You know what sucks big time?

Thunderstorms less than an hour into naptime. And add to that suckage a 2 1/2 year old who doesn't understand why she can't go outside in the pouring rain and lightening. I foresee a LONG afternoon.

Gimme that Penny!

A few weeks ago I bought Alyssa a bunch of spring and summer clothes while out shopping with my mom. Most of the things that I bought were 2T, but after getting them home I realized that the brand seemed to run a little small, so I wanted to go back and exchange them for 3Ts. Which we did yesterday when my mom was in town again to do some shopping. Would you believe that the pair of overalls that I bought her was $9 when I bought them originally, but yesterday they were $8.99, so the sales lady had to jump through all these hoops to give me my refund. Of ONE STINKIN' Penny! The extra 5 minutes I had to stand there were not worth it at all.

Ode to Adam's Hair Gel

Occasionally (aka when I don't feel like REALLY doing my hair) I will borrow some of Adam's hair gel so that I feel like I can go out in public and not look like a total slob. Each time I bend over and start running it through my hair, I'm struck by the same thought.

The smell of the gel reminds me of the way my sister used to smell when I was in junior high.

Like cigarettes and AquaNet hairspray (she was a child of the 80s; her hair couldn't be too big or too "frozen").

Bizarre, huh?

I will add that not once have I smelled Adam's hair and had his hair remind me of Joni, so it must just be a "application" smell. ;)

What a difference 4 years can make

Stole this from a bulletin off of myspace because I thought it was kind of interesting.

HOW MUCH HAVE YOU CHANGED IN 4 YEARS
---- 4 Years Ago -------

1.) How old were you?
22

2.) Where did you go to school?
I had already graduated and was working in the "real world"

3) Where did you work?
TPG Telemanagement

4.) Where did you live?
On Bauman Ave

5.) Where did you hang out?
Julio's every Wednesday night

6.) Did you wear glasses?
Nope

7.)Who was your best friend?
Erin

8.) How many tattoos did you have?
0

9.) How many piercings did you have?
2 in each ear

10) What kind of car did you drive?
1998 Grand Am

11.) Had you been to a real party yet?
Yes

12.) Had You had your heart broken?
Yes

13.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced?
Married

-------------2 years ago-----------

1.)How old were you?
24

2.) Where did you go to school?
School of life. ;)

3.) Where did you work?
At home, for Alyssa

4.) Where did you live?
On Bauman Ave

5.) Where did you hang out?
at home

6.) Did you wear glasses?
Nope

7.) Who were your friends?
Closest ones were Paula, Angie, Julia, and Christy

8.) Who was your crush?
Brendan Fraiser

9.) How many tattoos did you have?
None

10.) How many piercings did you have?
still 2 in each ear

11) What car did you drive?
1998 Grand Am

12) Had your heart broken?
yes

13. Single/Taken/Married/Divorced?
Married
--------------------Today--------------------

1.) How old are you?
26

2.)Where do you work?
At home for Alyssa and Joel

3) Where do you live?
On N 150th St

4.) Do you wear glasses?
No

5) Who are your best friends?
Paula, Angie, Julia, and Christy

6.) Do you talk to your old friends?
some of them, but not nearly enough of them and not nearly often enough

7.) How many piercings do you have?
still just the ears

8.) How many tattoos?
0

9.) What kind of car do you have?
2005 Ford Escape

10.) Has your heart been broken?
Yes

11.) Single/Taken/Married/Divorced?
Married

12) What are you looking forward to?
Play with my new cell phone that JUST ARRIVED via unattractive FedEx guy! And warm weather.

Frustrated

You know what really frustrates me? Okay, a lot of things, but today its the fact that I've lost all of my pregnancy weight PLUS about 15 pounds and I still can't fit into my prepregnancy jeans. I know that when carrying a baby things get all shifted around and your body shape changes, but come on! I just want to wear a stinkin' pair of jeans! I'm tired of either wearing dress pants or comfty pants.

Maiden Voyage

Well, it took 5 weeks and 4 days, but I did it. And survived. I took both kids, by myself, out into the wild abyss. Okay, so it was a trip to the grocery store (to hit the bank branch inside, not actually grocery shopping) and the library, but it was still a giant step for me. And I came home with 2 kids, everyone had all their body parts and belongings, and mommy didn't head straight for the liquor cabinet, so I call it a success!

Favorite Picture of the Day

Amazing

Yesterday we received a very special package in the mail. Inside was an adorable little dress up outfit for Joel (complete with neck tie ~ ahhhhhhhhhhh!), a very generous gift card, and a fun little "magic" doodle pad for Alyssa. The special thing was that it came from a group of people I've never met in real life. It came from a group of women who I consider more family than friends, who have shared all the ups and downs of my life for the past 4 years and who I don't know what I would do without.

Almost 4 years ago, right after our wedding, I ended up joining eDiets in hopes of hitting my goal weight. While a member I started posting on a message board with a group of women that were initially hoping to lose weight before getting pregnant (or as the case ended up being lose weight after having a baby/preparing to have another baby). We've since left eDiets and moved from to various message boards over the years, but we've stuck together and they are a huge part of my daily life. Heck, they pretty much are my daily life! :)

Alyssa's present had a message on it welcoming her to the big "sibling" club from all the other big brothers/sisters in the group. As I read that, it brought a tear to my eye. Now, it may just be pregnancy hormones, but it made me think about how its not just the women of this group that are so important to me, but its their families, too. Their kids and husbands and pets. That's a pretty powerful thing ~ that through my computer these people could enter my life so completely.

Not as smart as Adam . . .

My cute 'lil man and his new best buddy

Who wants to be a toddler-aire?

As experienced today at naptime . . .

Alyssa: “Jammies, Mommy?”

Mommy: “You want to wear jammies for your nap?” (normally she just wears a onesie).

Alyssa: “Yes!”

Mommy: “Which jammies do you want to wear?”

Alyssa: “Purple”

Mommy: “Okay, purple jammies”

* mommy pulls purple jammies out of the closet *

Alyssa: “No, red.”

* mommy puts purple jammies away and gets out red ones and starts to feel like she’s being “played” and this is all a stalling technique, but is proud that Alyssa is using colors, so ignores the feelings of apprehension. *

Alyssa: “Purple!”

Mommy: * sigh * “Is that your final answer?”

* sarcasm is lost on Alyssa *

Alyssa: “Yes!”

* out comes the purple jammies *

And now she’s down for a nap wearing the red jammies. * sigh *

Liars!

You know the saying about the postal service delivering through "rain and wind and sleet and snow" or something like that? Its bull! We're now on day 3 of no mail because of the snow storm that hit on Thursday.