Because I can't take off all my clothes

First, it's been getting hot here. I know, only in the 80's and it get's MUCH hotter in the summer. But, opening the windows just wasn't cutting it anymore. Lovey was getting uncomfortable, I was getting uncomfortable, Mr. S just plain hated it. I can stand to be warm. If it weren't for Lovey, I wouldn't have done it. But, I did it. I turned on the air conditioner. Oh, central air, how I love thee. It was cooler in here within minutes.

I'm not complaining. I would be perfectly content with this weather all year long. I hate, HATE winter and cold weather. I love spring! Plus, I get to dress Lovey in cute little outfits.

Second, have I told you how good Lovey sleeps. I'm not just Lucky Gem, I'm Lucky Momma! According to what I have read, it is considered sleeping through the night when they sleep 5 to 6 hours straight. Well, Lovey has been doing that for three weeks now and often times sleeps 7 hours before waking up to be fed. I hope this continues.

She's so funny because when she is tired, there is no stopping her from falling asleep. Here, take a look for yourself.

I was on the phone with her in my lap. Out like a light.

I laid her down to change her diaper. Out!

Here, I laid her down to try to keep her awake before bed. That worked.

Spring Fever

What happens to one's flower beds when one gets pregnant in the summer making her unable to tend to them because of the amount of time spent hovering over the porcelain bowl?

This:

Am I proud? No. It actually drove me crazy because I didn't feel like messing with them. There was a half-assed attempt at planting some Mums and Pansies this past fall.

But now, I'm ready and feeling great. We've already conquered one flower bed.

The spring fun has just begun. The hubby mowed the yard yesterday, the grass is greening, the weeds are dying. It won't be long until we can stomp our bare feet through the soft grass. Oh, wait. We can't stomp in the front yard. Mr. S would have our hyde. That's okay. Come on over, we'll stomp out back!

It hasn't been all fun and games

What have I been doing since taking leave from work Jan. 5? Well, actually not much the first two weeks. Having a basketball in your belly kinda limits the wild and crazy nights. Once Lovey came, there was a lot of time devoted to taking care of her and sleeping when I could. After several weeks, I had gotten used to less sleep while Lovey was sleeping all the time. I needed something to keep me busy. I took the opportunity to clean out the attic. We've only been living in this house for two years, but there was some stuff we should not have been hoarding in the attic. Like old dishes that belonged to Mr.S's grandparents, and Mr. S thought it would hurt his mom's feelings if we asked her to take the stuff back. Too bad. I wanted it out of the attic. There was six boxes of the crap. I kinda forced Mr. S to ask what she wanted us to do with the stuff. She went through it, took what she wanted and the rest is history. Am I mean? But the end result:

I didn't take a before picture. But there is so much more room to walk around now! And I know exactly what's where. Mr. S looked the other day and complimented me on the nice work.

Tomorrow...what we are doing outside. Pictures included.

Boring.

It wasn't bad after all

I made it through 9 hours of work on Saturday and 8 hours of work today. It was kinda fun. Really. I know, sick. Anyway, I didn't worry about Lovey because I knew she was being well taken care of by Mr. S. I did miss her and grab her up as soon as I got home. Now I get to spend the rest of the week with her. I feel really lucky that I can do both.

("Hey dog, stay away from me with that big, slobbery tongue")

I am so smarter than a 5th grader

If y=3x and 3x=12, what does y=? 12 people!! 12!!!! You don't even have to do any math to figure out that problem. And who doesn't know what country you would be in if you crossed the northern border of the United States. And, folks, we here in North America live in the WESTERN hemisphere! Where do they find these people to play? I'm sure the pressure of being on a game show gets to you. But, we're at home screaming at you.

I love the show. Guilty as charged.

Not the same, but close enough

Over at Isabel there was a challenge to post a Senior Prom picture. Since I don't have a scanner to scan one in, I'll just use the one that was taken last summer. You see, my crazy best friend and I thought it would be funny to try on our senior prom dresses 9 years after that fabulous night. (Oh boy, this year is our 10 year class reunion). We had had a few drinks. Good times.



Here we are:

Spring is in the air and in my hands apparently

Don't ya just love Spring?! Doesn't it make ya want to turn flips or maybe a backhandspring? Wait, did I just type backhandspring? Yep!

You see, I took gymnastics when I was a young kid. My sister and I were on the competition team. (I even remember a button I had that said "Made it to State in '88). Anyway, that next year my parents divorced, and we moved an hour away. That made staying at the same gym for gymnastics impossible. I wish now I had been more insistant that my mom put me back in gymnastics. While I can't still do the splits and for sure can't do a backhandspring on the beam anymore, I can still do a backhandspring. Nope, you don't need glasses. I said I can still do a backhandspring. The warm weather made me want to try it. I usually do a couple a year, just to make sure I can. It's kinda like riding a bicylcle. So, with the pressure of my 8 year old niece, I did it. I did a backhandspring in the front yard of my mom's house. I was so excited. I mean, I'm 27 and just had a baby 8 weeks ago. I might just have to do backhandsprings more often now. It's a real esteem booster.

Also, yesterday, Baby S and I took a walk around the neighborhood. It was very nice and peaceful. Never thought I would be one to walk the neighborhood with a stroller in tow. I liked it. I'm going to keep doing it, but next time in shorts. Whew, it got hot! (Kellie, I know you are wishing you had our 80 degree weather!)

I go back to work Saturday. I am only going to work two days a week though. I really like being home with Baby S and playing with my sister and Eva during the day. I also like my job and my customers are asking about me. It's a good chance for me to get out of the house without Baby S (as much as I'll miss her) and for me to make some play money and not feel guilty for shopping all the time.

Speaking of shopping, I thought I was going to have to shop for new shorts this summer. I went through my drawer last night, and I can still wear several of my shorts. Though, they are a little tighter, but I won't have to wear a belt with them this year. I was very happy about that. Maybe with the backhandsprings and walking, they'll losen up.

I think that's about it for now. I need to get ready while my Lovey is asleep. My sister and I are taking the girls in their matching Old Navy outfits to see the Easter Bunny at the mall.

I call Baby S "Lovey". She's just so sweet.

Seak Peek

My sister and I went Easter dress shopping! Look at my baby girl. I told her to smile for y'all!

Where does the time go?

Six years ago on March 18, 2001, I married Mr. S. He is wonderful, he spoils me, he takes care of me, he supports me (not just financially), he is my hubby, my best friend, and truly the person I share everything with. (No kidding, we're the first ones to run home and tell the other the latest.) I couldn't be happier. (Okay, I could be finished with school for this career path.) He didn't seem the marrying kind when we met. Far from it. He was the pot smoking, alcohol drinking bachelor. I was 17 and a senior in high school, he 23, living in an apartment with a roomate. That was in 1996. I managed to con my way into his heart by the time I was 18, and into his house by the time I was 19. He graciously let me put up pictures and curtains. Finally, at 21, and living together for over a year (of course, rent free), he asked me to marry him. By then, he had been with me as I graduated high school, turned the big 18, started college, and turn the big 21. Since, he has seen me graduate college with my Bachelor's degree, try my hand at a counseling career and a real estate career, and change my mind once again and try for pharmacy school. He has seen me turn the big 25, comforted me through my pre-cancerous cells scare (of the cervix), and watched my give birth to our baby girl. I know he's going to be by my side for many more events in not only my life, but now Baby S's life. Did anybody see the first episode of Wedding Bells? There was a part where the bride asked one of the wedding planners if getting married makes you more secure about your relationship and seven years down the road, are you still as much in love. My answer, YES. Completely, totally YES!

As we sat in our private little booth at dinner last night, we talked about us. What we have shared over the past 10 years. He told me things he remembered, things I didn't think he did. We didn't talk about the future or what Baby girl will be doing in the next ten years. We just focused on the here and now. We had a great, relaxing dinner at our favorite fondue restaurant.
Before we went to dinner, we went to see Premonition. Probably not the best movie to go see on your anniversary. But, it did have a good moral to the story. It's a good movie. Go see it.

Are you thinking where is Baby S during all this? She was with my mom. They picked her up around 2:00 pm and took her to my step-dad's mom's house about an hour away. Not only was it the first time someone was going to keep her, she was going out of town. Don't worry, I had given it some thought the night before. I knew she would be in good hands (a pharmacist and a paramedic who have raised umpteenth million kids can handle an eight week old). I just was going to miss her and was afraid she would miss me. Hrmf! She did great! But, I sure was glad to see her come home around 9:30 last night. She even slept for 8 hours straight last night. EIGHT HOURS WITHOUT WAKING UP! I woke up at 5:30 and immediatly went to check on her. She was sound asleep.

We had a great anniversary, regardless of the fact that we didn't exchange gifts. We didn't need to. We have what we want.

Vintage 1979 Dress

I was 7 weeks old myself when I wore this same dress back in 1979. Here my baby girl is 27 years later wearing it. I wish I had a scanner to scan in my old picture.

I'm hungry AND I can't go back to sleep

It's like 5:20 am... AM! Way too early for me to be awake. No, Baby S is not awake. This is what it is. Mr. S has this little thing that we like to call "jumpy leg". Technically, he's been diagnosed with Restless Leg Syndrome. But, I'm the one that really suffers from it. He came to bed this morning around 4:00 a.m. On the weekends, he usually stays up to give Baby S her middle of the night feeding. Works great for me. But tonight, his leg was "jumpy". I woke up when he came to bed. Fine. But, I was having difficulty going back to sleep. Fine. OH NO. That's when it started. The slight twitching of the leg. As you may recall, I sleep alone all.week.long. I really have to adjust to weekend sleeping with Mr. S. So, really, anything out of the ordinary throws me off. Tonight was one of those nights. Not Mr. S's fault. And the leg twitching probably wouldn't bother most people, but I lay there anticipating the next twitch, so I can't go back to sleep. Bleh. Well, I decided to move to the couch. Well, 30 minutes later, here I am. Still awake. And before, I would've been able to fall back to sleep pretty easy on the couch. But, have I mentioned my child sleeps in the living room? She does. It's simple really.

Remember the first two weeks Mr. S was home with me and Baby S, and he stayed up at night with her while I slept. Well, where do you think Baby S was. In the living room in her Pack-n-play. When Mr. S went back to work, we moved it into our bedroom. Baby S wasn't sleeping well. I'm convinced it was because she sensed me in the room because she wouldn't make a noise until I came to bed, then she would wake up and not really go back to sleep real well. That went on for a week or two, and I couldn't take the lack of sleep anymore, so we decided to try moving her back to the living room. Ahhh, it seems to work. She does well, I do well. I don't hear her every little groan....until tonight. Cuz I tried to go back to sleep on the couch. Again, here I am. Still 5:40 in the morning. I should be sleeping. MY BABY IS SLEEPING! Plus, I have a full day tomorrow. I may have to cut something out. I don't know if I'll make it. Baby S's granny (Blue Angel's mom) is coming over around noon, my sister and I were going to go clean my mom's house, and I have a jewelry party at 6:30 pm. Don't worry Stephsky, I'll be there.

Cleaning my moms house? Why? Well, they are on a cruise with my niece and nephew. Lucky kids. I'm so jealous. They deserve it. That's another story. But, my mom and stepdad have custody of my niece and nephew who are 8 and 7. Keep in mind, my mom is 55 and my stepdad is 60. They should be empty nesters. No, they have always had kids in their house. My mom is a pharmacist so she works full time. My stepdad, though on leave for an injury right now, normally works as well, but is home alot with the kids because of his schedule (at the Fire Dept). Oh, yeah, why are we cleaning their house? A 7 and 8 year old take up alot of time. Especially when they have full schedules of Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, basketball, baseball, soccer, you name it. And, as great as my stepdad is for accepting my niece and nephew as his own flesh and blood, he and the kids can make a mess of a house while she is at work. It's a bit overwhelming for my mom. It's been really bothering her lately. So, while they are on vacation, my sister and I thought we would relieve her of some stress. It probably won't stay clean very long, and I'll probably have to shoot my stepdad, but it'll be worth seeing the relief on my mom's face.

Done with that. On to what else that's been running through my mind.

Blue, last night...good times. I know you probably don't want to hear that. I'm sorry. And, I hope that doesn't put you under any pressure or make you uncomfortable. But, it was fun. Maybe a little awkward, but we (Mr. S and I) have missed the fun times. Okay, you can shoot me now. But first, you HAVE to post the story of the bathroom in Alabama!

Hmm..is there anything else? Well, for those who didn't get my email, go here.

OH!! I can't believe I almost forgot. Recall, Baby S is only 7 weeks old. SEVEN WEEKS!! Mr. S's mom has asked three times when we are going to start her on cereal. The last time she asked Mr. S, I only heard his side of the conversation because they were on the phone. I heard him say, "She's not old enough." So, of course, I questioned him when he got off the phone. I was a little bothered by her inquiry. I asked why she was asking and he said because she said by the time they were Baby S's age she had started them on cereal even though back then it was not recommended either. WHAT? Then leave us the hell alone about it. First, OUR baby. Second, we had already told her probably not before she's around 4 months old, but we were going to take cues from Baby S letting us know when she was ready for cereal. If she's ready before then, fine, if not, fine. She is doing terrifically on her formula. Sleeping beautifully at night. Yeah, let her ask me again.

No words needed

Hair, Be Gone!

I got my hair chopped yesterday. It's short. Shorter than I expected, but I like it. I'm not sure how it'll do when I wash and blow dry it, cuz you know it never again looks like it did when you leave the salon. It's kind of a short, choppy bob. Similar to Reese's pic. Like?

Just because I wanted to share

I bought these for the girls. Aren't they going to be so cute in their matching outfits. Of course, of course, we will take pictures. Oh, just wait for Easter pictures in their little frilly dresses.

Quick Peek at Baby S

I was vacuuming. She is so relaxed! She loves the vacuum cleaner.

Tummy Time! Ain't she cute.

I went shopping today to buy little long legs some sleep-n-plays. And while I was there, picked up a few things for me. Guess what?! I bought a size 3 jeans!! Yay. My 5's are getting looser. Maybe it's because I haven't had any Girl Scout Cookies this week. That's okay. I'm going to to to my mom's house and buy some more.

Hello, my name is Mrs. S and I'm a Samoa addict.

Having a Baby Really Does Change Everything

I'm still not able to upload any pictures, so I guess I'll appease Kellie and blog. Just kidding, Kellie. I know I've been slacking. But jeez, I have a baby!

Now, they really have it right. Having a baby DOES change everything. It changes you. It changes your family. It changes how and when you get ready to go somewhere. It changes how you sleep, oh boy! I know I was in denial about how much my, well, our life would change. We cheer when she burps. We hug when she sleeps. We shower a little more efficiently. We make lists for shopping because we WILL forget something if we don't. She is always on my mind. When I don't get to hold her for a while, I can't wait til I can. I wonder how I will do when I go back to work, even if it is only two days a week. Will she miss me? I know I will miss her.

Mr. S and I will be celebrating our 6th wedding anniversary March 18. I've asked my mom to babysit while we go out to dinner. We usually either go here or here. I guess we need to decide so we can make reservations. I know I won't worry about Baby S while we are out. I will, however, probably miss her. It's amazing, really. How such a tiny little soul can do that to you.

On a side note, BABY S IS SMILING on PURPOSE now!! It is so cute. She likes Patty Cake. And loves to be talked to. It's inevitable, she's gonna be a chatterbox. AND, she is six weeks old already. I held her a little extra on Monday because I thought, "She's only going to be six weeks old once." Who knew I could be such a sap. I just can't believe I've made it this long being sleep deprived. She does okay going back to sleep in the middle of the night, but once she is up at 5:30 or 6:00 am, she's up for a little bit. That's just when I feel like I have to go back to sleep. Eventually, I get her back to sleep, and we nap on the couch for another couple of hours.

Baby S goes later this month for her two month check up and SHOTS! I think I'm going to need someone to come hold my hand. Any volunteers? No? Really?


*Totally off the subject, but remember I said Mr. S's parents smoke like chimneys, and they went to Denver a couple of weeks ago. Denver, higher altitude, thinner air. Tennessee, thick, humid air. Getting my drift. My stepdad warned Mr. S that his parents were going to have a hard time breathing in Colorado. He called it. The day after they arrived, Mr. S's dad was put in the hospital and on oxygen because he couldn't breath.
I told Mr. S that they wouldn't blame it on smoking. I was right. His mom came to visit Baby S a few days after their return. Mr. S asked how his dad was doing. His mom remarked "He's not going back to Denver with me until he looses some weight." (he's a bit overweight, to say the least). WHAT!! Of course, Mr. S asked if he was still smoking and she said "Yes, but he needs to lose that weight." Dude, they won't even acknowledge that the smoking was the main reason. Aahhh!!

Baby S is waking. I've spent most of her nap blogging. Happy now?

Argh!

I'm trying to post pictures from the girls' first trip to the park today. Wouldn't ya know, Blogger is having issues. Check back. I'm going to keep trying.

An Almost Slumber Party

My sister and I are pretty chicken when it comes to storms. I don't know why. Any mention of tornados on the news freaks us out. Actually, I have gotten much better since we moved into this house because the trees we do have in our yard aren't big ones. At our other house, we had a gigantic tree in the back yard. Plus, one time, our neighbors' had a tree fall into our yard, luckily only scraping the house and only damaging the fence.
Yesterday, the weather reports were a little frightening talking about how severe the storms could get because of the cold front moving in behind the warm front. I even got an email and in it was this from someone working at one of the local news stations:

Morning folks...don't mean to sound like chicken little but I just
had a weather briefing and things could get pretty rough around midnight
and on into early tomorrow morning. Things are setting up much like this past Saturday with two major differences. One - the storms that were south of us Saturday will be over our heads tonight. Two - and here's where it gets a little technical, but a cap in the atmosphere will erode very quickly tonight causing thunderstorms to explode. This is what will cause us to have large hail and more than likely super cell tornados. These are the kind that are not as widespread but do the most damage. I'm not trying to alarm anyone, just might want to be on the lookout before you go to bed tonight. The main reason I'm sending this out
is because every single computer model agrees with this forecast. This is extremely rare when all 5 agree.

While the email had me a little worried, I didn't want to worry too much. Because, one, that would never happen here (that's how I rationalize things) and two, there's not much I can do about it. BUT, my sister had also been keeping up with the weather reports. We had been out shopping together earlier (yes, Kellie, we went to Target where we also ran into Margarita), and we didn't really talk about the weather. I mean, we were shopping, with our cute little babies. Later, she called wanting to know how I felt about the possible severe weather. Neither of us really wanted to be alone (her hubby works nights as well). She suggested either Baby S and I go to her house or Baby Eva and her come to my house. By this time, Mr. S wasn't feeling any better and hadn't gotten much sleep (some sort of allergy/sinus attack) so he decided to take the night off. Problem solved. Baby Eva and my sister came to my house. We thought the girls were going to have their first slumber party. We were having so much fun playing with them.
But, we watched the 10:00 news, and it seemed that the weather may not get as bad as they had thought. Even the worst wasn't supposed the come through until around 6 am. So, my sister decided to go ahead and go home so Baby Eva would be more comfortable.

So, it's almost 11:00 am and so far, it's only rained. I think I heard a few claps of thunder last night, but that's it. We are still under a tornado watch until this evening. Maybe there is something still possible, but I've been up since 7 am, and it hasn't done a thing.
What did I learn from all this? Not much really. I already knew the news could blow things out of proportion. But, I guess it's better to err on the side of caution.
Since Mr. S was home last night, I got to sleep all night!!