Daily Livin

Happy Halloween!!

2011-10-31T17:02:00.002-05:00

I've been trying for 10 minutes to get a picture on here from Etsy of the costume that sugar is wearing. I have been unsuccessful so far. Really, I'm not usually this dumb.

Anyway, I miss blogging but I just never have the time for it. I don't know how to blog from my iphone but if I did, maybe I'd blog more. I don't know. I tweet a lot (@shoeaddict17) because I usually have lots of one liners in me. I comment on tv a lot because I like to comment and usually don't have anyone to comment to.

So- Halloween. I've had a migraine since last night. It's finally not I-want-to-die bad. All last night, I honestly thought I was dying and hoped that I might. I couldn't get comfortable. I couldn't sleep, watching tv was difficult and my phone was dying. Yeah, my phone will not charge any where but in my car. So, that's fun. It's been a pretty crappy few days.

We are going to my bro and sis-in-law's house tonight. Sugar is going in an adorable Cookie Monster costume that I love (and hope I can resell for next year) but it's big and I"m not putting her in it until it's time to go do the deal. She does say "trick or treat" though it sounds more like "tricker & tricker treat." Whatev.

She's whining right now for me to "wock wock" which means to hold her and rock her. Oh this is going to be a fun night!!

September

2011-09-21T18:39:00.002-05:00

I never wanna blog when I have not in awhile because I feel like I can't just pick up where I am now, I have to talk about everything that's happened between then and now. Well, I'm just going to skim.

From the Tuesday after Labor Day until that Sunday, Sugar and I went to Panama City Beach, Florida. The bank that my SIL works has a condo and the employees each get a turn to use it. She invited us to meet her and a friend down there and we accepted. It's about a 7 hour drive from here to there but I've made that trip many times and it's not bad. Sugar slept most of the way and we only listened to The Wiggles for 2 hours! WIN.

If you've ever been to the beach with a toddler (or baby), I'm sure you're aware that you don't get much outside/beach time. That's fine with me because I'm prepared for that. I think that's the main thing to know when going. Don't expect to go and do what you did before kids, be happy to be there and take what you can get. The water was pretty rough in the gulf the first few days so we didn't even try to swim. The pool water was pretty cold, too.

All in all, good trip. We went shopping and ate out at cool places and really, those are my fav things to do. My MIL came on the Friday. BIG BIG SIGH. I'll just refrain.

Sugar started Mother's Day Out the Monday after we got back. I was most nervous about carpool drop off because I was unsure of where to go and because they come and get her from your car. I DID NOT want to cry in front of her and that's what I prayed I wouldn't do. I was given the option to park my car and bring her inside but I didn't think that would be best for either of us. Monday morning, I packed her lunch in her super cute lunchbox, dressed her in her

super cute dress, took some pictures and we were on our way.

I'll try to post pictures of her soon. No promises.

Anyway, we got to school about 20 minutes early because I wasn't sure how long it'd take us to get there. Turns out, not long. I ended up in the wrong carpool lane and was embarrassed (even though the ladies were very sweet) and had to go around. At our school, when you pull in, you park and unbuckle your child(ren) so that when the teachers come around, they just get the kid and the book bag and go. This made things better for me because all this time, I'd been thinking that I'd put her into her seat at home and then someone would take her out the back at school. And I wouldn't be able to touch her before. I know it sounds crazy and I'm not explaining it right but it was what was keeping me up at night.

When we finally were in the correct line, I unbuckled her and put her in the front with me. She thought she was the bees knees up there. We talked about school (skoo) and her teacher Miss Kelly and all her friends (prends). When they started coming to get the kids, her teacher's aid, who we'd met at open house, came to get her. I was SO thankful that Miss Patti was there to get her. I'd also been so afraid of someone we'd never met coming to get her. All my prayers were answered and while I DID sob (saying out loud in my car that they better take care of my baby) for about 10 minutes after she was gone, I did not cry in front of her.

She loved skoo and when I went to pick her up, she didn't want to get into the car. I was so relieved. She did great both days and I think I'll like the time alone.

Unfortunately, she has not been able to go back since last Wednesday. She started with a runny nose, hacking cough and sneezing last week. We saw the doctor on Thursday and she tested her for strep. She was negative for that and was diagnosed as having a cold. We hung around home for the most part during the weekend and Monday, she was ready for skoo. Right before we left the house, she sneezed. And lots of green snot came out of her nose.

I thought the teacher had told me that green snot meant cannot go to school. I was unsure of what to do because she seemed fine otherwise. She had no fever and was excited to go. I had to bring my dad to get his truck at the body shop a few miles away from her school so he was with us. I decided to park and go inside to talk to the secretary. She said to keep her home so, we did. As the day went on, she started getting worse and we made an appointment with her doctor for 2:15.

The doctor checked her ears and her right one was infected. Not badly infected but infected. Then, when she was checking her throat, she noticed an ulcer on her tongue. I showed her some tiny bumps on her cheek/mouth. She started checking her hands and feet and lo and behold, she had another bump on her foot. She diagnosed her with hand, foot and mouth disease. She warned me that it could get really bad and she may get them all in her throat. She may not eat, she may be in a lot of pain, etc. I drove home dreading the next few days.

Monday night was not good. She ran a low grade fever, developed more bumps on her tongue and was very fussy. She didn't want to take her antibiotic (for ear infection) and Tylenol and etc and that was a snotty, screaming battle. She did sleep well that night though, until 4:30am, when she woke up with a fever and thirsty. She was back asleep by 5 and slept until 8.

Tuesday morning and during the day, she was great. We stayed home and did laundry, colored and played with magnets. She didn't develop any new bumps and the ones she already had were nearly gone. After Tuesday's nap, she was not in the best of moods. She may have been in some pain and was just restless and fussy. She got some (chewable! HALLELUJAH!!) Tylenol and slept great.

Today, she has been fine. She woke up in a great mood and I saw no bumps on her at all. I called the doctor's office and they said that she must've just had a very mild case and that she wasn't contagious any more. I decided to keep her out of school any way and so I called them to let them know. Well, the director isn't there this week and her second in command didn't know hf&m disease. I was a little put off by her attitude and by the attitude of some others who acted like they've 1)never heard of hf&m and 2)like she has AIDS or leprosy.

I'm all for protecting yourself and your children but there are nice, inconspicuous ways of doing so without being rude, hurtful and dramatic. Kids get sick. They get weird rashes and bugs and worms and poops and and and. It is normal. It happens. It doesn't mean any one is dirty or unhealthy or BAD. And YOUR PRECIOUS CHILD is NOT better than mine because mine has hf&m. Ahem, can ya'll tell this hit a nerve?????

So, anyway, today, we had lunch with Paw (my dad) and then went to Target. And boy was I so glad we did. They had awesome stuff in the dollar aisle. If you're a frequent Target-er, like we are, you know that you always start in the dollar aisle. Sometimes you get really lucky and sometimes it's just "eh". Today, I got luckier than I've ever gotten. There was tons of really cute Halloween and Fall stuff, for the house and for Sugar. Then, there was tons of Sesame Street stuff for Sugar's party!!! I got sticker books, plates and cups (plastic to keep), tote bags, socks and I don't remember what else for favors/decoration. WHOOO HOOOO!!!

So, that's been September, in a nutshell.

This Stuff Never Happens to Daddy

2011-08-30T17:23:00.002-05:00

I'm going to attempt to tell ya'll what happened to me today in the WalM*rt bathroom. I seriously doubt my ability to recount it adequately but I'm going to try. If you're a man (what man reads this blog? none) or anyone who is grossed out by menstruation related stories, this isn't the story for you.

So, Sugar and I are at WM, shopping for schools supplies for her Mother's Day Out. She needs wax paper and disposable gloves, Lysol, paper towels and wipes. No crayons, glue sticks, construction paper or other fun stuff. We are there, after lunch, and... well, ya'll know I'm on this diet, right? I eat A LOT of fruits, vegetables, Larabars, etc and it's made me, um, very, regular. Got it? Ok, so, I get the urge in the middle of shopping at the WM.

I make my way over to the back restrooms (in electronics) and take Sugar and my purse but leave the buggy(number 3). Sugar had taken off her shoes prior to the stop so let's remember that she's barefoot and we are GOING INTO THE (gross yuck eww) BATHROOM. AT THE WalM*RT!! No one else was in there when we ~~ran~~walked inside. I went into the very large, handicapped stall and saw that they had the "little seat." The little seat is a little plastic seat that has straps that you can plonk the baby down in while you are doing your business. It's saved me before when I had to go to the potty and Sugar couldn't walk/stand.

Sugar gets plonked into the seat, mommy gets onto the potty. Now, Sugar is very vocal lately, have I mentioned that? And she starts saying, "Mommy! Tee tee, mommy? Mommy! Mommy! Mommy! Tee tee?" And of course I say, "Yes, honey, mommy tee tee." "Mommy POO POO? EWWWWWW, Mommy! POO POO YUCK!"

Once I sat down, I realized that I had a whole other problem aside from having to poo poo in the WM bathroom. I'm also having my period and it is heavy. I changed my purse over the weekend and forgot to put my stash of (super, extra, ultra) tampons in the new bag. Welllll, I realized once I sat down on the throne that I really needed one of those things. I remembered that I had this in my purse. There was a tampon in the kit. YAY!!

Yeah, it didn't work. The plastic applicator was CRAP and didn't do it's job. SIIIIIIGH. By this time, Sugar is not happy. "MOMMY! No, poo poo! Me down, Mommy, peeeesss. Out! Out! Out!" And I'm trying to use this emergency tampon and use the cheap, thin, insufficient WM toilet paper... I'm finally successful and get my pants back up and Sugar off of the "little seat."

By this time, I'm sweating A LOT. I have Sugar, my purse and I need to wash my hands. We round the stalls toward the sinks and UGH! There are a bunch of free standing sinks, no counter!!!!!!!!!!! I quickly decide to put Sugar into the sink next to the one I'm going to use. The water works on a sensor so it comes on when I put her down! I stand her up so she can kinda straddle the faucet with her legs on either side of it. This way, she won't get soaked while I try to clean myself up and get it together.

Of course, she thinks the water is awesome so she's bending over trying to turn on the water. I'm trying to wash my hands and pat my sweaty face but can't even have 5 seconds to do that!! I pick her up and grab some paper towels (which are just sitting on top of the dispenser. Those couldn't have worked on a sensor, I guess) and dry my hands and face. At this point, I am thinking that my husband would never have to deal with this. He wouldn't know HOW to deal with this.

So, that's my story. I just told the internets that I had to poop and that I'm having my period. Oh well, I guess. This is my life. Aren't you jealous?

Getting Control

2011-08-24T09:30:00.004-05:00

I'm dieting again. I'm counting calories using the Lose It app on my iphone and I'm not eating carbs at night. I'm doing cardio and Pilates on Monday and Thursday mornings with Betsy and I'm thinking of doing bootcamp on Tuesday and Thursday evenings starting in September. I don't mind exercising, it's just finding the time and finding something to do with Sugar.

Since Monday, I've lost 4 pounds. That has gotten me really motivated. The thing is, I've gained 15-17 pounds since March. And I was very overweight in March! So, right now, I'm working to just get back to my previous weight. Any progress helps me to continue. I am feeling very motivated right now and for that I am grateful.

I am an emotional eater. I fear that I am addicted to food, especially carbs. My grandfather has ALS and that has really colored everything in our lives. It's absolutely devastating to watch someone so strong, vital and healthy disappear in front of your eyes. It's so agonizing to miss someone when they are physically still here. My grandmother, to whom I am very close, is having such a hard time with it all, too, of course. Taking care of, worrying about and loving them is of great priority and it's very emotional.

To deal with the ugly, sad, depressing details- I eat. But I CANNOT be so out of control anymore. I'm doing no carbs at night to try and break me from my carb addiction. I don't know if I'll ever do no carbs but I don't want to be SO addicted to them anymore. The nights have been rough but I'm DOING IT and I'm OK! I'm better than ok, actually.

I'm Not A Great Blogger

2011-08-23T10:53:00.002-05:00

OK, let me see if I can just do a "brain dump" to catch ya'll up on what's been going on over here.

Sugar is 22 months old and has been talking up a storm. She says something new and funny every day. She says "Peees" and "Cank You" pretty regularly and I'm trying to start her on ma'am and sir. Well, actually, I've been pushing the ma'am more because I AM a ma'am and I'm with her all day. It's important to me to instill this in her. It was a big deal in my house growing up and I have to admit that when a child says "yeah" it's a turn off.
Sugar will be 2 years old on October 17. Her party will be October 23 at The Little Gym at 2:30. I'm doing a Sesame Street theme and I'm SO excited about it. TLG provides paper products and the room is already decorated in primary colors so it should be "easy" to decorate the tables using this theme. I plan to decorate the tables, put centerpieces (using a lot of the SS stuffed toys that she has), balloons, etc. I have found some really cute things on Etsy for favors and decor. And I just ordered her outfit! Now, I need to think of what food we will have. Suggestions for food at a Sunday party at 2:30? Thanks!
I'm dieting again. I started doing Pilates with my mom and SIL's personal trainer and she is WONDERFUL. I've known her for many, many years and have always loved and admired her. Her name is Betsy and she's the sweetest, prettiest lady you ever want to know. She's classy and kind and friendly. Anyway, I'm counting calories (using the Lose It app on my iphone) and doing no carbs at night. Anyway, we'll see how it goes.
I have noticed that my hair has been fabulous lately. I mean, I know that's conceited and all but it's true. It's thick and shiny and it does exactly what I want it to do. Seriously, it's never looked better. I'm also fatter than I've ever been (except when I was pregnant) so I've deduced that being fat=great hair. I'm prepared to give up the fabulous hair! I think.
Sugar and I are going to meet my GA SIL in Panama City Beach in a few weeks. I'm SUPER excited because I LOVE the beach and I LOVE auntie Hay. Hay and I have had a very complicated relationship. I met her when she was about 14 years old and we've definitely been through a lot together. I absolutely love her like a sister and am SO proud of her. She's the same age as my little brother (26 1/2). I just wish she'd get married and have some babies and move here!!
I bought one of Erin Condran's Life Planners for 2011-2012. I saw them and absolutely loved the look of it but couldn't spend $50 on one. Then Plum District had a deal where you pay $25 and get $50 worth of stuff from Erin Condran so I snapped it up and bought my LP. The day after I ordered, Erin Condran's website was hacked into and all of their orders were deleted. But, the customer service was wonderful and I got my LP in good time. I ordered the fleur feliz in splash and I love it. I want to order some note pads soon, too.
Today, mom, Sugar and I are going to try lunch at one of the local food trucks. We didn't even know that our area had them until I read about them on Twitter. Man, I really love Twitter. I have met lots of great people, gotten in some fun debates, learned some great stuff about restaurants, attractions, places around me that I never knew existed. Ya'll should all Twitter. And follow me (@ shoeaddict17)!

Chrome

2011-08-08T18:11:00.002-05:00

I changed to Google Chrome and now I don't know how to put pictures from other sites onto here. Anyone want to tell me how, I'd appreciate it.

The Ear Saga

2011-08-05T09:28:00.002-05:00

I have always had issues with my ears. When I was young, I had lots of infections, tubes in and out and in and out and... As an adult, my ears overproduce wax, they are itchy and prone to aches. I've also had issues with vertigo because of all of this. My ENT prescribed this oil to put in my ears when they are itchy and it usually helps.

On Saturday, my ear (right) was very itchy and bothersome so, I put some of the oil in there and DID.NOT.SCRATCH.WITH.A.Q-TIP. In the middle of the night, the ear began to hurt. It got worse and worse as the night went on and by early Sunday morning, I knew I had to be seen. It was such a strange combination of itching and aching that I was afraid there was a BUG in it. (Hello, Brokedown Palace)

There is an after hours clinic open everyday at 9am right across the street from the church we go to. I got us dressed and dropped Sugar at the nursery at church and handed her beeper off to my parents who were in church. I went across the street to be seen by the doctor. And get the roach out of my ear!

There was no other patients there at 11am on Sunday morning so I was seen right away. The doctor looked in my left ear first, for comparison(?), then looked in my right one. He said, "Eeee!" And I said, "Is it a roach?" No roach (or any other bugs) but the inner ear was infected with lots of fluid behind the ear drum AND the canal was infected, too. He offered a few different courses of action including antibiotics, steroid shot, steroid/antibiotic ear drops, pain meds, etc. I took the drops and the antibiotics and was on my way. At this point, it hurt, was uncomfortable but not at all unbearable and wasn't even constant.

By Sunday night, that all changed. It was a rough, long night and by Monday morning, I was miserable. I took a nap with Sugar and when we woke up, it was much worse. I brought Sugar to my mom's house (Blue was out of town. Isn't that always the case) and went back to the after hours clinic. I'd been whining about the pain on Twitter (@shoeaddict17) and to everyone near me and kept getting asked about numbing drops. I needed those drops.

I went to the clinic, no makeup, yoga pants and t-shirt, dirty hair (I was afraid of the water in the ears!) and I didn't even care. Too much. I told the doctor that I was in lots of pain and needed some relief. He checked the ear again and said that it was very infected, swollen and all that. He gave me a shot of antibiotics, numbing drops and pain meds. I went back to my mom's house, ate some food (very gingerly because it hurt to bite), took Advil and hoped for the best.

That night, Sugar and I spent with mom and it was another awful night. The pain got worse and worse and worse. I actually writhed in pain. I read The Hunger Games (the whole thing) and alternated Advil and the pain meds and the numbing drops. Nothing worked. I got no relief. I slept a very little bit in the early morning and that was it. When I woke up it was a lot worse.

I (barely) drove us home and sat in my chair. Sugar was AN ANGEL all day (actually the whole time I was sick). I took a pain pill at 10am and that managed to ease some of the pain from 11am-2pm. I slept a little bit while Sugar napped and woke up in pain again. I kept alternating the pain meds and Advil (the pain med has acetaminophen) and it was manageable at the meds' peaks.

I watched a bunch of Bravo TV that night while Sugar slept. The pain meds stopped working at about 2am and I was back in major, writhing pain again. I was laying in my bed, in the dark, crying and praying and tossing and turning. At about 4am, I heard a pop and liquid started coming out of the ear. The pressure and the major pain stopped and I knew my ear drum had ruptured. I got some sleep after that.

In the morning, I called to get an appointment with my ENT but she's in surgery on Wednesdays. My friend told me she'd get me in with her ENT and she did. She also offered to drive us because I was very dizzy since the rupture. She drove Sugar and I to the doctor's office and completely took care of us. My husband, parents and grandparents were all out of town and so her TLC was so welcome!

The ENT came in and checked my ear. He said that the canal was so swollen that he couldn't see my ear drum. He said that if I heard a pop and had liquid drain, then it was a rupture. He put a sponge wick in the canal to help draw the antibiotic drops into the middle of the ear. He gave me more pain meds, a shot of cortisone and wanted to change my oral antibiotic. There was discussion because the one he wanted to prescribe isn't good for children. And Sugar is still nursing at night. There was no way that we could not nurse at night without Blue here. I took the script and told him I'd see what happened.

My friend took me to the grocery store so I could get some provisions for us and the the pharmacy. By this time, I wasn't it too much pain anymore but was a little woozy from all the pain meds and very tired. Sugar and I ate soup for dinner and we were in bed early. BUT, the cortisone shot, I was hot and flushed and not tired at all (suddenly. At 10pm.) So, I watched TV and didn't worry too much about it.

Yesterday, I felt much better and had my first day with relatively no pain. The canal is still swollen and irritated. It still itches and that gets a little aggravating. When it itches really badly and I try to scratch, that makes it hurt. I try to just leave it alone. No pain meds in a full 24 hours since this morning!

... I feel a slight ache in the left ear this morning...

Recap

2011-07-26T10:16:00.003-05:00

Sugar and I are headed out to go to the grocery store. I started writing a post last week about what we did at the beginning of the week (last week), then I got sidetracked by reading my old blog. Anyway, on Sunday, the 17th, Sugar and I drove a few hours west for a birthday party. My first cousin, Robby, has three children: A(girl), 7, and twins JR(boy) and AK(girl), who turned 3. Sugar was sick the week before and we were ready to go somewhere so the invitation was very exciting.

Sunday morning, I was getting dressed and I had my flat iron heating up to smooth out the front of my hair. Well, of course, Sugar is nosy and busy and grabby and she touched the (very) hot metal. It happened so fast I couldn't prevent it. She only touched the metal with her thumb but I know that burns really badly. I had to go to the drugstore to get wrapping paper so, I bought some antibacterial spray, bandages (Sesame Street) and some other kind of medicine. I came home and doctored it but she was so upset.

I loaded her into the car and she cried off and on, holding up her "bo bo"(pronounced beau beau- not boo boo) and saying "hurt." I kept wondering if I was doing the right thing by bringing her when she seemed so distressed but I knew she'd have a good time once we got there. She cried off and on (she kept touching it and aggravating it) for about 30-45 minutes, then fell asleep for the rest of the trip. Once we got there and the kids came running to meet us at the car, I never heard anything else about it.

Sunday, she ran around with all the kids and dogs and had a blast. The twins each got ride on toys (this for JR& this for AK) and she had a blast riding around with them. I let her have a cut up hot dog (for the first time ever) and tons of cake. My cousin's wife, C, even gave her a sip of Coke. I did freak out about that a bit. She ran around and was in heaven. We spent the night there with them that night, as planned, and woke up the next morning to play some more.

They have 5 horses in the barn and we all went out to let them out about mid morning. Sugar was so enthralled with the horses from far away but she was way overwhelmed up close. Blue, A's first horse, is older and sweet and the perfect little kid horse. I told Sugar his name and I petted his head and nose. I showed her how sweet he was but she was just not having it. She didn't want to touch him. Later, as we were packing up to come home, it started storming. I didn't want to drive in the weather, so decided to stay another night.

Poor Sugar wanted to touch Blue so bad. She wanted to not be afraid but she was. When we weren't too close to him, she loved him. She watched him walk around and eat and she'd ask to go near the fence. Whenever he'd get too close, she'd chicken out though. By Monday night when we went to feed all the horses, her hand would move and she'd try to touch him and then get too scared. I felt bad for her. She's talked about him so much since we've been home.

Tomorrow, Wednesday, mom and I have early appointments in New Orleans. After those, I'm going to take Sugar to the aquarium. C and the three kids will meet us there and we are going to stay overnight. Sugar is going to love the aquarium. She loves the zoo but her favorite things are the otters and fish and stuff she can see swimming in tanks. We took her there last year at this time but she was still too young to really enjoy it.

So, today, I'm trying to get my errands run (groceries, dry cleaner) and chores done (laundry!) so we can have fun tomorrow and Thursday. BUT! As I'm typing, it's thundering out and starting to rain. UGH!!! I'm so sick of trying to live around the rain!! It's such a giant pain. We are into our THIRD month of ISR (we cancel for illness, they cancel for weather) and I'm so ready to be DONE but the weather is making it difficult!!

Here's hoping for a quick shower and then NO MORE RAIN!

A Sad Discovery

2011-07-20T23:06:00.002-05:00

I just went over to my old, original blog- Diary of a Shoeaddict to try and find some stuff to link back to in another post I'm writing. Well, I got all caught up in reading stuff over there and YA'LL. It's SO MUCH better than this blog.

That blog is cuter and has cute names for the posts and the posts are longer and more creative and chatty. There are posts with pictures and shoes and all kinds of fun stuff.

Am I just boring now?????

No Fever!

2011-07-13T10:27:00.004-05:00

Sugar has been fever free for about 20 hours! We will probably still lay pretty low today but I think we can resume our normal activities (ISR) tomorrow. What's the likelihood that she'll run a fever again later today?

Sicky Sugar

2011-07-12T11:27:00.002-05:00

Sugar is sick. She didn't eat much all weekend long and so I was getting worried. Yesterday morning, she was STILL just picking at eating teeny, tiny little nothing bites and I decided to call the doctor. We have ISR at 3:50 so I try to have her napping by 1 at the latest. I woke up yesterday morning not feeling well either so we both fell asleep shortly after 1.

I'd asked my mom to come and drive us to ISR because my headaches sometimes make me dizzy and make me a little blind. She came over just as we were getting up from nap and we realized Sugar was burning up. I thought she felt very warm while we were sleeping but, she gets hot easily and I wasn't sure if it was just from her sleeping. We took her temperature which is always an ORDEAL because I never have a reliable thermometer. One (the rub on head one) said her temp was 98.6 and neither of us believed that. I found another one and put it under her arm. It was going super, super slowly and I finally stopped at 103.6 and called the doctor back.

I was sure she had strep because she wasn't eating and had the fever. By the time we got to the doctor's office, her temp was 100.8. The doctor checked her ears (looked great!) and throat (looked terrible). I told her about Sugar not eating and having some diarrhea lately. She was swabbed for the strep test but it came back negative. The doctor said it's either strep but too early to have a positive test or it's viral tonsillitis. Either way, she gave an antibiotic and said to alternate Motrin and Tylenol for fever.

SheShe and I took our sweet sick girl to get her meds and to get an ice cream. She perked up a little after the ice cream and when daddy-the-great got home. SheShe fed her some "noonles" (mac and cheese) and she ate more of that than she had of anything else lately. I put together some sort of supper for Blue and me and then Sugar was begging for "nigh nigh". We were all in bed before 9pm.

Sugar slept pretty good. She often talks in her sleep and cries out. I think she just dreams vividly like I do. She woke up to nurse at 5:30ish and then was telling me,"Hi! Hi!" at 6. I took her temp around then and it was 101.5. I gave her some Motrin and she fell back asleep at 7:30. She woke up at 10:15 and seemed fever free. I made oatmeal and gave her some milk. She didn't eat the oatmeal but she's drinking the milk.

She's very clingy and wants to nurse a lot. She is still playing some and talking up a storm. We won't be swimming today and I'm not sure yet about tomorrow. I feel better and am hoping, hoping, hoping that I don't get sick. So, for the next few days, the Go Go Go Girls will be just laying low and doing nothing.

I Wrote This Yesterday

2011-07-06T17:49:00.003-05:00

Sugar has been talking up a storm today. She's also been naughty, too. I feel like she's such a BIG GIRL and that sucks. She came into the kitchen this morning after breakfast. I was doing what I am doing now which is sitting at the counter and reading email (I'm not reading email now, I'm blogging, but...). Anyway, she came in and laid on the floor on her belly. I looked over and said, "Sugar, are you sad?" She said, "Saaaaad," complete with hand-over-face dramatics. So then I said, "Can you show me happy?" She sat up and yelled, "HAPPYYYYYYYY," and flung out her arms and did jazz hands.

So all day I've been asking her to show me happy and sad. We are working on angry (because most of the time when I tell her that mommy is angry, she says "angee"-hard g- and laughs. Fail!) next. I wish there were a good book on toddler feelings. I mean, there may be (and I'd love to hear suggestions), but I haven't found one that's exactly what I want. Maybe I'll write one....

This morning, she slept late and we lay in bed just snuggling and laughing. At exactly 9am, she said, "Cookie! Bee Bird! Elmo! Abby!" 9am just happens to be the time that Sesame Street comes on here (first showing at 9am and another at noon). She also recognized Telly Monster for the first time this morning. And the letter B!

After she woke up from her nap, I asked her if she wanted a treat. I meant to say snack though. Every day after her nap, I offer her a snack (fruit, yogurt, cheese stick, maaaaaybe a cookie, goldfish) and sometimes while we are in the car (after ISR, etc), we get a TREAT (ice cream, snowball). Today, when she woke from her nap, I asked if she wanted a treat, by accident. I didn't expect the terminology to matter. She said, "YEAH," then ran to the window and said, "Yeah mommy! Treat! Cah treat!" She says car like CAH, she's apparently from Boston.

That is all for now. I'm already posting this a day after I wrote it.

More Bullets

2011-07-05T17:05:00.003-05:00

Sugar is cutting her incisors. They are, as someone on Twitter put it, a sonofabitch to cut. They may both be out now since today she hasn't been hanging onto me like a growth or screaming and crying for NO REASON AT ALL, but I'm not sticking my hand in her mouth. She has teeth. And she bites.
We did big fat nothing for the 4th of July. Or the Sunday, Saturday and Friday before it. I went to the grocery store (alone!) and read, did laundry, watched tv and held my child. We were ready to go at 9am this morning!!!
I saw my dermatologist today. I have acne and this (pretty!). So, I'm going to do Botox in August. I'm doing some research on it and I'm pretty comfortable with it. My mother and Blue are the ones who will be worried but, it's not their faces, right?
I finished reading Blood Orange last night. It was a very strangely written book. The story was compelling but some aspects were very hard for me to identify with. I just am nothing like the main character and cannot sympathize with some of the things she does. It's not imperative that I identify with every character but this woman... I don't know.
Right now, I'm reading The Girl Who Stopped Swimming (not on my Kindle/iPhone), Gods In Alabama (Kindle/iPhone) and Sizzling Sixteen(Kindle/iPhone). I can't just read one book. Ever! I'm also reading another book (she's horrible) but that's another post.
I am obsessing like only a good shopaholic and mother does over the lunch bag that Sugar is going to bring to Mother's Day Out (MDO) this Fall. I think (THINK) I like these by Skip Hop but I'm afraid they won't be big enough. I got her the Lunchbots bento boxes because she likes a lot of different things and not necessarily a sandwich. I like that they aren't plastic and you can put different fruits and veggies and some meat and cheese roll ups all in one. I'm not sure, however, if they'll fit in this bag. (Here's a thought, genius, MEASURE! Right?!) I'm also looking at these from PBK. I usually really like PBK and we can get it monogrammed which I love. They are bigger, too.
Gotta go fix our supper. We are eating leftovers, a smorgasbord: jambalaya, red beans, macaroni and cheese, creamed corn, summer veggies and melon.

Happy Tuesday!

2011-06-28T09:50:00.002-05:00

Shug did GREAT last night! She was asleep by 8:15 (started at about 8:05) and slept until 8am! YAY!!!!
I did not go to sleep so easily. I have a strange pain in my side. So, I finished reading Hissy Fit. It was a good book. I thought it would turn out one certain way and I was wrong. Not totally wrong but wrong enough to be surprised. It was a good "fluffy" book.
I keep hearing really sad news. Babies with cancer, people dying and/or losing everything in fires, young mothers with terrible diseases, it's overwhelming. I added quite a few people to my prayer list last night. It's depressing. And so scary.
Sugar has ISR today at 2:10. She's doing well but our schedule has been a little inconsistent because the teacher was first out of town and then had a death in the family. So, I'm hoping that she'll do ok today and for the rest of the week.
I didn't do much dieting over the weekend. Well, I didn't do too bad but I had french fries and a cheeseburger and lots of bacon. Well, needless to say, I gained back 2 of the three pounds I'd lost last week. Back to square one...
When someone coughs or sneezes (or sometimes laughs too hard), Sugar runs over to ask, "K?" It's so sweet!

It's Hard

2011-06-27T16:25:00.003-05:00

Parenting is so not easy. It's so wonderful and emotional and fulfilling but, it's also so so so so hard.

What if I'm not doing the right thing? What if I'm scarring her for life? What if she NEVER learns this/does that/quits doing/starts going, etc...

These questions drive me crazy all the time. For every thing. I want to be the best parent I can be. I want her to be happy and healthy. I don't want her to be smothered or spoiled (I HATE that term) or bratty or entitled and I don't want her to be lonely or scared or neglected or not stimulated or sick...

I put a lot of pressure on myself to be a GOOD MOTHER. I don't want to expect anything less of me though. I have strong feelings about this role;expectations that I have set for myself and for her. But, it's a lot of pressure. It's heavy and it's so big- to be in charge of this tiny little life. I feel like she's such an amazing, beautiful, special gift and I don't want to ruin her.

I didn't intend to write all this. We had a bad night last night. I'm tired and feeling overwhelmed as the day goes on and bedtime comes creeping in. I am so hoping for either her to do better or for me to handle it better.

Retail Therapy

2011-06-24T13:20:00.002-05:00

Sugar and I stayed at my mom's house Wednesday night and last night. Blue was out of town on business and so was my dad. Mom and I have both had a pretty hard week this week so last night, we decided to go shopping and out to eat. Well, I wanted to go and asked if she'd come, too. Ya'll know I love to shop!

I love (and am always begging) when other bloggers or friends tell me what they bought when shopping so, I decided to do it myself.

::Sephora::

I bought this for my SIL in GA for her birthday in December. They don't have a Sephora near her and she'd told me she was interested in new perfume. That gift is PERFECT- you get a bunch of different samples and a gift certificate for a full sized bottle. She chose Versace Bright Crystal, which I'd never smelled before. I smelled it and I really liked it and thought it was perfect for her. So, I got that and will ship it to her. I also bought Sephora Collection's Blush Me Trio in Abricot 11. I used it when I was pregnant (as more of a bronzer) and I loved it. Also, a Sephora Collection Face Complexion Brush. I LOVE my Clarisonic Skin Care brush but I don't want to always bring it with me when I travel. So, I'm gonna try the little travel one and see how I like it. Mom bought Lancome LA BASE PRO perfecting makeup primer to replace hers.

Sugar kept saying, "Wips(lips)!" when she'd pass lip sticks or glosses. She wanted to put some on herself. Ahhhhh, my little girl!

::MAC::

We moved on to the MAC store because I wanted some new lip color. The truth is, I want every single color they have. In the world. I got my hair colored a little darker & richer yesterday so my plans for Girl About Town (a bright fuchsia) were temporarily put on hold. While browsing on the site yesterday, I saw that MAC has some long wear lip colors and I wanted to try them. My mom loves the ones from Max Factor (that shade is my favorite) but they are not easy to find in stores. So, we both tried on a few from the Pro longwear lipcolour line . We both tried and liked Stuck On You (a berry red with gold pearl). I tried a bunch of others (including the lipstick called Saint Germain which is a pastel pink) but chose Stuck On You for a dark and Loyal

(warmed beige brown) for a neutral. I also bought the lip liner Whirl (dirty rose). I've been wanting it and think it'll match most of the colors I wear everyday.

::LUSH::

I am fairly new to Lush but I'm a huge fan. If you have one near you, you must go in and get them to demonstrate and tell you about their products. They are natural and organic and fresh and handmade. I am a huge lover of the bubble bars (fav: Ma Bar), bath bombs (favs include: Honey Bee and Ickle Baby Bot) and soaps. I've only tried one of the soaps myself but I LOVE it for myself and Sugar. It's the Honey, I Washed the Kids and it's amazing. I love honey (obviously) because it's moisturizing and smells so good. I bought a big hunk of that soap because we are almost finished with our first one. Then, the sales girl did a little demo of the Buffy body butter and I was sold. I like that you don't need lotion after. My mom had never been into the store and never tried the products. She bought a Sultana of Soap to try, some bath bombs and some lip stuff.

And then we left and went to eat. It was a great night and I'm excited to try out all the goodies!

HAPPY WEEKEND, ya'll! And don't forget to tell me all about what you bought!

What We Wear

2011-06-23T09:39:00.002-05:00

I really enjoy these posts, even though I have not done one in awhile. Today is the first day since Monday that I've put on makeup and made any type of effort. Sugar has been in a mood all week and because of that, so have I. It's been a very emotional time for our family in regards to my PaPa and that's weighing heavily on me. To top all of that off, Blue and I started NutriSystem this week. It's going OK. I've lost 2 lbs since Monday.

Today, I'm going to get my hair done. It's rainy and gross outside so, I'm not wearing the dress I'd taken out last night. The truth is, I over think about what I'm wearing to get my hair done because of that damn mirror. The one that's RIGHT in front of me forcing me to stare at myself and criticize. The giant cape that covers me helps some but not enough.

::Sugar::

Baby GAP romper (white with black flowers)

::Mommy::

top- I can't find it! I bought it this spring but it must be sold out. It's similar to this but has a cowl neck and grey stripes.

bottom- black, straight leg jeans that I got from Macy's for $12.

shoes- B.O.C. by Born Treble sandal in gold (I got them cheaper than that price!)

jewelry- these earrings & a giant gold costume ring

After starting this post, I searched to find our clothes and couldn't find pics anywhere! So, it's a big bust. But, I wanted to post something!!

Redecorating

2011-06-21T12:12:00.002-05:00

Please bare with me while I'm redecoratin' around here. I'm not sure how to get my pictures where I want them so, I've got all that white space. But, I'm working on it as I have time.

Weaning

2011-06-19T14:15:00.005-05:00

I've been weaning Sugar from breastfeeding. I started slow, just eliminating daytime nursing, then shortening each nighttime session. I had to have my wisdom teeth out, like I mentioned before, and couldn't/didn't want to nurse her with the meds in my system.

I knew that it would be harder on her (and me!) if I were near her and telling her no, so I let Blue and SheShe (my mom) take care of her Thursday and Friday nights. All three of them did GREAT. Then, last night, SheShe and Paw took her home with them for the night. Again, Sugar did wonderfully. So wonderfully that she didn't even want me when they brought her back to me.

This afternoon, for her nap, she asked to nurse. I told her that she is a big girl now and doesn't need to nurse anymore. She said, "OK." I told her that mommy is sad and she is sad, but it's ok because we still love each other. She said "OK."Blue put her James Taylor CD on, she buried her head in my neck and then laid down on her pillow, stuck her thumb in her mouth and went to sleep.

And I cried.

It's over. I breastfed her every single day for 20 months. And I absolutely loved it. It was one of the most wonderful things I've ever experienced and I feel so lucky that I was able to with such ease. I love that she had nothing else but "mama's milk" for the first 9 months of her life. I know that it was so good for her both nutritionally and emotionally. When things were too much around us we could go in a quiet room and nurse. It helped us both to bond, be still and be together.

Breastfeeding was one of the biggest surprises for me about motherhood. Before I got pregnant, I didn't care too much about it either way. I always said that I'd try but I didn't really feel too strongly one way or the other. Once I was pregnant, I read a lot about it and realized how important is was for me to try and try hard. I'm glad that I read and educated myself and became so determined because we had a rough start.

Sugar was born a few weeks early, with a blood incompatibility that caused really bad jaundice. Jaundice causes extreme fatigue and she was so sleepy that it was hard to feed her. Also, the doctors wanted her to have formula because they said that breastfeeding wasn't helping her jaundice. I DID NOT believe it but couldn't fight them and did supplemental nursing system(SNS) for a few feedings until my milk came in good. This was another time that I was so glad for Kellymom and for my own research during pregnancy.

After those problems, we did great. She was a champion nurser and I became a champion feeder. I could (and did) nurse everywhere: in the car (with her in the car seat and out-when the car was stopped, of course), in her sling, on a train and plane and boat, in France, on the beach. I could nurse and sleep, nurse and be on the computer, nurse and do pretty much anything with her in the sling.

I'm proud of myself and the decisions I made and stuck with throughout the 20 months. Other people have such strong reactions to nursing and I have been so shocked by that. I started being asked "You're STILL nursing her," when she was about 7 months old. And it's only gotten worse since then. There is SO much misinformation and ignorance surrounding breastfeeding and people's intolerance, opinions, rudeness and mean comments continue to amaze me. I'm lucky that my own husband and immediate family have been supportive, even if not in total favor, of my choices.

I never, ever intended to nurse her this long. I started out with a goal of 12 months. At 12 months, she still wasn't interested in a lot of solid foods, was very low on the growth chart, didn't like cow's milk and I knew she was getting nutrients from breast milk. It was not an option at all to wean her and we were not ready. As time has gone on, she's gotten better with eating solids, gained SOME weight, and was really attached to"boobie." She turned to nursing for comfort: when she was tired, sad, hurt and going to sleep. And all of that was fine for me. I got lots and lots of comments but knowledge and my own gut helped me get though. I always, always felt like I was doing the best thing for her. And that is all that mattered.

I am really sad that it's come to an end. I'm sad that she's not a baby any more. I wish that I could get pregnant with her and raise her over and over and over. If right now, the day that she's weaned, I could start the whole process over again... I would just love that. My Sugar has been the greatest joy I've ever known. She was a fantastic baby, better than I ever dreamed a baby could be. She's so smart and sweet and filled with curiosity and wonder. Seeing and experiencing the world through her young, innocent eyes, is so much fun and so amazing. If I were to die today, I'd want her to know that she is my true dream come true. She is what I always wanted more than anything in life and being her mother has made me whole.

But, she is not for me. It's not her true purpose to fulfill me or make me happy. Starting her life over again is a selfish wish. It's MY purpose to raise her up with roots and wings, to go out into the world happy, whole, loving and good. No matter how much it hurts me, and it does, I have to let her go. She's only 20 months old and not going anywhere anytime soon, but it's a lesson I need to learn. God has given me this great gift of her but she is not mine. It's my biggest job to raise her and give her the very best chance at a healthy, happy life.

My mom always told me that having children is having your heart walking around outside your chest and she is, as usual, so right. My heart, my dream, my love, my angel, my baby girl... I hope that I continue to have the strength to do what's right and best for her.

Even when it hurts me.

One of my favs from the mommy&me session

Bullet Point Friday

2011-06-17T19:29:00.004-05:00

I got my wisdom teeth pulled yesterday. None of them were impacted so it was a fairly easy procedure. One of them (my top right) had been needing to be pulled for awhile because it was dead and breaking. A big piece broke off earlier in the week and I knew I couldn't put it off any longer. They gave me a local anesthetic, which gave me the shakes, and an ativan, which just made me sleepy. I couldn't nurse Sugar last night (or while taking pain meds at all), so I thought it was best to not sleep with her. I came to my grandparent's house and she's at home with Blue and my mom. It's officially been 24 hours since I saw her and it's HELL. I've never been away from her this long. I miss her.
She's 20 months old today.
I sent out an email to everyone I have addresses for in my area about my business. I didn't get a lot of responses. I hope I do soon.
I'm blogging on percacet right now, so, excuse me.
I finally have all this free time to blog and I don't know what to say.

How about doing this that I stole from Marie Green:

Outside my window… Well, I'm at my grandparent's house, in one of the extra bedrooms. It's 7:40pm and it's getting dark outside but isn't completely dark yet. The window in here faces the front garden and street. They live in a neighborhood filled with big gorgeous houses. They've only lived here a few years. Outside, I'm sure it's still 1,000 degrees and humid, too.

I am thinking… About my girl, constantly. She's in Infant Swimming Resource for the next few weeks (i'll be talking more about that soon) and has had two lessons without me. And one tomorrow morning. It's normally Monday-Friday but the teacher has to miss some next week so she's making one class up tomorrow. If you have small children, read through the link. It's an amazing program. So, I'm thinking of the fact that I'm missing Sugar's class, AGAIN, for the 3rd time. And I'm thinking of how much I miss her and want to smell her sweet little face and neck. My heart aches.

I am thankful for… My very supportive and helpful parents, husband and grandma. And the baby sitter! My mom and Blue took care of Sugar last night. M, the baby sitter (who has only sat with Sugar a handful of times while I went to get my hair or nails done), took her to ISR Thursday and today. She's a wonderful, wonderful young lady and we were so blessed to find her. Sugar adores her. My "Ma Maw" is taking excellent care of me while I've been here. It's amazing how, even at 30 years, your grandma is still so comforting.

From the kitchen… I have had virtually zero appetite the past few days. I've eaten asparagus soup for supper and lunch (last night and today) and some ice cream. I may eat a baked potato soon. But, in general, Sugar and I have been loving fresh fruits and vegetables of the summer. I have plans to go to the farmer's market soon so I can get some new stuff. Sugar LOVES fruits and vegetables and eats them like crazy.

I am wearing… yellow and white pj pants from Old Navy(I love them! They are perfect pj pants for the hot summer), grey ribbed tank and that's it. Well and underwear, of course. I'm unshowered and I look like "what ain't." That's one of my mama's sayings.

I am creating… Memories with my grandmother, having long talks and sharing family gossip. I am also creating a business. I sent out a bunch of emails and hope that generates some interest.

I am going… to bed soon. I don't have any plans for the weekend except for Sunday, father's day, here with my parents, grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, bro, SIL, niece, Blue and Sug.

I am reading… quite a few things. I joined Goodreads and I'm having fun cataloguing what I've read and what I want to read. If you're on let me know so we can be friends. I'm currently reading, "The Girl Who StoppedSwimming" by Joshilyn Jackson (I'd started that before I had the baby and so I am skimming to get caught up and start again), "Hissy Fit" by Mary Kay Andrews (good book but I get tired of it and need something with more substance) and "Salem Falls" by Jodi Picoult (I love her! I've read 11 of her 19 books. I"m trying to read them in order of publication now).

I am hoping… to be better tomorrow and go home to see my girl. That is all!

I am hearing… nothing at all. The keyboard and the grandfather clock occasionally but other than that, silence. I don't love that... I usually like the tv on to have background noise.

Around the house… My house is a mess. It was just cleaned (really, really well)(not by me) on Monday so it's not dirty but it's a mess. I just can't keep it neat. Sugar's toys are all over and I refuse to constantly make her pick them all up and get worked up over it.

One of my favorite things… snuggling with my Sugar, her kissing my face, brushing her hair, smelling her skin, giving her "biiiiiiiiiiiig hugs", singing with her...

Here are two pictures from our recent "Mommy & Me" session:

Vacation Hangover

2011-06-09T16:55:00.002-05:00

You know that hazy, confused, sleepy, overwhelmed feeling you get the first few days back to reality after a long vacation? Well, I've got it and BAD.

On Saturday, May 28, we left to go to Orange Beach, AL. We stayed at the most gorgeous place ever called Turquoise Place . There are TONS of pools (indoor, outdoor, lazy river) and special things for kids and a bar and a dude playing guitar... It's wonderful and I wish we could've stayed there for the whole summer. Just maybe not all together ;) HA!

It was mom, dad, Sugar, Blue, Little Brother, SIL, Niece and me from Saturday-Tuesday. Tuesday morning, Blue left to come home to go back to work. Sugar (19 1/2 months) and Niece (3 months) are at two totally different stages and it's a little difficult to be all together for that many days. My hats off to mama's whose actual children are at these two different stages. I don't know HOW you do it and stay sane (or eat, sleep, bathe, grocery shop).

On Thursday morning, Sugar and I left AL and drove about 8 hours to Blackshear, Georgia. Blue's aunt S and her partner D live there. They have a big, gorgeous home with a pool and have invited us to stay a few different times but this is the first time it's worked out. We got there Thursday night and then Friday morning, they drove two hours to Savannah. I'd never been and really wanted to go so they offered to take us and spend the night so we could see as much as possible.

Ya'll, I fell IN LOVE with Savannah. Like, obsessed, in love. It's so full of things that I adore: southern people, southern history, southern architecture, juicy gossip, old money, new money, gorgeous live oaks, shops, hotels, etc... We took a tour on an open air bus and that was so worth it. You could get off on any of the stops and then just get back on again when you were ready and pick up where you left off. We got off at the second stop so we could eat.

We chose Soho South Cafe and I'm SO glad we did. I had the tomato basil bisque as a starter and it was phenomenal. I'm not usually a fan of just plain tomato soup but this had texture (not just thin soup) and was thick and rich. Sugar ate half of it (if not more) so I'm searching for a good recipe to replicate it. If you're ever in Savannah, go there. Don't get the sweet tea and expect it to be real sweet, though.

We got back on the tour bus after we'd eaten and got a new tour driver/guide. He was fantastic. He was a native Savannahian and knew his stuff. He told equal parts historical stories and facts and Savannah legends and gossip. He had that slow, Savannah drawl and told stories in the first person like he was your friend and was just showing you his life. His name was Chris with Old Savannah Tours and you have to request him if you go.

After the tour, we checked in to our hotel. It had been so hot that day so we freshened up, drank some cold water and then set out on to River Street. We strolled Sugar in her stroller down the sidewalk and went into a ton of great shops. One great shop is Savannah Bee Company. I had heard of this place before and so I was eager to go in and check it out. You could taste all the different honeys, try the beauty products, talk to an expert and buy fun stuff. I bought several different size jars of the tupelo honey (because I LOVED it the best), this and this (in tupelo honey).

We shopped for awhile then ate at The Shrimp Factory . It was very good food, great service and nice atmosphere but Sugar was hot and tired, didn't want to sit in her high chair, didn't want to eat, so not the best experience. After dinner, we went back to the hotel and then checked out in the morning. Saturday, Blue's mom, grandmother and sister came to visit us. Sunday, we were supposed to leave Blackshear to meet my parents in Pensacola, Florida, but we decided to have a rest day instead. I'm so glad we did. We took long naps, ate pizza, swam in the pool and just hung out.

My parents moved from Orange Beach to Pensacola on Saturday and Little Brother, SIL and Niece went home. Mom and dad wanted more days at the beach and wanted to give me a place to stop so I wouldn't have to drive all the way back home. We got to Pensacola on Monday afternoon at about 3, went swimming, ate supper, went to bed. Tuesday we went to the beach (Sugar's first time at the beach this summer. It wasn't a huge success. Much easier/smarter to just stay at the pool.pictures to come), then the pool, then nap. Sugar takes SUCH long naps at the beach (swimming wears her slap out) that when we woke up, it was time to get dressed for dinner.

We went to Hemingway's and it was good. It was hot in there and this old girl sweats so, I didn't love that. I had coconut shrimp appetizer and the blue crab special. It was way too much food but very delicious. Mom and dad got trigger fish special and the bite I had was amazing. After dinner, we went to try and get an air brushed tshirt for Sugar but they were backed up and couldn't have it ready until the next day at 3:00. We bought her another tshirt instead and went back to the condo. We got home Wednesday afternoon.

I've been in a sort of fog ever since. I want to be back at the beach or back in Savannah. Or even back at the pool in Blackshear. I love my life but it's all laundry, cooking, planning and picking up... All of that is much better with a beach view.

I promise pictures will come soon.

Names I Love

2011-05-27T15:33:00.003-05:00

I love (LOVE) baby names. I read a few different name sites and am constantly making a list of names I want to use. Blue is the hardest person in the universe to name a child with though and I'll probably end up not using any of the names I love.

Sugar's name is the first name of one of his grandmothers and the first name of one of my grandmothers. I liked her first name but was a little hesitant about it at first. Now, of course, I love it and we are complimented on it all the time. I love using family names. My middle name is Rhea (pronounced Ray) and I definitely want to use it on my next daughter.

Here are other names that I really love:

Isla-(female) It's pronounced EYE-LA. I love, love, love this name. I think it's so pretty and different but I have no faith in people being able to pronounce it correctly.

Iris (f)- This name doesn't go well with Sugar's name. Or it goes a little too well.

Cecelia (f)- I took Sugar to The Little Gym in September and one of her little classmates had this name. I think it's gorgeous and different and I'd love a CeCe.

Vivienne (f)- so my type of name: long, flowy, feminine. I love Vivi for a nickname. But, there's the Jolie Pitt thing and now the name is steadily rising.

Wiley (m)- I love "W" names for boys. I actually know a girl who has 5 sons and her youngest is Wiley. I just think it's really cool, different, southern-sounding (maybe just to me?). Blue, of course, hates it.

Ruby(f)- I actually think this goes well with Sugar's real name. I think it's got the same "feel" that hers has which is slightly hippy, old, girly. I couldn't use Rhea with it though.

Juliet(te)(f)- I think I like it spelled 'Juliette' best. I really, really like this name and the only reservation I'd have with it is the "Julie" connection. I don't love 'Julie' and I wouldn't want that to be her nickname.

Blythe(f)- I go back and forth with loving this and then thinking it's too much.

Waylon(m)- Another "W" name that I love for a boy. Is it too country?

Georgia(f)- this is currently my very favorite. I shouldn't even put it on here because it's THAT much of a favorite. But, I'm not pregnant and I don't plan to be for awhile, so, I guess it's ok. I think it's a beautiful name but there are some "cons" about it. Blue is from Georgia and is a HUGE HUGE HUGE UGA fan. Is that a "pro" or a "con"? I am more inclined to think that it's cute and some may think it's kitchy/cheesy at first but quickly get over it. I have a great aunt (my grandmother's younger sister) with this name. Our families are fairly close and I wouldn't want her children (who I think are all done having children) or my grandmother (the same one Sugar is named for) to be offended. I think if we were pregnant and leaning towards this name, I'd discuss it with her and see what the reaction would be.

I think that Georgie (or GiGi- but that's what Blue's grandmother wants Sugar to call her) is the cutest little nickname. And Georgia on it's on is really great. I also love it with my middle name.

If you gave birth right now, what would you name him/her?

What We Wear-Days 4&5

2011-05-27T08:53:00.003-05:00

Yesterday, I didn't have time to blog. Sugar and I went to my grandma's house and then I went to get a pedicure and a spray tan* while she stayed with my grandparents. After that, we went home, Sugar took a nap and I did laundry and started packing. We are going to Orange Beach, AL on Saturday, then going to visit some of Blue's family near Savannah, GA. At 4:00, I ran to Lane Bryant to pick up a few more things for the trip (and the summer).

I was feeling very, very "EH" because I didn't sleep so well the night before. I was in a very bad mood (even while getting my pedicure) and I certainly didn't feel like dressing up or putting much thought into my outfit. Or Sugar's for that matter.

:SUGAR:

Top- Gymboree Short Stuff turtle tank top (12-18mo, fit fine)

Shorts- Gymboree stripe ruffle hem short (6-12mo, they were too big)

Shoes- Silver Sun Sandals

:MOMMY:

Top- Lane Bryant sequin scroll tee

Bottoms- Lane Bryant cuffed denim capri

Shoes- black flip flops

I realized that I only have denim bottoms- two capris and one short-for the summer. So, my mom, Sugar and I went to LB and got a few things. They had some really cute dresses that I loved. I got this and I love it. It looks really cute on, it's comfy, it fits good, it's perfect for casual occasions where I want to be cute and cool. I also got a pair of khaki capris, khaki shorts and black shorts. Also, some plain(ish) tees, which I love for everyday.

**Spray tan- I LOVE spray tanning. There are pros and cons but for me, the pros are winning for now. The major cons are that it's expensive at $35 for one or 3 for $75 (this is the major con), it stinks after the application and it can get on stuff. BUT, I think it looks really good and it gives me more confidence to wear sleeveless tops/dresses. You know, tan fat is better than white fat.

Today, Friday, Sugar and I are hanging out at home. I'm going to finish packing, do the rest of the laundry, clean up a little around here and get ready to leave in the morning. I am wearing very large (very wonderful) grey pajama pants and a blue t-shirt. Sugar is wearing a size 2T UGA tshirt. I'll probably put some shorts on her after breakfast (she's in the high chair now, eating and watching Sesame Street) but nothing fantastic.

I don't know when I'll be back but when I do, I'm going to have a fun giveaway!

What We Wear-Day 3

2011-05-25T08:29:00.002-05:00

I'm not sure if I'll keep this up or not but so far, I'm having fun with it.

:Plans:

**going to Toyota to get my car serviced**

**lunch (Jason's Deli??)**

**Grocery store**

:Sugar:

Dress- Ralph Lauren (got at outlet in Foley, AL) dress in lavender (similar)(18 month, a little long/big in shoulders)

Shoes- Stride Rite toddler Maui

:Mommy:

shirt- Lane Bryant vneck Modern fit tee in black(I can't find a picture but it's just a plain tee)

pants- the same capri jeans as Monday

shoes- Calvin Klein Daisy sandals in anthracite metallic (silver)(got these last summer and love them)

jewelry- Brighton necklace (gold magic long), swarovski maggy black diamond earrings, my watch

hair- washed, dried curly, sides pulled back

Sugar Fix

2011-05-24T14:11:00.005-05:00

Here are some (out of order because ya'll know I don't know how to upload pictures!) recent pictures of Sugar:

Sugar and the cupcake...

That's how "Sugar and the cupcake" ended...

Sugar's first hair cut. She did so good. Just sat and watched.

On our cruise, she got a pineapple drink...

^at the wedding and rehersal supper

playing ball outside

sliding

What We Wear- Day 2

2011-05-24T10:00:00.001-05:00

It's my 8th wedding anniversary! We aren't doing anything special today because we have work, baby, doctor's appointments (just a weight check for Sugar), life... We plan to take a little trip, just the two of us, later this summer.

Today, Sugar and I have to go to the doctor and run some errands. We have a lunch date with some friends, too.

:Sugar:

*dress by Velvet&Tweed (LOVE this dress!!) (size 12-18 months, a little big)

*gold sun sandals (same as yesterday)

:Mommy:

*Avenue Peony Garden Sundress (can I just say how angry it makes me when the plus size sites don't use PLUS SIZE models!!!!!!!!)(VERY!)

*Old Navy Plus Rib-Knit tank in black

*Lane Bryant black s/s cardigan (similar)

*b.o.c. by Born Treble Sandal in gold (love these! Very comfy and I got on clearance at DSW)

*gold stud earrings & multi layer gold necklace

What We Wear- Day 1

2011-05-23T09:18:00.003-05:00

If you follow me on Twitter (@shoeaddict17), you'll know that I said on Friday that I was thinking of doing this. I'm still trying to figure out Google Chrome, so no pictures of us or of the clothes, linky is the best I can do at this point.

Today, we are doing some stuff for At Your Service and then I have a dentist appointment and Sugar goes to stay with MaMa. So, pretty casual day. Or as casual as we get... I'm noting size and fit for Sugar to help me.

:SUGAR:

Gymboree Flower Puppy Tank Top (size 12-18 month, fits ok, a little big)

Gymboree Dip Dye Short in orange lily (size 6-12 month- fits great at waist!)

Sun San Surfer sandals in gold (size 4- perfect fit!)

:MOMMY:

Lane Bryant sequin pocket tee (I will not be doing size/fit for mommy)(I can't find it, so it must be unavailable)(like this kinda, with a sequin pocket over the left boob area)- purple

Lane Bryant dark wash capri jean (love these! good stretch, keeps shape and fit, great length for me, good color)

Sugar at 19 Months

2011-05-20T14:16:00.002-05:00

I've been wanting to sit down and write all about the adorable things that Sugar has been doing lately. I never have the time but I always feel guilty when I think of how quickly she's grown and I haven't written a post.

She weighed 23 lbs at the specialist on Tuesday. That was while wearing a (very) full diaper and clothes and shoes. We have a weight check on Tuesday, so we'll see what she is on the scale she's been weighed on her whole life.

She is FINALLY wearing 6-12 shorts (the knit variety, specifically these and these). She's not fitting into any shorts that have to be buttoned/zipped (like these that we have in pink but they don't work). Mostly she wears dresses and tunics (some of our favs: this, this, and this) with the coordinating leggings. Or bubbles (we have this and this), which I love. She wears 12-18 month tops and dresses.

She got her hair cut for the first time on Wednesday by Ms Lori. She trimmed the fuzzy baby hair in the back and tipped it all over. It's already looking a little fuller. She still hates to keep a bow or barrette or ponytail in her hair. And it still depresses me and delights her father.

She can identify many body parts (hair, eyes, nose, brow, ears, mouth, lips, teeth, tongue, belly, boobie, elbow, knee, feet, toe, hand).

She can name animals in books/person: dog, cat, turtle, cow, pig, bird, fish (weesh), crab (abba), zebra, giraffe (affe), duck, chicken, elephant, monkey (key key), gorilla, mouse and knows what sound they make (including owl, snake, goose... she knows what they say but doesn't always pick them out).

She says/plays "ready, set, go!" where she stands still and says "reree, set, GO!" then runs. She got that from Sprout.

She can identify most all of the Sesame Street characters including: Elmo, Abby, Cookie, Big Bird, Zoe, Ernie, Grover, Oscar (Oker). Also, Caillou, Angelina Ballerina (lina), Bob the Builder, Fifi, dirt girl... She loves Caillou.

She just started to answer, "K", when I ask a question and ask, "OK?" It's very cute. Also, when she coughs, I always ask, "Are you OK?" And so she'll now say, "K," after she coughs, even when I don't ask. And also, she asks, "K?" after I cough or sneeze.

She says, AB, and Z. She also says 2 and 8 in the right order when I count. Sometimes 3 and 9, too. I sign the alphabet to her and I have since she was very, very tiny. So, when you tell her to sign her ABCs she does hand motions. She knows how to do Z.

She "sings" and does the hand motions for "Itsy Bitsy Spider."

More to come as I remember......

Blogger's Back!

2011-05-13T18:38:00.002-05:00

Sugar has been talking and talking lately. It's so fun but also sometimes frustrating. I can't always immediately be sure of what she's saying and she repeats, repeats, repeats. If she can point to something, I can usually eventually understand.
I'm on Twitter now! I've been back on for a few weeks now and I'm loving it. If you're on too and not following me, I'm @shoeaddict17.
Soooo, lot's of interest in the new business but no actual clients yet. I have faith though! I ordered business cards but have not received them yet. A few local places have showed interest and told me to bring some cards to put on their counters, so we'll see.
We've begun discussing having another baby. I think we've pretty much decided to wait a little while longer. I wanted a lot of kids, close together, before I ever had Sugar. Then, after she was born, I felt sick when I looked at her and thought of holding/loving/having another one. I loved being pregnant and I loved Sugar as a newborn but maybe too much? I know that 2nd children everywhere are loved and adored. I know this realistically in my head but it's been a hard thing to wrap my heart and mind around. I'd love to hear from you mamas of many (or just more than one!) about this.
So, we decided to wait to start "trying" until at least the end of the year, beginning of next year. I had originally thought that maybe we'd try again in June/July but, I really love our life with just one. The three of us have fun together, Sugar and I travel a lot with my parents when Blue is working, we shop and go on outings... I'm sure it's not impossible to do those things with two but it won't be the same.
Have I mentioned here that Sugar is going to a Mother's Day Out program in September? She is. I looked into lots of different programs and asked lots of different mommies/families that I know and trust. I settled on one that was my clear favorite and put us on the waiting list when she was 9 months old. I never expected to get it but we did! She'll be going on Mondays and Wednesday mornings and I have lots of mixed feelings about it. She's going to love it. She love, love, loves other kids. She loves to play, to sing, to see and try new things... So, I think she'll enjoy it, but I want to go too. I don't want to leave her there without me. I don't want her to have this whole LIFE without me there!!! I can't even discuss it because I'm TALKING MYSELF INTO A DEPRESSION!
I'm not joking.
This weekend, I have NOTHING planned. Stay home, do some laundry, clean our strollers and car seat, and take lots of naps. I want to stay home and stay in my pjs and just hang out. We never, ever do that. Probably because by Sunday, I'll (and Sugar) be stir crazy!
Happy Weekend!

At Your Service

2011-05-10T23:43:00.002-05:00

I am starting a business. Well, it's started, I guess, already. It's called At Your Service and it's an errand running/personal concierge business. I'll run errands like grocery shopping, post office, pharmacy, gift buying, pick ups, drop offs, sit at your house and wait for the handy/cable/paint people to come, etc.

I've worked out pricing and mileage and stuff like that, even though I plan to run it by a few other people first, but I'm still not 100% sure about how to pay for goods. Meaning, if you hire me to go grocery shopping for you, how do I pay for the groceries? I'm thinking I'll have a separate (from my personal) credit card that I'll use and then invoice clients via Pay Pal with my fees and the charges for the goods. Right?

I hope that I get some customers soon! I'm excited to see where it can go.

Sugar Update

2011-05-06T05:13:00.004-05:00

I wish I had more opportunities to blog, but I just don't. Anyway, here is what ended up happening with Sugar.

I decided not to do the bone scan because I felt uncomfortable having them inject her with dye and (possibly) having to sedate her. Blue's aunt in GA is a family practice doctor and when I discussed this with her (as I discuss all of Sugar's medical stuff with her) she did not think a bone scan was necessary. She did, however, tell me that because her levels were high (400-500 is considered high in a child;Sugar's was 1014), the doctor would be looking for tumors on a scan.

So, we did the blood work and I was scared out of my mind for two days. I was a mess- I couldn't sleep, I cried all the time, I thought horrible, crazy, scary thoughts. Finally, the results were in and Dr W called me. Her vitamin D levels were fine (which was shocking) AND her alkaline phosphatase levels went down to 600- something. So, she (Dr W) was going to call a pediatric endocrinologist and call me back. A few hours later, she called and said that the endo thought Sugar had what's known as benign transient hypophosphatasemia which basically means that she had/s very high alk phos levels for no reason and it's not harmful.

WHEW!

We will re check in 6 weeks but expect not a whole lot. I think if the levels are crazy high again, we'll go ahead and see the ped endo but I don't think that anything is wrong with her.

I'm so thankful for all the thoughts and prayers of all of my Twitter, Facebook and IRL family and friends. It means so much to know that lots of people love my Sugar!

One of Us is Gaining and One of Us is Losing

2011-04-18T18:16:00.004-05:00

We had our WBV and it was mostly a bummer.

Sugar weighed in at a whopping 20 pounds which is 8 ounces less than she weighed a week ago when she was in for croup & bronchitis. It drops her down to the 2nd percentile in weight. She was 30 1/2 inches long and that puts her in the 14th percentile. I thought she was tall! Hm. No wonder she still wears 3-6 month shorts/skirts.

So, anyway, her diet and the like were all discussed, for the millionth time, and it was decided that she'd have blood work and urine test and all that jazz. The doctor wanted to be sure she wasn't anemic or isn't having trouble absorbing nutrients. We went and did the blood work this morning. I was very nervous and I made my mom meet me there. The two ladies who did the draw were very nice. They were super sweet to Sugar and to us. I held Sugar in my lap and held the arm not being stuck close to my chest. Mom blew up a glove while standing in front of us and I sang. Sugar cried (so did mom and I) but I think she was mostly upset about being held down.

A few hours later, the doctor called me back and I missed it! She called my cell and left a message saying she wanted to discuss Sugar's test results and she'd call my home number. Well, at this time, I was TRYING to sync my iphone to my computer because I got a new one (phone) today. And, it was also past 5 o'clock. I called the office but the answering service answered. I waited a little longer for her to call my house phone (which I refer to as my "big" phone and I don't know why) and in the mean time rendered my cell phone useless for the time being.

I finally couldn't stand it any longer and called answering service again. I told the lady that I needed to speak to the doctor and she had the triage nurse call me. I told the triage nurse my situation and she told me that our primary doctor wasn't on call but her partner was and she'd page her for me. Dr W is Sugar's primary doctor but I'd actually interviewed Dr G. Dr G became very ill right when Sugar was born and Dr W took care of her while she was in the NICU so, we switched to W. I still love G and we see her sometimes too (W just came back from maternity leave) and actually it's been just the two of them in the practice until recently. Now it's W, G and O. So, all of that to tell you that Dr G called me back and I was fine with that.

She told me that she'd met with W at the end of the day and they'd discussed everything so she was familiar with what was going on. I'm immediately panicked thinking-"something's going on"-and I told her as much. She said that all of Sugar's blood work looked good except for the alkaline phosphastase. She explained to me what that was and what it could mean. Basically, she is possibly just Vitamin D deficient and needs some supplementation. They've ordered a more detailed blood work up and bone scan. I'm guessing we will go from there.

I'm thinking of more questions as time goes on but I'm not too terribly nervous about it. Sugar is otherwise very healthy, she's smart and she's developmentally on track (and above, if I do say so myself). She's rarely been sick and is overall very happy. I just feel in my gut that she's ok. I am learning to trust my gut more and more as I settle into my job as mommy. I know it'll be relied on heavily through the years.

Walking Out the Door

2011-04-18T13:18:00.002-05:00

I have not blogged in almost 2 months! WOW! I feel badly about that but the reason is because someone spilled milk on my computer and it was having a little bit of trouble. I brought it to BB Geeks this weekend and now it's better!! I, of course, don't have a lot of time, so, a bullet point update!

Sugar was 18 months yesterday. She's getting tall and slowly gaining some weight!! We have a well baby visit in a few minutes so I'll update on her exact size later. She's been hovering in the 5th percentile for weight for a few months so, I'm expecting that again.

Along with 18 months came LOTS OF WORDS!! She's always had a large vocabulary for her age (according to everything I've read on the internets) but just in the past two days it's exploded! I think I'll write a separate 18 month old post this week to highlight it all.

I'm in the beginning stages of starting a little business. I'm super excited about it but I still have a lot of researching to do. My SIL is designing a logo for me and I'm trying to figure out some logistics. The business will be an errand running/concierge type of thing. I will do things for people that they either A)don't have time to do themselves or B)can't do because of health, etc.

My little family of three went on a cruise in March and it was wonderful. Sugar and I had never been on a cruise and Blue had been once for his Senior trip. We went for a wedding and it was all really great. It was Spring Break for a lot of colleges (first week of March) so there were a lot of partying college kids (youngsters! OH GOD I'M OOOLD) and the like at the pool but we didn't really have much trouble. Sugar is too young to get in the pool (as per the boat's rules) so we didn't spend much time there anyway. We actually didn't do a whole lot of anything. We did go on a tour and to the zoo in Nassau but that's about all. It was perfect though. We spent a lot of time cuddling, smooching, reading (this and this and this specifically) and laughing. It was nice to have Blue all to ourselves with no interruptions. Sugar LOVES when mommy and daddy and baby are all together. She loves for us to hug each other and hug her and kiss each other and kiss her. YAY for FAMILY!

I became an AUNT while on the cruise, too. My SIL gave birth to a gorgeous baby girl on March 7 at 10:27pm. She's super precious and wonderful and we all love her so much. She needs a blog name!

We are all going to the beach to celebrate Easter! And it's Niece's first holiday. I'm super pumped. We leave Thursday and come home Monday.

Gotta run....

It's Official

2011-01-18T09:40:00.004-06:00

I'm 30 years old as of yesterday!

I had a wonderful weekend celebrating. On Friday, Blue's sister, H, came into town. I had a terrible, terrible headache all day that day but I was so glad she was here. I only spent a little time with her that night because I went to sleep as soon as I could.

Saturday morning I left the house at 8:30am to go to my spa day. My mom and dad gave me a gift certificate for a spa day at this fabulous spa in town. I had a facial, manicure, pedicure, lunch, body scrub and massage. It was BEYOND FANTASTIC. I wish I could do that once a month. I felt so relaxed and my skin was smooth and silky and ahhhhhhhhh. I did have a headache off and on all day and that was a real bummer. I don't know why I was having such a hard time with headaches but I hope it's over.

Saturday night my parents took Sugar and a few of my friends, H, and I went downtown. We had dinner and drinks at a restaurant that I'd been to once before and enjoyed. After dinner, we went to a bar and sat on the patio and had more drinks. There was a band right inside and it was so much fun. I never do things like that anymore so I enjoyed myself a lot. I don't want to do it every weekend or anything but I should do it more often than I have been.

Sunday afternoon, we went to my other sister-in-law's baby shower. She is due with a baby girl on March 6. I'm so excited to meet that baby!! Sugar was not well behaved during the shower and so I didn't have such a great time. She was tired, constipated, aggravated and whiny. I finally put her in the car and drove around to let her sleep. That night, Blue, Sugar, H, my brother and sister-in-law and I went to my parent's house to eat. My parents bought me my favorite cheesecake (turtle) and everyone sang and it was great.

Finally, yesterday, the actual birthday, Sugar and I stayed in our pj's all morning and did laundry and watched movies. I picked up the house some and we just hung out. Last night, my whole family (including my grandparents, aunt, uncle, cousins, parents, brother, sister-in-law, Blue, Sugar) went out to eat. They sang to me and I had a candle and that was fun. I'm exhausted but very happy today.

Sugar was 15 months old yesterday and has her 15 month well baby visit today. I'm so hoping she's gained weight but I'm not optimistic about that. I'll be doing a 15 month post soon with her stats. Our regular doctor is on maternity leave so we see the new doctor in the practice. She's perfectly nice and I do like her, but she's not doctor W. I love, love, love Dr W so much.

OH! Presents! I got a watch from Blue and Sugar, a Kindle and a cover, the spa day, some room smell good stuff, a gift certificate to the same spa and money. It was really a good weekend and I couldn't ask for more.

One More Week

2011-01-10T21:40:00.002-06:00

My 30th birthday is one week from today. Because of this, I've been doing some reflecting. I thought about myself and who I am today, how I got here, the choices I've made, etc. All in all, I am really happy with my life and myself. I have a pretty great life and I'm proud of what I've done.

I regret that I spent so much of my early adulthood in a fog. I was depressed, sick, tired, suicidal and not myself. I wish that I'd gone to college, studied some amazing subjects, went to wild bars and parties , had a job. I wish that I hadn't let myself get so fat that it's going to be a monumental effort to lose the weight.

But because of that depression, I got to see what I'm really made of. I got to know myself and know what I'm truly capable of and that I'm a pretty strong person. I decided that I wasn't going to live in that dark, depressed, hopeless cycle and I did something about it. I decided that I wanted to be happy, to have a baby, to live. And I did it.

Now, standing on the edge of my 20's, I see that I have so many wonderful blessings. I have a good, solid marriage with a man that has stood by me through all the darkest, worse times of my life. I'm the mother of the most amazing, wonderful, beautiful, healthy daughter anyone could ask for and I am a good mother to her. I have two of the most supportive, generous, loving, fun parents in the world. I have wonderful grandparents, cousins, aunts, uncles, and other family that I love very much. I also have a good handful of friends that I can count on if I needed.

All in all, I feel so blessed every day. I'm looking forward to my 30s. I'm hoping that I'll lose weight and get healthier- that being the biggest area that I don't like about myself. I hope to travel more, have another baby (or two), do some writing. I'm excited to see what 30 has in store.

It's A NEW CAR!

2010-12-29T12:35:00.002-06:00

Say the title like the announcer on The Price is Right to make it really special.

Blue and I bought a new car this morning. It's a 2011 Toyota Highlander in metallic grey. It has light grey leather inside and it's really pretty. I love it so much and I'm really, really happy with it. It drives like my car did and I don't feel like I'm in a brutish vehicle.

I still have my 2007 Camry. They wouldn't give me what I wanted for it and I have a few people interested in buying it. I'm going to try to sell it to one of them and get the money that I put down on the Highlander back. We've never sold a car and I'm hoping it's quick and painless.

In other news, Sugar barked like a seal all night long and I'm about 99.8% sure she has croup. We have an appointment with the pediatrician at 2:30. My MIL is here and will be until Friday. My house is STILL a disaster from Christmas. I need to just plow through it all but I just have not had (or made) the time. Sugar is clingy because she's sick and I'm not feeling well either. I don't expect to get it done any time soon.

***WHY do MIL's have so many COMMENTS????????????

Post Christmas

2010-12-26T14:40:00.002-06:00

We all had such a wonderful Christmas. Sugar got LOTS of stuff and was very overwhelmed by it all. Today, she's most interested in the books (she got LOTS), the $10 stroller that Santa bought as an afterthought because it was cheap, and her ball that she's had for a few months. Oh, and the balloon I bought her last week at the grocery store. It has Santa and a reindeer and presents and a tree. She carries it around and says, "Ho Ho."

My house is in disarray but I'm trying to be calm about it. I cannot do much organizing while Blue is home. He's just too much of a mess. SO, I'll start tomorrow and try (TRY) to relax today. Besides playing with Sugar and reading, reading, reading stories, I'm researching convertible car seats. I think I've settled on one and I'm anxious to find the best price I can.

I'm also researching cars. I want an SUV and I'm looking at the Toyota Highlanders. A friend has one and I've driven it. I like the way it rides and I like the space and the price. We are going to go look later in the week. I currently have a 2007 Toyota Camry. It's very nice and I like it but I'd like something bigger and up off of the ground. And won't raise my note too much, if at all.

Blue's mother is also flying in tomorrow until Friday. So, there's that...

Glad I'm Not in THE CITY

2010-12-20T16:39:00.002-06:00

I'm trying to get Sugar into a Mother's Day Out program. We are on waiting lists for 2 and going to put ourselves on the 3rd one. I'm waiting to hear back from 2 different ones. The one that we have to go in person to put her on the list is the preschool at the school where I went to high school. The lady told me that we probably wouldn't get in until she was 3. THREE!!!!!!!

I wanted her to start this spring. I'm super nervous and icky feeling about it but I think it's the very best thing for her. She loves other kids and she is very smart. She's also very super attached to me. She does fine in the nursery at church so, I think she'll do fine at a MDO program. It would be good for me, too, especially if I plan to maybe try to get pregnant again anytime in the future.

But, geesh, I had no idea it would be so difficult to get her in anywhere!

Pink Christmas

2010-12-18T13:00:00.003-06:00

I came across this adorable Christmas Card Carousel last night and had so much fun looking at all the cards! I love Christmas cards so much and so this was so much fun for me. I had so much fun getting these cards together this year. If you're supposed to get one and you have not- you will!!

If you read here a lot, you know that I'm good friends with a girl (Kelly) who is our photographer. She came up with the adorable concept for our pictures this year. I went on Etsy for some inspiration on the actual cards themselves and came across Liz at Sweet Papers. I told Liz that Kelly had the idea of "pink Christmas" and that once we took the pictures, I'd send them to her.

Liz emailed me a proof of the cards soon after I emailed her the pictures from our session (which I'll show soon, no time right now). She did such a wonderful job and was so sweet and accommodating. Her prices are unbelievably reasonable, too. After I approved the proofs, I asked her to design a matching return address label for me. She quickly designed cute pink ones with the same tree as below and I printed 140 on Vistaprint for $.89!!!

I am SO super pleased with my cards this year. Please contact Liz for any of your card needs.
Here is her blog. She is so talented and sweet and I couldn't be happier with the outcome.

{FRONT}

The wording on the bottom says, "Every good and perfect gift is from above" James 1:17

{BACK}

Merry Christmas! All our love,

Bullet Point

2010-12-17T09:38:00.002-06:00

Even though I wrote this last night, I wanted to do another random bulleted list for this morning.

Sugar FINALLY went to sleep at about 10:30 last night. I'm not sure what her problem was but maybe she was just out of sorts. We spent the night at my mom's house the last two nights and were home last night.
My mom has benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. It's been a wild and crazy few weeks for her because of it. My dad travels out of town during the week (most weeks) and so I stayed with her as much as possible. On Monday of this week, she had a repositioning to help correct the problem and had to wear a neck brace for 72 hours. She couldn't bend her neck and the brace was there to remind her not to move it. She's not feeling dizzy anymore (so far) and is back to work.
Sugar is 14 MONTHS OLD today! I can hardly believe it. I have to add some stuff to this a little though. She actually said more words in the past three days: frog, bean, hey & ho ho (she'd been saying the last two but I forgot to include them). She also signs (or tries) "I love you" & I forgot to include "more" and "all done". She's so smart and growing so fast. It's so amazing.
I have a lot to do today: buy stamps, get the rest of my cards in the mail, have lunch with daddy, open Sugar's savings account, go to grocery store, go to Bed, Bath & Beyond to get a pillow (my pillow has had it and I fought it all night long!!!) & wrap presents.
I still have not decided about wrapping Sugar's gifts. I'm leaning more towards NOT just because that's one less thing to do. Two of them are already wrapped because they were used as props in my Christmas card photo shoot so, maybe that is enough? She's still so young anyway.
Some of the things she's getting are: a swing set , brown eyed baby doll, a baby doll stroller, a cute monkey tent and matching sleeping bag (I can't find it online), a rocking horse (I bought this for her for her birthday in October but she was so overwhelmed with gifts that I saved it for Christmas. I might save it for the summer because she has this at my mom's and she's not into it), a cuddle cub & some books. I'm excited about the swing and the baby doll the very most!! I can't wait to see how she reacts. (Baaay Bee)
Have you seen this ? It's so hilarious.

Randomness At It's Most Tired

2010-12-16T21:36:00.003-06:00

I hate to tell you this but I don't wanna be doing this. I want to be laying down in my bed and sleepily watching the end of one of my shows on DVR, getting ready to shut it all down and going to sleep.

Instead, I am sitting in my chair in the living room while my kid runs around like a CooCoo Purdue. She's not interested in sleeping. She's swinging from the chandeliers and it's just easier and less frustrating for me to let her TOUCH EVERYTHING IN THE HOUSE and wear herself down.

I currently have 8 Christmas cards (counting the one from Toyota). I stuffed, addressed, stamped & return addressed (that's not a term? It is now) most of mine. 50 go out in the mail tomorrow and then the last bit go out Saturday. I LOVE my cards. L-O-V-E. I'll discuss them next week though. I don't want to ruin anything for those of you getting them soon. (If you want to get one, let me know!!)

I am finished shopping but have not done the calendars. I'm going to end up giving them as a Christmas/New Year gift. Oh well. Such is life. I'm not too torn up about it and I'm hoping no one else is either. Better late than never, right? (That quote always makes me think of Steel Magnolias, a movie I love so much)

I've been reading a few different style/fashion/whatever blogs written by plus sized girls. I don't know if it's because they are young (i.e. never carried a human being in their body for 9 months) and rested (never breast fed for 13 months 29 days and counting) or what but they STILL look smaller than me. Even the ones who say they are the same size I am. I feel like I'm a FATTER kind of FAT than everyone. I'm the GROSS kind that doesn't look good wearing ANYTHING.

I need to just go to bed already.

Secrets of A Shopaholic

2010-12-14T23:19:00.002-06:00

HEY!

You wanna know what I love to do when I'm bored. Which, really, I don't have a lot of that going on here but...

I like to faux shop.

I just go to whatever store's site & I "add to cart" whatever I fancy.

Then, I just exit the site.

It's also fun to do if it's a store that saves the stuff in your cart (GAP, Old Navy, Amazon, etc). That way, when you want to actually buy stuff, you remember stuff you wanted.

I LOVE "add to cart"

In Three Days

2010-12-14T09:47:00.002-06:00

Sugar will be 14 months in three days. But, I'll do her stats now while I know I have a little time.

Weight:

18 pounds 15 ounces

8th percentile

clothing size:

6-12 months

shoe size:

infant 1 (but I put her in size 3 Mary Jane squeakers beccause those are the smallest they come in and they are just big!)

words said:

baby, ball, mama, dada, dog, uh oh, milk, Abby, Elmo, no, papa

words signed:

bird, please, thank you (kinda), milk, byebye

tricks:

knows what the dog, cow, duck, monkey, bird & elephant "say", clucks her tongue, knows where eyes, nose, teeth, tongue and feet are, dances for any music, blows kisses, gives mean eyes, kicks a ball, brushes her teeth with one toothbrush while mommy brushes with another, does the motions for "Itzy Bitzy Spider", is walking great now

favorite food:

bread, cheese, meat (chicken, beef, turkey/ham), pizza, rice & gravy, oatmeal

favorite toys:

3 Elmos (Hokey Pokey, chatters, and a huge stuffed one), Abby, books, vtech sit and stand activity walker, balls

favorite song:

Itsy Bitsy Spider, Elmo's World song, Caillou song

Bill to/Ship to

2010-12-12T17:11:00.003-06:00

I just wrapped four gifts- my SIL, my BIL, my GMIL(grandmother-in-law) & my FIL. These all need to be shipped over to them this week. I know it's going to cost a bloody fortune but NOT having to travel 8+ hours the day after Christmas or on New Years Day (we did that last year) is really priceless. Instead, my MIL is coming here the day after Christmas. But she's flying so she can't be saddled down with all the gifts.

My SIL went in with us for both of their parents' gifts. And she picked MIL's and had it shipped to her. If I'd thought of it, I would have made Blue get his dad's gift shipped to him, too. Blue picked and ordered FIL's gift but since I didn't TELL HIM SPECIFICALLY to ship it to SIL, he had it shipped to us and now we have to ship it there. I also should have ordered SIL's purse and BIL's and had it all shipped to them. Everything shipped to the recipient's house!!! That is the key.

I bought SIL's at the outlet mall on Black Friday. So, I don't really regret that. But since I broke my Black Friday cherry this year, I won't be as gung ho next year. Plus, Sugar will be getting older and her gifts will be more expensive so, I'll probably spend the majority of BF at Toys R Us. I bought most of the gifts I needed to buy on BF this year.

I'm almost finished with the Christmas shopping. I need one more thing for Sugar (more on what she's getting this week) that I should've bought already but forgot about it. I also need something for my 6 year old cousin, A. She wanted a Zebra PillowPet but I couldn't find them for a reasonable price. $40 is very NOTresonable. Sorry, A.

I'm supposed to be making calendars for my parents, Blue, my grandparents, etc. I have not done that yet. In my defense, I am waiting to get pictures from my mother. I need the (good) pictures from France and our trip to the beach this September to include those. I'm hoping it's not too difficult to do.

Lastly, I'm waffling on a gift for Blue's aunt, S. S is my MIL's sister, she's a Dr (family practice), she's gay with a longtime partner and she adores Sugar. I was thinking of a calendar for her but I don't really have any pictures to put on hers except pictures of Sugar. I feel weird about making a calendar filled with pictures of only Sugar (or Sugar related). I was going to make one for my MIL and GMIL, too but am worried about that same thing. What do ya'll think? It's important to note that Sugar is the only grandchild for my MIL and only great-grand for my GMIL.

Other than those, I'm done. I'm doing some baking this week and giving those goodies to people. I've not done such baking before and I'm excited to try it. I got a Christmas cookies and treats cookbook/magazine and wrote down a bunch (20ish?) recipes to consider. I got all the supplies I needed (rolling pin, cookie cutters, etc) and will sit down later and decide what ingredients I need. I'm probably (definitely) not going to do 20 but I need to chose which ones I am going to do. Some will be more fun in a few years with Sugar.

Why is it that by Sunday night my week is already almost full?

Better Watch Out, Better Not Cry, Better Not Pout...

2010-12-09T20:03:00.003-06:00

Sugar was NOT having it with Santa.

But how cute is her ensemble?

Christmas Wardrobe

2010-12-08T19:34:00.004-06:00

I know it may come as a surprise but I love baby clothes. I just am having the very best time dressing my little love for each little occasion/even/holiday. Last year for Christmas, she was about 10 weeks old on Christmas day. She had a red dress with smocked Santa's on it that she wore on Christmas Eve (our dressier evening of Christmas) and a little Santa outfit that she wore Christmas Day. She had one other little outfit that she wore to the church's Christmas festival earlier in the month when she took a picture with Santa.

This year, we have a few more outfits. I bought two little pant sets ( a reversible one like this and another one that is red check with a green and white damask tree with brown bow on top) from a girl for $20 each. We got a hand-me-down dress (new with tags!) by Mom N Me that is red and white check with a smocked Santa, reindeer and a wreath (maybe?). I bought this dress on a huge sale a few months ago. I think she will wear that last one on Christmas Eve for church and for our CE festivities. She also has a cute little reversible A line jumper dress that has this on one side and red corduroy on the other. On the plain side, her initials are monogrammed in lime green.

SO! We are going to see Santa at the mall tomorrow. I'm not sure if she'll wear the less dressy but so cute smocked dress or the A line reversible (corduroy/monogram side showing) for that. Then, we are going to a Christmas Festival (the same one I mentioned above from last year) on Saturday. I think she'll wear one of the pant sets for that. The fest has games and bouncy houses (which she probably won't get in anyway) and all of that so I want her to be able to run around and be comfortable.

I'm working on our Christmas cards right now. And when I say "working on", I don't mean stuffing and addressing them. No, that will be next week. Hopefully. So, even though I wanted it to be different, it looks like my cards won't arrive until the nth hour. Some things never change, right? Oh well.

12 Months

2010-12-07T22:54:00.003-06:00

These are a few of my favorites from Sugar's 12 month session. She was actually more like 13 months old but whatev. I love that she (the photographer) captured Sugar so well. They just show her little personality so perfectly. This one ^ is the one that I'm going to blow up and maybe do a canvas. I just love it.

(The dress is a Mom N Me bought on sale at this time last year by my mom. She went to a little boutique near here that was having a clearance/end of the year sale)

This romper is from Baby LuLu and I got it at a little consignment shop in New Orleans. It's really cute and bright. It's also really easy and those are my favorite types of clothes- easy on/off, easy diaper access, comfortable for her and ALSO very cute and different.

She was standing in the breeze. I love how you can see the teeny little hairs on her head, arms, etc in the sunlight. She was doing patty cake. (Overalls are Osh Kosh)

WW

2010-12-06T11:59:00.002-06:00

I'm seriously considering re joining Weight Watchers. I'm not sure if I should do meetings or just do online. Something has to be done. I feel so fat and gross.

Halloween 2010

2010-11-30T21:45:00.003-06:00

I don't know how to make my pictures do what they are supposed to do. These are backwards but OH WELL. Sugar's boyfriend, A. He was a shark but he was too hot in the top part.
Sunshine

I'm aggravated at the picture situation. But, at least I posted them. It's only one month late!!

Thanksgiving Around These Parts

2010-11-24T09:13:00.002-06:00

If you're here to answer the Thanksgiving question, here it is. Thanks!

This year and last year, we've had Thanksgiving at my aunt and uncle's house- in the same place we had Sugar's party, the Manshack. We used to go away for Thanksgiving a lot but we haven't done that in quite a few years. I'd like to go to the mountains in a cabin in one of the coming years.

The people going to be there this year are my aunt, uncle, their 4 kids, my grandparents, my parents, my brother, my sister-in-law & some of her family (not really sure who- her mom, step dad,brother, sister, nephew), Blue, Sugar and me. Last year, my sister-in-law's family wasn't there but Blue's parents were. This year, my in laws can't come. They live in Georgia and it's harder for them to get here. And I'm so glad. (hee hee)

As far as food goes, here is the menu:

Turkey- fried by my daddy (so delish)
Ham- this year, made by yours truly (tonight!)
Baked Brie appetizer- made by my mother who is a fabulous cook
green beans- I don't know what she's doing with them but this being done my grandmother (regular green bean casserole? maybe)
sweet potato crunch- This is one of my favorites, a holiday staple in my family and my mom makes THE BEST. It's sweet potatoes baked and then peeled and mashed with a crunchy topping made of butter, brown sugar & pecans.
Rice dressing- My mom is doing this, too! (She's the greatest cook!) It's made with rice, onions & other seasoning vegetables (the cajun trinity), & meat. It's delicious. Also a holiday staple around here.
Corn pudding- My aunt makes this. It's so good. Here is that recipe.
Pineapple Dish- My aunt is making this too. I'm not too familiar with it but we had it last year. It was good but I'm not really sure what it is!
24 hour salad- Sister-in-law is bringing that. My grandmother (paternal, who died when I was 3) used to make this all the time, I hear. It's something my sister-in-law likes to make but I'm not sure if she got the recipe from my mom or not.
cranberry sauce- from the can, I think. I don't eat it. I think I'd like to try some of the other gourmet recipes for good sauce. I like cranberries so, I might enjoy it. Anyone have a good recipe?
Rolls- Gotta have the bread (a pusher and a washer, my old PaPa used to say- bread and drink)
dessert(s)- my sister-in-law does cakes and stuff so she usually brings the dessert. She did a pumpkin roll last year and I don't remember what else. Blue got a homemade pumpkin pie (made from scratch- no canned pumpkin) from my friend L's grandmother. My own grandmother used to make pecan pie. I don't know what we'll have this year but I'm sure it'll be great.

Another dish that is sometimes served around here on holidays is cornbread dressing. My mom makes it and I'm not sure if that is her exact recipe but it's similar. It's so good but it's time consuming (the way she does it).

I'm getting excited for Thursday! I'm disappointed that it will be HOT here. I have to rethink my whole Thanksgiving ensemble. I love spending time with my family and I have not seen some of them in a long time. Next year, we will have another sweet baby girl with us! I'm so excited to meet her.

I probably won't be back until after Thursday. I may be doing Black Friday. I've never done it before but would like to try it! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Now, Thanksgiving Ones

2010-11-23T15:29:00.002-06:00

I was reading Patty's blog yesterday (this post) and loved reading about a special family Thanksgiving dish that she has every year. I love reading and hearing about things like that. I think that's why I love to travel, I love learning about different cultures. I've been raised in and around such rich culture full of wonderful traditions and food. And I am so thankful for that. I am proud to be able to give that to Sugar.

I thought it would be fun to hear all about everyone else's Thanksgiving traditions. I'm even going to reach out to some of my Facebook friends that I've met through blogging to come over and answer. I'm so excited to hear all about Thanksgiving around the country!

SO, please tell me (us) about Thanksgiving in your family (in the comments or link me to the post on your own blog): who is there, what do you eat, what dish(es) have to be served for it to be Thanksgiving to you?

My own answers will come tomorrow...

Christmas Questions

2010-11-22T15:37:00.003-06:00

Ok, couple of Christmas questions for you:

Do you decide before Christmas how much you're going to spend on each (of your) kid? Does it change every year? It's all about the one BIG gift and a bunch of little ones to open, right?
Do you do Santa? If so, does Santa bring presents AND mommy and daddy give presents? (This is the route both of our parents took so it's probably what we'll do for Sugar and future babes.)
Who else is on your list to buy for? How does your family do Christmas gifting?
Does Santa wrap his presents to your kids?
Are you doing a Christmas card? Are you sending me one (because you BETTER! I love Christmas cards!!!!)?

One Hour

2010-11-19T10:04:00.002-06:00

This is what I got done in one hour this morning (the beloved Sesame Street hour):

Got Sugar's diaper changed (which can lately be a long, drawn out event because she twists and turns and doesn't wanna sit still for ANYTHING!)
Got her into her jumpy thing with Cheerios in the tray. (Why, yes, I DID use the TV as a babysitter)
Washed a load of clothes.
Finished packing myself and her (we are going to the camp for the weekend)
Chose our outfits for today.
Took a bath, washed and conditioned my hair, shaved
Applied moisturizer to face/neck & gel to hair.
And deodorant.
Put wet clothes in dryer and hung mine.
Made breakfast- oatmeal & biscuits (oatmeal in microwave and biscuits I'd put in the oven before bath but forgot to put that)

Does that seem like a lot? Cause it doesn't look as impressive as I feel that it was. I've never been as efficient as I am since I've become a mom.

Shopping Scores!

2010-11-15T10:15:00.002-06:00

I went shopping yesterday and scored! I got a great purse that is just like this but in grey. I can't find a picture of it anywhere. It's gorgeous. I already have one Tignanello purse from last spring and I love it.

I got some flat Mary Jane style shoes that are super comfortable. They are in a pewter color so they should go with everything. I had some flat silver sandals this summer and I wore them with everything. Metallic is so versatile, modern and easy. Get thee some metallic accessories today!

After the shoes and purse, we went in search of boots. I had to return the clothes I got in this week and the boots from last weekend, so we headed to Macys. The boots that I got last weekend were black. I saw them yesterday in brown and I asked to try those, the Nine West Tumble in brown and the AK Anne Klein Catriona. They didn't have a 9 in the first ones, the NW didn't fit (and were kinda stained at the toe) but the Catriona's were great! I returned the first pair and got those and only had to pay $8.47 difference. That almost made the waiting and waiting and waiting worth it. ALMOST.

Next, we went in search of clothes. Sugar was thisclose to being D.O.N.E. We'd been shopping all day, had eaten lunch before we went shopping and she hadn't had a great nap. So we were running around and grabbing stuff to try on in a hurry. Everything is sweaters- very, very cute sweaters but I just don't really need that many sweaters. I was wearing this in cadet and I was DYING. I was sweating and had to pull up my hair. So, I was trying to find bottoms that I can wear with long tops and boots.

I have to run out but I'll be back later and update what I ended up with.

Shopping for Cooler Weather

2010-11-11T18:05:00.003-06:00

I am in desperate need of cute, comfy, casual, cool weather clothes. Not special event or anything but not too plain. I love, love, love dresses in the summertime because they are easy but still are pulled together. And they are comfortable. So, I wanted to try some dresses/long tops/tunics with leggings and boots. I like this look on other people but have been leary about trying it (wearing it in public) on myself.

I bought some boots this past weekend but will be returning them tomorrow. They are black but are more "motorcycle/cheap" looking than what I'm going for. I actually love the look of camel colored riding boots the most but I think if I'm going to spend the kind of money I'm looking at spending on boots, I'll get the most wear with black. These are two pairs that I'd like to try:

Anne Klein Catriona
Franco Sarto "Rider"

I also bought these three dresses/tops online from Macy's :

AGB Plus size dress, three quarter sleeve pleated sweaterdress in peacock

I was weighed and measured just two weeks or so ago at BYBC. The numbers aren't pretty but that's neither here, nor there. Anyway, I used those numbers to order these pieces using their size chart. Well, I think they are wrong. Or maybe it's just me and my body. This dress was the worst. It has no shape at all. The color is prettier in person but it's too long (past my knees) and the middle is too shapeless. It's going back.

Style&Co Plus size sweater, three quarter sleeve baby doll tunic in red amore

This one could maybe work. I didn't try it on with any bottoms. It's a little moot because I don't have a full length mirror. I know. I'm going to get one this weekend. Anyway, the problem is that I have HUGE hips. And they look funny (and HUGER) in tunic length things. And don't even suggest a belt. Cause that looks really bad. I may keep this one.

Style&Co Plus size dress, three quarter sleeve striped tunic in black/grey

This one is really cute in person. I feel basically the same about this one. I love the neck and the feel of it. The side stripes may not be so great for me, either. I'll go to the store this weekend (tomorrow?) and see what they have.

I love three quarter length sleeves for this time of year because I'm never THAT cold. Especially inside people's homes when they are blasting the heater. So, they work well for me so I don't get too hot. I'll report back when I've gone to the store.

Favorites

2010-11-11T12:04:00.002-06:00

I just spent about two hours organizing my Favorites on my computer. I made folders for kids clothes and stuff, clothes for mommy, misc shopping, news and information, entertainment sites, etc... This is going to make things so much easier for me!

I'm trying to get Sugar to take a nap. It's not working so much. She's tired and she's fighting it.

Again

2010-11-10T10:09:00.002-06:00

I am beyond exhausted. Sugar is sick (again) and not sleeping. She was fine all weekend and Monday.

Yesterday, I went to BYBC (we moved this 4 week session to mornings because no one wanted to work out at 6pm in the dark) at 9 and she played with the other kids and had fun. She fell asleep in the car and I left her in there while I unloaded everything and did some stuff around here. We were going to meet my parents for lunch at La Madeline and she'd gotten pretty dirty so, I took her out of the seat to change her diaper and clothes.

When I picked her up, I noticed that she was warm but I thought it was just from sleeping in the carseat. We drove to the restaurant and my parents were already seated. You go and order at the counter so I gave Sugar to my mom and dad and I went to order. When we got back, Sugar's cheeks were bright red and she had "sick eyes." Mom told me that she felt really warm and I felt for myself. She was! Poor baby :(

She didn't want to swallow anything but water so I suspected that her throat was sore. On our way home, I called her pediatrician and they told me to come in to get her swabbed for strep. We'd gived her Tylenol at La Madeline at around 12:30 and an hour later her temperature was 99.6. The doctor looked in her ears (they were fine) and throat (red). She was swabbed for strep and it was negative. The doctor told us that she'd seen a few kids that had fever and red throats but were negative for strep. She says it's a virus and to keep her hydrated, give Tylenol and Motrin for fever and rest.

Last night, she had diarrhea and her temp got up to 101.7. She slept off and on and cried some in her sleep. She had fever at 3:30 (100) and didn't have it when she woke up at 7:30. She's eaten some breakfast and is playing on the floor. I'm SO HOPING she wants to nap. Because I need one myself.

My mom and I are supposed to go see Elton John tonight in concert. I was SO excited. I love, love, love him. I've always wanted to see him in concert. Well, I am playing it all by ear today. I'm so exhausted and if Sugar is still sick- I'll probably not go. I'm hoping we have a good nap soon and wake up feeling great.

Just for fun, I wanted to show some of the Christmas pj's I got for Sugar. These are the ones she'll probably wear for our Christmas card pictures.

They are from Old Navy. She also has some from Gymboree and Carter's. I'd love to show them or even link them but my computer is bonkers right now. And I'm in no mood to deal with it.

Just Wondering

2010-11-04T19:54:00.002-05:00

I don't know when I'll ever learn my lesson. I'm always trying to see the good in other people and believe that if I'm sweet enough, nice enough, kind enough- they could maybe turn around their behavior. I quickly forget how rejection feels.

I try to treat people how I'd want to be treated instead of treating them how they treat me. Even though when they sting me, it's hard not to put up walls. I don't know how to be that cold. I don't know how to ignore, puss face, and reject- well, not for long anyway.

It's hard to do the right & Christian thing just because it's the right & Christian thing. It's hard to be sweet in the face of sour. It's hard to continue to put yourself, your child, your family out there when you KNOW KNOW KNOW that you are setting yourself (and them) up for heartache. It's hard to do what is being asked of you by people when you are constantly left feeling hurt, angry, pushed away and rejected.

BUT, being who I am is the only person I know how to be. Sometimes, I try to be snarky and cold, mean and aloof. It doesn't work and I end up going back to being my own self. Sometimes when you're a grown up, you have to do things that don't feel good, things that down right hurt, for other people who matter to you. When you're a grown up, you have to play nice, be the bigger person, for the good of all involved, not just yourself.

I'm sorry if this post is all over the place and confusing. I'm just dumping out my feelings (as much as I can on a public forum) tonight.

OH!

2010-11-03T12:02:00.004-05:00

This is Sugar's new favorite expression. She does it all.the.time and I LOVE it!

This picture was taken on Friday, October 22 by my PaPa at his house (in his chair). She's wearing a pillowcase dress by Trendy Treasures, white baby legs, a black onesie from Target, candy corn socks from Debi's Creations (on Etsy- my link thing isn't working) & black with white polka dot Itzy Bitzy squeaker shoes.

Firsts

2010-10-30T11:50:00.003-05:00

Sugar was invited to a birthday party for today. It's from 3-5 and it's for the daughter of one of the girls who works in my mom's office. Megan came to work at the company last year and she and I were pregnant with our girls together. She was due before me on October 30 (I was due on November 9) but Sugar was more impatient than Camille.

This is not the first birthday party she's been invited to attend. The first one was for my friend, L's little girl, E. That was in February and we couldn't go to that one.

I'm looking forward to seeing Sugar with all of the children at the party today. She so loves other kids and she has such a great time chasing after and "petting" them. She's STILL not walking* on her own but it doesn't bother her or slow her down. Last night, my brother and sister in law had a " gender reveal party" and Sugar had a BLAST with all of the other kids there. She was so lit up and happy. (BTW, the baby is a GIRL!!!)(I will write about the party in another post.)

This is the top Sugar is wearing to the birthday party this afternoon:

Just Ducky Ruffled A-Line Top

She has the matching ruffle bottom pants in the matching pink. She is going to wear a little peter pan collar shirt under it. The outfit is a 9 month and is kinda big on her but, she's going to wear it anyway. EVERYTHING is big on her.

*She can walk. She has taken a few steps on her own. She walks along things and holding onto some one's fingers. But she ultimately always sits down and crawls. She even stands up in the middle of the floor by herself! I don't know why she's afraid (cautious) but she is. I am not too worried. Yet.

Hot for October!

2010-10-27T14:14:00.002-05:00

I'm sitting outside underneath the carport with the laptop in my lap. Every door of my car is open and Sugar is sleeping in her seat (in the car). She's sweating but she's asleep. She's not always the best napper and she hasn't been feeling well lately, so, I'm letting her sleep. I will sit out here as long as she will sleep.

You gotta do what you gotta do.

The Things in My Head

2010-10-25T17:23:00.003-05:00

I have some birthday pictures but I have to call Kelli to give me a lesson when I do it. I don't feel like doing that now (even though I LOVE Kelli!!) so, you'll have to wait. If you're friends with me on Facebook, there are some there.
This is TMI, I know, so, if you're uninterested in womanly talk, skip ahead.... I'm having my period for only the 2nd time since having Sugar and it.is.ROUGH. NO, really BAAAAD!! It took me three tries to get a tampon inserted this morning because I was using some I'd never used before & I have not used tampons in a VERY LONG TIME.
I woke up some time in the middle of the night and had a sore throat. And it was unfortunately still there when I woke up this morning. It sucks. I don't have any other symptoms of a cold besides that. But, this is how badly I feel with the period and the throat- I went to Osh Kosh at the outlet mall today (got this-for $6.99- & this & this & some corduroy leggings that I can't find on the site) and I was "meh" about shopping. I'm NEVER NEVER EVER EVER "meh" about shopping. I love to shop for anything and anyone- nothing more than baby girl clothes... Oh, well, everyone is allowed an "off" day, right?
Can I talk about how difficult it is for me to dress Baby Sugar right now? UGH! I am kinda strange when it comes to clothes for her. I have some "rules" that I've imposed that basically all revolve around the fact that I like to dress her like a baby. I am super traditional and I like her to wear clothes for a baby. I like some small versions of big girl clothes but for the most part, I don't. I like sweet stuff so basically, no black (except pants sometimes), not a lot of denim (I do like the Osh Kosh overalls but that's babyish), not a lot of words (mommy/daddy/grandma's little muffin, etc) on shirts, etc... Anyway, I also don't like to put her in obviously SUMMER stuff in October (stuff like sleeveless or strappy or whatever) but it's HOT here. I don't want her to wear all of her summer bubbles but she can't wear sweaters/long sleeves/fleece. Everything in the stores is Winter. Today she's wearing a s/s top (similar to this but not exactly) with navy leggings. It's perfect for the weather but we only have so many of these outfits (basically s/s tops and leggings). Guess it's the price you pay for living in Louisiana.
Can I brag a little about my child? Sure I can, it's my blog! Feel free to move on if you're uninterested in this, too... She's started saying "ball" and she said "ELMO" today. We have a ball pit similar to this (ours isn't Dora) and she loves it (I HIGHLY recommend it). She sits in it, holds the balls and says "ball". Then, she throws all the balls out of it. She loves Elmo. My mom bought her this little Elmo toy that sings Elmo's song and she said "Elmo!" Also, we discovered last night that even though she can't say either of these words, she understands both "call" and "shoes." I asked her to "call SheShe" and she put her hand up to her ear like it was a phone. I asked her, "Where are your shoes," and she looked at her (bare) feet and lifted one. I've never consciously taught her either one. OH! And remember how she hates to wear shoes? I have mentioned that, right? Anyway, she loves squeaky shoes. LOVES. She wants to wear them. The three pairs that she has (these, some navy ones and the leopard) are all too big for her but I still put them on her. Well, actually, the leopard ones were traded for a smaller size. I don't know if they will work though. SO! Yay for shoes that she likes.
Finally, I'm looking for a certain product. When I wash her hair, she hates for me to pour the water on her head. I remember when M1 was little, she had this foam hat type thing that had a whole where the head/hair part was and like a visor all around it. You poured the water on the head/hair and it poured away from the face/eyes. I have not searched yet but was wondering what ya'll did for this kind of thing.

Halloween Attire

2010-10-22T09:19:00.004-05:00

Sugar has 3 Halloween outfits and a costume. Blue's cousin has a daughter that was born in June '09 (about 4 months before Sugar) and we have been SO lucky to get her hand-me-downs. Trisha shops like me and so Charlee's clothes are adorable! Charlee is a lot bigger than Sugar, so we've gotten lots of great stuff!

The Halloween outfit she wore a few weeks ago (the first Wednesday in October) to gym was a Charlee outfit. It was a Funtasia Too blue checked reversible top and pants. It was Halloween on one side and has a pony on the other side. I can't find a picture anywhere because it was probably Fall 2009 (or even 08?). Another one is a little orange and black pillowcase dress. I bought it at a little boutique near my house. She will probably wear that this weekend.

This is another one:

She will probably wear this to gym this coming Wednesday. We didn't go this past Wednesday because she wasn't feeling well. I hate missing but I didn't want her to snot all over everything and everyone. Plus, she was sleeping and I didn't want to wake her up.

She also has some adorable (they say Wickedly Cute) pj's from Carters. I can't find a picture of those either. I will be sure to take pictures of her in all of these outfits.

This is her costume:

I love it! It was between this and a giraffe because she loves giraffes. BUT, I chose the sunshine because the headgear isn't required for it to be cute. I know she won't wear the hat for long and with the giraffe costume, the head was the cutest part!

I need to find some bottoms for her to wear. See how the baby in the picture has yellow legs? That didn't come with the costume. I need to find yellow or black pants or leggings. And I think I'm going to put a pink long sleeved t-shirt under it. See the little hearts are pink... I think it'll be cute. If not, she has a long sleeved black tee (I think).

My friend, Kelly, is having a Halloween get together. She lives in a great neighborhood and they do a hayride for the kids. Sugar can't talk (or walk) but I think she'll love seeing all of the kids and riding around the neighborhood. I don't like scary stuff but we'll stay away from all of that.

Blahs

2010-10-21T13:54:00.002-05:00

It has been not a great couple of days. Sugar has a cold and with it she's got runny nose, drip in throat, cough, sneezing, etc... She was a bear yesterday and totally not herself. She bit me (VERY HARD!), she fought sleep, she cried and whined.

Today, she's a little bit better. BUT, her daddy came home for lunch and woke her up so she's only slept for 30 minutes. I put her down just now because she was whining again. All the lights are off and I'm crossing my fingers she sleeps. And for longer than 30 minutes.

I have PMS. This will only be my second cycle since I had Sugar. I'm mean, angry, aggravated, tired, mopey, hungry, restless, broken out, bloated... It's fun around here. AND we weighed and measured at BYBC yesterday. I GAINED 3 flipping pounds. G-A-I-N-E-D... I lost some body fat percentages and a few inches (two?) but I gained some inches too. I KNOW that muscle weighs more than fat and that I'm just about to start and blah, blah freaking blah... I'm still upset.

I ate waaaaay too much (stale) leftover birthday cake last night. In protest? In sorrow? In stupidity (ding, ding, ding)? But I threw the rest of it away and am thinking that today (or tomorrow?) is another day!

12 Months, 52 Weeks, 1 Year

2010-10-19T06:00:00.003-05:00

::Weight- 16 lbs 15 oz (2nd percentile)::

::Length- 28 inches (25th percentile)::

::Clothes size- 9 months::

::Shoe size- 3 (very narrow)::

::Says- "mama", "dada", "Paw", "PaPa", "Ball", "One (kinda)" and lots of babbles::

::Signs- "Milk", "byebye", "please (occasionally)"::

::Tricks- does "touchdown" sign when you say either "Touchdown" or "GO TIGERS!", plays peek-a-boo, claps when you say to clap or say "YAY!!", knows what the cow and doggies say, shows how old she is with her finger and kinda says "one", gives kisses or love when asked, sings along when you sing or she hears songs, dances to ANY type of music, sounds..., knows where her feet and nose and hair are, kicks her feet (and a ball), takes steps alone but crawls much faster::

The Day After...

2010-10-18T10:50:00.004-05:00

The party was a succes! Now it's over and my guests have all gone home. I am left with a mountain of laundry to wash/dry/fold/hang/put away, toys to sort and find homes for and a sweet ~~baby~~ big girl who has a 12 month appointment this afternoon. She also has had a runny (clear), rattling nose (and now a cough!!) for a few days. I am sure it's just a cold/allergies.

I don't have any pictures from the party. My uncle and cousin took plenty and when I get them, I will show them. In the meantime, here are some that Kelly took a few weeks ago. It's in her studio with some of the candy bar stuff for the party.

This one is my very favorite. I forgot to express that to Kelly and she ordered another one for the "thank you" pictures and large matted (every one signed). I'm thinking I may order this one to frame for me...

This is the one she went with... Still very cute.

More About the Party

2010-10-14T15:16:00.004-05:00

I've still got stuff to do/buy for the party on Sunday. I forgot ALL about the pictures I wanted to order and got Kelly to order them last night. Kelly is our photographer/friend/party-planner-helper. She did a mini photo shoot for Sugar and I'm using one of those pictures to give out as a thank you. I'm putting stickers on the back of each one that says "Thanks for making my birthday so sweet!" It has a big lollipop on it and her name, too.

Most everything is in bags in my extra bedroom (which my ILs will be sleeping in TOMORROW night!). I am thinking of laying it all out on the dining room table this afternoon/tonight. I'm having trouble "seeing" everything and think that if I can put my hands on things or see it all laid out, I'll have a better idea of what I'm missing.

I made a little list last night and this is what I have:

FOOD

On large table

Mexican dip & chips (MaMa is bringing that)

Spinach dip & chips (Grammy SheShe bringing)

Apples & Caramel dip (Grammy SheShe again)

Jambalaya (Daddy is making that)

Cole slaw

bread

Drinks

on large table

2 liters (Coke, Sprite, Diet Coke, Diet Sprite)

Pink lemonade (Ms J's beverage dispenser)

ice

cups

Sweets

pool table with gifts

Cake-2 layers (S)

cookies- number 1 (S)

frosted brownie bites (Kelly?)

ice cream

candy bar (like this but not-similar)- another table?

I'm going to have round tables set up for sitting and eating. I am making centerpieces with glass jars filled with gumballs. Then I will stick a flower lollipop and crazy straws in each one. I also bought a few Happy Birthday, Elmo! coloring books (for $1!) & crayons to put on the tables.

I had a lollipop pinata made (this one). It's a pull one which I've never seen done but I think it's a better idea than a bat or whatever. I'm going to put some plastic cups (Barbie & Spiderman), erasers, pencils, & lip balm (candy flavors!) inside. I'll be sure that everyone gets one. Plus, they will get a favor box and go through the candy bar.

The candy bar has Lemon Heads, cotton candy, Pixie Stix, Sweettarts, lollipops, Tootsie Rolls, jawbreakers & I don't even remember what else. I am not putting labels saying what each item is but I have something else to put on each glass container. I had a company (Etsy) design some rounds. There's one that says "Sugar's Sweet Shoppe" one that has the number 1 and one that has her first initial. I'm going to punch a hole in the top and tie them with ribbon on the jars.

Now, on to the outfitS. Yes, I said outfitSSSSS. She's going to have a wardrobe change. Haha. She's MY child, after all. The one she'll have on first is the "fun" one. It's a onesie with a lollipop on it and her name under that, a diaper cover with her name, the number 1 and some bows & a bib with her name. This is it. And she has a tutu to go on with that. And we got her these shoes but they are a bit big for her and the candy looks a little bit Christmasy.

The second "dressy" outfit is a blue micro checked smocked lollipop romper. I think I will change her into that after she does the cake smash. I know that she will probably get all crazy with her cake so, that's the perfect opportunity to change her! We are going to serve lunch right away then eat and visit. Then, we will probably do the pinata (I got a ball pit thing for the littles to play in- kinda like this). Then, sing, cake and ice cream and gifts.

As the kids are preparing to leave we will do the candy bar. I will be sure that they all got favors from the pinata and enough candy. All leftover candy will go with me to the Halloween party to hand out there. How perfect is that? It's very perfect.

Tonight, I have to clean out Sugar's room and toys. I've got to make room for new stuff on Sunday. Tomorrow I am going to get my hair cut and colored and get a mani/pedi. HEY, mommy needs prepping too!!! I am not 100% sure what I will wear. I know I'll be wearing my new jeans from Macy's that I LOVE. I have a few different top choices- this is the only one I can find online. I have two or three other ones that I may choose. And I really want these but I have not gotten a chance to get them.

I'm so excited. I don't know if I'll have time to post before the party. Wish us luck!

Posting Pictures

2010-10-13T07:48:00.002-05:00

I have always had problems posting pictures. If I have a bunch that are in a sequence (or should be in a sequence) they end up not in the right places. I don't know how to post pictures in the middle of my blog and continue to have text around it. That is why I rarely post pictures!!

True Story

2010-10-12T09:05:00.003-05:00

When I first started blogging here, in April of 2007, my life was very different from what it is now. Blue and I lived in an old, tiny rent house. Blue was working A LOT and almost always out of town. I had some health issues- heart palpitations, dizzyness, migraines. And I was severly, debilitatingly depressed.

I didn't like to go out of my house much. I didn't like being around many people. I didn't care about what I looked like most of the time. For many days in a row, I stayed in the same clothes, in my bed or smoking in the bathroom or in a chair in front of my tv. I'd go days without leaving the house, taking a bath, seeing people. I was heavily drugged and actually tried to kill myself a few times.

My house was a total disaster. One room was almost completely filled with books and some other junk. There were clothes every where. I read 4, 5, 6 books a week. I had no energy or motivation. I had no direction. I had no hope. I didn't know how to get out of the vicious cycle. I'd sleep all day, stay awake all night. I'd cry and hurt(inside and out). Days and days passed and I fell deeper and deeper into despair and lonliness.

But I wasn't alone. My mother fought the entire time to pull me OUT OF IT. She KNEW, every single day, that I was better than that. That THAT person wasn't me. She'd drag me (sometimes almost literally) to doctors, stores, restaurants, malls, etc. We saw every kind of specialist and got all kinds of diagnoses. I was on so many medications- it was dizzying.

In early 2008, I started actively working towards getting better. I got off of Klonopin (which was the hardest thing EVER) and started to feel better. That sentence makes it sound so easy and it so wasn't. You can read about it some here. (Um, how crazy is it to go back in time to the old blog?) I had to wean off of it very slowly. I would lock myself into a back bedroom and just have terrible withdrawl. I slept and woke at crazy times. I watched all of the seasons (at the time) of Lost on my computer. I was nauseated, threw up, had migraines, anxiety, heart palpatations, creepy-crawly feelings in my arms and legs, cried, rocked and rocked and rocked...

In May of 2008, my family and I (mom, dad, bro, sister-in-law(gf at the time), Blue) went to St Thomas. I'd never flown that far away from home. We did a lot of walking and exploring and I was SO HOT. I was out of shape and a little over stimulated. But, I did ok. I knew that I wanted to really, really live and I knew that I could do it.

We got home and started looking to buy a house. I met a wonderful real estate agent (who was friends with my parents, grandparents, etc) who helped us find the house we are in now. We bought the house and started the BIG project of cleaning out and moving the old house. It was emotional and it was tiring to clean out that house. I threw away a lot of junk. A LOT. When my mom and I cleaned out the bedroom that I'd spent so many countless hours in, we found mold in the closet. I'm pretty convinced that it was making me sick. We both started feeling bad when we left there that day.

When we moved out of that house, I moved out of that old life. I shed that skin and I became a new person. Or the person that I really am, rather. I have always, always wanted a family- children, house, land, love... Around this same time, Blue got a promotion and started staying home much more often. We moved into this house and started a real life together.

In February of 2009, I POAS and it was POSITIVE. Then, on October 17, 2009, my entire life really, really changed when my sweet baby, Sugar, was born and all my dreams came true. I worked so hard to get to that point. I worked so hard to get to the point I'm at now- a mother, a wife, a functioning member of society. It was such a hard, dark road but I traveled it and I survived.

The Shoeaddict's Child

2010-10-09T20:15:00.004-05:00

Remember these?

Yeah, well, they came in (most of them), and they don't fit Baby Sugar. They are long enogh, but they are way too narrow. Like WAY. Like can't keep them on...

My friend IRL has a little girl, E, and she fits into them and loves them. So, she's now the proud owner of three of those pairs. And Baby Sugar got these , these, these and these (cheaper than that, too) on Thursday. I'd still like some red ones for Christmas and I think Robeez might have some in the red patent leather.

She measures as a 3.5 but that's just in length. So to find them long enough, they are too wide. My mom says that is exactly how I was, too. The lady at the specialty shoe store told me that I'll just have to buy her shoes more often because she can't have any growing room.

I still have some squeaker shoes that I ordered that have not come in yet. They will probably be too wide for her, too. I want her to wear the squeakers bad. They are SO cute and she loved them. She's not walking on her own, yet, but I think these would help. She likes to hear them squeak.

We shall see when they come in if she can keep them on her heels.

Header

2010-10-09T20:09:00.002-05:00

Anyone know where I can get a header design? Anyone want to design one for me? I want something no frills, not complicated, classic, easy...

Thanks, peeps!

BYBC

2010-10-05T10:22:00.003-05:00

I'm doing boot camp 3 days a week for one hour. My friend, Kelly, has a sister-in-law who is a former gymnast at LSU and is now a personal trainer. She (Nicki) does this backyard boot camp at Kelly's house on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings at 6.

They started in May and I was interested but we were going to France and it was summer and so hot and blah, blah, blah. I was very worried that there was no way that I was in enough shape to do something like that. Also, I didn't think I wanted to work out in front of other people like that. My weight is such a sensitive thing to me.

Well, Kelly and I recently started becoming closer (more on that later) and when they were starting backyard boot camp again, she asked if I wanted to try it for free. I met Nicki at Kelly's house one Friday night while Blue and I were there for a little gathering. Nicki told me some inspiring things and invited me to come try it out that following Monday. She said that she would take it easy on me and I could just come and get my feet wet.

I went that Monday evening even though I was nervous and my foot hurt before I even started. I walked into Kelly's house and met the neighbor, Brian, who also does BYBC. I sat down and started getting really nervous. But, for some reason, I wasn't overwhelmingly I'm-never-gonna-do-it nervous. Nicki came in and then she wanted me to sign some papers and she was going to weigh and measure me.

OK, I was really uncomfortable about that part. This information is a huge source of embarrassment and humiliation and all sorts of other yuckiness for me. And it's not like these people (well, Nicki) is a doctor or some other anonymous person. She's an acquaintance. She's related to a friend of mine. THEY COULD ALL FIND OUT HOW MUCH I WEIGH!!! Then, I just kinda got over it. I mean, I'm still embarrassed and humiliated and don't want people to know the numbers but, it's not the end of the world. AND I was there to do something about it!

So, I got on the scale, got weighed and measured and all of that and went outside to get to work. We all are in a circle in Kelly's front yard (so really, it should be FRONT yard boot camp)-there are only 6 of us students and Nicki. I used Nicki's advice to not think about anyone else but myself. When everyone else was running, I just went into a "zone" and walked as fast and hard as I could.

I try hard not to think about what I look like while I'm doing these work outs. I have to leave my inhibitions at the door and just go for it. I have to just breathe and center and do my best. It's caused me to feel more comfortable with myself and to get over some anxieties. Plus, I'm working towards a goal and that makes a huge difference. I want to lose weight but I also want to be in shape.

I started taking Baby Sugar to The Little Gym and that was anxiety producing for me as well. But she loves it and I'd hate for my own insecurities to get in the way of her life and well being. It's NOT all about me anymore. I am someones MOTHER. And she deserves the very best me that I can possibly be for her. I give my all in every single area and do the best that I know how to do.

So, last night was BYBC session #7 (there are 12 in each block but I'll probably join again after this one is over). I am now running more and more and I have such an improvement in my range of motion with things like push ups. Now, my scale at home is not showing me any stellar numbers, I actually think I GAINED weight last week. But, I'm gonna keep on keeping on. Nicki told me to stay off the scale until this boot camp is over when she weighs and measures us again.

I'm really not going all gung ho on a diet now. And, much to my extreme displeasure, weight loss is only 20% exercise and 80freaking% diet. And diet is the hardest thing for me. I'm making better choices overall but I'm not doing all that I could. Oh well, it's a process, right? I'm really, really proud of myself for joining boot camp, for sticking with it, for laying my insecurities out there for everyone to see and to be cured.

I just hope it works.

Sugar Shoes

2010-10-02T21:58:00.003-05:00

Remember when I used to post all about shoes and clothes and fashion and stuff? Well, I have not gotten over my deep love for shoes (and clothes and fashion and stuff). I've mostly just transferred my obsessive buying over to my teeny girl.

These are the shoes she will be sporting this Fall:

Pediped "Giselle"

Because metallics go with everything
Bella Nova "Serengeti"

See Kai Run "Luna"

Bella Nova squeaky

See Kai Run "Khristine"

I can't wait til they come in and she wears them all. Her foot used to be really tiny but I think it's grown a lot in the past month.

Let's just say I hope the next one is a girl, too!!

Invites

2010-10-01T11:11:00.002-05:00

I can't save the invite to my computer so if you want to see them, this is the link.

October 1st

2010-10-01T09:34:00.002-05:00

I'm so excited that it's the first of October today! I love Fall and I love October. I love it even more now that Sugar is here and her birthday is smack dab in the middle of the month.

Right now, I'm sitting in my big Laz E Boy chair and Sugar is jumping and dancing in her thing. I'm sore all over from boot camp. Did I mention that I started boot camp? Well, I did, two weeks ago. More on that later...

We don't have a lot planned for today. I've been busy all week- shopping for more supplies for Sugar's birthday, running the roads, mailing invites, etc. I love to be busy and on the road. I also love a little bit of downtime for both of us. Today, I'm gonna be sure Sugar takes a good nap. She didn't get one good long one yesterday and even though she wasn't cranky or anything, I feel bad if that happens too many days in a row.

We might be taking her to her first football game tonight! The closest local high school (that my cousins, M's 1&2 attend) is playing the school that I went to and M2 is semi-dating a football player from that school. She wants Blue and I to go and see him. I don't have a sitter for Sug, so I figured if the weather was ok, we'd bring her. I started with a sore throat yesterday afternoon so, I don't want to exacerbate that. It feels a little better this morning so I'm hoping it's over.

Tune back in later today for a picture of Sugar's birthday invitation. I sent them out this week and it seems that people are getting them so, I want to show ya'll.

One Sweet Party

2010-09-25T11:41:00.003-05:00

Sugar will be turning ONE on Sunday, October 17. I'm planning a big party to celebrate and I'm so excited! I've never been very crafty or creative but after seeing lots of pictures of cute birthday parties on the web, I had some idea of what I wanted for my Sug.

I started out thinking that I'd do a Strawberry Shortcake theme because my first birthday party was Strawberry Shortcake. A few months ago, my mom got out my baby book and one of my first picture albums and we look at it and compare Sugar and mommy. We were looking at my first birthday party and Sugar and I look so alike so, we thought it would be cute.

Then, I took Sugar to take her 9 month pictures. Kelly, our photographer and good friend, was doing some pics with lollipops and she did some of those with Sugar. When I saw the proofs, I loved a particular one of Sugar holding a huge lolli and it gave me the idea to do a "sweet shoppe" party. After doing lots of searches, I found so much inspiration and many adorable ideas. I asked Kelly if she would help me and she had some great ideas, too.

So, the theme is "Sweet Shoppe" or candy. I'm setting up a candy bar on one whole table. I have ten different glass jars/containers in varying shapes, heights and sizes and will fill them with different candies (think colorful!). We will hand out boxes (like Chinese take out-ish) for the guests to fill with the candy for favors. The parents are going to HATE me. Blue says that no one will want to come to the 2nd birthday party after we sugar them all up for the 1st!

I have a lollipop pinata that I got from Etsy. It's very cute and colorful and it's going to be a great decoration. Sugar isn't exactly old enough to play with a pinata but most of the children that are coming are older than she is. I'm not doing any other real activities so, I hope they like this! It's a pull one, which I've never seen done but seems like a better idea than a bunch of littles swinging a stick at it. I have no idea what I'm going to fill it with. I think I will go to the party store and see what they have. I heard they had some good stuff just for pinatas and parties.

I spent weeks and days and hours looking for THE PERFECT invitation. I had a hard time deciding between a few different ones. I wanted one that introduced the theme, had pretty colors, had no assembly or extra postage required, yada, yada, yada. I finally found some cute ones on Zazzle, asked the seller a bunch of questions and finally (FINALLY) ordered them. I wanted to get them mailed out by the end of the week last week. Well, Monday of last week, I got the shipping details and saw that they weren't going to be delivered until TODAY, Monday the 27th!!!! UGH!! So, I'm hoping I get them today. I can address like a mad woman tomorrow and hopefully get them in the mail by tomorrow afternoon or Wednesday. The best I can hope for is that people will get them at the end of the week. I've emailed or texted most people to give them a heads up. I don't want to have no one there!

The menu will include jambalaya, broccoli salad or cole slaw and bread, a fruit and veggie tray, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for the kids, cake and ice cream. I also might do some frosted brownie bites. I'm not sure exactly, yet. Any suggestions about the menu? I've never thrown a birthday party before and I'm so excited.

Maybe too excited...

I will try to have pictures of the party for yall. My 17-year-old cousin, M1, will be taking pictures so I hope some of those are good! I'm so glad she's agreed to do this for me so I don't have to worry about doing that on top of everything else.

Redecorating

2010-09-24T08:06:00.003-05:00

If I'm gonna be blogging again, I got to get it looking good again. I don't know how to remove that "cutest blog on the block" logo thingy but I'm working on it. For now, I'm playing around with colors and stuff as I find the time.

Please excuse the mess!

So Much To Say

2010-09-23T11:16:00.003-05:00

Yeah, I have not written in a long time. I'm sorry. The thing is, I have no time and I don't like talking to myself. I see (from feeds) that NO ONE (not even my own mother) reads here anymore. And as silly as it may be, I don't like to spend time blogging if no one reads it.

::SUGAR::

Is 11 months old (as of September 17)
Is having a huge birthday party on her actual birthday, October 17
joined The Little Gym, is a Bird, and loves it! We go every Wednesday morning at 9:15
Is crawling but not walking, yet. I think she CAN walk but she's super cautious and won't. She can stand on her own, she crawls on hands and feet even sometimes, but no walking. I'm really not rushing this anyway.
Can sign "milk" and is learning "please", "thank you", and "all done". I LOVE when she signs "milk". It's adorable. She's still nursing and sometimes, when she's nursing, she puts her hand out and does it. Even falling asleep, she's signing... It's amazing how smart babies are.
Does the "touchdown" symbol and can do "Patty Cake" (rolling 'em up, too!).
Knows where her feet are and we are working on nose.
Loves music! She dances to anything- commercials, humming, anything...
needs 2 naps a day but doesn't always take them. Or doesn't take long ones twice a day. She needs 2 naps that last 2 hours but she rarely gets all of that.
Wears size 6-9 months clothes. I'm buying some 12 month fall/winter stuff and hoping she fits into them.
weighs 17 lbs as of Monday afternoon. We have to do weight checks a lot because her weight is not all that great. I'm not concerned at all. She's in the 5th% for her weight but she's very healthy, happy, developing, peeing, pooping, etc...
still doesn't love any solids consistently, except bread (biscuits, rolls, toast, bagels,etc). She is hit or miss on any day. She usually eats best at night.
has three teeth that are fully here (bottom two in front and one of her top front). The eye teeth on both sides and the other front top are peeking out and slowly coming out.
is an absolute joy, joy, joy!

She's awake from her nap so I gotta run! I'll be posting about her party later this week.

Lately

2010-08-04T11:22:00.003-05:00

I have lots of things I want to discuss and not a lot of time. I'm gonna take a page (post) from Kelly and list some of things I want to remember to write about.

Blue's grandmother that I talked about in the last post died. We went back to his hometown last week and it was awful. The funeral was the least awful part though. Seriously. Let me just say now that we won't be going back for awhile. Or at least Sugar and I will not...

Sugar and the great grandmother she is named for in May.

Sugar is 9 1/2 months old. Her birthday is October 17 and I'm starting to plan her birthday party. I need help/advice on some stuff.
Marion, a French girl, is staying with my mom for about 6 weeks.
I'm beginning to think about baby #2.
I'm not losing weight. I'm not even really trying right now.
We (mostly Sugar and me) have been gone a lot this summer. We went to France, the camp (a few times), Florida (Sugar's first beach trip!), Blue's hometown. Sugar and I will be going back to the beach twice before summer is done.

Rough

2010-07-25T17:40:00.004-05:00

Blue's grandmother, the one our girl is named for, is in the hospital. She was taken by ambulance early on Saturday morning. She coded while she was on the way to the hospital and was intubated despite having a DNR. She has an infection and is septic which is causing her heart to slow down. She's on oxygen and other machines (life support) and antibiotics for the infection.

She hadn't been in her right mind, known who she or anyone else was, for a few weeks. She'd been in a lot of pain, was confused, often screaming and crying for her parents. It's so devastating to have this happen to such a strong, confidant, woman.

We are waiting around for news but plan to leave sometime late tomorrow morning. Blue feels (and so do I) that his grandmother is gone. This is just her body being kept alive by machines. He is a VERY practical person who rarely allows emotions to come into play. He's having a rough time understanding his father's choices. I am trying to be the go-between for them. I understand everyone's point of view and position.

It's such a very hard thing for a family to go through. They will have to decide when to withdraw care and while the decision to do so doesn't seem to be very hard to make (what I mean is, she won't get better and had a DNR, it's pretty obvious what should be done), actually carrying it out is another matter entirely.

Sick Sugar

2010-07-21T12:00:00.002-05:00

Sugar has her first little stomach bug. She threw up this morning at about 7. She had three poopy diapers in about 30/45 minutes and that is rare for her since solid foods. Not even rare, it's non existant. I called the pediatrician to talk to the nurse but they said to just come on in. At 9:45. It was 8:30 and we were still in jammies and (me) unbathed.

So, I got bathed and dressed and we ran over there. She weighed 15 pounds 15 ounces. It's teeny but, she eats! What can I say? The doctor came in and checked her out (ears, nose, mouth, etc) and she said everything looked fine. So, I think she's gonna be ok.

I'm working on uploading and tagging pictures from April, May, France trip, beach trip, etc. I will post some as they are done. Pray for no more throw up or poopy.

Gasp Worthy

2010-07-17T12:28:00.001-05:00

I gasped out loud when I saw this picture online. I love Blake Lively's Serena character on Gossip Girl. Well, I love her style and her hair is amazing.

New Shoes

2010-07-10T14:42:00.003-05:00

I was in desperate need of casual shoes. Last night, we went to the mall and I got these. AND I got a bathing suit on sale for $23 from $80. That made looking at myself in the suit a leetle easier. Now, on to the shoes: Volatile "Winery"
Calvin Klein "Daisy"

I bought these about two months ago. I have only worn them a few times but I get a lot of complements on them. They are pretty comfortable, too.

Volatile Swarm

What Sugar Eats

2010-07-08T11:02:00.002-05:00

I was interested in this before we even started solids. I wasn't 100% comfortable with it though so I bought/made some purees to start us off. I also gave her little bites of bread or cracker from the table. She had pureed peas, carrots, green beans, sweet potatoes, apples, peaches. She'd gag on the puree, most of the time, but gobble up the bread.

After reading some blogs about other babies eating real food (not puree), I thought I'd try some of it. I bought whole green beans, steamed them and gave her one. She loved it. She gnaws on them until they are "dead" and picks up another one. At around the same time, my mom bought her this and I put frozen banana in it (it was when her bottom teeth were coming in) and she loved it.

So, no more purees for us. She eats-

steamed whole green beans (she can hold them in her fist and gnaw on them)
steamed broccoli
re fried beans
mashed potatoes made with vegetable broth (we try not to do dairy)
sweet potatoes
oatmeal (real oatmeal, not baby- she hated the baby oatmeal)
watermelon (in feeder)
banana- frozen or not (in feeder)
cantaloupe (in feeder)
honey dew (in feeder)
applesauce (made by me with a little cinnamon)
Gerber Puffs (she loves these but mostly to pick up)
bread (sandwich, croissant, roll)
french fries
hummus (she sucks it off of a pita chip and love, love, loves this!)

We avoid dairy, strawberry, nuts, citrus fruits. I've tried pasta and she liked it. I'm going to do some more tonight because I'm making spaghetti.

She still doesn't eat a whole lot of anything. She is still breastfed and will continue to be for now. I don't have a set time for when I want to stop. I know that right now, I love it, she loves it, I don't want to put her on formula, so we're breastfeeding. Before she was born, when I thought about spacing babies, I thought I don't want two in diapers. Well, turns out, I don't really care about that anymore but I don't want to tandem nurse . So, when Sugar weans, I will try for another one.

The Trip, Cont (Friday)

2010-06-30T19:48:00.000-05:00

Picking up where I left off, I wanted to find a baby boutique but didn't. I figured out how to ask for one but I wouldn't be able to know what they were saying, so it was pointless to ask. And no, I didn't think of that, my mother did.

Friday night, we were invited to a friend's home for dinner. My family is friends with a few different families in France. I've talked about them before, but I'll remind you. A long time ago, my grandfather became friends with a man named Claude through business. Claude lives in Bouc Bel Air in the south of France. About 17 years ago, his youngest daughter, Laeticia, came to stay with my grandparents for the summer and we became close. She was 18 and I was 13. Anyway, she has an older sister, Magalie, who came to visit us last summer with her family (husband, daughter and twin sons).

We were invited to Magalie's apartment in Paris on Friday night. My parents and grandparents have been going to France for the past 5 or so years and they do this every trip. This year there were lots more of us for them to accomidate but they did. It was one of my very favorite parts of the trip. Laeticia and her husband, Manu, and their 3 year old, Melvil, were there, too. She is about 6 1/2 months pregnant with her second child, a girl. LeLe is such an awesome person. I have a bit of a girl crush on her- she's beautiful and smart and sweet.

Anyway, the food was beyond. There were tiny little appetizer pastries and "surprise" sandwiches (I think they were smoked salmon and cream cheese) to go with our champagne. Then , tomato and mozzarella, pate (two or three different types) and foie gras with various sauces(it was my first time having it and I really liked it), bread, cantaloupe with prosciutto. Then, the main course (plat) was beof bourguignon and it was fabulous. It was served with a fingerling potato and lots of gravy/juice. After that course is salad, cheese tray (about 10 or 12 different cheeses) and bread. Finally, she had mini pastries (eclairs, puffy things, cakes) and chocolates. It was incredible and so delicious.

We all drank and ate too much and went back to our cab at around 1:00am. OH! Backing up, when we got to the apartment, I was telling Marc and Laeticia what we did that day and mentioned that I wanted to find a baby boutique and didn't. Marc told me to follow him, so I grabbed my purse and followed. We walked a few blocks and found a few little shops! Most of them were closed because it was after 7 but one was still open and I went nutso.

I bought some long sleeved onesies, a music box, a paci holder that I can't figure out and a kiddie place setting thing. The shop was tiny and SO HOT. I was shocked and disappointed that a lot of stuff was American. I wanted stuff that looked French, you know?

We left Magalie and Marc's apartment and went back to our hotel. We had to meet up in the lobby early the next morning because we were taking the TGV to Bordeaux.

Willies

2010-06-24T15:36:00.002-05:00

Things that give me the willies :

CLOWNS (painted faces)(even though, yes, I love and adore makeup)
Circus music
balloons (mainly latex ones, not like, hot air ones)
cats
the word moist
gel-like substances that have added water to stretch their use (i.e., liquid hand soap in a public restroom that someone added water to)
public restrooms
The Grinch and his hairy, crooked fingers.
All hairy, crooked fingers

That's all for now. I'm still working on the rest of my France trip updates. I'll be posting another installment soon.

Home Sweet (Hot) Home

2010-06-22T14:44:00.002-05:00

I'm back from France! We flew in at about 11pm on Friday night. It was a wonderful, wonderful trip. I loved it. Paris is such a fabulous place and I'm sad that we didn't get to spend more time there. Our trip looked like this:

June 2 (Wed)-Flew to Newark, then from Newark to Paris. Sugar didn't have a ticket on the first flight but she did great. She nursed and slept. She did have a ticket (and her own seat) on the second flight. We had a little "issue" with some crabby lady on our way to the plane. We were boarding and so was she. She asked the lady collecting our boarding passes where they seat babies and she hoped it wasn't in row - whatever her row was. I was LIVID. LIVID. My mom turned and told her, "You'd be lucky to sit next to this baby." I couldn't speak.

We flew Open Skies and it was very nice. I have some fun pictures.

June 3 (Thurs)-Arrived in Paris!! Got a cab to hotel and took a nap. It was about noon. We woke up a few hours later and went out to see the sights. We ate at a little cafe (croque monsieur, fries, salad, and room temperature diet Coke), then walked around. That night, we had a bus tour of Paris (I saw the fancy stores and famous landmarks but I was exhausted). Then, we did a tour down the Seine. It was very, very late when we returned to the hotel and I was so tired.

June 4 (Fri)- My mom, dad, Sugar and me went in search of food and shopping! It was just too much for us with Sugar to try and go to the tower, the Louvre, etc. We decided to just stick close to the hotel and see what we could there. We ate at another little diner- omelets, fries, salad (EVERYTHING comes with fries-frites-and salad). We walked down the middle of the street, where the bikes are, under the trees and amidst all the people. It was so beautiful. We went to the Rue de Rennes because we'd heard that there was good shopping there.

I got some great sunglasses. We passed lots of adorable shops and Sugar strolled in her car seat/stroller thingy. She loved it and had a blast. We ate pain au chocolat at a little bakery. I had one of those (or tried to anyway) every single day I was there. I love, love, loved them. We fed Sugar a plain croissant and had room temperature drinks again. We bought Sugar some cute little French outfits and a little flat teddy bear. I wanted to find a baby boutique but I couldn't.

Gotta run for now... TO BE CONTINUED

Should Be Packing

2010-05-30T10:08:00.004-05:00

I should be doing laundry. Or getting ready to leave the house because I still need to go to Target and Sephora (and maybe Macy's). I should be laying out clothes for Sugar to pack (for me to pack for Sugar) or for myself. But, I'm not.

I'm fretting. I'm worried about:

Sugar not eating enough solids. The doctor told me on Friday that we should be feeding her food three times a day (breakfast, lunch, supper). I currently do not do that. She's not so interested in the solids. She eats from this thing a lot. I put frozen bananas, watermelon, etc in and she loves that. She also likes whole green beans that she can hold in her fist and gnaw on the top. She sucks and gums them until they are "dead" and she throws it. Purees, she's not so into. She gags, thrusts out, "coughs" and turns her head.
My hair in France. I bought this & this in travel size and they are wonderful! The curls are curly, no frizz, soft, just great. But, I don't know how the travel dryer and French water are gonna do for them (the curls). I'm afraid to have what I call "vacation hair." Like this.
They don't love the ice like I do. And I do love ice. And air conditioning.
I need pillows and I don't know if I'll be able to pack any. I need some to lay my head on and I use a body pillow at home for between my knees and hugging. I know I can't bring the bp. I just really hope there are lots of pillows (probably there won't be).
Sugar's ears on the plane. She's never had a problem with her ears before and we went Friday to the pediatrician to check them and they are fine. But still. I will nurse her or give her a bottle of water when we take off and land. I hope that works.
Blue isn't going. I will miss him. I will worry about him- what is he eating (better not be fast food!), does he have clean clothes, is he lonely, is he cleaning up after himself???? I KNOW he's a big boy! I know!!
my own self on the plane. I have never flown for more than 3 hours and after about 2 and a half, I get a little panicky. I feel hot, closed in, ready to get up and get off. I have 8 or more at one time. I think having Sugar to worry about and tend to will help me. Even though I'm almost positive that she will do better than me. She's always pretty chill and happy.

Ok. So, I'm going to get dressed to go shopping. So much to do and only three more days!!!

Tortured

2010-05-26T11:35:00.002-05:00

We are being taken over by mosquitoes. Outside of my back door there are swarms of them and so every.single.time I open the door (you know, to like, EXIT) they all come in the house. I chase them around all day (AND NIGHT!) long.

I'm allergic so I get these huge welts where they've bitten me. Sugar is covered in little pink spots from the bites. She has one on her neck, four on her face, a few on her arms and one on her head. It's very worrisome and embarrassing.

Blue has this fogger thing that he has sprayed many, many times and I guess it just doesn't work. We have mutant mosquitoes that are just hell bent on torturing us. I don't know what to do or how to KILL THEM ALL. We have no standing water anywhere outside that I can see, we keep our yard cut, no trash outside... I'm at a loss.

YES! I am!!

2010-05-23T17:54:00.003-05:00

I am really, really sick of people asking me, "Are you still nursing her?" like she's 12 or something. I told my mom this (after a day of people asking) and she said, "Well maybe they are asking, like curious, not judging." Um, no. What I am talking about is the ones who ask with the emphasis on the "still". They aren't asking out of curiosity (not the ones I'm talking about) because I'm either doing it or just did it or going to do it right then.

She is 7 months old, not 7 years old. The AAP recommends breastfeeding for at least one year. The WHO , 24 months. I don't know when I'll stop, but I hope it's no time soon. I LOVE breastfeeding. That has been one of the biggest surprises for me. I knew I wanted to try it but I kept telling myself that if I couldn't, it wouldn't be a big deal. I didn't have any idea how much I'd really, really love it. I panic thinking about it ending.

*OK, end of this rant for now.*

Watching My Weight

2010-05-20T14:18:00.003-05:00

I'm still doing Weight Watchers but I'm not super duper strict. I am trying to not be crazy wild and eat cake and donuts but I'm not always keeping track of points. I've lost 2-3 pounds or so. I have not exercised at all this week either. My mom got one of those bikes that goes no where and I've been trying to get on it but it just never happened.

I try to eat enough during the day because when I don't, I'm starving at 9 pm. And I'm not as good at eating healthy at that hour. I wish I could not eat a thing past 7 pm but that just doesn't work for me. Especially since breast feeding makes me hungry and Sugar eats a lot at night. I don't want to compromise my breast feeding relationship in any way. I already get panicky thinking of it ending.

For breakfast, I eat either an oatmeal and banana or 100 calorie English muffin and a scrambled egg. I have WW Smart Ones or turkey on whole wheat or a big salad for lunch. I just had one of those big salads and it had the bag of greens with carrots and snow peas, extra carrots (shredded- love those), grape tomatoes, 3 ounces of turkey, 2% shredded sharp Cheddar cheese and an avocado. The problem that I always have is the dressing!!

My favorite dressing is from a local seafood restaurant, a Parmesan vinaigrette. I wish I knew how to make it. It's olive oil, vinegar, Parmesan cheese and ? I don't like a lot of dressings and I don't want to eat all my calories with the ones that I do love- bleu cheese or peppercorn Ranch. I HATE fat free Ranch. I need to find a good olive oil and vinegar recipe.

We have regular suppers. Blue doesn't like a lot of stuff so that makes it hard. He wants beef and beef and more beef with something cheesey and startchy on the side. I try to cook the foods we love but make them healthier however I can- wheat pasta or rice, low fat or no fat cheese, sauce, whatever, baked in the oven... We have whole wheat pasta with chicken, broccoli and pesto sauce a lot. It's filling and pretty healthy.

My favorite treat, especially at night when I really want chocolate, is Chocolate Cheerios. Oh so yum! 3/4 of a cup is only 2 points. I eat it with Silk Light (soy milk) and it's very delicious. It's filling and sweet and chocolatey. It's not a big hunk of warm chocolate cake but it's good enough and it's not gonna make me fat(er).

Packin'

2010-05-18T12:49:00.004-05:00

I"m beginning to pack for the trip. I'm making lists (toiletries for me and Sugar, in diaper bag, still need to buy, etc) and buying things. I wish Aveeno made travel sizes! I use a lot of those products for Sugar and I can't find any travel sizes. I have some Earth Mama Angel Baby lotion in a travel size that I'll be putting in the diaper bag. I'm just gonna pack a regular sized one in the suitcase.

In carry on: (this is so super important)

diapers (I don't know how many yet. We have a three hour plane ride to Newark. Then about eight hours to Paris. I'm thinking maybe 10-12 diapers.)

wipes

Boogie Wipes (love)

paci x2

outfits x2 (maybe three? Just easy creeper type outfits)
toys (especially Sophie)

Hooter Hider

Earth Mama Angel Baby lotion

pink stroller blanket

store brand acetaminophen and ibuprofen

Ora Gel

disposable changing pad

bottle of water (for Sugar and for mama)

breast pads

wallet (with ID, credit card, money)

lip gloss and balm

powder

passports

my meds
book (will decide on one later- any suggestions?)
magazines (will buy in airport)
face spray (LOVE this stuff)

What else?

Tidbits

2010-05-17T01:30:00.002-05:00

Sugar is 7 months old today. I love that she's healthy and growing and meeting milestones but I don't like that it's all flying by so quickly.
At her 6 month well check up, her weight fell from the 25th percentile to the 10th. She'd only gained one pound from her 4 month check up to her 6 (she weighed 13#10oz at 6 months) month. As of May 12, she weighed 14#9.5oz.
She has started solids. We've done carrots, peas, apples, bananas, beef (puree) and oatmeal. She HATES oatmeal and she LOVES carrots. But, she doesn't love to eat solids. I don't do it consistently and she never eats more than a few bites. I'm not too worried about it. I've just kinda pushed the milk. She was so distracted during the day that she wouldn't eat a whole lot at a few of the feedings. Now, I will go in a dark, quite room and lay down with her if I have to to get her to eat. It's working.
She cut her first tooth on Thursday! Equally happy and sad (see first tidbit).
I'll write more all about Sugar this week.
We have two weeks and two days until we go to France. Oh My God!!!
I think I have all of the clothes that I need. I may buy one more pair of black pants and possibly some blue jean capris but that will be determined later this week.
I have a weird "rash" (for lack of a better term) and have had it for some time. I admit that I don't really look at myself naked a whole lot and I saw some bumps a while ago and just didn't think of it. Then, last week, I found myself naked in front of a full length mirror. I noticed spots all over my trunk and some on my legs. Hm. Well, I see a PCP on Tuesday, so I guess I'll find out then.
I started AND finished reading The Help last week. We had to make a semi sudden trip to Georgia and I read it on the way there and the way back. I loved it. I'm proud to have finished a non parenting/pregnancy book. I don't think I've done that in a very long time. I was reading We Were the Mulvanys towards the end of my pregnancy but never finished. Not because I didn't like it but because I misplaced it. I recently found it though. I bought another book but I don't remember the name of it. I miss reading books.
I got all messed up because we had to take that trip to Georgia. One of Blue's childhood best friends' daddy died so we all went over so he could go to the funeral. Sugar and I had tentative plans to go anyway this week but we decided all going then was best. We left on a Wednesday and got home Sunday. My PaPa received a very important award in his field this past Tuesday and in order for my aunt to go, I stayed back with M3 and D. That's five children all together. But it was a lot to have been gone from home that long. France is really gonna mess me up!
It's almost 2am. I can't sleep. I have so much to do and my mind just won't calm down. I hate that.

Gone So Long

2010-05-13T10:32:00.004-05:00

I promise I'm gonna write something soon. Not now, of course, but soon....

We are doing great and planning for our trip to France....

Purple Passion

2010-04-22T12:45:00.002-05:00

I finally got my computer in and it's great. Well, it will be when I get it all set up (tomorrow) the way I like it. It's purple, too and that's fun. For some reason, I can't type for long without it opening up tabs and changing the zoom. ? I don't know why it does this but I do know that it drives me batty.

I'll be back for lots of good long posts as soon as this is all worked out.

WW

2010-04-14T18:39:00.002-05:00

So, I signed up for Weight Watchers yesterday. I'm disgusted with myself- my weight, my belly, my arms, my thighs- something's gotta give. I'm trying to lose AT LEAST 10-12 pounds before we go to France (June 2). I'm hoping for more like 20 but we'll see.

I've been taking Sugar in the stroller and walking around the neighborhood everyday. I also do some exercises inside the house (situps, lunges). I don't have the treadmill anymore and I guess it's just as well. It's not as easy to walk outside but I know that Sugar loves it. When my baby carrier comes in, I'll strap her in there and go. I also have Wii Fit Plus but I don't have everything I need for it. Yeah, that's how I roll.

I've been cutting back and changing what I eat, too. And I think my body is just so ready to lose weight that I'm not having too much of a problem. I eat 1/2 cup of oatmeal every morning and that helps me with my hunger. Sugar and I went to Target today and bought lots of veggies and fruits and low cal snacks.

Blue is semi on board. He wants me to start packing his lunch again. I bought turkey and 100 calorie packs of chips and bars for him. I also bought some Smart One's frozen meals for my lunchtime. The kicker will be suppertime. Blue is picky and weird about food. He's not a fan of many vegetables and there are lots of other things he doesn't eat. I don't want to cook one meal for him and one for me. I am hoping that we can get around this somehow.

When's a good weigh-in day? I'm thinking Friday? It's before the weekend, you know?

Freeze

2010-04-13T16:47:00.002-05:00

The other night, while I was watching Blue play with and love on Sugar before bed, I thought to myself how I'd just like to freeze time. Freeze sweet Sugar at this age (6 months old on Saturday)-she's smiley, she laughs, she sleeps, she breastfeeds. She is so sweet and calm and healthy and gorgeous. Freeze time so that my grandfather doesn't get any sicker, my parents are happy and healthy, Blue and I have everything we've wanted for so long.

I know that time will bring sickness, loss, death. Things will change and I just love things the way they are now. I know that time will also bring us joy- more children, new friends, milestones. I've never been this happy or this scared. With so much joy and love, I have so much farther to fall. Why isn't there a button to push so that it can all just freeze?

Unconnected

2010-04-07T19:45:00.002-05:00

Here's the sorry story:
On Easter Sunday, I lost my phone. I think I put it on the trunk of my car when we got to church so I could get Sugar out of her seat and put her in her dress. I THINK. I know I had it in the car when I drove up to church and I have not seen it since. And I LOVED that phone. More and more ever since I lost it.

Also, my computer is dead. It's a pos and I can't get the power cord to stay in and it drives. me. bananas. So, Blue ordered me a new one and I should get it with in the next few days. I'm using his right now (and it's always a big ordeal and hard to have a turn).

I HATE that I lost all my contacts! I HATE that all of my "favorited" websites are gone!!! I'll be so glad to get it all back the way it's supposed to be.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T19:52:00.000-05:00

From Sugar the Bunny!!

Road Runners

2010-03-30T16:53:00.002-05:00

Sugar and I went to the camp this past weekend. It was fun, as usual. We came home early on Sunday morning because mom and I had tickets to see Wicked. It was so incredible. I've seen a few musicals on tour (including Damn Yankees and Phantom of the Opera) but this one was my favorite so far. I'm a huge, huge lover of theatre and musicals in general and it's been a long time since I've seen a good one. Or any one, for that matter.

I'm obsessed with Wicked now. I can't stop listening to the music and I want to get my hands on the book. I had it at one time and lost it when we moved. There is a new library near my house so, I'm gonna go check that out soon.

Tomorrow we are going to drive a few hours to visit my cousin and his family. He has a wife, a six-year-old daughter and boy/girl twins that will be 2 in July. We saw them at Christmas but didn't have a whole lot of time to spend together. Sugar has changed SO much since then, too. I'm excited for all of the kids to be together. I'm gonna have to get extra batteries for my camera.

After we are there for a few days, we are gonna stop and visit my other cousin, Jen. Jen and I are pretty close. I'm sure I've discussed them here or on the other blog. She has three sons and they are so much fun. I'm excited to spend some time with them, too. I want Sugar to have lots of family in her life so this is important to me.

I should have lots of good pictures to show off after all of this visiting. And maybe even one of me and the bangs! They really have turned out to be not so bad. I AM growing them out though. I can't have bangs this short when we go to France. Just because I can't. Also, on the shopping for France front- I'm doing pretty good! I need a few more tops and shoes but I've got a great start. I have four dresses that are gonna be great!!

These cousins live out in the sticks and have (gasp!) dial up so no telling how much computer time I'll get. Hope you all have a fabulous Easter!