Every Good Thing Must Come To An End...

Dear Diary,


And so the day has come. I knew it was in our future and yet I still held out for the chance that maybe, just maybe, it would continue on as normal. I realize some parents have this day come sooner than we have, but regardless, I was hoping to at least hit the 18 month mark...

What am I talking about? NAPS. Yes, we have now officially moved from the 2-naps-a-day stage to the 1-nap-a-day stage. Ugh. It was so nice. All you Mom's who still get those 2 naps in, cherish it. Do everything you can during those quiet times and remember that it could change at any moment.


I felt like I didn't get things done as it was. Now, I get to use my small window of free time to get a shower in and MAYBE fold a couple loads of laundry or dust something. It's stages of my life like this where I am thankful I own a crock pot. Dinner is cooking itself, giving me one less thing to try to get done while 2 toddlers are running around.

Then there are days like yesterday, where my sweet, adorable, precious child decided that an hour was plenty long enough of a nap and she insisted on getting down to the playroom to wake up her partner in crime from his nap too. Granted, the two have been separated for a month now and yesterday was their first day back together, but I really didn't need two kids waking up before they were due. So instead, I hauled her up to Mom and Dad's room where I tried to fold laundry without her jumping right in the middle of it. And with every "No" that came out of my mouth, came her acting skills as she "fell" on the ground pretending she was hurt in order to get some sympathy out of me. Smart? Yes, but Mommy is smarter.


She finally got her way as her hysteria did wake Beckett up and the two got to spend the rest of the afternoon as tornadoes in the playroom and watching Toy Story for the 20th time. I, however, was pleased that the two didn't need me for entertainment and I got to read away in my book that I can't seem to put down.


Maybe one day I'll actually be able to leave the little lady alone for longer than 2 minutes at a time. The playroom was good for that in theory but then Houdini child learned that climbing anything and everything was the funnest thing to do AND is even more fun when Mom leaves the room. I have found her standing on the coffee table, behind the entertainment center, walking out in the garage (didn't even know she could open doors), and inside the Pack-N-Play in the playroom. From the sounds of it, you'd think I was off taking a nap somewhere, but I kid you not, she does these things in the 2-3 minutes it takes me to wash a couple sippy cups, go to the bathroom, or clean off lunch trays.


I guess I am at least thankful she is funny and I get a good laugh out of it most the time. I honestly don't know what Garrett and I did before she was born. I can honestly admit that most of our evenings are spent laughing at her crazy antics or taking turns at who is going to get her off the end table this time. It makes me wonder what Baby #2 will be like? Will she look like Addalyn? Will she be as good of a baby as Addy was? Will she get herself into as much nonsense as Addy does? Who knows... But I am eager to find out!


Sincerely Yours,

Add It To The List!

Dear Diary,

Well once again I found myself wishing my book had never ended. I LOVED my latest read, Emily Giffin's "Baby Proof." I have enjoyed Emily Giffin's novels in the past and just got my hands on two more of her books.

 About The Book:

"Is there ever a deal-breaker when it comes to true love?

First comes love. Then comes marriage. Then comes . . . a baby carriage? Isn’t that what all women want?

Not so for Claudia Parr. And just as she gives up on finding a man who feels the same way, she meets warm, wonderful Ben. Things seem too good to be true when they fall in love and agree to buck tradition with a satisfying, child-free marriage. Then the unexpected occurs: one of them has a change of heart. One of them wants children after all.

This is the witty, heartfelt story about what happens to the perfect couple when they suddenly want different things. It’s about feeling that your life is set and then realizing that nothing is as you thought it was--and that there is no possible compromise. It’s about deciding what is most important in life, and taking chances to get it. But most of all, it’s about the things we will do--and won’t do--for love."

And while I am sad I read the final page of "Baby Proof" last week, I was thrilled that I had Emily Giffin's, "Love the One You're With" waiting for me to start. It has already caught my attention in a good way and I have no doubt that in a couple of days I will be saddened that the book has ended as I read its final pages.

Not only has Emily Giffin provided me with great novels, but as I was looking over her website I discovered that one of my favorite's, "Something Borrowed," is going to be turned into a movie! The cast couldn't be better as Kate Hudson will be playing Darcy, the adorable Ginnifer Goodwin has been cast as Rachel and my absolute favorite, John Krasinski will be stepping in as Ethan. While I have mixed feelings on whether the movie can even compare to the book, I feel like the casting alone has given it a good start! I can't say that I get to the movie theatre much these days, but come May 2011, I will definitely be there!

http://www.emilygiffin.com/inthemovies.php

Sincerely Yours,



Sharing Old Memories, Making New Ones!

Dear Diary,

Today I am thankful for my friendships. Particularly a friendship that goes back years and years. Ashleigh, Brianna, Jeni and I have been friends for a long time, and because we have an opportunity to get together this weekend, these girls are on my mind!

What I wouldn't give to go back to one of our many sleepovers in junior high. I would try to distract us from calling the boys, from fighting over who got to type on ICQ or from watching "Teen Witch" for the hundredth time, just long enough to ask where we'd think our lives would be 12 years later. I don't think any of us would have predicted that at 25 years old, we would all be married and have children, and I REALLY don't think any of us would have predicted that we'd all have baby girls. If I was talking to our 13-year-old selves, I would guess we'd each have one of "the boys" from our class picked out as our future spouse and I can only imagine the careers we would have predicted and the names and number of children we would have (with lack of a name for baby #2, I think I'd take my 13-year-old suggestion at this point, haha).

The friendship between the four of us started at different times. Jeni and I were forced into it as babies, Brianna and I became attached at the hip in Kindergarten and I stole Ashleigh away as my best friend when she showed up in fourth grade. We had our ups and downs as all girls do throughout the years but I have laughed, cried and shared more memories with these girls than most people in my life.

While we all graduated and went to the same college, we drifted apart a little. We each had goals, boyfriends and new college friends competing for our time, but I am proud to say we never quit staying in touch. I love that we can get together and relive old memories. I love that I can call any of these girls at any moment and they'd be there for me. I love that even though we've been out of school for 6 years, they all still know me better than most people do!

But, I think what I love most is we now have a new generation of girls to carry on our friendship. No, we don't all live in the same town, and no our girls wont be going to the same school, but you can bet that as their Mommy's stay such good friends, so will they. They are far to young to understand now but as they grow up and get together when their Mom's do, they will start to share their own laughs, cries and special moments together.

This weekend we all get to be together with our little ladies and share one of those special moments! My favorite photographer is providing a fun photo session that the girlie's are going to take part of. What could be cuter than four toddler girls getting their picture taken together? Well, that's easy - OUR four toddler girls getting their pictures taken together. While I am a bit biased, I have to say that you don't get much cuter than Ella, Addalyn, Natalie and Gracyn. I know for certain that the Mommy's are far more excited than the girls, but I have a feeling these are pictures they are going to love looking back on someday!

So thank you Jeni, for remaining my friend, yellow scrunchies and all! Thank you Brianna for being my partner in crime at the early age of 5. Thank you Ashleigh for ditching those other friends in forth grade to be my best friend. Thank you God for the miracles of Ella Kay, Addalyn Paige, Natalie Ann and Gracyn Marie! And thank you Sammie Dawn Photography for giving Brianna, Ashleigh, Jeni and I another reason to get together with our little ladies! Now all we need is for four toddler girls to behave and take nice pictures. Am I pushing my luck? =)

Looking forward to it ladies!

 

"Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Others stay awhile, make footprints on our
hearts and we are never, ever the same."

Sincerely Yours,

My Husband: Flooring Master!

Dear Diary,

Well, give the man "the go" and it'll be done in no time!

Garrett and I bought this house November 2008. We loved the neighborhood, the layout and the possibility of what it could be as our first home. The previous owner, Sandra, who we refer to as "the old lady," had just that, an old lady type of home. From wallpaper borders to a bedroom decked out in Red Hat Lady garb, it took a little imagination to convince us that with us a few weekend projects and new paint on the walls we could really turn this place into a home we loved.

With the help of family and friends we have scraped wallpaper, painted walls, remodeled two bathrooms, painted A LOT of trim, had the exterior painted, created a playroom, got a new front door and turned one heck of a wallpaper mess bedroom into a nursery. It has been a long standing goal of ours to replace the mid level carpeting with wood floors. Garrett has researched real hard wood vs. laminate, having it done vs. doing it himself and the best way to tackle our stairs and spindles situation.

While I have hated the carpet in the living room for some time, I never really thought I wanted anything different than new carpet someday. In fact, laying flooring in the space wasn't really an option at all until one thing after another convinced me otherwise. With a dog going in and out of the backyard frequently, and the two of us coming in and out of the garage on a daily basis, the carpet is near impossible to keep clean. I guess you could say the final straw was the morning our lovely dog Philly got into some mud in the backyard and tracked footprints all over my carpet. As I am down on my hands and knees, scrubbing it clean, I realized that different flooring was a pretty good idea.

All it took was the go ahead from me, and one week later Garrett was laying new laminate wood flooring down in our living room. We got a heck of a deal and I must say, I was a little nervous as to how it was going to go, but with the help of his buddy from work, they finished in no time and it looks great! I had a feeling if I liked it I would want the mid level done sooner rather than later and that is exactly the case. It is a bigger area and will be a little more challenging but hopefully it will go as smoothly as the living room did!

So here's the before, during and after pictures. As with most pictures, it is much better in person, but regardless I think you'll be able to see how nice of a job Garrett did! We have a few trim and transition pieces that need to go in still and I am on the search for an area rug I love, but here's the mostly finished project!

Before: With Carpet

Before: With Carpet

Before: With Carpet

During: Furniture and Carpet Removed

After: New Flooring

After: New Flooring

After: New Flooring



Sincerely Yours,

"Hi. Do I know you?"

Dear Diary,

Have you ever wondered if someone you are close to is, in fact, who they say they are?

This idea of not knowing who someone really is has been hitting me in the face lately. It started with watching the Lifetime movie, "The Craigslist Killer" the other night. If you don't know the story, a charming, intelligent young man going through med school meets a girl, falls in love, and soon the two move in together and become engaged. They spend their day-to-day life together with the exception of classes, work and never ending "study time" at the library. Here this girl is, preparing for a wedding with "Mr. Right" while "Mr. Nasty" is really shopping on Craigslist for the next girl he is going to rob and possibly kill.

I have no idea how accurate the facts are from the movie, but this girl is so in the dark about who her fiance is, that following his arrest she is convinced they have the wrong guy and she continues to plan their upcoming marriage. It takes the 16 panties they find under the mattress, a gun hidden in a school book, a fake I.D. and proof of the disturbing history on his laptop to convince her that maybe the love of her life isn't who she thinks he is.

I can't imagine a blow to the gut like that! I find myself asking the obvious question, "Could she really have not known the man she was living with was a killer?" Sure, he was a busy med student who could easily use the "I was studying late" as an excuse for where he had been, but I would like to think that I would still be able to detect something was up. His biggest mistake was not returning her phone calls. If it was me, and someone (someone being Garrett) didn't return my phone calls ALL DAY, he'd be in some big trouble and I would demand and answer.

So okay, maybe not knowing someone you are close to is a lunatic killer is a little extreme, but get a load of this story I read online this morning:

Kiri Blakeley, a young New Yorker, has spend 10 years of her life with the "man of her dreams," only to find that her once stable life is turned upside down with the confession from her fiance that he is gay. Once again, I find myself asking the obvious question, "How could you not know?" After further reading the article, Kiri explains how possible it is be to be completely in the dark:
　
"It's like this...if you have back pain, it could be you worked out too hard the other day or it could be cancer. So, I suppose in retrospect there were a couple things that could have been clues but at the time I wouldn't have known. The first clue was that he'd started growing a beard and even though I told him I didn't like it and it was itchy, he wouldn't shave it. I couldn't have possibly known that him growing a beard meant he was gay. But later on I found out he'd been taking photos of himself with the beard and that there was this whole gay subculture of bearded gay men. And our sex life hadn't been what I would have liked, but honestly, it wasn't as bad as some of my friends who were also in straight relationships. Sometimes we'd go months and we'd even been in therapy about it but he would always say things like "Well, you could initiate" or "I'm ready when you are." Certainly he never piped in and said "Well, it's because I like men." And I don't know if I'd confronted him about it before that night if he would have caved and told me. I have a feeling people tell you these things when they're ready and not a minute before."

I guess I can say that at least the guy had the courtesy to sit her down and tell her he was gay, but again, after some searching on his computer, she found out he had been cheating on her for two years prior to his confession. Granted I know nothing about Kiri and her relationship with this man, but to me, cheating is completely unacceptable and unfair. Two years is a long time to be "unsure" of your sexuality while leading a double life and lying to someone who is in a monogamous relationship with the person she loves.

So, what do you think? A little more believable than not knowing your fiance is a crazy killer? Maybe... But either way, I can't imagine my life being turned upside down with one quick kick to the face like that. Imagine finding out that your Dad is a serial killer. Or your husband has been cheating on you for years. It's easy to think "no way, that is not possible," but these women probably thought the same thing. No, I don't think anyone close to me is leading a double life, but it still doesn't stop me from considering what it would be like if I were in these women's shoes.

Sometimes I joke about how "boring" my life is and how I am somewhat of a "loser." Sure, Garrett and I would definitely be considered "homebodies," and yes, our social circle is rather small, but I would take this simple life over a crazy, drama filled one any day!

Sincerely Yours,

A Sweet Monday

Dear Diary,

Nothing too crazy to report today. I got to do the lovely Glucose Test this morning. I am not sure what I was more afraid of, getting my blood drawn and not passing OR having to take the little lady along for the doctor's visit with lack of another option. I tried this once, thinking she'd be her cute self and enjoy a little adventure, only to find that she DID NOT want to sit in her stroller and would rather pout and be a total crabby pants in front of my doctor and the entire staff. To make matters worse, I had to get an unexpected sonogram that day which only prolonged the crying and complaining from little miss.

So, needless to say, I wasn't looking forward to taking her with me this morning considering she was going to have to sit through my regular appointment and through me getting my blood drawn. I packed like I was going on a long car ride, with plenty of books, electronics and TONS of animals crackers. Just like her Momma, food holds a special place in her heart. God must have been on my side today because she behaved herself very nicely. She soaked up the "Aww how cute," comments that people threw our way. Little did they know she could turn into lunatic Addy at any moment. I hope having a positive doctors visit doesn't mean that my Glucose Test will turn out negative. I'll try to stay optimistic!

Now I look forward to hopefully an early bedtime so I can enjoy the new Lifetime movie, "The Craiglist Killer" with Jordo! I am probably going to have to run to the store and get some Reese's Pieces or Peanut Butter M&M's. You know, just in case I found out the Glucose test didn't go as planned and I soon have to cut out all delicious treats!

Hope everyone had a lovely Monday and I hope to write about something more entertaining soon!

Sincerely Yours,

Happy New Year!

Dear Diary,

Well it's 2011. Do I feel any different? Nope. Have any goals for the new year? Nope. Feel like it could be the best year ever? Eh...Nope! New Years has never been a big deal to me and quite frankly, IF I have ever made a resolution, I can assure you it didn't happen. We spent our night as we have the past 3 or 4 years, hanging out with some of our favorite people but making sure we were home in time to hit the sack before 10:30. I did turn it to a New Years special on MTV only to see they were showing some Jersey Shore crap so the TV went off and the next thing I knew I was ringing in the New Year at 7:30AM after a much needed good nights rest!

I guess I feel like it is impossible at this stage in my life to predict what my year will be like. Heck, I have a hard time predicting what my day will be like! I find myself setting the goal to get the house cleaned or to fold the laundry and I am lucky if I can achieve that, let alone sett a resolution for the year to lose weight, learn a new skill, or finish some big project.

I do admire those who set a resolution and stick to it. Maybe my resolution will be to avoid all resolutions, just live my life to the fullest and don't let the little things eat away at me. So what if the bathrooms need cleaned, Addy wants Mom to play. Big deal if there are 4 loads of laundry that need folded, I want to relax on a Saturday with my family. And who cares about the toy clutter taking over the living room, my book is too good to put down! If something happened to me tomorrow, would I be happier knowing my chores were done or that I spent the afternoon playing and laughing with my little lady? I am 100% sure I know my answer.

So here's to 2011, a year of hopefully continuing to be happy, of possibly being lazy, of undoubtedly having too much to do and not enough time, BUT of ALWAYS taking the time to do something you enjoy, spend every minute with the people you love, and count your many blessings!

Things to Look Forward to in 2011

• Meeting my Baby Girl in March
• Meeting my Niece in March
• Family Vacation in June
• NOT Being Pregnant
• Addalyn's 2nd Birthday
• Phillies Making the World Series
• Starting Holiday Traditions

              AND ...

• All Those Wonderful Unpredicted Surprises!

Sincerely Yours,