I love my little monkeys!

Besides tearing things up while I was getting my nails done last night, the boys were so much fun last night. After we got home from from nails, I immediately started their bath. Ayden jumped right in and started to play but I got to chase Jameson's naked rear end around the house....I just love pinching baby butt! After we settled down, I began rinsing half of Marguerite's backyard off the boys. Ayden said the Pledge of Allegiance, sang the Itsy Bitsy Spider and then belted out the ABC song. Oh my goodness those boys were a mess!


Ayden got his PJ's on and then settled into the top bunk to finish watching The Secret of Nimh. I love that he enjoys older cartoons...things that I watched when I was little. He much prefers Scooby Doo, Flinstones, Snorks and the Smurfs over some of today's shows. While Jameson and I snuggled up on the couch to watch Scooby Doo, it took everything I had in me to not smother my child with kisses. He just smelled so good! After he started pushing my face away I realized that I was out of control and needed to leave him alone for a while.

I kissed Ayden good night and switched on his vaporizer. While daddy was taking a shower Jameson and I snuggled in bed. We played This Little Piggy on his toes and then I rubbed his tummy to relax him. It didn't take long before we were both asleep.

Sounds good right? It was actually perfect...and then my alarm clock went off and reality set in. I took a shower, let the dogs out, put the boys washed clothes in the dryer and started a load of towels. I ironed my shirt, dried my hair and applied makeup. I woke up Ayden and moved him to the couch to watch Lilo and Stitch. I climbed up to the top bunk to find his beloved friends and then got him his sippy. Once Ayden was dressed I had to drag him to the bathroom to brush his teeth. We woke up Jameson, who then wanted to brush his teeth. Jameson spilled his cup of water all over the countertop and Ayden fell off of the stool. Ayden's toothbrush managed to fly into my hair...smearing blue Crest in like highlights. Jameson didn't want to get dressed so was kicking me while I was trying to change his diaper. He fell off my lap and landed on his head while I was putting his shorts on. I asked Ayden to turn off the TV while I wrestled with Jameson to get his shirt on. Jameson normally turns off the TV so got pissed at Ayden. He flew off my lap and hit his brother. This upset Ayden who started bawling. Jameson thought this was funny and started flapping his arms around like he'd hit anyone who got in the way. I joined the battle by picking up Jameson and swung him over my shoulder. I grabbed the backpack with their extra set of clothes and both sippy cups. Ayden slammed the screen door in my face on my way into the garage. As I was buckling Ayden up, Jameson found my chapstick and decided it would make a good snack. After both boys were in the truck and we were half way to Marguerite's I realized I forgot to put on earrings and my wedding ring. Bummer.

Despite it all I still love my little monkeys. After the craziness of the morning and a hectic day at work, we make our way home to eat, play and take a bath. That's when my little monkeys turn into sleepy angels.

Happy Friday and I hope everyone has a great weekend!

The ups and downs of parenting...

Parenting is the most rewarding thing I've ever done, but it's also the most difficult. Ayden made easing into parenting so simple. He was such a good baby! He slept in his crib since the day we brought him home from the hospital. He never even attempted to get out of his crib on his own until we transitioned him to a big boy bed. He has always been a good eater and even potty training wasn't very difficult. We went through the normal toddler stuff like hitting and biting but it was so short lived. Ayden has always caught on to what is right and what is wrong. That doesn't mean he always chooses right, but when he does something wrong he is so remorseful. I love our conversations together. I feel so blessed that Ayden was my first born.

Now if Jameson had come first, he may be an only child. He hasn't been easy from the very beginning. It's almost like someone said "Hey, she got off really easy with #1 so let's spice things up with #2". Jameson has a mind of his own...not quite as moldable as Ayden. He knows what he wants to do, when he wants to do it, how he wants it done and who he wants to do it with. If you mess with him, beware. I definitely pick my battles with him...some are just not worth fighting over. He sleeps with us, is interested in everything to do with going potty in the toilet except for the actual act itself. He can't sit long enough to eat an entire meal and is a true pro at throwing temper tantrums. You can yell at him, spank him, pinch him and flick him...without him batting an eye. When I truly make an impact with him, he runs to his brother for hugs and comfort. Don't get me wrong...he has his sweet moments too but raising Jameson is a constant uphill battle.

Despite all of the madness in our home, my boys can melt my heart. Sometimes I'll walk into a room to find them playing so nice together. Or I'll find them on the couch watching cartoons and Jameson will have his head resting on Ayden's shoulder. Every day I pick them up from Marguerite's, I'm greeted with such enthusiasm and hugs and kisses. I love that when we read books together, Jameson has to sit on my lap and Ayden glues himself to my side. It cracks me up when Ayden sings songs during bath time and at the end of each one Jameson claps his hands with so much excitement. It never fails to put a smile on my face when the boys run around the house naked (trying to hide from me) when it's time for their bath.

I know parenting isn't supposed to be easy...if it were, we would take our babies home with a big, fat how-to manual. But we don't get that manual. We have to figure things out through trial and error. Something that works for one child, may not work for another (as in my case). But at the end of the day...after the commute, stressing at work, rushing home to make a balanced and nutritious dinner...I look at my babies asleep and am in complete awe. They're ours...all ours... and they love us. No matter how many times we yelled at them to stop hitting the TV with the hammer or no matter that we wouldn't let Ayden play with playdough because he pushed his brother off the ladder to the bunk beds. No matter all of that stuff...they still love us. And to me, that is what makes parenting all worthwhile and the most rewarding experience.

I'm very excited for baby bean to join our family. Whether a boy or a girl, their little personality will add a whole new twist to our family. I have to admit though...I sort of hope he/she is more laid back like Ayden:) I'm not sure I can handle another Jameson!

BTW - I think I mentioned this already, but our next ultrasound is scheduled for 7/14. Hopefully we'll find out the sex then!

It can only get better

Monday and Tuesday were not good days for me. I love multi-tasking and I love projects and I love to stay busy, but people were truly pushing their limits with me the past couple of days. I think I finally have it all under control now though. I just have to finish planning Friday's staff meeting and finalize the menu with the caterers (does that sound payroll related to you...um, no... didn't think so). Payroll was transmitted yesterday with not a minute to spare and all of Rob's copies have been made, faxes have been faxed and packages have been couriered. I think all of the interns (22 of them to be exact) finally have parking hang tags and now understand how to fill out a time sheet. My week can only go up from here.

I'm so glad I decided to take 1/2 day of vacation on Friday to spend some time with my mom and Chere. A nice lunch, sniffing adhesive and paper at Archivers and some shoe shopping. Yup, sounds perfect. Jason has an afternoon dentist appointment so is picking up the boys afterward and taking them home for dinner, bath and bed. I will be spending the night with my mom since doughboy isn't flying home until Saturday morning. Mom just bought "The Other Boleyn Girl" and I'm dying to curl up in her bed with a bag of Cheetos to watch it.

Well, that's it for today. I just made plans with a co-worker to head over to the Chinese buffet for lunch. It's every pregnant girls dream come true...unlimited crab rangoon and egg drop soup! Hope everyone has a fantastic Wednesday!!!

Week 14

Not much to share today. Yesterday was a BAD day. I'm still annoyed so don't want to blog about it...yet...because I don't want it to come out the wrong way. All I can say is that it was all work related.

So instead of having a pitty-fest, I thought it would be fun to share what's going on with Baby Bean this week. Some of you haven't had babies yet and for others it's been so long that you've forgotten how much fun baby development can be. When I was pregnant I would read the same chapter of my baby development book every day for that week. I was constantly amazed at how much changed from week to week. Jameson came so close behind Ayden that I wasn't quite as obsessed. Now that it's been over 2 years since I was last pregnant, I'm having fun reading about Bean's development each week.

Oh, one more thing. My perinatologist called this past Friday with our Down Syndrome blood test results. We went from having a 1:500 chance of having DS to a 1:8,436 chance. I'd say those odds are pretty good. I'm good at getting paranoid for nothing:)

Week 14: Shake it baby!

Isn’t it glorious? You and your little buckaroo have roped your way right into trimester numero dos! Are you ready to rock!? Okay, okay… maybe just a little rolling and poking. Needless to say, your baby will definitely be making themselves known in the upcoming weeks. At about 3.5 inches long, their little body and limber limbs are coordinated enough for loads of complicated motions. In fact, their whole body is moving right now! You're not feeling it because their current size is still a bit too small to make an impact you'd recognize. Still, their movements are recognizable on an ultrasound. Speaking of which, you should be scheduling one with your health care provider! Week 16 is the classic date as you can usually determine whether your little one is going to pee standing up or sitting down. Your baby is also starting to develop the ability to move their eyes this week, although the eyelids still remain fused shut. What's more, they can make all sorts of fun facial expressions as they practice squinting, frowning, and grimacing. Cute development of the week: their little hands can grasp at things and they may already be sucking their thumb!

Parenting and Life Balance Quiz

If you are a parent and don't subscribe to Kaboose, I strongly recommend it. Not only do they send great kid friendly recipes, but they also provide fun arts & crafts ideas and valuable parenting advice. Today they sent me a Parenting and Life Balance Quiz. I was hesitant to take this. Did I really need someone else to confirm what I already know??? Of course my life isn't balanced. It pretty much revolves around work and my kids. Jason and I both come last. Isn't this the norm??

Well, I took the quiz and was not exactly surprised at the results....

Your Quiz Results
You Could Use More “Me-Time”

You could use more me time. Get serious about making that time a priority.
“Many parents go about their daily life making sure their children, spouses, parents, friends and neighbors are all taken care of, and they never take a moment for themselves,” says Elizabeth Pantley, president of Better Beginnings, a parent-education company in Kirkland, WA, and author of The No-Cry Discipline Solution: Gentle Ways to Encourage Good Behavior without Whining, Tantrums & Tears (McGraw-Hill). Unfortunately, neglecting your emotional and physical needs can leave you stressed, resentful and at risk of depression and other health problems. “It’s more difficult to take care of your children if you don’t take care of yourself,” adds Pantley. “You can even lose the spark that makes you who you are.”

How you scored - 57%

66% of users are like you

So I need more "me" time, but 66% of all other users could use more "me" time as well. For some reason that makes me feel better:)

A romance blooms yet again...

...my romance with Micky D's that is. I'm not sure which hormone is racing through my body right now that absolutely demands McDonald's for breakfast but I'm starting to give in to it. I've been resisting. Resisting the deliciousness of greasy hash browns and those delectable Egg McMuffins. But I can stay away no longer. Today is Wednesday and I've cruised through the drive-thu on Hwy 74 two times this week. Rosa will know me on a first name basis by the end of my pregnancy. It's inevitable. I've been through this inner struggle twice before. With Ayden and Jameson it was the Sausage Egg McMuffin though.

Even as I make my way up to the speaker, I can feel the adrenaline pumping through my body. It takes all of my willpower to make it through the first window to pay and then finally move on to window number two where my small bag is waiting, neatly folded at the top. By the time I make my way back onto Hwy 74 and barge my way onto interstate 85 (a total of 10 feet...okay, maybe a bit more than that), the hash browns are a distant memory. Cruising at a comfortable speed of 80 mph in the left lane I finally feel comfortable enough to unwrap the the chewy goodness that is waiting for me. I try not to inhale my McMuffin (I've already done that with the hash browns) but instead savor each bite. A little cheese, a little ham and oh, the wonderful round egg. I love it when they toast the muffin just perfectly...not too crunchy but not too soft.

Some of you may understand my love affair with the McMuffin and some of you may think I'm just plain crazy. It's okay. But for the next 7 months I'm going to cherish my time with this most famous breakfast sandwich. Because after the next 7 months, when my body begins to go back to normal, my love for the McMuffin will fade. I will no longer have to waste 7.36 minutes in drive-thru....I will no longer feel the need to hit the gym just to work off the extra 22 grams of fat and 450 calories..and I will no longer be wasting $3.64 on the Egg McMuffin meal.

Until those 7 months are up though, I will greet Rosa at the first drive-thru window every Monday, Wednesday and Friday with a smile on my face and my debit card hanging out of the window. Just hand over the bag and no one will get hurt!

Funny Ayden

I love the things my little man says. He makes me laugh all of the time! This was a little conversation at dinner last night. When I told Jason, he busted up laughing!!

Ayden: Mommy. Check out this super big bite! (It was a spoon full of mashed potatoes and corn that he managed to shovel into his mouth)
Me: Groovy!
Ayden: Now you're talking my lingo.

My eyes must have bulged out of my head and then I just started laughing! Ayden wasn't sure if I was laughing or if I was mad at something he said. His little lip started to quiver and then he said, "But mommy. That's what Shaggy said to that girl in the alien movie". Since I've seen the alien movie about 100 times I can definitely vouch for the fact that Shaggy did indeed say that. After reassuring Ayden that I wasn't upset, I just thought he was cute, he calmed down and finished his dinner.

This is the same movie that he got "Step back ladies...this is man's work" from. Just goes to show that kids are truly sponges. They hear everything and you just never know what or when something is going to fly out of their mouths.

Happy Father's Day!

I realize that Father's Day was Sunday, but with all the excitement of our ultrasound yesterday I forgot to give a little shout out to all the daddies in the world. Our Father's Day was pretty low key. With my dad and Jason's dad in Wisconsin and then Peter in Pittsburgh with mom, it was just us. We had a nice relaxing weekend. We got a few things done, but in slow motion. We were never in a hurry to do anything. Jason was beyond helpful with the boys and I couldn't have been more grateful!

On Sunday daddy actually got up before 10am. Ayden was practically peeing in his pants to give daddy the card he made for him. I'm going to try and scan it in so you can see it...I'm still laughing just thinking about it. Ayden made it on his last day of school and his teacher had asked him some questions about daddy and then wrote down his responses. One of the questions was "If you could take your daddy anywhere, where would you take him". Ayden's response was "Target".

Then Jameson gave daddy a store bought card from both of the boys. It was a SpongeBob card that had a very large sticker inside that daddy was supposed to wear all day. I wasn't sure if Jason would willingly wear the sticker all day, but he put it on with no complaints. I was soooo proud of him. Then I gave Jason my card. Of course it was some sappy thing about being so grateful he's the father of my children and how I can't imagine life without him. Jason needs his ego stroked every once in a while:)

After a nice dinner at Partner's Pizza with Mimi, we headed home to play with play dough. Ayden had been begging all day to play play dough so there was no way to avoid it. Being the wonderful daddy that Jason is, he gave the boys their bath and then settled at the kitchen table to make some wonderful play dough creations.

I sure hope all the daddies had a great Father's Day!

Is it a boy....or is it a girl???

Well, today I went in for my 13 week Downs Syndrome screening. It was during this test with Jameson that the ultrasound tech was able to tell me that we were having another boy. I was hoping that we would have the same luck again this time but for the first time I was also worried about the chances of our baby having Downs.

Dr. Korotkin assured me after the ultrasound that there were no indicators of Downs. My blood work will be back in a week, but he feels confident that our chances will go from 1 in 500 (due to my age) to 1 in the thousands. Okay, huge deep breath. Much better. I could have hugged the man, I was so happy.

So as to the baby's sex. Because the umbilical cord was right between the baby's legs, they were not able to tell me the sex. I did comment to my doctor on how mobile the baby is already. Legs were going everywhere, arms were going up and down from the head and the baby kept stretching and arching it's back. The boys would just sit there like lumps on a log for their ultrasounds. Dr. Korotkin said lots of movement is a sign of a girl. So that along with the ring test has me convinced this baby is a girl. Jason, on the other hand, is staying firm about this baby being a boy. Typical:)

My next ultrasound is scheduled for July 14th at 9am. Hopefully by then the umbilical cord will have moved!

Keith Urban & Carrie Underwood

Mom and I took 1/2 day of vacation on 4/24 in honor of the Keith and Carrie concert...okay so we really took vacation time so we could raid Archivers before the concert. I still had no idea that I was pregnant but was starting to wonder.

Sorry the pictures are sort of blurry. I was using my "manual only" zoom lens and it wasn't exactly easy. But Keith is hot whether he's in focus or blurry:) Click here for more photos of the concert.

BTW - All self portraits were taken while we were trying to kill time.

Are you ready for some pictures?

Originally I thought I'd go back and edit/post all my pictures from the past month...ummmm...two months. Then that seemed too overwhelming. Why not just start with the pictures that I take this weekend and go forward? Well, a lot has happened in the past couple of months. The Scrap Etc. Event, the Keith/Carrie concert, finding out we're going to have another baby, a trip to a beautiful Atlanta cemetery to practice my photography skills, our first trip to Callaway Gardens and oh so much more.

So please be patient while I take a trip down memory lane, starting with the Scrap Etc. Event that my mom, Chere, Judy and I attended April 17th - 20th. It was such a good time. I thought all the Diet Pepsi that I was drinking was causing me to be dizzy and sick to my stomach...little did I know that I was actually pregnant! And how else to you finish up a long day of scrapping with celebrities? With a few beers of course!

And the funniest moment was when Chere decided to...oh, I'll just let the photos explain!

Who could possibly be cleaning the bathroom?

Mom peaks over her bathroom stall to do a little investigating.

Oh, it's just Miss Priss acting goofy again!

Click here for a slideshow of the rest of the photos I took during the Event. The Gaylord hotel was absolutely beautiful and I had such a wonderful time with the Divas!

I got this little questionnaire off of Marlee's blog. Since I'm still working on editing pictures, I thought this would be fun.


1. I've come to realize that my boobs... are in need of some serious help. After nursing 2 babies (going on 3), Jason needs to start saving up for my boob job for our 10 year wedding anniversary gift.

2. I've come to realize that this weekend...is father's day so it should be all about Jason...for some reason that doesn't sound appealing to me.

3. I've come to realize that when i'm driving... i zone out and think. Sometimes I get to my destination and wonder how I got there. That's not a good thing...is it??

4. I've come to realize that i need...to pass the CPP exam in September. I have a 9% pay increase coming my way if I pass and with baby bean due at the end of the year, we could use the extra income!

5. I've come to realize that I have lost... my mind and it's never coming back. I'm learning to be okay with that.

6. I've come to realize that I hate it when.. i lose my temper with the boys...even when they deserve it. It just freakin drives me nuts when Ayden is so darn whiny (like this morning). I'm working on doing better.

7. I've come to realize that if I'm drunk...I'm going to pay for it in the morning. Why bother. I love a good glass of wine or a few Coronas, but it's not worth it if an entire day becomes wasted.

8. I've come to realize that money... is necessary to pay the bills but it's not necessary to make me happy.

9. I've come to realize that certain people...are there to keep me grounded. I'm so fortunate to have them in my life!

10. I've come to realize that I'll always be... an optimist even though my husband is a 100% pure pessimist. I think it's healthier to look on the bright side of things...healthier, but not always easier.

11. I've come to realize that I have a crush on...my bunny (Jason). I know...boring. The man can piss me off faster than anyone else out there, but I love him with all of my heart.

12. I've come to realize that my mom... is my biggest supporter. She listens to me complain and knows when I'm really upset or when I'm just blowing off steam. She knows me the best...love you mom!

13. I've come to realize that my cell phone is...one of the most important things that I carry with me.

14. I've come to realize that when I woke up this morning...I need to spend some serious time this weekend cleaning our house.

15. I've come to realize that last night before i went to sleep... I enjoy Jameson sleeping with us. Shhhhh...don't tell Jason or Ayden. I know I need to get him moved into Ayden's room in the lower bunk, but he's still such a baby and I enjoy cuddling with him at night.

16. I've come to realize that right now I am thinking about... lunch. I went to a seminar with some not so friendly co-workers this morning about not complaining at work. Paul made me go for support so now he's buying me a salmon Caesar salad from Taco Mac for lunch. Yum, yum!

17. I've come to realize that my dad... may not be perfect but he's always been a terrific dad. I've put him through a lot growing up but he still loves me and would do anything for me. What more can a girl ask for??

18. I've come to realize that when I get on my blog... I feel guilty because I haven't posted pictures in almost 2 months. I've got 2 posts almost ready to go...with pictures. I'll try and finish them up tonight since Jason won't be working late.

19. I've come to realize that today...I'm going to do something special with the boys this weekend. I feel bad that my time with them lately has involved me not feeling so well so I want to do something fun (hopefully before 2pm when I start feeling yucky again).

20. I've come to realize that tonight... I am going to put away the 4 loads of laundry that are sitting in baskets. I don't know where my clothes are anymore.

21. I've come to realize that tomorrow I will... have to take my mom to the airport. Now, we don't see each other every weekend, but it's comforting to me to know that if wanted to I could. I'm a grown woman with a husband and 2 children, but I'm depressed that my mommy is going away for the weekend. Pathetic.

22. I've come to realize that I really want to...stay home with my kids during the day. Sometimes I resent our hectic schedule and the little time that I get to spend with them during the week. But I need to get over it because we need my income.

23. I've come to realize that the person who is most likely to re-post this...probably Roxanne.

Bummer...

I'm 90% sure that Jameson has an ear infection. He woke me up around 2:30 this morning crying and just wouldn't settle down. Around 4:30 I gave up and took him out to the living room hoping that Scooby Doo would calm him down. If I even made a move to leave the couch he'd start having a meltdown. When I asked him where it hurt, he put his finger in his right ear and said "ouch ear". Poor goober. So I got him an 11am appointment and I think we'll just spend the rest of the day relaxing at home.

Great...I just realized that I only put one earring in today. I've been wandering around since 7:30 with one earring but I've hoping that no one noticed.

Oh, and mom realized that she can't come to my ultrasound on Monday because she has to do payroll in the morning. Under normal circumstances she could go in on Sunday to take care of this, but the little brat will be in Pittsburgh at the Kenny Chesney/Keith Urban concert with Peter. I have no sympathy whatsoever.

12 Weeks

After dropping the boys off this morning, both with their sippy cups, I headed to Piedmont Hospital for my 12 week checkup. I had my sunglasses on, my cell phone sitting in the cup holder and my gym bag sitting next to me in the passenger's seat. I just knew it was going to be a good day.

When I have my monthly (and then weekly) checkups with Dr. McSwain, I refuse to eat breakfast until my appointment is over. I guess that's why I schedule them for first thing in the morning at 8am. I do this so that I have a slight advantage when they drag me over to the scale. Good news...I haven't gained a pound yet. I'm eating like a horse and my stomach seems to expand every day, but my trips to the gym are paying off! I couldn't help but tear up when I heard baby bean's heartbeat today. I think I was still in so much shock at my first appointment that I didn't allow myself to get emotional but that has all changed. I'm truly looking forward to this baby joining our family...whether it's a boy or girl (but we all know it's a girl after the ring test...duh).

This coming Monday (6/16) I see Dr. Korotkin, my perinatologist. At 13 weeks, his amazing ultrasound tech was able to tell me Jameson's sex. I'm crossing my fingers that she can work her magic yet again, especially since my mom is making the trip in with me. I'm so excited for her to be at this ultrasound. Not only since this will definitely be our last baby, but because she wasn't able to attend one for Ayden or Jameson.

Okay, I have to run so I can transmit payroll. I hope everyone has a great day!!!

How I can tell it's a Monday

1. Half way to Marguerite's Jameson starts crying out "cup...cup...cuuuuupppp". When I finally figure out that he left his sippy cup at home (full of milk), the little voice inside of my head told me to go back home and pull the covers over my head.
2. After dropping the boys off, the "low fuel" sound goes off in the truck. Hmmm. Do I dare test the size of my gas tank and wait to get gas this evening? Nah. I don't feel like a gambling person this morning.
3. On my way to the gas station, I heard something funny on the radio and I wanted to tell Jason. As I'm weaving all over the road searching for my cell phone, I realize that it's in the diaper bag...on the kitchen table. Probably the same place as Jameson's sippy cup. Great!
4. I finally get to the gas station (I'm totally running late by the way) and get out to pump gas. This is not my lucky day...there's an "Out of Order" sign hanging on the regular pump. With gas at $4.00 per gallon, there's no way I'm paying for premium. I had to wait in line for another pump. The little voice inside of my head keeps getting louder...and louder...and louder.
5. It's going to be 96 degrees out today and the sun was already burning a hole through my retina on the drive in. After another check through my purse, I realize my sunglasses are not there either. Oh, they must be on the kitchen table...next to Jameson's sippy cup and my cell phone.
6. I finally made it into the city and pulled into the parking structure. I have to park on the 6th floor because that's where the monthly parking starts. I get on the elevator and as the doors are closing and I heard this banging inside. Ummm. There was a BIRD in my elevator and it was obviously pissed that I had just invaded its space. Since the doors were already closed all I could do was prepare to use my work bag as a shield in case this lunatic bird decided to attack me. I made it safely to street level but the voice inside of my head was now screaming at me to get back into the truck and drive my butt back home.
7. I walked up the stairs to the back of the Chamber and start rummaging through my purse...yet again...for my key card. This key card is the only way I can get into the building before 8am and since I normally arrive around 7:30am, its slightly important that I do not lose it. As I'm sitting on the floor, practically in tears I see a shadow through the glass doors. It's my darling Andre, there to let me into the building. As he walked out and I walked in, I gave him the "DO NOT ASK" look. Since I already had one bad elevator experience, I decided to take the stairs up to my second floor office.
8. Okay, I made it. At least I can go work out this afternoon and walk off some of this frustration on the treadmill. Thank goodness I remembered my work out bag....okay, where's my freakin work out bag. Oh yeah! It's sitting on the kitchen table with Jameson sippy cup, my cell phone and my sunglasses.
9. This is sort of a long one because it has some background. Last week Friday was Andre's birthday. I had planned on getting him a cake and ice cream but because Paul and Joan were out, I decided to wait until today. Well, the CFO (Rob) was miffed at me because Andre reports to him and Rob is out on vacation this week. Nothing like pissing off the CFO. So this morning I checked my email only to find a message that Paul will be out today because he's not feeling well after his 12 hour drive from Pennsylvania yesterday. Seriously, I should've done the damn cake last week like I was supposed to!
10. I'm still waiting for #10 to happen.

BTW - I'm still working on editing pictures. I sort of hit a road block when editing the ice cream sundae pictures. I thought they were going to be soooo cute! Ice cream all over my little goober's face and Ayden smiling with chocolate syrup covering his teeth...awwww. What I didn't notice while taking the pictures was that Jameson had a long, green string of slime going down his nose and towards his mouth. It sort of ruined it for me. I'm having a hard time going back to edit the rest because I'm scared of seeing the green slime pictures again. I'll do my best to finish up this week.

Twilight Trailer

If you read this blog, you know that I'm a HUGE fan of Stephanie Meyer's Twilight series. They are making the first book (Twilight) into a move which is being released 12/12/08. Baby bean had better stay in long enough for me to go see this movie.

While cruising Meyer's website I found a link to the Twilight movie trailer. Do yourself a favor. Let it completely buffer and then watch it from start to finish without the pauses. If you've read the book, watching the characters come to life (would you say come to dead for the vampires?) is truly fantastic. With all of the fantastic input from Meyer, I think this movie is going to truly capture the book.

Lesson Learned

After last Tuesday's Body Blast class with Brian (I didn't fully recover until Saturday), I steered clear of the aerobics room this week. That's okay, the treadmill had been missing me during my four week absence so we got reacquainted on Monday and Wednesday. Because I didn't make it into the office until 11am yesterday due to Jameson's checkup, I figured I'd skip the gym. My boss had other ideas and obviously didn't want to go to Body Blast alone. I was pulled, kicking and screaming, out of the of the comfort of my little office into the aerobics room at TAC.

To give you just a hint of how sore I was last week, my legs hurt so badly from the thousands of lunges and squats that I was having a hard time squatting down to the toilet to go tinkle. So here I am at work, having to pee. I go into the ladies room and realize there is no way I'm going to be able to lower my rear to the toilet without some help. So I leaned on the toilet paper holder anchored into the wall for support. Wasn't I surprised when I crashed down to the toilet as the toilet paper holder ripped from the wall. Oops.

So you can only imagine how excited I was about going to class again yesterday. Even though it was with a different instructor I was still very nervous. I didn't want to be sore for four days again! Well, I do have to admit that Peter's class was extremely different than Brian's. In fact, we didn't really work our legs that much. Most of Peter's class concentrates on the arms and abs. Not like I don't need an all-around workout, but I can cover my thighs with jeans or shorts. I'm very self-conscious of my flabby arms. After the class I felt great! I felt refreshed! I felt ready to conquer the world! Okay, maybe that's going a bit too far, but I really enjoyed Peter's class. I felt a little sore, but in a good way. It was more like an obviously-I-did-something-but-I'm-not-ready-to-die sore.

So lesson learned: On Tuesdays, head for the treadmill. On Thursdays, kick some ass in Body Blast class!

Jameson's 2 Year

I finally took Jameson in for his 2 year physical this morning. Boy, that child sure hates being in the doctor's office. Ayden is always such a trooper and interested in all of Dr. Goza's "tools". Jameson didn't want to be touched or poked at. He refused to get on the big boy scale so we had to resort to the baby scale. Everything had to be done while sitting on my lap and even then he was freaking out. Seriously, that kid has got some issues.

So as of today, Jameson weighs 27lbs (35th percentile) and is 36 inches (76th percentile). Dr. Goza just laughed and said that for every pound Jameson gains, he grows 2 inches. She confirmed that it's been 8 months since his last ear infection ( I wasn't sure) so we're probably done with that stage. We also don't need to be concerned at this time that Jameson is talking in complete sentences since he knows way more than 20 words and sometimes puts two words together. Yeah!

We thanked her for her time and stood up to leave. It was then that she exclaimed..."Oh my goodness, are we having another one?". I love our pediatrician. I told her that now that both of the boys are down to yearly visits, we thought we'd miss her too much and had to have one more. I swear, I should get some sort of a discount on my co-pays since I practically live there. I'm there in June for Jameson, again in August for Ayden and probably again in December for baby bean. That's assuming that everyone stays healthy, doesn't break any bones or bleeds too profusely. With the boys tearing up the backyard on their 4wheelers, I don't think we'll get that lucky:)

Breaking Dawn

I'm so relieved that Stephanie Meyer decided to write one more final book for her Twilight series. I have already pre-ordered my copy of Breaking Dawn from Books-A-Million and will be there first thing in the morning on August 2nd to pick it up.

This series literally sucked me right in and I can't wait to find out what happens with Bella and Edward. Will she finally get her wish and be turned into a vampire so she can spend the rest of eternity with the love of her life? I know it sounds morbid, but I certainly hope so!

I also plan on buying The Host this weekend. This is Stephanie's debut novel for adults. I read the excerpt on her website and it sounds pretty interesting. I'll let you know how I like it!

Scripts

OMG! I am sooooo in love with this kit club and I haven't even gotten a kit yet. Scripts is a new kit club that is done by Scrap Etc. They are the store that puts on the Scrap Etc. Event each year...the one that I attended in April with my fellow Divas. If their kit is as well put together as their event, I'm going to be in heaven. So I already signed up. As of right now, they're giving anyone who attended their event (all 600 of us) the opportunity to sign up before the general public. Since there is no way I can afford 3 kit clubs I'm going to drop Label Tulip. Their kits are a bit more earth-toned with a vintage feel. I'm more into the cheerful, bright stuff so Scarlet Lime and Scripts are both perfect for me.

Go check it out!

It's Official!

Jason's flight is booked for J's surprise birthday party! Thank you so much dad, Mary Joy, mom and Peter for chipping in as part of Jason's birthday present. I'm just so excited that Jason is making it up to Wisconsin for the party. Nikki has promised me that she'll take tons of pictures of J's face when he sees Jason standing on the doorstep. Jason really needs a little fun time as well. He's been working crazy hours lately and the boys have been slightly more demanding than usual. Let's not even mention his very hormonal wife is probably driving him nuts!

I also booked our flights for the entire Payne family's Wisconsin trip in July. No way can it be called off now! We're really looking forward to seeing everyone...family and friends! We plan on spending the first half of our vacation in Neenah and the second half up at my parent's cottage. I can't wait to plop my butt on a floaty and drift around the lake. The last time I was there we had the infamous water skiing "accident". I can guarantee you that I won't be doing any activities that involve pulling me behind a boat this year! I don't mind sitting on the sidelines...I can take much better pictures that way:)

Besides that, not a whole lot more is going on. The temps are now soaring into the 90's so it's damn hot outside. I wish I could spend every day at my parent's pool, but have to settle for a few hours here and there on the weekend. Jason is totally swamped at work and now that it's so hot outside, he's really drained when he gets home. I'm still experiencing afternoon/nighttime sickness so I'm having a hard time getting motivated at home. Thank goodness the boys LOVE peanut butter & jelly or turkey sandwiches for dinner:) I'm hoping this wears off during the next couple of weeks when I finish up my first trimester.

Oh, I downloaded all 350 pictures from my camera and started the editing process. I'm hoping to find some time this week to finish up so I can finally put some photos on here! I got some really cute shots of the boys when we made ice cream sundaes. Jameson was totally hamming it up for the camera which is soooo out of ordinary for him!

Okay, enough...I really need to get back to work!

Chicken Pot Pie

One more for Roxanne...this one is loaded with yummy veggies!

Ingredients:
1 lb skinless, boneless chicken breasts cut into 1-inch cubes
1 cup sliced carrots
1 cup frozen green peas
1/2 cup sliced celery
1/3 cup butter
1/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon celery seed
1 3/4 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup milk
2 9-inch unbaked pie crusts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees
2. In a saucepan, combine chicken, carrots, peas and celery. Add water to cover and boil for 15 minutes. Remove from heat, drain and set aside.
3. In the saucepan over medium heat, cook onions in butter until soft and translucent. Stir in flour, salt, pepper and celery seed. Slowly stir in chicken broth and milk. Simmer over medium-low heat until thick. Remove from heat and set aside.
4. Place one pie crust in pie plate. Pour chicken mixture onto bottom pie crust. Pour hot liquid mixture over the top (I find I don't use all of the liquid mixture). Cover with top crust, seal edges and cut away excess dough. Make several small slits in the top to allow steam to escape.
5. Bake in the preheated oven for 30-35 minutes or until pastry is golden brown and filling is bubbly. Cool for 10 minutes before serving.

Enjoy! Even Jason, who doesn't really care for vegetables eats this one right up!

Greek Pasta Salad

This one if for my dear friend Roxanne, who is also expecting. She's having a hard time eating her veggies so I thought this one would be perfect for her...plus it's a good salad for the summer.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 cup red wine vinegar
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 1/2 teaspoons dried basil
1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano
3/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon white sugar
16oz cooked rotini pasta
3 cups fresh sliced mushrooms
15 cherry tomatoes, halved (I dislike tomatoes so did not add this ingredient)
1 cup sliced red bell pepper
3/4 cup crumbled feta cheese (if you're not a feta fan, use parmesan or mozzarella instead)
1/2 cup chopped green onions
1 4oz can whole black olives (I love olives so doubled this one)
3/4 cup sliced pepperoni, cut into strips

The best part is that you could add even more veggies...cucumbers would be yummy!

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, whisk together the olive oil, vinegar, garlic powder, basil, oregano, black pepper and sugar.
2. Add cooked pasta, mushrooms, tomatoes, red peppers, feta cheese, green onion, olives and pepperoni.
3. Toss until evenly coated. Cover and chill 2 hours or overnight.

Enjoy!