random update

If you pay attention to my blog as much as I do...(I'm sure none of you do, but play along won't you???) ...you may remember me saying in January that I had about 10 pounds to lose.

Drum roll please..... I lost 5 of that 10. I seem to be stuck, as I have been wanting to announce that five pounds for awhile, but I am pleased. So pleased, that honestly, I could stay here. I mean, I would love the other five pounds to go or redistribute itself to another part of my body... but this is doable. Livable. Manageable. I'm not 'hating' the way my mid-section looks anymore.

Which...again, if you've been reading... made my Olympic sport of closet clean-out all the more pleasant.

Other random news: I have finally packed up all the newborn onesies. (My baby is almost 10 months, but those NB onesies are always sooo big!) As a matter of fact, it is now official that all the 0-3 month clothes are packed up too. And... (tears) some of the 3-6 month clothes are starting to get too small....

You must understand - I LOVE babies. I ADORE babies. I love all of it. I mean, I love sleep and all... but I don't mind being a walking zombie for the trade off of having a sweet baby. And my "baby-baby" is getting big. :( Waahh!

As a matter of fact, I will be planning my last first birthday party before I know it. This is hard for me. As difficult as my pregnancies have been, last night I was missing being pregnant. I can't keep having kids forever. In fact, I don't want to. I don't, nor have I ever wanted more than four children. Neither did/does my husband. So we are done and we know it. But we also both know that I will forever love and miss that little baby phase.

So... that is my nonsense rambling for the day. I never promised that this blog would be profound! Good news, and sad? news.... I'm glad she is growing up, but these are the things on my mind. When you have children you almost constantly find yourself entering a 'new phase' - almost all of them are good, but some are hard to say good-bye to!

So with that, hug your babies, or go look at their tiny baby pics, and have a great weekend!

Celebrating babyhood ~

update on the basement

The last picture I posted was when the drywall was stacked in a 4ft pile on the floor in the middle of the room. This is what it looks like now.....
Ceilings are up...


Walls are started...

Kids are being goofy...



Walls are all up....


It is actually quite a bit further along, but I couldn't skip the process... plus I couldn't upload any more pics. More pics will be coming soon....

It doesn't take rocket science...

Here's a tip for ya-

I don't know about you, but this is how a trip/vacation works: We pull into the driveway exhausted. Actually, we were probably all exhausted about 100 miles before we pulled into the driveway.

Somebody has to go to the bathroom so badly they are about to burst. And this person may actually be you. One or more people are probably hungry, another is tired or overtired.

The luggage is buried and all you want to do is throw the kids in bed and crawl under the covers of your own comfy bed. That is because it is now 11pm, even though you were sure you'd be home by 8pm at the latest.

You jump in bed. The next morning you realize you didn't brush your teeth last night, and you can't this morning because it is still in the freezing cold car, in your makeup bag, in your luggage, that is out in the garage.

So here is the brilliant idea it took me 30+ years to implement: don't pack your toothbrush. Or your toothpaste. Or your deodorant. Etc, and so forth.

Yes, we all have sample/travel sizes. But I always pack my own contact case and toothbrush. I don't know why. So this time for this current vacation, I packed a new toothbrush - new contact case - and double of everything crucial. I'm a genius right??? I know.... I can't believe it took me that long to figure that out.

Well... no more nasty I ate junk food all day in the car and haven't brushed my mouth for 24 hours breath for me! Plus, now, I can actually take my contacts out of my tired eyes before crashing in bed - without the pressure of unpacking 426 pounds of 'stuff' from the back of the minivan.

As far as this tip of valuable knowledge for your next trip goes - you're welcome.

What to wear???

So while I'm sitting here waiting for the ice dancers to come back on, I'll tell you about a dance I did myself this afternoon. It also could be considered an Olympic sport.

It is called: Try everything on in your closet to see if you still love it/ it fits.

Lately I feel like I have nothing to wear. Nothing. Everything is either too big, too small, not gonna work for nursing/ too sloppy.... yada yada yada...

So, since I don't have a couple hundred dollars to drop on a new wardrobe (I'm thrifty), I tried something else. I was reading a fashion mag this morning and came to an article about thinking outside the box clothes-wise, and repurposing your items. Soooo.... I tried on 80% of my clothes. If I didn't love it, feel confident or sexy in it - out it went. (The other 20% are my go-to faves.)

Of course it depends on your lifestyle and taste. I have this olive green loose baseball style shirt - not hot by any stretch of the imagination - but it makes me feel great. So it stayed. For others it may be considered a rag, but I like it for just hanging out around the house and not looking stupid.

I am not a good cleaner. My house is generally a mess. But I am a GREAT organizer. And it is definitely a major part of any closet. ....or should be.

So that is how I spent my Sunday. Trying on clothes. Sorting clothes. Purging clothes. Rehanging clothes in new categories that will make getting dressed that much easier. Time consuming, but feels so good!

Here's a cheat sheet I 'stole' from a celebrities closet: Organize by event. We all organize the closet by color - don't we? And I also break that down into short sleeve, long sleeve...etc. But within those ranges, also sort by event.(ie: nice enough for parties/dates, nice but also casual, exercise/chillin - for example.)

Valentines x2

My dear husband had his birthday yesterday. Aww....

So this post celebrates the wonderful man I married. I like when his birthday falls. Around here, Valentine's Day is all about the woman.

I am totally okay with that, and enjoy the holiday thoroughly. (tee hee)

Then, just two days later it is his birthday. A little celebrating for me... a little for him... it works out soooo well!

And here's some of the things I love so much about him -

He knows when I'm stressed, mad, sad and trying so hard to hide it. He still knows.

He is kind

Tender (he wouldn't want this getting out, I'm sure, as TENDER is not so manly...)

He is sooo hot!

He is smart (has his doctorate)

Funny - but not always when he is trying!

Rugged - built me a deck - and a patio - and gardens...

Handy - built me an entire basement. Okay, he had help - but he has done A LOT of the basement. TONS of work.

Cuddly

Fun

My bestest ever friend!

The person I need to sleep next to for the next 90 years

My vacation dreamer/ planner/ co-traveler.

My babies' Daddy

The best daddy I could imagine.

(I don't want you ladies to get so jealous you stop reading my blog... so I'll leave it at that for now....) ;) But here's to a man that has made my life wonderful! I love you hun! Have GREAT next year of your life!!

Valentines

My Valentine's Day as pertaining to school children:
Two days prior, I talk to some other parent on the phone late at night and realize my own son has to bring 24 Valentines to school in two days.

I don't feel like running to the store or spending money so people can throw it in the trash right now, so hubs and I sit on the livingroom floor and cut out 24 hearts, 24 rectangles, write words of love, and tie them together with pipecleaners.

The next day my son signs them all.

The next day is the party. He brings treats, the Valentines, and I surprise him at the party.

Valentine's Day as pertaining to a certain mom in Alex's class:
Make 24 cloth bags.
Make sure that they all have a matching satin ribbon drawstring.
Fill bag with mini clay pot, dirt pack and flower seeds.
Fill with three candies.
Fill with handmade Valentine.
(I think there was something else)

So I ask - how much time does this lady have??? I mean, it was sweet. It was cute. But seriously.

So, the little bag sits in our trash can, and I have to ask, was it worth it?? I mean, good job on showing up all us other parents, but really. ;)

Anyway, my son had a great time - what kid doesn't love parties! He got tattoos, and candy and love notes and plants, and playdoh. It just doesn't get much better than that for a kid!

Hello??

Life called today.

It asked how many things I can handle at once.

Then it hung up.


... my hands smell like spit-up even though they are washed. I can't find my kitchen counters. or the kitchen floor for that matter. I also can't find a babysitter, or my daughter's beloved blankie even though she had it two hours ago. ..I won't bore you with more....but trust me the list goes on and on.... ahhh.... motherhood