3.29.2010

Monday Rambles.

  • We are all finally on the mend from being sick this past week- Audrey had a double-ear infection, Andrew had an upper respiratory infection, and I just had a little bit of everything. BUT we are better and it feels good to not spend so much money on doctor visits and medicine in one week. There was definitely a point where I wanted to scream in the middle of the night between Audrey not sleeping well and my husband coughing constantly. Actually, I screamed in my head and I'm pretty sure my neighbors could still hear me. Then I said 'and this too shall past.' And it did. I am glad to have my happy, feeling better family back.
  • Gamma (Andrew's mom) and Aunt Suzanne (Andrew's sister) came to visit this weekend. We enjoyed a Saturday morning Easter egg hunt (pictures posting tomorrow). It was fun visiting with them.
  • Do you watch Parenthood? I'm not sure what I think about the show yet. I know it makes me not want my kids to grow up. But it also makes me want to have a beautiful outdoor sitting area with a long wood table where all family can come together and eat outside, drink wine, and just enjoy life. Which reminds me, I am looking for an old farmhouse kitchen table. Right now we have a black card table up. Seriously. I try to disguise it with a cute vintage tablecloth, but that only goes so far, especially with the fold up chairs.
  • The hubster and I are going to get back on a tight budget. We want to get rid of some debt before the next baby comes. We used to be really good about it, sticking to a cash only system. But honestly, I have been a slacker since I have been sick. If there is something I wanted to eat then I went and bought it. If I didn't feel like cooking then we went out to eat. But it's time to pull back the reigns and rebudget. We also are getting rid of cable tv. Which I'm not really worried about, we have gone many times without cable, plus most shows on on the internet nowadays.
  • On Tuesday I will be 13 weeks along. Goodbye first trimester, hello second. Next week I have a regular check up. Audrey will have her yearly heart check-up too. Then in two weeks will be her 18 month check up. I just can't believe it.
Did you catch all that? I know my rambles aren't the most interesting thing, but it helps me clear my head and I need that.

That's all. Happy Monday.

3.27.2010

just a day.

It's these days I love. I breathe in and breathe out. And bottle up these moments so I can have them forever. Then sometimes open up the lid just ever so slightly so I can smell all the sweetness from it.  

Not just the days we go on a special trip like to the museum [although those days are fun and cherished!], but the simple days.

Like the days we visit daddy at work usually with a lunch or just a surprise drop-in to say hello, exchange kisses and go on our way. It brightens all of our days.

Then we head to the park. And more moments are made on just a day.

I'm convinced it was a secret park. Hidden in a bubble that no one else could come into. It was just me and Audrey at this small park on a sunny 60 degree day.

Just a {simply} lovely day.

And she grew up right before my eyes.


3.21.2010

wedding weekend recap.

[Warning: Long, wordy post. You can read it or just skip straight to the pictures. I won't mind. It's more for my own memory.]

We're sniffling, coughing, and don't feel the greatest. But we had such a lovely weekend.

48 hours of child-free adult time. I was a little nervous about leaving Audrey for that long, but she did great (even though she doesn't feel well and teething). Of course, our friends did such a wonderful job watching her. So well, that I didn't really worry at all being away. In fact, I enjoyed the time I had with just my husband. I didn't even cry. Wait, I take that back. I did cry. But it wasn't over Audrey. It was over cheese. And that's for a whole different post.

On Friday we left for Cleveland, Ohio to stay 2-nights in a Ritz-Carlton and attend our friends' wedding. I could write a whole post about the Ritz, being that I have never stayed in one, and probably won't ever again [not because it wasn't nice, it was really nice, just that we can't afford it-we split a room with friends this time around and had a wedding discount, plus I love my free continental breakfasts' at a good o'Holiday Inn and the idea of not having to tip every single person you talk to].

Oh my gosh, did we relax. We spent some quality time with really good friends. Two other couples (from our small group at church) attended the wedding. They also left their kids behind, so we definitely didn't get away without talking about how much we loved and missed them. We enjoyed the hot tub whirlpool (see I call it a hot tub, but that isn't proper as I found out), at least my legs did. We ordered pizza late. Ate the most delicious cinnamon bun from a little Amish stand set up in the mall. And attended a very beautiful wedding, which you can imagine since the reception took place at the Ritz. It included a cocktail hour with appetizers and open bar (which I took advantage of the coke only-lucky me), a meal that makes your whole body melt, and an amazing cake that tasted like the icing had marshmallow creme in it. Then once the band started playing, a dessert bar was brought out. Which by that point I was so stuffed, I didn't even eat anything from it. And now I think I might be depressed because I didn't, it looked so good. Even my second stomach, reserved only for desserts, was already full. Late into the evening 'bar food' was brought out, you know, french fries, sliders, stuff that I love. Again, missed out on that food, because we are old fuddy-duds and left the party around 10:30pm because my pregnant body was tired and my husband wasn't feeling so well. It was so nice and we are glad we were able to witness and chat for a bit with the bride and groom (they live in Oklahoma now, so we don't see them much).

[Took these pictures with my regular digital camera, not my Nikon DSLR. Quality isn't nearly as good, but I didn't want to haul around my big camera.]

Our friends that attended the wedding with us. From left to right: Evan and Kylie, Zach and Karlee, and then me and my husband. See that red dress? I scored it from Target.

The beautiful couple. I wish I would have gotten a better close-up picture, her dress was gorgeous.

The church. I love going in old Catholic churches, the design and the strength of the buildings always amaze me.
Eating dinner. One of my favorite parts of the night. Because, duh, I love food.

Getting down on the dance floor. Oh, and I also love dancing. I can do the robot. No joke.

My pretty friends both inside and out. We're hanging out in the foyer of the Ritz.

P.S. I felt pretty great all weekend- didn't even really think about getting sick. But not too long after I got home tonight I got sick. It's like my body automatically thinks it is time to throw up when I walk down my hallway or open the fridge or enter the bathroom. So pretty much, I can't live in my house until I am over it, right? I guess I might have to stay at the Ritz for the next couple of weeks. At least that's my solution. Oh, and I have a horrid cough that started in the night. Pretty much we are all fighting off the same thing in our house right now. And hoping we didn't spread the germs to our friends.

3.18.2010

she wasn't even scared of the dinosaurs.

It was loud. There was pretend thunder and rain and roaring. But she wasn't scared. She was so intrigued. She LOVED the dinosaur exhibit at the Children's Museum.

We spent the day digging up bones. Driving race cars. Dancing in silly mirrors. Riding trains. Playing in water. Pretending to be in a Barbie fashion show. Going down big slides. Eating cotton candy. Bulldozing rocks. Riding a 90 year old carousel.

It was truly a day of fun.

Audrey the paleontologist.

Cousin Jonathan enjoyed playing with the dinosaurs. Especially when they were eating me.

The flower garden where Audrey picked every flower.

Oh my gosh. I could just eat her up.

Blurry, but I love this shot of me and my sweet baby girl.

Watch out Indy 500, two drivers in the training!

I can't believe God gave me this beautiful little girl.

The day ended with a ride on the carousel with Gramps. Notice how tired Audrey looks. It wasn't 5 minutes later and she was zonked out.

****By the way, my Audrey Rose is 17 months today. ****

Also, we leave tomorrow for a 2 day trip to witness our friends getting married. It will be 2 days without Audrey. Every one always talks about a child's milestone, but what about a parents? I'm reaching one this weekend, leaving Audrey overnight without mama or daddy. I know she will be fine and this is a much needed time for me and my husband. But still. Right? Good thing I soaked up so much love today with her. I am storing it up for the weekend.

3.12.2010

a day in the life of a pregnant woman.

We had an incredible day Wednesday and then the night came and I think I changed into a werewolf or something.

I couldn't sleep. I had a migraine so bad I think a train was traveling through my head. I woke up and got sick multiple times.

And then yesterday. Oh, man. This is how I spent the majority of the day.


[Don't you find it awesome that my husband thought he would take a picture of me puking while Audrey consoles me because he thought it was 'blog-worthy?']

I love sharing one of my most unglamorous times with you, don't you? But let's not focus on my awesomeness in the picture. Look at that sweet little girl patting me on the back. When I get sick she hugs me over and over and pats me. And it actually helps me get through those rough times, because it is a gentle reminder that I am doing it all for another sweet baby. I just hope she doesn't get confused with the fact that you are actually suppose to go the potty in the toilet, not puke all the time.

I think it was a record eight times I was over that toilet. I can't hardly walk into the bathroom now without automatically thinking I am going to get sick.

Oh, and in case you are wondering why I am suddenly getting really sick again, it's because I ran out of Zofran. I didn't have medicine for a day and that is what happens. Zofran is my new best friend now. And I think I am back on track today. Andrew picked up my refill this morning. Whew.

Have I mentioned I am married to a rockstar husband? Despite his desire to take a picture of me while I puke, he has been one amazing man through all this. I came home from playgroup this morning and he cleaned the house before he left for work (which was after his early morning trip to CVS. Oh, and McDonalds. Sadly enough, the first meal I wanted to try to hold down was hashbrowns and a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit.)

I am hoping today I turn back into a wife and mother again. I miss those roles.

3.09.2010

Monday Rambles on a Tuesday.

I'm a day late on my usual Monday Rambles. But that's okay because as I am typing I am eating Sour Patch Gummies and that makes me happy. In fact I think I will just make this my happy list...
  • We have had some incredible weather here. We spent two hours at the park yesterday. It was so fun to see Audrey on the park as a toddler. I was reminded of how grateful I am that I can take Audrey anytime during the day to do fun things like that. I don't ever want to take for granted that I stay home with Audrey, because I know how hard it is for working moms. And I respect them so much.
  • Audrey's pigtails. Need I say more?
  • I had my 10 week check up today and heard the heartbeat with the doppler. Everything looks great. I am still getting sick, but looking on the positive side, it's not as much!
  • I am going shopping for a dress tomorrow to wear to a wedding that we are attending in two weeks. And I don't even think I am going to Goodwill for it. Whoa. I know. I am super excited about the wedding, because I get to spend some much needed quality time with just my husband. Audrey is going to be in the loving care of my really good friend, Stephanie and her husband, Drew. It will be our first time away from Audrey, but I am 100% confident that she will be fine because they pretty much love her like she was their own. And I have a feeling they are going to spoil her.
  • I almost forgot- I won something on a blog this week! Not just any blog, I love reading what Steph has to say over at Adventures in Babywearing. She is a mother of four, and just so amazing. She was putting on a special online baby shower for her friend, Beth and everything Beth received they were also giving one away to a reader. And I won something! I won an amazing Sleepy Wrap (baby carrier) from Heavenly Hold. I chose the orange one- I wanted to try out a fun different color. I can't wait to use this wrap with baby #2. I love babywearing!
That wraps up my happy list. What's on your happy list this week?

3.01.2010

spaghetti face.

It went down like this...

I was sitting in the living room and Audrey wonders off into what I thought was her room. It's quiet. A little too quiet. She comes back a few minutes later with strong evidence as to what she was up to.

(click on the picture to see it larger)
She managed to pull the spatula off the stove that was dipped in spaghetti sauce. She devoured it like it was candy.

Not going to lie, it was sort of the cutest thing ever.