2/6/10 - Cleaning and Shopping!!

Today was a very busy day!! We had to finish cleaning up the house, and do all of our grocery shopping for the Superbowl party tomorrow. We are determined to actually be ready for this party BEFORE it begins!!! So, yesterday's cleaning continued...Olivia's Room, our bedroom (I had to showcase our wedding display because I just love it), the upstairs living room, the kitchen/dining room, the office and the spare bedroom. AND, I even did our laundry on top of it! Here are some more pictures...I skipped the dining room since we have yet to really do anything. I also skipped the office because it's not too exciting and the spare bedroom because right now that's really just a graveyard for no longer useful baby stuff...






























After the cleaning, we were off to Target and cub to get all the food. We always do a taco bar, which goes over very well. My mother in law is gracious enough to make us rice and guacamole every year as well...nothing like REAL Mexican rice and REAL guac!!

As for the game...it will be very hard for me to bring myself to actually watch it this year. Knowing the Vikings were literally a field goal away from being there, knowing that they SHOULD by all means be there, is heartbreaking to me. Every time I think about the Vikings or the Superbowl I pathetically enough become somewhat teary eyed over it. Now, under any normal circumstances I would be cheering on the Saints...they are repping the NFC, they've never been to a Superbowl let along won one (whereas the Colts won just a few years ago), and they are most definitely the underdogs, and I love an underdog. Unfortunately, after the dirty way they played against the Vikings (and the Cardinals for that matter) and the incredibly obvious assistance the NFL and the officials have been giving them, I cannot bring myself to cheer for them. So, Go Colts I guess!

Until tomorrow!!

2/5/10 - Go Red for Women; Men can Clean!

Well, today is a big day! Today is the American Heart Association's "Go Red for Women" day (February is Heart Disease Awareness month as well). Not many people know this about me, and if they do at one time, it's often forgotten. I was born with congenital heart disease, on top of a heart murmur. It doesn't really affect my day to day life, in ways it may have when I was younger, but it will always be there, I will never outgrow it. I think because I've lived with it my whole life, I don't think much of it...I don't get emotional over it, I don't make a big deal of it, I often "laugh" it off, not really taking into consideration what a big deal it really is. The older I get, the more I think about it...the more I worry about it. Becoming a mother and a wife has just made my condition more apparent to me. I don't want it to be something that leaves my children without a mother, or my husband without his partner. I am lucky, and thank my stars that I am, in that my problem has grown with me as I've gotten older, and that it is very unlikely that it should ever cause any further issues. I think of this often, and know somebody up there was watching over me!

Aside from that, Christian was home for work today and did LOTS and LOTS of cleaning getting ready for Sunday's party. I was very impressed when I got home, and grateful!!! He cleaned the snow from the driveway (which I don't think will ever stop at this point...notice the snowbank is now higher than the mailbox!!) and he cleaned BOTH bathrooms, the downstairs living area and the entry way (no shoes or coats!!)! YAY, must less left to do now!! So, here are some pictures of our rarely clean house. I like taking pictures of the house now because things are changing so much. More and more baby/kid toys/stuff taking over, more and more of our stuff being moved and/or hidden because they aren't baby/kid proof. It's fun to watch the changes :)

Until tomorrow!!!

2/4/10 - What to Do???

Today was just a typical Thursday...I feel like I'm becoming very repetitive in that!!! After a day of work, we just hung out at home. While sitting, watching TV, the energizer bunny suddenly became very quiet. Of course, quite for a toddler never really means good news. So, I was off an a search around the house to see what she'd gotten herself into...and, I found her just hanging out the bath tub. While it initially throws me into a panic (being that our tub is quite high and elevated for her to get into), it quickly passed and I decided to take the photo op! She does love her bath, and bath toys!

After some play, Christian and I lounged on the couch together watching some shows, while Olivia's lounged on her couch. She seems like such a grown up now! Now, we'll be frantically trying to clean and shop to get ready for the big Superbowl party on Sunday!! YAY for parties!





Until tomorrow!!!

2/3/10 - 15 Weeks!!!

Well, today I hit 15 weeks!!! The weeks just seem to by flying by, out of control. I can't believe how fast this pregnancy is going. I remember with Olivia I didn't think January would EVER come...it felt like time was just dragging on and I just wanted her to get here so I could hold her and kiss her and love her to pieces. Of course I'm anxious to do the same with this little one, but I just need more time to adjust to the thought of 2 under 2 for a little while longer!!! I've been feeling much better, as far as the nausea, but being hit with my second migraine yesterday makes me worry for what's to come! I really hope they don't continue...it's torture! I lost a pound last week...not sure how that happened, but I'll take it! At this time with Olivia I was already up 14 pounds!!!! Now that is crazy talk! Hopefully this means I am in much better control this time!

Tonight we *should* be able to make it to Target. Our "need" items are becoming much more needed, so we really have no choice! The weather is supposed to be much better today, so that will help our motivation...hopefully!

Until tomorrow!!!

2/2/10 - Procrastination; 13 Months

Well, the morning roads were no fun today, it was still snowing so that didn't help, but I got home from work in no time, which was a welcomed surprise. Unfortunately, we're both so exhausted, we decided to skip Target again. Honestly, it's just no fun shopping in the snow/aftermath of the snow. It's hard to get the carts through the parking lots, the carts are always wet and it just makes a tedious task even worse. So, hopefully tomorrow we'll make it!

Tonight was spaghetti for dinner...and Olivia was definitely enjoying it. I sat at the table with her talking, playing and eating for a good 90 minutes. She's just so entertaining these days. Once dinner was over, we played the night away. Surprisingly, she was VERY into me tonight...she's usually attached to dad's hip, so that was a nice change of pace. So, I just spent the night doing everything I could to make her laugh...seriously, the best sound ever!!! Here's her BEAUTIFUL face :)

I'm coming back to edit this post. I forgot to post Olivia's 13 month photo!! We've taken a photo on her "birthday" every month since she was born. As a baby, we took them laying down, next to the remove for comparison. As a toddler, we take them with her standing next to our staircase ledge. It's so crazy to see the change in just a year!














Until tomorrow!!!

2/1/10 - Welcome February Snow!

Well, today was not the best day. I woke up with another raging migraine, so Christian was on baby duty (crap, I keep forgetting she's a TODDLER now, that's crazy). He dropped Olivia off and I slept in a bit. Finally rolled out of bed and got myself to work at 10:30! On top of that, I had NO IDEA it was supposed to snow today. I got on the road met with a huge surprise. Luckily the snow was just starting when I left for work, and was more in the cities, so it didn't take FOREVER to get to work (plus rush hour was over). However, getting home was not cool. It took 3 times as long to get home from work, and I didn't even have to pick up Olivia! So, needless to say, our Target/grocery shopping did not get done. Hopefully one of these nights we'll make it. Now I just need to prepare for what tomorrow's roads will bring!! AHHH, I love winter, just wish people would learn how to drive between the months of December and March! As you can see by the picture, we did not get a ton of snow by any means, and it still makes people go mad. Although, to their defense, the entire state is pretty much has a blanket of ice under the snow, so that's not fun.

Until tomorrow!!!

1/31/10 - Goodbye January!!

Wow, I can't believe today is the last day of January already! It's amazing how fast time goes, scary really! And bonus, I actually kept up with my blog for 31 days!! 334 to go :)


Today was kind of an errand day. Christian went for his haircut today. Not nearly as interesting as mine, so we'll skip right over that :) Then, it was time to get ready and head out shopping. First was Babies R Us. I could seriously get conned into buying just about everything there. We had to get a bassinet for Christian's parents' house for when the new baby comes...we had a 20% off coupon so figured, why not! Found a pretty cheap one that will work just fine. We also got Olivia her own little pull out sofa, and she loves it! Next we were off to the Mall of America to finish up her 12-18 month wardrobe. We had to get her some more PJs and a couple more outfits. She should be all set now! We were supposed to go to Target as well, but we were both so exhausted, we just couldn't do it. To, that will be on the list for tomorrow!

Until tomorrow (February!)!!

1/30/10 - The Big Hair Day!!

Oh boy, it was a big day for me!! In my "younger years" I'd often cut my hair. Never super short..but I'd grow it out, then chop it off, usually just below my shoulders or something. It takes a LONG time to grow my hair, so it's usually pretty traumatic for me. The last time I cut my hair was right before Christian and I got engaged...so probably February 2006!!! Yes, that's right, 4 years ago! I grew it out then for the wedding....then got too lazy to get the "wife cut" after. Then, I got pregnant with Olivia, so it grew faster than usual over that next year. Then I wanted to keep it long for my friend Gini's wedding, so there went another year of growing it out. Finally, I've just had it! Olivia is way too into pulling it. I can't do anything style wise to it because it's so long and fine, it doesn't hold a style. So, it's either dry it and wear it long and boring (and drying takes a LONG time), or pull it back out of the shower and leave it. YAY, very exciting. Well, not anymore!!! I finally took the plunge and went to see Irma. 18 inches later, my hair is GONE! I know it's going to take a while to get used to it, but I know I'm going to love it. So far everyone seems to like it (or they are just being really nice!), it's much quicker to wash and dry, so i can actually take the time to do something with it. YAY for new hair :)










After the appointment, we went to eat. We hadn't been to Don Pablo's for years, so we thought we'd go there...let me tell you, it will be another few years before we go back! Ick. Then it was off to play with Olivia's BFF for a while! Just a typical Saturday night :)

Until tomorrow!!!

1/29/10 - Friday Fun Day!

Today I spent the day home with little Olivia. I was emotionally drained, so it was a tough day (Olivia does not like to sleep in any more...at all...and only takes one, not very long, now days). But, I do cherish the time I get to spend with her. Ahhh, the guilt of a working mother! But, I wouldn't have it any other way honestly.

Once daddy got home we played for the evening. Olivia is still loving the view from the top of the coffee table. Ugh. And, she is still obsessed with the phones...and even though we gave her her very own, it's never as good as playing with ours! She likes to just sit down and punch away at the buttons like she's doing something...now she's figured out how to open up the phone (for the key pad), so if anybody gets a random text or call from us...it's Olivia saying HI!!!











Until tomorrow!!!

1/28/10 - Oh What A Day!!

So, I work a "flex schedule" at work which gives me every other Friday off...making every other Thursday my "Friday"...today was that Thursday. For some reason, when my Friday/Thursday rolls around, thing at work are always out of control. I swear, I feel like I've run a marathon sometimes when I get off work!! BUT, I do love being busy, and it's much better than having the days drag. The end of January (and the end of July) is always very busy for us because a majority of our Contracts end then...but many of them require extensions...which always come at the last minute, so it's very hectic trying to get those done. In addition to that, the legislature is in the process of passing a second round of economic stimulus money...with much of that going to transportation (to increase jobs in the state), and we are just starting to see the first of those projects. Those are a headache because you have to drop EVERYTHING and get them done faster than humanly possible. I was out on maternity leave when we had the first stimulus money come through, so this is pretty new to me (and now I feel extra bad for my poor co-workers picking up my slack last year!).

Other than that, I was very happy to get home and looking forward to another 3-day weekend! I think the hormonal imbalance of this pregnancy is starting to really kick in these days. I'm so easily frustrated and overwhelmed. I'm really hoping that passes soon!! Here are some random pictures from today to share!

Until tomorrow!!!