Left Rear Turn...Complete

Oh My Chicken Nuggets

Bailee is not a "big" eater...mostly pediasure in her diet. Lately though, she has turned into one of the millions of chicken nugget children. She eats chicken nuggets everyday, sometimes for lunch and dinner, and breakfast if we would make them for her. At some point, I wondered, "Is this okay?" But, then again, she is EATING...so who cares, right? I told her she was going to turn into a chicken nugget, and sure enough, I came home today, and this is what I found.

Show Me the Boogie!

"Someday, I'm Going to be a ROCKSTAR!!!"

Bailee has been doing so great in her therapy lately, and today she was a goof! When we left the house, she wanted to wear sunglasses, so she can look cool like daddy. We put them on and first thing she said was "I'm HOT!" After we got to therapy, she ended up wearing them the whole time. She was being stretched infront of the mirror and looked at herself and said "Someday, I'm going to be a ROCKSTAR!" This was hilarious! Whether she really is wanting to be a rockstar, or was only repeating lyrics from Pink's song, I don't know. Priceless though.

 

Night of the Living Tupperware.

We all have had it...that dreaded moment when you have to find the one round lid in your mountain of tupperware.

Step 1: Search for lid by fishing your hand through all the tupperware, careful not to knock over the tower, using only your sense of touch, since you can't see what's back there anyway.

Step 2: Decide, since you can't find the round top, maybe you should just put it in a square dish, since you do have like 100 square tops...which by they way, none of which fit the bottom you have found  either.

Step 3: Search harder and faster...

Step 4: Protect your head when it all comes flying down. Warn dogs to take cover, fast!

Step 5: Sort all the lids and bottoms, find a match (usually not your initial choice, but who cares if you use your biggest tupperware for only five greenbeans, or if you have to eat more chicken to get it to fit in the small one.)

Step 6: Put it all away, even though you realize there are exponentially six times more tops than bottoms.

Step 7: Repeat in a few more days...this time when you empty the dishwasher and have to figure out how to put it all back in.

what my cabinet really looks like...

My Little Weed.

Why oh why do we say our children are growing like weeds? I do it too, but after cleaning out Bailee's outgrown clothes today, I caught myself saying it again..."She's growing like a weed."

Definition - Weed: A wild plant growing where it is not wanted and in competition with cultivated plants.

Are we saying our children are growing so fast, they are unwanted??? Probably not, but it sounds that way. Whoever goes out in their garden and declares their love for all the out of control weeds? Our kids do get a little out of control, but it may be a little extreme to say they are something we need to put our gloves on and rip away from the more beautiful things in our life, like our flowers (which who knows what these are, if the kids are the weeds.)

So, instead...Bailee is growing like a Calendula, a California Poppy, oooh, a Snapdragon, or a Morning Glory (some of the fastest growing flowers.) Or, for the bigger kids, the fastest growing trees...a Weeping Willow, a Silver Maple, an Eucalyptus,  or even "She is growing as fast a Bermuda Grass."

Let your children be flowers and trees...just say no to WEEDS!

Day 1...Last Day of 29

Well, its here, the last day of being 29 years old!!! Today I went to orchestra and played...boy do I love music! I am so grateful I started violin back in the 3rd grade, and stuck with my music through high school where I picked up the oboe, at Virginia Tech and still playing! So, for the last day of being 29...29 of my favorite things, quotes, and such!

29. One of my favorite quotes of wisdom..."Your mind is like a parachute...it works best when open."

28. "Having friends is like peeing on yourself...only you get the warm feeling from friendship, but everyone can see what is does to you."

                                                           

27. I love playing the cello, I feel amazing...sometimes, on those rough days (all musicians know those days)...I do feel like Chewbaca.

26. "A candle looses nothing by lighting another candle." - Share yourself, wisdom, wealth, with others.

25. I love being a mom...

24. Never did I imagine being in the place in life that I am...I feel like growing up I was preparing for all of this, but its a special place...and I am proud to be where I am at.

23. 30 year resolution...go to the barn to ride more!!! I love my horse, Brit, and its great exercise, physically and mentally!

22. Take hold of my health!

21. Love that Bailee's new year resolution is walking...but especially going to Disney on vacation, with no parents.

20. Conquer the HOTFLASHES!!!

19. Dance in the Rain, always wanted to do this...I think I will wait until Spring when the rain isn't freezing!

18. Remodel our bathroom for Bailee! Fingers crossed we can get the grant for this.

17. Dear Food Commercials, Nobody eats in slow motion with their eyes closed. Sincerely, Normal People.

16. Mom & Dad: Sorry for sneaking candy behind the sofa when I was little. I guess leaving all the wrappers = guilty. Can I still blame it on Eric???

15. Turning 30, looking 16, and feeling 60 with these hotflashes...back to number 20!

14. ℒo√ε Is Just A Word, Until Someone Comes Along & Gives It ℳeaning.

13. If only life came with a ◄◄ REW ► PLAY ▌▌PAUSE █▌STOP

12. Coca-cola is the best...hands down. Give me the taste test!

11. Roses are red, violets are blue, a face like yours, belongs in the zoo, don’t be mad, I’ll be there too, not in the cage, but laughing at you. (ok, that's not nice...funny though)

10. Never make permanent decisions on temporary feelings. (especially during hot flashes)

9. Life is not the amount of breaths you take, its the moments that take your breath away.

8. Always kiss me goodnight...and goodbye in the morning...even when I am still asleep.

7. A birthday is just the first day of another 365-day journey around the sun. Enjoy the trip!

6. I love birthdays...we get to eat CAKE!!! Breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner, snack. Did I mention cake for a snack???

5. I am wondering if Google will change its logo tomorrow...it is my birthday.

4. Count your nights by stars, not shadows. Count your days by smiles, not tears. On your birthday, count your age by friends, not years. So basically, I am four, not 30. Just joking! Love all my friends, all four of you.

3. Did you know I was born on my birthday!!!

2. Loved Bailee telling me happy birthday every 3 seconds this whole weekend, plus she thought it was great, we get more CAKE!

1. Age is something that doesn't matter...unless you are CHEESE!

Here I come 30!!!

Day 2..."Oooohh"

Only 2 days until operation turn 30...yikes!!! We went out today to Outback (yes, I am the one with the severe meat allergy...I ate CHICKEN!!!) for my grandma's birthday celebration, and mine too! She was craving a good steak, can't blame her...I can't remember what steak really even tastes like after over 2 years of not touching it. I used to like it, but honestly, not having it for so long, I can say I really don't miss it, at all...plus add in the whole PETA thing...kinda creepy when you think about it.

At lunch we gave Grandma Dolly a homemade card and a picture of Bailee, yep...another, but she is pretty photogenic, I must say. Then Grandma Dolly gave me a card with some cash-o-la in it. Seems no matter how old you get, a birthday card with some money is still awesome! Bailee says the card is cute, followed by "Oh MONEY!!! Now I can get another toy!!!!" 

Yep, little monkey is already eyeballing my birthday funds and claiming them for herself. At least she is understanding you need money for the important things in life, like toys and dessert!

Day 3...Hide & Go Seek

This was a hilarious night of 5 year old humor and games. First chutes and ladders, and Bailee always win, but then she gets upset when she doesn't go down the chute...because that's the fun part! Not sure she really gets the point of the game. That's a 5 year old for you though. So after our amazing board game Bailee wanted to play Hide & Go Seek, which with non-mobile children requires a bit of creativity. 

We put Bailee in her chair, she wanted to hide and Daddy find her, so I pushed her to her room, and she insisted I shut the door while he counted. Two seconds later, she is crying because she is all alone....scratch that hiding idea. Next attempt - put Bailee in her room, Daddy counts, leave door cracked, I stand outside door so she can see me...Daddy searches house. This one worked, except one part...Bailee is laughing so hard the entire time, you just have to listen to find her. It was so loud and giggly, we were all laughing. 

So we played a few rounds...at one point I searched and said out load "Is she is the bathroom???" and I hear from the hiding spot in the other room..."Nooooo!"

And might I add...poor Wally...no one ever seems to satisfy his need for hiding. 

When is he going to find us!?? 

He must a felon or something, always in hiding.

Day 4...The magnificent Keurig

Well, now I am official a Keurigist. And, I love it! I have to be honest, every time I am in the coffee section, or the gadget section, I catch myself wandering over and inspecting the product, and dreaming, so slightly of getting one...but I don't. I just keep going through the drivethru at Starbucks, spending, spending, spending. 

I never thought coffee could be such an addiction! I guess it comes with the "turning 30 territory!"

However, my awesome momma must have picked up on my 

Keurig brainwaves of dreams and got my one for my birthday! 

Happy birthday to me!!! 

Day 5...

Somewhere my math got off...big surprise...so today is 5 days til operation "30th birthday!!!" Not much to report. Surgery healing is on schedule, apparently I have a few bridges to re-build after talking a little too much coming out of anesthesia (note to self: keep room empty until I am completely awake!!!) 

and HOT FLASHES ARE REAL!!! (Sorry to the women who I thought were crazy!)

We went out for our first post surgery outing to Olive Garden for a nice lunch while Bailee was at school, and it hit. First let me tell you, it was freezing in there, even my polar bear husband, Ben, was wearing his winter coat. Half way through lunch it started, and the hotter I got, the more clothes came off. 

Let's just say it was a good thing it was cold outside and I dressed in layers. 

By the time I got down to my tee I started cooling off. Boy would have that been an interesting lunch!!! 

Ben is all for the "off with the clothes", but not so much in public.

Day 9, 8, 7...getting close!!!

Days 9, 8, and 7 weren't as exciting and crazy as I planned. Rather I spent time recovering and sleeping, not a bad treat though.

My little monkey has been so helpful. She helped Mimi cook and pack her own lunch, and she loves to snuggle with me to help me feel better. She is a such a sweetheart!!!

Day 11 and 10...

Day 11 was spent whizzing and whirling around getting ready for day 10...Surgery Day. 

I am at the hospital now with Ben, waiting on my turn.

Big news for today...Bailee has her 1st loose tooth!!! So cute! I don't know how this is going to go over with Ben and I, we are both a little squeamish thinking about her tooth hanging there, or having to help pull it out. She is excited though, and so are we. Her little smile is going to be changing!!! 

Oh, and we can't forget the visits from the tooth fairy! 

I just hope she doesn't rip her teeth out, just to get money!

Day 14, 13, and 12...

It's here!!! 2012!!! So hard to believe, but it came and it came fast!!!

Next step...survive Dec. 21, 2012...

Just kidding, next step is actually to get through Thursday...surgery day! I have to be at the hospital at 5:30am, and for those of you who know me...I am NOT NOT NOT NOT a morning person. At least I don't have to get awake enough to eat...just shower and go. Fingers crossed it all goes smoothly. I am going to miss my little monkey during my overnight stay, but I will probably be out of it most of the time anyway.

Happy New Year to All!!!