This Weekend

I had an eye-opening weekend, this weekend. I realized that I do have a child who is a toddler, a boyfriend with whom I have been with for 7 years that I am very dearly fond of, my health that I need to keep a better tab on, amazing yet crazy "in-laws" that I can't control nor can I change - and that I am OK with that.

1) This weekend my daughter, Lucy, made me realize that she is growing up at an alarming rate. Before this weekend, I was pretty sure I had the "perfect daughter"...but I now realize, she isn't perfect and she is growing up very fast into a toddler. You know, the toddlers you here about that cry and scream for no reason at all? Ya, that was my Lucy this weekend. I felt so helpless! It was probably the worst feeling I've ever been consumed with. In this new year I will vow to let her throw her tantrums when it (if it happens) happens and take a breath. Stand up. And think and pray to myself that this too shall be over as fast as it happened.

2) Wade and I have been together for 7 years....8 years in May of next year. We've had our fair share of ups and downs, just like any relationship - but NOTHING, absolutely NOTHING can compare to what a child does to your relationship. The whole experience puts a big "swoosh" to your relationship. That swoosh I'm talking about is kind of like a wind gust that wipes everything you two once had to "nothing matters anymore except your child". That's not right and that's not fair. I've learned in the past week or so that I need to spent as much time on Wade as I do with Lucy and give him the same affection as I do Lucy (only in an adult way, of course...wink wink). I think that when (see above) a child has an episode as we did above on Saturday - it puts an extreme strain on your relationship and you end up being even more miserable than you were when your daughter or son is throwing a fit on the ground - crying and won't stop. In this next year, I vow to make a day/night every month that just consists of us - being together - just the two of us, the way it used to be...if only for a couple hours, I'm OK with that. Its important.

3) Oh boy have I slacked on my body image!!! I can recall the days where I was a size 2-4 and so in shape!! (Actually I can't recall them, I think I just blocked that part of my life out of my head b/c frankly it's just too depressing to think about)
The window is about to go down on what I call the - post baby slackness. Its been over a year since I had Lucy and it's officially time to get my body back to at least a respectable image where I don't feel so insecure to show my body to my best friend and lover, Wade. (HA!)
With recent light of (sigh) Britney Murphy's death at Age 32. I've decided I do not want to end up dead at 32. I have a daughter to think about!! I want to be the best mommy I can be until I grow old!! This is ridiculous that I've let my body go THIS far. It's absolutely disgusting!!
So in the new year, I vow to get back to at least a size 6. I can do that!! Piece of cake (minus the cake, of course)!

4) I have an amazing bunch of in laws. They are chaotic, messy, absurdly vulgar - yet - so unbelievably loving, caring - would do anything for anyone, selflessness and would put anything above and beyond their needs for you. I can not explain you to them unless you meet them. They are one of a kind and I love each and everyone of them for excepting me into their family every day. I vow to become more patient with each and everyone of them this year. To keep an open mind about their problems, their flaws, their uniqueness. I'm truly blessed to have all of them as my "Arizona family".

It was a tough weekend but I'm glad it happened. I needed it to happen. I'm a better person today because of this weekend. It was hell, but it was all worth it.

Happy Christmas and Merry New Year to you and your crazy families! Always remember just how truly blessed we all are!!

Wordless Wednesday - Happy Birthday My Sophie Girl!

Happy 4th Birthday to my beautiful niece, Sophia

What's New?

What's new with everyone? I haven't had much of a topic to write about lately - and you're probably wondering why The Wiggles
have appeared on my blog. It's on almost 24-7 in our household, that's why. It was the first thing that came to mind when trying to figure out what to blog about. Yep. The Wiggles.

My wee little one, is absolutely infatuated with these guys! She will sit in what we call her recliner (her Dora comfy chair) along with her blankie and a good book and zone out.

So what is it about the wiggles? Wade & I were trying to figure this one out - he said he knows why they are such a big hit, but I can't figure it out!

Is it the constant singing? Constant dancing? Their voices? Do they put some kind of messaging behind their music to make you get sucked in (yes, I have also been sucked in and pretty much know every word of every song - sad, very sad!). Hmmm....

A good friend of mine, will not let her child get sucked into 'The Wiggles' due to the fact that they tour around the country and she doesn't want her child costing her an arm and a leg for a ticket to their show. I think I may have to agree with her. (Their tickets are going for $50+, yes, I checked) She went on to say, she never got into the New Kids on The Block, because her parents didn't let her. She grew up on the good ol' Eagles and Van Morrison. (Props to her parents for that!)

I just text my dear Wade
and asked why he wasn't online so I could chat with him - But he responded "Wiggles" (for some reason we can't have the Internet and the xbox going at the same time) and for an instant, I wished I was at home, watching 'The Wiggles'

Oh Boy.

Friday Fives

My TOP 5 favorites smells/scents:

1) This is the whole reasoning behind this topic of today's fives...The smell came to me while driving home from work yesterday and brings be back to my childhood. The smell of sculpting clay. My best friend growing up, Addie - her dad is an artist. My favorite past time is playing upstairs in her dad's studio and smelling that bitter smell of sculpting clay. I can't describe it, I just love it. And for some reason, I smelled it on my way home and memories started to flood back like it was yesterday - Listening to Paul Simon and playing with Addie upstairs at 5516 Queen Ave. I miss those days.

2) Anything and everything BABY. Not just any baby, MY baby. I think any mom can agree with me that their baby smells amazing. Their hair, their breath, their toes, their....yes, diapers (ew!), the way they smell right out of the bath and even their spit up. YUM! I crave that smell more than anyone can ever imagine.

3) My mom. She has been wearing Burberry perfume for years and I swear I go to Macy's or where ever they sell the Original Burberry, just to smell my mom. Even when she's not wearing her perfume, she always smells good. My favorite thing to do when I go home is lay in her bed. It smells of Burberry, clean sheets and breath. HA! It may sound gross to you, but it smells like my mommy and I love it.

4) Garlic and Onions cooking. You know darn well something yummy is being cooked up by someone who knows exactly what they are doing. The combination is intoxicating.

5) Christmas. Not sure if Christmas has a particular smell, but when I think of Christmas, I think of candles burning, fires going, monkey bread baking and Mrs Clark's Eggs. Its the most amazing smell. It smells like family. It smells like comfort. It smells safe.

Happy Friday everyone! Have a safe and FUN weekend!!

October is Here!!!

And I woke up to 65 degrees in Scottsdale, AZ this morning. Ahhhhhhhhhh! What a sigh of relief!
Most people throughout the country are dreading this weather but us in the southwest who have been dealing with 110+ weather for the past 4-5 months are more than ready for this fall.

I opened all the windows this morning to let in the crisp (well, crisp to me) cool air. Lucy and I starred out the window listening to the birds. I can not wait to share these mornings with her for the rest of her life. I am one lucky mommy.

Happy October everyone! Enjoy that cool air and mother nature. It's a beautiful thing!

Make it a great day!

Photo courtesy of http://media.photobucket.com/image/fall/likthelollypop/fall.jpg

Fall Foliage in Arizona

One thing that I promised myself I'd do this year is catch the change of season from Summer to Fall in Flagstaff, Arizona. Something that I've wanted to do since I moved down here from Minnsota 8 years ago.

I found a couple articles here and here that tell you when and where to go up north to see the change in colors of the leaves. I can just smell the cool, crisp, fresh air right now. Give me my family, a hot coffee and a camera and I'll be in heaven.

Flagstaff, here we come!

Happy Fall!

Lets Remember

Today, my heart is heavy. I sat this morning with my little baby girl and watched the President of the United States of America give his speech at the Pentagon. As I was holding Lucy and remembering where I was at that moment 8 years (wow! 8 years ago!!) ago today - I wanted to hold her all day. This day brings new meaning to me now that I have a child to protect.

I also was remembering September 12Th, 2001 and how overwhelmingly amazing it felt to have our nation come together as one. Politics set aside - even if it was for just one day. It felt amazing and makes my heart happy. I wish everyday could be like that day.

Today, I hope that you hold your loved ones. Tell them you love them and that you will do anything in your power to protect them. I also hope that you, as a citizen of this great nation, can find time to set aside your viewpoints on Politics and remember what we stand for as a Country.

God Bless you all!

I'm Logging Off For The Weekend

My family (Wade & I) tend to spend too much time with electronics. Computer, Xbox, TV, blah blah blah. I sometimes spend the first hour (or on a bad day, two hours) of work updated the blog, what I like to call " blog stalking ", checking emails, Instant Messaging and so on.... So this weekend (minus alittle Dexter, Lost and any other movies at night) I'm not logging onto my computer, texting or spending time loafed in front of the boob tube watching the food network while watching Miss Lucy play. Its kind of starting to feel like a waste of time - actually, I know its a waste of time. There's so much more to do!!



But don't worry, I'll be back on Monday - or maybe even later today, who knows! Friday's tend to be boring around here.

Happy Friday! God Bless all of you!

Foggy

Its been a week since I've written or posted anything - but I have a logical excuse. Lucy's Baptism.
Picture this: Family in town (i.e. Older sister, younger sister, Mom and a surprise for me...my niece, Sophie - who is 3) A 958 square foot apartment, Wade, Lucy, Me and the family all snuggled into one small teeny tiny apartment - in Arizona - in the summer.
Yep, that's why I haven't written in over a week.
It was a GREAT time if you take out the fact that every single one of my out of town visitors got a special gift from us called the flu. (eeek!)
This is was no ordinary flu....no aches, no pains, no fever. Just the uncomfortable and annoying amounts throwing up, stomach pains and well, need I say it? #2. - AND LOTS OF IT.
This virus, good riddens, only lasted for 12 hours. By Monday, everyone was feeling better - we indulged in some In and Out burger (a tradition for anyone who comes to see me) - and then Monday at 2 p.m. they had to leave.
Thankfully, no one was sick for the actual Baptism - and my wonderful Mom kept reminding all of us, that that is why they came down in the first place - The Baptism.

The Baptism was a beautiful ceremony. Private, with all our friends and family. The ceremony only lasted a good 45 minutes. Lucy was a doll. Not a peep from her (as always) - I might quite possibly have the most chill, relaxed, easy-going baby in the whole world. She was just precious and I am so proud to call her my daughter.

Here's a couple pictures from the weekend, enjoy and God Bless my little angel, Lucy Patricia!