stuff

We start our new daycare on Monday!?! OMG, I am so nervous, scared, sad, etc... It is the first non-family member who will care for E. I just know she is going to *LOVE* it so much. She is going to love playing with all the other kids and doing crafts and learning activities. I just hope the first morning goes smoothly and she doesn't really care to much about me leaving. If I have to leave her crying out for momma... I am going to bawl my eyes out in front of the staff. Not something I want to do. I'm sure they'd expect it from a mother of a 3 month old... not a mom of an almost 18 month old! When I say staff, I mean she has a couple girls who work with her in her home. This woman runs 2 daycares in her home. One upstairs and one downstairs. The home is beautiful. The yard is enormous and covered in toys. We drove by just to check it out ahead of time and are going over there tomorrow night to meet her and get a tour. Then on Friday I took off the afternoon and we are going to go spend the afternoon there. Just to let E play and get a bit more comfortable. God I hope I don't break down in front of everyone. I am so hormonal during certain parts of the month... luckily by Monday I will be just finishing up with aunt flo... (TMI,sorry) so my emotions will most likely be in check by then. (Let's hope!)

Today I met with the woman who does all the daycare licensing in our county. She was able to read me some parent evaluations. This daycare has had no complaints... in over 20 years. That is pretty awesome. The woman I met with said that this provider goes at everything 110 percent. She also told me that often when a new popular toy comes out this provider will go to the store and buy 5 of the item, so that the children don't have to fight over 1. Everything I'm hearing is making me feel better and better about this daycare thing... although I still wish I could be a SAHM. I'll fill you in after our meeting tomorrow. Think positive thoughts for us please!

Ok, totally different topic... I didn't create my blog until a year after my wedding. So I thought I'd go down memory lane and share some of my favorite pictures.

2 of my 3 flower girls...
yummy food...
the girls...
my sis...
the boys...
love this pic!
and this one...
ok, love all these multi-colored ones!
pure bliss...
G's mom...
my parents...

After 2.5 years, I still think I am the luckiest girl in the whole wide world. I love this man. *sigh*

My friend Melissa took all these pictures. She is an awsome photographer... I'd highly recommend her!

G has already gone up to bed... I best be doing the same! Night :)

kids stuff

I found this website after reading about it in a Pa.ren.ts magazine... inchbug.com. It has some really cute kids items... my favs: the mary jane socks, the custom bumpy name orbit labels, the squeeze free juice box holders and the no-spill bottle caps. I plan to order all of these items, minus the socks, this week. They are very reasonably priced and I'm excited to get those name labels before we start daycare... so her sippy cups will be labeled clearly. Resulting in less germy mix-ups!

Can you believe I've had 4 posts in one day. I guess I've got lots to say today. Whew.

country folks

Does this say anthing about were we live! 2 Saturdays ago I was driving through down town and saw this big Jo.hn De.ere parked outside a church with a trailer full of coolers and benches... I think it is a cute idea.

Congrats to Emily and Michael (I have no idea who you are, but your getaway is cute)!

teething and treats

For breakfast E ate a bowl of cereal and a banana... the usual. It was a rough morning. We have a nice big molar breaking through... all she did was whine, whine, whine (but I can't blame her). Nothing would make her happy, except for food and motrin. So this is what she ate for a late morning snack. I am such a good mom it is ridiculous.

No, your eyes are not deceiving you... that is a cupcake, a piece of kr.aft singles and air puff popcorn. And as you can see, she decided to dip the popcorn in her frosting... tasty!!!

Saturday again... already??

This week has flown by so fast! My MIL was here for the week to watch E... and it seemed like we had something going on each night! Monday night I had a Mary Kay party. It was fun, we did pedicures. I had a great party and was able to order lots of fun stuff for myself... I love girly pampering products! Tuesday night I had scheduled an appointment for a car seat clinic. I have been wanting to have our car seat checked out by the pros for some time now and ran across and ad in our paper for this clinic. I got a call that afternoon at work and they informed me that the clinic was cancelled, since I was the ONLY one who signed up?!?!?!?! WTF? I just don't get that. Wednesday I had to get a ride home from my dad, cause we are having car problems (that is a whole nother story). Then G's aunt came to spend the evening with us. She wanted to carve pumpkins with E. Not sure it turned out the way she'd hoped... E seemed more interested in the ball she was playing with and the neighbor guy hauling leaves in his trailer on the back of his 4-wheeler. Thursday night was actually a night of nothing big. We watched Sur.vivor (kind of a gross episode) and Gr.ey's Ana.to.my and then I went to bed. Friday at 5, we had a picutre ordering appointment for E's pics she had done last month. After that we had to go to his aunts house for dinner. It was a nice dinner with yummy food. You can't beat that!

So that sums up our busy week in a nutshell. I am SO HAPPY it is Saturday and I get to stay home and do nothing what so ever. Well, I guess laundry, but that is no big deal.

Tomorrow we are on the go again for my grandma's birthday party at her nursing home. All the great-grandkids are going to dress up in their Halloween costumes, so that should be fun.

I have lots more to blog about... but am going to leave you now with some pics... and will be back later (hopefully today, if time allows).

This was a rainy day before G left for work. E insisted we go out and wave goodbye in the driveway (that is not our camper in the background, that is my neighbors yard).
This is E attemping to spoon out the pumpking guts with G's aunt.

and here she is putting the finishing touches on her pumpking...
I haven't mentioned it in a while... but I do have a password protected blog... if you want the address and password, leave me a comment at the end of this post, along with your email address... please don't be offended if I don't allow you in... I am very selective... blog friends welcome though!

tootaloo for now...

entry to e

You are now 17 months old! You have grown so much in the last 3 weeks, I just can't believe it. You say so many words now... everyday you surprise me with a new one. You must have a vocabulary near 50 words... although you have yet to say a 2 word sentence. But I keep trying! Words you know: baby, mae mae (what you call all cats), elmo, button (belly, computer keyboard and the one on clothes), ball, eye, ear, mouth, nose, toe, mamma, dadda, papa, Hunter, Kt, mote (remote), buhbye, moo, meow, pup pup, more, up, down, jump, uh oh, no, book, juice, pop, numa numa (which means time to eat), nana (bananas)... plus many more. You will also repeat any word I ask you if you can say.

One of your favorite things to do is run laps from the living room down the hallway and back. If mom or dad get in on the action with you, you think it is the funniest thing ever. You giggle the entire time. Sometimes you'll chase us to... around and around your highchair. You think this is a riot.

You LOVE to dance. We have a radio on top of the fridge and when you see it you say "dan, dan". We turn it on and have our own little dance party. I think this is the funniest thing you do.

You are such a good sleeper. You go to bed by 7 every night and usually wake up between 6:30 and 7:30. We haven't mastered the nap changes yet... I don't think you can decide if you still need 2 a day or not. We've tried to just take one mid-day nap... but there are days you are ready to lay down by 9:30 a.m. I'm just as confused as you are on how we should handle naps... but we're working it out together.



You love our cats... you have been pretty rough on them the last few months... but you are slowly learning to be gentle. Some of your favorite things are: elmo, your baby dolls, eating, dancing, being tickled, tickling us, the Bac.kya.rdig.ans, the movie Ope.n Seas.on, being outside, playing with H, your shoes, reading books, mac-n-cheese, green beans, bananas, playing with your princess ball and calling every kid, even if they are 5, "baby". One of these days I'm expecting some smart ass little kid is gonna give it to you and tell you that he most certainly is not a baby!

We are starting a new daycare in 2 weeks. I'm hoping we get there and you are so enamoured with all the toys and kids that you don't even think twice about me leaving. I have a friend who's 2 girls go there and she has nothing bad to say about the place. She says they have a great preschool program. Her 4 year old can write everyone's name in the family and that her youngest who isn't even 2 yet, can count to 10! I'm excited about that and hope you flourish in a more structured daycare setting. I know you are a smart little girl and will do well.

You are, in grandpa's words, "the coolest little girl". I look forward to waking up every day to see you and hear what you have to say. You are so active now that I know each day is going to bring a new adventure! I love you girl.

another cheesy "get to know me" entry...

1. What is your occupation? child support case worker

2. What color are your socks right now? i'm barefoot

3. What are you listening to right now? two and a half men on tv

4. What was the last thing that you ate? peanut butter toast

5. Can you drive a stick shift? no

6. If you were a crayon, what color would you be? hot pink

7. Who was the last person you spoke to on the phone? my sister

8. How old are you today? 29

9. Favorite drink? iced vanilla latte, appletini

10. What is your favorite sport to watch? tennis

11. Have you ever dyed your hair? yes

12. Pets? 3 cats, max, mae and callie

13. Favorite food? mom's potato carrot bake and chicken kiev

14. Last movie you watched? open season (e's favorite)

15. Favorite Day of the year? christmas eve & day (i guess that's 2 days)

16. What do you do to vent anger? cry

17. What was your favorite toy as a child? my little pony

18. What is your favorite, fall or spring? both, hate winter

19. Hugs or kisses? both

20. Cherry or Blueberry? blueberries

21. Living arrangements? a 1 1/2 story 3 bedroom home, 3 cats, g, e and me!

22. When was the last time you cried? last night when i read ~blonde ambitions~ october 16th entry about taking her girls to their first day of daycare

23. What is on the floor of your closet? clothes, shoes purses, my wedding box

24. Favorite smell? fresh baked cookies, e after a bath

25. What inspires you? family, friends, the nuts i work around each day

26. What are you afraid of? losing the people i love

27. Plain, cheese or spicy hamburgers? plain cheeseburgers

28. Favorite car? jeep commander

29. Favorite cat breed? my mixed mutts

30. Number of keys on your key ring? 3 keys - car, work and my parents house

31. How many years at your current job? almost 1

32. Favorite day of the week? friday

33. How many states have you lived in? 1

34. How many countries have you been to? 1, good ole usa

35. What was your favorite country? hmmmmm... i guess there is only one answer

"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who matter don't mind and those who mind don't matter." - Dr. Suess

weepy...

I am not pregnant and aunt flo is not on her way anytime soon. Yet I am so weepy today. I just don't know why. Maybe it is the weather. It was rainy and cold today. We were stuck in the house all day long with a sick E. She has a bit of a cough... runny nose. Tried to lay her down for a nap twice today. She slept for about a half hour each time... but woke herself up with her phlemy cough. I love her to death but it gets so exhausting when all she wants to do is whine and wants momma. She wants me to pick her up but then wants to get down. She wants to get on my lap, then wants to get down. She wants to sit on the couch by us, but then she wants to get down. Over and over and over again. While whining. With a runny nose. She was in bed tonight before 7. That explains our day right there. I should have been in bed by 7 to. But this foolish good tv on Sunday nights keeps me up!

I started a post today at 7:16 a.m. It is now 9:11 p.m. My first post didn't save for some reason.

Now it is after 9 and this is the first chance I've had to sit down and really have some time to myself to post. What a day.

I feel again, like this weekend has flown by. Saturday E and I went to a Par.tyLit.e candle party with T, her daughter and her sister. I of course wasn't going to buy anything. I bought 2 things. Nothing spendy (as I'm sure you all know how much that candle crap can cost at these parties) though. I bought a set of 6 square votives in a cherry scent and a set of 4 apple scented aroma melts for this cute P. Lite melter I got from my mom last year...
My friend M who had the party had this cute leaf candle holder sitting on her table and I kept looking through the catalog trying to find it... turns out it was from her wedding and she had a few extras left. So she gave me one! Here it is... isn't it pretty!

Mmmmmm, just sitting here I can smell the cranberry orange candle burning inside! Yummy!

Well I think it is time for bed. I am beat. Here are a few weekend pics for fun...
Jumping on daddy... High 5'ing daddy...
Lately she has been wanting "baby" to sit with her during dinner...
E's cute new shoes... I just love them! She wants them on all the time... even over her footed pj's...
Oh, look at those tired eyes... she looks so sweet and innocent here... don't let her fool you...! :)

boo, boo

We went for a walk before dinner tonight. E was walking behind me and in front of G... I turned around just in time to see her stumble and take a face plant into the gravel-black top road. Her hands didn't come up to block the fall what so ever. I almost cried myself when she came up screaming. I was expecting a bloody nose, a bloody lip or a chipped tooth. There was no blood there, only a little on her forhead... she took the entire fall smack dab in the middle of her forhead. My poor baby. This is the result...

Not to bad... we'll see what it looks like tomorrow!

Yah for Columbus Day! Had the day off from work today :) and I have a meeting out of the office on Thursday! So only a 3 day week for me this week! YIPPEEEEE! Plus half of our floor is out for a conference this week... which means WAY less work for me all week long! I wish every week could be this way! Life would be good. No worries though, we have 6 paid holidays in the next 2 months! I'm lovin these paid days off, I'm not used to it! Never had it at my last job... retail, so we were closed 3 days in an entire year, x-mas, thanksgiving and easter. I have worked every x-mas eve for the past million years... NO MORE! YAH for me!

Tootaloo...

october... or july?

The weather here is insane! It was 85 degrees and beautiful today! It was so hot!! It is October 6th, what is up with that? Global warming? Crazy is what I think. I had already packed away all E's sandals, shorts and tanks... we had to pull them back out today.

We (E and I, G was sleeping after working a night shift) decided to pack up and head to town today. E had a cranky morning and wouldn't lay down for me at all. So by 10:30 I decided it was time to pack up and get going. We met my parents and sister at our favorite coffee shop for a sandwich. They never disappoint me! It was yummy. Then we played tourist downtown for a couple hours... walking from store to store to see all the fun fall decorations. I wish I was filthy rich! Finally we headed out of town to stop by an apple orchard. I LOVE this orchard. They have the yummiest sparkling apple cider, apple pie, apple crisp, basically anything apple! I bought 2 bags of apples, one bag for my friend T who has been watching E quite a bit this last month and a half and one for us. I also bought a 4-pack of their bottled sparkling apple cider. So good! I would give up my coffees and mellow yellow to drink one of these every single day!
We also got a free pumpkin, which was pretty cool.

We were on our way home by 3:30. E fell asleep just about the time we were getting home. G was up so he took her upstairs and she slept and slept and slept. Finally at 7 I thought I better get her up for some dinner. She was out cold when I went to get her up! She ate dinner in kind of a drowsy state and is already back in bed at 8:24! So, after a rough morning this evening has been a breeze!

I know I still haven't posted any picks of E's haircut. I will do it soon I promise! It has turned my baby into a little girl. She looks so old now!

Hey mom and dad! After reading this entry... look at my list of blogs I dig and click on Sugar and Ice. Check out the October 4th entry. I want you to look at the swing set Chas got for her little girl! Wouldn't E look great playing on one of those!!!! Hint, hint! Christmas is just around the corner... :)

more me info

I received this through email... thought it would be fun to bring over...

1. WERE YOU NAMED AFTER ANYONE?
not that I know of...

2. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
this morning in the shower. i sobbed. one of my cats peed on the bed in the guest room. g was so mad, swearing and banging stuff around. i thought i was going to have to find them a new home.

3. DO YOU LIKE YOUR HANDWRITING?
yes

4. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE LUNCH MEAT?
hard salami

5. DO YOU HAVE KIDS?
you all know e!

6. IF YOU WERE ANOTHER PERSON WOULD YOU BE FRIENDS WITH YOU?
yeah, i think i would be.

7. DO YOU USE SARCASM ALOT?
yeah, especially at work... and with my hubby.

8. DO YOU STILL HAVE YOUR TONSILS
yes

9. WOULD YOU BUNGEE JUMP?
no way

10. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CEREAL?
frosted flakes

11. DO YOU UNTIE YOUR SHOES WHEN YOU TAKE THEM OFF?
not usually... but i rarely wear shoes that tie... i'm a flip flop girl all the way

12. DO YOU THINK YOU ARE STRONG?
physically no, emotionally yes (although i am very sensitive), mentally yes

13. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
malt ice cream from schwans

14. WHAT IS THE FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT PEOPLE?
their attitude

15. WHAT IS YOUR LEAST FAVORITE THING ABOUT YOURSELF?
that i'm almost 30 and still have some acne

16. WHO DO YOU MISS THE MOST?
my old grandma

17. WHAT COLOR PANTS AND SHOES ARE YOU WEARING?
no shoes and dark magenta cotton capris

18. WHAT IS THE LAST THING YOU ATE?
a bite of e's gerber cereal bars, i just took a bite of a warm from the oven blueberry muffin... num num

19. WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO RIGHT NOW?
channel 4 news... we are going to be getting a real severe rain/lightening storm

20. IF YOU WHERE A CRAYON, WHAT COLOR WOULD YOU BE?
pink

21. FAVORITE SMELLS?
e after a bath, these blueberry muffins are pretty good to...

22. WHO WAS THE LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?
my dad

23. FAVORITE SPORT TO WATCH?
tennis

24. HAIR COLOR?
brown

25. EYE COLOR?
blue

26. DO YOU WEAR CONTACTS?
i've tried twice, just can't do it, so no, just glasses

27. FAVORITE FOODS?
bruchetta, strawberries, tomatoes, milk, dominos cheese pizza, 6 inch white veggie sub, shrimp...

28. SCARY MOVIES OR HAPPY ENDINGS?
happy endings

29. LAST MOVIE YOU WATCHED?
disturbia

30. WHAT COLOR SHIRT ARE YOU WEARING?
a black tank, yes it was 83 degrees here in mn today on october 4th... go figure

31. SUMMER OR WINTER?
summer

32. HUGS OR KISSES?
both

33. FAVORITE DESSERT?
key lime pie

34. WHAT BOOK ARE YOU READING NOW?
the tenth circle, jodi picoult

35. WHAT IS ON YOUR MOUSE PAD?
don't have one, i have a laptop

36. WHAT DID YOU WATCH ON T.V. LAST NIGHT?
i didn't, i was at a wonderful jewelry party at my mom's

37. FAVORITE SOUND?
peace and quiet, my beautiful girl looking at me and saying "momma"

38. ROLLING STONES OR BEATLES?
beatles... love them

39. DO YOU HAVE A SPECIAL TALENT?
i'm good at buying purses

40. WHERE WERE YOU BORN?
in a small town in mn

41. WHAT TIME IS IT NOW?
10:34

love you girl

This sums up the joy that has been brought to my life since 5/13/2006.

ha ha so funny

This joke was told at our employee picnic last week. Cracked me up.

A farmer had 3 daughters, triplets. They had just had their 18th birthday and were going on their first date. The farmer prepared his shot gun and met each boy at the door.

The first boy came to the door, the farmer answered. The boy said, "my name is Joe, I'm here to pick up Flo, we're going to a show, is she ready to go?" The farmer said, "have a good time."

The second boy came to the door, the farmer answered. The boy said, "my name is Eddy, I'm here to pick up Betty, is she ready?" The farmer said, "have a good time."

The third boy came to the door, the farmer answered. The boy said, "my name is Chuck..." and the farmer shot him.


Ha, ha. Sounds funnier when it is said out loud... rather than reading it!

emotional freak

OMG. I am so freaking emotional... flo must be on her way. My dad is coming out tomorrow to watch E at our house for the day. G will get home from work around 6:15 a.m. and then sleep during the day while my dad is here. He will be up around noon to run an errand and then get back home so my dad can take off. The whole problem I'm having with this is that I get off work at 4:30 and have a jewelry party tomorrow night at my mom's house at 6. We live 20 miles from work/my parents house/a gas station/Target I could go on and on... so this means I won't see E all day tomorrow. Because I won't be running home "quick" between work and the party. She will be asleep by the time I get home. Why does this make me so sad? I just started crying when I was on the phone with my dad!?!?!?! Hormonal freak? Working mommy guilt? I feel like it is wrong to say, "oh, it'd be so much easier to not have her at the party, I'd enjoy myself more." I feel guilty saying that! Like why shouldn't I want to spend every moment with her? She is my perfect, beautiful little Ebelly who just wants her momma. Do you all think I'm crazy yet? I just have this hyper sensitive emotional thing going on... I want to make sure she doesn't think... "where is mommy, why isn't she here for me?" Oh my god, the lump in my throat is HUGE! I just need to learn that it is ok to be a little bit selfish with my time. This weekend I got to go upstairs and read, alone, in my bed for 2 hours, while G and E played downstairs. I even felt guilt doing that. Now G does not make me feel bad at all... he wished I'd do things for myself more often... so there isn't a problem there. It completely stems from me... where it comes from... I don't know.

Butt Out!

Today is a wonderful day for Minnesota. As of today our entire state has become smoke free. No smoking at bars, restaurants or within 25 feet of a buildings entrance. You don't know how excited this makes me. I can now take E to the bowling alley on Monday evenings without her lungs being filled with that disgusting stink. We went out to dinner tonight to a bar/restaurant and it was wonderful! I didn't come home reeking like stale smoke. I do wonder how the bars will survive. But a human being surviving is much more important than a bar surviving. I dearly thank our politicians. Yes, yes, for all of you who know me well... I did just thank a republican. I am feeling ok and no I haven't been drinking. This is the first and (most likely) last time I will ever do that... so mark it in the books.
Nighty night to a healthier MN.