She's a mix...

I love to watch Anna and think about how she is so like Bryan, and so like me. People that know my dad used to say I look like him. People that know my mom said I look like her. I was much more like my dad in personality, though - that whole turn into your mother thing has happened in some ways. I think Anna might be the same way - IDK, maybe most kids are.

Like B:

• short on patience, very short
• same mouth and smile
• strong-willed
• makes the same faces/expressions
• long waisted
• likes to push mommy's buttons
• loving

Like Me:

• same hair
• crazy-all-around-the-bed sleeper
• bed head baby
• silly, so goofy sometimes
• sweet tooth
• loving

I love her. Having a baby is the greatest. Watching her grow is the best gift.

I'm not the maid!

B is a great hubby and daddy. He loves Anna and me with his whole heart. I never question his love and dedication for us. I do however question his "man brain."

When we were first living together, I was going to school and substitute teaching. I had the extra time and (pretend) newlywed love in my heart to take care of him. I made lunches, fixed dinner, did the laundry, and sort of cleaned (blah). Well with a full time teaching job and an active 21 month old, I don't want to do all of it all of the time. I know I'm not alone in this - ladies out there. Great husbands get spoiled by us, then don't want to help with the daily work around the house when life gets busier and more complex.

We've had several discussions about this lately. Yes, you do things that I can't do: computer stuff, mowing, shoveling snow, drilling and other handy stuff - BUT THAT IS ONCE-IN-A-WHILE KIND OF STUFF, NOT WEEKLY, NOT DAILY!!!!! If it's not fun, he doesn't want to do it. So I'm stuck with poopy diapers, cooking, cleaning up the dishes, and putting the laundry away. I do it because it has to be done. I'm tired of doing all the crappy stuff.

Well, I guess me explaining that I'm not his maid several times recently sunk in today. I try to clean the house every other Saturday, and today, he helped!!! He also helped with the laundry and shoveled the drive. I still had the poopy diaper, but I'm super thankful that he loves me with his whole heart and listened.
Love you, B

1 year anniversary

It will be one year ago tomorrow that I started my blog! We were in the middle of an ice storm that kept me stuck in the house, so what else is there to do besides stalk people on facebook? Why, start a blog of course.

I didn't know how it was going to go - if it was something I would even enjoy. Well, since I'm still writing it about once a week, you might have guessed that I like it. I don't always have exciting news or anything that sets the world on fire, but I do have little thoughts and tidbits that I enjoy sharing. I especially like writing about Anna - mostly for memory's sake. I prefer writing on the computer where it's semi-public rather than in a personal journal; I guess it seems like it's for a reason if it's out there for others to read. I like getting my random thoughts out, because then I can move on.

I looked at my first post and mentioned that B said I was weird for doing this, but he likes reading my Anna posts. Blogging's not so weird, it's fun, it's simple, and it's sometimes meaningful.

Stay tuned for more blogging...

spend or save?

I like to go shopping by myself and spend money. I went to Target to get a photo album (in lieu of a scrapbook and things), socks for Anna, and diapers - also for Anna. I was by myself, therefore, I spent money on other fun stuff:

• purple hoodie for Anna
• cup and plate - Valentine's theme - for Anna
• pink flower sandals - for Anna
• are you seeing a theme here?
• 2 dollar bin books - for Anna
• Sesame Street stickers - for Anna
• Valentines for the kids
• neon glow bracelets for the kids - dollar bin
• and the necessary - photo albums, diapers, and socks

I also wanted to look at and possibly purchase some unnecessary shoes for myself, but, please - I do have self control.

I don't need to go shopping by myself and spend money. So I go with B and Anna. They take the fun and stress release out of shopping, therefore I don't want to browse or try things on ... money saver.

All inclusive

B and I had a really nice time on our little trip to the Bahamas. We stayed at Sandals which is all inclusive. It was expensive upfront, but it was nice to not have to worry about money while we were there. I didn't really like being out of the country with Anna so far away. We couldn't use our cell phones, so we had to keep our conversations short each morning. If B and I need another getaway, I think we'll keep it closer to home or maybe someplace fun, like Vegas. We missed Anna - especially in the mornings and nights, but we did ok.

We watched our friends (Luke and Nickie) get married on the beach. It was a really intimate ceremony with special touches for the mothers. We hung out with friends that live in: Cincinnati, Portland, Cleveland soon to be Seattle, Columbus, and other various places in the country. We stayed up late. We ate, B and everyone else drank. We didn't chase a 21 month adorable little girl around.


My mom did well with Anna up until Sunday. She took her shopping and visited a friend of hers that lives in Lexington a few times. We came home to all kinds of goodies. But on Saturday night my mom had the brilliant idea to clean up our office, which was the only room we hadn't unpacked. Well, she stayed up until 4 in the morning - which made her crash hard and act crazy when I talked to her on the phone from the Atlanta airport. I knew, well hoped I knew, that she was taking care of Anna despite the weird tone of her voice and ditsy things she was saying. She was putting her diaper on and getting her into her jams at the right time - so that was good. I bought a book (side note: awesome Jodie Picoult book - Salem Falls) to keep my mind from going to the dark side. We finally made it home around midnight on Sunday to find the house and Anna intact. My mom was tired and worn out. I talked to her about everything a few days ago. I'm not mad at her, just disappointed - what the hell was she thinking??? I will let her watch Anna again, but we don't have plans for any big weekends without Anna coming up.

I'll have fun with friends, but I'm going to miss my baby

Bryan and I are going to the Bahamas on Thursday. Notice that I didn't say Anna is going too? Bryan's best friend, Luke, is getting married to his long time girl friend, Nickie, at the Sandals Royal Bahamian. Sandals = no kids.
I'm excited for a bunch of reasons:

• B and I will have a romantic weekend together - our first since before Anna (really before pregnancy)
• We get to see our friends that we rarely ever get to see. After college, we moved all over the country. Weddings are about the only time we see our high school and college friends.
• We get to have a few days in the warmth and sun. Yes, away from this horrendous cold and snow.
• We are going someplace new - I've never been to the Bahamas.
• A little break from work and life.

I'm sad, nervous, and anxious for a bunch of reasons:

• We've never left Anna overnight, much less 3 nights. She'll be with my mom, so I know she'll be taken care of, but I've never been away from her for that long.
• I will miss my baby. She makes me so happy. I'll miss her pretty smiling face and silly things she does.
• Anna's been having a lot of sleep issues lately. Her doctor said it was normal, but it's hard to know what to do. She wakes up every couple of nights screaming. Sometimes if we let her go, she will fall asleep on her own. There are other times, the only way to get her to sleep is by bringing her in our bed; she falls asleep instantly when she comes in our bed so that makes me wonder if she just needs to be comforted. The past few nights she will not fall asleep unless she's being held. If we leave her in her bed to cry it out, she tries climbing out of her crib but stops while straddling the top bar - I guess she doesn't want to hurt herself by dropping down. It's a hard choice - cry and maybe hurt herself or fall asleep with us and start bad habits. We've been leaning towards stay safe which leads to starting bad habits. She's at least sleeping in her crib every night for at least some or all night. My mom won't want her in any pain or sadness, so I'm sure she'll be in her bed every night.

  It will be tough to be away from Anna, but all in all, I'm looking forward to a fun weekend.

  Love you Anna. Love you so much.

another first!

So we went in the snow - for just a little bit. I was taking pictures and video since it was Anna's first time, so I wasn't really a fun person to play in the snow with. I also have my winter hats in a box (still), so my ears were freezing. Anna liked discovering what the snow looked like and felt like. She especially liked dusting it off the car. She realized it is much harder to pick yourself up after falling down in the snow. She also liked the guy across the street using the leaf blower to clear his driveway.

She stayed warm and dry. I think we will go again tomorrow!

Snow Day

It's our first snow day of the year, and hopefully one of the few. I really don't want to go to school in June. Anna and I are hanging out, waiting for the snow to cover the grass so she can play. We have the snow suit and we have the boots, we just need enough snow; I mean, come on, we were called off school, the grass should be covered.

Snow day pictures to come - maybe.

things change

The news channels keep talking about what has happened in the past decade, so it had me thinking - what has happened for me since 2000?

1. I broke up with old bf, and started dating Bryan. It will be our 7 years-together anniversary on January 3!
2. Graduated from college with a BS in Business Administration (so wrong for me)
3. Moved to KY with Bryan
4. Got engaged
5. Graduated from grad school so I can be a teacher (so right for me)
6. Got married (love him)
7. Started my teaching career
8. Had Anna (love her)
9. Moved to what I hope is our home for a long time.
10. Added the following family members: Step-mom Chris, step-sister Sydney, brother-in-law Scott, all of my in-laws, nephew Jackson, niece Lilly, nephew Zachary, and of course Anna.

Here are a few things to look forward to in 2010:
1. Luke and Nickie are getting married in the Bahamas - January
2. Jen is having a little boy - probably in March
3. Bryan turns 30 - March
4. Anna turns 2 - April
5. I turn 30 - May
6. Jami has a baby - July or August
7. I get tenure at work - August
8. ????? The unexpected!!!!!

Happy New Year :)