It's official! We own a home. Our first one. It's huge and we have nothing to put in it but it's beautiful and it's ours. Woot! Woot!

things i say all the time/too much

What the what?!-I love Tina Fey and you should watch 30 Rock and try and tell me it's not hillarious.

Freak, freakin' and are you freaking kidding me?!-It really is the perfect almost bad word. I would never dream of saying the real thing though so I don't know why it seems ok.

Dangit-Jack knows this one already. Bad sign.

Bananas- as in, "crazy bananas." BTW I was saying this way before the alien Rachel Zoe was on her lame Bravo show.

Blabbity bla-just like the Seinfeld "yada yada yada" episode. It covers the crap you don't want to explain.

I'm just saying-Michael thinks it's so funny how this is my way of making a point valid.

No- for obvious reasons. Any parent who says they won't tell their child "no" is crazy or not of this world.

Douchey von douchenstein or any word with the "y von stein." Example: lamey von lamenstein

Good night!- I love how after a really hard workout I say, "good night," into the microphone all winded and go from being a 25 year old step aerobics instructor to a 60 year old shuffle board enthusiast from Florida. Lame.

So cute- I say it all the time about babies but I really mean it.

Cutie pants- this one too. It's an honest compliment.

Punkin- I almost don't call him Jack anymore and in turn he calls me Punkin' instead of Mommy. :)

Pretty girl- Let's face it, Violet is kind of a hard name to associate with a baby face.

I'm hungry- Every time I leave the house I get hungry. Every time I come home I get hungry and every time I have a single moment to breathe I am hungry. Ugh.

I'm losin' it!- this sentence comes around 12-1:00 am after the colicky episodes.

Sorry- I over apologize and it annoys people. Then I just want to apologize for apologizing. I think I learned this from the nicest girl in the world, Olga.

Thank you- if I don't say thank you to Jack he will say thank you for me and then tell me I'm welcome.

You're welcome- same explanation as above. Such a well mannered two year old.

All pao- just like this list is all done.

double trouble

Today was our double trouble doctors appointment. Meaning both babes recieved shots. Jack only had one but poor Pretty Girl, she got FIVE! I hate when they stack up vaccines like that. I am thinking about asking them to stretch the vaccination schedule. Not because of the whole autsim thing but because I just hate watching my two month old get stuck with five needles right in a row. Yeesh. It was really cute however, when Jack was stroking the baby's head and saying, "Is otay pwetty gull," in an effort to console her. He has started calling her Pretty Girl and himself Punkin'. It's too cute. Anyway, here are a lot of photos. No real special event just one of my periodic camera clean ups. When I say alot of photos, I mean A LOT! I need to figure out how people group them together and stuff. Sorry.

conclusion: colic

I thought I would post an update on Violet and what has developed over the last few weeks. I have been reading "Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child" while rocking her every night. As she was squirming around and screaming on my shoulder the other day I read a section about colic. I came to a startling discovery, my baby has colic! Ha! This may sound weird but it was such a relief to finally realize that this was and is the problem. It's not necessarily the foods I eat or her medication not working (even though I am not sure she has acid reflux now I am soooooo not ready to take her off the Prevacid. Does that make me a bad mom?) it's just colic. Starting somewhere between 7 and 8 every night she starts to get overly fussy and gassy. She has a really hard time burping bubbles up and we even have to squeeze toots out of her by bringing her knees to her chest. These episodes last, on good nights, until 10 and bad nights all the way to 1:00 am. It's hit or miss and although I have ruled out the possibility of food allergies I do still believe she has food sensitivities. So to answer your question Melissa, yes, Violet hates peanut M&M's and that is why I was up last night until 1:00 am. Yeesh. However, I did have 3 (yep I said 3) slices of pizza on Monday afternoon and she was asleep by 11:00 pm with no unusual spitting up or anything. Yay! I am still too scared to try actual milk or soda or pineapple. I have been able to add flavorful and seasoned foods back in, thank goodness and I am chowing down on spinach salads and fruit all the time.

I know that some moms would have given up nursing by now and believe me I was thiiiiiis close but I am glad I stuck with it. Apparently colicky symptoms happen in breast fed babies and formula fed babies so switching wouldn't have made a difference. Even if this isn't true, I am going to believe it and stick with breast feeding because she is fat and cute and I love nursing her. It's just such a sweet bond for me. I am hoping that she continues to improve over the next few weeks. I guess the majority of babies start to outgrow colic between two to three months. I may end up being the minority and have a 6 month old colicky girl but by that time her serotonin levels should be high enough for her to be able to self sooth and cry herself to sleep. (Read the book if you want to know what I am really talking about.) I am just happy that most of the time I am patient enough with her episodes that I can still overwhelmingly love her while she is screaming in my ear for hours. Let's face it. Having kids is hard. Really freaking hard but when it comes right down to it, it's very worth it.

in awe

Ok this is a shameless shout out to my amazing friend Jessica. She photographed the wedding of an old high school friend and it was incredible! I have seriously skipped over to her blog like 20 times just to look at the photos again. You know how there are wedding photographers that are really good? Well, really good doesn't even begin to describe Jessica's ability! AH! I am freaking out! I think that part of her stellar ability comes from her understanding of the importance of a wedding. She is just such an honest and warm person and she really wants to make her clients happy. When I looked at these photos I felt like I was there. I guarantee you that when the bride thinks back and imagines her wedding she will see these photos like snapshots in her mind. They really do capture it perfectly. What do you think? (Now that I have basically worshiped her! :b )







I about died when I saw this. The brides dad filled a box with dozens of butterflies! Incredible!

the silent competition

Hello friends. I have to spit it out once again, I'm sorry. Basically this is a post about very superficial things. Ugh, I hate doing it but I have to. I just want to know, why do I silently compete with everyone for everything? I love my friends so much and I would never want to compete with them for anything for real. In fact, I am not that competitive. Not at bridal shower games, board game nights or even bouquet catching. I could really care less. That being said, there is a constant competition with every single one of my friends going on in my own head.

If a girl is skinnier than me and has just had a baby or she is better dressed than me or can sew better than me or has a cuter house or dresses her kids cuter or is more laid back or a better listener or is smarter or has a better blog (I am ashamed to admit this one but it's true. so lame.) whatever...... I am always comparing and competing! Why?! Freak why?! I hate it but I can't stop!

I am always so forgiving of other peoples flaws and faults, especially my friends but for some darn reason when they are better at something I get so jealous. Michael gets so annoyed because I am always saying things like, "I know she is a better cook than me but I am a better baker than her, right?" Or, "I know she dresses cuter than me but I am skinnier, right?" SERIOUSLY?! Why do I have to do this?

One last question. I know that I am alot more superficial than most girls but I am not the only one who does this, right? :)

smitten, obsessed and overjoyed

I am completely smitten by this little jelly bean right here. Thank heavens for modern medicine.


Enjoying a lazy Saturday afternoon with the bubble gun.


I think he is over joyed in this one.


Birthday brownies and ice cream. Since I couldn't partake I lived vicariously through them behind the lens.


Best friends.


Best friends even more.


Hittin' the crapper with an ice cream cone. Is there anything better?


A shiny new red bike or tricycle if we are getting technical. Either way can you tell how much he doesn't want to be bothered with a picture? Just let me ride dangit!


I am obsessed with the Geela wrap. Genius in its purest form. That's right, she is in there. It is not a gut.


The failed attempt at a photo with me and my babes.

real quick

I just wanted to say sorry to those of you who felt depressed after reading my last post. Michael told me last night that I was a real Negative Nancy and that I sounded like a big complainer. After re-reading it I realized he was pretty right. Sorry to be the party pooper of the blog world. Maybe tonight when I have real time I can post some super happy, cheesy stuff that lets everyone know I am ok and not a total bummer all the time. :) Stay tuned.

I just need to vent

I know that this may be a terribly boring post to many of you but it's high time I post one of those. I promise to get pictures and video of Jack's birthday up soon but for now I want to say some stuff.

I am really freaking tired. That said, I am also happy. Things are up and down lately. Violet was diagnosed with acid reflux and was put on Zantac last week. Since that did little to no good she started Prevacid today which is a little bit stronger. So fingers crossed that we will get some sleep and that our eardrums will get a break from the screaming. I also hope that she starts to feel less pain. Really, no 6 week old should feel pain, it's just cruel.

So now that that is off my chest let me tell you a little something else that is buggy. My diet. I can't eat anything! Let me rephrase that, I can only eat a few things. No dairy whatsoever, no soda whatsoever, no artificial sweetener, very few veggies, very few fruits, nothing sour, spicy or overly seasoned and no chocolate of course. Anything too fibrous and we have to squeeze toots out of the little gal for hours by squishing her knees to her chest. Sometimes they are real rippers that make us laugh but it's still annoying. I feel very limited and frustrated. Not just because I can't eat what I want but because I really really really need some fiber ya'll. If you know what I'm saying. If you don't know, don't worry. So these diet limitations coupled with my personal diet limitations for weight loss are really putting a damper on my meals. And if you know me, you know I really like to eat and am basically an emotional eater. This is like emotional eater rehab in it's most brutal form, cold turkey style. No exhaustion healed by Girhadelli brownies and no nervous breakdowns prevented by fast food. Bummer. Not even a strawberry smoothie splurge to cheer me up. The doctor said that if it doesn't get better in three to four days to call him and we'll discuss switching to formula. I really don't want to go that route for a few reasons but we can discuss that if it happens.

What else. I am finally going back to the gym full force this week. Violet is six weeks tomorrow and I am stoked. I am actually subbing a class this Thursday night at 5:30 if any of you Tucson gals want to come. It will be a blast. Honestly though, I am a little nervous. Teaching a full BodyStep class is a difficult task when you are in good shape. I just hope my 6 weeks post delivery body will afford me the energy to get through it. Cross your fingers that I actually get some sleep on Wednesday night so I even have a flying chance of success. Thanks.

Not much else is new. Well, actually there is the potential of alot being really new and exciting but I don't want to jinx it so I am staying quite.

I have been thinking alot lately about cleanliness. I am usually the kind of girl that frantically cleans before anyone comes over but I had an interesting experience a couple of weeks ago that has changed my mind. I went to a friends house for a little play date with Jack and her son. When we walked in her house felt instantly comfortable. It was clean but there were a few dishes in the sink and she was in her comfy pants. I felt soooo welcome. Isn't that weird? A few dishes in the sink and a pair of sweat pants put me more at ease than I could have imagined. I realized that by me trying to scrub and sweep up every dirty particle in my house before someone comes over I might be sending the wrong message. Who cares if there are toys strewn all over or if my kitchen table is covered in folded clothes waiting to be put away? I shouldn't stress over this crap because there is a chance that I might be doing the opposite of what I intend to do which is make people feel welcome. I have resigned to stay calm about the crap the next time someone comes over. It is a good resolution.

Also, I made another decision. No shopping until I can fit into my old clothes. I have only a handful of outfits to wear and it's annoying but I don't want to spend money on clothes that will be too big soon. So, if you see me a few days in a row wearing the same jeans, don't judge. I only have one pair that don't muffin top me and since I only have 8 pounds left to go I think I can hang on.

Ah. This post feels strangely good. I guess because it's all about me, well mostly, and it's also about nothing. Sometimes I just need to ramble and let it all come out.