Differences of being pregnant for the second time... (not talking about symptoms)

So, this has been really irking me since "coming out" with being pregnant, and I've been meaning to blog about it (because that's what we do when we have opinions, right?) When I got pregnant with Greyson, everyone was SO excited, yay it's your first baby, congratulations, etc. It was a really easy, uneventful pregnancy that was actually really fun to go through and experience all the changes and growth of this amazing little life. Now that we are pregnant again, I'm getting a lot of hesitancy from almost everyone. Like, "You are?" And little comments about finances have come up and it really ruins everything for a moment. I get a lot of skeptical looks from people and I don't have to be any Sookie Stackhouse to know that they're thinking I'm an idiot for having another baby.

The only people I get genuine positive reactions from are other young moms (by the way I'm not even THAT young my mom-standards. I'll be 24 when #2 is born, ok? Just apparently everyone still thinks I'm straight out of high school still.) and of course from my own mom. I'm grateful for my friends and fellow struggling young parents - it's definitely not easy. But you know what, it is entirely worth every week that goes by wondering if the cable will be turned off. I mean if my biggest concern as a mostly-stay-at-home-mom is whether or not we can afford the luxury of 300 channels, then I have no room to complain, which means no one else has the right to judge my priorities. Yes, we struggle. But big flippin' deal. Show me someone who hasn't and I'll show you a liar.

I'm excited about my new baby. I'm excited to see Greyson as a big brother and to have someone for him to play with. I'm excited to see Zack with all kinds of little kids hanging from his pant legs. I'm excited to have holiday traditions for these tiny souls and to show them how be respectful and considerate humans, while still being able to stand up for themselves.
So there. I know the difficulties ahead of us, but I also know which things are important. And money isn't one of them.

That being said, here's a little pregnancy update: I'm only 7 weeks, and I won't have my first doctor's appointment until after the new year, but everything is going smoothly. I'm not showing, but I have a definite curve in my lower abdomen that tells me things are growing! I wouldn't say I have morning sickness (though there was about a week there when I did have it) but now it's like I feel like I do the day after getting over the flu. Not quite right, but good enough. And cravings galore! Nothing in particular, it changes by the hour. And if I don't act on it, then I miss that window to eat something and I starve because I can't find anything that sounds good, so I force myself to eat a bagel or something. I never really have cravings with Greyson, but this one's got me all crazy. I can't go to the store very effectively anymore.... I come home with a deli sun sandwich, popcorn chicken, and all the ingredients for chocolate cake. So now I'm making sure I bring a list.

and here's a picture of #1 just because he's adorable :)

Bleh....

Alright, I take back saying that this pregnancy is so far just like being pregnant with Greyson. A few days ago I started to feel crappy and it's gotten progressively worse, yet it's still not to the point where I have to actually throw up. Maybe I'm just actually getting sick? Greyson has a small cold but other than his nose running like a maniac, he seems fine. I just don't know. I'll be 6 weeks on Monday, so I guess if I actually am going to get morning sickness then now's about the time it'll show up, right?

And all I seem to want is junk food followed. Like, ICEEs and brownies and Sour Patch Kids <I'm indulging in these right now. I'm pretty positive that I didn't want junk food with Greyson, I think I actually craved healthier stuff.

So if my cravings are any indication of what this kid will be like, he or she will be cranky, chubby, and lazy. But on the plus side they'll have great skin :)

And that's all the energy I have for today....

I'll have to blog about my monsters soon :)

xoxo
C

I've realized: I'm a bitch...

And I'm blaming it on the hormones. I never really felt like this when I was pregnant with Greyson, but I'm just super irritable this time around (so far)! I feel sort of like I'm PMS'ing, but obviously I'm not. Luckily Zack is able to laugh it off, but I know that sooner or later I'm going to cause some feelers to get hurt. I just need to watch it. And watch it and watch it and watch it.
xoxo
C

EDD July 22nd, 2012

 

Yep! Greyson is due to be a big brother next July! We're very excited, even though we know it'll be hard. It's amazing how something that can be the biggest complication in your world can also be the greatest thing to happen to you, all at the same time! Baby #2 is due July 22nd, 2012 and Greyson will have just turned 2 years old. 

The big question on everyone's mind: Boy or Girl? Well we won't know until February or March (yes, we plan on finding out), but according to symptoms and old wives tales they all say Girl. BUT I remember saying Greyson was going to be a girl, but honestly I don't think I ever REALLY thought he'd be a girl. Whenever I thought about my impending baby it was always in the masculine form. But this one I can't help but think of it in the feminine. So we'll see how right or wrong I am in a few months.

I'm only 5 weeks, so it's still too early for any possible morning sickness, though I never had a speck of it while pregnant with Greyson. I broke out a lot with him, but so far there's not a pimple to be seen which I'm incredibly thankful for. I already have to pee all the time, and I'm already hungry all the time. Only with this pregnancy all I seem to want is junk food, so I have to watch it.

I know it's early to go public with this, let alone "Internet public" but everyone already know anyway because Zack and I can't keep our mouths shut. Plus, I feel very calm  and patient with this one. With Greyson I couldn't wait for each doctor's appointment, each weekly milestone. And yes I'm excited for these things, but not nearly as anxious. I guess it's because I've been there and done that? 

Anyway, I hope to get back into blogging. I have a few more things to say, though these things need posts of their own. So all in good time.

So if I don't get to blog again before Thanksgiving, have a wonderfully good stuffing filled thankful time!

xoxox

C

Fall-ing in Love :)

I'm proud of my minimal and humble fall decor this year :) So here are a couple pictures...

Note: Vase on the left is filled with weeds from my yard, and the vase on the right is filled with stale popcorn and sushi rice (and a mini pumpkin) CLASS! :)

Some more mini pumpkins in a candle holders, and a blue pumpkin from the pumpkin patch!

Possibly the best decoration - awesome sunset last night!

Yesterday was only Day 1 of decorating, and I can decorate until Thanksgiving! So maybe I'll be posting more pictures. Maybe not though.

xoxox
C

Of wanting More

I think I touched briefly on this in my previous post, but I really would like to explain my decision to study and turn to God. My very first post was sort of a rambling jumble since I had so much to say and not enough web space (it seemed) to say it in. So now I'm going to break it down and explain a little better...

When I was little, I had no formal Christian teachings, like, at all. Technically I was baptised a Lutheran, though now that I'm grown, I know it was to please my half-sister's (whom I love) grandparents (who I hardly know and don't really like.) But there was a short time in my life where we were actually going to The Light of the Valley Lutheran Church in Valley Center, CA along with my half-grandparents(?) and it was a novelty to me. Church was something people went to on TV. I specifically remember putting on my matching sunday dress and thinking I was going to see nuns (and I was excited about that), because all the churches on TV had nuns, therefore all churches in reality had nuns too. I just had no idea what church was, or why I was going.

So when we were free of our obligation to go to church when my mom and my sister's dad split, we never ever went again. So I spent my childhood looking for something fun to believe in. Now I've come to the realization that I was actually yearning for some religion. I really do think it's important for children to have something to believe in. Whether it's Christianity, Buddhism, Islam, etc... I think it stems from children actually wanting and needing discipline in their behavior, only a belief and a religion is like a psychic discipline. We know (at least I did) that there is More out there. You have that innocent , untarnished trust that there has to be. So my very best childhood friend and I scoured her book of goddesses and chose our favorites. I always chose the prettiest, nicest, most whimsical one I could find and she always chose the strongest and wisest one. We ran around the avocado groves of Valley Center in costume pretending to be our favorites.

Then as I got a little older (like early middle school), we dabbled in Wicca and spells and witchcraft and whatnot... Now, before you judge me on that keep in mind I'm being as open and honest as I can, and am holding nothing back. So in a sense I'm showing you my scars and if you judge me negatively that's only like cutting them open again. So get over it. Yes, I wanted to believe in magic so badly. I just really wanted that particular boy in class to like me (that was mostly why I was interested in spells. Boys. I just couldn't get them to like me!) And needless to say, my sad little spells never worked. So I gave up on that, and basically quit searching in general. I supposed that this is all there is - though I did know that there had to be SOMETHING after life on Earth, and I figured I'd just worry about it when the time came. Ah, procrastination at its best and most dangerous...

Then I met Zack. We fell in love, we got married. We'd go to church with his dad and step-mom sometimes, and I'd go and enjoy the normalcy and the community of it. I'd hear the pastor's words and think "hey, isn't that wise!", and go home and never remember what he said. I didn't feel it. I agreed that we need to be on our best behavior, but hey, I'm pretty much well-behaved all the time. No problem, I got this.

Then we got pregnant and had Greyson last summer and isn't just like a baby to make you rethink your life? Suddenly I have this amazing awesome gift and not only am I blessed with this little boy, but I'm also responsible for him. Crap! What do I do?! We attempted to go to church again for the sake of our son, but we just weren't feeling it. I blamed it on not finding the "right" church. We just didn't click with these people. So we quit going once more.

Then due to personal problems, we attempted church again and failed yet again.

We since haven't gone back to church, but now I know why I haven't been able to "get it". It's because I didn't GET IT. I didn't actually believe in a God. I believed Jesus was a cool dude who lived once and who died a terrible death, but did I believe that God Almighty morphed himself into a baby to become a man and perform miracles and die in a crucial, appalling way to save us from our sins?? No. I didn't.

Don't get me wrong. I wanted to believe it. But I always ended up shooting myself down. How could there even be a God?? How is it possible? You know what the kicker is? I never ever had a hard time believing in the devil or demons. I won't even watch possession movies or shows or read about demons for fear that my very thinking of them will invite them into my life. Weird how I readily believe in ultimate evil and not in ultimate Good. But there can't be an evil without Good, so that's more proof that there has to be ultimate Good.

As I said in my first post, I picked up Mere Christianity from the library after a recommendation from a school friend off of Facebook, and I read it. And it clicked for me. I'm getting it. And even though my Christian Trail is short so far, my thinking and my actions have changed. I catch myself honestly praying throughout the day. I check myself when I start to cuss at some terrible driver on the road. I'm more understanding and patient with my husband. I wouldn't say I have a full sense of peace quite yet, but I'm gaining peace.

So. That's it. I'm finding the More that I've wanted.

xoxo
C

God and stuff

Just as a warning, most of my close friends and family are going to be all "What??" when you read this post because this is not "Me" as you know me... Also, to my followers, I promise not everything I post will be religious and Christian, but it will sneak its way into my writing now and again, and also it will sometimes delibrately be put there. But just know that this is all new to me and I'm hardly going to start beating you over the head with my pink bible, ok?

For my friends who are joining me from facebook and beyond, I probably never seemed like much of a "Christian." You know, the ones who regularly post about praying, the ones who say "PTL!" etc in every post that delivers good news. And you know, you'd be right. I would always say that I believed in Something. I new that this couldn't be it. Our lives on Earth are shorter than a blink of an eye when compared to the Universe. We talk about the Purpose of Life like it's a huge mystery, but I always thought that the Purpose of Life was to be a genuinely good person so that you could "move on" when you died. But you'd never catching me admitting or claiming to be a Christian.

So a couple weeks ago, a good acquantance from high school posted on facebook about a book called Mere Christianity by CS Lewis, and about how he was "blowing her mind". This intrigued me. I wanted to believe in Christianity, but my logical mind always shot it down once I started thinking about how unlikely it all is. I wanted to belive in the whimsical, beautiful, peaceful kingdom that is heaven. I wanted to believe in a doting and heavenly father. I wanted to believe in beautiful, fearsome angels. But how in the world does that work?? So I made a trip to the library, picked up Mere Christianity, and dove in. After a few chapters, it was apparent I wasn't going to give up on my Quest for Belief, so finished the whole thing. I suppose it's safe to say that I devoured it. And during my literary gluttony, I came to a realization.

Good behaviour + good intentions + belief in Something More + belief in some kind of beautiful afterlife = the basics of Christianity withoug realizing it. That's exactly what I've been saying I just didn't know what it was called!

Thomas Jefferson, I am a Christian! Or at least I've found that I want to be. I consider myself in training. And I really have Leah (my facebook friend) and CS Lewis to thank. He just made sense to me. I've found that I believe it. And I'm shocked to be saying that. I spent my whole childhood lookng for the most magical and beautiful "religion" to follow. As a tween, I was all about goddesses and fairies. Then once I was too grown up for that I started just sort f shrugging my shoulders when someone would ask what I beleiev in. "I don't know, something" was my reply.

Our family never went to church. We were more of a sleep-all-weekend-and-watch-cartoons kind of family. And when your the daughter of an catholic-turned-evangelist-turned-hippie-turned-sannyasin (look it up) and a daughter of a high-school-drop-out-just-looking-for-love-sannyasin, you're brought up in what's called a Free Thinking Environment. (which don't get me wrong, I LOVE free thinking. It's progress, you know?) But all I'm saying is that growing up, I was ever introduced to traditional Jesus and traditional God. I never had the teaching. I was home schooled in that aspect. I was taught that Jesus and God were everywhere and everything, which I suppose is still correct but it was more like how you knew that air is everywhere. Yeah, great. It's air. I need it, I like it, but I never think about it.

Anyway, I've started this new blogging project to document my adventure into God. It's incredibly theological of me, I know. But I've found that I'm interested, and I want this. And I've finally learned that I wasn't ready before. It's true when they say that people can only change if they want to. If you're a drunk you have to WANT sobriety to be sober, you have to want to quit. It doesn't matter how much someone else wants you to change, you have to want to change yourself. And the same applies here to me.

So the next book I'm reading is The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey. So I'll be posting as I feel so inclined about that. :)

xoxo

Also, I've been visiting this blog called God and Stuff, so if you're interested, check it out!

Good Thing #25: Learning to talk

We all know that my 30 Day Photo Challenge bit the dust, so let's just squash that right now.

In other news, Greyson has a small vocabulary! He says, "Ball", "Night Night", "Bye", "Hi", "Hello", "No", "Nose", "Eyes", and variations of the sort. Though he seems to think "Night Night" means "Boobs", but that's my own fault. But it is so fun when he says something new, and imitates the sounds you make. Which brings me to another point, that I seriously need to watch what I say! I'm not a cusser - as far as anyone knows. I suppose I'm a closet-sailormouth. Which is a problem because when your baby is small you don't think about what you say, and you get used to that. But now, I have to really watch it. Greyson's probably heard me swear more than anyone on the planet. So that's something I have to work on.

He is SO close to walking. Actually today he was standing on his own and sort of rocked back and forth from one foot to the other! So we did a little celebratory crazy-shake and squealed (oh yes, he's going to have that embarrassingly giddy mom at the awards assemblies).

Have you checked out Renegade Mothering yet? I think it's my favorite blog by far. So here's the link (click here) Janelle is her name, and she's effing hilarious, and edgy, and will say everything you're thinking outloud. I like her! Actually while connecting that link, I got sidetracked reading this post :D

xoxoxo
C

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 12 (finally!)

Sunset

So it took me a few days to finally catch a sunset. I'm just usually putting Greyson to bed around the time the sun sets. Anyway, here's looking West from our front porch :) Sometimes we have some awesome clouds that turn every single color before the sun finally sinks, but it happened to be a really clear night last night.

xoxo

C

Tomorrow: Day 13 - Myself with 13 things



I haven't forgotten!

I just wanted to write a quick post to say I haven't forgotten about the Photo Challenge, but I missed the sunset last night to take it's picture! Hopefully I'll catch it tonight....
xoxoxo
C

30 Day Photo Challenge: Days #10 and 11

Day 10: A childhood memory

Well here's one of mine (I put this on facebook already, sorry)

I'm the one in the white sneakers and pink socks. This has got to be about 1995 or so because my little sister (the one in the red shoes) is about 2 or 3 there. Isn't she so cute in this picture?? I love her little dress. Almost as much as I love Harmony there on the left (one of my best friends in the world). This was taken when we lived on a street called Fruitvale in Valley Center, CA., on a rock wall outside of our little apartment. I probably had the most fun living there that had at all my other homes combined. Harmony was a frequent visitor because she was my friend and also her brothers were friends with my brother and the boys who lived upstairs. And then there were two neighbor boys who were our age (Jeff and Joe, where you at?) and we were basically one big commune of kids. SO fun.

And here's a picture of one of Greyson's future memories from the other day:



Oh yeah, I let him play in a pot of water :) he had a blast. There was two pots of water but the smaller one he figured out how to dump. But this one was big enough that I could fill it full enough to be heavy. This was super entertaining for about a half an hour.

Day 11: Something Blue

And here's a blue picture of me and my sister and Harmony AGAIN about 13 years after the picture on the rock wall. It's blue because we were visiting Harmony's campsite and they had a great big blue tarp over the area as shelter, and it put everything in a blue light.



xoxox

C

Tomorrow: Sunset



30 Day Photo Challenge: Day #9

Someone you love

Didn't see that one coming, did you? But here he is, my main man. This kid is the only constant no matter how I'm feeling, thinking of him always makes me smile, and there's nothing I'd rather listen to than him playing. Oh yes, he can be a total pill sometimes, but aren't we all? He's only human :) Love, love, LOVE him.

xoxo
C

Tomorrow: Day #10 - Childhood memory

30 Day Photo Challenge: Days # 7 and 8

So sorry I skipped yesterday! Actually, I had it all ready with my pictures and then something happened and I couldn't find where I put them :( so we're catching up today!

Day #7: Fruit

So apparently I don't have any fresh fruit in my house. So I have lemons, baby food fruit, lemon juice, and juice. I think I might even have some frozen fruit. If I had the time I'd get all creative and make a cool set up for the fruit, but you're getting mock fruit in a fruit bowl :)

Day #8: A bad habit

So if you can't read what it says on the left hand side of my wallet in my picture holder, it says "If you spend that money, you'll be that much poorer!!!" It's sort of silly, until you realize that it works! When I see it, I remember my goal is to not spend money. I don't buy big things, it's usually stupid little fun things, and let me tell you, that adds up! So I printed a bunch of these little strips and put them everywhere I would be if I was spending money, i.e. on my computer, in my wallet, and notice I even wrapped one around my credit card. But this is totally helping me!



xoxoxo

C

Tomorrow, Day #9:  Someone you love (awww...)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day #6

From a low angle

So this is at the parade yesterday looking up at the sky where the roof of the Derailed Saloon meets the Sidewalk Tree. I like taking pictures of trees, I like the branches, twigs, and leaves.

Speaking of trees, here's another one of my favorite tree pictures:

I like the curly branches :)

and I like this one:

I love the blossoms on this one, and actually I think I've put this one in a post before. But oh well. It's worth a second look.

xoxo
C

Tomorrow: Fruit (crap, guess I need to buy some!)

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day #5

From a high angle

 It didn't say it had to be from a REALLY high angle, right? I'm in love with this picture I took this morning. I put this on the Facebook too, sue me. We went to the Fiesta Days Parade with our friends and watched the cowgirls ride horses, and the cowboys drive trucks.

And Sarah, I hope you don't mind that I post this picture of Gracie; it's too cute, too!

xoxoxo
C

Tomorrow: From a low angle (whoa! didn't see that one coming, didya?)



30 Day Photo Challenge: Day #4

Something Green

So I perused my house in search of some green, interesting thing that wasn't a plant or a moldy lemon, and found this little peacock feather. I can't remember where it came from, or why I have it, but it sits next to my computer normally.

In Greyson's news, he has this weird rash (yes, you read my blog, you will hear of gross things), and it totally covers his torso. But he has no symptoms at all - no fever, no scratching, nothing. But he has been teething; I don't suppose there's such thing as a Teething Rash? Probably not. But he popped a molar to my surprise the other day. I was expecting another front tooth, but nope, it's a big honkin' molar which explains why he's been such a krabby-patty lately (Spongebob forever!).

Anyway, tomorrow's photo challenge is Day 5 - From a high angle...

30 Day Photo Challenge: Day 3

Clouds

So yesterday I was sitting in traffic (yes that's right, I said traffic), and I looked over and saw this cloud in the sky that caught my attention, so I snapped a picture of it. Doesn't it look like a seahorse? Or maybe a trojan horse? Or some kind of trojan seahorse? It even has an eye!



30 Day Photo Challenge: Day #2

What I Wore Today

Nothing too special - but I like dressing up a little sometimes. Though I hate it when I put effort into my outfit and not end up seeing anyone. I feel like I wasted a whole day of creative ensembles :) But today I had a "Lunch 'n Learn" and then a lunch with my dad (oh yes, I ate lunch twice). So anyway, it's just some gray slacks, a cami, and a white button-up that I cinched with one of my favorite belts (it's stretchy! - perfect for a Two Lunches kind of day). And I wore gold dangle earrings and literally topped it off with my new bun.

Tomorrow: Day 3 - Clouds

30 Day Photo Challenge

Alright, since I've been such a crap blogger lately, I've decided to do the 30 day photo challenge just to help me get back into the swing of things. I know it's done a LOT, but hey, I'm doing it too.

So Day One: A Self-Portrait

So today I tried to do this bun (click here for video tutorial) and it came out OK. I'm excited to give it another try, but I'm just not so good at teasing my hair. I'll get better :)

Oh and by the way, the bet's still going! Zack's been doing dishes instead of getting presents. I can't decide which I'd prefer, but hey I like not having to do the dishes!



Tomorrow: Day 2 - What I Wore Today

xoxoxo

C

I won the bet :)

First of all, let me tell you that I'm claiming amnesia AND pleading the 5th as to why I haven't been writing - I have no excuse (other than being way too flippin' busy) and am ashamed :'(

Anyway, back to the blog...

Yesterday, I texted Zack and told him that Snoopy's making salmon for dinner. (By the way, Snoopy is what we call my step mom, and she and my dad are here visiting.) To which Zack replied "Sweet!" So later that night Zack tells me that I told him that Snoopy was making swordfish (Zack's had a hankering for Snoopy's swordfish for the last two years) and I said "No, I said salmon." And I bet him a month's worth of dishes that I was right and he ACCEPTED, the nerd. So we check our texts and yes of course, I'm right. Fellas, if a girl bets you a month's worth of dishes, she's pretty damn sure she's right.

So Zack was all wounded that he lost so I thought of an alternative, and that being that he has to give me a present every day for a month. It doesn't have to be anything that costs money, just something sweet or thoughtful or nice or cute, etc. Which I think is perfect because that 's the kind of cute things people do when they're dating, you know? Still trying to woo, so to speak, which is exactly what I need - to be wooed.

So today has been Day 1 of Dishes or Gift Month, and this lucky girl has her dishes done AND some new, homegrown fancy tomatoes! Score....!

My beautiful tomatoes

My beautiful dish-less sink

And my cupboard full of my beautifully clean cups

xoxoxo

C

Greyson's Music Video Favs

This little honey of mine LOVES music. I hope that sticks with him. I'd love for little hearts to swoon over him and his guitar (or drums or whatever).

We watch a lot of country music videos in our house for a couple reasons. Number 1: the "non-country" music channels (i.e. VH1, MTV) hardly ever have music videos and when they do they're in between 10 minutes of commercials. And #2: We like country. So if you don't, then you can deal with it or I guess we can't be friends...

Anyway, here's Greyson FAVORITE music videos. He'll literally stop whatever he's doing to watch these and be still and silent until they're over.

SugarLand, Tonight

 I had put this one from Sugarland on my facebook, so for those of you who are my facebook friend, this might be slightly repetitive.... But I think Greyson's got to like this one because she rolls around on a bed a lot and after all, he's a boy :)

Jason Aldean and Kelly Clarkson, Don't You Wanna Stay

So there you go! Greyson's Music Video Favs

xoxoxo

C

Good Thing #24: Work!

It's been almost a week since I've made a post but that's only because I've been crazy busy because.... I got a job! Tuesday night I got a phone call from a family friend who asked if I wanted a job and I said "Sure!" without hesitation and I started the next day. It might be temporary, it might be long term, but the point is I'm working. AND I get to bring Greyson to work which is both awesome and challenging. But left to my own devices yesterday I got a lot done considering I had Greyson all by myself (I'm the only one in the one room office).

It's pretty barren right now, as you can see. I guess the guy before me cleaned house before he left. Oh well. Nothing a little iHome and a plant can't fix. Anyway, what I'm doing is the administrative stuff for our local Home Builders Association, which is both great and a little nerve-wracking because I have to interact with the names in town that everyone knows, but I can handle it. I'll handle almost anything if it means I can bring my kid and have flexible hours.

I didn't realize how much I missed working, and how good I am at secretarial stuff. I love answering the phone. I love typing. I love making a spreadsheet look it's best. I still hate filing, but I can let that slide. I remember being a little girl and always saying I never wanted a desk job, but look at me now. It's what I prefer. I guess because I know I'm good at it without having to really try, you know?

And maybe when Greyson's a little bigger (not really nursing, and down to one nap a day) I can look into finding him a part time nanny for the 4 to 6 hours a day that I'm gone. I really only want to work part time as long as I have a little kid, but I do know that I need to work. Being home has been great but it's been tough at the bank. So I think this is the Universe's way of answering my silent prayers for financial help, I better do what I can with the opportunity while I have it. So I'm really going to try my best to be needed at the HBA and well-liked.

You might be wondering what the HBA does and hoping I'll tell you, but honestly I'm still learning myself. But what I do know is that it's a non-profit organization that benefits and supports local home builders across the country. The office of the HBA handles membership fees and renewals, and local HBA events (like in our town the big one is the Parade of Homes).

So it's awesome. There's a lot for me to do there once I get the hang of it, which is what I need because I hate to be twiddling my thumbs. Send me good thoughts so I can be really, really good at my new job :) 

xoxox

C

P.S.

I got bangs! I've never had them before and I HATED them at first and actually had to go back to the salon and have the girl fix them up, but I'm starting to like them....

Greyson's 1st Bee-day

I'm so excited for Greyson's 1st birthday. Who'd've thought that I'd be able to take care of a human being 24/7, for 365 days straight, and get their boogies, and dig kibble out of their mouth, and rinse poo off them, and still love more than anything in the world?? So yes, I'm planning a party. I was originally going to do The Very Hungry Caterpillar as a theme but I've decided on Bees and a Barbecue instead. Bees because I call him my little honey, and a barbecue because it'll be a barbecue potluck. And even though I won't send them out for another month or so, I've already made birthday invitations!

Almost done....

Finished!

It was really fun making them and didn't take me too long, surprisingly. The invites pretty much sum up the colors I'm using: black, white, yellow, and red and probably some orange. Everything I do is all hodge-podge but it usually ends up coming together in the end, so I'm not worried or stressed or Momzilla about it at all. I just want a party with people we love, who love Greyson too, and to take lots of great pictures, and have fun on a sunny day by the river.

Some people don't make very big deals out of 1st birthday parties. The argument that the baby won't remember much, the baby won't participate much, etc... But babies grow up. And I'll want to remember him as a little tiny thing when he towers over me at 6'. And I'm sure he'll want to see pictures of his 1st birthday when he's grown some. So for right now, his party is for me and in a few years we'll all be glad we did it.

I've looked up 1st birthday traditions from around the world, and almost everybody does a huge feast. One thing I like that the Chinese do is a little fortune telling game: They place the baby on the floor in the middle of a circle arranged with things like books, money, a truck, a tool, etc.... and whichever thing the baby goes for is what the baby might end up doing in life. Like if he reaches for the money maybe he'll be rich, or if he reaches for a tool maybe he'll be handy, etc... And they think that tigers bring protection to babies - maybe I'll have to get him a little tiger-something.

Indian (like from India, not Native Americans) get their head shaved. Yeah, we won't be doing that.

Australians eat something called Fairy Bread. Basically it's buttered bread covered in sprinkles....

Lol one site says that in Germany if a man is still unmarried at 30, they make him sweep the stairs of City Hall and his friends keep throwing dirt and rock on he stairs so he's always sweeping, that way the ladies know that he's still available....

And my friend Hazel ought to be able to tell me if this is true, but apparently in Ireland they pick the kid up by his feet and bump his head on the ground for every year plus another time for good luck. She's Irish so I'll have to ask if they really do that.

And in Argentina they pull your ear lobe for every year you've been alive, plus one for good luck. That one for good luck thing is pretty universal. I guess it's probably meant to fake out Fate.

Anyway, there's some things you might not have known when you woke this morning:)

xoxoxo
C

P.S. I made scones!

Bee Happy...

How would you like to be a bee and come to work to THIS tree every day? I think I'd like it....

There tons and tons of fat, happy bees, and they were so busy they didn't even buzz over to check us out.

I took Greyson to the park today and picked the prettiest tree there to set up camp. It's overflowing with blossoms and little petals would fall every now and then like snow onto me and my son, honestly making me feel like a poet in petticoats. It was only slightly ruined by the traffic rushing by 50 yards away. Oh well, I'll take peace and beauty where I can get it :)

xoxoxo

C

Good Thing #23: The little things...

You know how your heart can melt? Well, mine I'm pretty sure is in a puddle sloshing in my shoes. This little son of mine is too awesome and adorable. He's starting to figure things out and it's amazing to watch him do things for the first time. Like a week or two ago he had his brush in his hand and was trying to brush his own hair and I about peed my pants out of excitement, just because he now knows what things are for and what you do with them! Then the other night during his bath he picked up his face cloth and started rubbing his face with it - so cute! And last night he was trying to shove his shoe onto his foot. Oh yes, I'm jello for this kid....

In other news, my sometimes-sweet baby sister is graduation high school in a couple weeks which is totally weird. And only a couple weeks after that she's moving to Phoenix. Crazy! I've never lived more than 30 minutes away from her. And my dad and stepmom (aka Snoopy) are coming out for it so I'm super excited to see them and for them to see Greyson. They haven't seen him since he was about 2 weeks old (excluding Skype dates).

And speaking of visiting family, Zack's dad and stepmom are going to be able to make it for Greyson's 1st Birthday!

AND the 11th Sookie Stackhouse novel came out this month and I just got it in the mail! I have to finish what I'm currently reading (The Other Boleyn Girl by Phillipa Gregory - I've already read it a few times. It's delicious) before I can start Dead Reckoning.



I've also decided to put a cease and desist order on all paper towel usage in my house after what we have is used up. I've found these UNpaper towels online and am going to make my own out of this patterned flannel.

So I'm doing polka-dot on one side and the camo on the other. I've got 2 whole yards of each so I can probably make at least 32 UNpaper towels if they're all the same size, but I'll probably make a few that are a little smaller than paper towel size too, for you know, variety. Zack's not going to like not having paper towels, but he'll get used to it. I rarely use them any way, only to wipe Greyson's face after a meal and flannel cloth will be so much softer and I could probably use the same one for a whole day's worth of meals. I'm going to pack up the paper towel holder and just fold these up and store them on the window sill. :) Hopefully I'll get started on this tomorrow. I'll post pictures :)

And I've started watching a little girl on Tuesdays! She's super cute and makes me marvel at how big Greyson is getting. She's only 3.5 months so it's a big size difference. It really puts into perspective that Greyson really isn't that little of a baby anymore and compared to Lila, he's a great big kid-boy.

Also, I've got a couple new followers! Whoop! Thanks for sticking around! I was doing really good there for awhile posting something every day, but I sort of dropped off the planet there for a little while. I'm going to try to start posting damn near every day again, I promise.

Hm, well, that about catches you up with me! Hope everyone's doing well and good!

xoxoxo

C

Oh, by the way, these are awesome and comfy and they're my first Crocs ever (mostly because I never considered my self cool enough to wear the dorky old-school Crocs) I got them in navy but they have other colors...



65% saved - I'm getting better!

So I did a Walgreens run and saved 65% :)

(4) 1lb bags of Rold Gold Pretzels

(2) Arm & Hammer Laundry Soap

(10) Lysol Toilet Bowl Cleaner

(2) Pantene Shampoo

(2) Pantene Conditioner

(2) Nature Valley Granola Bars

(2) Fiber One Granola Bars

(3) Palmolive Dishsoap

(4) Mitchum Deoderant

(4) Colgate Toothpaste

(10) Hershey Dark Chocolate Bars

(1) Neutrogena Lip Balm

And I got $5 in Register Rewards for next time. So my total was $71.91 - $10.00 in RR from last time so I paid $61.91 out of pocket. But with the $5 in RR it's sort of like I paid $56.91 because you know I'll be going back. My total would have been $165.90. So yep, I'm getting better!

Oh, AND the girl gave me this free tote and a bunch of samples that she had left over from Mother's Day!

xoxoxo
C

Super great weekend....

It's the Monday after a great weekend, and I just wanted to share :)

Friday was super busy and tiring because on Saturday we were having our first ever yard sale. I was sort of nervous because what if no one showed up? I think it'd feel the same if no one showed up for your birthday. So I was timidly pricing all our "one man's trash in another man's treasure" stuff feeling a little iffy about the whole thing. I put an ad in the paper, put up signs and balloons, cleaned everything off, Zack was bringing home some rental tables. We were trying hard to make in good. And it totally paid off! We had SO many people show up. The signs and the ad CLEARLY stated that the sale would start at 9am but people starting showing up at 7:30am. Which was totally fine. If you want to buy my stuff you can show up at any time! I forgot to take a picture of our beginning spread but I do have a cute picture of Greyson helping me get the signs ready on Friday:

And here he is at the yard sale:

Oh! And here's the boys obviously very anxious and excited to help me the morning of the yard sale:

So we made a good amount of money - a lot more than expected -  and got rid of some junk, and got some sun which made it a really great day.

Then Sunday was Mother's day - my first one ever :)

I put a new-to-us shirt on Greyson and dragged Zack to church with me.

 Then we went and bought some newspapers so I can get the coupons, and then we went to Fuzziwigs (sp?) and Zack bought me some chocolate covered strawberries for Mother's day (and later I told him that he also bought me a wallet and a purse :) ). Then we came home, and Zack did the dishes and grilled some pork chops for dinner!

So yep, it was great.

Oh! Did I tell you Greyson is "cruising" now? Cruising is where the baby pulls himself up to stand up on/next to furniture/window sills/ etc....

Hope everyone else had a super great weekend, too!

xoxoxo

C

I think I'm actually OLD underneath my 23 year old skin. And by that I mean that I love that same things Grandmas do...

So, I've decided that I love to read mysteries - it's quickly become my favorite genre. And if you throw in a little romance WITH a mystery?? Well, there you go. Anyway, what goes better with a good mystery than a little tea? And what goes better with a little tea than some good friends? And what goes better with some good friends than costumes??

I've found this website called Mystery Tea Parties and I would LOVE to host one! The only glitch I see is that it's mostly all the rage with the 65+ crowd, but who cares. I like tea, mysteries, costumes, and friends just as much as the Elders do, you know? So what if I subscribe to Country Living and knit sometimes, all while my famous chocolate chip cookies are baking? I might have a small case Senior-itis it seems.

So Local Ladies, who wants to come to a tea party?! Whoomp! Whoomp!

Good Thing #22: When rules are followed...

"All socks left in the living room will find a new home in the GARBAGE."

I am absolutely amazed at the effectiveness of a Posted Rule. I mostly did it to draw attention to the fact that yes, I'm serious, I don't want to pick up your dirty crusty socks every day. I'm actually thinking of framing all the rules I want followed in little 4x4 frames. I tell you what, it may be a little high-handed of me and a little bossy, but I haven't had to pick up one stray sock (other than Greyson's but he gets a free pass) since I put this piece of paper up a month ago.

The next one I'm going to post will probably be "Any food left on the dishes or in the sink will be your lunch tomorrow."



Coeur d'Alene, ID - I think I could live here.... UPDATE

 

Yep, pretty sure I could like it here. But I've never been so that remains to be seen. But I think if we ever get to go on a little vacation I'd like to visit. And I checked the weather averages and it's snowy in winter and warm in the summer like Durango, except Coeur d'Alene has a lake which is a major bonus because I need water. Durango has the Animas River, but eh. And Zack will never go for the beach but he likes mountains, so there you go. Prices on homes aren't bad either and the economy seems good.  Seems like a good place to take a road trip some day. Maybe next summer?

Has anybody been to Coeur d'Alene? Is it as pretty as these pictures?

I'm always checking Small Town Gems for new towns. It's like traveling only not. And less expensive.

UPDATE:
So I looked more into it and I don't want to go here. Apparently 93% of the nations cities are safer than this little town. That's HUGE. Oh well. The search continues....