So to continue on with my post about my fabo birthday…

Before Matt left town he took me to dinner at Chipotle.  So glad my tummy had recovered from IT to be ready for the football burrito! :)

Knowing Matt was scheduled to be out of town my friend Karra [college room mate & bridesmaid in my wedding- mother of 3 crazy cute boys] asked if I’d be interested in getting a sitter and going out for dinner.  Don’t have to ask me twice!!! Sure!  We chose Carrabbas b/c she loves the place and so do I, and Matt doesn’t…so it made perfect sense!  April joined us.  She’s a new friend I’ve met through Karra.  She has taken part in our annual holiday bake day held at Karra’s each December.   Despite the way the photo looks April IS the only one expecting. [5 weeks out to be exact…seriously?? my face was as swollen as her belly when I was that preggo!!] I was however over stuffed on chicken parm & alfrado…AND bread AND salad AND hot fudge sundae. [i didn’t request the sundae…they brought it to me for my bday…i was not about to be rude and turn them away…after all there are starving children in this world so who am I to let food go to waste?!?!]

What a great dinner it was!  I seriously can not recall the last time Karra and I had been together w/out any children. Surely it wasn’t when she was baby shopping prego with Brent??? Was it??? I mean that was 7 years ago! Anyhow we stuffed ourselves with good food and great conversation.

A final shot are the beautiful and cheery flowers Ms. Jocelyn, my daycare princess gave me.  How sweet! They brighten this dreary day! 

Thanks to all the FB well wishes, texts and phone calls.  I’m sure there would have been a few tweets if I were a twitterer but I’m not :)

So here’s to next year!  33.  Never been one for odd numbers.  Have lots of plans to make it a great year full of family, friends & fun…with a bit of working out to reach that goal!

To begin this is not a post about my thighs…as that would not be nearly as cute as this…

For optimal viewing pleasure tilt your head to the left.  Actually just rest your head on your left shoulder. Enjoy watching Isaac perform his most favorite exercise which must be the reason his thighs are so plump…

Me so cuuuute…

I almost hate to rave about how great this unwanted birthday was since my husband was out of town for it. So, to clarify it was great but not great BECAUSE he was out of town. :)

Wow.  There’s no sneeking in a birthday when you have FB!!  I say it was an unwanted bday simply b/c it seems impossible to be 32.  It’s almost as if time froze in my life when I had children.  I still think/mentally feel about 25.  Where did the last 6 years go and why did they take my brain with them??

It was literally 3 weeks ago when I was all bummed b/c I hadn’t been to the gym like I had wanted.  I then decided that my goal was to work really hard over the next year so that when I turned 32 I could say “Wow, this is the best shaped I’ve been in for a long time!”  About 30 seconds later and some quick math I realized- wait I’m 32 in 3 weeks!! AHHHH! So, I guess the goal will be 33.

I remember when I first started teaching the ladies I worked with were about 32.  They had a couple kids.  Seemed…not OLD, but mature.  Looking at them I felt they had it all together. Wiser. Experienced.  Stable.  Assured.  And it definitely felt like it would be a loong time until I reached that age.

Well it wasn’t long.  It was a blink of an eye.  So why is it at 32 that I don’t have it all together.  Do not feel wise on most any thing.  Feel less experienced at some things than even before.  Stable? Assured? Are you kidding me??!!  There are so many things I feel I’m JUST getting started on. Things I’ve yet to learn.  Things that I’m just learning about myself…and/or finally deciding to work on fixing, improving, repairing, or growing.

I think it’s great timing this bday.  It comes at a time where I’ve been lost in many deep thoughts lately.  Situations brought on some by stress, thinking about where I am, who I am and ways in which I need to change.  But instead of just being lost in those thought's I’m in a place of actually planning for change.

Knowing where and WHO to draw my strength from. Seeking the right guidance. Ignoring or at least praying away all the feelings of guilt and sadness.  Not listening to the calls to compare, judge or worry.

Well more on that tomorrow complete with a few shots of my day…but for now it is bed for this old lady.  Soooo sleepy….night!

vueomgnvyudklenhgf!!  Was Isaac’s first blog post on his laptop!! What does it mean you ask???

 

vueomgnvyudklenhgf!! is baby for…

I’m CAuuuuute! (As you can clearly see in above photo of his first sink bath!!)

This was a very odd week/weekend.  It was exciting because it was the end of Emma’s basketball and Crosstraining programs thus freeing up our evenings a bit as to not feel rushed here and there.
Worked out Tuesday.  Felt great…
Wednesday took Isaac to quickly have some 6 (and a half) month pictures taken.  I had low expectations after the crying he displayed for our photos with cousins a few weeks earlier.  However, he did GREAT! He just smiled, and posed, and smiled some more.  Great for memories, not so great for my wallet! :)
Wednesday night was a long and sleepless one.  Aidan was up lots in the night and then I heard what all moms dread.  A wet sounding “cough”.  Thus beginning the trickle of a sicky bug passing through the fam.  Aidan was lots better by noon on Thursday.  Isaac spit up quite a bit Thurs. AM and napped lots. We got Olive Garden per Matt’s request for dinner to celebrate his Bday.  Shortly after eating it I became sad realizing I would be reliving one of my favorite meals!!  Another long night. By Friday morning I came to one sad conclusion…I’m to old to puke.  My body ached, and ACHED all day!! How “thathetic” (Emma’s new word of the weekend…)
Friday AM I decided to keep Emma home from school as I was certain she’d be sick before the day was over and she could be my helper until she fell sick.  I was saved by my sister in law as she took Isaac.  The movement involved in taking care of him proved too much for me!  With failed attempts to sleep I rested on the couch all day with more Disney and Nick than I ever care to be near again.
Much to my surprise Emma never got it!  Saturday was a new day and I felt alive again.  We went to Emma’s Upward BB ceremony in
the AM and decided to enjoy the fresh air and run to the zoo. 
(Leopard…don’t think we’ve ever seen him up and moving)

(Cute lil’ monkey…chewing on his pacci) 

(one of the zoo’s newest additions…red panda…we think it looks like Cracker!)
 
(Emma among the lions.  Aidan was to scared.  He said the little lion growled at him.)

(We had never witnessed the tortoise training.  It was neat.)
We had the pleasure of running into Chris, Mandy, Libby and Gma TT. So don’t see them often enough!!
Upon arriving home from the zoo we found our house had been ransacked by a 6 & 2 year old intruders.  After 3 hours of cleaning Emma and I decided to go to see the Derby High school performance of  The Wizard of Oz.  One of my former students had a supporting role.  It was great to see him as such a successful high school young man!
Emma enjoyed the performance, especially Glenda the good witch.  There were parts she didn’t get as she’s not that familiar with the movie.  Besides the children loud, flying monkeys behind us it was very enjoyable.  It was a laaate night.
Sunday brought church.  I taught Sunday school early service attended church 2nd service.  Then IT happened.  As we were leaving Emma got IT! GREAT!!! Not exactly how I want to use my days off work, however that’s the life of a mother.  She ran around all day.  Appears fine, yet will make a dash to the bathroom for false alarms.
Waiting to post this until Monday AM leaves me to report IT has officially got ALL of us.  My tummy was upset as I went to bed and not much of an appetite this AM, Aidan was up with dirty Pullups through the night and now Matt lays sick in bed. As he is trying to gear up for his busiest 3 weeks at work in months.  Starts back teaching classes this week.  Has a 5 day trip out of town planned.  Back for 2 days and then we’re all off to  TX!!  Back from there for a few days of work for me to leave town and he’s on duty.
At least we all have it and can get past it now.  Maybe it’ll be a bit of a weight loss program for me. since I’m not making it to the gym. :( 
Ready for Spring Break…TX here we come…then…Bring on April…fresh air…sunshine…flowers…green grass…

.:Stats- 19 lbs 6 oz., 27 1/2 in. long, 80% across the board

.: What You’re Wearing- mostly 6-9 months and some 12 months.  You  must have shorty arms b/c all sleeves are too long on you! :)  You enjoy chewing on them though!

.: Firsts- trying to hold bottle, on hands and knees rocking back and forth, eating solid foods (rice cereal, veggies & fruits), first weekend away from mommy and first weekend with only daddy!

.: From Head To Toe- you’re doing so well! You have the sweetest smile that makes my day lighter and brighter no matter what!  You’re very long and more than doubled your birth weight (9lbs 11oz).  It’s amazing to me that Emma was  your size at one year and was walking all over!  You have developed a bit of a rash in your “chins” from all the drool and milk/food.

.: Loves- rolling around on your blanket, rocking on hands and knees, saucer, lion chew toy, pacci, star mobile, chewing on your bibs or wet wash cloth,

.: Dislikes- this one is hard b/c you are sooo content and happy…still dislikes the car seat, but mainly only fusses if hungry on the way to our next stop, some certain foods…

.: Eating- kept trying cereal and you’ll finally eat it.  I started with orange veggies, which you like.  Then tried green but you HATE them.  As soon as I put it to your lips you purse your lips together and sometimes even blow!  You seem to like all fruits, but your favorites are carrots, sweet potatoes, & apple sauce!  Still taking a bottle of 6 oz about every 4 hours.

.: Sleeping- going to bed about 8:30 and only waking once about 2 or 4 to eat and right back to sleep. You aren’t really wanting rocked or held anymore (boohoo!) to go to sleep.  You prefer to be laid down with your blanket and the mobile to put yourself to sleep!

.: Misc Facts-

So joyful.  Each time I hear you awake in the crib I go in and you just light up! 

You have very little interest in sitting.  You’re getting better at doing it, but prefer being on your tummy scooting around.

So, there you have it.  He’s officially 1/2 a year old and this mama can NOT believe it!  3 months maybe, but 6 months no way!  The speed at which times goes is just simply not fair.

 

Whew! I think I’ve recovered from my AWESOME weekend!!  Lots of croppin’ + little sleep = productivity!!!  I finished 13 layouts (or 26 pages) for Emma & Aidan’s scrapbooks.  I’m still quite behind, but almost done with 2007!!  Keeping my New Year’s resolution of attending the church scrap nites and another scrap weekend the end of March AND  the fall Cropaganza will hopefully get me close to finishing ‘08 and a start on ‘09!

Here’s some pics of the crop.  It is simply un-B-elievable the chaos of 180 croppers in one room!  The scrapbooking market is obviously booming!! 

180 Croppers in one space…Star marks my location…there were more to the left and right of this picture…couldn’t fit them all in!

Our Table - Arrow marks my spot…

My Scrappy Friends- MIL Peggy, SIL Shelly, Friend Vickie & myself.

The “young” scrappers.  Deb, myself, Kristina, Jen & Kelly.

 

Kristina and Jen are my college girlfriends.  We started our scrappin’ adventures when the main scrappin tool was fancy cut scissors!!  Not only did you fancy cut your paper, but your pictures as well!  We’re sooo beyond that kind of scrappin now! (Well except for one layout K tried to do this weekend that involved precious Precious Moments paper…by the end of ganza she had tore it all up and started over!!)  We’re on to bigger and better things like cricuts, stamps, chalks, inks, stickles, white core cardstock, etc, etc.  We are totally pumped about going again this fall and fretted over what life would be like or even if we could exist if we DID NOT make the ganza list! WE shutter to think how scrapified we might become!  K will have a new baby by then and hopefully Jen will be preggers!! (as is ganza tradition for one of us to be…)

Last year when I went I spent most the weekend in shock at all the scrappers, papers, vendors and such…this year was still amazing but I literally focused only on scrapping.  I didn’t really shop any of the vendors, no massage, no pedi or mani, just workin’ my fingers to the bone scrappin!! Here’s an attempt to show some of my work (minus the journal)…

Aidan in the baby show with blind judges…I’m mean obviously he’s a cutie…

Fall & family pics ‘07… 

Emma making Aidan’s Welcome to the World gift…

 

We arrived to crop at 3pm on Friday and I cropped until 3 am stopping only for supper.  Up by 9 am on Sat and cropped until 3:30 am stopping for lunch and supper breaks.  Up again Sunday at 8:30 and cropped until 1:30 pm stopping to pack up and return home. So much more to do, but catching up on sleep is the order of business now.  Well, that and taxes!!! YUCK!