The Bug

Hold on. Give me a second to listen to this silence. *sigh* I just have to soak that in. Breeeeathe in the peace and quiet and allow it to become a part of me. Ooooooooooooom.

Now, why did I need to do that? Three words: Ava, stomach, and virus. Yeah. She got it. You know, I've gotten pretty good at blowing bubbles. I wonder if I could blow one big enough for Ava to live in. She would be just like a little hamster, running around in her ball protected from everything. I don't know where she got The Bug from. But it was almost a week ago and we are just starting to get over it. Yes, I said we. You mommas know, when baby is sick, Momma is sick. Let's recap! Okay!

So, last Tuesday, Adrian and I were on our way to a play date. We were already frustrated because we got lost. Much like us, my sweet baby was just not happy. I don't blame her. But not 30 seconds after I turned around to her in the back seat and gave her a very stern "Ava, that is enough" -- it started. My poor pumpkin's virus introduced itself into our lives. And it went on, and on, and on. From Tuesday to Saturday. And although her body is doing better, she is just not herself. I miss my sweet Sassy. So, now she is sleeping. But we spent the morning screaming (I screamed in my head only...don't worry). Poor thing even screamed as she ate her waffle. It is absolutely pitiful.

On the plus side, and through the tears, Ava now says, "Apple," "sticker," "ouchie," and "poopoo." Yes, friends, The Bug taught us many things.

So I say while a shake my head and smile, while we were uh, "cleaning up", my mom was cruising in her new BMW and my in-laws were in Italy. How is that for pay back? : )

Oh well....through it all we continue to be so blessed.

Thanks for reading and allowing me to wallow in my self pity.

Playing Catch-up

Suddenly I have Neil Diamond's voice in my head..."Hello, My Friend, Hellooooooo." Keith will be so excited! He is secretly his #1 fan. Not so much a secret anymore. Sorry, Honey. But all that to say, "Hello, again!" This message is being brought to you from my warm bed. I am snuggled in nice and cozy. It's rainy, it's cold, it's gloomy and dark (even though the sun is technically up). It's also garbage pick-up morning, which means I am constantly looking at the baby monitor screen waiting for the noise to disrupt my sleeping angel's sweet dreams. So far, so good.

So let's just give an overall update. Let's see...

Last week, I took Ava to the Children's Museum (why do I always have to spell check that word!?!) Our dear friends Adrian and Jenna joined us and I am SO glad they did. I lost my mind in that place and wouldn't have had them to help me find it! It was an absolute mad house. It didn't help that the event was free. Nor did it help that my little Sassy is so, shall we say, adventurous. If you put her down, she is off. She is an explorer. She is a natural born little Miss Independent. And when there are hundreds of other screaming children and their parents (sometimes screaming, too), it is hard to keep up! I got a work out. But as always, after it's all said and done, these experiences are so worth it. After all, when Ava gets out and does these things it wears her out! (translation in Em-glish: Sassy takes a long nap. Mommy gets an afternoon of peace). We missed Daddy and wished he could have joined us.

How about an update on Daddy? He deserves the spot light! He has just been working so hard for us. I tell you, when he comes home, Ava squeals like a little piggy and just charges at him. That is the best! She loves her Daddy so much. When I am finishing cooking dinner, the two of them cuddle and watch "Max and Ruby" together on Noggin. He is such a good Daddy. And a devoted Wii-er nonetheless! This guy is on something like day #71 on the Wii Fit. He has only taken a handful days off on that thing. I am on day....well let's just say my little "Mii" is sleeping when you pull up the main menu (which I do get a little offended by since I am in the treadmill when Keith is on the Wii. Why doesn't my Mii know that?!) Anyway, go Wii-Fitty Keith! There....if Keith ever becomes a rap star, that'll be his name. "Wii-Fitty."

So, I sent in Ava's picture into Regis and Kelly for the beautiful baby search. Would you know that they didn't choose my baby as a finalist? What?!?!? Yeah. I'm okay. Each day gets better and better and I continue to get stronger.That's why I am really in bed. I am depressed. Kidding! But I am watching waiting for them to flash her picture on the screen among the 300,000 others that were sent in. Next year, friends. It's ours! Confession. I did actually answer most of the "unavailable" or solicitor-ish phone calls just in case it was my friend Regis telling me that she had been chosen. I had a few less Sonic Happy Hour trips just in case they called while I was gone. I had all of my outfits planned out for NY. Bummer. Bubble busted.

Speaking of NY. You may have noticed that I have had a timeline counting us all down to my debut on The Price is Right. That trip for now, has been unfortunately postponed. Date to be determined. You know, honest truth, we have had to do a lot of prioritizing around here. And yes (*grumble*grumble*) my Butterfly Boogie has not been effected by this act of prioritizing. It's still on. But anyway, I digress. A dear dear friend of mine is getting married in October in New York City. So, bet your bottom dollar we are planning on going. Sooooooo, LA will have to wait. Please please please pray that California is still there later on down the road. And although I do prefer my Bob Barker, please please please pray that Drew and The Price is Right are still on the air. So hopefully we will be able to stay in NY for a few extra days and enjoy our time in the city. We were there for our first anniversary (*clearing throat and coughing* When I sang at Carnegie Hall with my college choir....*cough* featured as a soloist *cough* cough*...phew! excuse me!). So, I am pretty pumped about going again. And Keith, boy is he excited! I told him we could drive up to visit our friends at Orange County Choppers. We met Mikey when we went last time and saw Paul and Paul Jr. driving away (with a camera man in the front seat). Yeah, we were such groupies. But now they have a huge new shop/factory that you can walk through and watch the bikes get fabricated. So, he's all about going.

Well, my little turkey is starting to move around so I am anticipating that she might be ready to take on the day pretty soon. I mean, it's 9:30am! Something about the rain...I need to get a rain CD for her room and get her off of that lullaby music! The CD is starting to do funky things from going so much. But, then again, I suppose I do the same thing.

Enjoy the pictures!

Thanks for reading.

Ava LOVES to read! Here she was telling Daddy all about Moses.

She was actually quite comfortable apparently.

Ava and Jenna taking a refreshment break at the Children's Museum.

The Children's Museum is on the Texas State Fair grounds. I've actually been on that thing twice.

There must have been something good down there.

Partners in crime.

This afternoon I took Ava to the Galleria to play. She's started to say "Whoa" a lot. Sure enough, as soon as she grunted her way up onto this zebra, she was saying "Whoa!"

This is a fine example of Ava's signature response to "Ava, smile for the camera!" She always closes her eyes. I guess she anticipates the flash. Silly girl!

Although it's blurry, Ava is signing "All done." So, at that point I had to do as my boss told me and was all done taking pictures.

Is it Friday yet?

Life in the Woods has been a little, well, uh, overcome with weeds shall we say. But we are mowin'. We are mowin' our little troubles away! When I say troubles -- plural, I really mean trouble -- singular. The culprit? It starts with the letter "C" and ends with an "roup." Last week, Ava had a run in with the icky croup bug. And although she is still hacking away, we have almost sent it on its way. I knew the time would come when my perfect Sassy would get really sick, but come on...why mess with the breathing, too? There were some rough nights that I snuggled up next to my little snotty nosed baby girl in our guest room just so I could make sure she was breathing. She was working at it so hard. But I did find out some valuable information during my nights with my little roommate. This girl doesn't stay still! I woke up with her nose practically in my mouth, then her entire body was curled up on her pillow, then she was on her back laying on my belly, and then by the time Pak Pak our next door neighbor/donut shop owner started to turn on his lights around 4:00am, I had a foot jammed up into my chin. But I loved every second! Really!

So, after a weekend spent indoors (I am so sorry Granna and Granddaddy!) a brief sabbatical from Sunday School, 3 cancelled playdates, 2 no shows to story time, 5 rounds on the Vicks vaborizor, 1 trip to the doctor, 1 complete body rash, and 3 days of taking 4+ hours of nap (Ava, not me...)..I think we are just about done. Ava doesn't let me forget though. Every single time she coughs she pats her chest and says "Goh Cof?" in the most pathetically sweet voice ever. She's milkin' it folks and I tell you what -- She can have anything she wants right now.

So right before all of this started, I once again got antsy with our paint color in our living room. No big deal right? Well, in our house (and I once liked this, but I don't think I do anymore), when you walk into the front door you can basically see the back door. It is one long straight line. So, when you change one paint color, you have to change the entire foyer, the accent wall in the kitchen, and then our living room. So once you're committed, you're really committed. Our paint before was supposed to be this beautiful shade of beigey gold..."Pebbled Path" was the name. Has a nice ring to it huh, huh? Well, you know you are in trouble when you paint one giant wall and you think to yourself one of two things. 1) "Hm...maybe it'll look better when it's dry." How many of you have thought that one? or, 2) "Wow...maybe when I waste 4 more days and paint the entire room, it'll look better because I'll get the full effect." Yeah. Here's a tip: If you have a thought like 1 or 2 or anything that relates to it in any way, stop. Put your brush down. Go back to Home Depot. So, 1 and 2 went through my mind multiple times, but the end product was still a house filled with way too much sunshine. I am not a sunshiney person. I like dark, and warm, and inviting colors. Not a house full of yellow. It wasn't really "Pebbled Path"....it was more like "Yellow Brick Road."

So before all of the croup chaos, I painted. I painted like no one has ever painted before. This month's choice? mmmm...."Smokey Blue" accented with "Shale Grey." Kinda sounds depressing doesn't it....ooo but, no, it's really nice! This time I was thinking things like "Oh! I can't wait to finish all of this because it looks so AWEsome!" and "Wow! This makes all of my whites POP instead of making them look dirty like Yellow Brick Road did, and "Why didn't my husband tell me he hated the yellow as much as I did?" You know, things like that. Well, now all that's left is the trim in the foyer. Now that my color is so different, we get to redo the rest of our decor. YES!

I have also begun my very first annual Spring Cleaning. Today was day #2. I mentioned to Keith that I needed to come up with a realistic schedule. So I have decided to take on one room a day starting at the front of the house. Yesterday was the piano room/office. We aren't just talking wiping things down, friends. We are talking EVERYTHING. No inch shall go untouched, no drawer shall remain unorganized, (cue patriotic music) no piece of trash shall go unnoticed. Today was the laundry room. The laundry room, you say? Have you ever looked inside the crevices in your washing machine? Go on...I'll give you a second. I am taking the weekend off so the piano room/office and the laundry room can get trashed again, then Monday I start all over. You see? Who says stay at home mommies have nothing to do during nap times?

Well, I'm beat. It has been a week. But life is good. Enjoy the pics and thanks for reading.

Wouldn't YOU give her a pony?

Feelin' better today!

I just pray that if she goes to Baylor, she gets a full ride.

I am deeply ashamed of my mess. Why is it that when we a)paint or b)get ready to spring clean, our house gets really really messy?

Here's the "Smokey Blue." ...in our animal-filled farm house, apparently.

Adventures of a SAHM...

Once upon a time my refrigerator had nothing on it. I mean on the side I had photos, birth announcements from friends, important phone numbers, etc. etc. but I rarely had anything on the front. That was by choice. My fridge just looked cleaner that way (you like how I said "my" fridge...I suppose I can let Keith have some of it, too.) But now....now my friends, I have added a beautiful Monet-quality finger painting and a monthly calendar that has something marked on it pretty much everyday of the week. I have gone from being a stay-at home-what-am-I-going-to-do-today-while-keeping-my-sanity kind of mom (for ease let's abbreviate that SAHWAIGTDTWKMSM) to an SPMOTYBIHTKACOMFTKMS -- Oh! That would stand for a Self-proclaimed-mom-of-the-year-because-I-have-to-keep-a-calendar-on-my-fridge-to-keep-my-sanity...Mom. I tell ya...I am in a new league! I have joined a moms group here in town and there is stuff going on multiple times a week, I have my MOPS group at my church and I am excitedly jumping onto the leadership team for that, Ava and I go to story time every Thursday, the Galleria play area on most Fridays...you guys, I knew I couldn't sit still for long. This is what happens when you go to school straight from Kindergarten through a Masters, jump into a full-time job, and uuuuuurk (those are breaks...) you are at home full-time. I-Love-it (I am all about hyphens today...it makes it dramatic though, doesn't it?).

Today Ava and I went to a Pre-Valentine's Day playdate. Oh, my precious baby. She is just the sweetest thing ever. Who needs toys when you have stairs, dogs, tape, Tupperware, or chocolate. Through Ava's eyes, this house had it all! Ava must have a smell for Tupperware 'cause she found the cabinet within minutes. It was quite amazing to say the least.

This morning, I got up way before Ava did so that I could get everything ready for the playdate we were attending. I was trying to be SuperMom by making her breakfast so it would be on her tray waiting for her when she got up. I had the baby monitor on in the kitchen so I could hear her when she woke up. So I was quietly cooking and all of the sudden I dropped a spoon on the floor. My heart was pounding! I closed my eyes and clenched my fists in anticipation for the screaming that was about to come flying from the monitor speaker. But no. I heard the softest, sweetest, most sleepiest "uh ohhhhhh." After I wiped my melted heart up off the floor I went into her room and smothered her in smooches.

I know, I am ridiculous. Enjoy the pics!

Ava and Corbin...sorta looks like they're on a date, doesn't it? Don't tell Daddy.

"Um Corbin....you said it was just going to be the two of us...."

I think this was after she stole someone else's cookie. Can't you see the guilt?

My clean fridge.

Thanks for reading.

Too many shoes, too little time.

I know. Can you believe it? Two days in a row! I have to confess that I find myself sitting here in front of my computer for a few reasons: #1) As you may remember me mentioning, we recieved a Nintendo Wii (and Wii Fit) from Keith's very very generous brother for Christmas. And as you may remember, Keith just had a birthday. So, my newly 32-year old husband is playing his brand new car racing game on the Wii. I love watching him concentrate. He's very serious. : ) So I sit here beside him in the "passenger seat" while he drives in our living room. #2) I just ran. Lordy, am I beat. I did some research on preparing for one's first 5k and I learned that while training I shouldn't shoot for a certain distance, but for a certain time. So that was a big adjustment for me. I ended up running an extra mile without knowing it because I had a towel draped over the screen on the treadmill. I don't write about my running endevours to impress you. Trust me. I'm dying. #3) Maestro has never ever been a real cuddle-bug. But lately, as soon as I sit down, he is by my side as close as he can get. He just curls up into a little ball (after I tell him 17 times to stop licking me). I love it. So, why not make the most of my time right now?

Today was a fun day. There is a brand newish library in Rockwall that just started story time for Ava's age group today. I have been so excited about this! As I said yesterday, Ava loves to read and loves to play so I was looking forward to story time and playtime afterward. Adrian and I took the girls together. I tell you, those girls are good buds. Ava chose to really enjoy her breakfast this morning and took a bite every 5 minutes or so. So I ran around like my pants were on fire trying to get ready, while she leisurely enjoyed her morning coffee and newspaper. Little monkey has no idea what it takes! Anyway, we made it on time to the library. There were about 8 or so other kids and their mommies. All the tots are supposed be between 12 and 24 months so it was a good mix. The girls sang, and danced, and listened to 2 stories....well 1 really. By story #2 most of the kids were checkin' out. But the leader of the story time expressed that she didn't at all expect them to stay quiet and still, so it took the pressure off of us all, I'm sure. Ava was really timid at first. She sorta stood in the doorway wondering if I was going to leave her or not. She eventually sat down in my lap. By the 3rd song, she started to dance and then everyone got to meet my Ava. Would you know it? Little Sassy was the one who wanted to pet (and take) the bunny puppet that was on the leaders little hand. "Buh? Buh?" She kept saying. And then when the nice young lady put the first book down, my little Ava was the one who wanted it as her prized possession. Then she danced. Ohhhh...that's my girl. Always making an impression. We had a blast...thanks Adrian! Can't wait until next Thursday!

I also joined a local mommies group today. Adrian and I were very kindly recruited at the library today by the mom who started it up. I am excited! Stay tuned!

We have been spoiled the last few days. Keith has stayed home to work because we have been iced in. Well, today he had to go in for a full day. Bummer. But when he got home he was eagerly greeted with the squealing apple of his eye. She always offers him something different when he comes home. Sort of a welcome home gift. Yesterday, it was a syrup bottle from her grocery cart. Today it was a shoe. His shoe. But he accepted it graciously as he always does. Little by little, she gathered every shoe she could get her hands on. And we learned to not help her...ohhhhh no! She's gotta do it or you'll pay. *sigh* Sign of wonderful things to come.

Thanks for reading.

Just Some Over-Due Rambling

Phew! So I guess I can always gauge how busy life is by the amount of time that passes in between blog entries. Keith can tell what kind of day I have had when we gets home and my coffee is in one of three places: still in the coffee pot, cold in a mug on the counter, or sitting in the microwave where it had been forgotten after it's 9th 45-second warm up cycle. I have to admit, I have been playing a lot with my little buddy and when she is taking her nap, I have been taking that time to get my run in. So, I haven't managed to find a balance that will allow me to get a lot of blogging time in. Ava is getting extremely active which I absolutely love. She is and has always been satisfied with playing in the house all day. Now that we don't have a morning nap anymore to break up the morning before lunch, I do try to get her out of the house every once in a while (otherwise Mommy can get a little tired). Every other Wednesday we do have MOPS at church. So we both look forward to that (I say "we", but Ava is the one that doesn't get to eat the awesome smorgasbord of MOPS breakfast goodness...so I can probably say that I look forward to those Wednesdays a little more than she does.) This week, story time starts on Thursdays at the library. I am really excited to bring her to that. My little bookworm loves to read. While I am cooking or cleaning in the kitchen, I often peak into the living room to see what trouble she is getting into. Silence is never a good thing (actually, Ava isn't very good at being sneaky...when she's getting into something, that something is usually accompanied by some sort of rip, bang, thump, pop, click, ouch, you name it.) Anyway, I will often find her quietly sitting in a pile of books, flipping the pages of her favorite pick of the moment. It's really cute. For a while she didn't care if the book was right side up or upside down. Now, she'll flip it so it's right. She's gotta read it, you know.

Fridays are my favorite. Fridays are our Galleria day. Some of my most cherished memories that I spent with my mom are a part of our shopping trips. It started with grade school clothes shopping trips and went all the way to just recently shopping for my graduate voice recital gown...oh, the memories. We would get up early in the morning, go to Willowbrook Mall, eat lunch, and shop till we dropped. Now, every Friday I take my little lady to the Galleria. She gets to play on their playground, I get to watch her play, and then we get lunch and eat together at the Mall. It is such precious time that I hope, as she grows older, she will love and cherish it as much as I do. I love hanging out with her. *Just a little sidenote -- Ava has now taken a liking to calling me. All of the sudden she has decided to practice melting my heart all over again. Multiple times throughout the day I will hear out of the blue "Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum, Mum." Oh, it's music to my ears. She can have anything she wants when she says that.

Well this last week we celebrated a birthday. Yes, Keith turned 32. He swears that he is 20 on the inside because the Wii Fit said so. And you know the Wii knows it's stuff. We spent his birthday in our quiet, calm, house (well, it turned that way around 7:30 when Sassy went to bed). There is a delicious new Italian restaurant in town, so I brought that home. It was nice to just kick back and relax in honor of his special day.

Keith's parents came into town this last weekend. I don't know what it is, maybe I am really really starting to get homesick, but it is getting harder and harder for me to let family go when they come to visit. We all just have such a good time. Thanks for coming Granna and Granddaddy -- thanks for spoiling our little girl (in doing that, you spoil us.) We love you!

I guess I am not feeling very witty tonight. Sorry if this is missing the entertainment factor. Here are a few pics to make up for it!

When I was little, I remember that I would love to run errands with my parents. I liked going with my Mom because she would always be out looking for something fun to buy. I liked going out with my Dad because we would always stop at a gas station and get a huge Diet Coke fountain drink. But I do remember going with my Dad to Lowes or Home Depot and I would sit on the tractors that were always out front. Here's our little Johanna Deer.

On Friday night Ava got to stay home and play with Granna and Granddaddy while Keith and I went on a date. I see they had lots of fun while we were gone. Keith and I went to the Studio Movie Grill in Plano and saw "Slumdog Millionaire." We even got to get some coffee afterwards! I laughed because while we were in the car I started to tell Keith what I wanted so he could go in and get it for me. It was at that point I realized I could actually get out of the car with him because we didn't have Ava in the backseat. Oh my, have times changed...

Finally...an updated picture of just the two of us. I sure do love him.

Thanks for reading my rambling.

Emily

Counting the Days

Okay! I must highlight 2 brand-new additions to my blog (see tickers to the right.) MAJ-OR events happenin'! And now, ladies and gentlemen, you are clued into my happenings! I know....yesssssssss!

Okay (deep breath)! Who gets giddy about running???? (*crickets chirping*) Is this mic on? Okay, well, pretend for a second so that you can feel my excitement. I mentioned previously about a rather (uh-hum) large purchase Keith and I made for our Christmas gift this past Christmas. Well, I'll have you know, my feet have been on that treadmill raisin' my pulse at least 4 times a week. And when I wasn't on that, I was doing strength training on our Wii Fit. Why am I torturing myself? Well, I have plans up my sleeve and a new "me" to achieve (haha, you like that? I just came up with it.) Now, it has not been without a major fight. And, I will be the first to tell you that I have yelled out the word "stupid" at my Wii Fit trainer a-many a-times. But for some reason, I feel like I need to prove it to myself that I can do this run. And I am looking at this 5k as a warm-up for longer runs to come (are you gettin' ready Momma?!). And I am way excited! And I just have to add, sidenote: The treadmill has literally become Ava's bowling alley. It's hysterical. She has a plastic bowling ball and pins -- earlier today, I put the treadmill at an incline so she could roll the ball down to knock down the pins. Each time, she would roll it down, knock down the pins, walk around the treadmill, get her ball, and start again. No offense to bowlers, but I thought she would take up tumbling before becoming a Queen-pin. Maybe not.

Now, the second countdown ticker is huge with a capital H. Keith and I have been blessed to take a nice trip every year since we met. The last 2 years, Ava has been our trip...and what a trip she's been! But the time has come. We are itching to go somewhere. Keith and I have always wanted to take a Pacific coast road trip from San Diego all the way up to the Napa Valley. There are so many things we want to see along the way. The top of Keith's priority list? He wants to see the Pacific coast through the windows of a Lotus (I don't think Enterprise rents those out...) My priority list? Hel-lo! I am going to The Price is Right! It is no secret to those of you who know me that it has been a childhood dreeeeam to go see The Price is Right. I didn't get a good night's sleep when my old dear friend Bob Barker left the show. But that's okay! Really! Because I am going to be on that show. Come October 21st, I might be hanging my head low and wiping away a few tears, but all I want is to get into that studio. The CBS angels will be singing gloriously! But, this trip will be bittersweet. My dear sweet Ava will be playing her little heart out with Gigi and Poppy and Granna and Granddaddy. Oh....surprise Granna and Grandaddy! : ) I do get a pain in the pit of my stomach when I think about leaving her for that long. And uh, grand-folks? She'll be freshly 2...are ya ready?!?! Get some good tennis shoes!

So there you have it. I'm just going to run my way to The Price is Right. Let me know if you have any good t-shirt ideas.

Thanks for reading.