Wedding Video

Because a question was asked in Five Question Friday (below), because I'm feeling very reminiscent, and because it was the first happiest day of my life (tied with the birth of my baby boy!)....

Five Question Friday

I'm an escapist what can I say? Instead of checking things off on my to-do list(s) - yes, I have more than one, I'm here... blogging. This seems like a lot of fun so here I am...

Click on the icon above if you'd like to participate in the fun!

1. Would you ever vacation alone?

Nope. I could maybe do a movie alone (which I've done while I lived in NYC), but vacationing alone would be very boring! i'm a people person, I'd die if I didn't have someone to share moments and make memories with, and I just, in all honesty, can't imagine any vacation would ever be fun without my hubby and/or friends to share the experience with.

2. Do you go the speed limit?

Nope. I have to complete traffic school before April 28th (my 3 year wedding anniversary, funny huh?!). I got caught going 19 mph over the speed limit, oops! I didn't even attempt to get out of the ticket, I all but stuck my wrists out the window saying, "lock me up Officer, i'm guilty!" I did, however, refuse to "thank" him for the ticket after he handed it to me (which I made a mental note not to do the last time I got a ticket!). so THERE! Officer!

3. Why did you start blogging/following blogs?

Goes back to my wedding planning days, I became extremely obsessed with seeing what other people were doing, getting ideas, and just being plain nosy. I had withdrawls after the wedding planning so having a baby gave me the perfect opportunity to become completely obsessed again. It started with thebump (dot com), I think I stumbled across bumpie's blogs and got such entertaining enjoyment out of it that I decided (just a couple short months ago), to give back, well, to attempt to give back, to other bloggers/nosey people like myself :)

4. Where do you shop for yourself?

Gosh, this goes against the grain of the female chromosome but i HATE shopping! Yes, I said it! HATE. So when I do, I go to Nordstrom, where I know that everything fits, and if I change my mind later (which is almost always a given), I can return the item with no hassle. I purchase shoes from Macy's, they always seem to have such a vast assortment of heels! When I was thinner I shopped at Express. Haven't seen that store in over a year unfortunately :(

5. What was the song that you danced your first dance with your spouse to at your wedding...or...what song would you like your first dance to be to?

Endless Love by Lionel Richie. Oh the memories. I can still remember, in all the craziness of the day, how special and romantic that day was. I'll never forget the way my hubbs looked at me, looking at my eyes but seeing my soul. I could tell by his gaze that the day was as special for him as it was for me.

Updates...

I've been wanting to do separate posts for each, but just can't find the time. I'll also be updating with pics when I DO find the time :) For now, this is what I've been doing for the past couple of weeks:

1) New reclining glider & ottoman came in. Oh how I love thee! I can't believe I waited this long to get it in the first place. It's a definite improvement from the original non-reclining glider in the nursery; it's a better match to the nursery furniture, and oh so much more comfy. Dutailier Ultramotion Sleigh Glider w/Ottoman.

2) Baby book. OMLord, someone help me please?! I'm addicted to this thing. I'm looking for all kinds of ways I can spend more money on this dang book. I just want it to be perfect! The cool thing is that it's completely customizable! Anything I want, she can create. So, my baby book has turned into two (so far), one baby book (birth - 1 yr) and one toddler book (1 - 5 yrs). I'm still adding things/pages/inserts to the baby book, and completely working with Kobie on ideas for the toddler book. http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=39218091

3) Just ordered and should be receiving Luke's first Valentine's Day cards. Woot woot, they are delish (scroll down a few posts to see the card). I can't wait for people to be completely surprised when they receive them in the mail. I even have my perfect little red glittery pen to address all the envelopes with. Now just have to go out and buy V-day stamps... Hmmm, hoping they have V-day stamps!

4) Just got Luke's photo album up-to-date. That boy already has over two albums full of pictures! I've been trying to cut back on how many pictures I print out but gersh, they're all just so dang cute!

5) And Mommy needs work, too :( Started WW a few weeks ago, started exercising a couple/few times a week, and going to the dentist tomorrow (BOO!). I just find it SOOOO hard to make time to take care of myself when all I want to do is immerse myself with Luke and projects for Luke. I know I have to take care of myself, it's just so hard to be motivated.

That's all for now, Luke is waking up so "me" time is officially over :/

A few days shy of 5 months!!!

I can't believe it! Time has just flown by, my baby boy is growing like a weed and I'm already starting to forget the early days, boo :( Luke has been pretty slow to get moving; grabbing and holding objects, sitting assisted, and rolling over. Well, compared to his girlfriend (two days younger) anyway. But just this week he decided to roll from back to tummy (on Saturday) and tummy to back (today!). He also started the army crawl today, whoa what?! Where'd that come from?! While I tried to get the army crawl on video, he decided to show me how easily he could roll from tummy to back. And just in case I blinked, or thought it was a fluke, he did it again... and again. I'm afraid that the next time I blink he'll be taking his first steps :(

My little boy is big, not so little. I'll be updating on Friday with his stats, he seems to still be growing like a weed.

Here are some pictures... just because he's stinking adorable... oh, and just so you know, my boy loves to smile... just not for the camera, unfortunately :(

Clogged Tear Duct.. Ugh!

i'm so over it already! poor ds has had this issue with clogged tear ducts since birth, but it's gotten to be a near constant problem since he was 3 months. we do the massaging and warm compress and see no results. we've had him on Vigamox but that only seems to work while we're treating it and I refuse to have him on antibiotics every.single.day until this issue clears up. dr. prescribed erythromycin (an ointment) and that irritates the skin around his eyes, ugh. i've resorted to cleaning his eyes 3x's a day with chamomile tea (a homeopathic remedy that is so far, at day 2, working wonders). ds has an appointment with the specialist on monday, i hope the dr. can deliver good news, an effective treatment plan, or just some simple ol' "it'll pass" prescription.

so here's a pic of ds' eyes when he wakes up from a nap... can you imagine how it looks first thing in the morning?!

Valentine's Day card reveal...

I am smitten. Isn't Luke's bff just a doll?! Look how she looks at him, oh she is the flirty one. It's so cute when they're together, she's always so into him and it seems like he gives her the cold shoulder, already playing hard to get I guess. She really is a doll and just loves to smile! Luke needs to take a few lessons in that department ;)

Happy Valentine's Day!

Valentine's Day card

I'm so excited I can hardly contain myself... I'm working on a Valentine's Day card for Luke's first V-day. I won't divulge too much, so I can show you the finished product in a few days, but here are two hints... It involves a very beautiful baby girl and it's so traditionally romantic/cute ;)

Background: I hesitated to send out another holiday card with Luke's pictures plastered all over it, afraid that people might vomit when they see it (not because he's not the most handsomest boy in the world but more of a, "are they serious?! sending out photos of him every two months?!" type of thing). But when you see the card you'll know why I had to change my mind ;)

Sleep Problem

Luke wakes every morning at 7:45. EVERY morning! Regardless of what time he goes to bed. The issue is bedtime. I'm guilty of creating this problem, nursing him to bed every night. The problem is that he'll nurse anywhere from 20 mins to an hour, usually closer to the 30-40 minute mark. And then, he'll wake up a few more times after putting him in his bed and we rock him back to sleep, about 5-10 mins each time(again, another problem we created!). Last night he woke up 4 times before finally staying asleep! So that was 40 minutes to put him down initially and then another 30-40 minutes of rocking, collectively.

This is the thing, he takes 5 naps a day, each falling asleep without our help AT ALL. We put him to bed with his GloSeaHorse and he knocks out right after it turns off, easy! Why can't he do this at night?!?! We've attempted it and FAIL.

Tonight starts a new night of trying something new. No more rocking! Trying to teach him to fall asleep on his own. Hopefully it takes only a few days to fix as the Baby Whisperer suggests.

Please, if you have any suggestions, drop a comment. I'd love to hear how you handled, or would handle, this.

I still remember...

what it was to look and feel good. i'm gonna let this one sit for awhile...



UPDATE: Added this one too, credit should more likely be given to my awesome photographer, not my natural beauty ;)

No pictures of Luke in ute

I have no pictures of me while I was pregnant. Ok, correction, I have 2! I hated pregnancy. I was sick all the time, I was fat... and not just the i'm-growing-a-baby-inside-me kind of fat, like really fat. I was uncomfortable and it hurt to breathe kind of fat. I'm trying to be really organized with Luke's baby book (probably because it's the only thing in my life that has a shot at it!) and I wanted something, some sort of proof to show him that yes, he was in fact a small boy that fit in mama's belly. I do have some pics at my baby shower, and a couple at my friend's shower, but those were just in passing, nothing specifically showing off my belly. So, back to the 2 pictures that I do have. One was taken at my SIL's when I was about 6 months pregnant (though I felt like 10!). I think my DH made me take it (thanking him now). The other taken after my good friend's baby shower, a month before I delivered. That picture was my doing, it went something like this, "Babe, come take a picture of me while I have make-up on. I should probably touch it up but naw, let's just get it over with. I just want to make sure this kid has a picture of his mama pregnant." Well thank God I had sense enough to do that... seeing as it's the only picture I have where I can blame most of the belly weight on him. He did come 4 weeks later, but was still 3+ weeks early, so how much weight can I really blame on him... hmmm. Well, here are the two anyway. The last will make it in his book, messy background and all!

Who said Leg Warmers are for girls?!

Longest Nap EVER!

Luke has been napping for almost 4 hours!! Do I wake, Do I let him sleep? I think I'll let him be and see how it complicates (hopefully not at all) his bedtime schedule. Of course he's on Mommy & Daddy's bed, lol. He napped 2 hours in his crib and then had a hard time waking up so I brought him to bed with me and here he still is... This is a record for sure! I'll be posting a pic soon.

UPDATE: Silly Mommy, trying to take pictures, in the dark, with a bright ass flash! This is what happens when you go all paparazzi on your LO.

Rewind: Birth Announcement & Christmas card

Stacia's (http://serendipitydesignco.com/) been our custom stationer of choice for all of our announcements, cards, invitations, etc. Here is the double-sided birth announcement and Christmas card she made for us :)




and Christmas card

Going Public...

So today's the day! I've been tossing the idea around in my head and decided that I'd finally go through with it today (with a little help from a fellow blogger :) I really enjoy following people's blogs, especially new mommy's and especially Mrs.F's! I look forward to unwinding in front of the computer after a long day, or short for that matter, and reading what other people (new mommy's) are going through on a day-to-day basis. So, in attempts that someone out there might find some enjoyment/entertainment, whatever you want to call it, in mine... Here goes. Let me know what you think :)

Oh, and to start it off right... Here's one of my sis' favorite pics of Luke.

Nope... Not sick!

Thank God! Just napping longer, for whatever reason but hey, Daddy and I will take it! You're such a good boy Luke, you remind me of a parrot, we just cover you up (put a blanket over your car seat when we're out and about) and you fall asleep within minutes. It's a pretty cool trick actually ;) I hate having you out all day, running errands. Your routine is off, your naps are shorter (is it even possible to be shorter than 45 minutes?!), and you hate being in your car seat for hours on end. I can't hold you, though, while I shop. You're too heavy (a whopping 18 lbs 7 oz as of Tuesday). Sometimes I look at you, usually in your (children's place) jammies, and I wonder if you're getting enough to eat because you look so lean... what?! how is looking lean at over 18 lbs even possible?! Then I pick you up and realize that yes, I'm losing my mind! I'll post a pic to show you what I mean. You're so cute and thin-looking in your blue jammies, I think you even feel lighter ;) I should keep you in these 24/7! I'll have to post, in the near future, all the cool things I've been getting... for you and for me ;) Love you sweet baby boy. XoXo.

Naps

You're starting to nap longer now. Yesterday you took 2+ hour naps and today you napped for 1+ hr in the morning, and 2+ hrs in the afternoon. You slept 10.5 hours last night (after going 4+ hours awake). You're schedule's been off... I hope you're not getting sick :/

Uh oh!

I have to start sneaking into your room and sneak to check on you now. If you see me you'll smile and get all squirmy, clear recognition. You also recently started crying when your Daddy and I leave the room, or you look around and can't see us. You get all frowny face and the pouty wail begins. I have to start leaving you with other people more often, which is very hard for me to do. I leave you with Daddy sometimes, to get my nails done or out for a quick shopping trip and those trips without you are soooo hard! I'll look for any excuse to cancel them, as it is I only get my nails filled once a month. The shopping trip when I left you was because it was Christmastime and virtually impossible to push a stroller through Wal-Mart and Target. Here's to an honest effort of leaving you more often. We'll see how that goes.

Cuddle Time

Today was the first day in a long time that I cuddled with you while you had your afternoon nap. You've been such a great crib napper/sleeper that we've never wanted to risk jeopardizing that by bringing you into bed with us. Before we put you in your crib (at 10 weeks) I would bring you into bed with me for your morning nap. I loved it, being so close to you, watching your chest rise, smelling your hair, face, neck, anything I could get my nose near. I loved hearing your little squeaks, watching every stir and facial expression, you looked so peaceful, not a care in the world. I miss that... I miss your little warm body against mine, skin to skin. I miss the smell of your sweet breath, the sound of your soft whispers. I forgot how that felt until this afternoon. It was the same yet different. You seem to be three times the size you were when you last slept in Mommy's bed. You're long now, your legs got tangled in mine when I attempted to curl up with you. Your arm hung on my shoulder when before you couldn't reach it. There was so much sadness in the moment, I realized (something I've clearly been very aware of, but dreading at the same time) that every day the little baby in you grows bigger. You are my Clifford. Soon you won't fit in my arms, soon you won't want me to cuddle with you, soon you'll be begging for me to put you down. Until then, I will cherish every moment, crying or still, with you in my arms. I will rock you just a little bit longer, kiss you a little bit more often (as if that's even possible), hold you like there's no tomorrow and tell you, over and over again, just how much I love you and how important you are to me. I love you more than I ever imagined possible. XoXo.

Baby Book

I'm in LOVE! I came across this book and now have to have it! I couldn't even sleep last night out of pure excitement. Yes, this is my life. I'm even excited about all the work that comes with a new baby book when your child is already 4 months old. After many many hours jotting down all your firsts (thus far) and all the cute things you've done (so far), I'm abandoning the original book for an updated, classy book. Can't wait for it to come in...

http://www.etsy.com/view_listing.php?listing_id=37689792

here are some pics... i ordered in color Lake ::drool::






I ordered everything except the Preggers section (that was horrible and I'd much rather forget those memories and not have them documented for torture 30 years from now thankyouverymuch!).

- Baby book
- Extended pack
- First years
- Personalized name insert

Happy New Year!

What a great way to start off a new year... I get to wake up every morning to my beautiful baby boy calling for me in the next room. Ahhhh, life is beautiful. Luke sleeps a good 9-10 hours every night, some nights 11. I usually wake in anticpation of his awakening, I hear him stir and I get out of bed, use the restroom, refill my water bottle and wait... wait for him to call. Sometimes he'll spend 10-20 minutes playing in his bed, other times he'll call me right away, "ugggh, uggggghhhh, uggggghhhhh." Ok, time to eat. Confession - most mornings I'm dancing to his room, looking forward to seeing his precious face greeting me with a smile and squirm. Ocassionally I'll lay in bed and wait for Trev to get up and get him (which is almost pointless since all he can do is pick him up and bring him to me so I can feed him), still, it's the thought that counts :) I hold onto these moments spent with my son and shared with Trev, I can't imagine more perfect mornings.

I just went to check on him... How cute is he?!



And here are some taken at my mom's house where family got together and celebrated.





Unfortunately I'm not able to play photographer anymore since my hands are full with Luke... After downloading the pics I find that these are only a limited few in the bunch :/ I'll have to work on getting more good family shots to share.