Wordless Wednesday

Not only is he sitting up on his own, and wearing big boy pjs.  He is playing with toys.  Like PLAYING.

Not just chewing them.

The Holidays Kicked My Ass....

.....and my computer.

It's dead. I've had no e energy to type up a whole post with my thumbs on iPod or BB.

As I sit here thumbing this, I am in my pjs. I have been since Saturday. I mean I did shower and put new ones on but I haven't left the house.

I go back to work Wednesday and have no intentions of putting on real clothes before then.

Christmas was nice and quiet over here. Lael got everything she wanted (minus the hamster) and
that was all I cared about. Santa even dropped off a few things for D and Kobi.

We ate leftovers, played XBox Kinect, took naps and ate some more.

I hope your holiday has been filled with laziness like mine has. Well, only if you like that sort of thing.

**I can't post pics for a while but when I do it'll be worth
it.**

7 Months

My baby boy.

7 months. Already.

You are sitting up on your own. I don't know when you started this.

Just one day I propped you up and you never fell back. Weird.

You love to roll around.  You start off slow but then quickly pick up the pace.  Baby gates will be put up soon!

You make the craziest faces. I think you just like to make me laugh. You succeed every time.

You aren't crawling yet. But I'm ok with that. You are growing too fast and I don't mind you putting that off.

Your two teeth have come in all the way.

You sure know how to use them.

You still sleep in the bed with me.  It's funny because you do this thing where if you don't feel my body close to you you kind of do a worm scoot until some part of your body is touching me.  That kinda makes me smile.  Like all the time.

Daddy is your BFF but now that you've finally met my brother he's in the running.

I love you squirt. You fit perfectly into our lives. You were meant to be.

Baby Parts

Itty bitty fingers that wrap around mine.

Chubby cheeks.

Kissable lips.

Toes you want to eat for breakfast.

Is there anything sweeter than baby parts?

**Check out more You Capture post at Beth's Place.**

Wordless Wednesday

He doesn't like to be bothered while he's eating.

Yup. He's a man....almost. :o)

USO Kids Christmas

Saturday I took Lael a USO kids Christmas event. I had taken her last year but thus year they changed it up big time.

This year we had to register online for our children to attend. They had to be between 4 and 12. The other catch was that you could not come along unless you volunteered to chaperone other kids as well as your own.

Because I am super overprotective, I volunteered so that I could keep an eye on my girl. I was also secretly excited to spend an afternoon alone with her.

When I think about it, that was the longest we've been alone since I had Kobi.

So one of the other catches was that we had to be bussed to the location. Maybe to prevent unregistered families from crashing the party.

This was our view as we pulled up to the community center.

When we got off the bus we were surrounded by Santa, Mrs. Clause, Princesses, Elves and many more characters.

The kids LOST THEIR MINDS.

We had a blast. I know I say it every year but being military is hard but they make up for it with perks like this.

The Dreamhouse

Every year there is that one hot Christmas item that drives me crazy.

The past few years have been especially difficult because, well, we’re broke.

I mean I know we are ALL broke but I’m broke broke.

So you can imagine my pain when Lael and D both put the Barbie Dream Townhouse on their lists last year. It was around $145.

If you remember, we ended up getting both of the girls DSI’s so the Barbie house didn’t make the cut.

So, naturally when Lael gave me her list this year that damn house was on the top of the list again.

Then I was torn. Torn because it was on her sister’s list again.

Then I told my brother about it.

Him being the hero that he is (figuratively and literally) , he decided to help me pay for it.

I decided to leave the guilt behind me because the fact it Lael deserves it and I’m going to make sure she gets it and deal with everything else later.

So then began the hunt.

Apparently Wal-Mart sold it for $125 but they were sold out.

Target had it going for $130 but they were sold out.

Toys R Us had it in stock but for $179.

Amazon had it in stock for $159.

Damn. I obsessively checked these websites over the last few days waiting for them to restock or put them on sale.

So after talking to my brother I decided to order from Amazon before they ran out.

I went online to order but decided to check Target one more time.

Guess what?

They had them in stock. And on sale.

On sale for $123. And get this: FREE SHIPPING!!!

But it gets better.

I remembered that Lael’s godfather had sent her a $50 gift card so I applied that and my brother only had to pay around 80 bucks.

I feel like I just made Target and Mattel my bitches.

Even though I didn’t.

But if feels like it.

The point is I’m going to have one happy little girl on Christmas morning. (or later depending on the delivery date which ranged from Dec 21st-Jan 6th)

And because I awesome l’m gonna give my brother all the credit.

I know, I’m like a saint or something.

Wordless Wednesday

The level of cuteness is sometimes too much.  Too much I tell ya.

And All I Got Was This Stinkin' Picture

Let's take a look at this picture:

-I believe it is the first time my husband has taken a picture with me and the kids at the same time.

-Pay no attention to the animal that I am passing off as hair

-Lael was drugged and it took 10 minutes just to get that smile

-She also refused to let me do her hair so she wore that hat the entire night

-My hair appears to be eating half of D's face.  I promise it didn't.  At least not that much.

We really had a great Thanksgiving.  Lael was able to bounce back for a little while and managed to nibble on a bit of food.

I hope each and everyone of you was able to enjoy your family time even if you got a horrible picture out of it.

Smiling Through the Pain

We made it through the Tonsillectomy yesterday.

It wasn't as bad as I thought it would be, but still nerve racking.

We got to bed a little after 11 and I was up at 3.  It was more of a tease then sleep. Especially if you have a baby that woke up at 2.

Here is Lael at 4am.  Smiling.

She is my hero.

We made it to the hospital and checked in by 5. We spent about an hour in the Peds wait room where we made various buildings out of wood sticks.

By 6:30 we were taken into the operating room.  They allowed her to keep her pjs on and take her stuffed animal Rainbow Monkey.



We played Angry Birds and other silly games.  Hubby and Kobi waited in the OR wait room.

The doctors were great.  They came in and joked around with her.  They explained everything that would happen.

She made the nurses laugh.  She's awesome like that.  She wasn't nervous AT ALL. (can't say the same for myself)

At 7:25 I had to say my goodbyes.  I was sooo nervous.  They tell you there is a small percentage of people who don't wake up from surgery.  I prayed my baby wasn't in that percentage.  I prayed and prayed.

I walked down to the wait room and distracted myself with the cuteness of Kobi.  It was the shortest and longest hour ever.

At 8:30 the surgeon came in smiling and told me they were done and everything went perfect.

My hubby decided to go see her first since I saw her off (that pissed me off but I understood).  He showed up a few minutes later telling me to go back because she was still sleep.

I went back and there she was, knocked out.

5 minutes passed.  Then 10, 15, 20.  I watched the little boy who came out after Lael wake up and cuddle with his mom.

I began to get nervous.  Right when I started asking questions she woke up.  She looked at me and started to cry.  Not a sobbing cry but the silent tears down your cheek type.

I hushed her not to cry and of course she cried more which of course made me cry.

She was awake.  A little high, but awake.

After a Popsicle and a few minutes of Shrek we were moved our own private room.

We spent about 3hrs there and then it was time to go home.

Pain or no pain. She still smiles.

There will be nothing but JELLO, Popsicle's and juice for the next few days. But I don't hear her complaining.

The Pre-Op Appointment

Most of you know that Lael is scheduled to have a Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy on Monday.

Wednesday was her Pre-Op appointment.

It was a long day. Long. Very long.

Originally hubby was going to go with me.

Then we decided to leave him and Kobi home.

That morning I somehow ended up taking them both with me. Alone. (Still not sure how he got that one past me.)

Here is a glimpse of our day…….


In the car on the way to the hospital:

Her: “So let me get this straight, I will not be sleeping in the hospital on Monday, right?”

Me: giggle giggle “…..right….” giggle giggle

In the room with the first doctor:

Doc: “So, do you have any more questions?”

Me: “I think that’s it for me, Lael do you have any questions?”

Her: “Yeah, when can we eat.”

In the Pediatric Waiting Room:

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

In the room with the 2nd doctor:

Doc: (whispering to me) “Did they tell you she had to have blood taken?”

Me: (panicking and trying to whisper) “NO…..”

Doc: “How does she do with that?”

Me: “I can’t say, she never had to have that done.”

Doc: “How do you think she’ll do?”

Me: “As well as you would expect a 7yr old drama queen.”

Me: “Lael, sit down, and let them take your blood…..pressure.”

Doc: “Ok, now I will take your temperature, I’m just going to rub this thing across your forehead.”

Lael: “Didn’t they just do that in the other room?”

Me: “Ok, great job honey. Now listen. The doctors need to take a teeny bit of blood out of your arm.”

Lael: “……………”

(At this point we negotiated for 10 minutes why this had to be done and which arm and how it wasn’t going to hurt at all)

Lael: “They are going to need a smaller one if they thing they are going to stick that in my arm.”

(The doc then stuck himself and drew his own blood to show her how easy it was.)

Raise your hand if you think she bought it.

Yeah.

After 10 more minutes:

Me: “You have two choices. You give him your arm or we will go downstairs to the Pediatric Clinic where the nurses will hold you down.”

Lael: “How about I just go home.”

I then had to do what any other mother in my position would do (or not).

I sat on her. I held her legs between my legs. I held her arm.

She then proceeded to lose her fucking mind.

She screamed. She hit. She cried. I cried.

They were able to draw the blood.

At one point she told me she was walking home.

In the Pediatric Waiting Room (again):

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

3rd Doc: “Is there a Lael here?”

Lael: “I’m not letting anyone else give me shots. I’m not going.”

Me: “You’re not getting any more shots.”

Lael: “I don’t believe you.”

Me to Doc: “Can you please ensure her that she will not be getting any shots or stuck with any needles.”

Doc: “No more shots, I promise.”

In the room with the 3rd doctor:

Doc: “I’m just going to rub this across your head to get your temperature.”

Lael: “Seriously?!”

In the Pediatric Waiting Room (3rd time):

Her: “I’m hungry.”

Me: “I know, it shouldn’t be much longer.”

Her: “Yeah, right.”

Finally the nurse came and got us and went over the patient procedures for Monday.

I took Lael to the cafeteria and got her a burger and apple pie.

I then took her to the store to get her a toy.

Best believe I ensured that they will be putting her ass to sleep BEFORE they put the IV in her arm on Monday.

6 Months

Half a year.

Already gone.

It can't be.

You are still brand new.

Soft.

Innocent.

So many changes have occured in the last few weeks.

You cry out for me when I walk in a room.

You reach your arms up when you want to be picked up.

You love to tap your right foot. It's pretty hilarious.


You got your first stuffy nose and I learned you don't care to have it cleaned. At. All.

Daddy is your BFF. I'm not sad about this. I'm glad you have him.


Peek-a-Boo rocks the party. No matter how cranky you are.

Not only do you have your first tooth, you have a second one on the way.

You're not crawling yet but you've learned to combine your back and stomach rolls to get you to your destination. Problem solving at it's finest.


I still cannot have you in the car longer than 30 minutes without all hell breaking loose. I pray you grow out of this soon but TKW has informed me otherwise.

You love the outdoors. When you get cranky I walk you out the front door and you take in the scenery.

Today I bought your first sippy cup. You grabbed it and then tossed it across the kitchen.


I'm sure you'll grow fond of it. Just like I've grown fond of you.

Happy 6th months baby boy.

Weekend Recap~Veteran’s Weekend

It was a nice long weekend. We had off Thursday for Veteran’s Day and my office gave us off Friday as well.

My hubby’s BFF came in town from Kentucky so I spent Wednesday night and Thursday scrubbing my house down.

I’m not really sure why since they spent the whole weekend in the “man-cave”.

Friday I went to breakfast with my boss and then had a doctors appointment. Afterwards I took a nap and spent the rest of the day lounging in my pj’s.

Because that was so much fun I did the same thing on Saturday.

I finally got to watch Avatar. That took me the whole night to watch. I don’t think I’ve ever paused a movie so much in my life.

Yesterday Kobi turned 6 months. (I’ll put up his 6 mth post tomorrow) I am happy and sad at the same time.

You guys have been there from the beginning. How is this possible?

We had D this weekend so me and the MIL took the kids to see Tops and Blue.

It was pretty cool.

The kids loved a Lady Gaga bit they did.

The car ride was pretty much horrible.

Kobi does NOT do well in the car.

I don’t know what it is. I feed him, change him, make sure he’s dressed properly but he screams.

Suggestions?

I spent last night indulging in my favorite shows. I tried to watch Palin’s new show on TLC because Marinka felt it was our duty as Americans.

I didn’t get past the first 15 minutes. I mean seriously. Who can sit that close to a bear and not shit themselves?

Happy Monday peeps!

The Veteran

He is the homeless guy living under the bridge.

He is the grandfather that tells his war stories.

She is the great aunt who served as a nurse.

They are the teenagers you see missing limbs.

She is the single mother you walk past in Wal-Mart.

They are the parents of the little boy at the park. The one who is with his grandma while BOTH his parents are deployed.

She is that white girl, that black girl, that Asian boy.

He is her nephew.

She is my mother-in-law.

He is my husband.

He is my brother. The Marine currently in Afghanistan.

She is me.

Happy Veteran's Day to all the heroes.

Past, Present, and Future.

Wordless Wednesday

Guess who has their first tooth?

I know. I can't believe it either.

Weekend Recap~A Baby Shower

I have a friend who has 2 boys. One is 12 and the other is 9. She is now pregnant with a little girl.
My hubby is friends with her hubby. This is the only couple we have in common.

This may be weird to some of you but most of my husband’s friends are single and most of my friends, well, I don’t have any other friends in the area.

So when my friend was around 5 mths pregnant, I asked her if anyone was throwing her a baby shower.

That is how I became the host of her baby shower on Saturday.

I had everything planned out but being the perfect procrastinator that I am, I still had tons to do.

Friday I left work a little early and headed to the store. I had to buy food and drinks for the party.

Once I got back home, I recruited Lael to help me put the gift boxes together.

I rewarded her with candy. She easy like that.

Saturday was a marathon.

It was the Super Sonics last soccer game.

It was also in the 30s.

We froze but we won.

Lael didn’t score a goal but played good defense.

After the game we walked across the field and the kids were given cupcakes and their trophies.

It was the ghettoest awards ceremony I’ve ever seen.

Usually we have a big ceremony at the youth center with all of the teams and we have pizza and cake.

(Apparently now that the Navy has taken over our base things are done differently.)

After the “ceremony” we headed back home but not before stopping at a community yard sale.

I scored brand new baby walking shoes for $2 and a few brand new baby toys for Kobi. Lael was able to get some stick thing for free.

We then made it home where I proceeded to make lasagna, green beans, fruit salad and Carlota’s Perfect Punch minus a few things.

Me and Lael gathered all of our games and headed down the street to set up.

The baby shower was a success.

We played “Guess What’s In The Diaper” and “Dress the Baby (with a partner using 1 hand each)”.

Fun was had by all.

I didn’t get out of there until after 8pm.

I went home and collapsed in bed.

I woke up yesterday with the mother of all headaches.

That was an excuse for me to stay in my pjs and on the couch catching up on my DVR.

I’m thankful that this is a short week, though I’m a little disappointed that the holiday in on a Thursday rather than Friday.

I mean what’s the point?

Happy Monday