She is SO my child

Anna has finally started doing things that actually deserve a time out. I know, I know... somewhere out there other moms are cursing me for having such a well behaved daughter. Believe me- I take no credit. And I think our coasting days are over! She has started hitting me lately so I have had to put her in time-out a few times. Now the hardest part about this is holding in the huge, choking laughs because she is so funny about it. First of all- if you put her in time-out, she is not upset one bit. I think she actually thinks it is fun. If you ask her if she needs to take a time-out (meant as a warning- like "do you need a spanking?") then she always says yes. Then once you put her in the corner, she just stands there so small and just smiling. She sometimes stays the whole time and sometime she stays for a second and then laughs wickedly and runs off with her funny little run, legs going too fast for her body to keep up with and arms flailing around with glee. The other day she actually came up to me (having done nothing wrong) and asked "corner?" I told her no, that she hadn't done anything wrong and didn't need to go in the corner. She got upset! So, I said ok stand in the corner if you want. Then she stood in the corner and turned around (still with her little hands touching the wall) and asked "come out?" Silly girl. I can't really talk though - my parents tell a story about one of the rare times I was sent to my room and they told me I could come out and I pitifully said "no, I'll just stay here...."

Easter

I hope you all had a fabulous Easter! We actually had our lunch and baskets yesterday. Anna was introduced to peeps- the all important Easter candy. Like her momma- she loved them. Of course, also like her momma, she pretty much loves all candy. So no surprise there. She also got a really soft stuffed animal bunny, some chocolate and more sunglasses! What can I say? The child is obsessed. Here are a few pics of her first Easter basket.

Super cool bunny rabbit

Every girl needs hot pink sunglasses.

I love candy.

Is that it? Seriously? Maybe a few candies got stuck in the very bottom?

Easter rocks!

My not so baby "Baby"

These are some pictures I took of Anna recently. I don't know about you other moms but sometimes I get a specific, stop me in my tracks look at how grown up Anna is getting. The other day she was just playing away and she just looked so big! ): I couldn't believe how grown up she looked.

Playing with Train from Nana and Papa

So Thirsty

So proud of my sunglasses!

Who knew $6 could buy so much happiness?

Tidbits

Just a couple little things of note going on in my oh so interesting life! Oh, and another couple fun sayings tossed in the middle.

1. I got pooped on by a bird at the zoo today. !!!! I held it together because I thought that screaming and throwing my hands around and demanding that someone "GET IT OFF GET IT OFF MY HEAD!" and doing the EW!EW!EW!GROSS! dance was maybe not a good example of how to handle "emergencies" for my daughter. Julie B did quickly rise the occasion (and swallowed the desire to vomit) and cleaned it for me. SICK!

2. I am totally going to take a lesson on how to grind my own wheat and bake my own bread! Yea! I am so excited! Couple of advantages to this- the wheat comes from fields that have no pesticides on them, we will be avoiding the enriched flours, etc that are so bad for you according to Dr Oz, we will be enjoying the beautiful smell of freshly baked bread as often as we want to, and we will be avoiding preservatives! So one more step down the road to becoming more healthy! Or at the very least, if I am a dummy and incapable of actually doing it.... well at least I tried something new! (:

3. "The best kind of friend is the kind you can sit on a porch and swing with, never say a word, and then walk away feeling like it was the best conversation you've ever had."

4. Anna will be taking her very first antibiotics tomorrow for the beginnings of a sinus infection. Yes, that's right- we actually got meds from the doctor this time. Miracle! And also, for those of you paying way too much attention to this blog- I did have her out in the wind today with a cold. Bad mommy. But it was that or have her watch her mom go insane from being inside again today.

5. "I can only please one person per day. Today is not your day. Tomorrow is not looking good either."

6. One of my favorite lines from my all time favorite book~ "I'll think of it all tomorrow at Tara. I can stand it then. Tomorrow, I'll think of some way to get him back. After all, tomorrow is another day. " ~Scarlett O'Hara. (for the record, everyone should read this book at least once.)

7. I have decided that I no longer care if Anna ever sleeps in her own bed ever again. She loves to sleep in mommy's bed for naps and in her pack and play at night. And I don't care. She's only this age once and it makes her happy and there will be so many things in life that she will have to do that she doesn't like so I am letting this one slide. At least for the time being. I am ok with any consequences of this down the road!

Ok that's it! More later,

Glimpses

I am so tired tonight so no great words from me- just blogging to get Julie B off my back (: HA! Did I really just type that?

The next string of blogs will be small glimpses into my sense of humor- might be scary! Do the words "so much darkness" mean anything to you?

This is a prayer I saw posted on a ladies desk years ago and hurriedly copied down while the other students on the field trip actually learned something...

Dear Lord,

So far today, I've done alright.

I haven't gossiped, lost my temper,

been greedy, grumpy, nasty,

selfish, or overindulgent.

I'm very thankful for that.

But in a few minutes, Lord,

I'm going to have to get out of bed.

And from then on,

I'm probably going to need a lot more help.

Amen

I have the Plague

I have the plague. Seriously. I haven't been this ill in a long time. This is terrible. No one should experience cramps like this unless you are birthin' a baby. Ok maybe that was a little bit of an exaggeration but I really did at one point wonder where my epidural was. Luckily my husband and mom were able to take Anna for the whole day so I could writhe alone on the bathroom floor in peace. Today we seem to have gone to just straight nausea so that is an improvement. I went to the doctor and paid them $150 to tell me to eat yogurt. Thanks doc. Very helpful. If you haven't had this stomach flu - run away. Just flee to another country. Or eat yogurt- the doctor assured me that no one that eats yogurt gets the symptoms this badly. Your choice. I will be spending the rest of the day looking for a way to dip my entire house in boiling water.

Weird

Ok weird thing- I just read the blog of a woman I have never met (that's not the weird thing- I am just nosy and bored) and she JUST cut her own bangs! What the heck! Is this some sort of sickness going around? Watch out girls- this might be catching! If you get any weird impulses have someone hide the scissors.

Why?

Why? Why did I cut my own bangs? What was I thinking? What possessed me to do that? (: I am a little sick so maybe my brain was affected. In any case, I went a little berserk- grabbed a pair of craft scissors and chopped my hair off! So if it looks terrible just keep your opinion to yourself! It will grow back- I have 2 1/2 months til the wedding- it will grow by then. Right? Surely it will.....

ANGRY!

Anna has apparently reached the parroting age. A couple of weeks ago she was playing in my mom's living room and she all the sudden stood straight up and said "ANGRY!" I have no idea where she has heard this. I don't recall saying that I was angry, and I have NEVER said I was angry at her. However, I have become convinced that I must be saying it at some point because we are hearing "angry!" a lot! It is so funny to hear her little cute sweet voice saying "angry!" Poor little thing- I hope she doesn't end up in therapy years from now because her mom said "angry" too much.

1. Were you named after anyone? My mom found the name Amber in a book about a woman that was well... basically a whore. She always just told me she found my name in a book until one day I was telling her about this book I was reading and she told me that was the one she found my name in! Gee thanks mom. Needless to say I was not named AFTER this woman, she just liked the name. At least I hope.

2. When was the last time you cried? Last week.


3. Do you like your handwriting? hate it. I wish I could change it.


4. What is your favorite lunch meat? ewwwww.... I can barely choke down lunch meat. It has to be turkey sliced very very thin and have lots of cheese with it and even then sometimes just can't do it. Yuck. And gross. Although I do like McAlisters club. I guess that is the exception.


5. Do you have kids? One.


6. If you were another person, would you be friends with you? Duh! I am a great friend!


7. Do you use sarcasm a lot? Never.


8. Do you still have your tonsils? Yes.


9. Would you bungee jump? I would love to bungee jump but now that I have Anna I would probably chicken out.


10. What is your favorite cereal? I should lie and say something like Kashi something or other but really.. it's Lucky Charms. MMMMMM.... you have to eat the cereal out first and then eat the marshmellows.


11. Do you untie your shoes when you take them off? nope, just shove them off and throw them in the floor.


12. Do you think you are strong? Emotionally? No but getting stronger. Physically? Kind've.



13. What is your favorite ice cream? Either TCBY golden vanilla with cookie dough mixed in or Braum's hot fudge sundae with extra hot fudge and no nuts.


14. What is the first thing you notice about people? I am very unobservant... I don't even know what the first thing I notice is. Now I will have to think about that next time I meet someone for the first time.


15. Red or pink? light pink. Sometimes red makes me feel angry.



16. What do you like the least about yourself? my weight


17. Who do you miss the most? The only person I have lost is my Papa and I miss him every day and mourn that he never got to meet Anna. He would have adored her beyond words. Now I have to go change my answer to question 2.



18. Do you want everyone to send this back to you? n/a as I am doing this on my blog.



19. What color pants and shoes are you wearing? jeans, bare feet.


20. What was the last thing you ate? naked nachos that I made. They were delicious.



21. What are you listening to right now? Open Season on TV, and my daughter saying Angry, angry. But that's the subject of my next blog.



22. If you where a crayon, what color would you be? I would be dark gray. I love gray. Or maybe chocolate brown. I would not be orange or lime green under any circumstances. Or yellow.



23. Favorite smells? The air right before it rains, the smell of a clothes dryer running, my mom's homemade rolls cooking, my daughters hair right after a bath.


24. Who was the last person you talked to on the phone? Julie B- of course. Who else will talk to me?


25. Do you like the person who sent this to you? Got it off babycenter.


26. Favorite sport to watch? whichever one is over the fastest.


27. Hair color ? mousey brown with seriously grown out blonde highlights. hopefully soon it will be back to blonde and dark brown highlights.


28. Eye color? according to the letter a friend and I wrote in our 8th grade year to Jordan Knight of the New Kids on the Block they are naturally emerald green.


29. Do you wear contacts? yep.


30. Favorite food? my mom's homemade pizza. and her homemade rolls. And candy...mmm candy. Oh and Chili's chips and salsa. With sweet tea.


31. Scary movies or happy endings? I like both as long as it isnt too scary or too mushy. For instance, I can't watch any psycho killer movies and I hated The Notebook.


32. Last movie you watched? Am watching Open Season right now with my daughter. I can't remember the last movie I watched because I wanted to watch it. Ask Julie B- it was probably with her.


33. What color shirt are you wearing? Black.


34. Summer or winter? Fall.


35. Hugs or kisses? Hugs.


36. Favorite dessert? As long as it has sugar we are good.


37. Most likely to respond? na


38. Least likely to respond? na


39. What book are you reading now? The Golden Cross and Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix.



40. What is on your mouse pad? Don't have on.


41. What did you watch on TV last night? You mean between getting the baby to sleep and going to the gym and fixing Adam a quick dinner, and then the baby throwing up?


42. Favorite sound? laughter of friends or family, rain on a roof, Anna laughing or talking, my music, a really great worship service


44. What is the farthest you have been from home? I have been to Hawaii, Norway, Denmark, and Sweden.

45. Do you have a special talent? ummmmm.... no sure don't.

Is that straight jacket for me?

My husband and I are master mis-communicators. I mean really- we have it down to an art form. The latest fiasco involved a very important document that HAD to be postmarked by a March 11th. Which in my crazy world means that it needs to be in the recipients hands by at least a week before that date. I am not a big believer in leaving things til the last minute. Or the last week for that matter. Adam, on the other hand, is a believer in holding onto his money til the last actual second that he can and still get it in while hopefully avoiding disaster. So, I had the check and envelope ready like two months before it was due and was just waiting on the ok from Adam to send it. Here is where Adam completely screwed it up.... I mean this is where the mis-communication occurred. I im'd him and told him I was sending the check out. Then I asked him that night if I could go ahead and send it out. He said yes. I SWEAR he did. Then after I sent it out - I told him that I sent it. So here I am thinking all is good- even called in and verified that it was rec'd, etc. Then he comes home about two weeks before the due date and asked me for the information to send the check out. He had never transferred the money over!!!!!!!!! Quick trip to panic city for me. So after a .... discussion.... regarding whose fault it was and who was going to fix it and after waiting for Adam to forget to take care of it again.... I went and put a stop pay on the original check and got a money order. Taking no chances this time. This is where it gets a little crazy. Are you strapped in for the ride through the workings of a crazy mind? I request the money order, checking the name and amount eleventy million times. I carefully place the copy of the money order with all my other paperwork so it will be easy to find at midnight when I freak out that I got the wrong amt or something. Then I proceed to the post office- of course going to the wrong one first. That was frustrating. When I get to the right one, I fifty bajillion times check the check amt, payee, and the address on the envelope again. I approach a nice elderly lady at the check out counter and proceed to do everything in my power to make her think she was dealing with an escapee from the crazy house. I first ask her to postmark the envelope while I stand there. The first time the 2008 didn't show. So I asked her to do it again. The second time it still didn't show. So I made her do it a 3rd time. I still wasn't super happy with the clarity but went ahead and agreed that it was ok since we were running out of room on the envelope. Then I whipped out my wonderful iphone and took pictures of the check, the address, and the postmark. Yeah that's right- pictures. See, again, I knew that at midnight when I freak out that I did something wrong it would be very reassuring to be able to look at my beautiful pictures of everything and see that it was done correctly. By this time I am pretty sure the nice lady was signaling security behind my back. I wanted to ask her to let me take a picture of the envelope in the pick up box but chickened out. I had Anna with me and didn't have time to risk an unscheduled trip to a psychiatrist. So I reluctantly left my precious check in the care of the government and walked back to my car. Then I proceeded to check everything on my pictures and then had a freak out about whether I abbreviated Illinois correctly. (Yes Julie B- I do have a BS in Geography- obviously it did me no good whatsoever). After I jumped on my internet and looked up the abbreviation I was able to go home and take a gigantic nap. That much crazy makes you tired.

As requested....

You know... you try to make some positive changes to your blog, try to keep it interesting. And all you get is complaints. (: Just kidding- I am glad you girls told me the black looked yuck-o. So as requested.... back to my old color. Hope you like it. I need to find out how everyone has these beautiful layouts that are not on my layout choices- where do they get these?

I am currently....

having bloggers block! So until I have something interesting to write about here is a list of things I am currently (not necessarily right this very second) doing....

I am currently....

Reading~ Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Working on~ Getting my house back in the clean state it was in before all this moving talk began!

Running with~ Julie B and Kara. They are so fast- they leave me in the dust! You go girls! I will catch up I swear! (:

Waiting on~ (right this very second) Anna to go to sleep so I can leave her room.

Craving~ bad bad food. Like Carlos O'Kelleys naked nachos with just queso, refried beans, cheese and sour cream. With chips and salsa. And a McDonalds sweet tea. And maybe some cookie dough.

Hoping~ that Patriots has an awesome string of good things happen asap!

Listening to~ (right this very second) Anna scratch her nails on her pillow (she does this every night to self-soothe?) and the tv in the background.

Wishing I was~ on a beach in Hawaii.

Smelling~ (right this very second) a really yucky combo of my gross sweaty work out clothes and the carpet Anna threw up on this morning that apparently is going to need another shot of resolve. Ick. Anyone have any tips of cleaning vomit out of carpet? Bet you wish you had stopped reading this a few sentences back huh?

In the middle of~ making up my Scripture book to carry with me.

Looking for~ some great songs to make me a new worship CD. Send me your suggestions!

Helping~ Julie W paint her brand new house! For pictures visit www.julzer.blogspot.com

ok that is all I can think of for now. Hopefully some great new inspirations will come to me and I will have something interesting to post soon. (:

Me

I wanted to write a short little blurb about me really fast. Several of my friends have expressed concern for me and wishes that I get to stay here (:

I just wanted to say that while I have had one cry fest, some pretty hurt feelings in the last few months, and two (count 'em- one, two) pretty bad anxiety attacks, overall, doing pretty well. Especially for me! To be clear, I do not want to move. I want to stay here with my wonderful family and friends in my house that I love in the town that I am familiar with and carry out all the fun plans that Julie and I have made for the kiddos this summer. I am still scared of the thought of moving to a new place where I know no one and downsizing to an apt for a while and trying to make all new friends and find a new church, and finding a buyer for our house, etc etc. However, I am at peace with both possibilities. I have been reading several books by my adopted Pastor Greg Boyd and completing some great Bible studies that have pounded some wonderful truths into my thick skull. Sometimes the message seemed to literally leap off the page and hit me right between they eyes! And a few times, I just wanted to say "just leave me alone in my anger and anxiety!" But I am learning to lean on God more and more for my comfort. I can't promise there will be no more tears if I do move because sometimes you have to drag me kicking and screaming. But slowly and surely, I am feeling peaceful. I am sure there will be a few people out there who have witnessed some tears that will point and say "obviously not". And that is ok. I have to go at my own pace (I have learned that this is a process and has ups and downs and slip-ups along the way) and let God be the one that ministers to my hurting heart (and my hurt feelings). I know I am growing and learning and hopefully becoming closer to the woman that God wants me to be. Because in the end, that is what I truly with my whole heart want to be. And if moving is in my future than I am praying that God will work miracles in my heart and mind while I am out of my comfort zone. And if staying here is in my future than I pray that God will work miracles in my heart and mind in spite of my comfort zone! Change my heart, God! Please change my heart! Get rid of the ugliness that persists in lurking there and replace it with You.

I came across this Scripture which I have read a thousand times before and was deeply touched by the sincerity of Paul's words. I pray that someday I get to the point where I also can say this ... and mean it!

Phillippians 3:8-9 "What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law but that which is through faith in Christ- the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith."

This crow tastes mighty fine

ok...I blogged a couple days ago about how annoying Sesame Street is. And I stand by that blog. But, ..... , ..... , I don't even want to write this. Ok here goes... I actually found myself smiling and almost laughing OUT LOUD at Elmo the other day. AHHHH.... I got sucked in! (:

So for Julie and Kara and any other lovers of Sesame Street.... "Sunny days, sweeping the clouds away... on my way to where the air is sweet... can you tell me how to get, how to get to Sesame Street?"

Katie Scarlett

This is my kitty cat, Katie Scarlett. She is named after one of my all time favorite fictional characters. I have had her for....let's see.... wow! A long time! Probably close to 8 years now. Before Anna came along she was my baby. Poor kitty- she doesn't get much attention these days. Between entertaining Anna all day and the workout schedule I well... was .... keeping up so well, I just don't have as much time as I used to. BA (before Anna), if I was home- Katie was probably on my lap or on my shoulders. She rode around on my shoulders all the time. She met me at the door when I came home and slept on me at night. She pretty much followed me everywhere I went in the house. Poor baby- I haven't been a very good owner these days. She is so rotten that I can't leave her out at night anymore! She bangs on our bedroom door which makes a terrible repetitive sound that will make you want to FREAK OUT! (: She gets into every glass or plate that I leave out for even a second. She begs for food- esp meat of any kind. But I love her still. She is a good kitty and a great companion. (:

New Pics of Anna

"Look! Mommy finally gave in and let me feed myself! "

Getting the hang of it!

Fingers still get the food to the mouth the fastest!
Watching Sesame Street - It cracks me up to see her flop down just like a big kid.
Driving Boats
With Greyson

Great Day!

Julie and I had such a fun day yesterday! What a blessing that small getaway was in the midst of the storm that is my life right now. We met at Carlo's O'Kelley's and ate a great lunch. For full details of the embarrassing list of other food we ate you will have to see Julie's blog. I thought we had an agreement not to divulge the evilness but apparently Julie blabbed! (: We shopped and shopped- and we got some great deals. (Jules- I haven't forgotten that I owe you $20!) Anna should be well dressed this summer. Just a few more items to get now. So our trip was fruitful as well as fun. We even had time to take in an Imax film. I haven't done that in years! And yes, I did talk her ear off and like the excellent friend that she is, she listened with her ears and her heart. Julie is one of those great friends that just listens to how you feel instead of telling you why you shouldn't feel that way. So, thanks you God for such a great day and such a great friend!