Time

Where does the time go? I feel like the days just seem to fly by and I don't get anything accomplished. Yesterday I was so busy all day and I barely did anything. I am really working on Joseph taking naps in his crib now. It is difficult because I want to keep Samuel busy, so that usually requires us to get out of the house. Normally Joseph naps in his car seat while we are driving around or in his carrier. However, today I feel pretty successful. This morning Joseph took about a 25 minute nap in his crib. Then he napped in his carrier while we were at the park. Then this afternoon he slept for about 45 minutes in his crib. I didn't get anything accomplished while he was asleep. I am so worn out from dealing with both kids all morning long that when I had this very rare opportunity of alone time, I literally just sat and stared at the TV. I could not tell you what was on, just just completely zone out. I finally decided to get off of the couch for a little bit before Joseph woke up and I cleaned the windows which were full of Samuel's little syrup filled hand-prints.

Now Joseph is up and I decided I would do a little blogging before Samuel woke up and we all headed to the gym.

Here are some pictures from the weekend:

Oma bought Samuel a Toy Story sticker book. Samuel loved it so much he proceeded to put all the stickers on him. When I say all I mean he put on every single one from the book.


Oma and the boys:
Dave having some quality time with the boys this weekend:

Busy Weekend

We were hoping for a relaxing weekend, but it turned out to be jam packed.  On Saturday morning, we all got up and decided to go for a walk because it was absolutely gorgeous.  After our long walk, we decided to run some errands to get stuff to clean our house and do the little things our real estate agent asked us to do.  Then we headed to Whole Foods to get groceries and some lunch.  

Side note:  Samuel is starting to recognize and say many things and is making a few animal sounds all the time, like a pig and gorilla.  First we walked around the produce isles and he caught a glimpse of the cheese area and started saying "Cheese, Cheese".  We had to quickly get past that area because he was leaning out of the cart trying to grab at whatever cheese he could get his hands one.  Then we were heading to the cereal isle, they had a huge display of on sale cereals at the end and all of the sudden Samuel started making his gorilla noises.  I couldn't figure out why he was making the noises and I looked over and there was a huge display of Gorilla Munch.  It was hilarious.  So we grabbed him a box.  Why not?!

Okay, back to the day.  We were heading home to eat our lunch around 12:15 and we got a call from our real estate company and someone wanted to see our house at 2.  Dave and I totally freaked out.  It was almost time for Samuel's afternoon nap and we needed to do some serious cleaning of the house.  Luckily Jonathan and Laura were home and came over to get Samuel, so he could go to their house for a nap and to play around.  Dave and I clean the house as fast as we could and then ran out of the house. 

Oh by the way, here is our house listing.

So that was Saturday and we were looking forward to relaxing on Sunday.  Well, at 7:30 in the morning on Sunday we were up eating breakfast and Dave checked our listing online and noticed that they had posted that we were having an open house on Sunday.  We aren't supposed to have one until next Sunday, the 30th.  Dave called our real estate agent and she said that the tech people must have accidentally put in the info for this Sunday instead of the 30th.  

So, from 12-2, we hung out at our house hoping that no one would show up.  Our real estate agent came over around 12:30 to give us some packets of info on our house and she hung out a little bit just in case someone stopped by.  Luckily she was there because someone did come by.  We weren't going to let anyone in (because our house still was spotless), but these people were from out of town, so we let them look at the house.  

It was crazy.  At least a few people have seen the house, but oh my goodness.  It wasn't a relaxing weekend like we hoped.  Oh well.  

Thank goodness it is Monday!

I'm a slacker

I know I haven't been posting as often as I usually do, but I also haven't been doing anything around the house or at all really, except for reading.  I unfortunately decided I was going to break down and read Twilight (you the know book series by Stephanie Meyer).  That was a big mistake.  In one week I have read the first two books and I am restraining myself from starting the third one tonight.  The books are a perfect summer read or just a book to read when you think you have no time and then you realize you just spent your son's entire 3 hour nap reading these stupid books.  Since last Tuesday, I read two 500 plus page books.  They are good books.  I haven't read a book in a while that I couldn't put down.  So if you are interested, you should pick them up and read.  Twilight is the first book, then New Moon.  I will probably be starting Eclipse very soon. 

Not only have I not been posting, but I haven't been cleaning the house or cooking dinner.  It has been rough around here.  By the time Samuel wakes up from his nap and I am racking my brain for dinner ideas.  Monday night we had frozen pizza and salad, Tuesday night we had Subway subs and tonight I made turkey dogs, turkey chili, french fries and salad.  I am quite a chef lately.  Hopefully, I will snap back into reality soon and start functioning again.  

Dave and I had a date night this past Saturday.  We went to The Melting Pot for dinner.  We haven't been there in at least 6 or 7 years.  We really enjoyed the food.  Dinner took about 2 and a half hours and it was a nice break.  We ate so much.  I asked the waiter if he minded rolling us out to the car.  I was happy that I wore my stretchable jeans.  I usually have to unbutton my pants after that much food, but luckily I had a little room to spare.  Dave was surprised that I didn't unbutton my jeans at the restaurant.  

That is about all we have been up to.  

I am going to finish watching So You Think You Can Dance.  I LOVE LOVE LOVE this show.  

New Fridge

We got our new fridge yesterday. So far it is great. The ice machine is working and it is filling up. I love it. 

I went to a workout class last night.  It is called PUMP.  I used to take it when I was in law school and I loved the class.  It is 45 minutes of weight training.  I used really light weights because I didn't want to kill myself.  I was a little sore yesterday, but not too bad.  This morning when I woke up my body hurts a bit, but not too bad.  I feel really good though.  I didn't want to kill myself and not be able to lift or walk today.  

I am feeding Samuel breakfast.  He is loving soy breakfast sausage links.  I can't give it to him fast enough.  He really loves all my vegetarian food.  

Have a great Friday.

Back to Normal

Samuel was so tired from not getting my sleep the night before and not taking very good naps.  He went to bed last night around 7 and didn't make a sound until 5:15 this morning.  I went in and fed him and he went back to bed until about 6:45.  It has been a pretty good morning.  We have just been playing.  The weather is getting colder, so we haven't really gone out this morning.  I took George to doggie day care because she was barking at me non stop and I really didn't feel like dealing with a barking dog all day.  Hopefully she is having fun playing.

So this afternoon, I asked Samuel if he knew where Savta, Papa and Oma and Opa were. He climbed on the cough and looked at their pictures on the fireplace. I then told him to tell them hello and this is what he did: (I thought the grandparents would like this picture.)

 Here are some pictures for the day:

We are getting our new refrigerator tomorrow morning.  We have been living with a broken fridge for a while.  The ice machine hasn't worked in probably a few years now.  I will take a picture of it tomorrow.  We would have gotten a stainless steel one, but it doesn't go with our kitchen and we weren't about to replace all the appliances.  So, we ended up getting another white one.  It should be really nice though.  I am really looking forward to it.  

Great Day yesterday

I had a great day yesterday.  Now only was it gorgeous out I was busy all day.

In the morning I went and worked out at the gym.  My butt is killing me today.  I knew I was forgetting something when I left for the gym, but I couldn't figure out what it was.  (I was going to shower after I worked out).  As I was driving, I realized that I forgot my brushes, so I stopped at Walgreens and got a brush.  I had a great workout and was in the locker room emptying out my bag and I realized that I forgot my bra.  I was so pissed.  I had a whole afternoon or things planned but there was no way I was going to run around without a bra.  So after I had lunch with Dave, uncomfortably bra-less, I ran home and got it.  Then I went to Hancock Fabrics to get some fabric for Samuel's rocking chair because I need to fix the seat.  

After the fabric store, I got my haircut, which by the way I think looks great.  Maybe I will take a picture tonight.  I don't really like pictures of myself, but I may post one.  

After my haircut, I went to the salon and got my eyebrows and bikini waxed.  It was an awesome day.  It was so nice to pamper myself.

Tonight, Dave and I are going out.  I planned an evening, so I can't post about it because he only knows that we are going out.  I have to be ready to leave by 5:40.  It will be nice to go out for the evening.  

Well, I am off to relax for a little while before I have to get ready.  

Facebook

What do you guys think about Facebook?  I have gotten several requests to be friends of people I know on Facebook (including just recently Jamie.  Hi Jamie!), but I don't know if I should sign up.  

Updates

Update:

The food I made for the Super Bowl was yummy. The Buffalo Chicken Wings were really good and everything else was tasty.

Samuel is better, but still not 100% healthy.  I am not taking him to Stay and Play today.  Hopefully by tomorrow he will be healthy enough to go to swimming lessons.  

I am now on 2 waiting lists for Mothers Day Out programs.  I am super nervous about taking Samuel, but I figure if it is one day a week, he can handle it and so can I.  

I called to set up appointments for this Friday.  My spa lady doesn't have an opening on Friday for a facial.  Boo.  I am upset, but I guess I can deal with it.  I changed my haircut appointment from next Tuesday to this Friday.  I figured I would try to get as much in that day without having Samuel around.    Maybe I will do a little shopping too and go to the gym.  I haven't really decided.  

I have been terrible about taking pictures of Samuel this month.  In 2 days he will be 11 months.  I can't believe it.  

Here are a few pictures.  Samuel does not wear socks anymore around the house.  He hates it.  I think he likes to have bare feet to help him get ready to walk.  He is taking a few steps, but that is about it.  The most steps he has taken at a time is 4.  

This is his new monkey outfit.  I got it because our friends daughter Taylor had a birthday party and the theme was monkeys.  So, I got Samuel this outfit and even though we couldn't go to the party, I still put him in it so we could pretend like we were there.  (Dave hates the pants.  I have to agree, they are a little funny looking).

Here he is with his socks and of course the TV remote:
Samuel, Dave and George:

Super Bowl Sunday

You know, I really don't care that it is Super Bowl Sunday (other then the commercials).  I only care that Dave and I win the super bowl squares that he picked for us in the work pool.  When I was at the grocery store this morning I picked up some of the 3D glasses.  Hopefully we will see something cool on the commercials after the 2nd quarter.  Samuel thought I looked hilarious in the glasses.  

Samuel is feeling much better.  He still has a cough, but his nose isn't running and he hasn't had a fever in a couple of days.  The only disgusting thing about his sickness is that the medication that they gave him makes his poops RED.  I mean really red, it is disgusting.  I thought you all might want to know that detail :)

This morning I finally took George for a walk.  It was a little difficult because there were lots of black ice and the sidewalks were sheets of ice.  I was slipping all over the place.  It wasn't much of a workout for me, but George loved it.  

Since we can't go anywhere for Super Bowl Sunday, I have decided that I will try to make a few things myself.  I am going to make chicken wings, queso, french onion dip and lots of veggies.  I bought stuff to make a pizza too, but I think we may have enough food.

Oma and Opa are coming in town this coming up weekend.  Since Samuel has been so sick, I am in desperate need to get out of the house and have some alone time.  Oma is coming in a day early (Thursday night), so tomorrow when the salon and spa I go to opens, I am calling to see if I can get in for a wax and facial.  I'll let you all know the status.  

  

Surprisingly Refreshed

It is 6:30 in the morning and Samuel is still asleep.  I woke up at 6 and I have been really productive.  Even though Samuel still is not feeling great, he is sleeping great.  

I feel great because I am getting a good amount of sleep and then for the last 2 days I have been getting up earlier then Samuel and doing things around the house, which makes me feel so much more productive.  (Now I totally understand, Charisa why you guys get up early and do stuff!)

So this morning I made coffee, unloaded and loaded the dishwasher, took the trash out, mopped the kitchen floor and got all the food out that I need to make dinner tonight.  I actually ate a little breakfast and I am half way through my cup of coffee.  

I am about to put some butternut squash in the oven for Samuel.  He hasn't been eating too much since he has been sick.  However, the only two things he will eat are butternut squash and sweet potatoes, so I am making more for him.  

I have been really motivated lately to make a good dinner every night.  It started last week.  On Sunday, Dave and I talk about what kind of food we want for the week, then we shop for all the things we need.  I set out the menu for the week and then during the day when Samuel is sleeping, I try to do all the prep work, so I can easily make it all that evening.  I usually get stressed out about dinner stuff because it is so hard to come up with different things everyday.  

Tonight we are having vegetarian enchiladas and bison enchiladas.  I need to make the rice and cook the bison.  Hopefully I will be able to make everything today that way I can just throw it in the oven.  

I better go to get stuff ready. 

There is tons of snow outside. Dave just came in from shoveling the sidewalk and driveway.  He said it is almost as much snow as what we got the day before Samuel was born.

I hope Megan got her snow day!

Historical Day

I woke up this morning with excitement that I haven't felt in a long time.  I can't imagine there being a more significant day like today in my lifetime.  It is so exciting that we have a new President.  It is wonderful to see such hope and excitement from so many people.  The most overwhelming feeling for me, is that in Samuel's life and in the lifetime of my future children, they will never know a time where there wasn't an African American President.  I can only hope that my children will not even understand how others could discriminate against people with different beliefs, colors and sexual orientation.  I really hope that President Obama can live up to the huge expectations that Americans have bestowed on him.  He has a long hard road ahead and I hope he is successful.       

Now that I blabbed for a while, here are some pictures of Samuel from the last few days.

This morning I went to check on his while he was sleeping and he looked so cute, so I took a few pictures.  I guess he sucks his thumb while he sleeps.



Do you think his hair is getting long?  Only a few more months until he will get a hair cut!

The Poll is closed

I guess based on the results of the poll you guys are telling us that our child(ren)'s future significant others are going to dislike us equally.  That is just great.  I guess Dave and I need to start going to therapy early to help us from being the annoying in-laws.  

I am so happy that it is Saturday and it is a long weekend.  Dave has Monday off and we are going to relax all weekend long.  Last night we watched a movie, Pineapple Express.  We thought it would be funny.  I lost 2 hours of my life that I can't get back.  It was one of the worst movies I have ever seen.  I knew it was about stupid guys and pot smoking, but I thought it would be at least funny.  So dumb.  

We also rented, Burn After Reading.  I hope it isn't as stupid as the other one.  I will let you know after we watch that this weekend.

I am off to relax while Samuel is sleeping.

Thank goodness for the weekend

I am in some serious need of reinforcement.  I am so happy it is the weekend and Dave is home to help with Samuel.  It isn't that Samuel has been bad or anything, but I am just tired.  I am just not in the mood to deal with him.  I know it is bad to say, but Samuel has just been very clingy.  He follows me everywhere.  He has located the tupperware drawer in the kitchen and he won't stay out of it.  I don't mind him playing in there because those things are easy to clean, but it is just a little annoying.  

I didn't leave the house at all yesterday and I didn't shower.  Isn't that gross.  I just didn't have time.  When Samuel was down for a nap I was busy cleaning up the house and just relaxing.  Then when he went to sleep for the night I went straight to bed too.  Now I am drinking coffee and relaxing.  Eventually I will get around to showering sometime today.  

I started reading "The Secrets of the Baby Whisperer for Toddlers."  I read her first book and I thought it was great.  This book is good so far.  I am only 50 pages into it.  One thing she did say at the beginning was that you need to tell your baby what you are going to do before you do it and continue to talk them through things (like for instance, changing their diaper so they don't cause problems).  I tried it yesterday afternoon.  I always thought I was very verbal with Samuel, bit when I made an effort to talk to him about changing his diaper, I realized that I never talked about what I was doing while I was doing it.  It sounds absolutely ridiculous but I basically talked to Samuel the whole time, telling him what I was doing and how fast it was going to take and he actually paid attention to me and didn't squirm around.  When I put his diaper on him I told him he did a great job.  It was a successful changing diaper day yesterday.  I have no idea how it will be today or if it was just a fluke yesterday, but I thought I would pass this along to everyone else who is having diaper changing issues.  

Have a great weekend.

News and Need Advice

I finally got up the nerve to call some places about getting Lasik eye surgery and now I am depressed.  So they don't recommend that you even come in for a consultation if you are breastfeeding, pregnant or trying to get pregnant.  If you just had a baby or had been breastfeeding you should come in unless you have had your period for 3 months straight.  Well, lets see...I am still breastfeeding, haven't even had my period for 3 months straight and we are wanting to try to have another baby in the near future.  So, I guess lasik is out of the picture for a while.  Plus they tell you that you have to wear your glasses for 2 weeks straight so the consultation is accurate.  I can't imagine wearing my glasses only and not my contacts for 2 weeks.  That would be terrible.  Oh well, I guess I will have to wait until I am done with kids before I can get my eyes done.  How depressing.  

I don't think I mentioned before, but one of my New Year's resolutions is to floss every single day and so far I have done it.  I am also trying not to bite my finger nails and I have been pretty good, I only bit one off in the new year.  I actually trimmed a nail yesterday instead of just biting it right off.  It was nearly as satisfying.  

I need some advice.  Lately Samuel has been a monster when we are changing his diaper.  He throws a fit most of the time, turns over on his stomach or kicks his legs or puts my arm in a wrestling move like a leg lock so I can't move my arm.  It is actually pretty amazing how strong he is.  I am not sure how to handle it.  I  have been giving him things to hold on to while I am changing him to divert his attention, but sometimes he just throws it on the floor and continues to wrestle with me.  It is quite annoying.  Plus when I took him to the gym daycare they had to change his diaper and she told me he was a wild man and she could barely get the diaper on him.  How embarrassing?!  Anyway, anyone have any advice? I would love to hear it.  

I am off to get myself together so we can run to Target as soon as he gets up from his nap. 

We survived the night

Samuel's head looks so much better today.  It is not swollen, just bruised.  You can see in the pictures below that it looks so much better then last night.  He did great when we woke him up last night.  He just smiled, waved at us and then acted really happy, so we put him back down to bed and he fell right back to sleep.   

We are getting our fireplace replaced today.  We haven't used our fireplace in over a year because it didn't put off any heat and it was a waste.  Hopefully now it will be better.  We will probably use it tonight when Samuel goes to bed.  I will post pictures when he is done with it.  

Random Pictures

I haven't posted pictures in a while, so I thought I would just put a whole bunch of random ones.  

Oh and Samuel turned 10 months yesterday!!!  I have such a big boy.

Today Samuel and I went to our first Stay and Play.  It is through the Webster Groves School District.  If you are involved in Parents as Teachers, then you can sign up for this activity.  It is one day a week from 9:30 am to 11:30.  It is a place for all the kids to play.  The first hour the kids just play around, then around 10 there is music time.  We sang so many songs that I remember hearing as a kid but I couldn't remember the words at all.  I can't believe it, but Samuel loved that portion.  Of course he was the loudest one.  He was yelling (not in an unhappy way), but he was so loud and everyone was just laughing at him because all the other kids were just laughing.  Also Samuel was one of the only kids who slobbered all over all the toys.  Any toys that the kids put in their mouths are supposed to go into a separate bowl to be washed later.  I filled the bowl with toys.  Oh well, he is teething!  

When we got  home we ate lunch and then he was ready to pass out.  Luckily he is in bed and I am trying to get some stuff done.  

Dave and I are back on our crazy vegetarian diet.  We are eating no carbs, no meat, very little cheese and tons of veggies.  Last time we did it back in July we eat lost 10 pounds.  I only have 5 more pounds to go to get to my pre-pregnancy weight.  I think I am holding onto the extra pounds because I am breastfeeding, at least that is my excuse.  I would love to lose all the weight though before I get pregnant with a second.  Hopefully it will come off soon.  

Last night I made a veggie lasagna with no noodles, I used thinly sliced eggplant as the noodles.  I used mushrooms, onions, garlic, cauliflower, broccoli and green peppers and the cheese mixture had cottage cheese, ricotta cheese, fontina cheese, pepper, basil, garlic powder, garlic salt and spinach.  Dave told me that if the lasagna wasn't good, he wasn't going to continue on the diet because he was starving and not satisfied.  Luckily it was really tasty.  It was even better today for lunch.  I surprised myself.  

Tonight we are having Vegetarian Indian Food with a yellow curry sauce, cauliflower, broccoli, garbanzo beans, peas and lentils.  It should be really good.  

I am off to do some taxes.      

Samuel with Tuesday.  Our friends Joel and Rachael were in town, so we all ate lunch together.

I don't post many pictures of George, so here is one of her.

Christmas Eve:

Night Night for our 10 month old (he is in mid wave):

Some pictures from yesterday:

Not much of a blogger

For the last few weeks I haven't been much of a blogger.  We have been really busy.  Yesterday my parents headed back to Tulsa.  They were here for a long time, but it didn't feel like it.  The time just seemed to fly by.  I still can't believe we are in 2009 already.  2008 was the most difficult, emotional, rewarding, exhilarating and best year of our life.  It is amazing to think of the journey that Dave and I have been through in the last 3 years. We had to go through so much in order to have a baby and now that we have  Samuel, it is amazing how he has changed our lives forever.  I didn't know that I could love something as much as I do. I have learned so much this past year.  I also feel like my relationship with Dave, my parents, Dave's parents, my extended family and so many of my friends have grown and strengthened.  I have to say that I have never felt so full of life and love.  It is a great feeling.    

I look forward to 2009 being even better.

Now that I have blabbed a little, I think I am going to get all of our tax stuff organized.  I can't believe it is that time of year again.  

Have a great Sunday.   

 

Happy Belated Birthday MOM!

I had to wish my mom a happy birthday or she would be mad at me.  I'll add a picture at a later date.

We are back from Vegas.  We lost money, we are feeling refreshed and ready to bring in the new year.  

I will post pictures later from Christmas.

My Two Front Teeth

Well this morning Samuel's other front tooth came in.  I guess he got his two front teeth for Christmas.  Kind of funny.

My parents are on their way in town.  We are going to have a nice dinner, open presents and relax.  Tomorrow Dave and I leave for Vegas.  We can barely stand it.  We are so excited.  I am a little nervous about leaving Samuel, but I know he will be fine with my parents.  

Merry Christmas to everyone and Happy Hanukkah too.  I will post when we get back in town.  

A few pictures from the afternoon

I was messing with my camera today and using the different settings to see if I could get some good pictures.  I think I got a few good ones.

Also, Samuel has started to do this strange looking crawl thing.  He is using one knee to crawl and then using one foot.  It is an interesting way to get around.  I tried to take some pictures so it would be explained better, but I don't know if the pictures do his new crawling style justice.  Anyway, I posted them below.