Thank you!

Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Nothing like a little pesto

My beautiful basil before...



And the after.... homemade pesto with the fresh basil, garlic, parmesan, romano, and olive oil I brought back from Italy last November...



Yummy!

My garden it's a growing....

As I mentioned in this post here, I have really learned to love container gardening. There is something amazing about having fresh herbs and vegetables at your finger tips.

This year we planted beefsteak tomatoes, plum tomatoes, cucumbers, sweet white hybrid peppers, basil, parsley and cilantro. In just a few short weeks, everything is growing.. and looking amazing.



I was very excited because over the weekend, a little pepper started to grow!


And my cucumbers developed flowers, which can only lead to some cukes...


my herbs are getting huge.. so this week we planned lots of dinners that center on them.

Pasta with Pesto Sauce
Gazpacho with Avocado Salsa
Scallops with Chimmichurri Sauce

I can't wait!

I think I forgot to mention...




Here he is at 23 weeks, waving for the camera, just like Mom...


It was so cool, you could see his little face and belly, and his arm just waving.

And here I am at 25 weeks....



The hubs felt him move last night for the first time. So amazing.