Fall!! Kind of?

It's the end of August. I don't ever really expect it to feel like Fall until the middle of September and then it only lasts a few shorts weeks until the end of October. Sometimes not even that long. I distinctly remember snow on Halloween. But I also remember being able to be outside in just a sweater on Thanksgiving. Conclusion: Mother Nature has a little too much wine sometimes. I can't fault her for that. But I don't ever remember Fall coming in the middle of August. 

It's been in the 60's in Michigan this last week and dare I say crisp. I wore a scarf the other day because it was cute and because I could do it without sweating and wanting to rip it of in the middle of my shopping trip. We've also been in our home here one full year now and have come full circle with all the seasons Michigan boasts. So I've been inspired to make a list of all the things that I like about each season.

Fall:

Scarves
Boots
Pumpkins
Pumpkin flavored EVERYTHING
Apple orchards
Cider Mills
Cooler weather
Crisp air -it just feels cleaner and more breathable
Stores filled with back to school supplies

Winter:

No more sand in my son's pockets and shoes from the playground
Christmas

Spring:

Thunderstorms
Flowers and trees coming back to life
Those 60 degree temps again
Opening the windows for the first time in 5 months

Summer:

Flip flops

I clearly have a favorite and I'm so glad it's that time of year again. I'm starting to slowly come out of my annual summer funk. But it's going to be 80 degrees tomorrow with high humidity again. Go ahead, Mother Nature, have another glass. I'll join you. 

And A Mortgage On Top Of It All

Oh the joys of home ownership. Don't get me wrong, I love that I can finally do whatever I want to my house because it's MY house. But paying for it and actually finding time to DO it? Whole different ballgame. 

We've been in our house now a full year and have done some minor things but still have a huge project list that has yet to be started. I won't bore you with my full wish list, just know that it's going to take a really long time. Like, a long time. Like the kids might not be living at home anymore by the time some of it gets done. In that case I will be making expensive home improvements just so I can sell the house because we fully intend on retiring early and buying a smaller house just for us in another state that doesn't have such a cruel summer. I hate summer. That's another blog for another day.

But a few things need to happen now. The whole-house fan needs to get installed before yesterday. It's so freaking hot in Michigan in the summer. It just sucks the life out of me. Then the attic needs to be completely re-insulated before it gets cold. It's so freaking cold in Michigan in the winter and the house is drafty. Also why we will be replacing the entire front door and jam and the fireplace. The deck boards need to be replaced before the first frost to they can "weather" for 6 months before we can refinish the whole thing (a Spring project). 

I'm happy to have finally purchased my own home at the age of 32. But also, kind of sad. We've lived in a lot of places and none of them were perfect. I was fine with all the little things I didn't like because we'd just move again and we always learned from the last place what to look for next. But this time there's no "next house." This is it. We've got what we've got. And we keep finding hidden gems that as first time home buyers we never thought about. Like the giant maple tree in the back yard that leans over the house causing potential (read expensive) roof hazards during any one of the nasty storms we get. Initially I saw it as a shade tree. But it's jeopardizing position has come to light. (See what I did there?) 

I need to be on one of those HGTV shows that remodels and decorates and designs everything for you. 

Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness

Fireworks season is awesome. Yes, there are exceptions like veterans with PTSD and some animals that really have a hard time with the celebrations that this time of year brings. And, yes, there is always an influx of patients in the emergency room who were drunk and stupid and stood too close to a bottle rocket. Or you're my sister and you stepped on a sparkler and effectively melted it into the bottom of your foot. But overall fireworks are pretty cool and I love this time of year. Here's my list of reasons why:

* There is a fireworks show within driving distance every weekend, sometime multiple nights in the same weekend, for over a month encompassing the actual holiday. It's possible to see 10+ shows not including all the random ones that go off around the neighborhood.

* There are events. Carnivals, festivals, parades. 

* The events have food. Elephant ears, cotton candy, kettle corn, and that hand shaken lemonade that is basically just a cup of sugar. Delicious. 

* The season is full of nostalgic traditions that I'm passing on to my kids; catching fireflies while we wait for the fireworks to start, barbecues, going up north for the weekend, sparklers (unless you're my sister. She's not allowed to have them anymore), and the cake decorated with cool whip, strawberries, and blueberries.

* A three day weekend to enjoy it a little longer. 

* Our nation's freedom and what it all represents. 

* Wearing red, white, and blue with pride and the excuse to make it way over the top. Giant star spangled sunglasses anyone?

It's actually not my favorite holiday but the fourth of July is definitely up there as far as celebrations go. And I do enjoy any excuse to use streamers. What are your favorite traditions?

A Worthy Investment

You can never go wrong with white tissue paper. No one's ever said, "Man, I wish I didn't buy that white tissue paper." I don't think anyone has ever been saddened or inconvenienced by owning it. Quite the opposite, in fact. Oh if I could count the times I shouted from the rooftop, "Thank goodness I have white tissue paper! Sound the trumpets, the day is saved!"

Ok, that never really happened (but it could have). Seriously, though, it's good for everything. No matter how you wrap a present you can use it. In the box, in the bag, stuff the bag. Or the famous and reoccurring event when I have an awkwardly shaped item and the bag I bought isn't big enough. Tissue paper alone becomes the wrapping of choice. Plus, it's way easier for kids to tear open, it's fast and easy to get a gift looking presentable and is readily available at every store you might already be at while running errands. No special trips for white tissue paper. 

But wait, there's more!

While having white is a staple and universal, tissue paper has come a long way since the days your mother wrapped everything in a cardboard JC Penny box. It now comes in every color you can think of, snowflake designs, polka dots, glitter, confetti, you name it. This is awesome if you want to get all Martha Stewart with your gift wrapping (I'm completely guilty) and fun for kids crafting. 

But you really just can't be without plain old, tried and true, standard white tissue paper. If you see it in the store, buy it. If you see it on clearance after Christmas, buy it all. Grab it at the dollar store. Stock up the next time you go to .. .. anywhere. It's seriously sold at every store I can think of right now. Do not ever run out. You won't be sorry. 

I Hate This Post.

This morning I wanted to write about a depressing part of my life (you love reading my blog, don't you?) My constant struggle with my ability to be happy with myself the way I am. I think there was a time, one very brief time, when I was satisfied with how I looked in a pair of jeans and was comfortable with myself. This was right before I got pregnant with Megan. 

In high school I thought I was fat because, high school. I was never happy even though I only weighed 120 lbs at 5'4". In college I gained weight because, college. After college I did every fad diet there was to lose weight before my wedding and still wasn't happy with how I looked that day. After I got married I gained weight because, housewife. 

I ended up seeing a lot of doctors for a variety of other reasons and actually found out that I was insulin resistant. Some medication I was prescribed to fix some other stuff had a wonderful side effect of weight loss. Not a lot, but enough to motivate me to eat better and get to the gym to keep it going. Brian deployed and I was able to cook my own food just for me and go to the gym whenever I wanted. I lost 40 lbs. Brian came home and we started having ice cream dates and I stopped going to the gym to be home with him. You know what happened. 

Then I got pregnant with my first baby and I felt free to eat whatever I wanted and certainly didn't work out. It was an excuse to be fat. But after he was born I struggled to lose the weight. When he was three I got serious about it again. I got myself back down to 130lbs. I think ONE timeI actually saw 128 on the scale but I was probably dehydrated. I was happy. I felt good. My husband was attracted to me again. Then I got pregnant with my daughter. 

Don't get me wrong, I wanted this baby more than anything. It took a long time and some medical intervention to get pregnant and I was ecstatic. But it meant getting fat again and my body changing AGAIN. Mentally it was very hard for me. Now that she is 19 months old I'm still struggling with my weight and my shape and my acceptance of my adult body. I know I will never look like I did in high school. I don't want to. I'm over 30, I have two kids, and I drive a mini van. I'm supposed to wear mom jeans and a pony tail. Right? I'm just not there mentally and I don't think I have to be. 

I think I can be happy with myself again, I'm just having a really hard time doing it. I don't want it to take three years but I am more depressed about it than I am motivated. It doesn't help when your 5 year old asks you why your belly is so big. *sigh* I need help.

The Birthday Party Blog!

Caleb had a birthday, as so many of us do. He turned 5. My BABY turned FIVE! He drives me crazy. Absolutely bonkers. But he also made me realize how much love you could have for another human, even when I sometimes think he isn't. Which is why he got a Superman birthday party this year. Well, that and because it's all he talked about for a month.

We started with a telephone booth for the tiny superheroes to change into their capes. Grown Ups got a Daily Planet Press Pass.

 Then they tested their super strength by knocking down a brick wall. 

Some simple decorations and goody bags, yummy Superman cake and cupcakes, and even REAL kryptonite! (green rock candy). We finished it off with, of course, Superman ice cream. 

Everyone seemed to have a great time and Caleb was thrilled to have all his friends there. Thank you to everyone who came and made his 5th birthday so special, and to my sister-in-law for helping me make 15 tiny superhero capes. He's already told me that next year he wants a robot theme with real robots. I think I better start now.

Hello, Kettle? This is Pot...

Remember my rant about not RSVPing to an invitation? Remember how I was all up in arms and on a soapbox about how rude it is and inconsiderate and how the downfall of society is eminent if we don’t lend ourselves to common decency?  (that may be an exaggeration)

Diagram:   1: Foot. 2: Mouth.

Directions:  Insert.

Caleb got an invitation to a birthday party from a little girl in his class. I’m pretty sure he only got it because we invited her to his party, but that’s moot. The invitation said “RSVP regrets only.” Caleb said he wanted to go so I never sent any correspondence.

The party was today and when I reminded Caleb about it last night he was all upset about it and really, really didn’t want to go. I’m not going to make my kid go to a birthday party that he doesn’t want to be at for a kid he’s not really friends with. Plus now I can return the obligatory gift we got.

So, hi. I’m a hypocrite. But in my defense I thought we would be going and she said regrets only!! I mean, she didn’t come to Caleb’s party either. But she did RSVP…

Zombie Land

I don’t sleep. I think most moms of little ones can relate. But my little ones aren’t so little anymore and I really feel like I should be getting more sleep than I do.

Megan wakes up at least once, usually twice, every night. Caleb wakes up and wants to come into our bed probably 4 nights a week. I’m trying really hard to break him of this and walk him back to his own room. But that means getting out of bed and at 3am when I’ve just gotten back INTO bed from taking care of the girl it’s just easier to scoot over and let him in. Criticize all you want, but is it really so bad that my son wants to snuggle with me?

And why me? Why not Dad? I understand that kids are needy, especially when they honestly can’t do some things for themselves. But why do they always need ME? Why is it always MOM? I love my kids. I really, really do. But I just need a break sometimes. And you know what I want to do? Sleep.

Someday when the kids are older and I have less responsibilities, when life settles down and I’m not so stressed, I’ll be able to sleep all the way through the night. I’ll get to take naps (which the husband does every weekend) and these bags under my eyes will diminish.

Right?

**Coming soon: Caleb’s 5th Birthday Blog!

Just Text Me "Yes" or "No"

Do people not RSVP anymore? Is this a thing of the past? Am I too old fashioned to think that this is still something we should be doing and teaching to our children? (Along with hand written thank you notes).

Caleb’s birthday party is in less than a week. We sent out invitations to family and put some in the mailboxes at school of his closest friends. I think that was around April 13.  I asked that people RSVP by April 30 for a May 9th party. That’s more than 2 weeks to look at calendars and schedules and figure out if you can make it. Or rearrange schedules if you really, really, really, REALLY want to come to a 5 year old’s Superman themed birthday party. I think that’s reasonable.

But do people respond? Some. The people I knew would be there. Papa, my sister, the usual family. Everyone else?

…

Seriously I just want to know if you’re coming so I can make sure I have enough food and a goody bag for your kid. So now do I buy and make enough bags for ALL the kids he invited and waste most of it if they don’t show up? Or do I only make enough for the kids I know are coming and if the others show up I say tough luck, Chuck, your mom should have RSVP’d.

Ugh. Turning 5 is hard.

Life is Not a Giant Game of Frogger

My day didn’t initially start off so bad. Caleb was good this morning, we got off to school, Megan ate breakfast and we had a normal morning. Then I got her ready and we left the house for her 18 month doctor’s visit.

That’s when it happened. I saw it coming. There was nothing I could do. I tried to swerve but he was too fast. It was like it happened in slow motion….. he was running and I was breaking and….

I ran over a squirrel.

IT WAS AWFUL!

This is the third time in my lifetime that I’ve hit an animal while driving. One time it was another squirrel. That was much more traumatic. Did you know that squirrels can scream? I heard it. The person in the car behind me told me they heard it. I can’t unhear it.The other animal was a coyote. They’re a lot smaller than I thought… still horrible.

Why does a little squirrel have to try to run across a busy road?! I tried to zig but he zagged. I’ve thought about it all day and can’t get the rear view mirror image out of my head. Poor little guy…

You're Not Funny

I’ve been told I should start blogging again. I asked why. Answer? Because I’m funny. You think I’m funny? Sure, let’s go with that.

Let’s start with why I stopped blogging in the first place. Two reasons: I had no time and I’m not very good at it. Honestly, though, if I try hard enough there is time. I was trying to post a new blog 3-4 times a week and that’s just not realistic when you have two kids, a job, and a husband, and a house, and… ugh. I’m tired now. But I think once a week is doable. And if I can’t find a few minutes to myself to write a blog once a week then I need to reevaluate my life choices. And the not being good at it part? Well, I’m not sure how great of a writer I am, or how interesting I am, but if I’m being asked to do it again then somebody likes it. And that’s good enough for me. Plus she called me funny.

So set up an RSS or RRS or whatever it is (do I have to make a button for that? I don’t know how these things work), or notification, or pay your co-worker to check back often for you. Here’s to the start of a beautiful new relationship with my old blog (which I will have to rename because we’ve since settled and bought a house). Cheers!

Elle Bird

There is something that I want to share with you that I really feel is worth your time to read and be involved in. It's called Elle Bird. If you've seen my facebook you've probably seen the link already. But I want to share it here too.

Carrie Stanley is the founder and creator of Imprints of the Heart and Elle Bird. On her website she tells a tiny piece of the story of how these companies came to be and why they are so important. It's just the tip of the ice berg.

I went to high school with Carrie (wow, a long time ago). We sang in the same choir, went to the same church, and double dated to prom. We both married boys from our home town and had children. But then I moved to California and we live separate lives. Still, I feel connected to her as someone I shared so many of my growing up years with. And as a mother I share a compassionate heart.

Carrie's daughter Leiryn was diagnosed with a terminal illness before she was 2 years old. I followed her Caring Bridge site as Carrie updated with new tests, new struggles, new hope, lost hope, and I cried every step of the way. No one, and I mean no one, should have to go through what Carrie and her family have gone through. And yet, they are so positive. They are still smiling. And they get through one day at a time.

While I cannot begin to compare my own struggles with what the Stanley family has been through, this cause touches a special place in my heart. There was a time when my own daughter was in the NICU, weighing only 3 pounds, that I wasn't sure we were ever going to bring her home. To look at her lying there in an isolette with IVs, a feeding tube, and monitors broke my heart and often my spirit. But eventually we did bring her home, something not all mothers get to do.

I have a necklace that Carrie made for me two years ago with my son's fingerprint on it. Every time I wear it I place my finger over the little indentation that was made by his tiny finger and I remember how blessed I am that he is healthy. I cannot wait to get one made with my daughter's fingerprint. It seems so small, it's just a piece of silver. But it's a piece of my child that I wear over my heart. And for families who have lost a child that piece is all they have.

Carrie has an infectious laugh and contagious spirit that I can see in her daughter's eyes when I look at pictures. She started Imprints of the Heart and Elle Bird to help other families who are dealing with similar struggles, illness, and the loss of a child. It's important. Please, please read her story, watch the video, and support Elle Bird. Every dollar is one step closer to helping a family receive  a precious keepsake. www.ellebirdstudios.com

In other news....

I'm feeling much better. Most days. The bruising feeling on my kidney is gone and now I just have intermittent pain from hydronephrosis (back up of fluid on my kidney). It's caused by a blockage or obstruction. I thought the whole point of the lithotripsy was to break up the stone(s) small enough to pass. And it is. But I learned that sometimes patients get a thing called steinstrasse (literally means stone street) when all the little fragments and debris get backed up in the ureter. It's incredibly painful. But it comes and goes and eventually will go for good.

I had an ultrasound yesterday, too, for my liver. Apparently the last three times I had blood drawn my liver enzymes were elevated. That prompted an order for some imaging and a hepatitis panel. The Hep panel came back negative so now I'm just waiting on results of the ultrasound. It was weird being on the other side of the machine.

Megan had her 4 month check up and is doing really well. She's 24 inches and 13lbs, 20th percentile!! She's come so far from her 2 month appointment where she was still in the zero percentile. She's talking and smiling all the time, sitting up in her bumbo, and she can roll from belly to back. Still can't quite get the back to the belly but she's trying so hard. 

Caleb starts a new pre-school on Monday that should be a little more academically challenging for him. He's just not getting enough where he is now. Brian and I both feel like the curriculum at his current school is too far beneath him and he isn't advancing to the level that he should be for his age. So, new school it is. He's really excited and I hope the transition is easy for him.

Looking for something fun, cheap, and family friendly to do with the kids next weekend. Any suggestions?

Don't mind me, I'm drugged.

I can't post to my blog from work, which is usually where I am when I have access to a computer. Instead, I write blogs and save them as drafts until I can get my hands on the laptop at home. Lately Brian has been getting another certification for work which requires lots of laptop time. I have written, rewritten and revised my blog entry so many times because it's "outdated" that it's not even worth using anymore. So I'm starting over. From home.

I had lithotripsy done on Thursday and I'm recovering well. I had another kidney stone, a few actually, that landed me in the emergency department again a few weeks ago. I was sent to a urologist (Yay! Another specialist!) and he said I was a good candidate for lithotripsy. I was feeling ok and the ER doctor had prescribed me some pain medicine so it was decided that the procedure was non emergent. For two weeks I battled the pain on and off until finally on Thursday I went under anesthesia to have the bugger blasted into a million pieces.

Although there was no actual cutting, I was under general anesthesia in the OR and did all the regular pre-op stuff stuff. It felt like surgery. I woke up in recovery with a throat that felt swollen shut from the airway tube and a lot of pain in my back. All normal but very scary when I wasn't sure where I was and all alone.

I'm doing ok, just sore. Today is better than yesterday and I'm sure tomorrow will be better too. I feel like Mike Tyson punched me in the kidney. It's bruised internally from the intense blasting and made me pee blood. Now I just have to pass all the little particles that are left from the stone, like peeing sand. But I've got some good pain meds so I'm feeling niiiice. Sorry if this post was all over the place, I'm drugged.

I'm Too Young To Be This Old

I'm much older than the years I have spent on this earth. I stay in on the weekends because the stores are too crowded and I don't go to the movies because it's too loud. But I'm also physically old and falling apart.

Not only do I have a primary physician, but I also have an endocrinologist, a nephrologist, a gynecologist, a perinatologist, and now I have a cardiologist. As if I needed one more thing, now my doctor is concerned about my heart.

I've had high blood pressure for a long time and it's always been decently controlled with medication. BP normally goes up during pregnancy but mine got out of control while I was growing Megan. So much so that she actually stopped growing and we had to have her early. We (my doctor and I) thought that things would level out once I wasn't pregnant anymore but at m 6 week post postpartum visit my pressure was still too high and I was still swollen. I was also having intermittent episodes of tightness in my chest. I was referred to a cardiologist to make sure the stress of pregnancy didn't cause permanent damage.

I just had a stress echo yesterday which showed that structurally my heart is normal. There was a dropped beat on the EKG, but I'm not sure exactly what that means yet. My follow up is next week and we'll find out if that's an issue. For now, I'm fine. The doctor got my heart rate up to 179 during the echo and I was tired but still able to talk in full sentences.

"You're a natural athlete," he said.

Clearly he needs to retire.

Me, for just a little while.

After having Megan I am officially back to work as of last Monday. It's hard, but it's good.

For the sake of my own sanity I need to work. I love my job and I genuinely enjoy what I do and where I work. I am very blessed to be able to say that. But also, I need routine. Having a schedule and a plan makes me feel organized and efficient. It lowers my anxiety.

Working also makes me a better mom. That seems like an oxymoron but it's true. I do not have the patience or imagination to be a full time stay at home mom. Do I wish I were home more? Of course. I love my kids and I want to spend lots of quality time with them. I want to do all those crafts and make all those fun snacks that I have on my Pinterest boards.

But I need that time away from the house where I am not Mom for just a little while. At work I can exercise parts of my brain that don't get used while I'm playing with dinosaurs and monster trucks. I have adult conversations that don't involve spit up. I feel like the me I was before I had kids.

I'm not an awful person. I don't wish that I never had kids. They are absolutely the best thing that has ever happen to me and I love being a mom. I could go on and on about the rewards and benefits of being their mom and how much better my life is because of them. And it's true. But being a mom means making sacrifices to my personal life, my time alone, my breakfast, my wardrobe, and sometimes, yes, my hygiene. We sacrifice our whole selves.

We all do it and we do it out of love because the moment you become a mom your life isn't about you anymore. I just don't think that means I have to give up all of the person I was before I had kids. I honestly think that's where a lot of marriages fall apart. You transform from the people who married each other into parents without looking back. You forget about the little things that make you YOU because you're always MOM.

I give stay at home moms so much credit. It's hard and I will openly admit that I can't do it. And I still think it's important for SAHMs to get out...alone. Grab a coffee and wander around Target by yourself and be you, not Mom, for just a little while. Get some "me time." It's invaluable, refreshing, and it doesn't mean that you don't love your kids if you want to spend some time away from them.

In my case my "me time" is at work. I guess that doesn't sound very relaxing but it's that time away where I'm just me. When I come home after a long day I am a better mom to my kids because I haven't been yelling all day to pick up your toys. I haven't been going deaf listening to fire truck sirens and saving the dog from super hero stunts. I haven't been changing diapers and cleaning spit up off the couch. When I come home I am just glad to see my kids and hug them a little tighter than I did the day before.

Of course I'm exhausted, but the Mom in me is refreshed and ready to take on whatever the kids can throw at me. Which is good because it might be poop.

Accessorize!!!

I love accessories. Bracelets, shoes, scarves, purses. All of it.  I love accessories because they don't make you look fat. Even on my ugliest most water retaining PMS bloated day those earrings I got on clearance are still cute.

Most of all, shoes. But here's my problem. I rarely wear the shoes I buy because I never wear the outfit I bought them for. Or worse yet - I never BOUGHT the outfit I PICTURED myself having when I bought the shoes in the first place.

I adore those flats, and I want to be skinny enough to wear the jeans that go with them. That belt is amazing, but the sweater dress I would wear it with doesn't fit.
 

I'm not kidding when I tell you that I have shoes in my closet that I have owned for 5 years and never worn. They go with a very specific type of dress that I simply cannot pull off. But.I.Love.Those.Shoes.

So even though my accessories don't make me look fat, the outfits they go with do. And until it's socially acceptable to wear heeled boots that match your purse with an oversized hoodie and yoga pants, I will continue to buy things that collect dust.

Year In Review

Yesterday while updating files on my computer I found one titled "2013 Bucket List." See, I don't generally make new year's resolutions. I think it's because subconsciously I don't want to feel like a failure if I don't accomplish that one thing. Based on my track record the odds are good that I won't. But if I make a bucket list for the year then it's more like a small set of goals instead of one big thing that must come to pass or I will have effectively accomplished nothing because I quit trying in February.

I looked at my "bucket list" of things I wanted to do in 2013. I really wasn't able to check off much. In my defense, I did have a baby which threw a wrench in a lot of my plans. Ironically, number 14 on the list was "have a baby." I really didn't think this list through.

But when I read over the other things on the list it occurred to me that I wasn't bothered by the fact that they weren't completed. I don't think I genuinely wanted to do them in the first place. I mean, come on, run a half marathon?  ME!?! No. I don't want to do that. I have zero desire to run. At all. Ever. That's on the list because marathons are what people in their thirties are supposed to do.

And read three books? I don't really care about that either. I could spend time with my son while he still loves me or lock myself in a room with my nose in a book that will be late getting back to the library. Easy decision.

Other things on the list that didn't happen:

Get a puppy (because I had a baby)

Go on vacation (because I had a baby)

Christmas in Michigan (because I had a baby)

Lose 10 lbs (because I was pregnant, and had a baby)

etc. etc. etc.

So I was able to accomplish and check off one thing in 2013. And even though it meant putting almost everything else aside, it was the very best thing I could have done with my year. And all those other things.... they don't even matter.

Happy Birthday, Jesus!

Our first Christmas as a family of four was great. Caleb made out like a bandit. So.Many.HotWheels. Because he understands that I was busy with a newborn and didn't want to wrap anymore presents, Santa decided to open a lot of Caleb's gifts so they would be put together and ready for playing on Christmas morning. That kid had so much fun.

Brunch at my dad's is always delicious and this year was no exception. Egg and sausage casserole, Mike's secret recipe for scrambled eggs, home made potatoes O'Brien, fresh fruit, toast, coffee, and orange juice. And I ate it all with two hands while it was hot because aunties love to hold babies.

Everyone who said "lets not buy gifts for each other" showed up with a gift because we lie about it every year. We're family, we're allowed to lie to each other about stuff like that. But we know it's a lie so we show up prepared. Picture frames and Starbucks gift cards for everyone!

I hope Christmas brought you and your family joy and wonderful memories, too.

Time is flying by

Mom stuff. That's what's been happening over here. I'm still on maternity leave filling my days with laundry, washing bottles, getting puked on, and cleaning up poop. It's a life of luxury.

Megan had her one month check up a little delayed because of Thanksgiving. How dare my pediatrician go on vacation. At 6 weeks old she is finally the size of a newborn weighing in at 7lbs 0oz and 19in long.

In other news, we have decided that we are officially not resigning the lease on the house we are currently in. As of April 1, 2014 we will be homeless. I have no idea where we are going but I'm sick of this house and Brian is sick of renting. It's time to buy a house. That's a really scary thought for me right now. We've never stayed in one place very long, I'm really apprehensive about doing something so permanent. Not to mention if we go anywhere outside Southern California we have to find new jobs....April isn't that far away....