Sheer Joy

This weekend was exhausting and wonderful. I had two photo shoots on Sunday so I am behind on getting all of my photos from last week organized. That will be the last time I book 2 shoots in one day until well after this baby comes - I might not be able to walk tomorrow! On Friday we took Addison to the Big Cat Habitat (a local rescue for lions, tigers and other exotic animals) on Friday night. Although she enjoyed walking through and looking at the animals, she was too young for the big show. We had to abandon ship about 15 minutes into it but we didn't mind, it was still a fun evening. Saturday we went to the beach to scout for a photo shoot I had on Sunday. It was sheer joy! Addison had the time of her life. I think she squealed with delight for an hour straight. She let the sand run through her fingers, tried to eat it, had to have her outfit changed twice because she kept running into the freezing water, and entertained everyone walking by with her absolute glee over just being there. I've heard people say how much fun it is to see things through your child's eyes but wow - they weren't kidding. It made my heart SO happy to see her have so much fun.

Stream of Conciousness

Since I didn't post a 10 for Tuesday I thought I'd let you know what's bouncing around in my head ...

1. Yesterday was a rollar coaster. Lexus picked up my car and brought me a loaner to use while they serviced mine (up). Lexus called with my estimate to replace two oxygen sensors and a vent fan (waaaay down). I got a haircut and a chocolate milkshake (up). They brought my car back and I had to hand over a huge check (down). Local news station called my office to schedule our 3rd media interview for the week (up!) I remembered that I have 3 photo shoots this weekend and I'm tired (down).

2. I have been having some wacky dreams this week. I blame pregnancy but this certainly didn't happen last time!

3. I keep buying food that I am craving, only to find that I don't want it once I try it. I currently have a box of Pop Tarts, a ton of fig newtons, and popsicles - all of which I've eaten 1 of and don't want anymore... At this moment I am eating kettle chips and I can't stop. This was a craving that apparently my taste buds like. Seriously, tell me to stop.

4. My grandmother is the biggest newswatcher in this town. It doesn't matter what channel I end up on, she calls within 5 minutes of the story airing to tell me she saw me. Cracks me up ...

5. I need to prepare a mental list of "safe" discussion topics for my road trip with Crazy Betty next weekend. You might think I'm kidding but you never know around her. I could say something as simple as "I'm tired" and before you know it, it will be out on the family wire that I am suffering from exhaustion and just can't handle the stress of having a toddler, working and being pregnant. If you are reading this and are a member of my family, you understand this.

6. My photo-a-day project has fallen and it can't get up. I took some yesterday but no other days this week. I have to keep trying though, I know I will regret it if I don't.

7. Addison is obsessed with watching a YouTube video my parents made for her. If they could start making 30 minute episodes it would make my life easier. Every 2 minutes I hear "watch Nana & Papa?" - they've trumped Elmo which is means they are VERY important

8. I finally put the kettle chips away.

9. I received a package fabulous monogrammed stuff for the new baby as a gift this week. I LOVE monogrammed baby stuff! Just talking about it makes me want to shop more.

10. This post would be better with a photo. 

May All Your Days ...

May All Your Days ... Be Circus Days!

Uncommon Husband and I love the circus. Before we had Addison we went by ourselves to 4 different Cirque Du Soliel performances, the Ringling Bros. Circus, and several performances of Circus Sarasota. I think I love it so much because going with my parents is one of my earliest memories. We were hesitant to take Addison because we thought she might be too young, especially because this particular circus tends to be more human performances rather than animals. She did great and lasted through the entire show (with a break to run around at intermission of course). I was not great with my photo-a-day this week. I either forgot or took really dumb pictures, so this week I am just posting pictures from Saturday.

After the circus Addison had a tea party with her friends and then we went to Red Elephant for dinner. What a great weekend we had! I feel so blessed that we are still able to go out to eat. I've heard so many horror stories about toddlers and restaurants but so far we've been lucky. I have no idea what it will be like to try and take 2 little ones, maybe we should double up during the next 2 months and go as much as possible while we still can!

Confessions of a Shopaholic

Several things happen to me in my last trimester of pregnancy. I clean, I go into organization overdrive, and I shop. I have made my lists of necessities I need to purchase before the baby comes but this week I have been shopping for some other more fun "needs." Someone please stop me! (or enable me, hehe)

I bought two super soft pima cotton gowns by Kissy Kissy. This brand is sooo soft and wonderful, perfect for soft, sweet little newborns.

These fabulous Tory Burch flats - I am in desparate need of flats these days. Although I'll only be pregnant for a couple more months, I will be juggling a baby carrier and a toddler so I'm thinking heels won't be practical everyday wear for me right away. Thanks to my sister in law's bargin hunting, I got these at a steal!

A bathing suit for Addison (I bought the one with the pears). Zulily was having a great sale yesterday and thanks to my sister in law, I had a $15 refferal credit making this practically free! If you're not a member, please sign up through my referral link!

Zulily had BEAUTIFUL smocked dresses and john johns on sale and I could not let this dress get away. I feel like I'm bargain shopping now knowing that I will have 2 girls to wear beautiful clothes.

I decided that since I wasn't buying a new diaper bag (boo!) I needed to find a new bag for Addison to take to school so we could use my Petunia Picklebottom bag for her little sister. I went back & forth on whether or not she "needed" one from Pottery Barn Kids but my husband actually had very good reasoning as to why I should get the slightly more expensive, cute monogrammed bag. So glad he was there to enable me!

Now I need to stop buying things like this and re-focus on the necessities.

These Boots Are Made For ???

My husband is an IT consultant and one of his clients is a high end shoe store here in town. They recently donated several boxes of merchandise to the non-profit I work for (very much appreciated). As we were coordinating pick up and delivery, I peeked in one of the boxes and this is what I found ...

Whoa! Now those are some shoes. Or something. The price tag on the box was high to put it mildly. Would you wear these sandle boots?

These were also an interesting creation - I mean who wouldn't want to adorn their tootsies with pink velvet wedge heels?

Aside from the funky shoes, there were lots of other goodies like Big Buddha bags, etc. I just thought the shoes were too funny not to share!

Photo A Day Week of 2/6

I was able to get my photos from last week uploaded after all. They seem kind of boring to me but sometimes it is what it is. I have to realize that every day can't be a work of art, especially when your main subject almost always refuses to stop being such a busy body and let me actually take a picture of something other than the side or back of her head ... I think this is the hardest age to take pictures of!

2.6.11 - I sold a bunch of stuff on ebay last week and Addison thought the boxes and packing materials were her new toys. She kept grabbing them and running away ...

2.7.11 - She discovered there was a compartment underneath the seat of her riding toy and spent quite awhile trying to fit inside.

2.9.11 - Grainy and out of focus but a photo nonetheless ...

2.10.11 - Me and my aunt at the fashion show that was held last week as a fundraiser for the non-profit I work for. I think my neck looks fat in this picture, lol

2.11.11 - Addison's best friends. Big Bird is missing because he took an accidental dip in the bath tub earlier that night and needed to dry out.

2.12.11 - showdown Addison vs. the squirrel. I could not get a good photo at the park, she was much too busy to be bothered by me and my camera.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I was supposed to post my photo-a-day pictures from last week today. I was too busy eating chocolate ice cream and watching The Bachelor to get them organized last night. maybe tonight.

2. I have Junior League this evening so maybe not tonight, probably tomorrow night. (at this rate, I'll have to post 2 weeks in a row)

3. I made the most delicious sugar cookies for my husband for Valentine's Day. The recipe is from my cousin Amanda (aka the cooking goddess). The only bad thing about these is that I love these as much as he does - danger in my kitchen this week! I don't know if it was humid the night I made them but the icing would not dry!

4. I did something a little nutty when the above mentioned icing would not dry. I did not want all of my pretty red & pink heart cookies to get messed up so I tried to store them in a way where they were not touching. This resulted in putting almost every one in it's own separate container - my countertop was covered in tupperware. I should have taken a picture, my husband thought I was being crazy but that was a lot of work - I wasn't going to ruin it!

5. I might offend someone with this but I truly am wondering - do adults like getting mylar balloons? I ordered a floral arrangement for work last week as a thank you to someone and the lady on the phone asked if I would like to add a mylar balloon? My first thought was "did you really just ask me that?" If I got a beautiful floral arrangement, the last thing I would want is a balloon attached (just in case any of you were planning on sending me flowers). However, something tells me I might be in the minority based on all of the Valentine'sballoons at Publix this week ...

6. Last week we had a big fundraising event at work. I nicknamed myself "Vice President of Table Stress" because there was printing drama with the programs and we were down to the wire getting everything set up in time. I told all of the old ladies to stop worrying because I was taking that stress and handling it - I kind of regretted that later as I was running through the ballroom trying to get everything in place.

7. I'm so glad Bachelor Brad gave Crazy Michelle her walking papers last night. She didn't even cry - what kind of Bachelorette doesn't have the "crying in the limo" scene?!? One who is dead inside ...

8.  I need to stop scheduling photo shoots. The next few weeks are going to be C-razy! (p.s. if you're reading this and we've already discussed a shoot, have no fear - you are on my radar/calendar)

9. I've invited Crazy Betty to go on a road trip with me on March 5 when I travel to meet and photograph my new nephew. It should make for good blog material. She's already invited someone else to join us (yes- in my car, on my trip, without asking me first). Luckily this person declined.

10. I really want to go to tea at The Ritz again soon. Anyone care to join me?

Hugs & Kisses!

I am going to post my photo-a-day pics tomorrow instead of the usual Monday morning. I would like to say it's in honor of Valentine's Day but the truth is, while I was loading pics last night I accidentally spilled a hug cup of ice water down my back (yes, I spilled it down my own back) which caused me to leap from the couch and go running and my husband to almost fall off of his chair laughing. The photos will have to wait until tonight, until then, Happy Valentine's Day from my little sweetheart!

This is the card we ordered from Shutterfly to send to grandparents and a few other people, isn't she a doll?!?!

Lilly Lunch!

This week is pretty insane for me - big fundraising event tomorrow, in addtion to launching a new campaign and about a million other little things to remember and juggle at work. For this reason, I am posting pictures and few words tonight. Thank goodness my fabulous friend brought her camera to the Lilly Pulitzer luncheon on Saturday, I just couldn't bring myself to carry my heavy camera but I really wanted pictures!
 

All of the girls in Lilly before we left!

Beautiful centerpieces and table settings. My friend told us to start saving our money because this is what she wants for her bridal shower - we joked about trying to nab the Lilly tableclothes for her wedding. I think she would have if there would have been the chance!

We had a delicious lunch! Rose tea, cream of artichoke soup, chicken with risotto and a sinful raspberry mousse - yummm!

They said we could take the centerpieces at the end, they might look beautiful and fun but those suckers were heavy! I gave mine to someone else on the way out - I swear that thing weighed 20 pounds because the middle of the ball was water soaked foam. As pretty as it was, it was not worth lugging home (we walked to the museum from my friend's house just around the corner and while it was a short walk, I am pregnant and not into carrying extra weight these days)

The goody bags were A-MAZING! Each one had a murfee scarf inside - talk about a happy ending to a fabulous day!

Photo-a-Day week of 1/31

1.31.11 - Meet "the guys." Addison loves lining these little bath toys up and talking to them. It's "Hi guys," "We made it guys," "Let's go guys" - very cute stuff.

2.1.11 - "Mumbling" - Addison is really into tumbling but she calls it "mumble". She tries to do it all of the time but especially on my bed. She's fearless which is a little scary to me, I fear that one of these days she's going to "mumble" right over the edge!

2.2.11 - A happy ending to a bad day. My husband is the best, he knows how much I love hydrangeas.

2.4.11 - A certain little person does not like getting out of the bath. So much that my husband drained out all of the water and she still laid down so he could not pick her up (or so she thought)

2.5.11 - Lilly Pulizter luncheon! Not the best pic of me but I don't have the other better pictures my friend took yet. What a fun way to spend a Saturday with friends! More on this later ... Lilly deserves her own special post :)

Attack of the mommy blog!

First of all, thanks for all of the comments on Wednesday about birthday party ideas and opinions. I love the idea of keeping it simple with family for the first few years and then limiting it to a set number based on age for awhile. Toddler parties, while fun and SUPER cute, can be a bit over the top and this is not the year for me to try and outdo myself - a 2 year old and a 2 month old will be enough that week!

I realize this blog has become more a journal of my day to day activities/a mommy blog, and less of what it started as but I like it. Ultimately, I'm blogging for me anyway right? So on that note, a "mommy" blog bit:

Today Kelly's Korner is hosting "Show us your life - toddler food" and I decided I'd share a few of Addison's favs for all of the mommies who read this. I am always trying to find new ideas, especially things that are healthy and easy. I'm excited to look at all of the other related posts and get some new variety for my little one.

One of Addison's favorite snacks is frozen yogurt pops. Our favorite babysitter showed me this yummy snack when she was about 10 months old and I had forgotten about it until I saw these in the store the other day. It's organic squeezable yogurt that you can just stick in the freezer to make it a delicious treat. Once it's frozen, cut it in half and serve - it honestly tastes just like strawberry ice cream but is much healthier. Sure beats those icky squeeze popsicles full of artificial flavors and dye!




Another great find (thanks Lauren!) are Amy's Organic products. These are in the frozen foods section and Addison LOVES the macaroni. It's low sodium, organic, and quite delicious (I like it too). She also likes the spinach pockets in that brand which is a miracle because she will not really eat green vegetables. These are also handy because 95% of her diet is fresh foods and although I'm committed to feeding her as well as I can, sometimes it's nice to have these goodies in the freezer for guilt-free convenience. The rest of her meals consist of pretty standard toddler food - cut fruit, cheese, turkey roll-ups, etc. Lately she loves feeding herself so applesauce and yogurt are her favs. She has mastered the spoon but the fork still presents challenges. If you have ideas (especially regarding veggies), please share in the comments! I love new ideas.

And on a different note, I'm going to a Lilly Pulitzer fashion show luncheon tomorrow - it's going to be fabulous! I have a new dress I bought on sale in the Fall (from last year's Spring/Summer collection) but it's probably going to fit oddly with my baby bump. Luckily I have a friend with a closet full of Lilly that I can borrow from!

Also, there is a new look coming to my blog and I can't wait! I'm not exactly sure when it'll be up but it will be soon ... stay tuned!

Sometimes I Eat Dirt

I have a confession to make. Sometimes I eat dirt (metaphorically speaking of course). Two weeks ago at church, the sermon was titled "Walk on earth, but don't eat the dirt." It was such a great topic that was all about how we live our lives on this earth but we need to remember not to buy into the negative thinking and lack of faith that plagues most of the people around us. I have really been thinking about this a lot lately, even before I heard this I had written a post that I never published about not letting other's negative thinking affect my life and my expectations. People are very willing to share their horror stories - how bad their pregnancy/delivery was, how they barely survived having two young children close together, how a dream might be unrealistic, why things won't work. I think it sucks.

Why don't people build each other up and encourage? Expect the best of their lives, their dreams? It's because they are eating the dirt. I admit, I eat dirt sometimes to, probably more often than I'd like to admit. Sometimes I get mad at my husband because I'll be trying to explain why I'm being "realistic" and worrying about something and his faith in the best case scenario seems to be unlimited. It frustrates me that I can't always have that kind of faith. The good thing is that most of the time we are both abstaining from "dirt eating" - expecting much more than is realistic or average to expect. There have been times when we've asked each other, "we seem to be generally happier than a lot of people, why do you think that is?" I think it's because we reject negative thinking and move in the direction of our dreams. We trust God, think positive, and try to focus on the (many) blessings we have been given. Sometimes I forget and eat dirt though ... after all, I'm only human. Have you been eating dirt lately?

To party or not to party ...

First of all, I need to be real. I'm in a bad mood today. Like BAD. I think it's because my little one was coughing a lot last night so I didn't sleep well because I was worrying about her. That, combined with the fact that I am almost 7 months pregnant which means I have very little control over my emotions at times = bad mood. The good news is that a co-worker is on her way to my office with fries and a chocolate shake (healthy lunch, I know) and I'm hoping it contains a magical cure for the grumps.

Now that I've addressed my mood, I have a question for you. I know you are out there, silent as you may be. Please come out of hiding and leave me some advice - did I mention I need a little love today? To party or not to party, that is the question...

My little one turns 2 in July. I realize that it's over 5 months away but the Type A planner who's about to have a baby needs a plan. Should we have a party? We had family parties for her 1st and it was perfect. We celebrated with the people who love her most, didn't spend a ton of money, and created happy memories without worrying about nap times or meltdowns. We've been thinking all along we'd do a party for her second birthday but now we're not so sure. Since it's mid-July it will be HOT so we need either an indoor venue or water. We can't do our house due to space (and who wants to house full of 2 year olds - something's bound to get broken!) and I think she's too little for a party at one of those gym/bounce house places. There are a couple of alternatives (Children's Museum, etc) but we'd end up spending a lot with rental fees and food. Is it worth it? Or should we do something at the park and just make the adults just sweat? The beach? Just do a family celebration again?

I love party planning but part of the problem is that I have high expectations. I want everything fancy or coordinated (this is why I need a plan early). Do you think she's too young for a tea party at The Ritz? (I kid!! for now at least, give me 5 years and we're so there)