Trendy Tot Tuesday

Linking up again with Kelly, Megan, and Lindsay for another Trendy Tot Tuesday.

Shirt-Old Navy//Hair bow-Gap

 Over the weekend, we attended a birthday party for one of Elena's playgroup buddies.  It was at an indoor play center---The type of party not suited for a party dress.  We're talking a pants and socks, running around like a crazy girl, type of party.  The best kind, right?

She had so much fun with her "fens" and got so many compliments on her outfit...particularly her pants.  We had our hospital tour {Since Elena was born in NJ and this is my first time delivering in CBus} earlier in the morning and I swear, every passerby commented on her pants.

 

I actually had her wear them especially for the party, since they were a hand-me-down from the birthday girl herself.  Her sweet mommy, who has become one of my dearest friends out here in Ohio, has turned me onto Matilda Jane, which is where these adorable ruffle bottom pants are from.  I die just about every time I put Elena in them.  I am definitely going to be ordering some more for Elena in the fall.  I enjoy dressing Elena in unique outfits that you don't see everyone wearing, which makes me super excited to start filling up her fall wardrobe.  

One of her besties.

My entire heart.

Do yourself a favor...Head on over and link-up...

I love you, Friday.

Since becoming a Stay at Home Mom, I don't experience the impending doom of a coming Monday like I once did when I was working.  Similarly, my ache for Friday is surely not as desperate as it once was when I lived for the weekend. 

Don't get me wrong, I love me a Friday.  Paul is not traveling and is either working from home or at a local branch.  Dinner is at a predictable time and is always pizza.  Always.  Paul and I are in tag team mode for clean-up, bath, and bedtime.  So yes, Fridays are glorious and an overall win. 

This week was a little different.  And before I go any further I seriously want to thank the Big Man upstairs for seeing me through.  I'm here.  It's Friday.  I made it.  Dramatic, perhaps.  But I speak the truth, people.

This week I had that familiar dread of Monday that is immediately followed by the pleading for the end of the week to arrive.  Paul was traveling all.  week.  long.  It might not sound like a huge deal, especially when I am used to him traveling and being gone 3-4 nights a week.  But for some reason, this week?  This week was different.  Let's highlight, shall we? 

Paul was away-away.  Not just a short drive to Cinci or Cleveland.  No, I'm talking Bay Harbor, Michigan.  For all you non-Mid-Westerners, that's a good 8 hour drive from Columbus.  Naturally, I'd convinced myself that I would have the baby this week because he was so far from home.  And that's just the way things often happen in our lives. Not to sound too much like Mel.issa Gor.ga, but THANK YOU, JESUS!  I am still with child, and Paul is in transit back to Cbus.  

Before the week officially even started, I threw my lower back out on Sunday getting Elena from her crib.  Like, couldn't move, bend, sit, stand, walk, or lay down without being in excruciating pain.  I've done it before so I knew that I'd be hurting the next few days, at least. 

Did I mention I am 36 weeks pregnant as of tomorrow?  Yeah, that extra 30 lbs I'm carrying doesn't really favor a bad back too well.  I've really felt fairly well this time around.  Even being ginormous and even in this heat.  Being huge has it's limits with mobility to begin with.  And though I pride myself on making a concious effort NOT to waddle, this week I took waddle to a whole new level.  Imagine your 80-something year old Great Aunt Maude being 9 months pregnant.  And now you know what I looked like.  Totting around a toddler. 

Ah, yes!  We cannot forget that on top of the busted back and gigantic pregnant-ness, I have a two year old.  A two year old, who, for the love, is not what I would call easy or laid back.  She is awesome, and fun, and loving, and silly, and kind.  She has manners and is totally predictable on most fronts, BUT, she is whatever the opposite of laid back is.  I can't think of the word.  And she is extra "whatever that word is" when Paul is not around. 

She freaks if there's a speck of anything, anywhere.  Lint on her toes?  Forget it.  A dangling floret on her piece of broccoli?  Ewwww, Mommy.  And, common to toddlerhood, she has to do every. single. thing. under the sun herself.  I love her fierce independence.  I do.  But it can be maddening and frustrating at the same time.

"No, I doob it, Mommy. I ba doob iiiiiiiiiitttttt!"

She freaks her shit if I try to help her with anything from getting into the carseat, to stirring her own oatmeal, to closing the gate at the top of the stairs.  She wants to do it all.  Alllll.  And normally, I'm patient and I can marvel at her independence and determination.  And I can pick my battles and let her put 3 mismatched bows in her hair or screw the cap back on the water bottle herself.  But this week I was dreading the tantrums and the power struggles. 

So now, here I am.  It's Friday.  I made it.  I can look back and say that the anticipation of the dreadful week I was sure to have was actually worse than the week itself. 

Yes, my back still hurts, but I am looking much more like 30-something pregnant and less like your 80-something year old Aunt Maude. 

Yes, I am huge, but thankfully I'm still pregnant and did not go into labor, sans Paul. 

And yes, my toddler is still wildly independent, but she bent and compromised with me this week like she knew Mama needed  a little extra compliance.  Thank you, sweet girl.

And most importantly, I have my husband who will be home tonight to tag team it all with me.  Many mothers don't have someone to share the struggle with like I do...running a household and raising a toddler...so for that alone, I'll shut the eff up right now with my bitchfest and thank you all for listening.

 

I'm off to love on my Friday with my favorite people and hope you all do the same! 

Breaking Ground

Today we broke ground on our new home.

In Ohio.

It still sounds so foreign to me when I say that we live in Ohio. And not only do we live here, but we are building a home here.

Having rented for the year+ that we've been in Columbus, it was clear that, regardless of how much longer we planned to stay, we wanted a place that was ours. A yard. A neighborhood. Something that didn't feel temporary.

So, here it is, in all it's glory. The hole that will eventually be our home.

Elena and I did a drive by today and I could see the backhoe in action from the highway. Not gonna lie, I was overcome with giddy school girl excitement.

I parked the car and got Elena out so she could see the workers in action.  Girlfriend is obsessed with trucks and loved every second, waving and shouting "Hi Backhoe" about 170 times.  She proceeded to cry when we left and kept saying "digging" in between sobs in the car on the way home.

I'm pretty sure Paul ran out to the nearest Toys R' Us in Whereverthefuck, Michigan he's at to get his girl a digger.   Okay, not really, but no doubt he's on that as soon as he gets home. 

I don't know if this is what all home builders do, or if I'll be labeled the weirdo of the development by the construction workers, but I plan to stalk the site on the daily, doing drive bys and checking out what's going on.  That's normal, right???  I just can't wait to see it come together.  They say it takes about 60 days to get to the dry walling phase.  So, ultimately, in two months we should have a standing structure.

Follow me on Instagram to stay up to speed with the building process.  'Cause you know you love seeing large machinery and piles of dirt and stuff. 

Blog Lovin' or Bust

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

So, being away from this space for so long, I sort of missed the whole world-is-ending pandemonium caused by the disintegration of Google Reader.  I'm a novice at this blog stuff, so although I relied on Google reader to catch up on my favorite reads, I don't really see what the big deal is about having to read from my blogger dashboard or another platform, such as Blog Lovin', instead.  Somebody clue me in if I'm missing something.  Which, I likely am.  I'm a novice, remember? 

Anyway, I know I'm fashionably late to the follow-me party, but I truly value all of my readers and hope that you'll continue to follow along in one form or another.





 

So What! Wednesday

Ok, let's see if I remember how to do this.  It's been that long! Linking up with Shannon for her weekly So What! Wednesday. 
    This week I'm saying So What! if...   I'm watching Pretty Wicked Moms.  How am I just finding out about this gem now??? 

I made a pint of Haagen Daaz my bitch tonight and ate almost the whole thing.

I do that every night.  That averages about 3 pints of Haagen Daaz a week.

I almost just threw up realizing that's a lot of freaking ice cream.

We eat oatmeal and cereal for dinner on nights like tonight when Daddy is away.

I wear a bikini to the pool at 34 weeks pregnant.  It is not a pretty sight but I've got no shame in my game.

People who FB complain about the heat annoy the crap out of me.  I get it.  It's hot.  I don't need to see a grainy cell phone pic of the temperature gauge in your car. 

Those same people also annoy me when they complain how cold it is in winter.

Baby Julia is due in 6 weeks and I still have no clue what I'm going to do with Elena when I go into labor.  Being 500+ miles away from family totally sucks.

I've completely slacked at trying to find a babysitter out here.  We are paying $35 a month to have an ad on one of those child care websites and I haven't interviewed a single person.  I have issues.

I'm obsessed with Big Brother but this season's Mean Girls are really turning me off.  Not loving this cast at all.  Except Howard.  Love me some Howard.

I'm scared to death about loving another child.  I have spent pretty much every waking minute of Elena's life with her.  She is my everything.  I am wildly in love with her and just cannot imagine how to do that with two.  Especially another girl.

That's enough for this week...So Whating apparently is just like riding a bicycle :) 

Trendy Tot Tuesday: Jersey Pride

I'm a little late to the game here with my first Trendy Tot Tuesday post.  So excited to finally be linking-up with Kelly, Megan, and Lindsay. 

Let's be honest, fashion blogger I am not.  I don't do OOTD posts.  I think it's terribly awkward to take pictures of myself, and unless there's a demand to see a mid-thirties mom rocking a wife beater and messy ponytail, I'll leave them to the professionals.  You can thank me later.

What I do love, however, is taking pictures of my sassy two year old in whatever it is she's got on for the day.  Sometimes it's one of her few coveted Matilda Jane pieces, but more times than not it's a second hand ensemble she's gotten from one of her cousins.  You can even catch her sporting pajamas as an all day look, depending on her mood. 

Today's outfit features a staple of Elena's summer wardrobe...these Gap denim bow shortie shorts.  Love them! They are so versatile and go with all of the fun summer tops that she wears...from tees to tanks. 

The t-shirt is a gift from one of our dear friends back home in New Jersey.  I am obsessed with it.  It says Jersey Pride, and God knows we've got that.  I tried to get her to fist pump for the picture but it wasn't happening today.  I hope you'll settle for her cheese face, instead.  I mean, seriously?  The hands on the hip?  I die.  And if you could hear her?  She's not saying cheese all sweet and nice.  It's more of a guttural "CHEEEEEEEESSSEEEEEE," like get this effin camera out of my face you crazy woman. 

I decided to dress her outfit up by coordinating it with a cute red hair bow and her red Toms.  There is just something about those Toms on little piggies that make me feel all warm and fuzzy.  If your child does not have a pair, I seriously suggest ponying up and getting them a pair or six.  I promise they will make you a happier person. 

Looking forward to hopping around and seeing what other trendy tots are wearing these days!
Until next week....





                                       

Big Things

Big things have been going on.  

Considering I haven't blogged in exactly 4 months, there really is just too much to cover.  I can be long winded as it is, so if you're even reading this {since I never sent out the mass "follow-me-on-bloglovin'" post} consider yourself lucky.  You get the abridged version.  You're welcome. 

 Despite the relevancy and importance of big and little things that have happened since March, I just haven't had it in me to come here.  To write.  It wasn't that I didn't want to share, just that once the days of not blogging lapsed into weeks, and eventually months of not blogging, it just became commonplace to let it go.  Am I a little disappointed?  Sure.  Losing sleep over it?  No.  But then again, I don't sleep much these days anyway. 

And then something--not quite sure what--urged me to log into this space tonight to find my last entry was March 14th.  Exactly 4 months ago.  The irony of that, coupled with the fondness I have for  even numbers, well, it was just what I needed to lure me back in. 

So back to big things.  Let's start with the obvious...

That big thing right there would be my 32 week bump taken while we were back home visiting in NJ for Independence Day.

That big thing, also known as Julia Claire.  

She has a name.  

It is indeed official.  Just as Elena was named, after my mother, and her middle name, Josephine-after Paul's grandmother, Julia is named after Paul's mother (who goes by Julie), with the middle name Claire, after my maternal grandmother.  I love me a good family name and am so blessed to love both of my girls' names so much.  My girls.  Elena and Julia.  Lainey and Jules.  My Lainey Bug and JuJu Bee.

For the record though, baby sister has affectionately been dubbed "Goobie" or "Goobia," which is how Elena pronounces it.  And it's sticking.  #awesome #notreally

Big thing number 2?  

That would be the girl right there in the picture below.  My 2 year old.  TWO.  Which means she's even more sassy and spirited then she was when I last checked in here.  Talking and wondering about everything around her.  I truly love this age.  Power struggles, hunger strikes, and all.  

She's sleeping like a teenager still- 12/13 hour nights + 2-3 hour nap, eating like a bird most days {but will never turn down fruit, frozen peas, smoothies, or Pirate's Booty}, has somehow discovered Barney {damn you Netflix!}, and is obsessed with baths, showers, and the pool.  She is the coolest.

To round out the big things going on around here...we are building a house.  In Ohio.  Craziness.  So excited and nervous.  And ready.  We finally just got our dig date.  July 22nd.  Stay tuned for documentation of the process. 

Gonna really try to keep up with this space here.  I'm pretty sure that if I don't, getting back to it after Julia arrives would be slim.  I've loved the purpose this blog has served for me thus far.  I love looking back and re-reading entries.  And I love the connections I've made with other bloggers.  It feels good to be back.