OK, I'm sure we all have days like this and today is just one of my days. I need to get my act together- start eating better and start exercising. It has been 6 months, SIX MONTHS, since I had Emilia and I'm still hanging on to part of my baby weight. I know that people say 'it took 9 months to put it on, it will take at least that long to come back off', but I'm stagnant. I haven't lost any weight in months- mostly because I haven't done anything about it. We've had a lot of life changes in the past couple months- sold our house, moved in with the in-laws, had a grandpa and two other older ladies who were close to our family pass away, on and on. But, I'm tired of the excuses and I'm tired of not liking what I see in the mirror.
I've been talking about doing the Couch to 5K plan for a loooooong time now and even have my new running shoes already...but that is as far as I have gotten. I am going to hassle my hubby (haha) until he helps me get our treadmill set up in the basement so I can start exercising in the mornings. I will have to keep a baby monitor with me down there, so I won't get to enjoy any nice, fresh, autumn air, but that's OK.
The eating right thing may take a little more work, since I also have my husband, father&mother-in-law that contribute to meal time preparation. But, if nothing else, I am in control of what I eat for lunch and what I choose to snack on. I need to load myself up with smart snacks so the decision is pre-made. Yes, this requires more effort on my part, but I believe it will be worth it. I have gone through the Weight Watchers book and looked at the Core Plan list of foods. I made a list of all the foods I like so I can try to only eat foods from this list (as much as possible).
I have a goal in mind, but I'm too embarassed to tell you what it is. I will try to update as I go, hopefully the bloggy-friend accountability will help me stick with this. I've already been encouraged by those out there that are turning their plans into realities and they are making good decisions, exercising and seeing real results. I want to be part of that group! (O:
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Monday, September 28, 2009
Yard Sale Extravaganza~
What a great weekend!
Jason's family was in town for the men's annual golf tournament and that meant much shopping for the ladies of the family!
Friday night was Fried Taco Night and a trip to Kohl's. It got pretty pathetic when almost every outfit anyone picked out to say 'this is cute', I had to reply that Emilia had it. Oh, how I LOVE Carter's clothing! (O:
Saturday morning was the much-anticipated Yard Sale Extravaganza. I purchased hot pink reusable bags for each lady (and smaller pink bags for the 2 younger girls). Then I wrote everyon'e name on their bag with a permanent marker and some cutesie dots on the ends of each letter. You can't see that in the photo, but here's our group anyway!
We had a blast! I'm still going through all my great finds...(O: Nothing major, but some good toys and clothes for Emilia, which is exactly what I was looking for. Oh, and we have this hideous doll that's the 'prize' for the best deal of the day. Newest Cousin Jenna won with a $20 brand new portable electric cooler (thing, I'm not exactly sure what it's called...but apparently they are usually $80!) Way to go and Sorry to Jenna! (O:
I'm already gearing up for this weekend, which involves an even BIGGER neighborhood yard sale, but with fewer family memebers. (A lot of our family is from out of town and won't be coming back up..)
Have a great day!
Friday, September 25, 2009
Squatternut Baush!
If you didn't spend the better part of the 90's watching FRIENDS religiously, as I did, you will have no idea what I'm talking about...But, if you were totally awesome enough to memorize Every. Single. Episode (wow, I was kind of pathetic, eh?), you know exactly what I am referring to. (O: I won't explain the whole episode (not because I can't though, you better believe I still know them all by heart...again, pathetic.)...it's just an episode where Joey is trying to break some tension and tells the story about when someone was trying to say Butternut Squash and it came out Squatternut Baush. (haha, not funny I know...maybe you had to be there.)
Anyway, that really has nothing to do with anything except that my little Emilia has been enjoying her nightly oatmeal cereal mixed with Butternut Squash. That's right, ladies and gentlemen! Emilia has had her first veggie- hooooooraaaay. It may not seem like much, but in the past week she's gone from being completely disinterested in any form of rice or oatmeal ceral to not being able to get enough! I literally cannot get it into her mouth fast enough! This is very exciting for us because our ped recommended starting cereal and baby food at Emilia's 4 month check up (almost 2 months ago) and we've been trying it every night, with little luck. So, needless to say, this is great that she's all about eating it now! Last night was her third night on the squash and we haven't seen any signs of allergy (yay!) So tonight we will move on to either sweet carrots or sweet potatoes...I can just feel your excitement building (don't worry, I'll let you know which we choose!) ha.
In related news- Emilia slept ALL NIGHT! Double YAY! I have been praying and praying that God would just let her sleep through the night because our whole family needed it. So when I rolled over this morning and squinted to see the alarm clock (I swear I'm getting lasik someday!), I was suprised and ecstatic that it was 4:59 a.m.!! I know you're thinking, 'Annie, are you crazy- that's way to early to be waking up!' While you are absolutely correct, it also meant that I wasn't woken up at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 like the night before! I was able to sleep until my alarm went off, get up shower and get ready all while my angel slept! I even did my hair. Haha.
I did hear Emilia start talking to herself around 6:3oish, so I went in to check on her. She was laying there, on her belly, looking around. When she saw me she smiled from behind her pacifier. It was adorable. (O:
So pretty much this day got off to a great start! And it only gets better from here...I'm leaving work at 11:00 to go shopping with some of the family that's in town. Tonight is Fried Taco Night with the whole family (I think only 20 of us, but that's still a good size group!) And tomorrow....Yard Sale Extravaganza!!!! WOO HOO!! I even puchased these cute hot pink reusable bags for each of us to carry. I spent some time last night writing our names on the bags with a black permanent letter and they are just so fun! I hope the other girls love them as much as I do! (O:
I hope all of you out there in bloggy world have as fabulous of a weekend as I intend to!!! (O:
Anyway, that really has nothing to do with anything except that my little Emilia has been enjoying her nightly oatmeal cereal mixed with Butternut Squash. That's right, ladies and gentlemen! Emilia has had her first veggie- hooooooraaaay. It may not seem like much, but in the past week she's gone from being completely disinterested in any form of rice or oatmeal ceral to not being able to get enough! I literally cannot get it into her mouth fast enough! This is very exciting for us because our ped recommended starting cereal and baby food at Emilia's 4 month check up (almost 2 months ago) and we've been trying it every night, with little luck. So, needless to say, this is great that she's all about eating it now! Last night was her third night on the squash and we haven't seen any signs of allergy (yay!) So tonight we will move on to either sweet carrots or sweet potatoes...I can just feel your excitement building (don't worry, I'll let you know which we choose!) ha.
In related news- Emilia slept ALL NIGHT! Double YAY! I have been praying and praying that God would just let her sleep through the night because our whole family needed it. So when I rolled over this morning and squinted to see the alarm clock (I swear I'm getting lasik someday!), I was suprised and ecstatic that it was 4:59 a.m.!! I know you're thinking, 'Annie, are you crazy- that's way to early to be waking up!' While you are absolutely correct, it also meant that I wasn't woken up at 1:00, 2:00, 3:00 and 4:00 like the night before! I was able to sleep until my alarm went off, get up shower and get ready all while my angel slept! I even did my hair. Haha.
I did hear Emilia start talking to herself around 6:3oish, so I went in to check on her. She was laying there, on her belly, looking around. When she saw me she smiled from behind her pacifier. It was adorable. (O:
So pretty much this day got off to a great start! And it only gets better from here...I'm leaving work at 11:00 to go shopping with some of the family that's in town. Tonight is Fried Taco Night with the whole family (I think only 20 of us, but that's still a good size group!) And tomorrow....Yard Sale Extravaganza!!!! WOO HOO!! I even puchased these cute hot pink reusable bags for each of us to carry. I spent some time last night writing our names on the bags with a black permanent letter and they are just so fun! I hope the other girls love them as much as I do! (O:
I hope all of you out there in bloggy world have as fabulous of a weekend as I intend to!!! (O:
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Random Thoughts... (O:
I just came across a new blog today, Living Live, you should check it out! This is one strong lady! I've only read the first few blog posts of hers and I'm already encouraged and inspired. She's definitely had some rough events in her life, but she is pushing forward and getting stronger every day. I'm glad I found her blog this morning because it put a few things in perspective for me and I've decided to MAKE today a good day.
I don't know if you have seen this floating around, I know I've already seen it on Facebook a time or two....but she posted this list of 'Random Thoughts of 25-35 Year Olds' and it makes me laugh every time I read it! I hope you will check out her blog and I hope you enjoy this list! (O:
Random thoughts from people 25-35 years old...
-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when yourealize you're wrong.
-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed tobe going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
-That's enough, Nickelback.
-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?
-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.
-There is a great need for sarcasm font.
-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger ands uddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
-How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
-I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
-A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
-LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
-I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
-Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
-Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".
-How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
-I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!
-Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"
-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?
-While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.
-MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
-Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
-I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.
-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty,and you can wear them forever.
-I would like to officially coin the phrase 'catching the swine flu' to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: "Dave caught the swine flu last night."
-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
-Bad decisions make good stories
-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
-Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?
-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incrediblynervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....
-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.
-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
-"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.
-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?Dang it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
-I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle,then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.
-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on theDonkey - but I’d bet you everyone can find and push the Snoozebutton from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...
-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the heck do I respond to that?
-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.
-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating bymyself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.
I don't know if you have seen this floating around, I know I've already seen it on Facebook a time or two....but she posted this list of 'Random Thoughts of 25-35 Year Olds' and it makes me laugh every time I read it! I hope you will check out her blog and I hope you enjoy this list! (O:
Random thoughts from people 25-35 years old...
-I wish Google Maps had an "Avoid Ghetto" routing option.
-More often than not, when someone is telling me a story all I can think about is that I can't wait for them to finish so that I can tell my own story that's not only better, but also more directly involves me.
-Nothing sucks more than that moment during an argument when yourealize you're wrong.
-I don't understand the purpose of the line, "I don't need to drink to have fun." Great, no one does. But why start a fire with flint and sticks when they've invented the lighter?
-Have you ever been walking down the street and realized that you're going in the complete opposite direction of where you are supposed tobe going? But instead of just turning a 180 and walking back in the direction from which you came, you have to first do something like check your watch or phone or make a grand arm gesture and mutter to yourself to ensure that no one in the surrounding area thinks you're crazy by randomly switching directions on the sidewalk.
-That's enough, Nickelback.
-I totally take back all those times I didn't want to nap when I was younger.
-Is it just me, or are 80% of the people in the "people you may know" feature on Facebook people that I do know, but I deliberately choose not to be friends with?
-Do you remember when you were a kid, playing Nintendo and it wouldn't work? You take the cartridge out, blow in it and that would magically fix the problem. Every kid in America did that, but how did we all know how to fix the problem? There was no internet or message boards or FAQ's. We just figured it out. Today's kids are soft.
-There is a great need for sarcasm font.
-Sometimes, I'll watch a movie that I watched when I was younger ands uddenly realize I had no idea what the heck was going on when I first saw it.
-I think everyone has a movie that they love so much, it actually becomes stressful to watch it with other people. I'll end up wasting 90 minutes shiftily glancing around to confirm that everyone's laughing at the right parts, then making sure I laugh just a little bit harder (and a millisecond earlier) to prove that I'm still the only one who really, really gets it.
-How the heck are you supposed to fold a fitted sheet?
-I would rather try to carry 10 plastic grocery bags in each hand than take 2 trips to bring my groceries in.
-I think part of a best friend's job should be to immediately clear your computer history if you die.
-The only time I look forward to a red light is when I’m trying to finish a text.
-A recent study has shown that playing beer pong contributes to the spread of mono and the flu. Yeah, if you suck at it.
-LOL has gone from meaning, "laugh out loud" to "I have nothing else to say".
-I have a hard time deciphering the fine line between boredom and hunger.
-Answering the same letter three times or more in a row on a Scantron test is absolutely petrifying.
-Whenever someone says "I'm not book smart, but I'm street smart", all I hear is "I'm not real smart, but I'm imaginary smart".
-How many times is it appropriate to say "What?" before you just nod and smile because you still didn't hear what they said?
-I love the sense of camaraderie when an entire line of cars teams up to prevent a jerk from cutting in at the front. Stay strong, brothers!
-Every time I have to spell a word over the phone using 'as in' examples, I will undoubtedly draw a blank and sound like a complete idiot. Today I had to spell my boss's last name to an attorney and said "Yes that's G as in...(10 second lapse)..ummm...Goonies"
-What would happen if I hired two private investigators to follow each other?
-While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it...thanks Mario Kart.
-MapQuest really needs to start their directions on #5. Pretty sure I know how to get out of my neighborhood.
-Obituaries would be a lot more interesting if they told you how the person died.
-I find it hard to believe there are actually people who get in the shower first and THEN turn on the water.
-Shirts get dirty. Underwear gets dirty. Pants? Pants never get dirty,and you can wear them forever.
-I would like to officially coin the phrase 'catching the swine flu' to be used as a way to make fun of a friend for hooking up with an overweight woman. Example: "Dave caught the swine flu last night."
-I can't remember the last time I wasn't at least kind of tired.
-Bad decisions make good stories
-Whenever I'm Facebook stalking someone and I find out that their profile is public I feel like a kid on Christmas morning who just got the Red Ryder BB gun that I always wanted. 546 pictures? Don't mind if I do!
-Is it just me or do high school girls get sluttier & sluttier every year?
-If Carmen San Diego and Waldo ever got together, their offspring would probably just be completely invisible.
-Why is it that during an ice-breaker, when the whole room has to go around and say their name and where they are from, I get so incrediblynervous? Like I know my name, I know where I'm from, this shouldn't be a problem....
-You never know when it will strike, but there comes a moment at work when you've made up your mind that you just aren't doing anything productive for the rest of the day.
-Can we all just agree to ignore whatever comes after DVDs? I don't want to have to restart my collection.
-There's no worse feeling than that millisecond you're sure you are going to die after leaning your chair back a little too far.
-I'm always slightly terrified when I exit out of Word and it asks me if I want to save any changes to my ten page research paper that I swear I did not make any changes to.
-"Do not machine wash or tumble dry" means I will never wash this ever.
-I hate being the one with the remote in a room full of people watching TV. There's so much pressure. 'I love this show, but will they judge me if I keep it on? I bet everyone is wishing we weren't watching this. It's only a matter of time before they all get up and leave the room. Will we still be friends after this?'
-I hate when I just miss a call by the last ring (Hello? Hello?Dang it!), but when I immediately call back, it rings nine times and goes to voicemail. What'd you do after I didn't answer? Drop the phone and run away?
-I hate leaving my house confident and looking good and then not seeing anyone of importance the entire day. What a waste.
-When I meet a new girl, I'm terrified of mentioning something she hasn't already told me but that I have learned from some light internet stalking.
-I like all of the music in my iTunes, except when it's on shuffle,then I like about one in every fifteen songs in my iTunes.
-Why is a school zone 20 mph? That seems like the optimal cruising speed for pedophiles...
- As a driver I hate pedestrians, and as a pedestrian I hate drivers, but no matter what the mode of transportation, I always hate cyclists.
-Sometimes I'll look down at my watch 3 consecutive times and still not know what time it is.
-It should probably be called Unplanned Parenthood.
-I keep some people's phone numbers in my phone just so I know not to answer when they call.
-Even if I knew your social security number, I wouldn't know what do to with it.
-Even under ideal conditions people have trouble locating their car keys in a pocket, hitting the G-spot, and Pinning the Tail on theDonkey - but I’d bet you everyone can find and push the Snoozebutton from 3 feet away, in about 1.7 seconds, eyes closed, first time every time...
-My 4-year old son asked me in the car the other day "Dad what would happen if you ran over a ninja?" How the heck do I respond to that?
-It really pisses me off when I want to read a story on CNN.com and the link takes me to a video instead of text.
-I wonder if cops ever get pissed off at the fact that everyone they drive behind obeys the speed limit.
-I think the freezer deserves a light as well.
-I disagree with Kay Jewelers. I would bet on any given Friday or Saturday night more kisses begin with Miller Lites than Kay.
-The other night I ordered takeout, and when I looked in the bag, saw they had included four sets of plastic silverware. In other words, someone at the restaurant packed my order, took a second to think about it, and then estimated that there must be at least four people eating to require such a large amount of food. Too bad I was eating bymyself. There's nothing like being made to feel like a fat bastard before dinner.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Think Happy Thoughts...
I'm not having a very happy morning...and it started last night. I can't really go into details but basically I'm getting walked over just a bit and I'm pretty ticked about it.
Soooo, in hopes of raising my happiness quotient for today, I thought I would blog about some things that fill me with joy!
** Emilia Grace, my beautiful baby girl. Even when I don't get to sleep through the night because she keeps waking up, I'm still so glad to see her in the morning. No matter how bad she has slept, she's always ready with a smile when it's time to wake up. She's talking (babbling) more and more and it's so fun! I love her smiles and her laughs. I love how she snuggles up into my neck when she's tired. I really love how her face lights up and she starts kicking her legs when I come to pick her up at daycare. Love. Love. Love.
** Jason, my wonderful husband. Just this morning he was encouraging me about my 'unfortunate issue' and he is just so great! He always knows exactly what to say to help and I love him for that! He's so driven and really excited about finishing school and getting a job where he feels like he's helping people. I cannot wait for that, he deserves it! He can always make me laugh and tells me he loves me every day. (O:
** Mis Amigas! My friends are also wonderful. Most of the time they call or text right when I need it most, without even knowing! I love that I have good friends that I can call on or vent to whenever I need to. They don't judge, they accept me for who I am and always encourage me. My friends are a constant source of happiness in my life and I love them so much!
** Fall weather! Man, I really love fall! I love when the leaves start changing from green to red, yellow and orange. Those trees make such beautiful scenery for my daily drive to work. I also love the chill in the air. Even though I end up thinking about how I forgot a jacket *again*, I love getting the goosebumps on my arms that tell me fall is here! I can't wait for bonfires and smores. I can't wait for Emilia's first Halloween. I also have plans to rake a pile of leaves and plop her in them for some photos. (O:
** Chocolate. It cures all things. (haha). It's probably slightly pathetic that a piece of chocolate can help turn my day around, but it's true. I'm enjoying a Dove Promises Chocolate & Caramel right now and it's heavenly.
** Yummy smelling candles. Even though I have an awful sense of smell and rarely can smell anything...I do enjoy a nice, freshly-scented candle. My office mate is burning a 'Washed Denim' candle this morning and it's so lovely. I can smell just a hint of it each time I walk into our office and it makes me smile. I also have a candle on my desk (not lit, that would be too many smells in this small room!). It's by Yankee Candle and it's called Sun & Sand. It is wonderful! When I light it, I like to close my eyes and imagine I'm laying poolside near a beach somewhere. It's fabulous.
** Small Group!! We met last night for the first time in a while and it was just what I needed! I really love all my friends in that group and it's great to see them starting to grow friendships with each other too. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for us this fall!
** Yard Sales!! Woo hoo yard sales! (O: I am definitely a yard sale fanatic- love love love them! I love a good deal no matter where it is, but yard sales are the best for baby items and other neat finds! This coming weekend is, what I have officially coined, 'The Yard Sale Extravaganza'! Every year, my husband's family (immediate family, relatives, extended relatives, 'adapted' relatives...you get the pictures) has a big golf tournament. The men golf all day and the ladies shop! A couple years back I mentioned yard saling instead of mall shopping, bc you can spend less money and get more deals! So, our yard sale group has been growing each year and it's so exciting! We've got a good group going this weekend, yay! I even purchased pink reusable bags for all of us to use! haha, I'm a dork, I know! But, yard sales, here we come!
OK, mission accomplished. I have definitely raised my happiness quotient. Here's to a great day! ;-)
Soooo, in hopes of raising my happiness quotient for today, I thought I would blog about some things that fill me with joy!
** Emilia Grace, my beautiful baby girl. Even when I don't get to sleep through the night because she keeps waking up, I'm still so glad to see her in the morning. No matter how bad she has slept, she's always ready with a smile when it's time to wake up. She's talking (babbling) more and more and it's so fun! I love her smiles and her laughs. I love how she snuggles up into my neck when she's tired. I really love how her face lights up and she starts kicking her legs when I come to pick her up at daycare. Love. Love. Love.
** Jason, my wonderful husband. Just this morning he was encouraging me about my 'unfortunate issue' and he is just so great! He always knows exactly what to say to help and I love him for that! He's so driven and really excited about finishing school and getting a job where he feels like he's helping people. I cannot wait for that, he deserves it! He can always make me laugh and tells me he loves me every day. (O:
** Mis Amigas! My friends are also wonderful. Most of the time they call or text right when I need it most, without even knowing! I love that I have good friends that I can call on or vent to whenever I need to. They don't judge, they accept me for who I am and always encourage me. My friends are a constant source of happiness in my life and I love them so much!
** Fall weather! Man, I really love fall! I love when the leaves start changing from green to red, yellow and orange. Those trees make such beautiful scenery for my daily drive to work. I also love the chill in the air. Even though I end up thinking about how I forgot a jacket *again*, I love getting the goosebumps on my arms that tell me fall is here! I can't wait for bonfires and smores. I can't wait for Emilia's first Halloween. I also have plans to rake a pile of leaves and plop her in them for some photos. (O:
** Chocolate. It cures all things. (haha). It's probably slightly pathetic that a piece of chocolate can help turn my day around, but it's true. I'm enjoying a Dove Promises Chocolate & Caramel right now and it's heavenly.
** Yummy smelling candles. Even though I have an awful sense of smell and rarely can smell anything...I do enjoy a nice, freshly-scented candle. My office mate is burning a 'Washed Denim' candle this morning and it's so lovely. I can smell just a hint of it each time I walk into our office and it makes me smile. I also have a candle on my desk (not lit, that would be too many smells in this small room!). It's by Yankee Candle and it's called Sun & Sand. It is wonderful! When I light it, I like to close my eyes and imagine I'm laying poolside near a beach somewhere. It's fabulous.
** Small Group!! We met last night for the first time in a while and it was just what I needed! I really love all my friends in that group and it's great to see them starting to grow friendships with each other too. I'm so excited to see what God has in store for us this fall!
** Yard Sales!! Woo hoo yard sales! (O: I am definitely a yard sale fanatic- love love love them! I love a good deal no matter where it is, but yard sales are the best for baby items and other neat finds! This coming weekend is, what I have officially coined, 'The Yard Sale Extravaganza'! Every year, my husband's family (immediate family, relatives, extended relatives, 'adapted' relatives...you get the pictures) has a big golf tournament. The men golf all day and the ladies shop! A couple years back I mentioned yard saling instead of mall shopping, bc you can spend less money and get more deals! So, our yard sale group has been growing each year and it's so exciting! We've got a good group going this weekend, yay! I even purchased pink reusable bags for all of us to use! haha, I'm a dork, I know! But, yard sales, here we come!
OK, mission accomplished. I have definitely raised my happiness quotient. Here's to a great day! ;-)
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Happy Tuesday!
I've been thinking all day about what to blog about and for some reason I've got Nothing! The other day I had three or four blog ideas run through my head and apparently they are still out running somewhere bc I completely forgot what they were! (I blame Momma Brain Drain...)
So, I stole this from my new blog friend, Sonja @ For the Love of Stilettos! (Isn't that such a fun blog name!) (O:
A - Age: 25
B - Bed Size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Washing dishes!!
D - Dog's Name: Zeke
E - Essential start your day item: SNOOZE at least twice (haha)
F - Favorite Color: Pink!
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Silver
H - Height: 5' 6.5"
I - Instruments you play: I played the drums in High School, but haven't touched them since.
J - Job Title: Accounting Clerk & Wedding Coordinator
K - Kid(s): Emilia Grace, almost 6 months old already!
L - Living Arrangements: Currently with the in-laws, waiting to see where hubs will get his next job and saving money for a down payment on a new house
M - Mom's Name: Bonnie
N - Nickname(s): Hilda?
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: 1, when I had Emilia
P - Pet Peeve: I call them interrupters.
Q - Quote from a movie: "You're killing me Smalls" - Sandlot (haha, I love movies, so I have MANY favorite quotes) <---what she said!! LOL <-----That is definitely a good one! I also quote "L for Love" from Dodgeball to Jason...he doesn't really care for that! haha.
R - Right or Left Handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 younger sister, Clare, and 2 step-brothers, Wesley and Derek (and 2 brothers-in-law both named Justin and 1 sister-in-law, Amy)
T - Time you wake up: You mean during the night with Emilia or to get ready for work? My alarm is set for 5:04 and I usually get up by 5:34ish...
U - Underwear: Probably Wal-Mart (exciting, I know)
V - Vegetable you dislike: Lima beans, and any bean for that matter.
W - Ways you run late: Because my husband is running late
X - X-rays you've had: wrist, neck, shoulders and back
Y - Yummy food you make: Mmm, grilled chicken wraps- they are delish!
Z - Zoo Favorite: Giraffe!
So, I stole this from my new blog friend, Sonja @ For the Love of Stilettos! (Isn't that such a fun blog name!) (O:
A - Age: 25
B - Bed Size: Queen
C - Chore you hate: Washing dishes!!
D - Dog's Name: Zeke
E - Essential start your day item: SNOOZE at least twice (haha)
F - Favorite Color: Pink!
G - Gold or Silver or Platinum: Silver
H - Height: 5' 6.5"
I - Instruments you play: I played the drums in High School, but haven't touched them since.
J - Job Title: Accounting Clerk & Wedding Coordinator
K - Kid(s): Emilia Grace, almost 6 months old already!
L - Living Arrangements: Currently with the in-laws, waiting to see where hubs will get his next job and saving money for a down payment on a new house
M - Mom's Name: Bonnie
N - Nickname(s): Hilda?
O - Overnight hospital stay other than birth: 1, when I had Emilia
P - Pet Peeve: I call them interrupters.
Q - Quote from a movie: "You're killing me Smalls" - Sandlot (haha, I love movies, so I have MANY favorite quotes) <---what she said!! LOL <-----That is definitely a good one! I also quote "L for Love" from Dodgeball to Jason...he doesn't really care for that! haha.
R - Right or Left Handed: Right
S - Siblings: 1 younger sister, Clare, and 2 step-brothers, Wesley and Derek (and 2 brothers-in-law both named Justin and 1 sister-in-law, Amy)
T - Time you wake up: You mean during the night with Emilia or to get ready for work? My alarm is set for 5:04 and I usually get up by 5:34ish...
U - Underwear: Probably Wal-Mart (exciting, I know)
V - Vegetable you dislike: Lima beans, and any bean for that matter.
W - Ways you run late: Because my husband is running late
X - X-rays you've had: wrist, neck, shoulders and back
Y - Yummy food you make: Mmm, grilled chicken wraps- they are delish!
Z - Zoo Favorite: Giraffe!
Monday, September 21, 2009
Bringing my life to life!
Our office is always stocked full of Dove chocolates (the caramel ones are my fav!) and these little treats have a 'Dove Promises Message' on the inside of the wrapper. Sometimes they are pretty corny, some even mean (I got one that said 'Quit a bad habit for today'...so basically I should have spit out my yummy chocolate! That is just not nice!), but sometimes they are somewhat thought-provoking for me. I've had one on my desk for about a week now that says 'Bring your life to life: stop planning, start doing'.
I kept this one because I am definitely a planner by nature and so I started thinking about the things in my life that I'm not DOING- the things I daydream about and plan out how I would do them, but never actually DO them. I started thinking about how I need to develop a hobby. I looked at my life and realized there isn't really anything that I do just for me.
I see all my friends/family who have certain things they love to do and I see them enjoying the time they spend doing them. I would love to have something like that- something I so enjoyed that I couldn't wait to work on it again and I was always proud of what I accomplished. One person I look to for this encouragement is my Mom. She loves sewing, quilting and working on different projects. She could spend all day on a Saturday (or any given day) just working on her latest project and be thrilled to be doing it. And she's really good at it! Another friend, Jill, loves crafting and is so creative and artistic. I love keeping up with her blog because she always has the neatest projects going. Then there is my husband. Jason started getting into photography a couple of years ago when we went to Rwanda. He had never picked up a camera before, but he is such a natural! He has a unique eye and captures images and moments in time that are beautiful and breath-taking.
Jason and I were on our way home from Southern Missouri yesterday afternoon and I told him that I would really like to pick up a hobby. I told him I wanted something I that I love to do and enjoy to do, but that I wasn't sure what it would be. He immediately said, 'You love taking pictures'. And he was right. It was neat to hear him say that because photography is really the idea I've been throwing around for a while now. It's true, I love to take pictures. I really love having moments captured in time with my friends and family. I love smiles and hugs and laughs that just seem to jump out of photos. I even spent some time researching about photography online last week.
This is where it gets scary for me, though. I'm scared of failing. I have always been the type of person that won't try new things if I don't think I'll do well. It's one thing that I really dislike about myself. Who ever gets everything absolutely right the first time anyway? It just doesn't happen. I read something the other day about that (if only I could remember what or where...)...basically, it made me feel a push inside that said it's OK to fail, as long as I try. Of course I won't get it all right the first time and I might not even be good at it. But, that shouldn't keep me from giving it my all. How can I live life to the fullest if I'm too scared to give it a whirl!
So, I'm almost ready to push myself out of the 'planning phase' of this new adventure. I think I've decided to ask my sister, Clare to be my first photograh-ee. As you read this, if you know me at all, that will probably be a big shocker! My sister and I aren't especially close. Not because we don't love each other, but because we are completely opposite in every way and rarely even have anything in common to even discuss. So, why am I asking her then? Because despite the fact that we aren't close and rarely talk, I trust her and know I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with her. Since I don't even really know what I'm doing yet, I wanted to ask someone with whom I can completely be myself and with whom I will be comfortable enough to give directions, etc. So, that should be fun.
Of course, life is so hectic and busy right now that I'm not even sure when we would be able to set a time to get together. But, that's a worry for another day! I'm moving forward with this...next step, ask Clare! (O:
I kept this one because I am definitely a planner by nature and so I started thinking about the things in my life that I'm not DOING- the things I daydream about and plan out how I would do them, but never actually DO them. I started thinking about how I need to develop a hobby. I looked at my life and realized there isn't really anything that I do just for me.
I see all my friends/family who have certain things they love to do and I see them enjoying the time they spend doing them. I would love to have something like that- something I so enjoyed that I couldn't wait to work on it again and I was always proud of what I accomplished. One person I look to for this encouragement is my Mom. She loves sewing, quilting and working on different projects. She could spend all day on a Saturday (or any given day) just working on her latest project and be thrilled to be doing it. And she's really good at it! Another friend, Jill, loves crafting and is so creative and artistic. I love keeping up with her blog because she always has the neatest projects going. Then there is my husband. Jason started getting into photography a couple of years ago when we went to Rwanda. He had never picked up a camera before, but he is such a natural! He has a unique eye and captures images and moments in time that are beautiful and breath-taking.
Jason and I were on our way home from Southern Missouri yesterday afternoon and I told him that I would really like to pick up a hobby. I told him I wanted something I that I love to do and enjoy to do, but that I wasn't sure what it would be. He immediately said, 'You love taking pictures'. And he was right. It was neat to hear him say that because photography is really the idea I've been throwing around for a while now. It's true, I love to take pictures. I really love having moments captured in time with my friends and family. I love smiles and hugs and laughs that just seem to jump out of photos. I even spent some time researching about photography online last week.
This is where it gets scary for me, though. I'm scared of failing. I have always been the type of person that won't try new things if I don't think I'll do well. It's one thing that I really dislike about myself. Who ever gets everything absolutely right the first time anyway? It just doesn't happen. I read something the other day about that (if only I could remember what or where...)...basically, it made me feel a push inside that said it's OK to fail, as long as I try. Of course I won't get it all right the first time and I might not even be good at it. But, that shouldn't keep me from giving it my all. How can I live life to the fullest if I'm too scared to give it a whirl!
So, I'm almost ready to push myself out of the 'planning phase' of this new adventure. I think I've decided to ask my sister, Clare to be my first photograh-ee. As you read this, if you know me at all, that will probably be a big shocker! My sister and I aren't especially close. Not because we don't love each other, but because we are completely opposite in every way and rarely even have anything in common to even discuss. So, why am I asking her then? Because despite the fact that we aren't close and rarely talk, I trust her and know I wouldn't feel uncomfortable with her. Since I don't even really know what I'm doing yet, I wanted to ask someone with whom I can completely be myself and with whom I will be comfortable enough to give directions, etc. So, that should be fun.
Of course, life is so hectic and busy right now that I'm not even sure when we would be able to set a time to get together. But, that's a worry for another day! I'm moving forward with this...next step, ask Clare! (O:
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Never alone...
Since moving in with Jason's parents, life has definitely been changing. While I am extremely grateful to them for taking us in after our house sold, I'm really starting to miss my 'alone time'. If you know me at all, you know that I'm a huge people person. I L.O.V.E. spending time with my family and friends as much as possible. Apparently, that was only when I could also retreat back to my own space when needed.
It seems like there is always someone in the house now. And no, not just his parents (who are obviously always there), but they have a lot of people coming and going. For instance, this week, Jason's grandma Betty is in town having some dental work done. So, she has been staying with us since Saturday. Any time Grandma is up, the house might as well have a revolving door installed because there are always people stopping by to visit. Jason's brother and sister-in-law have been over every night and last night had even more guests for a fish fry.
I do dearly love all of these people, but I'm starting to struggle. It's hard to come home from work to a house full of people EvErY night. To top it off, I've been feeling a little less than great (I think it's a sinus cold) all week. So by the time I make it through the day, pick up Emilia and arrive home, I'm ready for my pj's and some relaxing. It's just not happening this week. Last night, in fact, I'm pretty sure my mood was shining through and I feel bad about that. Its not that I don't enjoy each and every one of the people who was over, but I'm just tired...tired of being sick, tired of not getting any alone time, tired of not getting all Emilia's cuddles to myself.
So, I'm sorry this post is so negative, but its how I'm feeling.
But, to try and put a positive spin on it (I just don't like feeling so negative)...I know God's plan is bigger than me and its bigger than Jason. We know selling our house before Jason has a church job lined up is scary and proving to be rather difficult, but everything happens in God's time. Before we put the house on the market, we prayed that it would sell if it was God's will and then it did! We know it will be so great that whenever Jason does get offered a position at a church, we won't have this huge financial burden that we must unload before accepting. It's just the in-between time that might be hard. I just keep praying that God will give us strength and that He will open a door for Jason soon.
OK, much better! Thank you God for your perfect timing and your perfect plan!
It seems like there is always someone in the house now. And no, not just his parents (who are obviously always there), but they have a lot of people coming and going. For instance, this week, Jason's grandma Betty is in town having some dental work done. So, she has been staying with us since Saturday. Any time Grandma is up, the house might as well have a revolving door installed because there are always people stopping by to visit. Jason's brother and sister-in-law have been over every night and last night had even more guests for a fish fry.
I do dearly love all of these people, but I'm starting to struggle. It's hard to come home from work to a house full of people EvErY night. To top it off, I've been feeling a little less than great (I think it's a sinus cold) all week. So by the time I make it through the day, pick up Emilia and arrive home, I'm ready for my pj's and some relaxing. It's just not happening this week. Last night, in fact, I'm pretty sure my mood was shining through and I feel bad about that. Its not that I don't enjoy each and every one of the people who was over, but I'm just tired...tired of being sick, tired of not getting any alone time, tired of not getting all Emilia's cuddles to myself.
So, I'm sorry this post is so negative, but its how I'm feeling.
But, to try and put a positive spin on it (I just don't like feeling so negative)...I know God's plan is bigger than me and its bigger than Jason. We know selling our house before Jason has a church job lined up is scary and proving to be rather difficult, but everything happens in God's time. Before we put the house on the market, we prayed that it would sell if it was God's will and then it did! We know it will be so great that whenever Jason does get offered a position at a church, we won't have this huge financial burden that we must unload before accepting. It's just the in-between time that might be hard. I just keep praying that God will give us strength and that He will open a door for Jason soon.
OK, much better! Thank you God for your perfect timing and your perfect plan!
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Yay for Tuesday!!
Even though I'm feeling pretty crummy (headache, sinus pressure w/red nose, sore throat, etc.) and I'm sleepy, I am still so excited for today!! Today is the official re-start-up of our ladies' small group!! Woo hoo!!
We took a break over the summer (I don't know that it was on purpose, but that's what ended up happening...) and tonight we're getting together for a fun night. There will be ice cream sundaes, games and catching up. I can't wait! Even though I see most of these friends on a weekly basis at church, it's so nice to have this little bit of extra time each week to spend together.
My friend, Jaime started this group about a year ago (is that right?? yeesh) and it has be so great to see the awesome things God is doing! We've had a few ladies leave the group and we've added severeal more. I can just tell that we're all a part of this group for His master plan! We come from different backgrounds, different spots in our walk with God, different senses of humor, different stages in life, etc. But, I truly LOVE how God is using each of us to inspire and encourage the others. A group doesn't have to be made up of all Mothers, or Singles, or Teachers- we can all come together and offer each other different life experiences and different points of view. Our time together is NEVER boring! It is always full of laughs and smiles, with the occasional tears. We build each other up and sometimes, correct each other in our faults (not really during group time, but individually).
I know there is at least one new friend joining our group and I'm so glad for it. She and I have been friends for nearly 18 years (grew up in church together) and she's never really been a part of any group or anything other than spending time with her family. Not that there is anything wrong with family time. I'm just glad she's breaking out of her shell and is willing to meet new people and develop new friendships. She already knows most of the ladies, at least knows who they are, so hopefully this will go well.
There is also the possibility of maybe 2 other new girls too! We met them at our church's Ladies Night last month and they were both really fun! I hope we didn't scare them off by being too loud and crazy....we shall see! (O:
So, even though this post might seem boring, I just wanted to say how truly thankful I am to be a part of this great group. It is my prayer that God will continue to use us in ways we can't even comprehend and that we will continue to grow closer to Him and to each other!
We took a break over the summer (I don't know that it was on purpose, but that's what ended up happening...) and tonight we're getting together for a fun night. There will be ice cream sundaes, games and catching up. I can't wait! Even though I see most of these friends on a weekly basis at church, it's so nice to have this little bit of extra time each week to spend together.
My friend, Jaime started this group about a year ago (is that right?? yeesh) and it has be so great to see the awesome things God is doing! We've had a few ladies leave the group and we've added severeal more. I can just tell that we're all a part of this group for His master plan! We come from different backgrounds, different spots in our walk with God, different senses of humor, different stages in life, etc. But, I truly LOVE how God is using each of us to inspire and encourage the others. A group doesn't have to be made up of all Mothers, or Singles, or Teachers- we can all come together and offer each other different life experiences and different points of view. Our time together is NEVER boring! It is always full of laughs and smiles, with the occasional tears. We build each other up and sometimes, correct each other in our faults (not really during group time, but individually).
I know there is at least one new friend joining our group and I'm so glad for it. She and I have been friends for nearly 18 years (grew up in church together) and she's never really been a part of any group or anything other than spending time with her family. Not that there is anything wrong with family time. I'm just glad she's breaking out of her shell and is willing to meet new people and develop new friendships. She already knows most of the ladies, at least knows who they are, so hopefully this will go well.
There is also the possibility of maybe 2 other new girls too! We met them at our church's Ladies Night last month and they were both really fun! I hope we didn't scare them off by being too loud and crazy....we shall see! (O:
So, even though this post might seem boring, I just wanted to say how truly thankful I am to be a part of this great group. It is my prayer that God will continue to use us in ways we can't even comprehend and that we will continue to grow closer to Him and to each other!
Monday, September 14, 2009
Monday Morning Recap
Whew! What a weekend! This post is going to be a little bit of everything, and I cannot guarantee that it will be in a well thought out, organized manner...
Jason came home Saturday- WOO HOO!!! His flight was delayed a couple of times, so he didn't arrive until about 2 hours later than scheduled, but it was great anyway! Emilia and I went to meet him at the airport and her whole face lit up as soon as he came around the corner and said her name! It was such a sweet moment. (O:
After a quickie trip home (yes, I mean a quickie at home) ;-) we were off to the Cards/Braves game with our great friends, Jon and Jaime. Those seats were great! I think I've only ever sat that close a couple of times, and it was when I was much younger. The nachos were delicious as always and I even made a new friend. There was an older man sitting next to me, half drunk in the 2nd inning, and we had some lovely chats. (O:
That night, Jason showed us ALL of his pictures from India. It was really neat to see where he was and what he was doing. He shared some of the testimonies he heard while he was over there, and each one was just as awful, but inspiring as the next. If I start explaining the stories, this post will become WAY too long, but just believe me when I tell you that these men have been persecuted for their faith and are praising our Lord for it! Jason said he really learned so much over there- these people has Nothing, but are so happy and praising God for what they do have. They are also completely souled out for God- they are witnessing to everyone they come into contact with and they are not afraid to spread the Good News! (I was reminded from Jason's stories that I need to work on living this way in my daily life...more on that in a minute!)
Other good news from Saturday...Emilia slept through the night!!! Ya Ya!! I've really been struggling with this because I didn't know what I was doing or what I should be doing to try and help it. so, I started an earlier bed time and a more structured bedtime routine, including cereal, bath, bottle, bed. It worked!!! I know her little life is changing so much with the move and all, so I think she just needed that structure (sooo her mother's daughter!) (O: So, around 8:00 a.m. (whooot whoot!) Jason went to check on her (he still gets nervous when she sleeps that late) and when he walked in, she rolled over, looked at him and grew a great big smile! He brought her into our room and we all 3 just layed together for a while. It was wonderful.
It was Grandparent's Day Sunday, in case you didn't know...so, Emilia and I ran to the store to get gifts for Grandma, Grammy and Poppy. Then, we all went to Logan's for lunch and it was great. I really love that my mom and Jason's parents get along well enough that we can all get together like that. It makes those events so much more enjoyable than having to scurry from one place to the next, so no one is left out. It was just a great day! (Not to mention, J and I went walking around the mall after lunch and the Children's Place had some footie PJ's on clearance for $2/piece!!! I bought every color and every size from 6-9 mos to 24mos for Emilia! Haha, but hey! That's a great deal!) (O:
Sunday night was the perfect end to the perfect weekend. I made it through the praise music and almost the entire message before Emilia was hungry and I'm really glad it worked out that way. Ian spoke about how Worship isn't just music, it's your whole life. I told Jason I was glad he spoke about that, because not only do I think it was good for everyone to hear it, I, myself, needed to hear it again. Of course, I already knew it, but it is always good to be reminded of things we 'already know'. Going to church on Sundays, smiling at visitors and singing some songs isn't 'Worship' unless I'm living the rest of my life to honor and glorify God.
I feel very convicted that I've let 'work Annie' become someone that's a little less encouraging, joyful and kind than she used to be. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are, or what's going on around me, I need to rise above it and still shine for Jesus every day! I think work is the easiest place for me to slip up because I'm rarely encouraged to be better. There are only a few people here that even claim they are Christians and none of them actually are. I think we've got some Catholics, but they are the Easter/Christmas variety and sometimes they don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent. So, it's very easy for me to get caught up in the gossip, slander and harmful joking that takes place daily. I have realized that this is an area I need to work on. While I'm ashamed to admit I don't spend much time in the Word on my own, I am so very glad that our ladies' Bible study is starting back up this week. Not only do I enjoy the social time with my closest friends each week, but I really am thankful for the time to grow together in God's Word. Can't wait!
OK- WHEW! I think I'm caught up! Have a great day! (O:
Jason came home Saturday- WOO HOO!!! His flight was delayed a couple of times, so he didn't arrive until about 2 hours later than scheduled, but it was great anyway! Emilia and I went to meet him at the airport and her whole face lit up as soon as he came around the corner and said her name! It was such a sweet moment. (O:
After a quickie trip home (yes, I mean a quickie at home) ;-) we were off to the Cards/Braves game with our great friends, Jon and Jaime. Those seats were great! I think I've only ever sat that close a couple of times, and it was when I was much younger. The nachos were delicious as always and I even made a new friend. There was an older man sitting next to me, half drunk in the 2nd inning, and we had some lovely chats. (O:
That night, Jason showed us ALL of his pictures from India. It was really neat to see where he was and what he was doing. He shared some of the testimonies he heard while he was over there, and each one was just as awful, but inspiring as the next. If I start explaining the stories, this post will become WAY too long, but just believe me when I tell you that these men have been persecuted for their faith and are praising our Lord for it! Jason said he really learned so much over there- these people has Nothing, but are so happy and praising God for what they do have. They are also completely souled out for God- they are witnessing to everyone they come into contact with and they are not afraid to spread the Good News! (I was reminded from Jason's stories that I need to work on living this way in my daily life...more on that in a minute!)
Other good news from Saturday...Emilia slept through the night!!! Ya Ya!! I've really been struggling with this because I didn't know what I was doing or what I should be doing to try and help it. so, I started an earlier bed time and a more structured bedtime routine, including cereal, bath, bottle, bed. It worked!!! I know her little life is changing so much with the move and all, so I think she just needed that structure (sooo her mother's daughter!) (O: So, around 8:00 a.m. (whooot whoot!) Jason went to check on her (he still gets nervous when she sleeps that late) and when he walked in, she rolled over, looked at him and grew a great big smile! He brought her into our room and we all 3 just layed together for a while. It was wonderful.
It was Grandparent's Day Sunday, in case you didn't know...so, Emilia and I ran to the store to get gifts for Grandma, Grammy and Poppy. Then, we all went to Logan's for lunch and it was great. I really love that my mom and Jason's parents get along well enough that we can all get together like that. It makes those events so much more enjoyable than having to scurry from one place to the next, so no one is left out. It was just a great day! (Not to mention, J and I went walking around the mall after lunch and the Children's Place had some footie PJ's on clearance for $2/piece!!! I bought every color and every size from 6-9 mos to 24mos for Emilia! Haha, but hey! That's a great deal!) (O:
Sunday night was the perfect end to the perfect weekend. I made it through the praise music and almost the entire message before Emilia was hungry and I'm really glad it worked out that way. Ian spoke about how Worship isn't just music, it's your whole life. I told Jason I was glad he spoke about that, because not only do I think it was good for everyone to hear it, I, myself, needed to hear it again. Of course, I already knew it, but it is always good to be reminded of things we 'already know'. Going to church on Sundays, smiling at visitors and singing some songs isn't 'Worship' unless I'm living the rest of my life to honor and glorify God.
I feel very convicted that I've let 'work Annie' become someone that's a little less encouraging, joyful and kind than she used to be. It doesn't matter what my circumstances are, or what's going on around me, I need to rise above it and still shine for Jesus every day! I think work is the easiest place for me to slip up because I'm rarely encouraged to be better. There are only a few people here that even claim they are Christians and none of them actually are. I think we've got some Catholics, but they are the Easter/Christmas variety and sometimes they don't eat meat on Fridays during Lent. So, it's very easy for me to get caught up in the gossip, slander and harmful joking that takes place daily. I have realized that this is an area I need to work on. While I'm ashamed to admit I don't spend much time in the Word on my own, I am so very glad that our ladies' Bible study is starting back up this week. Not only do I enjoy the social time with my closest friends each week, but I really am thankful for the time to grow together in God's Word. Can't wait!
OK- WHEW! I think I'm caught up! Have a great day! (O:
Thursday, September 10, 2009
Wearing blue in a sea of purple...
That's what happened to me on Tuesday and it doesn't seem like this week has gotten any better...
Tuesday is purple scrub day at work, and I showed up in Monday's ceil blue. I do that every time there's a holiday on a Monday...luckily I am in my cave in the back of the building all day, so no one really noticed (and it's not like I would have been in trouble, it just makes me feel stupid). Thankfully, after being off yesterday, I wore the correct color...ugh.
This might come off as a whiney post and I'm sorry in advance...but, I just need to get this off my chest and out of my head. I haven't really said anything to anyone about it because I know it's whining, but I don't want to keep bottling it up...so sorry.
Emilia isn't having the best week either. She hasn't slept through the night in WEEKS (except for the one night I blogged about when I used my freshly-worn tshirt, but it only happened once, sadly). She's waking up at least twice a night, usually somewhere between 12:30-1:30a.m. and then again between 3:30-4:30a.m. Sometimes she'll take her paci and roll back over. But, other times she cries this half-hearted whimper cry that makes me sad. When the paci won't work, I take her out and rock her back to sleep. I've been trying to just give her the paci and let her fall back asleep in hopes that she'll learn to sleep through the night...but, I've started losing my will power. Especially after Tuesday night's drama...
Tuesday night, 7:00 p.m., Emilia threw up- a LOT. She was fine when I picked her up from daycare, and she babbled and kicked the whole time we were in Walmart on our way home. But, as I took her from her Poppy to go upstairs and get a diaper change, the flood gates opened. I'm not kidding, it was like the exorcist- like turning on a fire hydrant! She has never done that before, so it kinda freaked me out. But, after it she just kinda smiled and resumed kicking. Poppy took her so I could go change my clothes (which were now covered in Emilia vomit). But as soon as she was handed off, she threw up again all over the stairs, just missing Poppy. So, I took her back while Poppy cleaned up the floors and we went upstairs. As soon as I laid her on her changing table and started to change her, she threw up AGAIN! 3rd time in less than 10 minutes! This is when it started to get scary.
We spent the next hour with Emilia throwing up every few minutes...and once there wasn't anything left, she would just wretch. Each time, her face turned bright red and she couldn't breathe. I knew when my mother-in-law looked worried that this wasn't 'normal'. So, I called the ped's exchange and left a message that was to be returned within 30-45 minutes. I didn't want to wait that long, so we called one of the ped's nurses who happens to be a family friend. She explained that it was probaby a stomach bug of some sort, since they are going around with cold and flu season, and as long as she wasn't dehydrated or running a fever, we should be OK.
Luckily, around 8:30 she stopped wretching. Her poor little body was so limp in my arms; she was completely exhausted. Her eyes were open, but she never lifted her head off my shoulder, never pressed her feet into my stomach to stand, never smiled or laughed. It was awful.
I knew I wasn't going to leave her in her crib all alone that night, in case she started throwing up again. So, we made a wall of pillows on the opposite side of my bed and let her sleep next to me, where Jason normally is. Every time she coughed, I woke up to check that she was OK. I slept the lightest I've probably ever slept that night- and I am usually a HARD sleeper. Besides being worried about her getting sick again, I was really concerned about her rolling off my bed. Now, I probably didn't need to be so concerned with this- we have a queen-size bed and I had pillows stacked and lining the edge of the bed. But still, I was worried.
Needless to say, neither of us slept well. So, we stayed home and cuddled yesterday. I wanted to make sure she was really OK. And she is. She is back to her usually cheery, loving self! We played and laughed all day, it was great. She went back to daycare today and I'm back at work....still missing sleep since Emilia's still enjoying her nightly wake-ups! But, I'm just so thankful she's feeling better!!
Tuesday is purple scrub day at work, and I showed up in Monday's ceil blue. I do that every time there's a holiday on a Monday...luckily I am in my cave in the back of the building all day, so no one really noticed (and it's not like I would have been in trouble, it just makes me feel stupid). Thankfully, after being off yesterday, I wore the correct color...ugh.
That's exactly how I've been feeling lately- just a little off.
I wouldn't have guessed it, but having Jason gone this past week has been really hard on me. Not that I didn't think I would miss him, of course I knew that! But, I guess I thought I would be able to handle everything by myself a little more easily. While I have GREAT in-laws that have been a huge help, it's just not the same without him here.This might come off as a whiney post and I'm sorry in advance...but, I just need to get this off my chest and out of my head. I haven't really said anything to anyone about it because I know it's whining, but I don't want to keep bottling it up...so sorry.
Emilia isn't having the best week either. She hasn't slept through the night in WEEKS (except for the one night I blogged about when I used my freshly-worn tshirt, but it only happened once, sadly). She's waking up at least twice a night, usually somewhere between 12:30-1:30a.m. and then again between 3:30-4:30a.m. Sometimes she'll take her paci and roll back over. But, other times she cries this half-hearted whimper cry that makes me sad. When the paci won't work, I take her out and rock her back to sleep. I've been trying to just give her the paci and let her fall back asleep in hopes that she'll learn to sleep through the night...but, I've started losing my will power. Especially after Tuesday night's drama...
Tuesday night, 7:00 p.m., Emilia threw up- a LOT. She was fine when I picked her up from daycare, and she babbled and kicked the whole time we were in Walmart on our way home. But, as I took her from her Poppy to go upstairs and get a diaper change, the flood gates opened. I'm not kidding, it was like the exorcist- like turning on a fire hydrant! She has never done that before, so it kinda freaked me out. But, after it she just kinda smiled and resumed kicking. Poppy took her so I could go change my clothes (which were now covered in Emilia vomit). But as soon as she was handed off, she threw up again all over the stairs, just missing Poppy. So, I took her back while Poppy cleaned up the floors and we went upstairs. As soon as I laid her on her changing table and started to change her, she threw up AGAIN! 3rd time in less than 10 minutes! This is when it started to get scary.
We spent the next hour with Emilia throwing up every few minutes...and once there wasn't anything left, she would just wretch. Each time, her face turned bright red and she couldn't breathe. I knew when my mother-in-law looked worried that this wasn't 'normal'. So, I called the ped's exchange and left a message that was to be returned within 30-45 minutes. I didn't want to wait that long, so we called one of the ped's nurses who happens to be a family friend. She explained that it was probaby a stomach bug of some sort, since they are going around with cold and flu season, and as long as she wasn't dehydrated or running a fever, we should be OK.
Luckily, around 8:30 she stopped wretching. Her poor little body was so limp in my arms; she was completely exhausted. Her eyes were open, but she never lifted her head off my shoulder, never pressed her feet into my stomach to stand, never smiled or laughed. It was awful.
I knew I wasn't going to leave her in her crib all alone that night, in case she started throwing up again. So, we made a wall of pillows on the opposite side of my bed and let her sleep next to me, where Jason normally is. Every time she coughed, I woke up to check that she was OK. I slept the lightest I've probably ever slept that night- and I am usually a HARD sleeper. Besides being worried about her getting sick again, I was really concerned about her rolling off my bed. Now, I probably didn't need to be so concerned with this- we have a queen-size bed and I had pillows stacked and lining the edge of the bed. But still, I was worried.
Needless to say, neither of us slept well. So, we stayed home and cuddled yesterday. I wanted to make sure she was really OK. And she is. She is back to her usually cheery, loving self! We played and laughed all day, it was great. She went back to daycare today and I'm back at work....still missing sleep since Emilia's still enjoying her nightly wake-ups! But, I'm just so thankful she's feeling better!!
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Leaves!
I can't believe it, but on my way to work this morning I saw my favorite sign that Fall is on it way...beautiful leaves changing colors! The reds, yellows and oranges were just wonderful and lifted my spirits. There is a couple-mile stretch on my way to work that's lined by big trees and they are already starting to show off their pretty fall colors.
My favorite place to be during this favorite time of year is Tennessee. I spent a year there, going to Johnson Bible School, in Knoxville and loved it. My friends and I used to take long drives through the winding roads in the small towns outside of Knoxville. I used to love looking into the valleys and seeing the canvas of beautiful colors and flying down the road, tunneled by trees of orange, red and yellow.
There's something about when the leaves start to change colors that makes me excited. I think there's even a different smell in the air, the smell of bonfires to be had, hot dogs and smores to be made. Love Love Love Fall!! (O:
My favorite place to be during this favorite time of year is Tennessee. I spent a year there, going to Johnson Bible School, in Knoxville and loved it. My friends and I used to take long drives through the winding roads in the small towns outside of Knoxville. I used to love looking into the valleys and seeing the canvas of beautiful colors and flying down the road, tunneled by trees of orange, red and yellow.
There's something about when the leaves start to change colors that makes me excited. I think there's even a different smell in the air, the smell of bonfires to be had, hot dogs and smores to be made. Love Love Love Fall!! (O:
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Oreo Challenge
Hi all! I just finished reading the 'Cornerstone Daily Thought' (a daily devotion that is sent out by my church) and I wanted to share part of it with you. It's just something silly, so don't expect any great revelations about yourself. It's called the "Oreo Test". It basically says that how you eat an oreo says something about your personality. Let me know what type you are! (O:
How do you eat your Oreos:
-The Whole Thing at Once
-One Bite at a Time
-Dunked
-Twisted Apart
-I Don't Like Oreo Cookies
Here’s what your choice says about you:
The Whole Thing
This means you consume life with abandon, you are fun to be with, exciting, and carefree with some hint of recklessness. You are totally irresponsible. No one should trust you with their children.
One Bite at a Time
You are lucky to be one of the 5.4 billion other people who eat their Oreos this very same way. Just like them, you lack imagination, but that's okay, you're normal.
Dunked
Everyone likes you because you are always upbeat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life.
Twisted Apart
You have a highly curious nature. You take pleasure in breaking things apart to find out how they work, though not always able to put them back together, so you destroy all the evidence of your activities. You deny your involvement when things go wrong.
I Don't Like Oreo Cookies
You probably come from a rich family, like to wear nice things and go to upscale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. There's just no pleasing you.
I couldn't decide between 'One Bite at a Time' or 'Dunked'. If there is milk, I am a definite dunker, but if I don't have milk, I just take one bite at a time. So, basically I'm either boring and lack imagination (which I guess could be true, I'm not very creative...) or I'm always upbeat and sugar coat things (also true). Haha.
I know this was just a silly little thing, but I thought it was funny because the last line of each description is rather exaggerated. Like I said, let me know what you chose! (O:
How do you eat your Oreos:
-The Whole Thing at Once
-One Bite at a Time
-Dunked
-Twisted Apart
-I Don't Like Oreo Cookies
Here’s what your choice says about you:
The Whole Thing
This means you consume life with abandon, you are fun to be with, exciting, and carefree with some hint of recklessness. You are totally irresponsible. No one should trust you with their children.
One Bite at a Time
You are lucky to be one of the 5.4 billion other people who eat their Oreos this very same way. Just like them, you lack imagination, but that's okay, you're normal.
Dunked
Everyone likes you because you are always upbeat. You like to sugar coat unpleasant experiences and rationalize bad situations into good ones. You are in total denial about the shambles you call a life.
Twisted Apart
You have a highly curious nature. You take pleasure in breaking things apart to find out how they work, though not always able to put them back together, so you destroy all the evidence of your activities. You deny your involvement when things go wrong.
I Don't Like Oreo Cookies
You probably come from a rich family, like to wear nice things and go to upscale restaurants. You are particular and fussy about the things you buy, own, and wear. Things have to be just right. There's just no pleasing you.
I couldn't decide between 'One Bite at a Time' or 'Dunked'. If there is milk, I am a definite dunker, but if I don't have milk, I just take one bite at a time. So, basically I'm either boring and lack imagination (which I guess could be true, I'm not very creative...) or I'm always upbeat and sugar coat things (also true). Haha.
I know this was just a silly little thing, but I thought it was funny because the last line of each description is rather exaggerated. Like I said, let me know what you chose! (O:
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Look out India- Jason's on his way!
Well, today is the day. My hubby is leaving for India in just a few short hours...
I really feel like this whole thing just snuck up on me! But, it's more that we've have a non-stop, go-go-go life for the past few months. Between surgeries, deaths, moving and daily life with baby Emilia, time really flown by. It feels like it was just yesterday I was telling Jason that, 'Yeah, we should be able to make this work'.
I will admit (ashamedly) that I'm still a little jealous that I'm not getting to go. I know I should be glad for the group because God is going to touch their lives in ways they probably don't even realize yet...but, I'm just a little sad that I don't get to go. I guess it's OK to be jealous that I won't get to experience God's work over the next 10 days, it's not like that's a bad thing...right? But, I am continually reminded of my precious gift, Emilia, the reason I'm staying home. My little girl needs her Momma and I can't imagine being away from her for even a couple days, let alone 10! So, I am not envious of Jason for that. I just hope our little girl doesn't grow up too much while he's gone. He'll miss her 5 month birthday, but I'm planning to send pictures. (O:
I'm also completely excited for them! This will be Jason's second out-of-country mission trip and I can still remember how eye-opening our trip to Africa in 2006 was for him. He really has a heart for people, even though it might not always seem like it. He might not always show as much compassion for people in our country that have so much opportunity and just don't do anything with it. But, he definitely has a heart for people who are at the disadvantage. (I've found that sometimes these poor people from these 3rd world countries are so much happier with what little they have, and it's just amazing! I know Jason feels the same.) He has the opportunity to share God's word with several groups of people while over there and I'm so proud of him! I know he's nervous because he hasn't really 'preached' but just a couple times and this will be much more difficult due to using a translator. I've been praying for strength and confidence in God to fill him up while he is in India. I know God is going to use him in ways Jason can't even fathom yet, and I cannot wait to hear all about it when he gets back.
So, if anyone out there is reading this- I'm asking you to join me in praying for our group traveling to India. Please join me in praying for their safety during all their travels (to India and throughout the country). Please pray that their hearts will be open to God and they will allow Him to use them for His will at all times. Please pray that God will be with everyone they come into contact with, that these people, who are so different from us, will be open and willing to share the Word with them and just become their friends over the next 10 days. And PLEASE pray that God returns each person in our group home safely on September 12th.
I really feel like this whole thing just snuck up on me! But, it's more that we've have a non-stop, go-go-go life for the past few months. Between surgeries, deaths, moving and daily life with baby Emilia, time really flown by. It feels like it was just yesterday I was telling Jason that, 'Yeah, we should be able to make this work'.
I will admit (ashamedly) that I'm still a little jealous that I'm not getting to go. I know I should be glad for the group because God is going to touch their lives in ways they probably don't even realize yet...but, I'm just a little sad that I don't get to go. I guess it's OK to be jealous that I won't get to experience God's work over the next 10 days, it's not like that's a bad thing...right? But, I am continually reminded of my precious gift, Emilia, the reason I'm staying home. My little girl needs her Momma and I can't imagine being away from her for even a couple days, let alone 10! So, I am not envious of Jason for that. I just hope our little girl doesn't grow up too much while he's gone. He'll miss her 5 month birthday, but I'm planning to send pictures. (O:
I'm also completely excited for them! This will be Jason's second out-of-country mission trip and I can still remember how eye-opening our trip to Africa in 2006 was for him. He really has a heart for people, even though it might not always seem like it. He might not always show as much compassion for people in our country that have so much opportunity and just don't do anything with it. But, he definitely has a heart for people who are at the disadvantage. (I've found that sometimes these poor people from these 3rd world countries are so much happier with what little they have, and it's just amazing! I know Jason feels the same.) He has the opportunity to share God's word with several groups of people while over there and I'm so proud of him! I know he's nervous because he hasn't really 'preached' but just a couple times and this will be much more difficult due to using a translator. I've been praying for strength and confidence in God to fill him up while he is in India. I know God is going to use him in ways Jason can't even fathom yet, and I cannot wait to hear all about it when he gets back.
So, if anyone out there is reading this- I'm asking you to join me in praying for our group traveling to India. Please join me in praying for their safety during all their travels (to India and throughout the country). Please pray that their hearts will be open to God and they will allow Him to use them for His will at all times. Please pray that God will be with everyone they come into contact with, that these people, who are so different from us, will be open and willing to share the Word with them and just become their friends over the next 10 days. And PLEASE pray that God returns each person in our group home safely on September 12th.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Rice Cereal and a Worn T-Shirt
These are the things I'm attributing to the success of last night's sleep! As you may already know, Emilia has been really struggling to sleep through the night these past couple weeks. She's been waking up 2-3 times each night.
My husband's Aunt Jill gave me some advice this past weekend about trying to put her down earlier and then when she wakes up to just give her the paci and see if she'll fall back asleep. She said she's done that with all 3 of her daughters and after a few nights, they were sleeping through the night with no problem. So, I gave it a try. It worked the two days we were out of town REALLY well, and I was so hopeful that it would continue. Then, Sunday night, back to screaming hysterically at midnight and 3:30.
I decided while sitting at work yesterday, half asleep, that it was time to bring out the big guns- Rice Cereal. There are mixed opinions on if feeding your baby rice cereal will actually make them sleep longer because their bellies are full or if it won't. But, I was getting desperate. (I should also mention that E's pediatrician said at her 4 month check up last month that we could start her on rice cereal whenever we wanted...) So, I picked it up on my way home and was pretty excited about starting my little girl on something new.
I got out her bumbo seat (the highchair is still in the box in the dining room...I'll tackle that another day...) and was going to feed her in the kitchen. I had Jason get his camera for some 'first rice cereal' shots (such a cheesy momma, I know!). Well, little did I know that Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Justin and Aunt Mimi (all hanging out in the living room) wanted to witness this event too. I was planning to do it in the kitchen to cut down on distractions for Emilia, since it was something new and I wanted her to be able to focus (even though the camera flashing with every bite might have also been distracting, haha)...but, I obliged the family and brought her into the living room for their viewing pleasure. (O: They were all really cute, oooing and aaaaing from behind me.
Emilia didn't seem to really enjoy this new experience...I think only a little of the cereal actually made it past her lips. She kept making the raspberry sound (that I think until now, she had forgotten she could make...we haven't heard it in weeks!) and most of the runny cereal would come back out. After several attempted spoonfuls, she started to gag a little (I think she stopped paying attention to what she was doing and let it run down her throat). That's when I decided we were done for the day. I'm not sure if we'll try again tonight, or if I'll give her a couple days and then maybe try oatmeal cereal...I hear babies like that better.
Anyway, that's the first half of why I think my baby girl slept from 8:30 until past 6:15 when I left this morning...
The other half is a very smart suggestion from my friend Jodie! She left it for me on facebook and I really appreciated her suggestion!! She said a mutual friend used to bring a used tshirt with her daughter to use during naptime...so, I thought 'What do I have to lose?' So, after the rice cereal experience, bathtime and nursing, I laid Emilia in her crib. I put a light blanket over her like always, and then took off the shirt I'd been wearing all night and laid it on top of the blanket.
I can't say whether it was the rice cereal or the used tshirt that helped my sweet baby, but whatever it was I'm so thankful!! When I woke up to my alarm at 5:17 (instead of Mia's cries), I couldn't believe it! I snuck into her room to make sure she hadn't got stuck under my shirt or anything and there she was. She was in the same position as when I put her down, with the blanket and shirt still neatly laying on top of her. She must have slept very soundly, because I can't remember the last time she stayed in the same position all night.
Yay for rice cereal and worn tshirts!! (O:
My husband's Aunt Jill gave me some advice this past weekend about trying to put her down earlier and then when she wakes up to just give her the paci and see if she'll fall back asleep. She said she's done that with all 3 of her daughters and after a few nights, they were sleeping through the night with no problem. So, I gave it a try. It worked the two days we were out of town REALLY well, and I was so hopeful that it would continue. Then, Sunday night, back to screaming hysterically at midnight and 3:30.
I decided while sitting at work yesterday, half asleep, that it was time to bring out the big guns- Rice Cereal. There are mixed opinions on if feeding your baby rice cereal will actually make them sleep longer because their bellies are full or if it won't. But, I was getting desperate. (I should also mention that E's pediatrician said at her 4 month check up last month that we could start her on rice cereal whenever we wanted...) So, I picked it up on my way home and was pretty excited about starting my little girl on something new.
I got out her bumbo seat (the highchair is still in the box in the dining room...I'll tackle that another day...) and was going to feed her in the kitchen. I had Jason get his camera for some 'first rice cereal' shots (such a cheesy momma, I know!). Well, little did I know that Grammy, Poppy, Uncle Justin and Aunt Mimi (all hanging out in the living room) wanted to witness this event too. I was planning to do it in the kitchen to cut down on distractions for Emilia, since it was something new and I wanted her to be able to focus (even though the camera flashing with every bite might have also been distracting, haha)...but, I obliged the family and brought her into the living room for their viewing pleasure. (O: They were all really cute, oooing and aaaaing from behind me.
Emilia didn't seem to really enjoy this new experience...I think only a little of the cereal actually made it past her lips. She kept making the raspberry sound (that I think until now, she had forgotten she could make...we haven't heard it in weeks!) and most of the runny cereal would come back out. After several attempted spoonfuls, she started to gag a little (I think she stopped paying attention to what she was doing and let it run down her throat). That's when I decided we were done for the day. I'm not sure if we'll try again tonight, or if I'll give her a couple days and then maybe try oatmeal cereal...I hear babies like that better.
Anyway, that's the first half of why I think my baby girl slept from 8:30 until past 6:15 when I left this morning...
The other half is a very smart suggestion from my friend Jodie! She left it for me on facebook and I really appreciated her suggestion!! She said a mutual friend used to bring a used tshirt with her daughter to use during naptime...so, I thought 'What do I have to lose?' So, after the rice cereal experience, bathtime and nursing, I laid Emilia in her crib. I put a light blanket over her like always, and then took off the shirt I'd been wearing all night and laid it on top of the blanket.
I can't say whether it was the rice cereal or the used tshirt that helped my sweet baby, but whatever it was I'm so thankful!! When I woke up to my alarm at 5:17 (instead of Mia's cries), I couldn't believe it! I snuck into her room to make sure she hadn't got stuck under my shirt or anything and there she was. She was in the same position as when I put her down, with the blanket and shirt still neatly laying on top of her. She must have slept very soundly, because I can't remember the last time she stayed in the same position all night.
Yay for rice cereal and worn tshirts!! (O:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
