A Little Advice

When Anna's older and she's looking for "The One" I'll be sure to give her a little advice: marry someone like your father.

I really lucked out when I found Bryan. He has qualities I knew I wanted: responsible, practical, loving, caring, handsome, and fun to be around. He has qualities I didn't even know I wanted: handy, capable, and did I mention handy? My dad has no handy qualities so I didn't know that a girl could really like having a guy like Bryan around. He fixes all kinds of things around the house, does big jobs like mowing and shoveling snow, does gross jobs like killing mice, and handles annoying things I don't want to think about like finding cheaper insurance and a better mortgage rate.

Why am I singing his praises today, on the first day of November? No, it's not his birthday. I'm bragging on my awesome husband because he BUILT A FIREPLACE! Our basement was so cold in the winter that I never wanted to go down there. With a baby on the way, we moved Anna to the bedroom that was a playroom and will spruce up her old room for the baby. We needed a place for her toys, and the basement was that perfect place - except for the frigid temperatures.

Over the summer and into the early fall, Bryan worked on taking a window out, building a fireplace structure, taking out and then rebuilding window seats with boxes for baskets, added a gas line, drywalled the ceiling, painted, and supervised some guys putting stone around the fireplace to finish everything off. Our basement looks SO GOOD. It feels warm too!

There used to be a window where the framing is going up. Besides the stone surround, the only thing Bryan didn't do was brick the wall where the window used to be. I don't know the first thing about building structures much less using power tools to accomplish such building.

Isn't it beautiful? I think it looks so good. I'll be searching for some baskets to go in the little cubbies.

Another view of Bryan's handiwork. I still need to add a little decoration to the mantle and some art work on the surrounding walls. I would also like to add a club chair with a book case to make it feel very cozy, but for now, it's nice to watch a movie with the fire warming things up.

Today I am thankful for:

• a husband that was all I could hope for and more


• a growing belly


• a fun Halloween
  
  
  
  

House Plans

Our house has always been nice, but there have been some things we'd like to change. Bryan was taking measurements yesterday, so maybe we'll be getting to some of the changes when the weather warms up.

The things we'd like to do:

• put a fireplace in the basement - this will be a big expensive job, so I don't know if the following projects will actually happen...
• tile Anna's bathroom and fix or replace her toilet
• replace carpet in Anna's bedroom and toy room (which will turn into Anna's bedroom, I think)
• put shelves with toy baskets in basement
• buy a bedroom set for us (we'll give Anna our dressers)
• get the bed Bryan bought from Craigs List stripped, then stain it for Anna
• buy a mattress for Anna's new bed. I already have the bedding!
• paint living room, dining room, and Anna's bedroom - and accessorize as needed
• clean and organize the office which currently is the messiest disaster area in the house
• put hardwood floors in the living room (this one's a long way off)
• buy a flat screen to be hung over the fireplace (this one's a long way off, too)

Neither of us plan on getting an extra job, so I'm not really sure how long this will take. We tend to be REALLY picky, and we only like to spend money on things of nice quality - even if we have to pay a little more. One of Bryan's qualities that I admire most is his ability to do HOURS of research on things before buying anything (like the fireplace), so it takes us a really long time to buy things.

Good luck to us!

Today I am thankful for:

• a day off with roads clear so Anna could go to daycare, and I could get the house cleaned
• Anna seems to be free of sinus congestion and is in a much better mood than last week
• 3 Jillian Michaels DVDs for some variety in my weekly exercise
• $1 bin at Target has foam stickers that Anna loves to play with - for like 15 min at a time!!!
• Anna is doing awesome wearing panties - no more daytime diapers!!!!
• Anna's bedtime routine: get PJs on, brush teeth, then we each get to read a book. Anna "reads" No, David, and it might be the cutest thing I've ever seen.

Happy Anniversary

I think I've mentioned my love for Bryan, but here we go again. We were married 4 years ago today! We got married outside - it was beautiful, it was hot, it was romantic, it was fun, it was perfect. Since that day 4 years ago, we've had countless Friday night dinners, plenty of cuddle time on the couch, a new house, a few vacations, and of course our beautiful baby.

Our marriage works, not because we're perfect, but because we compromise, and we're honest. When we tell each other what we need, we work to be better partners and meet those needs. Bryan loves me even though I get crabby. I love him even though he likes to push my buttons. It's good to love and be loved.

Today I'm thankful for:

• time to get things done
• an awesome book: Fortune's Rock by Anita Shreve
• another year of marriage to look forward to
• I'm asking for more help, and Bryan is helping with the little things more often

Tribute to Bryan

Here are a few reasons I love Bryan as a dad, the things that make him great as Anna's daddy...

• He loves her more than he ever thought he would or could love a child.
• They play hide and seek, and Anna is full of joy and happiness. Watching them play together is one of my favorite times.
• He reads books to her. Their favorite is Goodnight Moon.
• He wants her to be happy, and will do what he can to make her happy when she's pouting. When they went to visit his parents and I didn't go, he sang to her in the car when she was sad. Bryan never ever, I mean NEVER EVER sings. I don't think I've ever heard him sing.
• He built her a swing set and swings with her on his lap.
• He plays tricks on her, which she loves.
• He has her best interest at heart. He worries about her, and he's not a worrier, at least not a pro like me. He did a lot of dumb and dangerous things as a kid, and he's said he doesn't want her doing any of those things.
• He gives her unlimited hugs and kisses.
• Many times he has said, "The best part of my day is when I get to see her after work. She makes me forget all the crappy work stuff."
• Every night before he goes to bed he goes in her room to check on her and cover her up again.

Love B as my hubby, love him all over again as my baby daddy.

Play set Pictures

Here are the pictures I promised...

This is our backyard before the play set construction began.

This is the garage with the boxes unpacked and all the pieces laying in groups.

Bryan built the towers in the garage. He got the small one in the backyard by himself. I helped him get the big one back. We put it on a tarp and pulled it back. I'm not going to lie, it was heavy, and I am not a strong person.

The finished swing set with my two favorite people! The climbing wall isn't finished yet because he needs different fasteners - the ones that came with the set weren't working the way he wanted them to.

We've played on the swing set every nice evening this week. It's practically impossible to get her off to go inside and eat dinner. I hope she enjoys it for a very long time.

Today I'm thankful for:

• a handy husband
• a work week that seems to have gone faster than the usual
• a baby that enjoys being outside
  
  
  
  

He's bought himself a few weeks!

I love this guy. He's pretty great, and let's not forget the good looks. But this isn't about his good looks, it's about how I know he loves Anna and would take all his free time to give her what he knows she would love.

I think I've mentioned how B and I have "discussions" (kind of like a fight without the meanness - you might think it's bc we're so evolved, but really I'm not much of a fighter) about how I feel like I do all the everyday stuff, and yes, I know he does a lot of things around the house, but those are just sometimes stuff. Well, I'll give him a break for a few weeks bc he just finished Anna's play set today!!!!

Anna LOVES to be outside; in fact she'll repeat the word 'outside' until you give in or make her think of something else. We play in the front yard, and we play in the backyard, but she has that whole 5 minute attention span thing, so we run out of things to do. Since she LOVES to be outside and she loves the park, we thought we might as well bring it to our backyard. We went with this CedarWorks set. It was more money than we really wanted to spend initially, but it's all in the opportunity cost: no sanding or staining - ever, and it comes with many parts already assembled.

The 9 boxes were delivered on Monday, and B got to work unpacking the boxes and beginning a little assembly. He continued the assembly of different parts (the two towers and the ladders) in the garage throughout the week until the final assembly was left. The weather wasn't really on our side for this one, but he got a break today. B woke up at 7 and worked non-stop until 3 when everything was finally in place! Is he amazing or what? He's really a great dad and hubby, even if he doesn't change poopy diapers if there is someone else to do it (me):)

Anna swung (sp check said that's what it should be, but it looks so wrong) on her baby swing, then with me on the big swing, then by herself on the big swing, and then repeated, and repeated, and repeated, she climbed up the ladder and went down the slide several times, and she even climbed the ramp with the rope. She has this whole impatientce thing that shows up even when she's enjoying herself on the swings: she just slides right off regardless of the fact that it's still moving! She was so happy.

We came in for dinner and it was starting to rain, and she continued to ask to go outside on the swings. I think it's a winner! If you're looking for something to do this summer , come on over- you know where we'll be ... on the kick ass swing set my awesome husband built!!! I told you he loved her.

Pictures soon - the battery died on the camera, and I'm too lazy to charge it right now.

Today I'm thankful for:

1. good enough weather so B could put the swing set up.


2. a husband that loves our daughter with all his heart


3. a really great book: Girls' Poker Night by Jill A. Davis

My Weekend... Mine, All Mine

Bryan went to a supplier visit near his parents' house, and he took Anna with him so she could spend time with Mimi and PaPa. It was just me (and Shelby, who makes me feel safe when I'm home alone) from Thursday night through Sunday afternoon. I hated to see them go, but it was also nice to get to do whatever I wanted without time limits, without worrying about what Anna needed, and without hearing Bryan say, "We don't need to go shopping."
So, here's a quick summary of my weekend:

• 3 good night sleeps
• 2 mornings to sleep in
• 1 day of conferences
• 1 walk with Shelby
• Joseph-Beth and Artique on Friday night
• massage and pedicure on Saturday
• shopping with Tara on Saturday: Target (I got a ton of stuff - mostly clothes for Anna for the summer) and Carters
• shopping by myself: American Eagle (gift card used on flip flops and sun glasses), Gap (2 pairs of jeans, a polo shirt, and a pair of leggings for Anna - gift card and $), Kohls (a few shirts and picture frames). I think I'm good on the shopping thing for a while. Sometimes I just have to get it out of my system.
• watched New Moon on Saturday night! It was so good.
• normal Sunday stuff: grocery, Sam's Club, laundry

I had a really enjoyable weekend getting to do things I don't normally get to do, or at least not for the full weekend. But the best part of my weekend was the HUGE hug I got from Anna when they got home; she just held on tight and let me hold her while we talked. She's getting so big, and I love her so much.

Today I'm thankful for:

• Anna's big hug
• Anna and Bryan got home safely
• getting to sleep in
• a regenerating weekend
• strawberries

My Babe is 30 Tomorrow

My Babe, as in my first Babe, my true love, my hubby, my BFF, my Bry is turning the BIG 3-0.

Yes, his birthday is on St. Patrick's Day, and no, he's not Irish. He just got lucky like that. He often gets St. Patrick's Day themed gifts, such as green shamrock boxers, a St. Paddy's Day plastic beer mug that changes green when filled with a cold beverage (I use this for cleaning, not drinking), and other green novelties. I didn't get him any of those things this year.

Bryan doesn't get too excited about his bday. I like to let everyone know it's my bday so they can make me feel special - whether they want to or not. Not B, he just says it's any other day. WHATEVER! It's his day. It's his day to get all the attention, to choose the dinner place, to open presents and get excited, and to hear "Happy Birthday" at dinner (this actually won't happen except in our home, because if I tell the restaurant people it's his bday, I will not be his favorite person).

I wanted to think of some really fun and clever gifts. I didn't. He's getting:

• two year subscription to This Old House magazine - he likes it.
• a 3D Rubix Cube - he wanted it for Christmas and didn't get it.
• a pack of bubble tape - I just thought it would be a fun gift. He would eat all his bubble tape at once; I ate mine little by little till it got stale.
• I guess you could also say he got a new car.
• Dinner with his two favorite girls!
• Make believe desert (because he doesn't want to eat real desert and have his belly hurt because he doesn't have the will power to stop eating the delicious shortbread or key lime bars).

Love you Bry!

Post edit: Opps - I forgot.

I am thankful for:

• going to the store after work with Anna and having a positive experience
• Anna didn't hit anyone when I picked her up at day care
• caramels

Another post edit: Oops, not opps. I told you I was a bad speller.

We will sleep like kings - I hope

B and I have noticed that our bed isn't so great anymore. I feel like I'm sinking; he feels the springs. Needless to say, we aren't getting a great night sleep and are ready for a new bed. Since Anna frequents our bed what seems like every night for an hour or so, we decided to go for the king. I predict that she will continue to get in our bed as she gets older, so king it is. We got it at Macy's during their Presidents' Day Sale. It is scheduled to be delivered on March 6 - so exciting!


Now a few small issues:

1) We don't have any sheets, covers, or a comforter for this big bed. We have REALLY nice sheets for our queen size bed that we got for wedding gifts. We aren't willing to give up the high thread count, so we'll go piece by piece until we have a whole set.

2) I don't know how I want to decorate the bedroom (or the rest of the house for that matter). I had a really clear vision with our other house, and I've got nothin' for this one. I think I'm being torn - "simple and classic" or "bright and fun"? The house says "simple and classic" while my taste is telling me "bright and fun." What is a girl to do? Probably defer to husband, who will say "simple and classic." Duh.


Simple solutions:

1) We will buy one nice set of white sheets now.

2) I will search for some comforter and other sheet options and ask for those for Christmas.

Here are some I like:
pottery barn - woodland
pottery barn - monreale paisley
pottery barn - quilts in daffodil, sandalwood, or soft green
pottery barn - silk quilt in any color
pottery barn - organic quilt in any color
pottery barn - pearl embroidered in any color but sandalwood
pottery barn - floral vine (not available in king, but maybe later???)

bed bath & beyond - camilla
beddingsupperstore.com - mandarin ok, so this one is a little pricey, but still cool
beddingsupperstore.com - harmony
westelm - pin tuck in white, natural, seaspray, or clay
westelm - pleated voile in any color

We'll see what's available when the time comes.

Today I am thankful for:
1. B stayed home from work today (for a mental health day, to escape the bad drive, and to be with his two favorite gals).
2. Anna got out of the tub without a fight and tears!
3. I found my little weights to go along with 30 day Shred. I was using soup cans which was considerably easier, but I need the weights to make some changes in my body.

What does a monkey say?

Last night we ate at Steak N' Shake, then drove over to look at Ashley Furniture (we're always looking for the perfect bedroom suit - we've been living together for 6 years, and still haven't found one. I think I have a pickiness problem.) Anyway, we drove past Monkey Joes, so I ran in to get a brochure. We checked it out, and decided to go after nap time today. My mom came down to visit, so she went with us.

It was only $5 for Anna to get in - adults are free. It's a little more for 2 and up kids and a little more for weekends, but very acceptable for me. There was one big bounce house for 3 and under, so we spent some time in there (parents can help and go on every bouncer - which was a must for Anna at this age.) We also went on the two big slides multiple times. B and I took turns bc it's fairly exhausting to help her climb up the big slides. I did have a panic moment when I was standing in the corner of the 3 and under bouncer, and Anna never came back around to go on the little slide. I started looking around for her, and she wasn't there. I was screaming to B and my mom, "I can't find her, she's not here, where is she??????" Do you know what it's like to be stuck at the back of a bouncer, trying to run out and find your baby who might be lost in a sea of crazy children hopped up on icees, cotton candy, and bounce house fun all while your husband and mom are not understanding that she is LOST, NOT IN HERE WITH ME, WHERE IS SHE???? I finally got out of the bouncer and looked in the next bouncer over, and there she was, having a great time. You do wear matching bracelets that are cut off when you leave, so that gave me a little calm, but I was still freaked out. We were there for 2 hours and we were all tired by the end. We will definitely go back - it was very fun.

B and I went to test drive cars after that while my mom stayed with Anna. We have to give the Venza back at the end of February, so we are looking at SUVs so we have a car with some space. B will drive the civic, we will turn in our IS, and I will drive the SUV. We are deciding between a Highlander and a 4-Runner. I liked both. The Highlander is a smoother ride, more like a car, but the 4-Runner looks really cool. I'd be happy with either. We're going to look into prices a little more, figure B's discount, and go from there.

For the rest of the night - Olympics!

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

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.

It's our anniversary

B and I celebrated our 3 year anniversary yesterday. We had a beautiful outdoor wedding at the Manor House in Cincinnati - it was perfect. I had the best time at our wedding. The food was good, drinks were flowing, and the music was very danceable (I don't think that's a word, but you know what I mean). It was so fun - we danced, hung out with friends and family, and celebrated.

We are on vacation in Isle of Palms right now, so we drove into Charleston last night, where we had dinner at a restaurant called Fleet Landing. It was really good - I had crab cakes and the best grits I have ever tasted, mmmmm, and B had Mahi Mahi, also good. Then we walked to the Haunted Jail Tour, ooooo, spooky. It was an interesting tour - the jail has been there since 1802! We didn't see any ghosts, but we did get some orbs in a few pictures.

Bryan is great husband and father. We definitely have different personalities, but on things that matter the most, we stick together. We love our families, we work hard, we support each other, we communicate, we cuddle, we take care of each other, we both take care of Anna. Sure we argue and have disagreements, but we always work them out, compromise or move on, whatever it takes.

I love him.

happy b-day B

As I mentioned previously, I have thouroughly enjoyed reading PW's love story. PW talks about why she loves her hubby so much and why he's so great for her. It got me thinking...today's Bryan's 29th birthday, I love him tons, and I think he's great for me.

So in honor of my hubby on his birthday, a short homage to Bryan:

• he is who he is and makes no excuses


• black or white, but never gray


• loves me, and has never been afraid to show it


• loves Anna more than he imagined he could


• reliable


• responsible


• button-pusher extraordinair


• compromiser