You're The Bomb Baby

I have been nagging a certain someone to post this on youtube so could put it here. She has since done this a million times but this is the very first day she came home with this chant.

Time to get back into posting...

I take pictures of this little once constantly so here are ones from yesterday. First thing to share, she is wearing pants! I commend the break thru but not the timing - I do not really have anything but dresses for her to wear and it is summer now.

Second, she loves her YMCA name tag and wears it there every day. The Branch Resource Director rigged her up a new one when I forget hers today (bad mommy!). Third, afternoons are always tough for us. I struggle with the balance of household errands and engaging Addie but also understanding she is tired. With that our afternoon entertainment yesterday was a late lunch at "my" Chick-fil-A and summer sandal shopping at Kixx. Yummy Chick-fil-A is never a bad idea but it turned out to be a fantastic one! 10% of our purchase went to support A Child's Place and we met a real live princess, aka Miss Outstanding Teen.

Fourth, and what she remembers most from the day, she got two ice creams! The cute staff at Chick-fil-A brought us both a cone so one of us benefited from the other's tummy issues. SCORE!

There is a fine line between tacky and festive

She still won't even hear of speaking to Santa but a blow-up inflatable?! Any kind, anywhere! She has me wanting to check them out after Christmas this year when all decorations are marked down. {Oh no!}

L to R: Cheese with the bear | Hugs for Santa | High five-ing the Snowman

Udu

Have you ever wondered how Santa could know if you're naughty or nice each year as you grow? For hundreds of years it's been a big secret. It now can be shared if you promise to keep it.

Well we began the new Christmas tradition tonight, reading the book as a family and trying to explain the concept to Addie. She did come up with a name (Udu) but then she immediately wanted to open the box to play with it?! So whether it will work or not is highly debatable but I plan to at least hide the little elf each night for her to find in the morning. As always, there are plenty of ideas on Pinterest but I don't really want our new elf friend being so mischievous. (Mostly I don't want to create a mess just to then clean up - ha!)

The coordinating website is cute... we got a Certificate of Adoption as well as a letter from Santa. I won't be purchasing paraphernalia but will record/watch "An Elf's Story" on CBS on December 14.

However Udu plays out, I do look forward to Christmas starting to be magical for her!
 

Diva-licious

Something we have learned about being parents of our little one... A quiet Addie can mean one of three things: 1, she is reading books in her room, 2, she is hiding in a corner pooping (that is the final potty training step she can not seem to overcome), or 3, she is getting into something she probably shouldn't be.

This morning that something was my makeup drawer. (Child locks have become pretty pointless). While I was packing our lunches she thought she needed a little something extra for school today. Doesn't she look fabulous?!

Who doesn't need a nap? Right!

Grusome-Twosome

About a month or so ago I kept a friend's daughter & Addie's best friend, Lowrey, while her mom attended an unexpected funeral. I was happy to help out and the girls had an absolute blast, but it was also one of the most exhausting afternoons of my life - no exaggeration. These two did everything! Swimming, had popsicles, dressed up, played chase, danced, had several potty breaks & accidents just to scratch the surface. Basically, none of us sat still for a moment in the 5 hours she was over so I suggested coloring... thinking they could chill out and I could try and pick up a bit.

You really cannot take your eyes off children, ever! In the few minutes I stepped away, the girls turned the markers into makeup. Luckily the markers are washable and I had enough time to clean them up (again) before mom came to pick her up.

I can only imagine the sort of trouble these two will be getting themselves into in the years to come.

I Am...

Amoung other things, I am a mom and yes all I really want to do is sleep!

Morning Runs

Not my bed or my husband and there is NO WAY anyone at our house would be asleep if it was this bright outside... buuut this image still spoke to me. Up before dawn, out the door before anyone else is awake and how Jim gets nervous if I am not back within a certain amount of time. Maybe I should try something like this?! Knowing my husband, an excel spreadsheet may be more appreciated. :-)

I have a love/hate relationship with my morning workouts. I love getting a good sweat in, having it crossed off my to-do list before the day even begins and the time with my workout partners helps keep me connected and sane. I hate about everything at 5:30 AM when my alarm goes off, how tired I am and how that is still not enough time to get everything in and get to work on time. Th catch is I refuse to get up any earlier while I absolutely refuse to not take that time for myself. Therefore, I am once again off to set the dreaded alarm. A true case of damned if you do and damned if you don't.

I do believe/hope I am setting a good example for my munchkin so add that to the love side of things. Additionally, Addie now loves to take walks in the jog stroller and most of the time is telling me to "run faster mommy"! That, and Teva's excitement when I put on running shoes is a big dose of motivation.

 

And there folks, is why I keep up with my nonsense.

You Can't Do That On Television

... but you can do that in the Harris YMCA Family Locker Room.

Have no clue what I am referring to?  Just some classic (low budget) 80's television that I loved!

Happy Father's Day

After the thrill on Pinterest wore off, I decided it mostly serves to make me feel like a less then average mom. There are so many fabulous crafts and projects documented. Many of which I know "I could do" but finding the time and precision to execute is quite the obstacle. Finally, an idea seen on Pinterest that came to fruition AND even improved upon. Even though it did take 3 trips to different drug stores to collect the candy. This turned out to be a fun painting project for Addie and a perfect "card" for a certain father with a sweet tooth. We love you daddy!

Its says: "Happy Father's Day! We didn't think a Kit Kat, a trip to New York, an Orbit around the Milky Way or a shopping Spree was enough to say how much we love you. Besides the 100 Grand slipped right thru our Butterfingers and it wasn't PayDay nor was there an Extra Whatyoumacallit around to sell. We do wish you Mounds of Almond Joy both Now-and-Later. Hope this card doesn't give your tummy a Rolo but instead, you a few Snickers. We love you to Pieces!" Then it was signed Love, 3 Airheads

A glimpse into the future perhaps?!

A Victoria's Secret bag in one hand and a Coach sandal in the other. Help me now!

Don't worry, I was able to successfully lure her away with the promise off flip flops. She got these as a gift, (either her birthday or Christmas) but I knew well enough to keep them hidden until the weather was right. You will not see her without these for a long time.

Happy Girl!

Fashion Police

Shhhhh, don't tell Suri Cruise that I wore white before Easter. Now that my modeling career is on its way, that is the sort of thing that might end me up here! (Flynn Bloom, I too like white undershirts.)

A picture is worth a thousand words

There is no way to sum up all that is going on in this picture, which is why this post has more "labels" then probably necessary. It just falls under so many categories and I love it!

Sweet Inspiration

I am in the middle of planning a baby shower and as I have been looking for cake inspiration, debating whether to make or purchase items, I was introduced to something completely opposite! You won't be able to stop looking through all theses disasters. Warning - some of them are not for polite company!

http://www.cakewrecks.com/

They do devote one day a week to amazing cakes so before leaving the site be sure to check out Sunday Sweets to redeem your faith in bakeries.

Design Assistant

I appreciate the help and understand wanting to put your own stamp on things, buuuut...

Laughs from Christmas Past

Most of these images (Dad the dog whisperer, MAMINBLACK, Digital Tom, crowns, Chinese dinner, a flaming cabbage head, etc) will not say "Christmas" to many but each of them evokes a warm memory for me! What is in store for this year?  [Please send anything that needs to be added!]

Twihards

One of the things we got to do over Thanksgiving break was go see a movie! Now to many this seems so mundane but it really is a rare treat. Jim picked our last feature film so it was my turn and off we went to see the latest in the Twilight Saga.

The books were better and nobody will be up for an Academy Award for their work in the film but in spite of the teenage girls sitting in front of us that giggled and commented throughout the entire movie I still enjoyed it. The reason I even write this post is because it seems crazy fans of this movie are pretending to be engaged so they can try on the knock-off of Bella's wedding dress - article here. You can even purchase replicas of the engagement ring and her hair comb! (Too bad I actually like this necklace.)


Maybe I am not all that far removed from these creators target audience after all?! I tore through the Harry Potter books (plus would like to have the DVD box set), then gobbled up Twilight and now am about to start reading The Hunger Games. It has been on my radar (and in my Kindle cart) since a college buddy dubbed it one of her favorites. I hate to admit it, but the movie trailer is what motivated me to finally click purchase. I just don't find time to read anymore but I have until March to read one book - I can do that!

Once I get back in the swing on things, The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo is on deck. Any other suggestions? Read or watch.

G.O. H.A.R.D.

Today is Globally Organized Hug A Runner Day (aka G.O. H.A.R.D.)! Just one of the many fun facts that I have learned while looking up material for the Harris & Harris Express YMCA's facebook pages.

Thank-you Molly for the good laugh and Amen to the sentiment! I know I don't look as great as I feel and have seen many official race pictures to back it up. With this in mind, I warily checked Brightroom's website for this past weekend's race photos, and actually discovered what might be the least ridiculous I have been captured.