choir

Whooo what a long weekend and week this is going to be!!! We had our mini-tour for choir this past weekend. It was lots of fun. Here's some pics of the places we performed!!

I'd have to say my favorite was singing at the Sinsinawa Mounds in Sinsinawa, WI. I believe the average age of our audience was 70! Lol. And most of them were nuns. It was pretty cool. They were so appreciative of us being there and performing for them. And they were just too cute!

Baby was such a good boy the whole time... and thanks again to my mom for coming!!! She watched him while we practiced and performed. Everyone just oooeh and aaahed over him... I don't blame them cause I do too! He's just such a happy baby these days which is sooo nice.

Tomorrow we're off to Mason City for one last performance of this music we've been working on since the beginning of the year. I missed our concert in May b/c of Baby being born early and all... so I was so happy to be able to sing it this past weekend and tomorrow too. Hopefully we'll be as great tomorrow as we were this weekend (not to sound full of myself or anything... but we're pretty good :) ) I think my mom has heard us enough to agree!

Just as a little side note.... I'm working on a nice little parady I'll be posting soon I hope... if I have some more time to work on it that is!

My new favorite thing.. the Woombie

OMG I have been getting the best sleep lately! And I really think its all thanks to this little thing called a Woombie. This is a picture of Baby wearing his woombie... well this is actually an old picture, from the first weeks at home after his birth. This is the newborn size... he had to upgrade to the "Big Baby" size... All I can say is this was the best investment ever! ($2 at a garage sale?! thanks to my mom!) He goes to sleep anywhere from 8-10:00 pm and doesnt wake up until 3:00-4:30! It has been wonderful this week. And I really think my mood has been better because of all the sleep too.

The only problem is Baby spits up... ALOT... So I am constantly having to wash it and then it has to air dry which takes time... but I guess its all worth it if I remember to do it. And well if I forget... it just has dried spit up on it... it wont kill him to wear it again!.. I know you're probably thinking that's disgusting. But desperate times call for desperate measures. And when it comes to sleep I can get a little desperate! (Don't judge me....)

This week is coming to an end... and while it had its hectic moments (I'm pretty sure I've been spending up to 2 hours in the bathroom each day {due to the fact Bubba is potty-training and enjoys wasting my time...} 15-30 minutes at a time.) In general I'd have to say its been a pretty good week. Mostly due to my new favorite thing... the Woombie! So thank you thank you thank you to the inventor of the Woombie. I could kiss you right now.

Was it magic?....

So the other day JDub opened up his drawer (Yes.... you read that right.... his one drawer he has in our dresser. There are four drawers total... but come on... he still wears clothes he wore in high school... so its not like he needs the extra storage.  He'd prolly tell you different... but whatever!) and he said "Yay! The Boxer Fairy came." Now I know that's not exactly the "Thanks honey for doing my laundry... I needed boxers how did you know?!" but it was funny. I try to do my best on keeping on top of things like this. I mean I am home during the days so the least I can do it keep up on laundry and cleaning... Well maybe not the cleaning so much. Its hard to do when you have a little one wanting to "help" or a crying baby keeping your hands busy. It can be a real chore just getting the broom out of the closet b/c Bubba wants to drag the thing all around the house... terrorizing the cat and knocking things down.. and of course I have to worry about him hitting Baby with everything he gets his little hands on.

But anyway... sometimes I forget myself that things don't happen automatically or magically! Someone has put their time/effort/money/hard work into it... So don't forget to appreciate those in your life..... whether its mowing the lawn or getting you a beer... oh and speaking of beer... if you haven't tried the Summer Shandy by Leinenkugel's yet you should! It is yummy... its beer with a little bit of lemonade in it. It is very refreshing on a hot summer day. And yes I am breastfeeding... but they say a beer a day helps your milk supply! So I'm helping Baby by drinking a little bit of beer!!! :) Its really a win-win situation.

But yea make sure to let the people in your life you are thankful for them! I hope you all know how much I appreciate you :) It means a lot to know that people are interested in what's goin on in my life and read this little blog of mine. Love ya!!

Old = lame

Is it just me or the older you get... the more lame you become? I mean think about it... when you were younger you got excited about fun things like dances... and graduating high school. Then cool parties and going out to the bars.... then of course graduating college... then came marriage and children! But after all that what's there to get excited about?

Here are some examples of the things I get excited about and you tell me how lame it is...
-finding a coupon for something I needed to buy anyway...
-finding a great sale on kids clothes...
-when my doorbell rings and its my order from diapers.com
-getting my workout and shower in before JDub gets home from work
-a great cup of coffee
-even having the time to write on this blog is awesome!
-when Elmo is on so I can get some things done around the house...
-fitting into some of my old shorts.. (ok that one's pretty awesome... and I'm proud of that... but still need to do some work...)
-getting a babysitter :)

So yea... I really think the older you get its the smallest things that make you happy. Which in turn makes you pretty lame... Then again... maybe there's a curve on it ya know? Like you're lame for 25 years or so... but then once your kids are grown and on their own you're back to cool things that excite you.. like retiring and going on cruises and what not....

Sleep

Why do kids fight sleep? I would give anything to have an uninterupted 2 hour nap every day... and go to bed before 9. What gives? So I did get a decent nap in today... that was a nice surprise... but taking that nap meant I didn't do my workout... or shower... so you win some and you lose some I guess.

Oh and my birthday came and went... I'm totally bummed b/c I forgot to check my other email account and I missed out on free cold stone ice cream. SO NOT COOL. Apparently the coupon expires within a week of your bday so that sucks. I did however get some nice gifts :). Thanks to all... We've been listening to Lady Gaga.... my hair looks great... one because I finally chopped it off and donated 10 inches to Locks of Love and two, because my grandmother gave me WEN shampoo!! I really do like it.. I dont think JDub will let me continually get it... but hey at least I can have nice, no fuss hair while my life is crazy right now.

I really think in the long run I will enjoy having our boys so close in age... but right now the "terrible two's" and a colicky 2 month old are really bumming me out........

Summer time!!

Oh garage sales how I love thee!!!

This time of year is great! The weather is nicer.... I dont have to be cooped up in the house as much... we can go for walks... and go garage saleing!!! The only problem is, it is not an easy thing to do with two children.... especially an almost 2 year old and a newborn! Yikes. I recruited my mom to come along with me on Friday. Let's just say we only made it to 2 garage sales.... hardly worth going across town... but it was nice to try it out. Then again I did get some clothes for the boys and even some stuff for myself all for under $12!!! Bubba has already enjoyed wearing his new Thomas the tank engine summer pj's and I can't wait to see Baby in his new ISU gear!

One thing that sucks about this time of year is all the construction!!! I swear you can't go a mile w/o running into some (here in Iowa anyway). I know the roads are terrible... but jeez. You might as well say we only have 2 seasons.... winter... and construction... so much for spring summer and fall!

Summertime is fun though. JDub and I just celebrated our 4-year anniversary! Well I dunno if I'd call it much of a celebration.... If I recall we had a nice family from church drop off some dinner (yes people are still dropping off food 6 weeks after the birth of Baby! Its awesome :) ) we did our usual nightly routine... feeding the kids... bathing the kids... and went to bed early! Oh well... what do you expect! My bday is coming up next week too... whoo hoo.. birthday's just aren't as much fun the older you get.... that and the fact it falls on Father's Day this year... so I think I'm gettin screwed just a lil bit... cause JDub will get all the attention! j/k No he deserves it! He is an awesome father to our little boys... And apparently he says we're done having kids (honestly, this is the worst time to decide that.... Baby is still too young!).

Tanning

I am one of those people who use to indoor tan frequently... It just makes you feel good! It's a nice relaxing time... and I could usually only go for 10 minutes at a time b/c I'm practically albino... In college it was great b/c a roomie of mine worked at a rec center where we could go in and tan for free! It was so awesome. I love laying outside to tan as well... but honestly who has the time? And then you get those pesky tan lines... You have to remember to turn over or you'll get burned on one side and be all white on the other. And don't even get me started trying to tan the sides of your legs or body if you're laying out... its nearly impossible!

Honestly though, I dont know if I should technically call it tanning for me. Cause I tend to turn a shade of pink or red... not brown so much. Well I guess you can say I turn a little brown because I get more freckles when I'm out in the sun. I get so sick of seeing those commercials where they're talking about skin damage and dark spots..... they talk about freckles like they're blemishes! Well if freckles are blemishes than I have the worse case of acne anyone has ever seen!

So lately I've turned to using those self-tanning lotions. They're not all bad. I know a couple years back I used one of those gradual ones. Where when you use it every day it gradually turns your skin a darker shade. If I recall it worked pretty well. But honestly I dont shower every day..... let alone put lotion on so I dont see that one working out right now. I usually have some time on the weekend to take a nice long shower... exfoliate... shave... all that good stuff so that's when I take the time to use the self-tanning lotion! Here's the best way I find to use it....

1.Exfoliate and shave your legs. (I've only been using the lotions on my legs b/c my arms are pretty freckled from exposure right now anyway...and NO ONE needs to see my stomach right now... yuck!) I have this sugar scrub from bath and body works... or any type of scrub with beads to help get that dead skin off should work.
2. Completely dry your skin. If you have any drops of water on you at all it will cause streaks which is NOT attractive... I know from experience.
3. Put a nice creamy lotion in areas that crease... like around your ankles, your knees, and your feet.
4. Then I like to use the self-tanner lotion... I usually do the front, then back and rub it into the sides in circular motions on my calves and then thighs.
5. I find when applying the lotion to my knees, ankles, and feet, it is best to mix it half and half with another gentle lotion (like lubriderm). That way you don't risk getting it too dark and settling into the creases...

Of course you should let it dry before putting clothes on, and I wouldn't recommend putting any tight clothes on after.... just make sure you do it on a day you can lounge around for an hour or so until it completely dries... no working out, or showering... You could even do it right before you go to bed! or start a long movie...

I guess while I miss tanning... at least they have this substitute.... as long as you don't cake it on and put too much you won't look orange. And hey... don't we all look better with a tan?! I know I do... cellulite... stretch marks... you name the flaw and a little tan will do wonders on the your appearance!

Free time

OK.... I took baby to the chiropracter yesterday... I know some of you out there are thinking WHAT? Taking a baby to the chiro? But I was kinda desperate! Have you mothers out there ever felt this way? Cause I do frequently... well maybe not frequently.. but still I feel a lil desperate sometimes. It wasn't bad. Dr. Chris Smith was very nice (and cute I might add...) and it was all pretty gentle. So far so good.... He was pretty instantly great right after the treatment. He's been sleeping alot... but baby's sleep alot anyway... he's just sleeping without me having to hold him! Which is a huge plus for me. I'm not going to say it worked for sure just yet. I mean it hasn't even been 24 hours! But so far so good.... its just too bad he's not in my network... otherwise I might go there too! (He has free adjustments for kids every 1st Thursday of the month... how cool is that?!)

With me not having to give Baby constant attention... I almost feel like I have free time again! I was able to do my workout, get online, and do some laundry too! I should have showered.... I'm thinking "Car Car" might be the nickname for the new babe. That's what it sounds like Bubba is saying whenever he says his name! I also came up with "Farter".... b/c you wouldn't believe the gas that comes out of this kid in the morning! But that might be too crude... it does rhyme though!

I'm getting a little depressed how none of my clothes fit... I had to breakdown and buy a new one-piece swimsuit.... I think it looks ok... I haven't had any girlfriends over to tell me the truth yet... (any one can feel free to stop by and make me try it on and tell me the truth... i still have the tags and the receipt!). I asked JDub... but I think we all know what a husband's opinion on how we really look means nothing..... I think I bounced back pretty fast after Bubba was born... yea not feeling that way with Car Car though.... But man I am feeling it after my pilates tape today! Yikes.... I am OUT OF SHAPE!!! I need a walking buddy this summer.... any takers?! I have a double stroller and everything!

Anywho... my free time is up... Bubba's awake.... let me know your thoughts on the possible nickname... and Happy Friday!!!

Infomercials

Does anyone else think infomercials are just hilarious? I mean honestly... where do they find these people to over act and be so dramatic?! So I know its sad how many of them I'm about to talk about.... but this is the price we pay not having cable!

Ez cracker... please visit https://www.ezcracker.com/?mid=547819&a=55959&s=99
Seriously? Is it really that hard to crack an egg? I dont think so! I know there are times when yes... a piece of eggshell can sneak its way into what I'm cooking... and you just pick it out! but not like these people are showing?!

Kangaroo Keeper... visit https://www.kangarookeeper.com/?MID=582833
Now this one I could probably see myself buying... cause my purse is VERY disorganized. My purse is also too small for one of them I think. I do love those big purses though... that way you can sneak in candy and pop at the movies!? If I were to get one I'd prolly have to go purse shopping too!

WEN shampoo... visit http://www.wenhaircare.com/
I still haven't tried this... but would LOVE to. I still see the infomercial often too....

Lifestyle Lift....... visit http://www.lifestylelift.com/
I know I know... .I'm only 25... well soon to be 26 yikes!!! but I couldn't help watching this one! It was crazy to see the before and after photos and videos. I know I don't need this procedure now, but man I prolly will in a few years! I never thought I was a vain person but I might have to be if I look like these before photos!

Pillow Pets.... visit http://www.pillowpetstv.com/
These are actually pretty cute. My mother in law gave one similar (pillow pal I believe is the name) to Johnson for Christmas last year... the pillow pets are machine washable though! I mean honestly... shouldn't everything be machine/dishwasher safe? I hate spot cleaning or hand-washing... its annoying!

Ok that's enough for now I guess.... if you're bored enough you should check out some of the sites... but really some of the people in these commercials are so over the top. You can't help but laugh at them!

Priorities

So sometimes in life you have to think... what's more important?! Checking your email or reading your son a book........ Doing some laundry... or giving your child a bath? Taking a nap.... or writing on your blog....

I could go on and on... These are my daily "dilemmas". I often have to choose between doing my workout while both boys are occupied (aka sleeping) or picking up around the house! I know what you're thinking... those probably really aren't dilemmas to you. But they sure are to me! Sometimes I have a hard time choosing what I'll do! Most days I pick kids over myself (I dont think I peed all day yesterday?! not until JDub got home from work anyway.....) and sometimes well I just need a little "me" time too. I'd like to think I have my priorities straight... but sometimes by the end of the day who knows right?

I guess you just have to hope you pick yourself some days... and your kids on the other days... and hopefully it all balances out....

Caffeine

I'm pretty sure I am addicted to caffeine... I'm not sure when it happened... It must have been this year... but I cannot function if I do not get some form of caffeine in me before the day is over. Bubba loves to help me make my coffee in the morning! He helps me get the filter (sometimes he wants to give me several.... not just one) and then he brings me the bag of coffee grinds to pour in... and then of course he always wants to push the button to start the pot. For some reason our coffee maker likes to beep several times when the coffee is finished brewing. I guess if you don't hear the first 3 beeps it makes sure by beeping 3 more times! But anyway... I guess I usually say oh the coffee's done.. whenever I hear the beeping. So now of course Bubba has to make sure I know when its done... and he says in his cute little voice "THE COFFEE'S DONE!!!" Not just once mind you.... if any of you out there have an almost 2 year old... or have had kids... you know they must repeat it over and over and over... sometimes I try to ignore him when he does this. But most of the time he gets mad and starts pouting unless I say something like "Oh yep... the coffee is done thank you."

If I haven't mentioned this before... Dunkin Donuts coffee is VERY good. It is my favorite. It makes me wish they still had a Dunkin Donuts around here! I should just open one up somewhere... that way I'd get my coffee fix... and I'd help everyone else who might want one! Then again..... if I were to open up any kind of food establishment.. I'd have to do a Krystal... Its just so ridiculous not having one up north! I could still get my caffeine fix with the sweet tea there!

SIDE NOTE:
So I just stopped down in our office in the basement... It has been weeks since I've been down there... JDub usually handles the bills and well I'm a little busy these days with 2 boys constantly needing me. So anyway... right out on the desk is this graduation card... and it read like this... I quote " JDub.... Congrats on graduating! It seems like yesterday when you were a freshman and I was in the 8th grade heart-throbbing over you and gawking at you from across the lunch room! :) Where does the time go?! Good luck in your future endevers! I'm sure you'll be successful in all you do! Keep in touch...." blah blah... signed we'll call her GiGi....

So looks like someone just had to hold on to this card for some reason... Do I need to mention he just had his High school's 10 year reunion? I wonder why...pretty sure he's thrown out plenty of little love notes and cards I've given him over the years... but oh we just have to keep a hold of this one right?! JEEZ!!!! What are your thoughts out there?

happy freaking mother's day

I know its not good to say freaking.... cause it resembles something else... but yea what nice present did JDub give me for mother's day.... HE LEFT TOWN UNTIL THURSDAY! Yea so Mother's Day itself was great! We went to church for the first time since Baby was born... yea we were a little late... but that's expected right? Then we hung out at home until my parents and sister and husband came over. We grilled out hotdogs (which were yummy! you're not suppose to have them when you're preggo so I really enjoyed mine) and brats and had family time. I know I was a little hard on JDub... I made him chase Bubba around...and change a few poopy diapers of Baby's... but hey... it was mother's day... I'll do the same for him on Father's Day coming up (yes its in writing so he has proof of it being said!).

But yea... what does he do... he leaves town for work and wont be back for 2 more days!!! At least I can count on my family in town to come over and help me... Most people would probably not ask for help... but hey... I know I still need it so I'm willing to ask! And as long as they're willing to help... I'll take it :). Mom came over last night.. and my sis is coming over tonight... thank you Lord! Baby is still a pretty good baby... but he has his colicky moments and that's when I need some reinforcements... I'm still getting the hang of having two boys around.

I really shouldn't say its JDub's fault for leaving... afterall... it was my own father who made him leave town for work!

Aww the joys of motherhood...

You don't really realize how much your life will change once you have children... You're not only responsible for yourself anymore! You can't get caught up in life and forget to feed your children... or bathe them... or wash their clothes... sure you let yourself go a little bit. I can go days w/o washing my hair (they say that's good though right? Its better for your hair to not get washed every day?) I grab something to eat when I can. I haven't quite gotten up the motivation to start working out.. but hey lil Baby just turned 2 weeks old today... so that's not too bad. I use to make sure my hair and make-up was done before I left the house... but sometimes I just don't have time for that!

Its amazing how much you can love someone you just met. And how much you can love someone who drives you crazy! (Bubba.....) I imagine its a lot like how God loves us... unconditionally. No wonder he is able to forgive us all the time! No matter how many times Bubba spills his froot loops all over the floor on purpose... just after I've picked them up.... or dumps his milk on the newly cleaned kitchen floor... I'll still love him. Even though Baby is a very good baby most of the time... at 1:00 in the morning he decided to explode all over his clothes and the changing table... lets just say I wasn't plannin on needing JDub's backup.. but I called in reinforcements anyway... it doesn't mean I love him any less.

With Mother's Day approaching quickly... I just thought I'd drop a line to say how much I appreciate my mother! Some days I think I wouldn't make it w/o her! She has been such a help to me and JDub since Bubba was born... and now that Baby is here too. I feel so fortunate to have her in town (and semi-retired)! I know I call her waaaay too much... and depend on her alot... but I hope she enjoys the time she spends with her grandsons... and I know they love their "Grandma." Sure she spoils them a bit much... and creates new routines I must now do as well.... Bubba has learned that word Candy and repeats it constantly... and now every time we go into his room he has to build a little fort with the blankets in the bunk beds... but hey its worth it in the end.

I'm still working on being the best mom I can be. I just take it one day at a time... its all you can do! I love you mom and thanks for everything. And don't forget to appreciate your own mothers on Sunday :)

MAJOR UPDATE TIME!!!

As many of you probably know... we had our little bundle of joy arrive almost a week ago!!! He is adorable, and a very good baby. I am still working on a nickname... so that will have to come a little later.

Monday morning I awoke to Bubba talking to himself in his crib.... I did my usual go to the bathroom... close the child gate... and then when I went to pick him up... whoosh... my water broke! I did a little happy dance... saying "yay! today is the day!!!" Bubba wasn't sure what to think of that.... I immediately called JDub.... who of course didn't answer my call! Go figure... he answers every other call... but not "THE" call.... He called back within 20 minutes and we were off! Well sorta... I wasn't quite done packing my hospital bag (I kept thinking if I finished I would jinx it and I wouldn't have the baby until May!) and JDub had to pack his.... then of course Bubba needed a bag too....

I won't bore you with the details of delivery (if you really want to know just ask me... I'd love to tell you, I just know some people aren't into that!) but things went well and we had our newest son at 6:11 pm! He is yet another red-head :) so hey even if everyone keeps saying he looks like JDub at least he has my hair!!! Oh and he is such a good baby. He gave us a scare there for a little bit on Tuesday... he wasn't eating... and his breathing levels weren't as high as they like... he was a little jaundice too....but his doctor visited him and said ship up!!! so he did :). He is doing so well at home. Bubba is adjusting fairly well... he can still be a little rough sometimes...but we're working on it. He can be very helpful when he wants to be. He even picked out his little brother's outfit!

Anywho, thanks to all for the congratulations! We are so happy he is here. (especially mommy :) )

Never Ending...

Doesn't it seem like there is always something you need to do to your house when you're a homeowner? I mean its never-ending!!! Here's just a small list of the things I would love to have done... and believe me there are plenty more but I won't bore you for too long...

-New front door... one w/o dents and preferably more glass to let some more light in! I know this means I'll have to watch what I'm wearing b/c of nosey neighbors and whatnot... Don't worry they don't have the internet so I know they don't read this!!!
-New back deck... if you can even call it a deck! Its so small and pitiful... the wood it all dry and cracked. I'm worried Bubba's gonna get splinters in his knees from crawling up and down it this summer.. there aren't any railings and the steps down are terrible. Not to mention its on cinder blocks... so that's real classy. (I blame the people that lived here before us!!)
-New light fixture for Bubba's new room. We officially have bunk beds!! I love them soo much. They were on sale so we just had to go for it. Bubba really likes them too. He's always wanting to go into his new room and play on the bunk beds. But there was a ceiling fan in there before... so that obviously is not going to work out now. I just saw the ad for Menards though... they have some fixtures on sale we might just have to go! We were lucky JDub and I both had twin beds until we got married... no need to buy mattresses!
-New bedding for Bubba's new room... Since he'll be in a big boy bed we'll need to upgrade and get him some new bedding... That stuff isn't cheap either!! Especially since w'ell have to do it double time!

SIDE NOTE: Bubba officially used the big boy potty again last night!! And I DIDN'T traumatize him this time :) So hey who knows.... maybe we'll only have one child in diapers by the end of the summer... it could happen right?

-JDub seems to think we need to paint the house... Which is probably true. Who even knows when the last owners did it. And we have that composite stuff so it does need to be painted every once in a while or whatever. I really wouldn't mind doing it... I don't hate painting... I just don't see how we'll get that down with an almost 2 year old and a newborn!?

Ok ok... I'm probably boring everyone... but yea there's a lot of stuff that needs to get done around here... but as you all know it requires time and money... neither of which I think we'll have an abundance of once this new little one comes! I am officially 37 weeks along... I made it further this pregnancy than with Bubba.... don't know how happy I am about it... but what can you do. I guess God had a different plan for us this time around. I'm definately the heaviest I've ever been in my life... but for good cause I guess. At least I'm not all swollen and can still wear my wedding rings!