FINALLY...after seeing our new little peanut & its healthy pounding heartbeat, I can confirm that Baby #2 will be joining the family around September 20, 2012.
We couldn't be more thrilled with our expanding waistline family!!
More to come...
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
What's YOUR Love Story?!
Today I am showing my hubby some love & linking up with Becky for....
First I would like confess my undying and passionate love for Becky...or whatever her real name may be. She has quickly become one of my blogger/twitter besties due to her humor, kindness, and the fact that she has smokin hot bod! I mean no wonder her hubs is always taking pictures of her ass instead of her adorable girl Elliana! All humor aside, she truly inspires me to be a better mother, wife, and cook. She does it all and I admire her! I am so excited to link up with her today in honor of Valentines Day next Tuesday. So here goes my love story....
1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
Are you ready for this?? Nearly a decade. We started dating the summer before our senior year in high school..so it will be 10 years this coming June. I can't believe how young we were when I look back at a few old pictures..
2. How did you meet?
We have known each other ever since grade school. Our houses are literally 8 minutes away from each other..don't worry - I had it timed perfectly to be able to make it home at curfew. We were always friends and even swam together on the same swim team. Our best friends dated one another all throughout high school but we never had any romantic connection..only a quick make out session our freshman year oops. However, we started to hang out more towards the end of our junior year..and then he had the nerve to start hanging out with some skank freshman. I finally realized that I cared about him more than a friend..and of course he was always madly in love with me..so the rest is history. A match made in the jealous throes of high school.
3. How long have you been married?
We tied the knot on May 22, 2010..and it was one hell of a party.
So head on over to From Mrs. to Mama, LINK UP...and share your love story!
1. How long have you and your significant other been together?
Are you ready for this?? Nearly a decade. We started dating the summer before our senior year in high school..so it will be 10 years this coming June. I can't believe how young we were when I look back at a few old pictures..
We have known each other ever since grade school. Our houses are literally 8 minutes away from each other..don't worry - I had it timed perfectly to be able to make it home at curfew. We were always friends and even swam together on the same swim team. Our best friends dated one another all throughout high school but we never had any romantic connection..only a quick make out session our freshman year oops. However, we started to hang out more towards the end of our junior year..and then he had the nerve to start hanging out with some skank freshman. I finally realized that I cared about him more than a friend..and of course he was always madly in love with me..so the rest is history. A match made in the jealous throes of high school.
3. How long have you been married?
We tied the knot on May 22, 2010..and it was one hell of a party.
4. Where did you get married? Big or small wedding?
We got married back in our hometown of Lebanon, PA. The ceremony was at my parents church and the reception was held at the Lebanon Country Club. This was also the same reception site as my parents, how special! Around 200 people attended and it was one of the best days of our lives. To be surrounded by all our family and friends while we pledged our love for one another..the fun, laugher, and dancing..can we get married again? Actually scratch that, I don't think my Dads checkbook could handle that.
5. Do you have any nicknames that you call one another?
Nothing special besides the typical hunny, lovebug, asshole & sweetheart. He does occasionally call me "Quinny" which has been around since I was a little girl.
6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.
The love he has for Saige & myself, his hard-working ethic, and his BIG heart for his family & friends.
7. Tell us how he proposed.
If you read my "Story About Us"..you would see that we had a unconventional way of getting married. We decided that it was the right thing to do at the time..and we had been dating for 8 years..so why the hell not?! I picked out hinted at the ring I wanted, he bought it on the spot, and popped the question right in the car. Not exactly a romantic proposal but we clearly like to shake things up a bit!
8. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day.
Travel more of the world..go on a Mediterranean or Alaskan cruise. We have done a lot of traveling with our families but not many vacations with just the two of us. We took a babymoon to San Diego & Laguna Beach before Saige was born and had a fantastic time. Of course it would have been better had I been able to booze my face off. Keepin it classy as always.
9. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.
10. Show us a picture what love means to you.
Seeing my husband hold our baby girl for the first time. I never knew my heart could feel so full & lucky.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Doing all that I can
As a school counselor, my duties can fall under one large category; to look out for and protect the welfare of my students..whether this be emotional, mental, or physical. I also have one significant role as well..I am a "mandated reporter". I am required to report whenever physical & sexual abuse is suspected, or when there is evidence of neglect, knowledge of an incident, or any risk of suspected harm.
This is a very tough part of my job. To hear young innocent children talk about what is happening to them outside school. Whether they are denied food, clean clothes, and the means to bathe..or being beaten on a weekly basis. Or perhaps they are on medication and their guardian hasn't refilled the script for weeks. All of these issues cause problems at school. The child may have behavior problems at school, they may be aggressive with others, or they may be made fun by others due to their body odor. They may have to take care of themselves in the morning which is why they are consistently late or absent from school. Kids just can't be kids anymore, especially the children whose families are struggling financially and mentally. They are put in charge of younger siblings when their parent works the night shift. No one is there to check their homework at night. Some families even lock the refrigerator when they are gone. And the kids are left to fend for themselves. It is an awful pattern. Babies having babies..and then the grandparents, aunts, and uncles have to step in and take guardianship.
However, when any parent or guardian abuses their child, I am required to report the incident. Many of you may be wondering why i've been having such a tough time at work. I can't go into many specifics, but its due to the fact that I am doing everything I can to protect these kids...and other faculty members are not backing me up. Clearly they can't be bothered with these serious issues. Apparently we should send kids back home to their abuser even when they confided in me that they are afraid to go home. Can you imagine..finally getting up the guts to tell a teacher what is going on at home...then being sent back to that same home the very night? No? Because I can't. And it is something I would never do. It is our moral obligation to have the child's best interest at heart..even if it may be an inconvenience to stay at school later than normal. I took the proper precautions and followed the correct protocol..and then was shot down and "dismissed".
So things have become very hostile and uncomfortable around these parts. I haven't backed down as I know I did the right thing...and others didn't. So therefore I have reached out for help from my union as situations like this cannot happen again. So please keep me in your thoughts and prayers as I see this situation through. I apologize for being so vague and appreciate all your concerns and comments.
Wednesday, February 1, 2012
Like Mother - Not Like Daughter/A Lost Hobby
Pre-baby: My head buried in a book.
Post-baby: Barely getting through a page on my kindle before passing out at night.
I have been and still am an avid reader. Even at a young age I would sit and read books to my dolls. I had entire books memorized from cover to cover. My bookcases at home are jam-packed with books and i've sold hundreds on Amazon..well until they banned me from selling. But that's a bullshit story for another time. Heading to the beach for vacation meant a time to breeze through 8+ good summer reads. I used to constantly swap books with my hometown bff and always had a pile of books on my nightstand.
And then I became a mom...
I soon exchanged my "chick lit" for sleep training manuals and books with titles such as "Sleep, Eat, Poop". When I would have a few minutes to pick up a book I found it more important to lay my head down on the kitchen floor pillow and take a nap. Instead of relaxing on the beach with a book in my hand I now found myself digging sand out of Saige's mouth and running back and forth between the house and the beach.
I miss my long-lost hobby. I truly need to get back to it...as it is one of my passions. I have always identified myself as a reader. Luckily my Amazon wish list is jam-packed with some upcoming books from my favorite authors:
I also hope and pray that Saige will enjoy reading as much as her mother. She currently has the attention span of a gnat when it comes to books. I think she enjoys pulling all the books off the shelves more than she does the actual book. We are more into the "Touch and Feel" books right now but I hope as she grows that she will learn to enjoy the words & the illustrations. But for now? She is more into iPhones, blocks, and trying to eat the cat food.
Now i'm off to finally start "The Hunger Games"....or go to bed.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
25 All-Time Favorite Mommy Confessions
The great irony of motherhood is that despite never actually being alone (hello, can I please freaking pee in peace?!), you can find yourself feeling more isolated and lonely than ever before. Whenever I'm feeling like I'm the only mother who's ever silently sung "shut the hell up" in my head or let my child throw herself on the floor for the 5th time, I check my email to find a message from my cousin with a link to the 25 all-time favorite mommy confessions, and I instantly feel better. It's reassuring to know there are other mommies just like me who are frustrated and insecure...and human.
So without further ado...
1. I'm wearing maternity jeans but I haven't been pregnant in six years.
2. I hate reading bedtime stories. I only do it because I know I have to. Sometimes, I just let them fall asleep watching TV.
3. I kiss my young teenager goodbye in the morning as she leaves for school, rising above the hormone-fueled snarling and histrionics. Then I close the front door and flip her off, with both hands.
4. I forget to brush my 1- and 2-year-olds' teeth. I am not sure why it’s so hard for me to remember, but it’s a good thing that these teeth will fall out.
5. Hidden in the pantry in a box labeled “flour” is top of the line chocolate and a few joints. I rarely resort to it, but it’s a comfort knowing it’s there.
6. I miss the career I gave up more than I miss my son when I go to the grocery store. But I always get to go back to him.
AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
7. Once a woman asked me if I breastfed my baby, so I asked her if she shaved her vagina. Sorry, you don't like personal questions? Me neither.
8. I confiscated my teenager's stash of pot, gave her a lecture, and have been smoking it ever since myself.
9. I joined a gym just for the free daycare. I drop the kids off and read magazines and blogs in the locker room.
10. At the end if the day, my needs are really simple: To be able to shit in peace.
11. I throw candy wrappers behind the couch and then blame the kids when my husband finds them.
12. My kids hardly bathe in the summer. The pool totally counts.
13. I knew my daughter had lice and I sent her to school anyway because I didn't want to cancel my hair appointment.
14. I buy store-made muffins and pass them off as my own for bake sales.
15. Everyone thinks I'm such a great mom for teaching my daughter how to read already. It wasn't me. It was the Leapfrog pen. I had no idea she could read.
16. I have a favorite child and I am hardest on him because I feel so guilty about it.
17. I clock out of motherhood at 8 p.m. I'm so done that I walk out even if they aren't all tucked in bed and go hide in the basement with my laptop and a beer.
18. Mother dropping her kid for a sleepover at my house: “No food dye, no dairy, just soy milk, only organic food, and we don’t eat ANY fast food.” I let them eat all the junk they wanted. They seemed fine.
19. When my daughter asked me what comes after a trillion, I told her "a gazillion." Um, we are homeschoolers. Not supposed to just make shit up.
20. Three kids and my husband has never changed a poopy diaper. He says he hates the smell -- like I like it?! I'm going to shove the next one in his pillow.
21. I often see kids and say, "My baby is WAAAY cuter." Not every baby is cute.
22. I've been socking away $5s and $10s for years and finally have two thousand dollars. No idea what I'll do with it, but having my own money again is empowering.
23. Questions of the day: 1) How did the pepperoni get stuck to the ceiling? 2) Why didn't gravity kick in & make it fall? 3) How did I not notice this? 4) When did we have pizza last?
24. I put my kids to bed in their clothes so I don't need to get them dressed the next day.
25. I confess that most days, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Everyone thinks I have it all together -- good wife, good mom, successful career -- but I really don't. I'm ready to stop pretending to be perfect now.
I think some of us can relate toall a few of these.
So without further ado...
1. I'm wearing maternity jeans but I haven't been pregnant in six years.
2. I hate reading bedtime stories. I only do it because I know I have to. Sometimes, I just let them fall asleep watching TV.
3. I kiss my young teenager goodbye in the morning as she leaves for school, rising above the hormone-fueled snarling and histrionics. Then I close the front door and flip her off, with both hands.
4. I forget to brush my 1- and 2-year-olds' teeth. I am not sure why it’s so hard for me to remember, but it’s a good thing that these teeth will fall out.
5. Hidden in the pantry in a box labeled “flour” is top of the line chocolate and a few joints. I rarely resort to it, but it’s a comfort knowing it’s there.
6. I miss the career I gave up more than I miss my son when I go to the grocery store. But I always get to go back to him.
AND MY PERSONAL FAVORITE:
7. Once a woman asked me if I breastfed my baby, so I asked her if she shaved her vagina. Sorry, you don't like personal questions? Me neither.
8. I confiscated my teenager's stash of pot, gave her a lecture, and have been smoking it ever since myself.
9. I joined a gym just for the free daycare. I drop the kids off and read magazines and blogs in the locker room.
10. At the end if the day, my needs are really simple: To be able to shit in peace.
11. I throw candy wrappers behind the couch and then blame the kids when my husband finds them.
12. My kids hardly bathe in the summer. The pool totally counts.
13. I knew my daughter had lice and I sent her to school anyway because I didn't want to cancel my hair appointment.
14. I buy store-made muffins and pass them off as my own for bake sales.
15. Everyone thinks I'm such a great mom for teaching my daughter how to read already. It wasn't me. It was the Leapfrog pen. I had no idea she could read.
16. I have a favorite child and I am hardest on him because I feel so guilty about it.
17. I clock out of motherhood at 8 p.m. I'm so done that I walk out even if they aren't all tucked in bed and go hide in the basement with my laptop and a beer.
18. Mother dropping her kid for a sleepover at my house: “No food dye, no dairy, just soy milk, only organic food, and we don’t eat ANY fast food.” I let them eat all the junk they wanted. They seemed fine.
19. When my daughter asked me what comes after a trillion, I told her "a gazillion." Um, we are homeschoolers. Not supposed to just make shit up.
20. Three kids and my husband has never changed a poopy diaper. He says he hates the smell -- like I like it?! I'm going to shove the next one in his pillow.
21. I often see kids and say, "My baby is WAAAY cuter." Not every baby is cute.
22. I've been socking away $5s and $10s for years and finally have two thousand dollars. No idea what I'll do with it, but having my own money again is empowering.
23. Questions of the day: 1) How did the pepperoni get stuck to the ceiling? 2) Why didn't gravity kick in & make it fall? 3) How did I not notice this? 4) When did we have pizza last?
24. I put my kids to bed in their clothes so I don't need to get them dressed the next day.
25. I confess that most days, I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing. Everyone thinks I have it all together -- good wife, good mom, successful career -- but I really don't. I'm ready to stop pretending to be perfect now.
I think some of us can relate to
So, what's YOUR mommy confession?
Monday, January 30, 2012
Monday Musings
....Changing/dressing my toddler now resembles something you would see on Animal Planet, like alligator wrestling. It is a fight. EVERY.SINGLE.TIME. You would think I was seriously hurting her judging by the shrieks and screams. I don't get it. How can I make it more pleasant? My usual tricks don't work anymore. The only thing I've found useful is putting a youtube video on my iPhone while she holds it..but even that trick doesn't keep her still long. She is soon going to stick one of her flailing feet in a stinky diaper. And that will not be pleasant.
.....Speaking of above-mentioned toddler, her fingernails and toenails will soon resemble talons if she doesn't let me clip them. Basically, I have an active toddler who doesn't like sitting still for anything. I'm sure many of you can relate. Ugh.
.....I just signed up for an 8 week photography course that includes a field trip (even adults love field trips). I have had my Canon Rebel since the Fall and still only use the automatic setting. I am so looking forward to becoming more acquainted with the manual features and was thrilled to see this class offered through Main Line School Night. It starts on March 6 and is every Thursday for 2 hours.
.....Our wedding count for this year is already at 7, and it's only the end of January. We will be flying to Georgia on February 24 to take part in the nuptials of Amy & Tyson. My bridesmaid dress was just delivered on Friday and it is a gorgeous Jim Hjelm floor-length gown. It is going to such a classy affair and i'm honored to stand beside her on her special day.
.....Thanks for all the support for "Fuck It Friday". It has been a rough work week..very emotionally draining. Luckily I had the weekend to mentally recover and will hopefully have a more pleasant week.
.....Why am I just discovering Shellac manicures? Coming from me who picks off their nail polish in a few short hours...it is amazing. My nails looked great for almost 2 weeks. Now if I could just find a way to work it into our new monthly budget? Hmm.
Happy Monday ya'll.
.....Speaking of above-mentioned toddler, her fingernails and toenails will soon resemble talons if she doesn't let me clip them. Basically, I have an active toddler who doesn't like sitting still for anything. I'm sure many of you can relate. Ugh.
.....I just signed up for an 8 week photography course that includes a field trip (even adults love field trips). I have had my Canon Rebel since the Fall and still only use the automatic setting. I am so looking forward to becoming more acquainted with the manual features and was thrilled to see this class offered through Main Line School Night. It starts on March 6 and is every Thursday for 2 hours.
.....Our wedding count for this year is already at 7, and it's only the end of January. We will be flying to Georgia on February 24 to take part in the nuptials of Amy & Tyson. My bridesmaid dress was just delivered on Friday and it is a gorgeous Jim Hjelm floor-length gown. It is going to such a classy affair and i'm honored to stand beside her on her special day.
.....Thanks for all the support for "Fuck It Friday". It has been a rough work week..very emotionally draining. Luckily I had the weekend to mentally recover and will hopefully have a more pleasant week.
.....Why am I just discovering Shellac manicures? Coming from me who picks off their nail polish in a few short hours...it is amazing. My nails looked great for almost 2 weeks. Now if I could just find a way to work it into our new monthly budget? Hmm.
Happy Monday ya'll.
Friday, January 27, 2012
F It Friday
Welcome to the first and only "Fuck It Friday"
I can't even describe the week that I have had without using the F word a gazillion times. So to sum it up...
Have a great fucking weekend
xoxo
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