Mini me

I don't have any photos to compare, but she looks a lot like me.
Even better?
My mom saved my old shirt and my sweet Miss E can wear it.


Photo of Miss E at 27 months

Got sleep?

8.5 hours of straight sleep
Let's hope this continues

Mr. J, almost 12 weeks

will power

The gym.
I went and I felt silly and chubby. I felt like a poser amongst fit people.

My things went into a locker, my shoes were tied and my ancient ipod was charged. I was ready to go? Walking in after many years away is hard, but I forced my self in there.

I found a elliptical, in the back, away from people. I got myself up, put my tunes on and well, could not figure out how to turn the damn thing on. I froze with embarrassment. See? I am a poser and a bad one too.

After futzing with the machine and the "quick start" button, I had to ask for help. It takes a lot for me to ask for help. A lot. Honestly, deep down I wanted to get off and go hide somewhere and play "words with friends" while Mr. J was in the child area. Staying put, I asked the next person who came up to another machine. A guy. A really good looking one too. Dammit.

Quietly I ask him "can you please tell me how these things work?" . He laughed (looking cute) and said "will power, you just start pedaling". I wanted to die. DUH. So i start pedaling after selecting a program and then he leans over and shows me that I didn't even have the thing on and counting. (i wanted to die).

Fifteen minutes into it, I wanted to give up. I was out of breath, sweaty and sore. If that doesn't say out of shape, I don't know what does. Will power.... that word kept replaying in my head, over and over. It worked. Not only did I finish, but I went on to try and run. Ha. That is going to take a lot more will power and prayer.

Right now? I am digging deep and finding the will power to go back today and hopefully soon, not feel like a workout poser.

not my mess

I grew up with a pretty awesome mom. I should state that first. However, she was a stickler for a clean house. For years the woman worked two jobs and cleaned up after two girls, she deserves a medal. After awhile we were old enough to clean up our own messes, but she still nagged and complained that our shared bedroom was filthy.

( two teen girls? it was)

Here is where I have to admit that my sister was cleaner than me. I swear she is OCD. (Hi sis!) Time after time I would try to blame my mess on her. "Mom, it's not my mess", I would proudly and foolishly declare. What was I thinking? I look back now as an adult and mother and who was I kidding? Silly teen me.

Almost 15 years later, now a wife and mother of three, I still panic when I know my mom will be coming over. I do! It's like I am 15 years old all over again and I can't let her down. So the night before she comes I pick up the mess, shove it out of the way like I was a teenager hiding all my dirty clothes way back in the closet and go in full clean mode. It drives my husband nuts.

But you see, as I tell my son, "I would pick up all the crap in your room, Grandma is coming tomorrow", he totally picks up the mess. He knows. He totally gets it too.

This woman,my mother, has some sort of magic cleaning powers. One time we came home to her cleaning our front door and screen. There she was, hanging out the door, scrubbing away. Later that week she was cleaning all my ceiling fans. ( i told she deserves a medal)

On to more cleaning I go, "EVERY room must be picked up" I say to myself. Then it hits me, right there in the hallway closet as I am hanging all the coats up, "this isn't my mess". (she hates coats laying around)

This *really* isn't just my mess.

The house is clean, well not clean, just cleaner and then I stop and wonder, did my grandmother do the same thing? Did my mom hurry and try to clean for her mother? Did she think to herself each night while picking up after her two gorgeous, loving daughters (hi mom!), "this isn't just my mess?"

I'll have to ask her, after I wash my dishes, she is coming tomorrow.

life is but a dream

The store was busy, the baby was wrapped up and worn on me. In the cart were supplies to hold us over in case the snow kept us in. With me was my favorite girl.

Up and down the aisles we pushed our goods around the snow panicked crowds. Our pace seemed like we were in slow motion as others pushed and rushed by. You, my favorite girl, Miss E were happily taking in every moment. Even the boxes of pasta made you laugh.

I looked down and watched your chubby fingers point to everything in sight. Then I watched your eyes light up at the old lady saying hello. You sparkled. It was like a dream. My daughter, so beautiful.

While you picked out your favorite cereal, you looked at me and started rocking back and forth while your hands grasped onto the cart. Your golden locks were all a mess from your head swaying side to side. You were singing your favorite song...

Row, row, row your boat
gently down the stream
merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream...

It was as if the people parted and it was only us singing in a big empty store. I can see your smile as I was singing back to you, "Life is but a dream". We stop singing and as I walked away I was thankful it wasn't a dream.

Third of the month

It is a new year and time for a new tradition.
My friend does a monthly photo of her kids every month
and I loved her idea of watching her kids grow through photos.


Here are my three babies in my first "the third of the month" series:

January 2012

and because I am doing this, JC has asked that he get monthly photos too!
This made me so happy.
Here is his January shot:

Mr. J, you are 2 months now!

Hey, I am two months old!

This is my serious look.
I only show mom my smiles and never for a camera.

I'll give a little smile and show you my big foot.
You see, I am growing so much these days.
I now wear size 2 diapers and
3-6 months clothes.

(it's the milk, I am a huge fan)

Not only do I just lay here, I can lift my head.
My big sister likes for me to have tummy time.
She sings "tummy time , tummy time" to me.
It makes me laugh. I kinda like her.

You wanna see what I looked like last month?
Go here.