*Washer should be fixed tomorrow* Grrr...
p.s. This post is pretty much just to humor myself and try to make light of the situation. ;)
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Wordless Wednesday - Broken Washer [day 5]
Labels:
Wordless Wednesday
*Washer should be fixed tomorrow* Grrr...
p.s. This post is pretty much just to humor myself and try to make light of the situation. ;)
Tuesday, September 11, 2012
11 Month Update on 9/11
Labels:
Baby Stages,
Friendly Family Update,
In Motion
Our dear Annaliese is 11 months old today! Here's what's been going on in the last month.
She has 6 7 teeth! 3 front top and 4 front bottom teeth! I never thought she would have more than 2-4 at this stage!
She sits and spins on her tiny tush using her feet on the hardwood floor.
She loves to "dance" (or bounce) when she hears music.
She loves to stand facing backward on the couch and lean into the back support and laughs hysterically when she falls over.
She is even more obsessed with chasing the cat. Where there's a kid, there's a cat. But they play nicely :) [supervised]
In this video, Justin was using a lazer light to distract the cat. Annaliese loves when Sammie runs around in a playful way :)
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| Annaliese and her BFF, Sammie |
She's good to give you a kiss when you ask for it. This melts me.
She can crawl like a pro, give high fives, stand on her own (but is still afraid to walk more than a step without holding onto something.
She is really close to being able to pull herself up and can almost stand up from the ground.
She can walk while she pushes her little lawnmower thingy, yes that's the technical name for it.
[and gets a little upset with herself when she can't do something she wants to]
She loves to truck down the hallway in her little walker and end up at our full length mirror and laugh at herself. It's so cute!
She's figured out how to press some buttons on her toys to make them talk or light up. And she likes to play with all of her toys at once.
She reaches upward with both arms and clings to our legs when she wants picked up.
She's mastered pulling of the protective rubber along the edges of our coffee and end tables. When we catch her in the act we tell her a stern "No!" and she backs off. Sometimes we have to do this twice and eventually she loses interest. Can't hurt to try to teach her the meaning of "no" already.
She has grown just enough hair for me to put it up in a little clip! :) She doesn't keep the clip in long, but it's still cute. Her bangs are down in her eyes, so I try to do something with her hair do it doesn't annoy her.
She loves to lay on pillows and watch TV (Mickey) :)
She still has blue-ish / grey-ish eyes, although mine are hazel - green and Justin's are hazel - brown. Justin jokes with me about me and alleged blue-eyed the mail man. Ha!
She has a fancy new car seat now (with cup holders), that she will be in for a long time. Still sitting rear facing.
If she's sitting on the floor, 9 times out of 10 her legs or feet are crossed. :)
She still drinks 3 bottles a day along with 3 meals a day and snacks in between. Her favorites are chicken and pasta, lasagna with meal sauce and the first solid she ever ate, sweet potatoes. She still loves her carrots, peas, and green beans too! She loves to drink water (YESSS!) from her big girl cup. :)
She still wakes up with a huge smile on her face, unless she is having a bad teething day. She sleeps from about 9pm-5am and still takes 1-2 naps during the day. She is such a good baby and a happy baby.
With today being the anniversary of 9/11/01, I would also like to take a moment to thank all of our U.S. troops for laying down their lives everyday and helping to keep our country free. We will never forget the lives lost in the tragic event that happened today, 11 years ago. Our thoughts and prayers will always be with the families who suffered the loss of a loved one.
United We Stand.
Monday, September 10, 2012
These 10 Songs Remind Me Of...
Labels:
LinkUps,
Monday Listicles
Good Morning and Happy Monday! I was blessed to be chosen by Stasha to pick this week's Monday Listicle topic of 10 SongsI (Thank You, Stasha) I was excited when many of you said it was a fun topic, so I am anxious to see what you chose to write!
Before I'm off spending the week reading about your 10 songs...I'll share with you mine. And believe me, I know how hard this is to only choose 10!
10 Memorable Songs (in no particular order)
1) For The Longest Time - Billy Joel - This song reminds me of being a kid. This was the first a capella song I was introduced to (that I recall, anyway). My parents are big Billy Joel and a capella fans and both sing. My brother and I followed suit. His music and lyrics are well known in our houses.
2) In Repair - John Mayer - This song reminds me of my early 20's, when I felt lost more than found. I must have listened to this song on repeat at least 1,000 times as it gave me comfort. The chorus lyrics are "I'm in repair. I'm not together but I'm getting there." It explained me.
3) Angel From Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt/John Prine - This song reminds me of my dad. This is the song we would sing almost every evening in the basement. We each grabbed a microphone and practiced, practiced, practiced. For what? I don't know, but we got it perfected enough for us to "perform" it at one of his company picnics one year. That was fun :)
4) Jersey Girl - Bruce Springsteen - This song reminds me of being a young child and dancing with my dad. He would pick me up and hold me on his hip and spin me around and dance while I held onto his neck. I guess I have always been a "Daddy's Girl". And because of this particular memory, when I was planning my wedding, I knew what song I would be dancing the "Father and Daughter Dance" to.
5) My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder - This song will always remind me of the wonderful night I met my soul mate. I will never forget him nervously practicing the beginning chords of this song, while I helped the rest of the bridal party set up tables and centerpieces for the wedding that was taking place the next day. You can read more about how Justin and I met here.
6) You Were Mine - Dixie Chicks - This song reminds me of my best friend for 15 years, Takia, who also sings. We were in high school when this song came out and decided to record it at one of those little recording studios that you see at amusement parks. We originally wanted to record Whitney Houston's Heartbreak Hotel, so we rehearsed that once. We changed our mind to this song and the employees of the studio wouldn't let us rehearse (since we rehearsed another song already). Well we thought we knew this song well enough to do without rehearsing and although we knew the words...we totally failed the notes! HAHA! I still have that cassette tape too, although Takia wanted me to throw it away!
7) Country Roads - John Denver - This song reminds me of camping with my family as a kid, and also reminds me of my mom. My mom is a huge John Denver fan and loves the outdoors. My family and I would always go camping every summer and would sing around the campfire and make s'mores. It's a fond memory that's close to my heart. :)
8) Her Perfect Dream - Justin Skidmore - <-- Yes, that is my husband and yes he wrote me a song. Aren't I lucky? It's an instrumental song, as Jazz is his favorite type of music. I remember the first time he presented this song to me. He told me the title and said that it's about me and how I watch "A Baby Story" on TLC every morning because I was obsessed with learning the reality of having and delivering a baby. I never understood how composers who write instrumental music can give songs such a deep title and meaning, with no lyrics involved... but I took his word for it. :)
10) Will You Be There - Michael Jackson - Not your typical favorite MJ song, but this song reminds me of the first time I ever saw the movie Free Willy. Living on the California coast, I grew to have a great love for any sea life. When Free Willy came out, I was very inspired by the story and decided to adopt an orca whale. :) Later that year we got a little grey and white kitten (I know it's not like a black and white orca, but still), I decided to name her Keiko, after the whale that played Willy in the movie :)
Now click the badge below and head over to Stasha's blog to link up a list of your 10 songs! :)
Before I'm off spending the week reading about your 10 songs...I'll share with you mine. And believe me, I know how hard this is to only choose 10!
10 Memorable Songs (in no particular order)
1) For The Longest Time - Billy Joel - This song reminds me of being a kid. This was the first a capella song I was introduced to (that I recall, anyway). My parents are big Billy Joel and a capella fans and both sing. My brother and I followed suit. His music and lyrics are well known in our houses.
2) In Repair - John Mayer - This song reminds me of my early 20's, when I felt lost more than found. I must have listened to this song on repeat at least 1,000 times as it gave me comfort. The chorus lyrics are "I'm in repair. I'm not together but I'm getting there." It explained me.
3) Angel From Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt/John Prine - This song reminds me of my dad. This is the song we would sing almost every evening in the basement. We each grabbed a microphone and practiced, practiced, practiced. For what? I don't know, but we got it perfected enough for us to "perform" it at one of his company picnics one year. That was fun :)
4) Jersey Girl - Bruce Springsteen - This song reminds me of being a young child and dancing with my dad. He would pick me up and hold me on his hip and spin me around and dance while I held onto his neck. I guess I have always been a "Daddy's Girl". And because of this particular memory, when I was planning my wedding, I knew what song I would be dancing the "Father and Daughter Dance" to.
5) My Cherie Amour - Stevie Wonder - This song will always remind me of the wonderful night I met my soul mate. I will never forget him nervously practicing the beginning chords of this song, while I helped the rest of the bridal party set up tables and centerpieces for the wedding that was taking place the next day. You can read more about how Justin and I met here.
6) You Were Mine - Dixie Chicks - This song reminds me of my best friend for 15 years, Takia, who also sings. We were in high school when this song came out and decided to record it at one of those little recording studios that you see at amusement parks. We originally wanted to record Whitney Houston's Heartbreak Hotel, so we rehearsed that once. We changed our mind to this song and the employees of the studio wouldn't let us rehearse (since we rehearsed another song already). Well we thought we knew this song well enough to do without rehearsing and although we knew the words...we totally failed the notes! HAHA! I still have that cassette tape too, although Takia wanted me to throw it away!
7) Country Roads - John Denver - This song reminds me of camping with my family as a kid, and also reminds me of my mom. My mom is a huge John Denver fan and loves the outdoors. My family and I would always go camping every summer and would sing around the campfire and make s'mores. It's a fond memory that's close to my heart. :)
8) Her Perfect Dream - Justin Skidmore - <-- Yes, that is my husband and yes he wrote me a song. Aren't I lucky? It's an instrumental song, as Jazz is his favorite type of music. I remember the first time he presented this song to me. He told me the title and said that it's about me and how I watch "A Baby Story" on TLC every morning because I was obsessed with learning the reality of having and delivering a baby. I never understood how composers who write instrumental music can give songs such a deep title and meaning, with no lyrics involved... but I took his word for it. :)
9) Black Velvet - Alannah Myles - This song reminds me of a bachelorette party in 2009 for my friend, Allison's, wedding I was in. Allison loves to sing and Karaoke for her bachelorette party was a must. I always have intentions to sing, but never have the guts to put my name down for the DJ to announce. Well my good ol' BFF, Takia (mentioned above) put my name in for me and chose this song for me to sing. Well about 10 seconds into the song I felt like I was a born singer. I seriously nailed it! And it was probably one of the proudest moments in my life. :)
10) Will You Be There - Michael Jackson - Not your typical favorite MJ song, but this song reminds me of the first time I ever saw the movie Free Willy. Living on the California coast, I grew to have a great love for any sea life. When Free Willy came out, I was very inspired by the story and decided to adopt an orca whale. :) Later that year we got a little grey and white kitten (I know it's not like a black and white orca, but still), I decided to name her Keiko, after the whale that played Willy in the movie :)
Now click the badge below and head over to Stasha's blog to link up a list of your 10 songs! :)
Memories Captured - Blessed
Labels:
LinkUps,
Memories Captured,
Thoughts and Writing
It's Friday again. September 7, 2012 at 9:38 p.m. (Eastern Standard Time) to be a little too exact. Although you're reading this a few days later.
The baby is asleep.
The husband is asleep.
Even the cat is asleep.
I am left here alone.
Just me, my laptop and my 2nd glass of wine (that I usually never drink).
I just put my big, baby girl to bed. She fell asleep in my arms tonight, which hasn't happened in awhile. She has been pretty good with putting herself to sleep at nighttime and nap time. We're very fortunate. But tonight was out of the normal.
Annaliese has been very cuddly with me lately. Oh believe me, I am soaking it up. Every last minute. I think she is unconsciously grasping the fact that her mother is in need of these voluntary moments, as she knows there will soon come a day when those cuddles will be too few and far between.
You see, there are exactly 34 days left until she turns one year old. Only 34 days! (and less by the time you're reading this) It seems that the year has just up and vanished into thin air.
But tonight was another night where time stood still.
Just a mother and her daughter rocking in silence.
A mother who has learned a lot about herself in the last 11 months. A mother who has seen herself on her strongest days where she felt on top of her game. A mother who has seen herself through her weakest moments and spent hours crying along side her crying baby. A mother who has previously promised herself, but has recently taken action to become healthier and live healthier for the sake of herself and her child.
And here in my arms, rests my dreams, my values, my future, all in this little body that keeps growing day by day. My shirt covered in spaghetti stains, my hair a mess, my feet swollen and sore from running, my legs unshaven, I think I forgot deodorant again today...and yet I'm perfectly content because I am blessed.
I have been a little stressed out this week because of the stupid little things that get you all worked up. The basement being flooded (for the 100th time), the washer being broken (after just months ago the dryer had broken), the finances wearing thin (due to a certain special someone's first birthday party), the physical pain of actually working out (from being so out of shape), and the tired eyes I meet at the end of every day from my husband (and his very stressful "seeing-computer-code-in-his-sleep" job).
But this moment is mine. Right now. Right in this very moment, none of that matters. All of the stress in the world couldn't take away the peace I have has with my sleeping babe in my arms. This very moment I will treasure forever. This moment brings tears to my eyes because I am still in awe of this beautiful little life that I am blessed to be home with every day and make laugh and watch grow. This beautiful gift from God. Every day I wish my Father-In-Law were here to see this little girl grow, but I know he is shining down on his only grandchild and giving her a different reason to smile.
Wiping the soft tears from my weary eyes, this mother stands up, ensures that she will not wake her soundly sleeping daughter, and I gently place her in a crib with a beautiful matching crib set fit for a darling baby girl. It seems only yesterday, Justin and I were finishing up our baby registry and wondering what it would feel like to be a parent. Now there she lays, in the butterfly crib set we picked and were given for a shower gift from Justin's brother, Ashley and his wife, Jenn, in the espresso crib we bought and put together, in the pajamas that were handed down to us from one of my best friends from when her daughter was much younger, and beside her security blanket/teddy bear that my aunt and uncle had bought her for Christmas.
I turn off the light and say a silent prayer and ask God to watch over my sleeping baby, as I do every night. I also ask Him to give me the motherly strength I need to make it through every day, to remember to wake up with a positive outlook every morning and remember that there are so many others who are less fortunate and living in undeserving broken and battered homes.
I am blessed.
Linking up with Alison @ Writing, Wishing and Galit @ These Little Waves for September's Memories Captured.
The baby is asleep.
The husband is asleep.
Even the cat is asleep.
I am left here alone.
Just me, my laptop and my 2nd glass of wine (that I usually never drink).
I just put my big, baby girl to bed. She fell asleep in my arms tonight, which hasn't happened in awhile. She has been pretty good with putting herself to sleep at nighttime and nap time. We're very fortunate. But tonight was out of the normal.
Annaliese has been very cuddly with me lately. Oh believe me, I am soaking it up. Every last minute. I think she is unconsciously grasping the fact that her mother is in need of these voluntary moments, as she knows there will soon come a day when those cuddles will be too few and far between.
You see, there are exactly 34 days left until she turns one year old. Only 34 days! (and less by the time you're reading this) It seems that the year has just up and vanished into thin air.
But tonight was another night where time stood still.
Just a mother and her daughter rocking in silence.
A mother who has learned a lot about herself in the last 11 months. A mother who has seen herself on her strongest days where she felt on top of her game. A mother who has seen herself through her weakest moments and spent hours crying along side her crying baby. A mother who has previously promised herself, but has recently taken action to become healthier and live healthier for the sake of herself and her child.
And here in my arms, rests my dreams, my values, my future, all in this little body that keeps growing day by day. My shirt covered in spaghetti stains, my hair a mess, my feet swollen and sore from running, my legs unshaven, I think I forgot deodorant again today...and yet I'm perfectly content because I am blessed.
I have been a little stressed out this week because of the stupid little things that get you all worked up. The basement being flooded (for the 100th time), the washer being broken (after just months ago the dryer had broken), the finances wearing thin (due to a certain special someone's first birthday party), the physical pain of actually working out (from being so out of shape), and the tired eyes I meet at the end of every day from my husband (and his very stressful "seeing-computer-code-in-his-sleep" job).
But this moment is mine. Right now. Right in this very moment, none of that matters. All of the stress in the world couldn't take away the peace I have has with my sleeping babe in my arms. This very moment I will treasure forever. This moment brings tears to my eyes because I am still in awe of this beautiful little life that I am blessed to be home with every day and make laugh and watch grow. This beautiful gift from God. Every day I wish my Father-In-Law were here to see this little girl grow, but I know he is shining down on his only grandchild and giving her a different reason to smile.
Wiping the soft tears from my weary eyes, this mother stands up, ensures that she will not wake her soundly sleeping daughter, and I gently place her in a crib with a beautiful matching crib set fit for a darling baby girl. It seems only yesterday, Justin and I were finishing up our baby registry and wondering what it would feel like to be a parent. Now there she lays, in the butterfly crib set we picked and were given for a shower gift from Justin's brother, Ashley and his wife, Jenn, in the espresso crib we bought and put together, in the pajamas that were handed down to us from one of my best friends from when her daughter was much younger, and beside her security blanket/teddy bear that my aunt and uncle had bought her for Christmas.
I turn off the light and say a silent prayer and ask God to watch over my sleeping baby, as I do every night. I also ask Him to give me the motherly strength I need to make it through every day, to remember to wake up with a positive outlook every morning and remember that there are so many others who are less fortunate and living in undeserving broken and battered homes.
I am blessed.
Linking up with Alison @ Writing, Wishing and Galit @ These Little Waves for September's Memories Captured.
Saturday, September 8, 2012
Labor Day Weekend - The Short Version
Labels:
Family,
Friendly Family Update,
Precious Moments
Sorry it's taken me a week to get this post out. I've had other posts that seemed to want to flow better before this one Mainly because this is pretty much all pictures :) Plus I have a bad habit of starting 20 things at once and slowly getting around to finishing them. It's a New Years Resolution........... from 1998. I'm working on it. ;)
Well summer is unofficially over... It's bittersweet. Most of all the age appropriate kids are in school by now. It's pretty crazy how June, July and August just flew by. Justin and I still cannot fathom the thought that in just a little over a month, a year will have passed from the day that we brought a beautiful innocent life into this world. :)
*warning- a post with many pictures*
So back to last weekend, my dad and step mom, Jackie came into town. We ended up not going to Justin's aunt and uncle's cookout on Sunday because my dad wasn't feeling the greatest, but we still had fun. Annaliese enjoyed spending time with her Papou (Greek for grandpa) and Nana. :)
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| Playing nicely and standing by herself |
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| Pretty girl |
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| Waiting patiently for Papou and Nana |
Saturday morning Annaliese woke up, played, ate breakfast, and fell asleep cuddling with me, so I let her...for an hour. :) *These are the moments I will miss soon*
After I laid her down in her crib, I went for a run. 2.51 miles in 30:22. Not too shabby :)
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| Sleepin on Mommy |
Around noon we started making dinner. 2 very famous Greek dishes: Dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and Spanakopita (spinach pie). *Recipes to come at a later post*
After we got dinner started, Annaliese played with Papou.
Then Annaliese got some snuggle time in with Nana.
Then Papou and Nana took turns helping Annaliese learn to walk.
Then cuddled with Nana some more.
On Sunday, Mamaw came over for a little visit and Annaliese got to spend a little bit of time with her.
Then Monday came and the weekend was over. It was a nice visit with my dad and Jackie, as it always is, but it always seems to go by so fast and I miss them before they even leave. They have hopes of moving closer to us in the future, just have to keep praying that it will happen and when the time is right.
It's hard to believe the next time my dad and Jackie visit will be for the weekend of Annaliese's first birthday party. She will already be one year old when they see her next! They suspect that she will be walking the next time they visit. Are they right? :)
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| Dolmades |
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| Spanakopita |
 |
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| And had a crawling race |
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| I think Annaliese won ;) |
Then Annaliese got some snuggle time in with Nana.
 |
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| And discovered her eye lashes |
Then Papou and Nana took turns helping Annaliese learn to walk.
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Then cuddled with Nana some more.
There was even some cuddling going on between my brother, Alex and Sammy
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| Yeah...he's cute. |
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| Annaliese playing with her toy (and Sammy playing hide and seek) |
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| Mommy stole a picture |
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| I made some pumpkin bread! MMM! (Compliments of Pillsbury in a box) |
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| Playing with Papou before he leaves to go home |
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| Walking Papou to the door. |
It's hard to believe the next time my dad and Jackie visit will be for the weekend of Annaliese's first birthday party. She will already be one year old when they see her next! They suspect that she will be walking the next time they visit. Are they right? :)
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