Temporarily out of service

This blog is temporarily out of service as I am busy getting my ass kicked by the flu. Be back soon I hope!

The GAP.

When Brooklyn was 3 months old I swore she was teething. Drooling, grabbing ears, runny nose - all the things I read in the books. Yeah, the books that tell you how to be a mom. Another topic filed in the "my mom was right file." Those books are useless.

Anywho, she really actually started teething around 8 months old. We are spoiled, when she goes down for bed, she goes to bed. The night we were 45 minutes into the someone is clearly beating me tantrum where she held on to the side of her crib and rocked forward and backward and forward and backward FOR THE LOVE OF GOD someone please save me from this torture - we knew she was teething.

Since then, it's one after the other. Girl has got some chompers. She also has A...

wait for it....

wait for it....

GAP!!!

I don't know if it's just her age, and they'll grow closer together, or if we're stuck with the goofy space that I suppose adds character? Yeah right. Answer me honestly - when you see someone with a huge gap in their teeth, do you automatically think 'smarts.'? Yeah, didn't think so. I've just never been a fan of the people with gaps in their teeth (no offense) but it's not like I can freakin fix it.

Ahh, vanity.

On my birthday we...

Looked adorable...

Ate lots of yummy food...

Enjoyed delicious cupcakes!

Opened lots of presents...

Enjoyed time with friends and family...

Had an awesome day!

Don't be tardy for the party!

If any of you watch Housewives of Atlanta (and if you don't, omg what the hell - start watching now!), then you'll understand the reference to the title and we can talk about the awesome hot mess horridness of that later.
This weekend I'm throwing Brooklyn's 1st birthday party. Even though her actual day came and went, girl still needs a celebration, right? And, with scheduling conflicts like opening day of dove season (yes, that's my family), and football (priorities people, priorities!), the 19th seemed to work for everyone.

Enter, operation overboard.

Starting with the invitations. Of course I had to custom make them with her sweet face on them, right? Duh. Well, and the Evite thing was out the door because some of my grandparents, etc. will be there, and you ask them to do the whole Evite thing is like asking your pet to send a text message. Say wha?

On to the food and drinks. I simply cannot just go pick up something easy for snacks and order a grocery store birthday cake now can I? No, because I am a freak excited to do this right I will be preparing all the food myself (which I will share post party with pics), and I've decided to go with cupcakes rather than an actual cake. But here's the overdoing details there, I'm having them catered by L's Cupcakes and I have ordered 8 dozen mini cupcakes in 4 different flavors, and one jumbo cupcake for B. It's important to be excessive prepared.
They are so cute and delicate! I'm sure all the men at the party will totally think they're ridiculous awesome.

Drinks. Must have the basics for my friends and family covered. Beer and wine, check.

Now, what to wear?

This was a tough one for me. I'm going for a hot mama look, with a lot of mobility and room for beer drinking when this is all over. Brooklyn has to be the bell of the ball right. So, cute black tutu it is, with a pink monogrammed tank top that is of course, being bedazzled! I can't show you yet because it's still being done, oh, and let's just tell my hubby that it all cost around $20.00, ok? Wink, wink.

Speaking of hubby, he has a little honey-do list himself that I have been constantly occasionally reminding him of:

Mow and trim the yard, including potting two new plants.
Clean back deck.
Move grill.
Order and pick up chairs.
Sweep garage.
Clean coolers.

You know, just a few things.

I've obsessed as to where we will put the presents, what to put on in the background (music or football), where to position the chairs, what time to do the cake, and on and on and on, which is why you all know now why said husband has frequently given me the look of death this week.

I can't explain why I feel the need to launch operation overboard, but it's my baby girl and it suits me. And I like it. And I'm the mom. It's what I do. I'm sure by year 2 and 3 it will be full blown Disney princesses (yawn), The Wiggles (shoot me now!), or Winnie the Pooh (I really hope not!), whatever she wants. But since she's too young to know or care, we're doing what Mama wants.

...and Mama wants, a PARTY.

Perspective, one year later.

4 weeks after having a Brooklyn I posted about 10 lessons I had learned since she was born. A year later, I'd like to add some perspective to these observations:

1.) There is no such thing as 'quickly' changing a diaper. You must always have the changing pad and replacement diaper in hand, if you don't you will end up paying $37.41 to have your comforter dry cleaned.

One year later: Add bottle spills, sticky medicine, crumbs of food that were stuck to her...you just live with a dirty comforter until you are having a people over at which point you eat the $ and get it cleaned, again.

2.) You can't avoid spit up so don't try. Even if you cover yourself in burp cloths it will ultimately find the one piece of exposed clothing and land there.

One year later: Spit up goes away pretty quickly and really never amounted to much. Baby food was much messier.

3.) Babies know when you are trying to do the quiet and delicate lay down in there crib. The will immediately wake up no matter how hard you had them to sleep. Just put them down, save yourself the humiliation.

One year later: She can scream her brains out until she falls asleep, it's nap time or bed time when I say so.

4.) Designate specific pockets in the diaper bag for things. Diaper bags come with 100 different pockets, if you just throw your stuff in there it will take hours to find where you put the butt paste or pacifier, and you don't have time for searching. Very important lesson learned.

One year later: Lesson never learned as I am constantly looking through everything to find whatever the hell it is I'm looking for. I've got pretty good organization skills so therefore I blame Coach, for a cute, but not very functional product. Which is why I am about to switch products and order one from CSNbaby.com, they sell diaper bags to nursery furniture. Review to follow to see if in fact it's the bag, or the mom.

5.) Don't sit near the front of any restaurant. Everyone that comes in the door wants to look at your baby and talk to you. This is nice sometimes but when you're trying to enjoy a nice dinner with your hubby this causes way too many interuptions.

One year later: Still true and a good lesson. Especially as they get older you purposely want that not so obvious table so when they are hurling food at you or the floor it's not as embarassing.

6.) Don't bother putting socks on a baby, they always fall off and you end up with one of every pair.

One year later: True. And true for shoes too.

7.) Just take the photo.

One year later: TRUE. And my poor child endured some grueling photo shoots with me as the photographer. Like these,


8.) DVR things throughout the day so you have something to watch when you're up at 3:30 a.m. Paid programming gets old.

One year later: True, but thankfully paid programming isn't necessary by about month 4 I know, lucky me.

9.) You will always be late not matter how hard you try, so tell folks you'll be there 30 minutes after everyone else.

One year later: Nah, you get the routine down and it's definitely far less overwhelming to get anywhere. You get so good at packing up that you can even include the high chair, pack-n-play, leap frog sing along table, etc...with time to kill.

10.) You can blow dry your hair, put on make up, change clothes, make spaghetti, do dishes, laundry, and write your blog with just one hand.

One year later: TRUE and TRUE, because well, Mom's rule.

One year later I've got whole new list now, polishing it up then going to share. This one involves things like which brand of vodka gives you the quickest buzz, how to cope with family no longer paying attention to you, and shaking off the temper tantrum/full body scream of terror mid-grocery shop.

Who you'd be today...

So, I'm a huge fan of Kenny Chesney. HUGE. I love him and I tell Dom all the time he's my country music boyfriend. His music, to me, is something I can make memories with, rock out to in my car, dance, and cry. Some of my friends make fun of me, and the sleeveless shirts he wears, but they can suck it.

He sings this song, "Who you'd be today" that references those that lost their lives too young, and on a day like today it plays over and over in my head.

It ain't fair you died too young
Like a story that had just begun
The death tore the pages all away
God knows how I miss you
All the hell that I've been through
Just knowing no one could take your place
Sometimes I wonder who you'd be today

Would you see the world?
Would you chase your dreams?
Settle down with a family?
I wonder, what would you name your babies?
Some days the sky's so blue
I feel like I can talk to you
And I know it might sound crazy...

I remember exactly where I was on 9/11, and what I did that day, and the church I went to that night surrounded by complete strangers all with their heads down in prayer and in tears. Kids instantly without parents, wives instantly widows, husbands single dads, brothers, sisters, friends, lost. I'm sure they were all wonderful people with amazing stories yet to be told. This is a day I will never forget, and I will always pay tribute to these heroes.

God bless them all, and their families, who I'm sure sit and wonder who they'd be today.

One year!

Dear Brooklyn,

I started working on this letter to you awhile ago because I want it to be perfect. You know, because, You are perfect.

Today at 5:57 p.m. you are exactly 1 year old. Can you believe it? Me neither. Your very first birthday. I remember so many of your firsts, and luckily because I'm crazy, have 900 photos of them to reflect on.

You are the most beautiful daughter, with loving eyes and an independence I'm already proud of. In just one year you have accomplished so much. You are walking now, learning to communicate, eating the same food as mommy and daddy, building relationships with your school friends, touching your nose, building blocks, throwing little fits, loving to read, swim, dance, play with with puppies, climbing on our treadmill, going through my closet, cabinets, my purse, learning...and growing. Way to go girl, you are quite the accomplished one year old.

You have a sensitive side too, my favorite. You wake up sleepy and love to lay on my chest until you're ready to start your day. You see your blanket and you put your head on it immediately on daddy's shoulder. You give the best hugs, and open mouthed slobbery kisses. You seem to know when other people need a hug and almost always randomly give them one. You are strong, but soft. Stay that way for mommy, okay?

Daddy and I are so blessed to have you. We sit together and watch you constantly, commenting on how adorable you are or what kind of trouble you will give us when you're older. Your daddy still loves to sing to you, like he did from day 1, and he's still singing his made up version of Christmas songs. You love them, and almost always fall asleep to them. YOu still cover your head completely with your blanket, another thing you did from day 1. We were always waking up those first few weeks to check on you. Ah yes, those first few weeks and months. Mommy was blissfully happy, scared, and facscinated by you. I am still fascinated but you and I got our routine down now. You were so delicate, and were such a good newborn. You woke up a lot to eat those first couple of months but I didn't mind the mother/daughter time at 3:00 a.m. watching paid programming. You loved your swing, and eventually graduated to sitting in your bumbo chair, which was always placed on the kitchen counter so you could watch mommy cook. That little chair has been retired now, as you have obviously moved on to bigger and better things, like our treadmill and your singing table.

Just like your mommy and daddy, you love to travel. You were only six weeks old when you had your first road trip. We headed up to Abilene to see Uncle Richard play football. Thankfully, you slept the entire way there, and back. During the football game we bundled you all up in your pink polo jump suit and you lasted through the entire thing. Your Uncle Richard was so happy to meet you and you fell asleep on his big chest at the hotel room. When you were six months old we got your passport made and headed to Mexico. This is where you first discovered the swimming pool and had absolutely no fear for the water. Since then you've been back to the Texas beaches twice and love every minute of it. In June you took your first trip (well, technically 2nd because you were there when you were in my belly) to New York City. You rode in the airplanes, cabs, trains, on a bus, and the subway. You ate at our favorite Italion restaurant and made an awesome mess of spaghetti. You visited Central Park, Uncle Joe & Aunt Korine, Grandpa Johnny, ate in Chinatown and saw YOUR bridge. Don't worry, mommy has plenty of these pictures for you to see when you get older.

We look forward, and are grateful, for every memory yet to be made. You have given me absolute happiness and I love being your mama. Now if you could just work on saying 'Mama' for me I'd really appreciate it. You're great at saying ooooooooh, uh-oh, dada, and can almost immitate a rooster. But no 'mama' yet, I bet it's next.

Happy Birthday sweet girl, we love you angel.

Winner

Ah yes, it's FRIDAY. And, on top of that we have a 3 day weekend. Aw, yeah. Time to celebrate.

Except I can't, and here is why:

Hopped in the car this morning (parked in the garage), opened the garage door, put it in reverse, hit the accelerator and BAM!

Shit shit shit shit shit! Dom's car is in the driveway. Shoot me now.

Our driveway is such that you have to back out and turn immediately to the right to go down the f***ing hill. This stupid driveway and I fight constantly as I often reverse, turn, but not enough, put the car back in drive, accelerate, back in reverse, turn, etc...

It hates me.

When Dom is not parked in the driveway I can back all the way out and go down facing forward, so therefore, it is his fault for not parking in the garage. Except he never parks in the garage. Damn.

Excuse number 2, he usually leaves before me. Lame, I am clearly out of it. Yesterday I forgot to leave B's carseat at school, I gave someone my debit card when they asked for my driver license, AND I left my groceries at the self checkout. WTF is going on! Clearly I need to meditate, sleep, or just sedate myself with wine this entire weekend.

So, here's to $1000 deductible ($500 per car), and to me being a WINNER!

Success

We did this for about an hour last night. Pick up a block, stack a block, stack another block, knock it down. Clap clap, yay Brooklyn!

At one point she was concentrating so intently on stacking that she started breathing harder. Adorable.

After a long day there is nothing more peaceful than this to come home to. I often tell myself, and you, how it's important to keep things in perspective but we move at such a fast pace it's so easy for our minds to clutter with life. After my cousin passed away I thought FOR SURE I'd have a handle on it, but only two weeks later I am wrapped up with work, with being healthy, having mental arguements about working out, planning schedules, cleaning house, updating my blog!, blah blah blah. None of which is bad, but time consuming.

Then as I'm laying on our living room rug last night playing with Brooklyn it suddenly dawns on me that I'm having a moment with her. She has never been able to stack these blocks on her own, but now she can. One of her little obstacles overcome. It was awesome for both me, and Dom, to just sit back, stop thinking, and watch her grow. A memory made, a very big success.