A Few of My Favorite Things....by Sadie

Getting into EVERYTHING:

getting into Momma's camera case

Climbing stairs:

Since she can open the gate, we decided to block it with a chair......

so what does she do?  Move the chair!  She's so proud of herself.

Playing in the water:

Making a dog food mess:

Melting my Momma's heart:

Thanks, Captain Obvious

Like every other parent out there, I think my child is adorable.  Not only do I love her sweet little personality, but I think she is as cute as a button.  And yes, I know she looks like Kris.

Any time we go out as a family, we hear it.  Perfect strangers will take one look at Sadie, look at Kris, and then gasp in shock.  I've been told more than a few times that she looks nothing like me because she looks completely like Kris.  I know, I know!  When I had my ultrasound, we didn't want to know if we were having a boy or a girl.  It was a complete surprise.  But even at 18 weeks, it was no surprise that my child was going to look like Kris - it was that obvious, even in the ultrasound.

Just tonight, we went to dinner.  We were sitting, minding our own business, laughing at Sadie as she played with a little yellow duck.  A couple sat down two tables away from us, and we hear it - she looks JUST like her daddy.  Then a waiter came over (he wasn't even out waiter) and was talking to Sadie.  He asked - where did she get those big blue eyes?  I just sort of nodded towards Kris, he looked up, and the waiter said - oh, definitely from him.  (and while I'm on the subject of eyes.....after my very first date with Kris, I called my mom to tell her how it went, and I remember telling her that he had really pretty eyes.  So I'm happy that Sadie got them!)

I love Sadie's little pug nose.  I'm happy that the doctor thinks she's going to be tall and lean.  I'm thankful for all of her physical attributes.  Since I only had about 2-3 years of cuteness in my life, I'm not necessarily upset that Sadie doesn't look like me.  However, I was the one in bed for at least eight weeks.  I was the one who spent those weeks puking my guts out every day.  I was the one who had swollen feet and hands.  And I was the one who gave birth to the child after carrying her for 276 days.  Don't I get at least a little credit?

So people, please....if you don't know what to say about my sweet Sadie, can you just say that she's cute (even if you don't think so) and leave it at that?  We all know who she looks like.

Drama/Trauma, Tomato/Tomahto

A few months ago, I shared about my shopping experience with a personal shopper.  I knew the day was coming when I'd be going shopping again, this time for summer clothes.  Summer clothes means showing more skin - eek!  My plan was to get in shape and use self tanner before the shrinking hemlines came into season.  Well, that didn't happen, but the shopping must go on.

Last Thursday was the day.  I must admit that it was a success.  I had a good, everyday wardrobe in less than two hours.  I tried on who knows how many tops, pants, and shorts, and I didn't even shed a tear.  UNTIL......Kris had told me that I needed serious swimsuit help.  Thanks, Dear.  I know I need help, but what kind of torture are you trying to put me through, asking me to go shopping with a critic for a swimsuit?  We were wrapping things up, she was talking about how we'd had a successful day, and with every ounce of courage I had, I mumbled/whispered - uh, maybe, if you have time and don't mind, it's ok if you don't want to, really we don't have to, but....swimsuits?  She looked at me, smiled, and said - I'm on it!

Before the torture began, I gave her a list of my requirements.  As I was making a purchase, she was in the swimsuit department preparing for my complete embarrassment.  Little beads of perspiration began gathering on my nose, my upper lip was moist, did I remember to put on deodorant?  My heart was racing.  I couldn't breathe very well.  And what does she tell me?  Shut up, get over it, and put on this swimsuit!  Oh, and yes, she was in the dressing room with me.  Seriously, can you think of anything worse?  I can't.  This clip kind of sums up in a way how I felt.

I put on one and she said - nope.  Next one - that's kind of cute.  But it didn't cover enough for me (one of my requirements was either shorts or a skirt).  I began to put one on, and before I even had a chance to get it all the way on, she told me to take it off.  As she went out to look for more options, I sent Kris a text telling him how I was literally sweating profusely in the dressing room.  It was a dramatic AND a traumatic experience.  We finally settled on something.

So the day came this weekend when it was time to wear a swimsuit since I was taking Sadie to the pool.  Kris wasn't around, so I put on an "old faithful", complete with shorts to cover as much as possible.  It didn't take me long to find out that once that particular pair of shorts gets wet, they seem to stretch out and fall off.  It was not a pretty sight.  They clung to me as they sagged and dripped.  I tried to sit in an area where nobody could see me as I watched all the perfectly fit moms parading around in their cute suits.  I was embarrassed, ashamed, and ready to go home.  I wasn't there long before covering myself up with a towel and getting away from my own personal horror show.  I guess that means that it's time to be brave and put on one of those new suits.....and just make sure that I stay in water at least up to my waist at all times!

Bachelorette

OK, so I recently talked about the rut I've been in.  I haven't had anything to write about.  Well, that all changes tonight!  It's Bachelorette night, and yes, I am a fan of the Bachelor/Bachelorette franchise.  Am I supposed to be a mature adult?  Yes.  Do I believe the show really works?  Not really.  But is the show entertaining?  Very much so.  So here goes....my thoughts as the show progresses.

- the only thing stronger than the sun is love, light up my life (something like that)....oh dear, did he really just say that and not expect to get made fun of by his friends?

- Mr. Harvard/Yale/marathoner/I-love-myself....gag

- on a scale of 1-10 of how passionate I am, I am a 15, maybe 215.  GUYS!  Come on!  Really?

- Kris just joined me - loving his sarcastic comments

- if someone rapped for me or gave me a cheesy gift on our first meeting, I don't think I could keep a straight face

- dude, button your shirt and get rid of the gold chain!

- does the masked man think he's really hot or really ugly?

- I hate all the fake flowers.

- the mom on the phone didn't just say that, did she?!

- I have no words for the drunk guy.  Sad.

- the mask guy is calling himself mature - ha ha ha!  (but who am I to laugh, I'm watching this show - not necessarily mature)

- I didn't notice, is Ames wearing socks?  He wasn't wearing them in the little clip at the beginning.

- Chris Harrison's suit is shiny and his hair is stylin'

I'm sure this will be one of the most dramatic seasons ever.  

Stuck in a Rut

Some may call it a schedule; I call it a deep rut.

OK, I just now deleted everything I had written.  I know that you really have no desire to read my daily routine.  Or about the fact that we eat the same thing for breakfast EVERY DAY.  Lunch doesn't change much either.  I can never think of anything new to cook for dinner that doesn't require lots of time/thought/ingredients/etc.  I do the same thing, go to the same places, fight the same battles every single day.  ENOUGH!  I'm bored!  I can't even think of anything interesting to write about.  HELP!!!!

And now it's time to get up and head to the kitchen.  What shall it be tonight?  Meat, potatoes, and a salad? Now doesn't that sound exciting?  zzzzzzzzz!!!!!!!!!!

How Old Am I?

OK, so I really like Icees.  I like watching Gilmore Girl reruns.  I enjoy "arts and crafts".  Just yesterday I purchased tickets to go see the American Idol tour.  I'm really scared of bugs.

Yet I am old enough to have a child of my own.  I can remember when they used to say I could sponsor a starving child for the price of a cup of coffee a day - 35 cents.  I was born in the 1900s.

hhhmmmm......I guess it's time for me to grow up and act my age.  But I still plan on having an Icee this afternoon.  I'm not going to deprive myself of everything just because I'm supposed to be a grown-up!

I Try

I have a little group of friends, all of us mothers.  A few of us are first-time moms with babies under the age of one.  Several of these friends I have never met.  We are friends of friends of friends who have joined together and communicate through a special blog.  Discussions range from books to relationships to recipes.  And always discussions about our children.

The most recent discussion began with one friend making the comment that we all focus on our individual faults, so she wanted each of us to tell the group what makes us a good mom.  Hhhhhmmmm.....I was completely stumped.  It took me over 24 hours to be able to respond.  I honestly couldn't think of anything. What do I do that would make me a good mom that any other mom doesn't already do?  There is nothing I can think of that would make me stand out.

There have only been a few meals in the past eleven months that I have eaten that were warm and undisturbed.  I've had at least 9+ months of waking up in the night.  Rather than run errands, I try to make a point of being home for nap time.  Nap time....that's a whole blog to itself.  I would much rather shop for Sadie than myself.  I sit here with clothes covered in who knows what.  I cook, I make a mess in the kitchen, I try to clean the kitchen, I give baths, change clothes, change diapers, sit on the floor and play.  But every mom out there does these things as well.

Sadie "made" me a card at school yesterday.  Inside there was a little paper glued to the page with MOTHER as an acronym.  It says that mothers are models.  No, I'm not that (not a supermodel (far from it) and not a model for others).  Mothers are organizers.  Nope, not that either.  Definitely not that, as I've been reminded more than once.  Teacher....I can say yes to this one.  Helper....that's all I do every day.  Expert....no again.  Rescuer....??  I wish someone would rescue me sometimes.

But you know what?  I try.  I really do.  I try to do my best at being a mom.  I know I don't succeed each day.  I know I haven't succeeded today, that's for sure.  I'm trying to teach Sadie about the importance of God and family.  I try to show her love every minute, even when she's clinging to my leg and crying.  I try.

So, to all of you moms out there who are trying, Happy Mother's Day!  I pray that you feel loved and appreciated this weekend.

What a Day! And It Isn't Over Yet.....

My darling child....I do love her so.  But this morning was crazy.  I've started calling her a little bear when she gets wild and cranky.  This morning, she was a grizzly!  The plan was to go to playgroup at 10:00.  Yeah, that didn't happen.

I was here at the computer early this morning when I heard paper being torn in the living room.  I debated whether or not to check on her or just leave her alone since she was leaving ME alone.  I decided I should be a mom, so I went to see what was going on.  What a mess, I should have taken a picture.

Later I was trying to put makeup on when I heard something that wasn't right.  It sounded like metal being dropped on the floor.  That's not the best description, but this is what I found:

How did she break the bulb off without breaking the glass?  So thankful she didn't decide to bite the lightbulb!

I won't go into the details as to why she is shirtless.  You don't want to know.  But rather than redress her before giving her a bath, I just left her half naked.  Back to the bathroom, try to finish getting myself dressed, I hear giggling and find this:

I put everything back in the drawer, move her to another location with plenty of toys to play with, back to the closet to get clothes for myself, go to check on her after it had been quiet for more than a minute and find this:

This time, I just left it.  I had to get out of the house before my screams and laughter turned into tears.

Now the grizzly is in bed asleep.  But now she is more like a teddy bear rather than a grizzly bear.  What a blessing my little bear is, even if things don't go as planned, thanks to her.  I just "can't wait" to see what the afternoon holds!  First, though, I must go clean up the mess that we left this morning.  aaahhhhh!!!!