The Treehouse...

Being home with your kids on break from school and work can be a challenge to those of us that don't do this everyday!  I will be the first to admit, I have no business being a stay at home mom.  I have the absolute utmost respect for those moms who are able to do it!  Huge kudos to you!!!!  My personality just doesn't allow for it... and if I tried to make myself... well, let's just say, it would not be a good situation!!!

So... we've been on vacation the past couple weeks... and we have had many places to go and many, many people to see over the holidays. We are blessed with large families to visit and it has been a whirlwind holiday season... but once Christmas was over.... it was "what to do with the kids NOW?"

In comes The Treehouse in Chelsea to save the day!  I really do love this place. It is a great environment for big  and little kids... they have some GREAT food... and it gives us moms a chance to get together too!  It's a bit harder with the little ones.  Luke is pretty hands on when we're there... but Ally is just off and playing and needs very little from me. If I were to just take her... I could sit there... sip a latte... BLOG!... read... and that would be really nice. But... Luke requires a bit more 'hand holding.'

Still... he LOVES it and both the kids had a great time! We went with Jane, Grace, Leslie, her mom Lisa, and Reyna.....

I leave you with some pics from the day... I didn't really get any good ones... but at least it's something!  :-)

This One's For Uncle Kellen and Uncle Connor...

Baby mohawk...

'Nuff said...

:-)

The Four Stages of Breakfast...

Lately, we have determined that there are four stages of breakfast around here for Luke on any given day:

Stage One - Give me milk and give it to me NOW!  Luke slams 8 ounces of milk in a sippy cup first thing in the morning when he wakes up.

Stage Two - Give me something to EAT!  Luke has toast, sausage, cheerios or bananas generally after shotgunning his milk.

Stage Three - I want to eat with YOU guys!  Because it generally takes us longer to get our breakfast around, Luke is usually done with his breakfast by the time we are ready to sit down... so he eats again with us. Whatever we're having... eggs, bacon, hashbrowns or waffles.

Stage Four - Cleanup!  At this Stage, Luke eats the food he has dropped on the floor and finishes what is left on his tray from a standing position.  

A visual for you:

So, there you have it.  The Four Stages of Breakfast!

Thank You Grandma Kathy & Grandpa Dave!!

Ally got this giant stuffed dog in the mail from Grandma Kathy & Grandpa Dave in Nevada yesterday!  She was giddy with excitement... it was a dual excitement really.  1 - she got a package in the mail!  There is nothing more exciting than that for a little girl!  2 - she got this HUGE stuffed dog that she pointed out to my mom at Target when we were in Nevada for Thanksgiving.  Ally totally remembered wanting it and was just thrilled when she opened it!

As you can see, the dog is getting large amounts of love!  Ally informed us that she no longer needs a pillow, as the dog can be her pillow... she has carried it around everywhere and we can't take a step around here without tripping over this dog!

THANKS MOM! ;-)

She is even generous enough to share the puppy love with her baby brother...

Luke loves the dog too.... and mostly just crawls all over, chasing Ally around as she moves around the house with it.  It has become the next member of our family....

Ally couldn't be happier!

We Wish You a Merry Christmas..

Last year, our Christmas went a little something like this:

Had a baby on December 20th... thought for sure we'd be released from the hospital at the latest, December 22. Things didn't go exactly as planned.

Luke was very jaundiced and had to be put in Special Care under the lights. They did not release him/us until December 24th at 9:00 pm. And that was only because we BEGGED them to let us go home.  

We got home... brand new baby... a little stressed out to say the least!  Luke had to be kept on a Bili-blanket at all times.  Not to mention, he didn't sleep a great deal, I was breastfeeding and it was Christmas Eve!  

With the help of Nana and Papa we got the gifts put together and out... we got Ally to go to sleep at a decent hour.  She was telling us her tummy was a little upset, but we figured it was nerves and excitement.

11:00 pm - Ally vomits violently all over the hall.  She does not stop vomiting all night.  She has the flu.

8:00 am Christmas morning - Ally wakes up... "Look Ally Santa came!"  She makes a bit of effort to look at her toys.  She asks to go back to bed.

I am crying uncontrollably.  She hates her toys I think. She is disappointed.  Of course, I am a hormonal, breastfeeding mother!  I have no coping skills what-so-ever!

A little while later, we get a phone call.  Both my mother-in-law and sister-in-law, Jane are barfing too.  There will be no Christmas dinner today.  That's okay, whatever... Ally is so sick. We have to take Luke back to the hospital.  

Eventually, Scott and I start barfing too... my brother-in-law.... everyone is sick as hell.

MERRY FREAKIN' CHRISTMAS!!!!!!

It was the Christmas that never was.... so this year, we were bound and determined to make it right!  We may have gone a little overboard with Ally's gifts.  She got SO MUCH!  But her joy was worth every penny.

Luke's big gift was this indoor gym and he got a few little other things.  

I could not get a decent picture of the two of them... this was as good as it got!

The theme of Ally's Christmas was Hannah Montana!  All she wanted was a Hannah Montana doll.  She got that... and a Hannah Montana singing stage for the doll, a Hannah Montana scooter, notebooks, folders, pens, and a pencil case - all in the same theme, and these dolls (Miley and Lola - Miley's friend) from my mom. The look on her face sums up the entire morning's excitement!

Opening her new Uggs from us also generated a great deal of excitement and an instant hug!  Who knew Uggs were such an exciting gift!? I mean, they would be for me... but I'm not five! She got a lot of great stuff... all that Hannah Montana stuff, Horton Hears a Who and Kung Foo Panda DVDs, a Webkins, toy cash register, puzzle, books, toy globe, hula hoop, paints and chalk for her easel, and a stocking full of art stuff and candy.  From us she got some clothes, the Uggs, and Super Mario Kart for our Wii.  WOW!  That doesn't even take into account all the stuff the girl got from others.  Spoiled much?

I told you we were trying to make up for last year!  More for ourselves than Ally, you can count on that!

After gifts and breakfast, we got ourselves around and went over to Scott's parents' for the day.  We didn't have far to go or many places to go, so it was a nice peaceful day... which is how I tend to like Christmas Day.  Great dinner, great wine and a some great time with family.

Luke enjoyed sneaking off and climbing up the stairs whenever we weren't paying close enough attention to him.

Scott and Adam showed up dressed EXACTLY the same... down to their matching Ugg slippers.  What dorks they are.  :-)

Scott already had his Ugg slippers, but Adam's were a gift this year. Scott got new Ugg boots this year, some new headphones for his iPhone, new sheepskin inserts for his slippers and a new wallet from me.  I got the Flip - which I have been wanting for some time!  I also got a book, iTunes gift card and other random stocking stuffers from Scott.  Even though, I had already gotten my real Christmas present... :-)

It was a nice Christmas at the McIntosh house.  I hope you all enjoyed your time with family and friends too... and got everything you wanted... material and, more importantly, otherwise!

Christmas Pictures on the Mobile Me Gallery

Christmas Eve...

We had ourselves a Merry Little Christmas! It all began with our Christmas Eve festivities!  We went to Scott's Uncle Matt's and Aunt Carla's for the afternoon.... Ally was very excited to wear her "dressy" coat and new Scottie clothes...

She had to squeeze her feet into her old Uggs for the last time... as she would  be getting her new Uggs Christmas morning.  Just the other day when she and I went to the salon and out to dinner, she was complaining about how tight they were and asked me if she could get a new pair for her Birthday (which consequently is January 25th as if we weren't broke already from Luke's Birthday and Christmas!).

We got to Matt and Carla's and Ally was excited to see her cousins, Grace, Gannon, Graydon and Calvin!  It was a crazy, loud fun afternoon of kids eating far too many cookies and running, running, running around and around!  Isn't that what Christmas is for? The craziness of getting together with all your cousins?  Ally loved it, to say the very least.

Luke loved his cookie.... and loved sharing it with Autumn (the dog pictured below even more!)

Eventually Autumn got that cookie... but of course, Papa was there to give him another one.  God forbid the boy go without a Christmas cookie!  

After Matt and Carla's... we went over to my Uncle Joe and Aunt Cyndie's to see some of my family for a couple hours.  It was pretty late and Luke was a giant grump... but after some warm milk (no more cookies!!) he cheered up enough to open a couple gifts.  We gave the kids their Christmas PJs over there to put on before we drove home.  Ally was pretty excited and cheesin' it up as usual.

Luke was more excited to play with Gene's walkie-talkie and then play with a pen than anything else!  Ah - the simple joy of being a baby.  

We got home a little after 9:00 and got the kids down.... then... we got to play Santa.  Whew.  Let me tell you... the packaging on toys these days is absolutely ridiculous!  It took hours just to get all the little toys out of their boxes and backing and twist ties and tape. AHHHHH!!!!  Frustrating to say the least.  We finally freed Hannah of her bondage... and Scott moved on to putting together Luke's indoor gym.  HOLY CRAP!!!!  It was much more complicated than we had anticipated.... and still to this very moment is not completely assembled... but it was good enough for Christmas morning!

Tales of Christmas day to come...

Merry Christmas...

Merry Christmas to all our friends and family from the McIntosh Family!!!!!! Enjoy this time with those you love..... we are looking forward to all our festivities.....

And the drinking we do to cope.....  ;-)

We Know How To Throw a Party...

Luke's cake eating extravaganza wasn't the only excitement that took place at the McIntosh house yesterday!!!!  Everything was going along just fine at Luke's party.  We were just finishing up lunch... and our guests were seated all over the house.  Some people were downstairs in the basement, some in the dining room.. and a soon to be very unlucky few, were seated in the living room.... with the Christmas tree.

Remember the Christmas tree incident?  Remember what I said at the very end of that blog post?

Well, my Aunts, and Uncle and Grandma were all sitting in the living room... when... KABOOM!  Down she came..... the tree just FELL right down!  Tipped right over.  Ornaments breaking everywhere, water spraying all over...

The troops worked hard to put her back upright.... all seemed good in the hood....

But... no... the damn tree fell over again. This time, on my Grandma sitting in a chair nearby!  Two rum and cokes later, we had Grandma calmed down.  She never did return to the living room though....

We were downstairs finishing up gifts and playing around... when my Aunt (who is wonderfully cleaning my kitchen cuz she is the best Aunt EVER) calls down to us.  You guessed it.  The tree has fallen a third time.

We all knew this was possible. The trunk is horridly crooked.  We got yet another tree stand from my in-laws... and for now... this is the state of our tree:

There are no important ornaments left on it. I am far too worried they will shatter.  As you can see, the angel is backwards and tipped over. She has had a rough ride.  No tree skirt... it's hanging to dry in the laundry room.  And... most importantly.. NO GIFTS!  I can't risk the loss.

This is the tree stand, screaming for mercy...

It's at a crazy angle just to try to hold the tree somewhat straight.

Good lord.

I don't have very high hopes for this tree. All I am asking now is that it stays standing (mostly) until Christmas morning.  As soon as Santa comes and drops off the gifts, we're taking this damn tree down.

She's out to get us!

They Say It's Your Birthday...

Yesterday, our little man turned one year old!  WOW!  Where did the past year go? Seriously... I know it sounds cliche, but it is so true!  I can't believe he is already a year old!!!!

I went back and forth with what to do for our boy and his big day. It's such bad timing really... trying to get people together the Saturday before Christmas.  Many people had Christmas parties and well, things they needed to do to prepare for Christmas, but Luke is loved and was very lucky to have many family members take the time out to celebrate his special day!

The weather outside was frightful, so I made my Grandma's special recipe vegetable-beef soup, and my Mom's hot crab dip! We had broccoli cheese soup and bread from Panera too!  YUM!  We still have leftovers to feast off of for days!  Two cakes for party-goers and one little one for the little man... 

Here he is, taking his first look at the cake he is supposed to eat. As you can see, he isn't so sure about it:

Grace was MORE than happy to show him what to do... she was so cute, peering up at him the entire time!  In the end, he got her good and I have some great pics of Grace covered in frosting too over here on our Mobile Me Gallery.

As you can see, Luke eventually got the swing of devouring his cake and was as happy as can be!!!!  

After the cake was destroyed, Luke went right into the tub, before opening his gifts!  He had no afternoon nap and was on a bit of "party overload."  After opening a few gifts... he had really had enough... he crawled over to a quite spot in the corner, and did this:

It's his party... he can cry if he wants to!

Thank you to everyone for coming out to celebrate with us and for all the generous gifts!  Luke has enjoyed playing with everything all night last night and all day today.  It's so nice for him to have his very OWN toys... not hand-me-downs from Ally!  

Now, on to Christmas!!!!

More birthday fun here.

One Year...

Tomorrow is Luke's first birthday.... so... when did THAT happen? Where does a year go?  He was just born yesterday, was he not?

I love that feeling that he just "got here" yesterday... and that he's been here all my life.  Once that little person comes into your life... it's hard to remember what life was like before... isn't that true with so many people? It's a beautiful and crazy thing...

He was just this tiny when he was born:

I would hold him up on my chest and call him the "little bundle" cuz that's what he felt like.  This little tiny bundle... "Bundle Boy..."

Ally was crazy proud to finally be a big sister.  She was so happy to have him finally "out of my belly!"

I remember the day Nicole took these pictures, and how we couldn't get the little guy to sleep for her.  I don't remember how many times he peed on her stuff...  HA!  He was not going to be the sleeping, cooperative newborn... no... not my boy.  He has not been cooperative ever since!  He has his "own way" of doing things.  Both of my kids do really.  Will drive me to madness.. but serve them well in life... (I tell myself these things to maintain my sanity!)

So... Happy Almost Birthday Little Man!  Our lives may be crazed and life may be insane... but you bring joy to it with your big blue eyes, your huge smile and your silly laugh... we love you...

This 'n' That...

So... I really wanted to wait until I actually took a picture of our tree to post about our tree decorating fiasco on Sunday... but do I HAVE a picture of our tree yet? NO! I do not. I suck. What can I say?

I didn't used to be this person. I used to be the girl who took a picture of the tree right away! I used to be the girl who had all her gifts purchased, wrapped and under that tree (which I would then take a picture of!) by now! That used to be ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Where did that girl go???

I remember Colette (my Aunt-in-law - ha that sounds funny!) telling me that she couldn't wait until I had another kid cuz I was far too organized with just Ally. Why is it that having two kids is so totally exponentially more work than having just one? It's not double the work and drama... it's like quadruple? How is that POSSIBLE? It's just one more little person?

Ah... but I think it's more than just one more little person. Our lives are different now too. Scott has a very busy stressful job... and mine used to be a bit more laid back and flexible. Those days are long gone! My job appears to be heading to crazy busy stressful land now too! But.. most days I love it! Isnt' that the craziest conflict? What does one do with that knowledge? I know my life is out of control yet I do not possess the presence of mind to stop it? HA!

Therapy. I'm enrolling today.....................

Okay, I have gone off on some sort of crazy tangent. I am having a gallbladder attack at the moment. Jane gave me her gallbladder disease. I never knew such a thing was contagious! ;-)

So... back to the subject at hand. The tree! We put it up on Sunday... yes we did! Scott, Luke and Ally went and got it on Saturday when I was in Chicago. Honestly, I never go get the tree. I'm that person. I send my "big strong man" out to do the dirty work and I stay home in the warmth of my house! This year... no different... I was just in Chicago dancing around a pole instead of home in my jammies! HA!

Scott brings the tree they picked out into the house Sunday morning. Ally is so excited... she can't even stand it! She cannot wait to decorate this tree! Isn't that just the best part about the holidays... the pure childish joy of a child? It's totally unharmed by the "work" of the season... she just loves every moment of all this craziness. I remember that innocence!!!!!! Ah... the good old days...

But, again... I digress...

The tree comes into the house!!!!!!! It's all bound up... and in its stand. Scott places it in position and raises it upright.............

It's totally crooked.

Okay... let's readjust it in the stand.

We loosen the screws.... wiggle the trunk around.... hmmm? Still crooked.

We hold the tree straight and do the process over and over................

...... and over and over...... for like a couple hours. AT LEAST!

Every time Scott stands back and looks at the crooked tree, he gets more and more pissed. He is livid. He is EVEN MORE livid with me because I am laughing and I don't care enough about the crooked tree!

Ally gets into it... she keeps saying she "loves the tree!" That it looks just fine! She is now defending the inadequate tree.

Scott is seconds away from throwing the tree into the front yard. He has now declared that he would rather put gifts under the fichus tree than keep this "horrible crooked tree" in our living room.

I am hysterical. Peeing my pants hysterical. This is not the spousal support Scott is seeking.

He decides we need a new tree stand. DUH! I have said we need a new tree stand for a few years now. The one we have is like 30 years old, rusty and warped. Hmmmm... maybe the WARPED stand is the trouble here? YA THINK????????

Scott ventures into the world to find a tree stand..............

Would you be surprised to hear that he cannot find any in stock anywhere at this time of the season? HA! He is gone for hours. I am convinced he has driven to California......

But, eventually, he does indeed return home... and he is with tree stand!!!!!!!! HOORAY! We place the offensive, crooked tree into the new stand........ and because it's made to hold very tall trees... it has a large opening and we are able to secure the crooked trunk in the stand......... so that our tree stands... you guessed it... STRAIGHT!

Crisis averted. We have a tree.....................

Now, let's just keep our fingers crossed that she stays standing!

A Moment of Peace...

This afternoon, I forced myself to take an hour to myself and have a facial.  I go to Erin at Skin Deep here in Jackson and she is by far the BEST!  It is the best facial I have had anywhere in the country and you all know I travel a bit and I have had facials a lot of places, including New York, Chicago, etc.... right here in little Jackson, we have the best aesthetician!  I cannot recommend her enough....

So, I had a full hour of NOTHING but relaxation.  I tried to think of nothing at all.  Leave the "to do" list at the door.  I did a pretty good job and I must tell you that I feel rejuvenated and ready to tackle the world again!  Just that one hour of letting go.... worth every penny!  Not to mention, my face is going to have a fabulous refreshed glow!!!  :-)

Maybe all of you can't go and get a facial... but in this busy, crazy time.... try to find that one hour for YOU that allows you to let go, relax and leave your troubles at the door for just a short time.... you will find you feel better for having done it!

Tis the Season...

... to be stressed out! Fa, la, la, la, la.... la, la, la, la...... :-)

Isn't it the truth? Sometimes, I just lie in bed at night and think about all the things I need to do. Last night, I was so tired that I was in bed before Ally..... instead of doing things that I NEED desperately to do! Oh well....

I am trying to do too much all the time... it's the way it goes.

I used to feel in control. Lately, I feel that all feelings of any sort of control are beyond my reach. Maybe I just need to give in to that feeling and stop trying to regain that control..... easier said than done.

Work usually lets up for me around the holidays... and while I had a pretty stressful and horrid November and things died down a bit after.... I am still busy and mostly just have some big projects hanging over my head that I will not feel "relief" from for many, many months. I would like to be able to just take the last two weeks of the year off and not think about work at all. I'm just not certain that is possible.

I still have a great deal of shopping to do. I haven't wrapped a thing. We don't have our tree yet, but plans are in place to get one Saturday and decorate it Sunday. Both Scott and I have work Christmas parties tomorrow night and I haven't found anyone to watch the kids. I hate asking Scott's parents who watch them ALL THE TIME to keep them Friday night too, but I can't get my "once in a while" babysitter to return my calls!!! :-( Ugh....

I need a new babysitter. I need a nanny. I need some live-in help!!!!!!!! :-)

I am escaping for the day Saturday to go to Chicago for my last S Factor class of this session.... It wasn't the best of timing... but I LOVE it... and as much as it does add to my stress... it's the thing I get to do for me.... so do it I will! I don't know how I will be able to continue taking the classes, but I hope to at least try... in January hopefully.

The kids are doing well. Ally continues to just be the best lately. She is just so freakin' good all the time, I can't even convey how different it is. What a difference a year makes! School... structure... all of it. She's a happy, happy girl lately!

Luke is just all boy and getting into everything! EVERYTHING! I fear for our tree when we put it up. I won't even THINK of putting any gifts under it before Christmas Eve. The boy will destroy them for sure! He is a bull in a china shop.

I got the kids some matching Christmas PJs which I am so excited about... cuz I'm a dork like that! I want them to wear them now so I can take pics... but it is our tradition to give the kids PJs on Christmas Eve for them to wear that night, so I must wait!

The waiting is the hardest part................. ;-)

11 Months... VERY BELATED!

Well, our boy is 11 months old!  He was, a couple weeks ago!  Now, he's two weeks away from being a year old... but better late than never with this post I say!

At the moment, Luke has a bit of a cold.  His nose is running like crazy, but he seems generally happy and doesn't seem to mind.  He was really cranky before the runny nose started, so maybe he was achy before or his head was really congested and now that he's draining, he feels better actually, who knows... he's been a pretty happy guy lately and that is a VERY good thing!

Some of Luke's recent accomplishments at 11 months:

• He got a TOOTH!!!!!  Just one on the top.  His first and only tooth and he is 11 1/2 months old!
• He is pulling himself up to a stand and "cruising" around furniture and walking behind a push toy - this is a very recent development!
• He prefers bottles to solid food... much to my dismay. He is still taking around 28 ounces of formula by bottle (terrible mom, I know! Ally was totally already to a cup by now!) and I know I have to cut back on that to get him to increase his solids intake!  He is pretty picky, doesn't hit his mouth well when he feeds himself and I just worry about him getting enough.  Probably silly since he is not underweight at all!
• He is still wearing 12-18 month clothing and really seems to have slowed down in his growing... he is thinning out it seems.  Very long still, but losing that baby fat!
• He loves to dance and anytime hear hears music, he sways back and forth or bounces up and down.  It is adorable and in our family, you'd better like music... it's on all the time around here... or Ally is singing!  One of the two!
• His favorite toys aren't toys at all.  He loves the remote control, the phone, power cords, floor lamps, and the wine rack.  He has knocked down a bottle or two of some nice wine and given me a heart attack more than once!
• He babbles  A LOT!  He says Mama and Dada, and as much as I'd like to think he means me and Scott, I'm not so sure!  He did crawl over to me the other day, pull himself up and as clear as day, say Mama while he pointed at me!  Wishful thinking?  Whatever!!!!!  It was a moment!

I will leave you with a couple recent snapshots of the boy.... 

I promise you, the above picture is not our new babysitter... we don't lock him up in there... but, there's an idea!  :-)  HA!

We are going to have a birthday party for Luke at our house on Saturday, December 20th at 1:00 pm! 

Ba Hum-Bug...

What's wrong with me? I really can't get in the Christmas spirit! I mean, I just started my shopping this week. Usually I am so excited and ready to shop!!!!! I just started getting some decorations out last night... and usually I am geeked to do all that come Thanksgiving weekend! I tried listening to a little Christmas music to get me in the spirit, but I'm still just NOT feelin' it!! What is happening to me???

I am still wondering what to do about Luke's birthday. We have made NO plans for a party for him or anything... making the assumption that friends and family will be busy with Christmas parties that weekend. I feel like he's going to get screwed yearly! :-) Among the Christmas cards, gifts, and gatherings... his day just seems to get lost! I don't know what to give him for his birthday and what to save for Christmas. I just don't know!!!!!!!!!!

It's obviously my theme as of late... not knowing. ;-)

AHHHH!!!!!!! Calgon take me away!

I AM however, going to S Factor this weekend... and while that may be the stupidest thing to do in the middle of all this insanity (how do I have the TIME one might ask?)... I NEED to do it... I really WANT to do it and I am super excited about going. It's like my relaxation.... my zen.... my excercise. It's silly and in Chicago and... well, whatever.. I'm going and I'm happy I'm going!

Okay, so I DID start shopping!!! I got gifts for my nieces and nephew, my mother-in-law, part of my father-in-law's gift, my mom and step-dad, some of Scott's, and a good start on Luke and Ally! Also... I created and ordered our Christmas cards on Sunday....... and they already arrived, printed and ready to go yesterday! I was shocked! Apple rocks..... :-) Now, I just have to address them all....... and get stamps....... and send them on their Merry way!

Also..... funny story.... when I went to the Toy House this week... I FINALLY met Leslie in person!!!! It's so funny cuz we "chat" on Facebook, one another's blogs, and even email, but we have never met. It's ridiculous really cuz we probably live like a mile apart..... HA! Lives are crazy and busy... but it was so nice to finally meet you in person Leslie! Let's get together sometime soon! Have that drink... or even coffee!

So... send me some holiday cheer people... :-)

Three Is the Magic Number...

Yesterday I turned the big 3-3.  33 years YOUNG baby!!!!!  HA!

I had an average day. Isn't that how it goes once you're over like 16???  Okay, maybe 21 is the last of the "great birthdays."  I don't know...   it was kind of a crappy day truth be told!  I was busy at work... my boss was in a bad mood... I was tired.... it was just a day. Plus, I just can't help feeling that nagging feeling that says... "you're getting older... what are you doing with your life?"

Ya know the feeling I'm talking about?????  It's crazy... I  know.... but it is what it is.  It is how I feel....

I did SO ENJOY the zillion good wishes I got from so very many friends and family.  My Facebook wall was FULL of birthday wishes and every time a new one came in, it put the biggest smile on my face!  Good wishes from near and far.... thank you one and all!!!!

I got some great gifts... S Factor was my big gift from Scott, but he also got me a book and an iTunes gift card (from the kids he said!). I got a Barnes and Noble gift card from my Dad and Geri, money from my mom, a book and a turtleneck sweater from my in-laws and a v-neck sweater from Jane and Adam.  I love them all!!!!

I had dinner with my in-laws and Jane and Adam and the kids.... it was nice to get everyone together, as difficult as it is during the week to do! I sure do appreciate it guys!!!!!

I got my traditional "Happy Birthday" singing from my Dad, Geri and Bizza.  Live and on voice mail to save for posterity!  I will listen to it whenever I am feeling a little down and need a good laugh.... 

It was a good birthday..... I am 33 years young.... and I have much to be happy about.....

Sleepless in Las Vegas...

It was a GREAT visit and we were more than happy to spend the time with family... but, our trip to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving was EXHAUSTING!!!!!!  Luke was all messed up. He is either teething, getting sick, completely unable to adapt to new locations or he just a general GRUMP... but he was just whiney and crying all the time! Neither Scott nor I could leave his side without him having a major meltdown.  Easygoing this boy is NOT!!!!

He went to bed really well.. but, with the time change... he was up every morning at 4:00 am!  It wasn't all that bad.. we were mostly on Michigan time too, but we were staying up a great deal later than he was.  You would just NEVER suspect from these pictures that he spent most of his Thanksgiving vacation in Vegas whining and crying!

Okay, maybe I exaggerate.  I am prone to it.. but really... he was damn grumpy!!!  He had to scream himself to sleep in order to take a nap. Nighttime was a bit easier.  Maybe cuz he couldn't see his surroundings really?  Or maybe he was just exhausted.  Who knows?  

We survived though!  And, I know that my Mom and Dave appreciated our coming out and visiting no matter how interrupted their sleep was too!

My step-sister, Crystal and brother-in-law, Colin were out there too.. and we had a really great time spending more time with them and getting to know them better! We all got along great living in some pretty close quarters for five days!!!  I think the drinking helped! HA!  We are a family that enjoys the wine and the drink. We are Polish after all.  It's in our blood. Drinking and dancing are just a given!

Here is a picture of the whole family at dinner... minus Luke, who much to my mother's disappointment, was sleeping. Scott and I were, of course, THRILLED!!!! We got to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner in peace! 

Thursday, after dinner, we took a ride down to the Strip (as I posted earlier) to show Ally the sights.... all she talked about the entire time were all the Mamma Mia signs... so I decided to take her to see the show on Friday. Scott, my mom, Ally and I went.  Ally was absolutely GIDDY and LOVED the show!  She takes after her mom, and I take after my mom, when it comes to a love for live shows!!!! I will NEVER forget my first show... Les Miserables, with my mom!!!!!!  I am so happy to pass on the tradition....

Ally also absolutely loved spending time with Aunt Crystal and Uncle Colin.  They were pretty crazy about catering to her every whim. She and Crystal made Christmas ornaments together... Colin played endless games of Go Fish!  And... this was Ally's favorite thing to do.... she asked Uncle Colin every five minutes if he would carry her on his shoulders... he was a big pushover! I wonder how his back is holding up today?  ;-)

All-in-all... we had a GREAT trip and a wonderful visit!!!!!  We saw some sights, did some shopping and most importantly, enjoyed our time with family... talking, drinking and just hanging out... isn't that what Thanksgiving is all about????  I am truly thankful for that visit as we made memories we won't soon forget!

More pictures on our Mac Gallery!!!  Take a look!

Packin' on the Pounds...

I think I am going to gain like 10 pounds on this trip!! Every morning, we have had huge breakfasts!!! Bacon daily... And those of you that know me, know my love for the breakfast meats!! Ha!!

This morning we are having "Dutch Babies". I don't know what they are exactly, but they sound wonderful. I think they are something like a crepe or pancake. In the family at least.

We have already been out and about this morning. And NOT shopping!! Luke gets up around 4:00 am here and then, of course the whole house is up, so we decided to get the loud boy out of the house. Scott and I were at Starbucks before 5:00 am. Nice!

It's sunny and gorgeous here today. We can finally appreciate the gorgeous mountain view that my mom and Dave have here. We're going out and about later. Details are unclear to me... But we're just happy it's not raining...

Last night we drove down to The Strip so Ally could enjoy the lights and sights!!! She was less than impressed. At one point she actually said, "these aren't SO many lights". Hard to impress her majesty. She was more excited by all the Mamma Mia signs. So, today I am looking at tickets for tonights performance. My mom can get them half price. NICE!!!

So, we shall see!!! Last night we went to an aquarium that had a mermaid. She was impressed by that!!!!

We shall see what the day brings!!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Happy Thanksgiving...

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you, my family, friends and loyal readers!!!

We are in Las Vegas with my mom and family. We have had such a nice visit so far! We arrived late Tuesday night and pretty much crashed after a short visit. The kids were amazing on the plane. Luke was a little squirmy at first, but he settled down at takeoff and fell asleep right away! Slept the entire flight!!! Ally watched a bit of a movie until she too fell fast asleep. Could not have asked for easier travel with kids. We made the right call traveling at night.

I made the most of the time and listened to music the entire time. Sat in the dark, my kids sleeping on me, and just enjoyed the peace and my tunes. Don't often get a chance to do that. It was really nice... Lost in my own thoughts...

Yesterday, the weather was rainy and cold, so we just did some shopping and laid low. We had a really great dinner and a lot of drinks last night!! In typical "my family" fashion, there was lots of wine, liquor, music and of course, dancing. :-)))). Drunken Polish peeps!!!! Ally loved every minute of it.

Today we woke up to a wonderful breakfast of bacon and omlettes. YUM!!!! My Step-Dad makes a mean omlette!! I ate too much. Will be the theme of the day!!! Ha!

We are about to watch the lions lose. It's 9:00 am here!!! A bit odd to watch football so early!!! Oh - the Macy's Parade is on.... Ally is giddy!!! She and Aunt Crystal are making Christmas ornaments and watching the parade. Lots of people catering to her very whim this week!

Have a Very Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!! I hope you are surrounded by the people you love and are carrying those that can't be with you, in your heart. All of you I can't be with - I love and miss you. I am thankful for all of you!!!!

-- Post From My iPhone

Leavin' on Jet Plane (again!)...

We are packed and almost ready to go!  Last minute details of course, always... but I THINK we have everything to spend the rest of the week in Vegas (Henderson actually, just outside of Vegas) for the Thanksgiving holidays with my Mom, Step-Dad, Step Sister and Brother-in-law!!!  It's going to be a FULL house since we are bringing two kids... but isn't that what the holidays are all about... a whole bunch of family too close together? HA!!!!

I cannot wait for turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, squash, mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, green bean casserole.... you are making all that stuff mom, right?  :-)

I'm STARVING just thinking about it.  Have hardly eaten today, things have been so crazy.

Wish us luck.... let's hope Luke survives.  OMG!

S Factor...

I have gone back and forth on whether or not to post this... and "talk" about it! I think it may invoke some odd reactions in some of my readers... some may not really understand it... some may be completely turned off by it... but as my Ally always sings from the Camp Rock soundtrack... "This is real.. this is me..." So... "talk" about it I will!!!!!!

I have eluded to the fact that I have taken some S Factor classes in Chicago from time to time. I have also mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE the classes... and honestly, how I feel about them is hard to convey in a blog!

I had no desire to go when Beth invited me to a free Intro class. When she made the offer, I only went along with it because my friend Kristen really wanted to do it too... and who wants to be THAT GIRL? The party pooper as it were? :-)

So... I went along to the 2 hour Intro class.... and the entire thing blew my mind! When YOU look at S Factor... YOU are going to say... "OH - it's a pole dancing/stripper class!" But it is SO NOT! It is SO MUCH more than that. First of all... no one STRIPS in this class. Second of all, the pole is completely secondary to all that you do and learn.

And, most important... the classes are all about women regaining control and love for their bodies... and learning how to accept all "parts" of YOU! Come ON! What woman doesn't want to feel more comfortable in their own skin? I know I do!

I cannot explain this to you in written or spoken word. No one is going to understand it until you try it quite honestly. So... here's my advice to you all. Ever find yourself in Chicago or LA or NYC... TAKE A CLASS!!!!!! Ever want some help with Chicago... contact me and I'll get you into a class. Try it. See what it's all about. Even if you can never take another class again because of where you live.... get the taste... it will be enough to make you a believer and maybe you will incorporate some of that into your every day life.

Okay... off my soapbox... stepping down now....

All that said... I have taken a few classes... and talked and talked and obsessed over it.... buying the book and DVDs to do it at home.... and one day just told Scott I wanted to do this in Chicago.... they were offering half sessions (so you only commit to 4 weeks instead of 8) and I wanted to see if I could make it work.

His immediate and unwaivering response... GO! Do it... "life's too short" and it's obviously something that means a lot to you.

Score one for the hubby!

So.... I am doing it! And, I went this past weekend for my first class..... of four. :-) We all know I won't be able to stop and I will do more... but I will cross that bridge and deal with that logistic challenge when it comes.

I have posted some pictures here (from the S Factor Website) of Chicago's stuido... so you can all envision what it looks like.

This is the lobby of the Studio:



And these are a couple of the Studios where the actual classes are conducted. Yes, there are LOTS of poles.... notice though... NO MIRRORS! The whole idea is to not judge yourself or anyone else for that matter...

So... this is where I go when I go to Chicago and S Factor... it's a nice place. You should all stop by and visit sometime! ;-)

Chillin' in the Windy City...

Ally and I traveled to Chicago early Saturday!  We had a great Mommy/Daughter weekend with Beth and Isabel (and Eli too!). Beth's husband, Scott was out of town for work, so it was just us moms and the kids!  Saturday evening, we made our way downtown to Michigan Avenue for the annual Lighting of Michigan Avenue parade.  It's the start of the Christmas season for Chicago... and as the first float of the parade makes its way down Michigan Ave (with Mickey Mouse at the helm!)... the lights on Michigan Ave come on. It was really a pretty cool sight!!!!

It was pretty chilly and MORE than crazy with a zillion people.... but the kids had so much fun!  Here are Ally and Isabel cheesin' it up in their "matching" hats!  This always happens!  Beth and I tend to get them such similar things no matter what the season! 

Here are the girls with their little prince for the evening, Eli.  Ally absolutely loves Eli and loves to play with him almost as much as Isabel when we visit the Hopson family!

Before we got out of the house for the evening, the girls had to run around and dance like the wild children that they are.... hardly stopping to pose for me as I demanded every five minutes!

They are such gorgeous little girls... and such good friends!  I absolutely love taking Ally into Chicago. The look on her face every time we drive into the city is priceless.  She just lights up from head to toe! She loves seeing the buildings in the distance as we drive down the Skyway. She loves seeing Lake Michigan as we drive up Lakeshore on our way up to Beth's!  She's giddy as we go!!!!!

After the parade, Chelsea joined Beth and I for a really great "girls' night in!"  We drank LOTS (read too much!) wine and talked the night away.  It always feels so good to catch up with my girls... and I treasure their friendship more than anything!!!!  We had a great talk.... 

More about the rest of the weekend later... I am absolutely exhausted and must get to sleep!  While this is a short work week (only working tomorrow - so short is an understatement!), we leave for Vegas for the Thanksgiving holidays on Tuesday so there is MUCH TO DO to prepare!

Memory Card...

I FINALLY got a memory card! Pics from Chicago will be posted tomorrow! Woo hoo!!


-- Post From My iPhone

Chicago Bound...

I am getting myself and Ally ready this morning to go to Chicago!  I am giddy! Looking forward to an evening with the kids. We are taking them all to a parade on Michigan Avenue to kick of the holiday season!  They "light up" Michigan Avenue tonight!  Ally is so excited!  Going to be chilly, but it will be fun!!!

After the parade, Beth, Chelsea and I are going to put the kids to bed.... get some sushi.... open some wine and have some much needed girl talk!  I love my time with my girls and I cannot wait to just chill with them and talk and talk the night away!!!!!!!!!!!!

My meetings the last couple days went really well.... and the most important part... they are behind me and I don't have to worry and stress anymore!

Okay, must GET READY to go.. and get on the road!  I hope the weather holds and I don't have t to drive in anything nasty!

Salon...

I'm at the salon!! It is the calm before my storm. I am at a two day, crazy, stressful meeting I have been worrying about like you wouldn't believe he next two days. I think I am actually worrying myself sick over it. Last night, around 1 am, I woke up with a migraine. I haven't had one in years! I was nausiated, the whole 9 yards. Sucked!!!!

I know it will go better than I anticipate. I know I am likely worrying for no reason, but still. I am stressin!!!

So.... For now, I will try to enjoy this time and worry about tomorrow, tomorrow!

-- Post From My iPhone

First Tooth!

Luke got his first tooth!!! Almost 11 months old!!! Now, he can eat steak. :-)

Congrats big guy!!! I forgive you for your horrid grumpiness of late!

-- Post From My iPhone

Weekend in Review...

So.. we had a pretty good weekend overall! Didn't too all that much, but isn't that what weekends are for sometimes? Just to chill?

First of all... our house had gone to hell by the end of the week. Literally. It was a DISASTER!!!! All week long, we just let the mess pile up. One of us was always working late or I was traveling... so the one home, just had kid duty and then passed out. Dishes piled up. Toys strewn everywhere. There wasn't a clean surface in sight.... Please dear God... send me an Alice soon!

Even Friday night, Scott and I just came home and passed out. LAZY! Put off until tomorrow what you SHOULD do today I always say! And we did.........

Come Saturday morning... we had had our limit. Something had to be done!

Scott went to run a couple errands and took Ally.... I promised that I would clean the kitchen while he was gone........

So... off he went. I got on the computer... for JUST a quick second. Facebook. Blogs. iTunes. Just a little while. Okay... kitchen... focus... took the garbage out... started to throw things away.... went in my room and decided to try some things on..... clean out my closet.....??? WTF? Do I have NO ABILITY TO FOCUS????

I walk back to get to the kitchen... and Kristen calls.... :-))))) LOL! I'm on the phone with her... and Scott pulls in the driveway! AHHHHH!!!! I tell her I have to go... I'm a dead woman!

Scott walks in and gives me this look. He is speechless.

I get to work............

The kitchen was spotless... eventually! ;-)

We picked up the entire house that early afternoon.... and then, later that evening went out to the mall and grabbed Applebees for dinner. I had to do the dreaded "bra shopping!" :-) Scott could not even believe how long it took me. It takes forever to do that!!!!!!! And, I still made bad decisions and had to go back yesterday to make exchanges.

While Scott took Ally to the free swim at the Y yesterday, I attempted to run errands with Luke. Exchanges at Victoria's Secret. Snowpants and boots for Ally. Ugh. That boy is HORRID to shop with!!!!!!!!!!! He refused to eat while we were out and about... and hated the stroller. Fought against the straps as if to say "let me out of here woman!!!!" You can't keep a boy down. He does not enjoy being restrained. UGH!

He is just SO DIFFERENT from Ally in so many ways! She was a fabulous, content shopping buddy! He is all boy. No shopping. No restraints. No multi-tasking! Not an easy going bone in that boy's body.

I finally just sent Scott a text asking him to get me a few things after swimming... and took the boy home! Of course, he fell asleep on the way home for a few minutes... and then, would NOT NAP at all that afternoon! So... we had a grumpy gus on our hands ALL EVENING LONG! We could not put him down soon enough. I think it was like 10 to 7 when we finally said "ENOUGH!"

HA! He still slept all night until almost 8:00 am!

And... now we begin another busy work week! Good times......... but... this is the week of hair cut and color.... and Chicago this weekend!!!!!! YAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

First Haircut...

I cut Luke's hair today!  Do I have any pictures to show for it... NO! Well, I have two, but they're not even worth posting as they are so bad and don't show any of the moment anyway!!!!!

I can't believe his hair was long enough to cut!  At this age, I think Ally was still bald, bald, BALD!  She didn't have hair forever...

Not Luke... No... he had some bad Fraiser hair, so I HAD to trim the back up.  I "cut" Scott's hair, so we own clippers.  I just used them with a guard and trimmed the back up.... and it looks pretty good if I do say so myself!!!!!!

I kept a bit of his hair too, to put in his baby book.  Look at me! Remembering to do these things for Number Two!  The second child usually gets screwed.  I'm doing the best I can to make sure that doesn't totally happen!

Watch Out...

Watch out world... I'm a woman with PMS who is stressed with work... with life... who is tired as hell... and badly in need of a cut and color! Grey roots be damned!!!!

Just typing that... I am wondering if this all can't be fixed with that trip to the salon! LOL! Ah.. there is at least one in my future. If I can figure out a way to work around everything else I need to do and get there!

I have rescheduled this hair appointment a few times... and I have to call and reschedule it again. I NEED it next week as I just can't make it any longer than that.... when my hair gets out of control... so do I. Superficial? Shallow? Call it what you will. It's a fact of life with me. I accept it. You should too. ;-)

In the midst of all this craziness swirling around me... it hit me hard last night that Ally has really grown in the past few months. Not necessarily physically, although she has done that... but emotionally.

We used to have SUCH AWFUL problems with her. She had fits of borderline rage from time to time. It really frightened us to the point where we sought out the help of a therapist. We got a LOT of great help and advice from this therapist and implemented some of that into our discipline of Ally... but that can't be ALL of what has changed her.

She also really seems to LOVE school... it's structure... the kids.. the teacher and everything about it. I think that is the number one reason she is so much better behaved.

So... what does that say about before? Was she bored with where she went to preschool? With Y Camp? Was it not structured enough? Was she not challenged enough? What is motivating her to be a "better person?" (so many of you know that's one of my favorite phrases!!!)

Maybe she's just also matured a bit... grown into herself. She is such a smart little girl. And, I say that matter-of-factly... not in a "I'm her mom and she's the smartest kid" kind of way. She really is a smart cookie. Maybe it's true and her emotional state is catching up with her intelligence. What's helping that? What was hindering it before? Most of all... why does it MATTER?

All I know is that I like this Ally so much better! There were many days there that I did not LIKE my little girl. I always loved her. But, sometimes, she scared the crap out of me. I was convinced for quite some time that she was going to grow up to be a serial killer or maybe president. Either way..... ;-)

I try to stop and be thankful every once in a while... in the midst of all that is crazy going on in my life... and remember the hard times that are now, hopefully, behind us. I know I still have the teenage years to look forward to... but for now, I will bask in THIS moment....

Broken Streak...

I broke my NaBloPoMo streak......... OH NO!!!!!!!! :-( What are ya gonna do? I've been on the road since Monday and I just didn't have time to blog while I was gone. I did the tour of our West Coast here in Michigan! Drove up to Muskegon for a meeting Tuesday morning... then, down the coast for a meeting in South Haven on Wednesday. I got home last night....

I was far too tired to blog when I got home last night..... and too busy when on the road....... I feel like I have let my readers down.................

Oh well. You'll get over it. I'm sure you're over it now as a matter of fact!

Work, work, work, work, WORK! Been busy, busy lately! It is usually a good busy, but at times borders on the overwhelming. I think after next week, I will feel better. I know with the week of Thanksgiving comes some free time... and our trip to Vegas to see my mom and Dave! Definitely looking forward to that!!! Hopefully, the weather will be warmer than it is here while we're down there.... it does make me wonder what to dress the kids in for Thanksgiving though! I just got Luke the cutest little turkey onsie from Pottery Barn Kids when I was in Chicago a few weeks ago.... and some brown cords to go with it from the Gap. Ally, I think I am going to just get her a comfy dress of some sort. At the very least I hope we won't be needing sweaters and such!

Tonight I am going to Dream Dinners with Jane and looking forward to it!!!!!!!! Hopefully, it means our family will actually eat something decent for dinner once in a while! Last night, Scott and I totally made one of those Bertolli frozen things for ourselves after the kids went down... and then, we passed out by 9:00 pm. I was exhausted from my travels and he had a 7:00 am raquetball game this morning! HA! 7:00 am! Who DOES THAT?

We shall see if I can stay up for Grey's tonight. I am currently sipping a latte from Starbucks... so it's possible. I was going to try to make it through the afternoon without any more caffiene, but I just couldn't do it. I have a couple things to get out before 5:00 and I need that final jolt of energy! Terrible... I know... but I need help in any form now days!

I promise you a couple things....

1. I am going to get a memory card so I can take some pictures and you can see the kids once again and,
2. I will TRY to maintain my daily posting for the rest of November. All I can do is try!

NaBloPoMo...

Just for the record... I am ROCKING at NaBloPoMo!!!!! I have posted every day in November! I may not say too much... but I am posting and that is enough for me!

The next few days I'm traveling, so here's hoping the iPhone Application that allows me to post doesn't let me down and make me break my streak!

Bone Chillin'....

It is ABSOLUTELY FREEZING today!!!! Winter is here in full force! WTF? Wasn't it like 70 degrees last week? Where is Global Warming when you need it? :-)

I wore my winter coat... a scarf... and gloves today. It was about 30 degrees when I left the house and I swear it hasn't warmed up one degree.

I went to Anna's Porch Cafe for lunch today and got a warm casserole along with hot tea. I could not get enough WARM things to warm me up.

I had my heat on high and my heated seats on in the car.

My space heater is running here at work and I am still drinking coffee....

I can't seem to thaw!!!!!!!

I am already dreaming of tropical vacations........ this is not a good sign. How am I going to make in through the long Michigan winter that lies ahead?

Food... Glorious Food...

It's kind of been the weekend of food around here.  First of all, I am FINALLY fully healthy and along with that health, my appetite has returned.  Also, my energy to actually cook... or go to the grocery store for that matter!!!!

On Saturday morning, I braved Meijer.  And, I do mean BRAVED!  It was crazy busy... I had to wait for a shopping cart.... fight hordes of people in every aisle and wait in a check out line that wrapped around like the wait for a roller coaster at Cedar Point!  

But... I was a better person... and I bought my family some much needed food!!!!!!!  

This weekend, I made Luke some food to have on hand... some pears, squash, sweet potatoes, apples... you get the idea.  I also got him some more yogurt, goat cheese, rice cakes, cereal bars and a few jars of emergency baby food!  But... more importantly.... I decided to feed the boy pretty much whatever we ate!

I made lasagna this weekend... I made blueberry muffins and turkey sausage. The boy ate it all!  He LOVES lasagna!  We are giving him whatever we eat... and supplementing it with some mashed food to make sure he gets enough.  He's been pretty fussy lately, and we are wondering if he is just HUNGRY!  Trying to feed him more and more "table food" is hard cuz it just doesn't feel like he's eating enough.  

For lunch today, he had yogurt with pears and squash.  He had like two HUGE bowls of each.  Scott just kept feeding him! And... after that... he was happier than he was all morning after just having had some muffin and sausage.  I should have fed him oatmeal then.... but didn't.

He had lasagna last night for dinner... which I supplemented with avocado and applesauce.  He definitely had plenty then too.

So.... I've learned to feed him what we're eating... but offer him the food he's comfortable with too that I know will fill him up!!!!!!

I just got an email from Jane today about going to Dream Dinners on Thursday and I am SO EXCITED... cuz this is the push I need to go!  I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!  

Of course, I am traveling this week and gone two nights... Scott and Ally will likely live on the leftover lasagna!  :-)  At least this week, I leave them with some food options!!!!  Look at me... trying to be a better person!!!  

What To Eat...

I'm having a hard time figuring out what to feed Luke these days. We ran out of most of our frozen cubes of "baby food" and I feel like we shouldn't really make any more.  The doc said he should be eating "table foods" for the most part. Problem is, there is very little other stuff he can eat... and I'm not a big fan of "prepared foods" ... but lately, I haven't had a great deal of time to cook anything either!!!!!

We try to make it so that dinner lately is something he can eat with us and then, leftover for lunch the next day.  It's not always easy cuz frankly we just don't ALWAYS eat dinner!  Like I have mentioned before... sometimes I literally scrounge something together for the kids and eat a bowl of cereal after they are in bed.  Pure exhaustion wins some nights...

So... I got some fruits and veggies today to make some cubes up... we at least need to have some on hand!

Other than that... I am open to any great suggestions any of you moms out there have for just what you do with a ten month old when it comes to solid food???  I am particularly concerned cuz he is totally rejecting his bottle lately.  The night bottle used to be a full 8 ounces and the last few nights he's taken less than half....

Crazy baby...

I'm an Embarrassment...

... it's offical! I embarrass my daughter already! This morning, after I gave Luke his bottle... I put him down next to a toy that plays music. The music immediately started up and he began to dance, so I danced along with him....

Ally was sitting at the dining room table, eating her breakfast and when I looked over at her, she was just sitting there, looking at me and shaking her head. Then... she proceeded to say... "Mommy is such an embarrassment..."

WHAT!? Seriously? Me? I am the COOLEST MOM I KNOW!!!!!!!!

First of all... what five year old uses the word embarrassment? "I'm so embarrassed" or something of the like seems more appropriate... but embarrassment?

Second of all... who died and put you in charge of what is cool chicky???

I am a fabulous dancer! LOL!

Oh... I just can't even believe it. I am being called out by a kindergartener for being uncool. I cannot EVEN imagine the things that she might say to me when she is a teenager. I'm not sure our house is big enough for our two personalities........