Barefeetsies

I feel pretty...

2010-05-04T13:08:00.000-07:00

Just got these pics from my best buds wedding in January, had to share!

It's been awhile...

2010-05-03T06:14:00.000-07:00

I still haven't quite gotten into the blog swing of things. I can barely remember where my keys are which, according to a commercial I saw this morning, is a sign of impending dimensia and I need to rush and ask my doc about a medication asap ::insert laughs and i told you so's from my dearest husband::

Needless to say, I have a hard time remembering to blog, or remembering that I even have a blog. I've got my favorites that I read regularly, but I've come to the decision that their lives are way more interesting than mine lol. But alas, today is the first day I've had off in AWHILE. And by off, I mean the kiddos are at daycare even though I took off work. Judge if you will, but I am not ashamed to say I am super stoked to be able to do laundry without "help" and to actually complete something I start out doing.

So what do I do to celebrate the beginning of my super awesome day off? Blog! Is it to put off beginning the housework marathon? Probably. But also to start what I've been meaning to talk about since the beginning of this post (geez sorry). Operation Self Improvement. Lists are my friend, so here are a few of my monthly goals that have nothing to do with kids:

*Join McFatty Monday and keep up with it regularly
*Get my hair did
*Buy some new clothes that actually fit. Post Rhys I lost all of the baby weight, but mostly from my rear portion. I look like a load is in my pants they are so baggy. Time for something new my friend.

I have a real issue with remembering to (along with everything else) to do things for myself. So I'm starting small. Wish me luck!

Thankful on...what the hell day is it anyway?

2010-04-23T19:44:00.000-07:00

I am thankful for my Mom that brings lunch to her 25 year old daughter because she needs to eat her veggies. I'm thankful for our Friday night family dance off (I haven't gotten quite comfortable enough to post this on the internet yet ha! Let's just say Sophie has some moves that rival MJ). I'm thankful for having tomorrow off so I can do laundry and Mark will have clean pantaloons as he likes to say. I'm thankful for anything with caffeine. And I'm thankful that even though she's moving, my daughters daycare teacher cares enough to send me daily pics of my tots. It gives me a glimpse into their world and makes me feel a bit better for not being there during the day. And by golly I'm thankful for beer and a new 20/20 (I'm pretty obsessed) on a Friday night.

Quarter of a year old!

2010-04-08T04:16:00.000-07:00

Rhys you are the most laid back baby ever. At three months old I can't hold you or play with you enough. You are rolling over from your belly to your back, but haven't quite mastered back to tummy yet. And you discovered your feet! They must be pretty entertaining because you stare them down for a long time.

I don't know how much you weigh right now, but your little waist is teeee tiny and you're legs are soooo long. 0-3 clothes are too small but 3-6 are too big and you usually have a plumbers crack in them ha! You're sleeping great (usually 12 hours!) and are always in a good mood, even when you vomit all over yourself (which is really often). I hate taking you to daycare but you seem to love the ladies there. Sophie is paying more attention to you everyday and you get super excited and kick your feet. You also weirdly look like a male version of her.

Your neck is really strong and I swear you think you could just get up out of your car seat and walk all over the place. You also love to hold onto some homemade burp cloths we have and we call them your nubbies. I think you want to eat them. Can't wait to see what next month brings! xoxo

Keeping it real with the spit up during our 3 month giraffe photo shoot!

Such a TROOPER

2010-04-07T17:55:00.000-07:00

Out of all the Easter craziness, I forgot to mention just how proud I am of Sophie. She got her second set of tubes last Friday and did AWESOME. Didn't even cry coming out of the anesthesia. All she wanted was her cup and to go home. Sweet.

You mean I get a surprise after this?

Easter Preview!

2010-04-06T09:10:00.000-07:00

I couldn't wait to post these because, well because they're cute that's why. These are from an Easter egg hunt last Saturday...

Invasion of the Yelluh Dust!

2010-04-05T13:14:00.000-07:00

Help! The whole world is covered in pollen! I can't concentrate because of all the sneezing. We went to a state park for an easter picnic with the fam and all of our feet were completely covered (photo montage coming soon). Please rain. Now.

Hi my name's Grace and I'm a blog slacker...

2010-03-31T18:38:00.000-07:00

And I just started!!!! And I really like it!!! I know everyone has a busy life, so how do you do it? I mean, I don't think anyones chomping at the bit to read about me, but I really hope to keep it updated and scrapbook our life so to speak.

I do think I should be excused though. Sophie has been sick on and off for a month and the doctor told us yesterday that we need to rush and get her second set of tubes this coming Friday because her ears looked so bad, even on antibiotics. Not fun. And, I have TWO events that I can't get out of attending for work, one on the day of her surgery and the second the day after. Doubly not fun. Thankfully, my Mom is stepping in to help with little Rhys and after the tube process is done, Sophie will be in the hands of her more than capable Daddy for just a couple of hours until I can rush back home to cuddle with her. It is days like these that I want to be a stay at home Mom more than anything in the world.

I mentioned before that Sophie has occasional night terrors when she's sick, which the doctor said is normal and is more likely to happen if a parent sleep walks/talks and if they are overtired or ill. Great, so it's my fault. She got my eyes and my creepy sleep habits. If anyone has a child that has night terrors, I am so sorry it is an awful experience to deal with.

I hate she's having another surgery, but I'm looking forward to her having some type of relief. Hopefully she'll be up to some easter egg hunting on Sunday!!! Even all that she's going through, she's still in great spirits! I could definitely learn a thing or two from her attitude. It would be better than having coffee probably. Proof:

And she's still "supa smoooth" as she likes to say:

Rhys 2.5

2010-03-25T18:36:00.000-07:00

So I've been meaning to write this for awhile now. Instead of the usual monthly stats on the newbie, I've managed to lose track of time and finally get around to it now, which is around 2.5 months (hence the title). I've definitely got some catching up to do. Rhys, you'll soon learn to love this quality about your Mommy. I ALWAYS have some catching up to do. Here's what's new with you these days:

*You still have Jinormous feet! You're going to be tall and skinny (sorry, I mean lean) like your Daddy
*You're laughing and cooing like it's your job, especially when Sophie pays you attention
*You were 6lbs 10oz at birth, and weighed in at 10lbs 6oz at your 2 month appt. and I'm sure you're over 11lbs right now
*You still have reflux but you're laughing after you spit up instead of screaming (thanks prevacid, I'm a big fan)
*Great Oden's Raven!!! You're sleeping through the night!!! I thought it would never come. You go to bed around 8 and sleep until at least 6

Any of you with one kiddo thinking of having two? I'm sure you're expecting it to be a little tough at first and it definitely is. But it's totally worth it, because your 3am feedings suddenly look like this:

Raise the Roof! It's Friday!!!

2010-03-19T15:21:00.000-07:00

I mean I've hit a deer or two...

2010-03-17T12:47:00.000-07:00

But I swear I'm a good driver. Especially with two kids in the car with me. And I swear the dumbest things happen to me on a daily basis. So in the smallest town in the world I get pulled over for not having my seatbelt on (which I DID have it on) and for improper lane usage (when in reality it was a ONE LANE ROAD). He said I swerved after I pulled out of the bank. Really? Don't you have to swerve in order to TURN?!???

I only got a $25 ticket for the seatbelt and I normally wouldn't, but I am fighting this to the bone!!

The cop was someone I went to high school with. I swear I never made fun of him either. TERD.

My rap group

2010-03-16T20:13:00.000-07:00

I have no idea why, but I'm really missing my BFF today. Let me first say this, I am 25 with two kids and the vast majority of my friends are not married and definitely don't have any kids yet. But I'm not the tons of friends type of gal anyway. My closest few I came across in college. You know, the ones who speak your language. With whom you have countless inside jokes, drink the natural light, pay your light bill late, and eat tons of easy mac and ramen noodles with.

Val is that girl. She is the ying to my yang. The V-Tweezy to my G-race (we got bored and maybe a bit tipsy one night and made up rap names along with our compadre Bad Nel-Dirty. We might have made up a song but I'll deny that to my grave). Anywho, my dearest V-Tweezy is probably one of the luckiest people I know and recently married some thunder from down under (he's Australian) and moved to London.

With her super posh job and my Mommy/work duties theres never time to catch up. But that's ok she's the friend when you see her next, it doesn't seem like she's been away at all. She's the friend you would be the matron of honor for FIVE DAYS before you GIVE BIRTH and chase after a two year old flower girl named Sophie for. I love you V and I miss you so much today.

Here's a pic from her wedding day. Picture the bridesmaids walking down to the Zephyr Song and the Bride and Groom walking out to American Woman. Priceless. I'm the navy blue whale second to her left.

Here's an example of how fun the reception was. There was a photo booth that was supercool!!! I would highly recommend.

I threw Val a shower/party a few days before her wedding (they were in the states a limited amount of time). Here's the expensive ass cake I bought and didn't open until I got to the venue. I'm not even joshing you. Looks like the bag boy decorated it, no??? Don't worry I took pics, redecorated it myself, and got a full refund. And it was the joke of the night.

Sophie update: No permanent damage to her ears and they'll see after 2 weeks if she will need tubes!!!

Ears and Fears

2010-03-15T19:00:00.000-07:00

So I thought after tubes at 6mos, a tonsilectomy, countless antibiotics and eardrops, that Sophie would be pretty much done-zo with ear infections by now. On MONDAY we had a well check up and got an all clear report. Then THURSDAY the screaming started at 9pm and I brokedown around 1am and took her to the ER. Ruptured ear drum. Possible permanent damage. Make an appointment with your ENT and pay us lots of money, said the hospital. Oh and have fun with the night terror episodes she gets when she has any pain meds.

One dose of tylenol w/ codeine and one orange popsicle later, I drive home with the windows rolled down to stay awake (picture Jim Carey in Ace Ventura driving around with a broken windshield...yep that was me). While Soph watched Tinkerbell in the backseat I thought about the worst part about being a parent. It's not staying up 25 hours straight with your toddler only to get up with your newborn in the morning after an hour of sleep. It is watching your child in pain with no solution to give them. No bandaid, no magic wand. Why does my child have to go through this? And you can't panic. I wanted to panic. Okay I did panic after everyone was sound asleep and Mark woke up and panicked because I was panicking. How am I going to deal with letting her drive for the first time? Anyone have a xanax?

Then I remembered that I should be so thankful that she is overall a healthy and vivacious two year old. Other parents are not so lucky. And I am. I mean look at this face...

Sophie at 5mos, sick with her first ear infection on Valentine's Day (and yes, that is an old school Alf and Cabbage Patch doll next to her):

Right before getting tubes in:

"Tylenol is my best friend:"

November of last year after getting her tonsils and adenoids removed and trying to eat broth (it was a no go):

And this one because she's stinkin cute. On her 2nd birthday September 2009:

Please pray for us tomorrow that she won't have to get tubes in again. Ear infections are awful but seeing my baby put under anesthesia and watching her wake up out of it is another kind of awful. I'll be praying for parents sitting in waiting rooms tonight. Any experience with this please give a sista some advice!!!!!

Tales from the Man Cave

2010-03-10T07:46:00.001-08:00

Convo between Mark and my Dad:

Mark: So I guess we're coming to visit you guys this weekend

Dad: Ok

Mark: Grace is taking the kids to see her Grandma

Dad: So I guess we can hang out and Wii all over the living room

Both parties: harrrrharrrrharrrrrr

They're just not right