The House of the Sick and Tired

Sick...that is what my entire household is. Yesterday I woke up with a sore throat that wouldn't stop which turned into achiness today. Yesterday Lily came home with MORE FREAKING EAR DRAINAGE! And this morning Michael said he was feeling a little off with some ear pain as well. This is great news considering we are leaving for PA in exactly 48hrs and will be stuck in the car for 8hrs. This is wonderful considering we are going to Sesame Place on Friday to ride kiddy rides and meet Elmo. Even better that we are both in the wedding and need to be presentable. Why does God hate me so?

So I have a "I have had enough" appointment with the ENT next Thursday to discuss options. Michael is calling and trying to get an antibiotic script to prevent any ER visits in PA and I am trying to make lists upon lists of things to do pre-trip. Like buy sunscreen, paint my nails, etc.

I am over it today!

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Mother's Day Reflecting

While getting my super relaxing massage I was reminiscing about the past year and all the great memories I have devoured over Lily's first eleven months. I decided to reflect a little and share what have been my most cherished memories thus far.

1. Holding Lily for the first time. I remember getting her and thinking "wow she is heavier than I thought" She still had the eye treatment on so she didn't look at me but I could tell she knew who I was and she was so calm and peaceful. Very powerful memory that feels just like it happened yesterday. I remember looking at Michael and watching him tear up at our meeting.

2. Her taking her first steps. This was an awesome feeling. And it really did only happen a week or so ago. Michael was standing in the doorway of our living room watching us and she was against the couch standing and just let go and took a few steps towards me. I cried I was so happy! We were both there and so proud. It doesn't get any better.

3. First Christmas. I set her down in Grandma's living room and she saw the Pooh train and immediately started crawling for it! Excited! And how can we forget her extreme interest in wrapping paper and not most of the toys we got her. To top it off this was the Christmas of Mommy's first Coach bag. Or at least first real one :) O remember feeling the true spirit of Christmas again and realizing it was okay that it was going to be about her from now on. That is an extreme feeling for an only child (hey I am just being honest!)

4. Rolling over for the first time. It was just me. Michael was at Mike's Bachelor Party so this memory is bittersweet. But it was in her nursery and she just kicked right over. Got that one on Video! So Daddy did get to see it at least. But that is when I realized she wasn't going to be small forever. It just hit me out of nowhere.

5. First smile. Aaahh Maternity leave when Lily and I would chill in the bed until at least nine thirty...snoozing and playing. She was sitting on my lap and just started smiling at my singing. She was about eight weeks. I felt like the smile was just for me. I worked hard for that smile with many lullabies. It felt like she was saying I love you for the first time.

6. First Laugh. Well it was more of a silent laugh. It was for the blanket Brooke and Scott got her. She still loves that thing. She loved the way it felt and she opened her mouth and squirmed with giggles...but no sound of course. It was adorable! I can still watch that video over and over and it makes me so happy.

I guess this is a list of a lot of firsts. But it has been the year of firsts I guess! Pretty soon it will be a first birthday which I am sure will make this list next Mother's Day.

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First Mother's Day

I realized this will actually be Michael's SECOND Father's day but my First Mother's Day. Michael did a good job booked me a spa appointment for Saturday afternoon. Boys take note: the gift part is booking it and making us go. If you get us the gift certificate we will forget and never go! I got a facial, massage, eyebrow wax, and a hair wash/blowdry. He then took me to Mellow Mushroom for pizza and beer on the deck. It was nice outside even when the storm rolled through. Thank you hostess for sitting us under the porch! Although the tin roof + rain = scared baby.

On Sunday I woke up to a late breakfast and Mother's Day cards. Lily was of course clutching her card with excitement. Like she knows it is for me and can't wait to give it to me! My goal of Sunday was to lay on the couch and watch chick flicks all day and do absolutely nothing. Well I didn't get to do that all day but it was still a great Mother's Day. I did clean a little! But I don't think I changed one diaper..SCORE! We went and saw our neighbor play soccer and took Lily to the adjoining park to swing. Then we came home and had Shrimp Kabobs with our friends Morgan and Hunter. By the Way Hunter graduated from Campbell law school last week. Yay Hunter!

Side stories that did not involve me but were funny. Apparently Lily woke up at 7:30 on Sunday and Michael wanted to take her to the grocery store real quick and get breakfast stuff. I had requested pancakes for the special occasion since I haven't had a pancake since the beginning of this diet. He gets home and realizes he has no milk and this is an essential ingredient to pancakes so he heads back out to the grocery store. Lily is still in her PJs by the way. When they woke me up for breakfast I was like "she looks greasy and sweaty." Apparently they had a rough morning making breakfast! haha! Even funnier we had to go back to the grocery store to go regular shopping so he went three times on Sunday!

Side story that can let you laugh at my expense. So I got the facial on Saturday. I love facials. They usually tell me my skin is in good shape, maybe a little more moisturizer but good. Well this time not so much. I am officially old. I need to 1. Start using a night cream 2. Start using something with Vitamin C in it to eliminate fine lines and wrinkles!!! 3. Have sun damage along my left cheek 4. Have dehydrated skin 5. Need to use a glycolic/salyic (sp?) acid treatment to help with my blackheads. Wow I suck. Who has time for that! I am lucky if I remember to wash my face before I pass out from Mommy meltdown. Dude seriously? I should have slapped her. She may as well of said "happy mother's day old lady!" Note to spa people: LIE TO ME!

All in all a good weekend. My spa stuff was awesome and super relaxing. Great gift. It was nice to just chill on the deck last night and have a few beers. Mmm beer. Oh and add to the the sun damage currently accumulating on the left cheek.

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11 Months Old

Today Lily is 11 months old. Today is also Mother's Day! We went to the park and played on the swing after my neighbors soccer game. She was adorable! Got a little sunburned though. Note to self. Buy baby sunscreen.


New Accomplishments to date:

1. Walking!

2. Sippy cup heaven. Now if Mommy can eliminate that morning bottle that she holds onto so dearly we will be set.

3. Starting to fuss when she doesn't get something she "wants" to eat. Last week wouldn't eat green beans, don't know why but wouldn't.

4. Starting to fuss when she doesn't get something she "wants" in general. Yesterday starting rolling onto stomach and laying head on floor to kick. Nice.

5. Still getting way too many ear infections.

6. Wearing 18 months clothes (weighs about 22 lbs. last check)

7. Transitioning onto milk. Started half and half this week with one cup a day. Still gets one diluted juice per day.

8. Somewhat more vocal. Mama (sometime Nana), Dada, Daddy, Bad Dog, Cesna (dena), No No No, stop. I think it should be noted that three of her words are negative. What does that say about me as a mother (Bad Dog, No, Stop)

9. Hair is finally long enough for cute pigtails..hehe. Although color is still debatable. Red, blonde, light brown...who knows. It is three shades in one.

10. Still Michael Jr. Whether that is an accomplishment is debatable.

11. Gives kissies and hugs and high fives! Can sometimes point out your "nose"

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Who Doesn't like a Good Party?!

This was the weekend of Birthdays. On Saturday we went to my niece Morgan's First Birthday. Yay! I have to admit it is kind of sad. I swear I saw her last weekend and she was taking a few steps here and there but she was still a little baby. THEN this weekend I go to her party and she is walking clear across the room and isn't a baby anymore. She has lost that baby look and now looks like a little girl. Awww. I don't want my girls to grow up.

We had a good time at the party. Lily was really good. No melt downs and she had a total of about an hour of sleep between 7:30 and 4:30. Morgan was so good for her first birthday. She wasn't to interested in the cake or the presents but she much like Lily didn't sleep either so I guess we were lucky they didn't just scream the whole time. Morgan just stuck delicate fingers in the cake and licked some icing. Very Ladylike. No smashing. Her birthday shirt came out with not a spot on it. I am not even sure how that happened.

Lily enjoying Morgan's Birthday present with Renee

On Sunday I headed back to Raleigh while Michael stayed in Charlotte to go to the Wachovia Golf Tournament with his Dad. I needed to get back to make it to Jaxon's birthday party. Well it was an interesting car ride to say the least. Funny and frustrating all in the same trip.

I will start with the funny:
So Lily much like her Momma is a car sleeper. She was sound asleep for the first two hours of the trip. I don't normally have her traveling for long distances in the car alone. Not only did I have her but I had the three dogs in the far back as well. Because I am not alone I have not had the unique problem of going to the bathroom while traveling with her alone. Michael has told me he has done it so I figure...hey if he can do it surely supermom can do it. So I had to wake her from her peaceful slumber before my bladder imploded from the Diet Dr Pepper binge I had on the first leg of the trip.

Well let me tell you being a man has its benefits. Like peeing while standing. Just imagine holding a 22lb baby, "hovering", trying not to pee on yourself, the floor, or the baby and trying to not let her pull the toilet paper off the roll, touch the floor or flail out of your arms! Not easy. How I did it I am not sure. All I know that the toilet seat did not make it out unscathed. But we survived. I did get many pitiful looks from the women in the rest area though.

Mission accomplished. We head back to the car and as I am putting her in the seat she does not seem happy. I am not sure what gave it away...the dirty look or the shrilling screams of being placed back in her seat. But she spotted the dogs in the back and that cheered her up....for a few minutes.

At this point we are in Burlington so a little over an hour from my house. She is SCREAMING! this goes on for thirty minutes and I finally pull over when I can't take it anymore. Then I felt really guilty for not stopping sooner because she apparently bit her lip in her tantrum and it was bleeding a little. What a horrible mother I am! I felt so bad. So I pulled her out and just rocked her and held her for a minute. She had the crying hiccups and just laid her head on my chest and kinda whimpered. It was so pitiful. I felt awful. But I had to get home so I put her back. She wasn't in tantrum mode but continued to whine the last thirty minutes of the trip.

We FINALLY made it home and I made her a quick lunch and we headed to the park to go to Jaxon's birthday party. It was in a shelter right next to a playground so Lily was happy to have a swing and that entertained her. The Bakers were there so I got to play with Aubrey and blow bubbles with the girls. Lily seemed indifferent but Aubrey chased them and laughed. We only hung out about 1.5 hours. Lily still hadn't slept so we headed home after the cake. By the way Jaxon smashed his. Good Job Jaxon. He was so cute and getting big running around much like Morgan. Hopefully or not so hopefully that will be Lily on her birthday.

She did fall asleep on the way home and stayed that way for awhile so I got some house stuff done before Michael got home that night. But she was bathed and sleeping before he even made it back into town. Thank goodness!

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