Surprises

A lot of my friends and family have this idea that I don’t like surprises. This couldn’t be farther from the truth! What I don’t like is being put into social situations when I’m not prepared. Remember this post? That and because I did not want my bridal or baby shower to be a surprise as I wanted to have a say and think that the old fashioned traditions of other people doing all the work and it being a surprise are just that, Old Fashioned! I am NOT old fashioned in the least! These two times were key parts of MY life and I wanted to be involved, and was NOT happy about their want/need/wish for them to be surprises. My theory is, your wedding/baby shower your memories, my shower, my memories!

I actually LOVE to be surprised, even if it’s just little things! I’m always picking up little trinkets for Scott and Shae and I LOVE to give gifts because to me they are just the best little surprises! Shae surprises us every single day with the things she knows and it is just mind blowing!

She’ll say something completely out of the blue! I keep saying I need to make notes of the things she says and I’m going to try and make an effort to keep track of some of the stuff she comes up with! Last night, I was finishing up my dinner and she had finished and asked to be excused, she had gone into her room. So Scott went to find her and found her in her room getting clothes, socks and her play shoes for Aunt Amanda’s house today ready! LOL She even knew which rung to pull the play clothes from! At least once a day you can ask her where something is and she goes right to it and pulls it out and about 95% of the time it’s because Ms. OCD has put it away right where it belongs! Now if I could get her to train her father……..

Amy

Trying times….

So yesterday was NOT one of our finer days, Shaelyn was doing her best to exert her stubborness and unwillingness to do anything I needed/wanted her to do. Part of the problem was her lack of naps and sleep in general. We’re definitely hitting a HUGE growth spurt and it’s oh so joyful!

So it’s during these trying times that I try to focus on the pure fun she is!

Doing Mickey Mouskercise!

Shae was dancing with Toby!

I can’t get over how curly her hair is! We never thought she’d get hair and now she has a LOT of it! It’s getting VERY long, but you can’t tell because of how curly it is! These pics were taken the same day!

And recently Shaelyn brought me her little tape measure that goes with her tool kit and asked me to measure her arm. To which imagine my surprise when I discovered this:

Crazy right!? But makes my heart sing!!! Some of you may remember this post? So you’ll understand why this new revelation makes me so happy!

So yes, we have our share of trying days and my little stinker makes me crazy a LOT! But all the other fun times just add up to more!

Amy

I love this age….

Lately Shaelyn and I have had such a good run of FUN days!  Saturday Scott went to Richmond for his first NASCAR race!   He said he had fun, it was very cold, but he’d definitely go again!  Our spare room/my sewing room has been a NIGHTMARE!  It’s been the catch all junk room and I’m trying desperately to make it workable so that I can actually do some sewing in there instead of moving my machine to the dining room and taking the dining room table out of commission for days at a time! 

This weekend I’ll be in NYC with a bunch of awesome friends and family but next weekend I have a LOT of sewing to do!  Orders, repairs, etc!  Sooooooooooo (or sew LOL) we used the opportunity of a crappy weather day and stayed in the house and cleaned up the spare room! 

Shaelyn was seriously the best helper ever!  I went up into our attic and got down three bins to help with our clean up project!  I told her to stand really far back from the stairs and that I’d throw down a bin at a time and after I threw down each bin could she move it into the kitchen or living room for me!  She did just that!  Then we got to work, she ran to get me a trash bag and happily filled it with all the trash I gave her!  We then organized all the stuff to sell (ebay, yardsales, etc) into two bins to take downstairs and put on the table I have set up as a makeshift shipping/sorting/pricing area in our family room!  We then took the third bin and put away all the Easter stuff into that bin and I put that back up in the attic! 

I forgot to take a before shot, but here’s the after shot!  Now I have somewhere to pack for this weekend!  and I can start putting things on the bed to organize for the trip!  

After I pack and come back from NYC, I will decide if I’m keeping the bed up or whether I’ll store it back in the attic!  I’m so torn on what to do?!  It’s nice having it, but I’m not sure I’ll have room once I pull all the sewing stuff out!  For right now I have all the sewing stuff organized but put away, it was easier to do that for now until I can figure out how to arrange it all!  This room is SUPER small, it’s 9′x10′ and I can’t even get the closet door completely open with the bed there.  I’m going to have Scott help me figure out if I can move the bed under the window and free up some space?!  Not sure!

Next we moved onto Shaelyn’s room! I have made some purchases for next Summer and this Winter/Fall for clothes for her and I had just thrown them in her room to organize later! I am always on the hunt for clearance, discount sales, nearly new type stuff! Here are a few of the outfits I got for her for Summer 2013 (yes you read that right, her wardrobe for this summer is done so now we’re moving onto next Summer’s wardrobe)! I like to stay ahead of the game!
I bought these three outfits at Ross & TJMaxx for a grand total of $24.35!!

And these awesome outfits were $7.99 a piece at Costco!!

Super fun and super cute clothes! I recently hit up a Moms of Multiples “yard” sale and got Shaelyn 4 pairs of pants, 3 sleepers for my godson and two bags of socks for my godson and paid a whopping $15.50 + $1 to get in!

After we finished vacuuming that half of the house, we got ourselves cleaned up and headed out to get some yummy ice cream! My helper deserved a treat! She really did help so much and it would have taken me so much longer to get it all done!

On our way out I took this pic of my awesome rose bush!

And my little helper enjoying her yummy strawberry ice cream (with M&M’s mixed in that I then had to fish out because they froze in the cold ice cream and were too hard to eat)!

Sunday was more cleaning and straightening up and lots and lots of laundry so that I have clean stuff to pack! While Shae napped I ran errands and Scott tried to warm his bones from sitting in the cold at the race!

All in all a good weekend! And I LOVE this age, my sweet little girl is such a big helper and she truly LOVES to help and is so caring! I was laying on the couch last night while we were waiting for the salmon to be done cooking in the oven and she was sitting at my feet and started rubbing my legs! I love her!

My beautiful baby
This picture may be my favorite ever as it’s so simple and shows her beautiful soul…no cheese, no glitz, just her…….

Amy

They do love each other, maybe…..

So tonight we had to take Toby and Lexi to the vet for their routine check up for Lexi, some vaccinations for Toby and a consult with the wonderful Dr. Covert (aka Kris to us as her and Scott have been friends since age 6)!  Toby and Lexi are 18 months apart and have the same daddy.  They sorta end up sitting/laying next to each other, they wrestle like they are still puppies and they don’t pay much attention to each other most of the time. 

Tonight we were on the way to the vet’s office and Lexi was going INSANE!  I mean seriously, whining, barking, making all kinds of ruckus in the back seat!  I have NEVER heard her act like that, it was almost sad.  I could NOT figure out what her issue was.  So we get to the vet’s office and she was just so fidgety and I really was at a loss.  Well when Scott took Toby around the corner to get weighed she FLIPPED out!  Started barking, going all kinds of nuts right there in the office.  It was the CRAZIEST I have ever seen her. 

So we were put in our room and we waited for Kris to come in and she was like pacing the room like a caged lion.  She was getting her temp taken and she was shaking!  Toby leaned over and kissed her, it was sooooo sweet!  And then he was taken in the back for some tests and she just kept circling.  Finally after we were in the room for a bit, both of them sat down and just chilled.  When we got back in the car she was her complete and normal self (which is generally the sweetest dog ever).  It was like she was completely panicked because the last time we went to the Vet, we left Toby for his surgery and I think she remembered that and was terrified we were leaving him again. 

So I guess they really do love each other!  When Toby kissed her I seriously almost melted!  So even though he is in DESPERATE need of prozac, and is a neurotic pain the rear, he really can be a sweet dog and he’s a great big brother to sweet Lexi girl!

 

Amy

Sweet Funny Girl

I know every parent thinks their child is the sweetest and funniest!  And I have to say I know why.  But man oh man this kid KILLS me!  At least once a day she says something that makes us laugh until our sides hurt!  She is always coming up with stuff, it’s amazing how much stuff they really catch on to!   Her latest obsession is birthday cake!  She saw a picture of her daddy’s awesome Kermit the Frog Birthday cake her Aunt Amanda made for her and now all she can talk about is the Tinkerbell Cake she wants for her birthday, 5 months away.  God help us! She doesn’t forget ANYTHING!  I swear she has a little elephant brain!

Wednesday I was in the bathroom brushing my teeth and getting ready to leave and she walked in wearing this:

 

Done all by herself of course!  Crazy kid!  I need to start writing down what she says when she says it because I can never remember later!

She of course is still two and gets herself in plenty of trouble!  Last night Scott and I almost peed our pants.  She was put in time out and after the buzzer/beeper goes off to signal the end of the 2 minutes she and Daddy were having a conversation about why she was in time out, etc.  She told him she was in time out for not listening and her bad attitude!  LOL 

Despite being two and trying, she can also be the sweetest girl ever.  Common conversations in our house:

Me/Scott:  UGH/Crap/Grrrrr, etc

Shaelyn:  What happened Mama/Dada?

Me/Scott: I bumped my leg, hurt my finger, etc

Shaelyn:  Me kiss it make it better

She’s always concerned about everyone being ok!  She is forever loving on the dogs and talking to them so sweetly!  She told us on the cruise that she missed her Lexi-girl BAD  .  That Lexi sure has earned her spot in heaven because Shaelyn is NOT exactly gentle with her!  Toby doesn’t let her get close enough LOL.

Today Amanda (who has her 3 days a week) told me that when Tristan left for preschool Austin left with them (her two boys).  She said Shaelyn bawled for 10 minutes because it took her that long to figure out that she was so upset her two friends left her.  Such a soft sweet heart! 

Amy

Signs

Do you believe in signs? I do!

When my grandfather died we had to figure out what to do with his car. My mom called and asked if I wanted it, I told her I’d check with Scott! That night I totaled my car enroute to work! Coincidence? Nah, no one was hurt, just my poor little corolla! So I definitely needed/wanted Pop-Pop’s car then!

About a week later we went to get the car from where it was parked. My mom mentioned that before we took it we needed to clean out the trunk as she remembered that Pop-Pop had told her some soda had exploded in the trunk! So as we were cleaning out the trunk my mom made a huge exclamation of “oh my god”. I seriously thought she had found a dead body by the way she reacted! She pulled out a grocery bag and in it was a lighthouse figure! I am the only one in the family that collects lighthouses! Crazy, coincidence, sign?

Two weeks later I went to get my hair cut. My hairdresser at the time was from Cape May, NJ. On her station was a lighthouse a customer had given her of the Cape May lighthouse. It was the SAME EXACT LIGHTHOUSE we found in the car!

So today I went to the funeral for a coworkers son, he was their only child. Richard Ricardo “Rico” Webb II was 17 years old, a senior at Dematha Catholic, had been granted a scholarship for the University of Alabama! Everyone who spoke said he was an amazing kid! The Director of Football Operations and the Head Football Coach from Alabama came and spoke today. What a testimony to a kid! They presented his parents with a jersey and told them he would be on their fall roster and they would designate a locker in his honor. Rico died of a blood clot. He had huge aspirations to follow his uncles footsteps as the CEO of his Hedgefund in NY!

At the end of the eulogies his dad spoke. I would be hard pressed to tell you that there is any other man on our police department who is nicer! Rick always has a smile on his face and just has the kindest heart. He is of course heartbroken. But even in his grieving state wanted to share a story of just this last week. On Thursday, March 1st he went with his best friend to get his haircut at his barbershop. They of course asked where Rico was and he told them of Rico’s passing and everyone was very upset. So when it was his turn in the chair there was a family with 3 small children there, the Mother said to the youngest, about 3 years old, “Rico, it’s time to get your haircut.” Rick turned and looked at the lady and said can I ask what your son’s name is. The lady replied “Ricardo “Rico” Webb II. Sign, coincidence? So he went home and told his wife what happened. He said he was going to go watch his son’s YouTube video because he wanted to hear his voice. He pulled it up and it said it had 769 views. Rico’s jersey # was 69, and 7th Heaven? Sign, coincidence? So he looked at the date and did a search for 317 and bible verses and he of course found John 3:17: For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. Sign or coincidence?

So while I don’t claim myself to be a religious person, I do believe in God and I most certainly believe in signs from above. As a parent, I cannot begin to fathom the pain and suffering the Webb’s are enduring right now over the profound loss of their only child. My heart truly breaks for them and I cannot even begin to comprehend their loss.

So hold your loved ones near and dear and remember to look for signs…..

Amy

Photobooks

Ok, I’m in LOVE with photobooks!!! I recently had two photo book “groupon” type deals that were going to expire so I had to race to finish my books! I had paid $10 for the books (each) and they ended up costing $5 for shipping on one and $5 +$6 for extra pages for the second one, so grand total for both books was $36!! Great deal!

Not sure if this will work, but here is the book I did from Shae’s 1st birthday/Our 10th Wedding Anniversary Trip to Cali:

http://www.photobin.com/ezservice?product=2710&pkey=647ea911b7d63caef99c8e60447de9fd&project_id=888a8510-04ed-41a3-be2c-885da72f4e1e&qty=1

And here’s our Disney Trip in October 2010:

http://www.photobin.com/ezservice?product=2710&pkey=853439d917374ebaa24dac8a99a3a53a&project_id=f0f334e1-25d2-4176-9c9a-e67bbef3be93&qty=1

You will probably have to sign up for an account if you don’t have one ~ but it’s free!

Amy

We’re home….

And I promise to get a post up about the trip…..soon…..it was INCREDIBLY AWESOME! We had so much fun and it was a complete relaxing vacation!

But this post I wanted to write about two different things, that are semi related in the fact that they both talk about facts and change.

Fact #1 ~ Your marriage and your feelings for your spouse will never be the same once you have a child. This does not mean it’s a bad thing at ALL, actually it’s a very GOOD thing. I love my husband more deeply and on a complete new level as a dad. At least once a day we laugh hysterically at Shaelyn, this gorgeous child we created together out of love. And who is quite the character. We just laugh together and smile and have a knowing glance of that love and what we have done and what we are doing together. We’re not perfect, we certainly have our ups and downs, but we love each other unconditionally and work hard at savoring each moment.

Fact #2 ~ We have had 3 pets together, we love our dogs we really do. Our dogs before Shaelyn came around were our children, our babies, our whole world. And while we love our dogs immensely, once you have children, your dogs become just that, dogs. They are pets, and they are to be loved, cared for and cherished, but the child comes first. I’m very sad to admit that at times I have had to remind myself to go feed them, make sure they have water, etc. They are not our 100% focus any more. Does that make us horrible people? Nope, it’s called the cycle of life! I can assure you we are NOT the first people to feel this way. Toby & Lexi are a very integral part of our family, but they still are dogs and if I were to EVER be placed in a position of choosing child or dog, I think I don’t even have to say what my choice would be.

Just sharing my $.02 for all it’s worth!

Amy

Updated progress

A couple months ago I hesitated to show these progress pictures! Why? Humiliation maybe? Scared to face the truth? Maybe. Not 100% sure why, just know that these are the facts. In the first pic, I have no idea how much I weighed, just a guess. I know the scale is not moving as much as I’d like it to, so I use these pics to keep me going!

I have a goal, mostly it’s size, but of course there is a number associated with it. That goal is another 60 lbs. Can I do it? By the goal date? Not sure, but our favorite mascot is a turtle after all. Slow and steady, with emphasis on the slow part! LOL

So here I am, in all my glory…..a special thanks to all my supporters, you know who you are.

Xoxox

Amy

My entire world