Happy Birthday Baby Bug!

Today my precious little Bug turns ONE!! I honestly have no idea where the past year has gone, and although I'm so happy to see my little girl growing each and every day, I'm just a tiny bit sad that she's beginning to cross over from baby to toddler.

Lilly-Belle was born at 10:20 in the morning weighing in at 6lb, 9oz (despite being 4 weeks early). The previous night I had went out to eat and to a movie with two of my girlfriends and then about 11:00 that night I began to feel a little nauseous. I spent the next 5 hours battling nausea...just waiting to get sick because I was sure I had gotten food poisoning from the crab cake sandwich I'd eaten for dinner. Except I never got sick. I just started having contractions.

About 4:00am I woke the RedHead up and we had my Mama come over to stay with the Monkey until my in-laws could get there. By 5:00 we were at the hospital where I checked in and was about 3cm dialated. At 6:30 my midwife decided to break my water and then things started to pick up. I progressed fairly quickly (thank goodness since I decided against an epidural or pain meds) and at 10:20 our little Bug was born.

We stayed in the hospital for 5 days because she needed a bit of oxygen for the first 2 days and she was jaundiced, but I was able to room in with her the whole time. I was so thankful that I was able to stay because leaving Monkey at the hospital when he was in the NICU was the hardest thing.

So, one year later here we are. I am thankful for this beautiful little girl that God has blessed me with and I look forward to many more birthdays, celebrations, and milestones with my baby girl!

Happy Birthday Bug!

Lilly-Belle April 29, 2009

Bug on May 1st...off the oxyhood.

Bug on May 4...our first day home!

Bug April 29, 2010

Bug with her favorite new friend, Froggy!

**Oh! And Little Miss started walking on April 16th, but is just now becoming more consistent. I took a video...alas, it is sideways so enjoy it until I am able to take another one correctly.**

Hit...and Miss

I happen to love Marie Claire magazine. I don't subscribe, but I do buy it if I'm looking for a good girlie magazine and the past couple months I've been lucky to get it from a friend secondhand. :) While I was reading May's issue, I noticed a trend. I either loved or hated each article. To me it seemed like this issue was written for two very different people. I'm sure the magazine is always like this...to draw in a variety of people, but for some reason some of the things just bugged me more than usual.

What I consider a Hit:

Sara Silverman's "In the BAG". This feature is on the last page and they ask a celebrity to reveal what's in their bag. Sarah's is much more realistic than most featured. Pens, gum, lipstick, tissue...normal things. Unlike some of the items featured in previous months.

The article about how a punishment Tala Raassi received urged her to pursue a dream. A wonderful article about success and empowerment.

Jessica Simpson's feature on natural beauty...air-dried hair and no makeup are the tag lines. Not sure if I completely believe the no makeup, but still beautiful and definitely minimal. I just love Jessica!


And now for the MISSES!

Miss #1: The caption says "Money Bags Nothing says 'I'm the boss' like bringing home the bacon in rich carryalls the color of cash" You won't be bringing home much bacon when you're buying a purse that costs $1795, a pen (Yes a PEN) for $1,115, $750 shoes and a $1,995 camera. Really?

Miss #2: Dear Marie Claire, I don't want to look like a twelve year old girl, so quit putting them in your magazine as fashion guides.

Miss #3: Splurge vs. Steal...hmmm. I don't think I'd go for this look if it were free! Boyshort bikini bottoms with heels and a jacket. Who thinks of this stuff?

And finally, Miss #4: Dear Marie Claire, Just an FYI...no one wants a bathing suit that would leave a diagonal tan line across their belly. And if the item is "Price Upon Request" leave it out. We can't afford it.

I guess this is why Marie Claire is successful. A little something for everyone. Whether you like thought provoking or mind numbing, it's in there. Just kidding...but really, who would wear boyshorts with heels?

*all pics from my MC May magazine...and yes I'll still be reading in June.

A Couple Happy Thoughts

I'm getting ready to head out for a run, but I thought I'd share a couple happy thoughts of things I'm looking forward to...I love having things to look forward to!

*Bug's Birthday this week! My baby will be 1!

*Mother's Day...I kinda blew this one because I asked the RedHead if my present could be some $ towards new running shoes (yeah, surprises aren't that important to me) and I accidentally on purpose went and got my shoes yesterday. In my defense I just went to look, but the store I went to does a whole analysis of your feet and how you walk so once I found them I couldn't resist buying them. Still looking forward to a special day with my wonderful family!

*The RedHead's birthday! He'll be 30 this year so I'm going to have to pull out a few tricks and make this birthday an extra special one.

*A weekend with my App Girls! Woot Woot! I can't wait!

*My first 5K (China Grove Main Street Challenge). My best bud, L, talked me into running it with her so I'm trying to get there. I know a 5K may not be much for avid runners, but it's a big deal to me.

This brings us up to June 11. I've got a lot to look forward to these next 6 weeks!

Top Five Friday...My way of venting

I have started keeping one of my good friend's two precious little girls on Fridays. So from 7:30 to 3:30 I have 4 children (ages 4,3,2, and 1). The two littlest ones go down for nap at 1:00 and then about 1:30 her older daughter has a rest time for about an hour.

That leaves me with my Monkey to deal with.

Normally, he goes down for nap around 2:30 and sleeps until 5:00. Yes, at 4 years old he still sleeps 2 1/2 hours. We've tried, on occasion, to eliminate the nap, but only with hell to pay later that evening. So...last week I tried to let him only "rest" but later that evening while I was out I received a video text from the RedHead showing Monkey pitching an Oscar worthy tantrum.

The plan for today was to put him in the playroom (the only room left once you're trying to separate 4 kids) to nap. Well, he was completely quiet, but when I went to check on him about 45 min later he was wide awake. No nap today.

So here's the Top 5 Reasons My Monkey Can't Give Up His Nap!

#5. He has needed 3 snacks, 2 cups of milk, and 1 cup of juice in a 2 hour period. Comfort food.

#4. I had to hear him whine about "forgetting" to play with a fishing pole toy at their house. He saw it, he forgot to play with it, he whined.

#3. Exhaustion quickly went from whining to anger. I was now responsible for not telling him to play with the toy. And when I tried to comfort him with a hug, he hugged back...just a little too tight!

#2. His mood was catching. The Bug is not one to be left out, so she started cranking out her own fuss (even though she had a solid 2 hour nap). One fussy child is bad, two is too many!

#1. After I quarantined him to my bedroom to watch toons until his father came home, I found him like this. *

At 5:45 pm. Tonight's gonna be a long one!

*Don't worry. I removed the balloon from his mouth before I left the room. You have to be some kind of tired if you fall asleep while blowing up a balloon.

Happy Friday!

Boot Camp Update

Today I completed my third week of Boot Camp. Last week I complained about my lack of patience and desire to see immediate results, and I resolved to just keep going and surely the results would reveal themselves.

Well guess what, I was right! Today was measuring day and with today's measurements I am down 6 inches from last week...with a total of 9.5 in. lost. So my exercise and nutritional choices are paying off. Under advisement from our instructor, I am not focusing on the weight lost because lbs lost doesn't necessarily mean a change in how things look in the mirror (and I'm only looking to lose about 5 lbs total).

I'm also stealing Neely's idea to start a fitness blog; although her's will be more informative to her readers, while mine is more of just a diary for me to track my progress. I think it will be helpful to be able to look back if I hit a plateau and see what I did the week when I saw change so I can use some of those exercises again. Boot Camp is only 8 weeks and I'd like to continue after May, but I will need some direction. Hopefully this will help keep me accountable.

Mama Got Fit

Top Two Tuesday...Cheap Thrills!

This week we're sharing the Top Two things we love for under $15. This one is hard to narrow down because despite my propensity to spend shameful amounts of money on handbags and shoes, most of the things I love cost under $15. Here are two of many.

#1. Canella Bellini...it's peachy, it's bubbly, it's divine! I get it at our local wine shoppe, but I'm pretty sure you can get it at the big wine stores like Total Wine. ~$15

#2. Essie Nail Polish. They make the prettiest colors and it goes on so smoothly it gives you the same look as when you have your nails polished at the salon. ~$8

Happy Tuesday, and go ahead over to Taylor's at The Undomestic Momma and link up your Top Two!

An Honest to Goodness Award

Miss Ashley at the Bray Bunch gave me this award last week and I want to say a big Thank You to her!! I like saying this over and over because due to my drawl I honestly can't get it to sound like "Honest Scrap". It just sounds like "Honest Crap" to me...which I guess is kinda the point? So here's some random honest crap about me:

1. I am ready to be pregnant again. Are we going to try? No. But I'm ready whenever!

2. I was a cheerleader for 9 years through elementary, middle and high school.

3. I have a fear of driving off bridges into rivers. I always think, "What if something makes me jerk the wheel?"

4. Since I've started exercising and being conscious of my diet, I feel better, but I also feel like I could eat my weight in hot wings, pizza, and icecream.

5. My favorite restaurant is Bonefish Grille. Hands down best Crab Corn Chowder and their Bang Bang Shrimp is to die for!

6. I've always wanted to get hair extensions because I never have the patience to grow my hair very long and I'd love to see what's it's like to have my hair half way down my back.

7. I absolutely LOVE being a stay-at-home mom, but there are days when I start the countdown to the kid's bedtime as soon as my feet hit the floor.

8. I'm beginning to think my husband is a better cook than I am.

9. What makes me feel the most proud of my son is the way he gets so excited about going to church each week.

10. The only way I like tomatoes is if they are green and fried.

Now to pass it on to some more lovely ladies!

Meredith @ (flash)pasteurized

Sara @ A Note On The Screen Door

Kelsey @ Damask and Diamonds

Sally @ Everything Is Better Pink

Laura @ Lilly Loves

Lexiloo @ Tea and Crumpets

Kelly @ The Crim De La Crims

Niki @ Nocturnal Queen

Enjoy!

Let's Do The Funky Monkey!

If you remember from last week, I happened to win Laura's birthday giveaway of all 7 flavors of the Funky Monkey Dried Fruit Snacks. You may also remember how excited I was about my win. Well, it turns out I had good reason to be excited! I received my package on Friday afternoon and by Friday evening we had already eaten 2 bags! I let my Monkey pick which one to try first and he chose the Purple Funk (banana and acai). They were so tasty we decided to try another. We went for the Carnaval Mix and it was delicious too!

Two more bags bit the dust yesterday. I took the Applemon (cinnamon-apple) to eat for a snack after my run and when I got home Monkey had eaten the Bananamon (cinnamon-banana). Can you tell that we liked them?

Needless to say, the remaining packs will not make it through this week! I just want to thank Laura again for this wonderful gift, and here's the link if you'd like to order some to try for yourself! Funky Monkey

Following My Own Advice

When I would have conferences with parents as a teacher, I would sometimes have to deliver the news that their child was not performing up to grade level standards. While a handful of parents just looked back at me with blank stares, most looked back with disappointment. What I always tried to stress to them was to look for progress, not perfection. Progress offers the opportunity to celebrate, while always seeking perfection may only cause stress.

Today I need to follow my own advice. Today was "Measuring Day" at Boot Camp, and I don't know why but some part of me felt like I was going to see out-of-this-world results. Maybe it's because I've really committed to exercising these past two weeks. Maybe it's because I've actually watched what I've ate for the first time in a long time. Or maybe it's because I feel strong again, and I expected "strong" to look differently.

Whatever the cause, I was a little ill when I saw the first two measurements were exactly the same as last week's (even though they were the chest and rib cage area, I wanted to see some change). After my last 3 measurements (waist, hip, and thigh) I was down 3 inches. ...except I may have sucked in just a hair while she measured my waist so I'm betting it's really only 2 in. I was a little disappointed, but the more I thought about it I realized that I was just being ridiculous. I've lost 3 inches. I feel so much more energized. And I'm excited about working out again. If that's not progress, I don't know what is.

Just keep that in mind if you have a goal in your life (and I'll keep reminding myself too): Progress, not perfection.

What I Love Most...

I am thankful every day that I have had the past year at home with my children, and while I'd love for this to be a permanent position, I knew when I took the leave of absence that I would be returning to teaching next school year. Today reminded me of exactly what I love (and miss) most about teaching.

*Here's my disclaimer: I know what I'm supposed to love are the beautiful light bulb moments that children experience when something just clicks and they "get it," and I do LOVE those moments, but the following are my favorite moments.**

My favorite thing about teaching is what the children say. To each other. To me. Even to themselves. A little humor makes everything better.

As you know, I've been doing some reading tutoring one day a week since January and I love it! It's prompted me to take my reading praxis (which I passed...woohoo!) so I can possibly teach Title I reading next year. These are a few of the comments I heard just today:

(I'll refer to myself as Mrs. Belle)

"Mrs. Belle, you got new glasses! Does that mean you're smarter now?"

"Mrs. Belle, does this shirt look good with my jeans?"

"Yes."

"Thank you. I think it would look better with my shorty pink shorts but my mama said I wasn't leaving the house wearing those things."

(I bet mama was right...no shorty shorts needed at school.)

When asked what job he wanted to have when he grew up:
"I want to be an army man."
"Why?"
"Because I like loud sounds and shootin'. I want to be in the war to shoot those scary wild animals."
(Bless that he thinks war is against animals.)

"Mrs. Belle, is it fun in here?"
"Yes, I hope so. Why do you ask?"
"Because Annaya said it would be fun, and I'm just wondering when that will start."

(Bored much?)

These comments that brighten my day, make me laugh, and often times correctly critique my teaching are what I love most!

Top Two Tuesday...Beauty Secrets

I'll be honest, I am probably the worst person to ask about beauty secrets. I do not and have not ever used a lot of products so I'll probably spend this week reading everyone elses' posts in search of some beauty secrets to try. I'm already planning to try Taylor's Beer Hair Wash soon!

Here is the best I can do:

#1. I swear by Bare Escentuals Bare Minerals Makeup. It is natural, has every makeup product you could need, and it lasts forever! I especially love it because I'm horrible about washing my makeup off at night and this makeup will not bother your complexion if you happen to sleep in it on night (or every night like me). I use their powder, blush, and eyeshadows and I've loved everything I've tried. If you're looking for a new makeup, this one is definitely worth trying!

#2. This is probably my best beauty secret. Have confidence in yourself that you are beautiful. All the spa treatments, makeup, and polish in the world won't make you beautiful if you don't believe it yourself. I love to have my hair done, treat myself to a pedicure or massage...anything that pampers me and reminds me to love my body and myself. Treat yourself like you are beautiful and you will be.

Now I'm off to see what other secrets I can steal from you ladies! Happy Tuesday!

Road Trip to Boone

On Friday I sent the RedHead a text saying that I had the wonderful idea that we should take a road trip to Boone on Saturday. He texted back that he'd been thinking the exact same thing. So Saturday morning we loaded up the babes and headed up the mountain. We live about 2 hours from Boone so the timing was perfect for the Bug to take her morning nap and we broke out the sacred DVD player (which we reserve for long car trips) for the Monkey to watch.

We got there and ate lunch at Back Yard Burger...so yummy! We don't have one in the town where I live, and it's probably a good thing because I could eat there every day! We then rode around and looked at the new stadium on App's campus and commented on how we wish we were in college now and could enjoy all of the new amenities instead of being there when all of the construction was taking place.

We then headed to the Tanger Outlet Shops and I got some much needed new clothes from JCrew and Banana Republic. I bought mostly tops and only one pair of shorts because I'm holding out on the hope that I will be back in my other shorts after this Boot Camp is over. After shopping (since the children...and the RedHead were so patient) we got some icecream at Kilwins. I swear that stuff is made of gold because the one milkshake for Monkey and the cone that Red and I split was $12! It was tasty, but not $12 tasty.

We got to go visit some friends who still live up there and then we headed home about 6:00. Neither babe had had an afternoon nap, so they slept on the way home and then they were ready to party when we got home. Needless to say, bedtime got pushed back and so we skipped church yesterday. We had a great time, but in our true style, we didn't take a single picture (hence my random borrowed pics from google image). I like to say it was because we were too busy having fun, not taking pictures of the fun, but really we're just kinda lazy like that.

On another note, I won a giveaway!! Laura at Cowboy Boots & Baby Booties did a giveaway in honor of her birthday and I won. I won! I won! I won! Can you tell I'm excited?