SOPPYVILLE

Wanna do your nails?

2011-06-24T13:06:00.003-07:00

I found this awesome picture with tutorial and how-to video on Pinterest (follow me here).

Here's a link to the tutorial.

And here's how mine turned out. It really was quite easy.

And I got a ton of compliments at the pool today ;)

2011-06-10T16:16:00.003-07:00

Hey, I've got some blankets for sale on my etsy shop

Check them out if you have a baby girl, know a baby girl, or know someone who wants to have a girl sometime.

Map Wall

2011-05-31T18:23:00.002-07:00

Somewhere we got the idea to decorate a wall in maps. After graduation (only took me 10 years to get my BS) I finally gave myself permission to begin the project.

All these maps are stuck on the wall with liquid starch. It's super simple to apply (just roll it on to the back of the maps with a roller, stick the map to the wall, and roll over the top of the map) and completely removable. When I'm tired of looking at all the places I could travel, all I have to do is take a spray bottle of water to the wall and peel off the maps. The starch also works with fabric or anything else you want to stick!

Redoing the house

2011-05-09T12:35:00.004-07:00

On today's redo the house

wall art

brought to you by

Sprik Space

totally fabulous, free downloads that you can just print off your computer. Frame in an IKEA frame and you're set. It does take some ink, so if you're printing a lot, think about printing them at a store.

Also check out her other freebies. They come in EVERY color.

Teach the Children

2011-05-07T23:34:00.003-07:00

There's a woman who guest posted on a blog I read. Here's the post.

In her post, she shared some info that I want to write down but it's not exactly feasible at this exact second. So, here it is. Copied in all it's greatness. Now, when I do find a pen, I'll be able to write it somewhere.

If I had to, I could narrow it down to two things I hope my children never forget. Two things that I hope I have taught them to do. The first one is: You help the people you love when they need it. You help them when it isn’t convenient, when it isn’t easy, when it isn’t fun. You help them, even if part of you would rather be doing something else. You help them grieve or you help them celebrate. You wipe their tears or clean their bathroom. Because loving people means serving them.

The second thing I hope my children remember is this: Sometimes you have to say no. Sometimes you have to put yourself first and say ‘I can’t help you today.’ There are times you need to unplug the phone, clear your schedule and take care of you. When you truly need to do that, it isn’t selfish and it isn’t something you should feel guilty about doing. It is loving yourself. And that is as important as loving others.

I want to teach my kids something important. Right now the important thing I'm teaching is that if you're going to take the toys from your sister, make sure you "trade" so she doesn't know she's getting the short end of the stick. Also, when we eat fast food for lunch, we throw the trash away BEFORE we get home so Daddy doesn't see. I think I like her second point because a lot of the time, I want to tell everyone (kids included) that I can't help them today.

Man, this mom thing is hard. Mom, I don't know how you did it. I surely know I didn't thank you enough for it! So, THANK YOU. thanks. Thank you! Dae dum (that's how my little brother used to say it.)

Need a light?

2011-04-24T13:27:00.002-07:00

We've got night lights coming out of our ears!

Do you want to make one, too?

1. Go to the craft store. Pick yourself up a Kraft Block (or Cube or Kube as it may be)

2. Don't forget the strand of christmas lights. (typically right next to the blocks)

3. Cover the block with anything. These are covered in a layer of tissue paper that's been Mod Podged on. Then, I took paper flowers and glued those on. Then topped it off with glitter glue dots. The black dots are puff paint. Cooper's circles are just paint. Then, both got named with the sticker letters from the scrapbook section. Simple, simple, simple.

4. Stuff the christmas lights into the hole (that's been previous drilled by the Krafty Kube people) and plug in.

TA DA!

I wish I felt this secure with my position in life

2011-03-31T22:35:00.000-07:00

Eliotisms

2011-03-24T18:12:00.002-07:00

in the bathroom: Mom, can I have privacy?

dancing to music: Ladies and gentlemen, presenting rock roll Eliot!

at the dinner table: Oh, this is scrumptious.

in the dressing room: Mommy, that dress is not pretty. Why is it all scrunchy?

in the car: are we going this way? Yes or no?

at the computer: I'm texting a email.

Mind your glasses

2011-03-13T12:24:00.002-07:00

I'm going to tell you a little story.

Once upon a time, there was a daddy. This daddy had a daughter who was learning to use the toilet. While they were at the zoo, it was time to make a trip to the potty. Because mommy had already made several trips with the daughter, it was Daddy's turn again. While Daddy was preparing the toilet for use, his sunglasses slipped off his head and into the toilet (already filled with pee because of a malfunctioning automatic flusher). He decided that there was no way he was going to reach in to the toilet filled with someone else's pee. So he let the daughter go to the bathroom on his sunglasses. While the daughter was on the toilet, the malfunctioning flusher decided to flush. Daddy felt relieved because then he could pull his sunglasses out of the clean water. When the daughter got off the toilet, Daddy looked down and saw that there were no glasses to be found. Daddy's glasses were gone.

The end.

The take home lesson: there's a reason why men use urinals. And, there's no such thing as clean water in a toilet. And, if you tell your wife this story, not only will she laugh at you randomly for the rest of the day, she'll tell all her friends and post it in cyberspace for it to be shared amongst the masses.

So Fun!

2011-02-26T21:06:00.004-07:00

This is my new best friend!

They're super fun!

Mine have been on my toes for two weeks and are still going strong!

Totally check them out!

(maybe I could use more !!!!!!!!!)

18 things I'll admit to.

2011-02-15T10:41:00.004-07:00

I read this article a few weeks ago and it's just been running through my head since then.

18 true things moms don't want to admit (edited to list the ones that apply to Stephanie)

1. You Don't Bathe Your Kid Nearly Enough

The pediatrician recommends bathing the baby every few days or so, but a week goes by and the closest you’ve come is wiping the spit-up off his chin with a moist cloth. You tell yourself he’s a lump (albeit an incredibly cute one) who barely moves -- he’s not exactly sweating. Besides, it’s probably been more than a few days since you showered

2.You Let Her Lay in Her Bed Crying Way Too Long While You Do What You Need To Do

With so little time to get anything done for yourself, those moments when the baby is miraculously occupied by her own fingers and toes are precious. Naturally, you rush to the computer. Just as you’re getting started, she’s already whimpering. You tell yourself it’s not real crying, but she gets louder. You’re determined to get this done now so you can give her your full attention in a sec. But before you can finish, she’s shrieking. Why even bother trying?

Yes, that is Finley you hear crying even as I'm writing this.

3.You Lie to Him All the Time

You like the idea of being honest with your child, but sometimes the truth is, if we may borrow Al Gore’s favorite word, inconvenient. So you tell your child the shoe store doesn't have the wheeled shoes that light up in his size when you know they do, that Daddy ate the last brownie (when, clearly, you did), that the toy store is closed, that the shot won’t hurt, that the DVD player is “tired,” and pretty soon you’re lying as often as, well, a politician.

It's not all the time but I am getting really good at coming up with "stories"

4.You Love the Baby More Than the Older Kid

Favoring one kid over the other is something you never imagined you would do, but the baby is such a little love bug. She’s so innocent and unmanipulative, and unlike the big one, she lets you smother her with kisses. Of course you don’t love her more, but sometimes, as hilarious and clever as the older one is, it’s just easier to deal with the less complex kid.

5.You Think Playing With Your Child Is Really Boring

You’ve just played “teenager” or “doggie” or whatever else you’re kid is obsessed with for the past hour, and he still isn’t sick of it. At this point, you would seriously rather clean the bathroom than go through another round of the game. How can you love your children so much yet be so entirely uninterested in the games they want to play? Here’s something that will get you in the mood: Ten years from now, when they want absolutely nothing do to with you that doesn’t involve you giving them cash, you’ll be begging them to play choo-choos!

7.You Leave Her Locked in the Car While You Run Into the House to Pee or Get Something You Forgot

It’s cruel to leave a dog locked in a car -- but is it cruel to do so with a child? In your book, running inside the house to grab a forgotten something (especially for the kid!) is appropriate. So is having a quick tinkle. Running into a store? That’s where you draw the line.

Although I have left them in the car at the dry cleaners and at the gas station. It was to get a drink and I could see them the whole time. And I left the car on as a signal to everyone else that I didn't forget they were there nor was I being mean leaving them in a hot car. Yes, I'm horrible.

8.You use TV as a Babysitter Way Too Often

Before you became a parent, you vowed your child wouldn’t watch TV. Now suddenly here you are asking your child why she doesn’t want to watch Curious George and trying to convince her it’s her favorite episode. It’s sad. It really is. But tomorrow is another day -- you can always renew your vows.

I'd never get anything done (even a shower) without the tv.

9.You Would Rather Sleep, Sometimes Even Work, Than Be With Your Children

Weekends used to be these amazing stretches of time when you didn’t have any obligations. These days, weekends seem almost harder than workdays. Yes, you are excited about having the free time with your children, but you also panic a little about how you are going to fill all of it. And then there is the deep longing for sleep. Saturday morning, your kids are climbing all over you, and you are blatantly ignoring them, allowing yourself to linger just a few more minutes in that haze between sleep and wakefulness. You were having such a good dream before a cute little person kneed you in the back -- that you were single, without kids.

It's really, really hard to want to be with them when Els didn't go to bed until 11:00 and then Fin was up at 12:30 and 3:00. Then at 5:30 she needed her bottle and Els was up for the day at 7. Yeah, I"m not too eager to see them today.

11. You Give Them Food You'd Never Eat Yourself

You eat grilled chicken strips over a bed of greens. They eat chicken nuggets. You have fresh fruit. They have flat sticky crap that’s rolled up in plastic. You have regular milk. They have chocolate milk. But hey, at least they're eating.

Eliot only survives on chicken nuggets and mac and cheese.

13.You Let Her Go Days Without Vegetables

You are perfectly aware of how important vegetables are for your kid’s health, but you’ve done all you can -- and the kid still won’t touch them. And honestly, you don’t like them much, either. So, you decide to drop the veggie charade. Heck, life is short, so you’re not going to waste time making everyone miserable. Of course, two days later, there you are again, trying to sneak some broccoli into the marinara.

What's a vegetable?

17.You Forget to Put the Kid’s Car-Seat Belt On

Getting out the door with kids always feels like a major accomplishment, so once you’re finally in the car, you want to turn on the ignition and go. That said, every mom jumps the gun at least once. If it hasn’t already happened to you, one day, you just may get to the end of your block, only to hear a familiar little voice scolding you: "Mom! You forgot to buckle me!" OMG! You will urgently pull over, buckle up the kid (who is loving this a little too much), and take a guilty look around to make sure there are no cops waiting to haul you away for being the worst mom ever.

2011-01-20T17:47:00.004-07:00

We went to the doctor for Fin's four month checkup.

Her head is 96%.

The doctor said big heads are genetic. I keep looking at El's head to see if it's big too.

He said it may take her longer to learn how to roll over because she has to get more momentum to move her big head.

What do they do if a head gets too big?

I'm already starting to design the helmet I'm sure she's going to have to wear ;)

Sorry child. I'm sure it's your dad's fault. He's the one who went to Harvard.

2011-01-16T17:12:00.003-07:00

The older one is now exclusively sleeping in her big-girl bed. I guess that's what happens when you take the crib out of her room. Now it's time for potty training. Yuck.

The little one is four months tomorrow. She likes to scream. Not a scream like she's sad but a talking scream. Yeah screaming!

See how much you write with one hand.

2010-12-01T12:54:00.002-07:00

My daughter has OCD. It's kind of funny.

And this one has the cutest head.

And then we had Fin's baby blessing.

The end.

I'm just showing off

2010-11-11T19:57:00.004-07:00

I never thought I'd have two girls.

I'm glad that I got one that likes to wear her butterfly wings with her sparkle shoes while jumping on the couch.

I'm also glad I got one whose baby smile makes me want to speak baby talk

and who is still too young to have a say as to how I dress her.

The bow was a gift and is the coolest ever. Check it out here.

So lately

2010-10-22T17:39:00.002-07:00

Finley's been sleeping 8 hour stretches! Why am I still tired?

I'm able to zip and button my non-maternity pants (but only if I have no intention of doing anything but standing).

Eliot's been waking up with night terrors. She runs around screaming "I don't want to" at 2:30 in the morning. Apparently I'm a bad mom even in her dreams. And, what makes this even more enjoyable is the first item of this list- Finley's sleeping 8 hours and I'm still having to get up.

At one month old, Finley now weighs 9 lbs and is 22 in long. Eliot, at one month, was 10 lbs 11 oz and 21.5 in. I don't know if this means Fin is small or Eliot was big. I do know that Fin isn't fitting in her cute clothes yet. I'm so tired of her NB outfits.

And finally, someone at the gym asked me if I was working out for two. I told him I didn't know what he was talking about. He said I looked pregnant. I told him thank you for saying so but I had my baby three weeks ago (at the time). He said oh, I would have thought you were three months pregnant.

She's getting bigger. I'm super tired.

2010-10-18T16:30:00.002-07:00

We're surviving

2010-10-03T17:56:00.004-07:00

She's always in this position.

Family of Four

2010-09-22T17:21:00.005-07:00

She's here. Right on her due date.

Finley Reese Bowen

9/17/10 9:48am

7 lbs 8 oz

19 3/4 in

I did end up being induced. They tried gels first and then I ended up getting pitocin at 4:30am. By 7:30 it was time for my epidural (YEAH!) and at 9:20 they called in the doc. Three big pushes, a few little ones, and she was here. The second was a lot easier than the first.

Now the adventure of having two is going to begin. We'll see how that goes.

Medically Necessary

2010-09-15T11:57:00.002-07:00

Do you know how hard it is to talk your OB into inducing you? Me either... because I haven't succeeded in doing so yet.

For me to tell this story, I have to go back a little ways.

Last Friday.

Had dr. appointment with my fav doc. She measured me and found that I wasn't dilated any more than previous weeks. I asked her to strip my membranes. She said she would 'cause I was 39 weeks and she's cool like that. Then she said if it didn't work, I could come into the hospital while she was on call this next week and fake some contractions so they'd get me induced.

Today. Wednesday.

Scheduled my appointment earlier than my "suggested" due date because I want to get this show on the road. Had appointment with nurse practitioner whom I've never seen before. Stripped my membranes again. Informed me that the hospital schedules the inductions and they typically won't do it until 40 weeks and 5 DAYS!!! I told her that was TOO long. She said unless it was medically necessary. I told her I'd make it medically necessary. She said she'd call and see what they would do.

Still today.

Called office to leave message for fav doc. Maybe she'll work some magic and get me in. Tried telling triage nurse (aka message deliverer) all the reasons why I NEED this to happen sooner: not having contractions like I was last week, soooo uncomfortable, haven't dilated any more in the past month, I've hit the 200 pound mark, I refuse to deliver a 10 pound baby (those last two weren't included but maybe they would have strengthened my weak argument).

Although I love my doctor's office, I'm starting to see the downside of not having one OB but seven. If I had one, I'm sure I could whine enough and get this to work. Trying to convince someone who has only seen you a few times isn't as easy.

I'm starting to consider going to see a reflexologist. Maybe I'll even drink that castor oil (probably not). I refuse to have diarrhea on the delivery table.

Because the baby hasn't come yet...

2010-09-07T18:15:00.004-07:00

I've found and finished a project.

Els calls it her dolphin house.

It was Tyler's sister's house when she was little.

It needed a bit of color.

And lots of scrapbook paper. I tried to get it to stick with Mod Podge (too wrinkled), spray adhesive (not permanent enough), and finally, super glue. No way my two year old is going to pick anything off this house!

The furniture got a nice new coat of paint.

And now the dolphin house is ready to go.

I hate everyone.

2010-09-03T12:01:00.003-07:00

Dear Doctor,

When I come in for my appointment, would you mind telling me that I'm more dilated than I was last week? I don't care if it's not true. LIE. I would rather go through this next week feeling like I've made some progress.

Also, when I ask for help with my sciatica, would you please give me some options besides stretching or Codeine? I feel like maybe there should be some middle ground. Maybe induced labor?

Finally, would you please tell my baby that I'm over this whole pregnancy thing. Maybe you can talk some sense in to her. My previous plea has had no response.

Thanks.

PS- If I have to see you for next week's checkup, please understand if I want to punch you.

Notice of Eviction

2010-09-02T14:43:00.002-07:00

Dear baby,

I really feel like you are taking advantage of me.

Would you mind coming out so that we can talk about this face to face?

Thanks.

45 lbs +

2010-08-23T14:12:00.001-07:00

When are you due?

2010-08-16T08:15:00.005-07:00

My "official" due date is in 32 days.

that seems WAY too long for me.

My "it could happen" date is in 22 days.

10 days early... aka how early Eliot arrived.

My "I'm a positive thinker and I believe that the mind

can make anything happen" date is in 11 days.

baby will be 37 weeks.

Please forgive me if you ask me when I'm due and I give you some random number.

If I'm feeling HUGE, I'll tell you I'm due sooner.

If I want you to feel sorry for me, I'll tell you my real date.

If you're the stupid guy at the grocery store, you'll take away my ability to lie by saying, "I would ask you when you're due but I think it's more appropriate to ask you how far past you are." thanks guy. thanks.

Okay. Now it's too fast.

2010-08-05T19:17:00.003-07:00

I really wanted to be done being pregnant. Now I'm not sure I can handle what comes after... or what I have to do as it gets close.

Don't get me wrong. I am absolutely miserable. It's 105 outside (at 9 am) and I cannot do more than one errand before being so pooped that we HAVE to head home. Sad thing is that I still have errands to run. I don't know how I'm going to do it.

I feel like I've been hit in the crotch with a baseball bat and someone is constantly playing the "I'm not touching you" game with their knees in my stomach.

Poor Eliot has had to watch TV for entertainment. She has now seen EVERY episode of Dora, Wonder Pets, and an occasional Olivia or Blue's Clues. I'm sure she's in heaven. I don't even care about being a good mom at this point.

I've lost my appetite. I still feel the need to make dinner but I don't eat it.

I'm feeling extremely anxious about how I'm going to schedule having cutely painted toes for my delivery. I know this is dumb, but how do you get a pedicure early enough but then have it last so it still looks cute when you have the baby?

I have the same issue with book reading. If I put a book on hold at the library, I can only have it for three weeks. How do I schedule those three weeks so they fall during my time while I'm in the recovery room at the hospital?

On a side note, we bought Eliot's big-girl bunk bed and put it together last weekend. I wasn't planning on having her sleep in it until well after the baby was born but she's had different plans. Since it's been assembled, she's slept in it every night. She starts out in it and then wants to get in her crib, but eventually ends up in the bed. My baby isn't in her crib anymore. She's getting so big. It makes me sad.

What if I don't love the new baby like I love Eliot? What if I love the new baby more?

I should have learned

2010-07-16T12:29:00.005-07:00

the first time, that after five months of pregnancy, I'm not allowed to do anything. Everything that can be done, will, in fact, turn into something that has nothing to do with my original intention. And I will be drawn into a downward spiral of hormone-driven nesting that would make only a crazy person proud.

Exhibit 1:

It's WAY too hot to do anything here except go to the pool. However, I decided that today we would get up and venture to Costco. After expending all my lacking pregnancy energy and getting both the groceries and the two year old back into the house, I then had to put away the groceries. Which meant that I had to organize the pantry. And then vacuum the floor under the shelves. And then (since I was already at it and it had been on my list for like 5 minutes) vacuum out the drawers. And then, if I hadn't stopped myself, I would have moved on to the blinds. Because, come on, no one likes to see the dust that's accumulated on top of every single of of those flat surfaces. I'm hoping the urge to clean those will just go away.

Exhibit 2:

I was trying to paint my toenails. I was sitting on the floor. I looked over and noticed the baseboards STILL needed to be repainted from when we had our floors redone in Jan. I'd already purchased the paint so I decided to just go ahead and get started... it didn't seem to matter that I could hardly get to the ground, let alone spend more than five minutes there, trying to fix something that didn't matter. So after I had finished painting one wall, I realized that the baseboards were very dirty. So before I could go on I had to wipe them all down. And while I was wiping them down in the bathroom, I realized that I hadn't wiped around the base of the toilet in a long time... and on it went until I got every pressing issue completed.

Exhibit 3:

June of 2008 I had this baby. And now this baby has lots of poopy diapers that she likes to take off by herself. And since I had this baby, and she takes off her diapers, and the diapers don't hold poo when they're being flung around like a dead lizard in a cat's mouth (don't ask about that one), I got to clean up the scattered poo. And then, since I was occupied with the fecal incident, the child wanted to keep herself busy, and so she headed to the bathroom. And in the bathroom, she found all the fun things, that make wonderful, hard-to-clean messes, just for mommy...

And then, somewhere I decided it would be a good idea to have a second child. It's like the ultimate continuation of a never-ending project. I've been seriously considering how to get my full-time mom position to a part-time one. Do you think someone would be willing to fire me? Please? Just for a minute. Or two weeks. Or until I'm not pregnant anymore.

And speaking of not being pregnant. Who decided ten months was the necessary gestational time? How about eight? That way I can be done next week and I can get back to being the only one responsible for my weight gain (or loss as I hope it will be) and I won't be quite as hot and my boobs won't be overflowing out of a bra that I absolutely REFUSE to replace for the last two months of pregnancy, never to wear again. And I won't have to watch my belly button disappear and it won't feel like my lungs have shriveled into the size of peas and they can only hold enough air to make it up three steps, not a whole flight. And I won't even mind having a baby and a two-year old because I won't be nesting because I won't be pregnant. And that would be nice.

2010-07-09T16:44:00.002-07:00

We went to the Deer Farm in Williams, AZ. Eliot loved it.

Although her favorite deer weren't even real,

she put up with the alive ones as long as they wouldn't knock her over... They didn't get this memo. We had several run over occasions.

And in other news:

Maternity pictures do wonders for a "growing" (I'm up 30 lbs) self esteem.

yeah. Toddler.

2010-06-24T19:18:00.010-07:00

She's getting too big.

I think she's hilarious and fun to laugh at.

Sometimes I think she's showing early signs of OCD.

Most of the time I'm exhausted from following her around.

As I walked out into the living room yesterday, she had taken a crayon and colored all over the TV and the entertainment center. As I stared, trying not to scream, she looked at me and said, "Eliot, NO, NO. Cowa on papea. No TV." If she knows it, why'd she do it?

Then, while driving in the car, I looked back to find her jamming her fingers in her ears.

Me: What are you doing?

E: (SCREAMING) I PUT FINGERS IN EARS.

And, finally, while at the pool

Me: Let's go put more sunscreen on your face.

E: Um, how about a little later.

Everyday when getting in the car

Me: Oh, it's hot in here.

E: Not hot. Feel good.

Oh, she's a handful. A funny, wonderful, tornado-like handful.

2010-06-14T17:03:00.003-07:00

Well, she's two now.

She had an Elmo party with Elmo cake and Elmo plates.

She's been telling anyone who would listen about her party for the past month. Now that it's over, she hasn't really mentioned it. The only sign that she has a recollection of the events is her random statement "happy birthday to you."

She was kind of tired after running around the hot backyard.

She's really loving tv. It used to be only Elmo's World. We then made the mistake of renting Bert and Ernie's Great Adventures. Now all we can watch is "Buht and Ehnie". Her favorite segment of the movie is Buht and Ehnie and Ehmo. I've never want to destroy something so bad.

She was able to get Grandpa Bruce to watch with her. If I have to watch it again I'm going to poke out my eyes.

I've been able to put ponytails in her hair if I bribe her with candy and tell her I'm going to take a picture. Once I get them in she keeps them in. We're making progress.

When the hubby takes off...

2010-05-07T19:16:00.003-07:00

my momma gets to come keep me company!

Tyler went to Taiwan for ten days this past week. We missed him terribly.

Gwamma Stacy came for some fun. Eliot was in HEAVEN.

two cups to steal "just one sip" from.

clothes to try on.

practicing her smiles.

getting kicked off her trike at Goodwill.

love you Gwamma.

Gwamma? Gwamma? Where are you?

i wuv you.

We Know What We're Having!

2010-04-20T12:05:00.003-07:00

we won't have to buy any new clothes!!!

My (Almost) 2 Year Old is Worse Than Yours!

2010-04-06T15:40:00.004-07:00

How could I say that about my child?

Well, it's true.

I will be giving examples in a moment. First, I need to explain that although she's the worst, she's also taught me about unconditional love. She does all these things and I still love her. Even Tyler doesn't get that kind of love ;)

Examples

A) she regularly builds sand castles inside the house. on. the. carpet. and while I'm cleaning up the first one, she builds a second.

B) she climbed over the child gate into my bathroom and found herself the perfect shade of nail polish. When I found her and picked her up to get her out of the bathroom, she chucked the nail polish on our two-month old tile floor and then laughed as it exploded and splashed ALL OVER the bathroom.

C) she throws her watermelon AT the cat.

D) I don't want to spank my children. However, I was REALLY fed up after trying to get her dressed one day and so I smacked her bottom. She laughed.

E) she doesn't take her naps anymore. Instead, she takes off her clothes.

I'm sure there will be more. I know she's just a normal two year old. On most days, I feel like she's the worst. I also know she's my best friend and it's hard to imagine loving anything as much as I love her.

Pee Pee

2010-03-31T10:53:00.003-07:00

I'm already sick of that word and it's only been twelve hours.

We've started potty training. Eliot thinks it's great to be able to go peepee on the froggy (her training toilet) and then hear Mom shout and scream about how wonderful she is. She also thinks the M&Ms I'm giving her are quite awesome. So awesome that 30 seconds- no joke- after going pee, she'll come back to the toilet and pee again. The second time is not quite so awesome as there's nothing left. I quickly caught on to her little M&M attaining game and have since limited the prizes.

She's got this whole pee on the pot thing down. She hasn't yet made a deuce (how in the world am I supposed to phrase that?) but I don't care. I don't really want to clean that out of the toilet anyhow.

I'm not really ready to be potty training my 21 month old. Unfortunately, Eliot doesn't care. She's ready. For the past few weeks, her diapers have been coming off and not going back on all day long. I was so sick of fighting her nakedness that I figured I should just start the potty training fight instead.

Sucky thing about this whole process is although she's got it down, her nakedness hasn't improved. We bought her cute new Hello Kitty undies. She carries them around. She likes to hoard things like a bag lady. She doesn't EVER put them on though. Yesterday she spent eight hours bottomless. I'm not planning on today being any better.

At least today she's found the hand sanitizer and is currently outside sanitizing her whole body. Sanitizer baths totally count, right? Oh crap, she's eating it. Got to go.

She's kind of a handful

2010-03-27T16:19:00.004-07:00

She goes pee (whether it's in her diaper or the toilet) and says "Good Job".

When you ask if she'd like this or that, she will ALWAYS say she wants whatever you asked her first. Unless she screams NOOOOO! because she doesn't want anything!

She'll be working on a project and randomly say "darnit".

She'll put on a shirt and tell me it looks "cute".

She'll be in the middle of the WORST fit ever and she'll stop, silent, if I offer her a sip of my drink.

She's ready for the water

I'm sure there's more

2010-03-16T16:45:00.003-07:00

Since it's been over a month since I've posted, I have a lot going on in my mind.

1. School

I have two classes left until I've completed my NINE year BS degree. Every time I sit down to do my work, I begin by reading everyone's blogs. I'd like to thank everyone for sufficiently distracting me from what I really need to be doing.

2. Friends

On blogs... Because I read everyone's blogs, I falsely feel like I'm part of your lives. I have good intentions to work on my friendships but when I go to bed, I realize I never sent those texts I meant to. A lot of my friends I only see on Sundays. The last time I went out with girls was when New Moon came out (and it's almost out on DVD). When I was running, my partner and I were able to talk all the time. Now we're busy and I haven't seen her. I miss being connected to someone. I haven't been someone's best friend since I was a freshman in college (see above for how long ago that was!) I want to be the person someone calls when having a bad day. I want to have the same in someone else (love you Mom, but you don't count). I still need to figure out how to do that.

3. Potty time

How in the world do you go about potty training?

4. Pictures of the Munchkin

Thank You Nursery

2010-02-08T09:36:00.004-07:00

Eliot's been in Nursery for a month now. She's finally to the point where she doesn't mind going. They have bubbles and snacks and stuff that Mom and Dad can't even compete with.

Last night we were sitting on the couch and she folds her arms (see picture above) and starts yelling, "pah pah PAH PAH!" Tyler and I just looked at each other trying to figure out what she was saying. Eliot, getting more frustrated, refolded her arms. Oh, you want to pray? Okay. She then went on to echo each word of the prayer, choosing to bless Grandma and Papa, but saying no to blessing Mommy and Daddy. Finishing it all with a screamed AMEN. It made me so proud.

Here's to you nursery. Heaven knows she didn't learn how to pray at home!

Maybe Tyler and I should get our act together and say our prayers.

I Can't Do It

2010-02-04T18:07:00.003-07:00

It's not going to work. Last time I was pregnant, I had a hard time being sick. This time, it's as if I've lost all my mental toughness. Each night during those dreaded minutes between Eliot destroying my last nerve and Tyler's return home, I have a mini panic attack. I can't be sick for another month. I just can't do it. There's no light. It's gone. Gone the way of the sweet things I used to love that now make me cringe. I even threw away a brownie last week. I almost cried.

I printed out a calendar from 2007 (when I was last pregnant) and tried to recreate my sick days. I know I was sick at my two month doctor appointment and then again at three and a half month with food poisoning. Other than that? I don't know how long I was sick. I can't remember. If only I had an end point. If someone said that by March 5 I would be all done being sick I would cry. Then I'd buck up knowing that I'm not going to feel this forever.

I know this is part of the beautiful process of life. It's a lie. This is not beautiful. This is torture. And isn't/aren't the _________ (insert any pregnancy symptom/side effect) already enough?

In Case Of Emergency

2010-01-28T15:16:00.003-07:00

So there I was, that's how all good stories start, sitting with two ladies from church, talking about food storage. I've never been one to store extra of anything! If I have a container of PB on hand I feel as though I'm a winner. That's when one of the women (Hi, JoEllen) says that she realized that she needs to store some food because if they don't have any then she will have two sets of little eyes staring up at her and being all hungry.

Well, shoot. I never thought of it like that. And all the stuff in Haiti with people dying because they have no food, well, it looked like I got the kick in the pants that I needed.

But did I go all out and actually start a food supply? No. I found a middle ground by hoarding the items for a 72 hour kit. I got:

a whistle, emergency blankets, wipes, first aid kit, batteries, radio, lantern, duct tape, gloves, warming packets, lighter, tp, candle, soap, knife, light stick, trash bags, hand sanitizer, and tylenol.

Then I bought two 72 hour freeze-dried meal kits to count as my food supply.

And I did all of that shopping and compiling in one day. Because it was all I could think about. And I got all obsessive and panicked. But now I'm okay.

And, my most favorite part was my water and fire-proof lockbox that holds my emergency binder that holds all my important documents. That way, if there's a fire or an alien lands in my backyard and I need to run away quickly, all my crap is in one place. I can grab it and run.

Although the running part may be a bit difficult because since the marathon I've been getting more and more sick. You see, when I ran the marathon I was five weeks pregnant... which is totally why I got a slow time (I'll claim it till the day I die). And now I'm in the full blown morning /afternoon sickness that is my favorite part of pregnancy and I hardly want to walk, let alone run.

I hope aliens won't eat freeze dried food cause it's all I've got and I'm not going anywhere.

Running Isn't Fun Anymore!

2010-01-18T21:15:00.004-07:00

I ran my marathon. I did it about an hour slower than I expected. At least I finished.

I didn't need to ask the medics for a ride to the finish... although the thought did cross my mind about twenty times.

I didn't chafe. That's a plus.

I didn't lose any toesnails. Also good.

Maybe in a few years I'll try it again.

But when I try it again, I'll make my family drive the race and surprise me at several different locations along the route.

I'll not feel guilty about slowing down because it will make my family have to wait longer at the finish line.

I'll not drink as much water at mile 12 so I won't have to pee at mile 19.

It's over. I'm happy.

So there I was

2009-12-18T13:47:00.003-07:00

...and then, I cut off Eliot's mullet

and she was okay with it

because of her new jammies that kept her warm.

The jammies didn't keep her quite as warm as her hat and mittens.

(hey, I know it's Phoenix but when I bought them it was getting down to 30 degrees at night.)

And then she took a bath.

The End.

I'm thinking I should write children's books.

I will title the series: All the newly uploaded pictures in one post.

Happy.

2009-12-17T12:00:00.004-07:00

Today someone told me that based solely on my blog, they don't think I'm a very happy person.

This blog makes no attempt to hide my failures but instead airs them in the wind for all to smell their putrid scents.

Failures are funny.

Funny failures are easier to get over.

Happy isn't as funny.

And, there's no need to get over happy.

But I am a happy person, dammit!

I can laugh at most things and understand the insignificance of most situations.

I don't take things too seriously.

I love my family.

I know that my daughter will make messes but she also makes beautiful kissy sounds and warm hugs and tummy-tickling laughs.

I promise I smile. I live.

I laugh. I love.

All that crap.

I have a great time doing it.

When people tell me they are happy, my ass begins to twitch. (Luc, French Kiss)

Cold, Dark Place

2009-12-09T16:57:00.004-07:00

sometimes you want to go

where everybody knows your name.

sometimes you just want to hide.

don't forget your shoe.

and watch your head.

Pigtail Hair

2009-12-06T19:19:00.002-07:00

Some mornings when she wakes up

she looks like this

because I think it's cute to make her look like this.

We're getting ready for Christmas.

The tree is an area of great temptation.

Who could resist touching such pretty ornaments?

Not Eliot.

Or the cat.

As If My Headache Wasn't Enough

2009-11-13T12:44:00.002-07:00

Can you hear that?

Listen harder!

The neighbors are having their roof replaced. I apologize to all my neighbors for when we had our roof replaced. It was one thing to have the BANG BANG BANGing going on right above my head. It's another to have it echoing in the distance... when I'm not the one paying for it... because I already had to deal with it for a week... when I already have a headache from too much caffeine from the Excedrin I took to fight off the headache I had all night.

I'm glad my neighbors can have a new roof. I just wish it were a process that could be accomplished quietly.

And to someone else's neighbors
who live
far,
far
away.

I had something I was going to share. Because of my annoyance with nails entering shingles at 157 beats per minute, I don't remember what it is. I'm sure it was witty and funny and totally worth reading. Until I remember what it was, just make up a story in your mind. I'll even start it out for you.

Remember when...

And then it ENDED!!!

2009-11-03T12:06:00.003-07:00

Remember when I woke up and the day was going really well? And then remember when it wasn't?

I was doing my stupid garage caulking project when Eliot came outside to join me. She quickly remembered that outside (in the front yard) there is a street where she loves to run. After stopping her attempts, I put her inside the car to keep her contained. She was happy as can be playing with the steering wheel and blinkers and lights. Then she found the horn. And found it again. And again. So she had to come out of the car. And then she was discovering all the fun things in the garage and it was okay because I was right there and I could watch her. Except that I watched her as the ladder fell on her and squashed her like a pancake. So I tended to the little one who wasn't too hurt and went to move the car into the garage because my stupid project that I was working on was just stupid and not worth it. So I sit down and go to start the car and it doesn't. Remember when I mentioned Eliot found the lights? Well she found the lights and killed the battery. So I have yet to figure out what I'm going to do about that. Good thing I don't have anywhere to go this afternoon.

And then I went to close the garage and it refused. It looked and me with its menacing flashing light and said, "too bad, sucker". With no logical reason that it wouldn't close, I disengaged it from the opener and just shut the door. I can figure that out later.

So things were going well today. And then it ended. So I'm done. Today can be considered a wash. Eliot's a mess from lunch and it's okay because we're now stuck in the house. Good thing we just got DVR and a huge ass TV because I'm going to be getting friendly with both of them... after I go take a nap.

Outdoor Conversations

2009-10-26T20:47:00.002-07:00

How It Is

2009-10-15T11:41:00.005-07:00

Remember when I didn't post for like a whole month? Yeah, me neither.

I know I said I was going private (and I may still) but then I realized that my favorite brother, Scotty (sorry Chris ;), is on a mission in WV and checks my blog to see what he's missing and if I go private he won't be able to see all the chaos in my world. Still going to have to weigh the options.

I have depleted all reserves of patience while trying to clean the house from the 16 month old tornado. She's learned to climb stools and tables and desks and entertainment centers and she likes to hit. It's amazing how much I can screw up my child when I've only been at it for such a short amount of time. If we take x amount of screw up and multiply that by years living under my care and add in some traumatizing experiences that I'm sure to cause her, we end up with YEARS and YEARS in counseling. She may have to have some too.

The half marathon is next weekend. While training for it, we went running on South Mountain and I got lost. YEAH! WHO'S NUMBER ONE? Three hours later, I was home and swearing at everything natural and dirty and nature related.
While we were in Chicago, Tyler bought me this amazing little gadget. It even talks to me and tells me my song names. The most amazing part about it is the sweat I drip that slides down the headphone cord and causes the controls to malfunction rendering my volume, skip, pause, play, and this song sucks buttons useless. It sure looks pretty though. I've fixed the problem but I don't feel like going into it. If you're curious, let me know and I'll let you know what I did.
Eliot still refuses to let me do something with this she-mullet she's got going on. She screamed for the whole three minutes she had her pigtails in yesterday.
And, finally, Eliot has developed a taste for Dr. Pepper. I was wondering if she was really my child every time she hit me or got out of the shopping cart or stroller (seriously, I was never that naughty!) but then she stole my drink and was in instant heaven. I guess she is mine!

Many Miles

2009-10-01T12:05:00.005-07:00

It took me a few hundred miles to be ready to come back to real life.
MEXICO

CHICAGO

And now I'm back. I've finally gotten the laundry folded. The grocery shopping is done. Life is somewhat back to normal. I have the fondest memories of being without my child for ten days. Life is good again.

Going Private

2009-09-28T12:25:00.003-07:00

It's that time.

If you read my blog and you would like to continue doing so, let me know at
stephersb@yahoo.com.

I'll give it about a week before I actually make the switch.

Owning It

2009-09-18T15:23:00.004-07:00

I would like to take my friend Heather's tag and own up to my perfect flaws.

Ready?...

Dedicated to Me!

2009-09-16T23:38:00.002-07:00

Yeah. I bet you wish you were going to Chicago. And I bet you wish that you had someone cool enough to come over and put together some amazing outfits for you to take on your trip. And, while she's over, she'd tell you why you look fantastic in the skinny jeans that are just a smidge too tight. And that same cool, wise sage would give great advice about said skinny jeans that are too tight: It's okay. Just shimmy them up like so and NEVER EVER put them in the dryer. If only you were lucky like me!

If you want to check out my whole adventure, go here.

Life in Short Sentences

2009-09-13T14:01:00.002-07:00

Sometimes it rains.

Three online classes left til graduation.
Training for half and full marathons.
Garage door spring broke.
Cars stuck inside.

Got hair cut.
Went to movie by myself.
Going to Chicago.
Colder temperatures there.
Going to Mexico.
No kids or husbands!
Tried to post videos.
Gave up.
The end.

Here are some pictures.

2009-09-06T23:30:00.004-07:00

Maybe tomorrow I'll post some videos.
But right now, I'm tired and I don't want to wait for the longest processing process EVER.
So later.
AND if you don't stop your whining, this is all you're gonna get...
I've been practicing my discipline.

By the way- if you like my profile picture (yeah, over there on the right), check out the other pictures by the most amazing skinny pant wearing woman who took it. The link's also over there on the right... keep looking... it's called Arizona Lewis Photography.

Every Day

2009-08-20T13:47:00.001-07:00

This blog is brought to you by the NIN song EVERY DAY IS EXACTLY THE SAME. I've included it for your listening pleasure. Please turn up your speakers.

As I get ready to go to bed each and every night, my routine is the same... EXACTLY the same! I turn off the TV. Go check the door locks. Walk to the wall switch and turn off the fan and the light. I feel my way through the dark room, counting my steps, until I reach the hallway. I open the bedroom door and walk into the bathroom. I then wait about ten seconds until the cat finally makes it into the room and into the bathroom before closing the door and turning on the light. Sometimes, the monotony of it just gets to me!!!

My day routine isn't much better. Eliot wakes up. Feed her. Wait until nap time. When she goes down again, sometimes so do I. When she wakes up again, I feed her lunch. While she's eating, I get in the shower. We run errands until the gym. After the gym we come home and fix dinner. Then Daddy comes home and Eliot gets a bath. Eliot goes to bed. Tyler goes to bed. Then I begin my routine. And as I walk through the dark room, feeling for the wall, and hoping there are no toys in the way, the NIN song plays in my head.

Addicted to Beauty

2009-08-14T18:01:00.006-07:00

Totally the greatest soap opera based reality show EVER!!!

FEATURING:

The gay, makeup wearing, receptionist who cried after calling someone a bitch because they said he didn't do his job. His job is hard and he's protected by the Americans with Disabilities act because he has what's called ADD.
The SCARIEST!!! woman ever. She's the CEO of the spa portion and looks like the lion lady. In this pic she's trying on a 57 carat emerald.
She's having a hard time because she's getting a divorce. Crying makes her look even scarier.
Shannyn was brought in to help do something(?) at the office. She recently had her boobs done and has the most distracting teeth ever.
And then there's this guy who wants to have his own makeup line but instead in the concierge of this place (brings water and gives back rubs... creepy) and rubs bronzer on Scary Woman's feet to help conceal her whiteness.
It's totally FANTASTIC! and available on OnDemand. Love it!

What to wear?

2009-08-06T13:40:00.004-07:00

Is it time to get your party on? Well, you definitely need to have the right thing to wear.

A tutu is always a good bet but is best worn topless. Only really accepted in strip clubs and bath or popsicle time.

Layering is a must in climates where the weather may be iffy. If you get tired of carrying your extra layers, just wear them around your neck like and necklace (or a cape).
Foundational items are a must. Bras are considered a necessity. To check appropriate cup size, simply place on your head. Again, wear extra bras (for later?) around your neck as an almost-fashion statement.
When you have finally found the perfect dress for the occasion, make sure to not keep it clean. Dirt, leaves, rocks, and bugs will accomplish this task rather effortlessly.

Move big trucks while wearing selected outfit to test maneuverability and ease of wear.
Lastly, don't forget about your shoes. The more Dorothy-like, the better. Don't worry about color. Shiny goes with EVERYTHING!

To recap

2009-07-27T10:38:00.003-07:00

We've returned home from Colorado. I'm not sick anymore! (Tyler was sick with it though yesterday. STAY AWAY FROM US IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN HEALTHY!)

Eliot loved all the attention from Doobie and Grandma.

She's learned that trying to squeeze into things that are too small is WAY more fun. I wonder if she'll still feel that way when she's trying to squeeze into jeans that are way too small or a bathroom stall or shoes or...

When I got home, I felt the need to remake my mark on my house. These rugs are what transpired. A nice little outdoor rug and a few cans of spray paint makes for nice artistic expression.
One is actually going outside and the other is in the kitchen.
I'm glad that I'm back, but it took a few days for it to actually feel like my home. I was walking around thinking that whoever lives here decorates nicely but it didn't feel like mine.

When I'm with my parents, it's so easy to feel all comfy and free- like I did when I lived there. Yet, at the same time, I knew I was a visitor. It's a weird place, being grown up. You are your own and yet someone else's all at the same time. The old and the new. I sure liked having my mom take care of me!

Oh, thank you!

2009-07-19T17:34:00.003-07:00

I'm visiting my parents in Colorado. That means that the sicknesses must come and ruin our trip! Yeah sickness.

Friday night I was sick with the stomach flu.
I thought it was really amazing at just how many deals I made with the pagan god of vomit: Please, if you just let me feel better, I won't care about throwing up next time.
Oh, please, make this go away!
I promise, you can make me sick with morning sickness throughout all of my future pregnancies.

Then, I redirected my prayers to a God I actually believe in and offered this humble little ditty: Thank you SO MUCH for letting me throw up.
Didn't think that would be the prayer I would be offering when I woke up that morning.

It's amazing how much stuff you notice surrounding the base of the toilet when you're so up close and personal. I need to remember to vacuum that area next time.

My mom used to say she'd rather give birth that have the flu. Thanks to the epidural, I WOULD TOO!

That is NOT a kitty

2009-07-06T11:14:00.002-07:00

Eliot calls everything furry a kitty.

These were definitely NOT kitties.
She was not fooled by their size. She wanted nothing to do with them.
Do you know what it's like having 12 tongues lick you all at once?

Sure, she had no problem with the fake deer.

Oh yeah. I'm wearing jeans. And I wasn't even hot.
Here's to the mountains of Arizona!
If anyone is ever in Flagstaff, go to the Grand Canyon Deer Farm.
It's so fun to be swarmed by a bunch of pushy deer who know where their food comes from-
all the stupid tourists who spend $3 on a food cup (it's a souvenir cup) and think it's worth EVERY PENNY!

No more picture box!

2009-06-25T08:07:00.003-07:00

What do you do with all those pictures of your baby from the first few months of life that are stuck in your computer? Do you print them off only to stuff them into a box? Do you put them in an album where the sticky pages will stop sticking in a matter of months? Do you put them in a scrapbook? I can't do that last one because I have NO scrapping ability. My attempts look like a kindergartners art project. So, what do I do?

I BLURB!
Totally the most awesome thing EVER! I put all of Eliot's pictures (well over 1,000 of them) into a book that was then published as well as anything I'd purchase from Barnes and Noble. I downloaded their BookSmart application and used their layouts to simply drag the pictures I wanted into the correct spot. It was so awesome! And yesterday, the book arrived. It was 134 pages, hardback, and worth the $42. I also purchased a paperback one ($25) for each of the grandmas.Now, I know I'm on one here, but I'm so impressed and I'd like to spread the news! I've previously made a book from Kodak but it was nothing compared to this. Making books is how I'm going to preserve all my photos from now on.
Also, the friend who shared about Blurb in the first place, has her blog published each year. Simply slurp (transfer) your blog posts to a book in seconds. I've realized that I don't write in a journal anymore because if I'm feeling something, I blog about it. Now I can put my posts in a book and document it for posterity (because I'm totally awesome and they all are going to love reading my blog posts!).

Walls

2009-06-19T11:22:00.003-07:00

It's not done yet, but I think I'll call this OCD. It's quite liberating drawing on the walls with a Sharpie.

Violation of Bedroom Rules!!!

2009-06-18T17:35:00.003-07:00

Tyler totally violated the STAY ON YOUR HALF OF THE BED rule last night.

I've gotten used to the fact that he steals the blankets.

I'm fine with the fact that sometimes he snores.

I am not okay when he compromises my personal space. I like to sleep alone. Since twin beds for married couples went out the window after all the Doris Day movies, I feel as though the way for our marital co-sleeping survival is only through this separation.

I feel bitter that I had to sleep on 1/8 of the mattress. I never really wanted a King bed before this moment. I'm starting to see it's appeal.

Psycho Thinking

2009-06-15T13:59:00.004-07:00

I'm documenting my troubles with my body image on a new blog

www.bodyperspective.blogspot.com.

I'm pretty psycho in my thinking so it should be fun to read. Maybe you'd like to join my psychoness.

My Baby is ONE!

2009-06-11T11:06:00.004-07:00

She started as this
And now gives looks like this
She's full of spunk
And inspires me to create this
And watch her open this
And she's not too sure about happy birthday.

Miss Ellie Lou, I LOVE YOU! Happy Birthday!

Scary!!!

2009-06-08T17:57:00.006-07:00

I must tell you that I love to create. Sometimes, it doesn't work out so well.

I found the cutest pattern for a stuffed cat. I didn't make it so cute though. Even Eliot was afraid of the scary homeless kitty.

Crazy

2009-06-04T10:55:00.005-07:00

My baby is almost a year old. I can't believe I've been without my sanity for that long. I'm getting really good at it.

I was watching my nephews play in the pool and I thought, longingly, about the days when I didn't have any responsibilities. I felt a twinge of annoyance as my daughter required yet more of my attention. I wished for a second that I could be back in a place where it was just about me.

Then, as my daughter laughed at my silly face, I realized that my time is up. I've had my me time. Yes, I can still have moments of time to myself, but it's my turn to have it be about my daughter... just as my mother did for me. And when it was just about me, I pined for a little someone who would be the recipient of all my time and love. I am living in this moment of my life. My me moment is passed. I'm not supposed to be able to run quickly into a store. I'm not supposed to be able to get dressed or go to the bathroom without interruptions. All of those things are overrated anyway.

Besides, this moment is already so much better than my me time ever was. Her smiles make the mess on the floor worth it. Her cute sleeping positions make my hairy legs and dirty hair acceptable.

I need to stop expecting myself to accomplish everything. I don't need to have it all together all the time. I'm starting to realize that. A mess is just a mess. If I don't get to it today, it will be there tomorrow. If I wait to clean it till tomorrow I'll be saving myself time by not having to pick up today's mess separately. A mess is a beautiful expression of chaos and randomness. I think I'll leave all the messes and refer to them as art.

French Mint

2009-05-26T13:19:00.002-07:00

Let's have three cheers for Photoshop. Look at how blue my eyes look!

And for a daughter with SPUNK!

And for chocolates...

covered in mint...

and sinks to clean up at.

For Scotty

2009-05-10T18:29:00.006-07:00

10 things

2009-05-07T16:40:00.006-07:00

I like:
1. This lovely backyard of mine.  The flowers bloom and the birds and the cat fight.  Seriously, what could be better?

2. Child locks. Someone must have been REALLY fed up with constantly picking up the contents of the cupboard to invent these little sanity-savers.

3. Dr. Pepper. I am currently enrolled in a detox program where I am the director, the counselor, the fellow patients. Yeah, I think I'm pretty much sure to relapse.

4. McDonald's Chocolate Chip Cookies. 3 for 99 cents, slightly chewy, never stale, available without getting out of your car... Yeah, I know- AWESOME!!!

5. Pretty toe polish. It's a good day when even I am satisfied with my end result.

6. Baby Wipes. They clean everything! I've pretty much given up showering with water for the oh-so-fresh feeling baby wipes leave. Not to mention the fact that you can use them to wipe the baby, the cat, the floor, the car, the cart, your hands, your husband's hands, your husband's other parts that stink...

7. A child who knows how to get what she wants. No baby proofing mechanism can stop this little rascal. She likes to constantly challenge her mother's sanity by creating, what I'm going to now call, the ever mess that is my house. A child who knows how to open cupboards and drawers and toilet lids and refrigerators is what I've always wanted! And yes, that is the entire feminine protection selection from under my sink.

8. The A/C. I love this device that cools my ever hot body. In an area where it feels like the molten-hot magma is going to come flowing from the ground every day from May- Sept, this wonderful machine is the hammock and blended drink with mini umbrella.

9. Sunless self tanner. It's okay being orange. Getting truly tan is just too much work.

10. Plants I cannot kill. There is something satisfying knowing that some things are able to survive even with all of the things I do working against them. I'd like to be equal opportunity and include weeds in this category too.

25 is gone

2009-04-28T10:31:00.002-07:00

Here I am 26. I doubt you will bring as many new things as 25
(a house, a cat, a child, a new body, friends, a new sister-in-law, lots of hair colors and cuts)
but I'm sure hoping you will be just as full of happiness. God willing, I've only completed a quarter of my life; I love the person that first quarter has made me.

And here's to you, first year of a whole lot more: May you bring more smiles and tears, hugs and kisses, milestones and memories.
And to those who know me during 26: May you enjoy me as much as I do ;)

FYI- my birthday was on Monday, April 27. My cute husband got me a dock for my ipod so I can stop listening to crappy music from the cable channels and an ice cream cake. Eliot gave me lots of milky kisses. Perhaps there is something lovely about the simplicity of a birthday once you're no longer a child.

2009-04-23T10:55:00.003-07:00

we'd like to announce the addition of Ryann Mary Bowns Hulme (I don't know which of those names she's going to keep) to the Hulme family.on our trip we saw:

grandmas and great grandmas

snow (in CO...on the day of the open house. I shoveled the whole driveway twice- the snowblower was broken and I didn't want my dad to have a heart attack. jk Dad!)

lots of yummy cupcakes

because of the snow (why I live in Phoenix) there weren't as many people as expected. if you'd like some cupcakes, I'm sure there are some left. my mom's been handing them out to anyone stopping by the house and the garbage man and the mailman and the UPS man and the Schwann's man (I'm lying about all those men but I'm sure if she was having a conversation with them she would offer them some).

my cute brother Scotty was also there in cardboard form. Sorta creepy!

Eliot was a pill. On the plane, she wanted to run around. Luckily, on all but one leg of the trip, she was able to be strapped in her carseat. I didn't realize just how child proof our house is until I went somewhere that isn't child proof. She was in drawers and toilets (numerous times she's had toilet baths!) and eating toilet paper and dog food and playing in dog water bowls (did I mention she likes water?) and books and fire places and grandpa's office and kitty litter boxes and stairs- you get the point.

Once, not so long ago, things were easier. Not as fun but not as hectic. For my birthday I think I'll ask for a nap.

I can only bring two bags???

2009-04-06T15:46:00.006-07:00

I'm leaving this Thursday for my brother Chris' wedding to Ryann.

They're getting married in Boise. Our first flight is Phoenix to Boise. We'll be in Boise until Saturday morning when we're flying to SLC to see Tyler's family. I'll be there until Tuesday (Tyler's leaving earlier) and then I'm flying on to Denver where I'll be staying until Saturday. From there, I'm headed back to Phoenix.

It was sort of a hassel to book all the tickets for this trip. Nothing was a round trip.

I'm starting to pack for the trip and I'm discovering that scheduling the travel was a cinch compared to getting everything into the limited number of flat rectangular-shaped containers. I can purchase some items (diapers, formula) once I get to Utah and then again when I get to Colorado, but how do I transport the required amount for my three days in Idaho? How do I pack baby food in a space-saving manner? I'm allowed to bring baby formula in a bottle through security but what about a sippy cup?

All of this trouble is definitely worth it for two things:
GRANDMAs!!!

Maybe I'll get someone to watch Eliot so I can go to the bathroom without an audience!

Also, since I got my haircut, I won't have to bring a blowdryer!

Yes, I cut it all off again. Did you actually expect me to keep one hairstyle for very long? I'm loving this haircut though. It's taken the focus off my double chin and repositioned it to my eyes. I feel reinvented.

When life gives you lemons, make a sour face

2009-03-29T13:15:00.002-07:00

He better not get me the traditional gift of wood or the modern gift of silverware!

2009-03-27T17:24:00.009-07:00

Five years ago:

4 years ago:

3 years ago:

2 years ago:

Last year:

TODAY:

5 years with that totally frustrating, absolutely wonderful hubby of mine. It took three weeks for me to know that I was going to marry him... a month and a half for him to pop the question... six months for us to get hitched... three years in Boston... two years in Phoenix... three moves... two cats... seven cars... one baby... one house...

BEST DECISION I'VE EVER MADE.

I know he'd say the same too because I am absolutely amazing and the awesomest wife and not hard to live with at all and I never leave my dirty laundry on the floor and the best thing that's ever happened to him. I'm sure he'd say the same- especially if he doesn't want to be sleeping on the couch.

Yeah, that's right!

2009-03-18T22:40:00.002-07:00

Eliot is now 9 months old. She's my favorite. Although I'm totally tired of picking dirt and rocks out of her mouth, she makes me so happy!!!

She's a total ham. She likes to put on a show. She's not too sure of men. I think that's funny. I also think it's funny that she sits like this (see below). I'm not sure if it's some yoga pose or an attempt at cross-legged.
We went swimming today. Yes, it is only March. One of the perks of living in the desert. I am sunburned. Not one of the perks of living in the desert.Even though the water was FREEZING, Eliot loved it. I sat in the sun (cause of said sunburn) while she floated in the water. This is going to be a great summer!

I definitely look that cute in a swimsuit, too.

Nothing on TV?

2009-03-10T11:31:00.005-07:00

Don't worry. I'll supply you with enough Eliot videos that you won't care there's nothing to watch ;)

And now some pics:

(why does she keep getting in the dishwasher?)

Bath Tubs

2009-03-05T15:04:00.004-07:00

Previously I posted about a baby tub that was the stupidest idea ever. As I've had the stomach flu today, all I wanted was some relief from the chills that the fever brought. I left Eliot in the family room (I'm a bad mom but I was desperate) and got in the tub. It was so nice and toasty BUT...

Why can't I have my whole body covered by water? Why do I have to decide to have my boobs cold and exposed to the air or to have my legs exposed?

As I was in the tub, trying to decide which part needed to be warmed the least, I thought back to that stupid baby tub.I would really love to be completely submerged in a tub like this. Yes, I know they make big soaker tubs that alleviate the need to make the boob/ leg decision but I don't have one in my bathroom so it doesn't do me much good, does it?

The other option that I could possibly see as working wonders is the tub for old people with the door that swings open so you don't have to step over the side, slip, and break a hip.

I could probably get this to fill deeply. Maybe they'd even include the old people.

Buyers Remorse

2009-03-02T21:07:00.005-07:00

After spending a certain amount of money on any given item (sometimes it follows after grocery shopping) I am bound to experience that dreaded feeling of guilt and questioning perfectly termed buyers remorse. However, some things are so wonderful though that no feeling of remorse EVER follows... only elation, excitement, and giddiness. I will pay tribute to those items now.

A house. It is said that people ultimately will feel that sense of "what did I do?". I, luckily, never felt that upon signing the finalizing documents of our house. I did slightly feel that feeling after our roof leaked, however.

before after

Laser Hair Removal. The BEST money ever spent. Not a day goes by that I don't feel grateful that I don't have to shave certain areas. If I had more money (or less frugalness) I would have my entire body done. I think that would cost an awful lot and I probably would feel a little guilty. However, the certain areas that I have had lasered are great. I doubt I'll ever regret having it done unless it comes into fashion to have hairy pits or spider legs sticking out of a bathing suit.

This Magic Little Machine. Yes, that's right. It's a Dyson DC 25. We had a little surplus after our tax returns showed up. This little puppy is where that surplus was spent. It's amazing. It sucks up everything. I can empty the canister without ever touching any part of the gross stuff. Before, I was dealing with a vacuum that not only made me deaf every time I used it but also caused me much trauma when I needed to empty the bag. On several occasions I would accidentally squeeze or pull the bag too hard causing some poof of dust or clump of something to fall to the floor. Knowing all the bugs that had been sucked up with the vacuum, I know that the clumps are remnants of those bugs falling back out of the bag to punish me for killing them in the first place. Actually, I don't know if a bug is killed by being sent to the vacuum bag. Maybe it's like an endless schmorgisborg that causes the bugs to live in happy heaven forever. I have often wondered how to clean up the dust pile while the bag is off the vacuum. I have considered vacuuming it back up- even without the new bag on. I would hate for the living bug to get me in the time it takes to load the new bag. But, I digress. This new vacuum goes from carpet to hard floor with the push of a little button. The ball allows me to turn left then right and left again with only a flick of my wrist. I'm not quite to the point where I don't know how I've lived without it (although I'm sure it's coming soon) but it's not going to cause me to lose my hearing prematurely and it doesn't make me hot to vacuum (like all other vacuums before have caused me to do). This vacuum was a great way to spend a bit too much money.

Shouldn't sleep alleviate this feeling?

2009-02-25T18:10:00.005-07:00

This is what I do all day. I watch my daughter make messes, laugh a bit, and then go clean them up. I'm tired. I can't seem to keep on top of it all. I naively signed up for two independent study courses to get me closer to graduation. I have a year to finish but if the amount of work I've done on them in the past two months is any sign of when they'll get done, I'M IN TROUBLE!

My dishes spilling over the sink and now moving down the counter. I put away the clean laundry after it's been sitting for a week and only so I can use the basket to haul the next load to the washer. I sleep until 9am. Like I said, I'm tired.

I've realized I'm the type of person who likes having nothing to do. I love being bored. I like not having work and not having school and not having responsibilities. I'd like a bit of that again. Like I said though... I'm tired.

Most of the time I love my life. I love where I am. I love being at home with the mess-maker. I don't mind taking care of the housework. But right now, I just feel tired.

I'm sure I'll get recharged. Maybe after I finish this pint of ice cream. Maybe after the cat stops bringing in lizards from outside. Maybe when the baby is no longer drooling or boogering all over my clean jeans. Maybe when the dishes are done and the laundry is folded and the sheets are changed and the classes are finished and the bills are paid and the baby is fed and...

One more thing: click that little button to the right that says "Follow this blog". I get my self esteem from my popularity and if no one follows, I'll feel like a loser ;)

Holy Cow, She's Cute!

2009-02-20T19:03:00.001-07:00

I'm biased. This I know. I don't care.

Hi Daddy!

2009-02-01T17:39:00.005-07:00

This is for Tyler, who is spending an undetermined length of time in New York. Since he's been gone (only four days), Eliot has learned how to clap.

And here's an older video of Eliot waving. For this purpose we'll pretend that she's waving hi to Daddy.

We sure miss you, hon! Love your guts- even your stinky ones.

No more worries!

2009-01-26T21:48:00.002-07:00

I reported for duty (jury) today. I informed the judge I needed to speak with her. SCARY! I told the truth about being freaked out and relating it to a previous experience where I had to testify and not being able to separate that experience with this new experience. I told her that although I said I was able to be fair, I was being optimistic and I cannot.

And now...

I'M FREE!!! I was dismissed as juror #10 and free from having to deal with yucky stories. I can now go back to my own, safe little world where I avoid things I don't like and surround myself with big fluffy things and lots of sweet words and foods and (I can't think of other things that are sweet, but I'm sure there in this place too.).

A moment of silence, please...

2009-01-22T11:25:00.002-07:00

Stephanie has been selected not only for jury duty, but as one of the special twelve (or fifteen as it may be). Sadness and despair fill Stephanie's soul as this civic obligation to which she just keeps thinking of things she should have said...

"Yes, I believe that CSI is real life and the way to which real life should operate. No, I cannot leave this belief at the door and be a fair and unbiased juror..."

"Yes, I believe that someone in a uniform tells the truth better than someone without a title. No, I cannot be fair and unbiased."

"Yes, the fact that my husband is an attorney affects my ability to be fair and unbiased in this case."

FAIR and UNBIASED!!! I should have told them I lacked the ability to follow the courts instruction to only use the facts presented in the case and not fall upon any of my own experiences to be fair and unbiased. (Seriously, that was asked after EVERY question, to every potential juror.)

Things aren't fair! Like the fact that I have to do this. And I'm totally biased! Screw equality. The only way I think we're equal is that I think everyone sucks, equally.

Do you think it's would be okay for me to call and say that I can't do this (there are three alternates) because I have no one to watch Eliot- I DON'T WANT ANY VOLUNTEERS! I could tell them that I was planning on having Tyler watch her and work from home but now he has to go to New York for trial (this is all totally true). Do you think I should try to get out of it?

BTW- it's a molestation case. Now do you think I should try to get out of it?

She loves the bath!

2009-01-16T17:33:00.002-07:00

Yeah to the Bonus!!!

2009-01-13T16:53:00.004-07:00

I never knew how fantastic a firm bonus could be until this year. I'm now not so upset about Tyler's long hours or working on the weekend. I guess I am a sellout and I DON'T CARE!

Want to see the effect money has had on our house?

That's a new couch, a new side table & a new TV stand

A new fan in our master bedroom. Too bad the fan's light is as bright as a night light :(

A new bookshelf from Ikea. I love Ikea. I'm still looking for inspiration for over the desk.

Again, the new couch and a great view of the ceiling fan.

Up until this point, we've been dealing with such a hodge podge of stuff. It feels so nice to have a bit of cohesiveness amongst our pieces.

A little something about me

2008-12-10T12:53:00.002-07:00

A few weeks ago someone asked me to tell them about myself. For some reason when I started talking about myself, what came out was my resume:
almost graduated from BYU with a degree in Exercise Science, worked as a nanny while living in Boston so I could help put Tyler through Harvard Law School, worked as a receptionist at a hair salon and also have my aesthetican and makeup artistry licenses.
Why is this the list I spouted off? Because it's what Tyler would have done. To Tyler, you can get a good sense of a person based on their education, where they went to school, and what jobs they've held. To me, I don't think this says squat about a person.

I was thinking about what I would say if given the chance to tell about myself again. Would I go on about how I came to make babies with my husband? Well, I grew up in Colorado and Tyler grew up in Utah. We met during Tyler's last semester at BYU. I think he was just eager to get married so he didn't leave school still single ;) We were introduced by a friend of mine from high school. He asked me out a few days later and we've talked everyday since.
No. This isn't how I'd choose to tell about myself unless I was giving a talk in church.

This is what I'd choose to tell about myself:
*I'm 25. I still feel as though I'm 16 though.
*I've been on anti-depressants for almost seven years now. I've come to terms with the fact that my brain doesn't make enough seritonin and I will most likely be on these medications for the rest of my life.
*I love to lift weights. I used to hate cardio. I'm learning to like it now because I need to lose weight. Weights help to tone but cardio is where it's at for weight loss.
*I want my prebaby body back. I love my daughter. I miss my body. I've decided I'm going to start referring to my stretch marks as sacrifice marks and my baby pooch as the baby house.
*I love to read and I read very quickly. I love a good romance book. I choose books based on their covers.
*I haven't had a best friend (or really any close friends) since I was a sophomore in college. Most of the time I'm okay but sometimes I get lonely.
*I love to sleep in. I'd sleep until 11 every day if I could.
*I LOVE Dr. Pepper. It's so yummy. It's my favorite in a can or a cup with ice and a straw. I don't like it in bottles.
*I'm very creative. I can recreate almost anything I see. I love to constantly be working on some project. I like it when people compliment me on the things I've created almost as much as I like seeing a project completed.
*I love to eat out. I love to shop. I'm a cheap shopper though. I don't think I've purchased a shirt for more than $12 in several years. It's like I'm still living with a student budget mentality.
*I dye my own hair. It makes me feel pretty to have new hair. I like feeling pretty.
*I miss the self confidence I had when I was a teenager. I would love to have that back.
*I want all the skinny people to have babies so that they aren't skinny anymore. (Yes, this goes back to wanting my prebaby body back.)
*I think my husband is pretty super. In fact, I think the sun shines out of his ass.
*I like to talk about myself.

"I don't have kids..."

2008-12-05T22:24:00.002-07:00

For the most part, the Kids Klub is the most wonderful part of my day. Up to two hours of almost free (20 cents a visit) babysitting so that I can work on getting back my pre-baby body. At this point I'm not hopeful. And upon those skinny girls I see walking around with their stomachs exposed and no stretch marks- I wish a baby. But, I digress.

I go to a gym that's a little further away because they have a far better Kids Klub facility than the closer option. However, there is one girl (she can't be older than 19) who on several occasions has told me that she doesn't have kids so she doesn't know what's normal.

Today's scenario went like this:
(over loud speaker as I'm in the middle of my 20th minute of my 9 mph run on the treadmill- haha yeah right) Will Mrs. Bowen please come to the Kids Klub?
scene shoots to Stephanie dripping in sweat gathering all of the items- ipod, weight gloves, water bottle, towel, magazine, extra bobby pins and hair tie- that took about ten minutes getting situated just so, and then walking down to the Kids Klub. Upon entering, Stephanie makes eye contact with the sane Kids Klub worker who shrugs her shoulders after seeing Stephanie's confused look. Baby Eliot is perfectly content playing in a swing. Stephanie is approached by Stupid, I mean, inexperienced kidless worker.
"I just wanted you to know that your daughter spit up all over her shirt." Stephanie stares, still confused. "She, like, threw up. I don't know if that's normal or anything. I don't have kids. Her shirt is all wet."
Stephanie gathers all of baby's items and packs bag to leave.

This scene probably wouldn't be so annoying to me if it hadn't already happened. The only way it was different was that Stupid came and found me on the machine and in a panicked voice informed me that my daughter had thrown up all over. Concerned at the thought of Eliot throwing up (signaling something VERY serious) I asked her if Eliot had thrown up/ projectiled or if it was just spit up. She told me that she didn't know. It was like throw up or maybe spit up, again she didn't know, she doesn't have kids, but it went straight down her shirt and was warm and wet. I told her that spit up for a baby is normal and that's why I had a burp cloth in the bag and a bib on Eliot.

Yeah, spit up is gross. I don't know why this girl keeps making problems of it though. Is my child the only one who has ever spit up or does she do this to all the moms? Shouldn't she know what is normal and what isn't for a baby if that's her job to take care of them?

Hi. My name is Stephanie...

2008-12-02T11:54:00.002-07:00

and I'm addicted to giving my child a pacifier. Yeah. I didn't think it was a big deal either until I found myself getting up five, six, seven times a night to replace the pacifier so that said child would go back to sleep. Seriously, this is more disruptive than getting up for a nighttime feeding.

Trying to ween Eliot from her pacifier has been a task. Two nights ago she cried from 3:30am to 5am when I finally gave up and got her up for the day. (Normally I don't really consider 5am part of the day; it's definitely still night!) I spent all of yesterday without the pacifier and things were fine. She took all of her naps without problems and I was hopeful.

Last night, I fell off the no pacifier wagon. She woke up at 1:30am and cried until 2:30. I wasn't feeling strong enough to go without sleep again so I decided to give her the dreaded pacifier. To my surprise (thinking she was crying because she didn't have it) she didn't want it. Feeling frustrated, I gave her a bottle. She drank the whole thing. When it was gone, I put her back to bed and she fell asleep with little protest.

Now all my thinking that the pacifier is the problem has gone out the window. Is she up at night because she's hungry? Do I need to increase her solid meals to twice a day? Is it because she has a cold? Is it because she's teething? (side note: about two weeks ago she refused to go to sleep when we'd put her down. I was pretty sure at that point it was because her teeth are coming in- we can see them ;) Now that that's taken care of, we have this waking in the middle of the night.) I have no idea what I'm doing!

We think she's pretty cute...

2008-11-19T12:44:00.003-07:00

Craigslist etiquette

2008-11-06T10:24:00.004-07:00

I've been watching craigslist for the past several weeks waiting for a clean, gently used exersaucer for Eliot. Two days ago, one was posted and for the best price EVER! So I emailed the lady saying that I wanted to purchase it. Yeah.

She replied saying that I could either pick it up in Apache Junction that night or the following morning in Chandler. I said that I'd like to pick it up in Chandler (please see map as to why). She didn't get that email until after her husband had left that following morning to Chandler without the exersaucer. She emailed me, letting me know this and asked if the following day would work. I said of course and asked her what time and where. She responded, "Someone else is willing to pick it up this evening and my house. If they don't pick it up then you can have it."

I'm pissed! I said I wanted it. It's not like we set up a time for me to pick it up and I was a no show. She's the one that didn't check her email in time. Also, in her posting, she listed her location as Chandler. Had she listed it as Apache Junction I wouldn't have been as inclined to buy it from her. Would it have killed her to wait until the following day and if I didn't pick it up then she could offer it to this other person? Isn't it like first come, first served?

I told her no thank you. I wasn't interested in it, even if the other person didn't show. I secretly hoped they wouldn't. Yes, I'm passive agressive. I wanted it though. Had she asked me to pay with pay pal I would have. Had she asked me to give her husband (in Chandler) a deposit, I would have. I didn't think she was going to give it away. :(

Grass and Poop

2008-10-27T09:58:00.003-07:00

Being from Colorado, I'm not used to this whole summer grass, winter grass thing that goes on here in Arizona. In CO we just have one type of grass but in Arizona the summer grass can't survive in the "cold" temperatures of the winter and the winter grass can't survive in the heat of the summer.

We recently paid some guys to come and put in our winter grass because we don't know what the heck we're doing. Said guys used a power rake to destroy what little green we had left and then left six bags of poop scattered all over our lawn. It's fine. I wasn't planning on rolling around on our grass anyway, but man, it sure does smell!!!

I picked this last weekend to refinish a trunk. Everytime I was outside working on it, the sprinklers would come on (they're set to like five times a day- another thing I don't get) and cause the poop to take on a smell that can only be described as the world's biggest stock show.

Next year I think we should skip this whole grass-cycle thing and just put in astroturf.

AHHHHHH!

2008-10-03T13:50:00.003-07:00

Eliot's on my list. She's become an expert roller but once she gets to her stomach, she gets stuck and screams. She has yet to figure out how to roll from her stomach to her back and it's making things quite difficult.

We've put her to sleep wrapped like a burrito baby since day one. It's been the way she sleeps best and it seems to be her Pavlovian signal that it is time for sleep. So today I put her down for her nap all wrapped in her burrito and a few minutes later I heard muffled scream/cries. I went in to check on her and this is what I foundNow keep in mind that she started out snug as a bug in a rug. In a matter of three minutes she had Houdinied her way out of the swaddle and on to her stomach. No more blanket burrito baby for this one!

So, as she had not fallen asleep yet, I took the blankets out of her crib, put the pacifier in her mouth and left the room so she could fall asleep. Before I could make it to the door, she had flipped to her stomach and was screaming for help. I can see that nap time isn't going to be happening today.

Three months, laughing, and teething

2008-09-18T21:06:00.005-07:00

Yes, I know three months (and a few weeks) is early to be teething, but Eliot is. Aren't we so lucky? The other night she was crying/screaming and refused to take her bottle unless we fed it to her while she was sitting up, in our laps, while sitting two feet away from the TV and watching the Daily Show. How we figured this out I don't know.

She's also started laughing.

I want to make her some cute headbands. I've seen several cute ones on your little ones. Would you please pass along your info as to how to make them? Eliot needs to be cute, too.

Jealous Much?

2008-09-05T17:57:00.004-07:00

Tyler and I were married 4 years before I got pregnant with Eliot. Everytime one of my friends would get pregnant, although I really was so happy for them, I felt jealous. I wanted a baby of my own. That kind of jealousy can be understood, right?

So why is it that I felt jealous as I was looking at my facebook page yesterday and noticed that several people had just given birth? It can't be that they have a baby and I don't- because I do now. Is it because their babies are cuter than mine? No, my baby is the cutest ever (except for all of your babies who are equally cute, I'm sure :) Is it because their babies are smaller than mine? That could be it although I didn't like the really little baby stage. I much prefer a smiley baby. So what is this jealousy?

The only baby that I can understand why I'm jealous is the one that belongs to the boy I had a crush on all through high school. Again, I'm happy for him and his wife. I'm still a little urked that he didn't fall head over heels in love with me (I mean, come on, what's wrong with him? I'm AWESOME!) but I got the perfect man for me. But I still don't really LOVE seeing this crush having babies. I think the jealousy toward the crush is understandable but why am I jealous of my good friend and her baby? Maybe I got so used to feeling jealous that I'm still working through it.

I do have to say that my jealousy is fading thanks to my wonderful daughter. Today I joined a gym and was able to work out for an hour and a half. It was fantastic! I took Eliot to the Kids Klub (aren't they so clever with that second K?) where she was watched the whole time. The babysitter lady (what do you call her?) even held her for like 45 mins. I don't even do that. The whole time I was gone, Eliot didn't cry once. Yes, I have the easiest baby!!! And, for the cherry on top, she fell asleep on the way home and has been asleep since. I'm sure it's because she knew that I needed some time to post on my blog.

Another one for the grandparents and uncles

2008-08-24T19:36:00.009-07:00

**Disclaimer: I'm sure these videos are just cute to (Bethany- pardon me for stealing the phrase) people genetically obligated to love my child. To everyone else I'm sure it's just a baby doing nothing. I know that I'm doing the "my baby is the most adorable thing ever and everything she does is something that no other baby has ever done" but I'm okay with it. I know that she's doing what babies all over are doing but it's super special because she's mine.**

Eliot is "talking". We think her stories are so fun. We're so glad she does something now :)

She's also just recently discovered that her bouncy chair has toys. The turtle's name is Petey and the poodle's name is Lola. For the first while, she just starred at Petey. Now she is able to grab them both and get them to her mouth. These toys keep her entertained for about half an hour. She has no interest in them if they aren't hanging from the bar though. Oh, I feel like she's already grown so much and she's only 2.5 months.

2008-08-21T10:29:00.005-07:00

I'm a bit sad. I knew that after having Eliot my body was going to change. People say I look good for just having had a baby. I don't want to look good for having had a baby... I just want to look good.

Before pregnancy, I was in great shape. I worked so hard at the gym that I accepted my body as it was. I knew what was fixable and what was just my body. We were friends. I realize now that I was content with myself because I looked good.

I'm about the same size I was before baby. All my clothes still fit. I suppose that is something to be grateful for. But, things are different. I'm just not as toned as I was. I'm willing and ready to get to the gym and work as hard as I did before but as luck would have it, we can't afford a gym membership. That's why I feel so frustrated. I'm watching myself change to something I don't recognize and although I'm willing to do what's necessary to fix it, I can't.

I know that the gym isn't the only place that I could get back in shape but it's what I know. It's too stinkin' hot here to run outside (unless I go at 4am but it just doesn't work when I'm up at night doing feedings), and I'm not coordinated enough to do workout tapes, and although I do lift weights at home, I don't have weights that are heavy enough and to by ones that would work would cost more than a month of gym membership.

Oh, I know there are ways to fix this. I know that eventually I will fix this. It's just an interesting change that I didn't know would affect me so much. The stretch marks wouldn't even bother me if they were on rock-hard abs :)

look at those arms.

look at those clavicles.

Buy My Stuff!!!

2008-08-08T20:52:00.003-07:00

I've started a business. I think it's a great business. I'd like you to think it's great, too.

I made Eliot the cutest bracelet EVER! Everyone else thought so, too. I decided that I'd share my talents with the world. So, check out the website. Go ahead and order. I'd be willing to give my dear blogging friends major discounts if they'd agree to give out my cards when people comment on the bracelets- which if your experience is anything like mine, lots of people comment.

I'm using only the best quality stuff. Sterling silver on all the clasps and silver beads. Glass and Swarovski crystals for all the colored and fun stuff. And, I'd love to do something custom for you. I like the funkier stuff (blacks and patterns) but if you'd like softer and cuter then I can do that, too.

So, check it out. Let me know what you think. Check the website often as I'm slow to upload all of the inventory I've made.

Thanks!

Blessings

2008-08-03T23:26:00.003-07:00

Eliot has brought us so many blessings. What a wonderful day where we were able to witness her first blessing. I know that Heavenly Father knew what he was doing when he created families. How wonderful that I have the opportunity to spend eternity with my wonderful husband and the sweet spirit that I've been charged with.

Live Action Shot

2008-07-23T17:29:00.004-07:00

Eliot is just starting to smile. I learned today that sometimes she's tickelish (not while she's being filmed, though). It's so much fun to have a little buddy.

sorry it's sideways.