Shoo Flu, Don't Bother Me

I am sick and tied of being sick and tired. This has been my view for the last 48 hours...

Lord have mercy these walls are so drab! Can you say paint job? Anyway, three whole days of the flu!! I had to tough it out on Thursday and Friday while Andy was working, but as soon as he walked in the door Friday night, it was a straight beeline for my bed... and that's where I have been ever since. We're talking hot flashes, cold flashes, headaches, jaw aches, runny nose and occasional throwing up. Blah. I guess I didn't mind the excuse to be in bed for two days, but it was for reasons that were less than desirable. I am surrounded by piles of tissues that have rubbed my nose raw. One of those tissues, apparently, contains my nose ring that was suddenly noticed missing :( I will never remember to buy a new one and, therefore, I will probably be nose ringless forever now.

I think Addi is angry with me. Maybe she noticed I wasn't really up to being a good mom or something. She really has wanted nothing to do with me and is amazingly content with the fact that she gets to spend her days with daddy, while I wither away in bed. Speaking of..... clearly I need to be sick more often. Andy was like superman this weekend. I mean the guy cleaned the garage, raked leaves, cleaned out my car, watered the backyard (where we are currently trying to grow grass), went grocery shopping, and I even found him cleaning the windows in the house.... all with Addi in tow! She must behave better for him because I never seem to get that much done. I was rather speechless.

Sorry for the blurry pictures, but when this girl smiles for the camera..you gotta go with it!

Poor baby girl had a bit of a rough Monday too. 4 shots and blood work :( Makes Momma sad.

P.S. It's sunny with a high of 75! Spring has arrived in Houston! AND I finally found the fabric I want to use for my bedroom pillows! Whoohoo... now for some paint!

Picnic in the Park

To be honest, I don't really feel like coming up with words to fill this page..... so I'm not. You can enjoy our picnic and 77 degree weather through the pictures. Yes, be jealous it was gorgeous and I know cold weather is rolling back in up north. Don't worry, two more months and you will be in the clear. Addi wouldn't smile for any of the pictures (which is fairly normal), but in her defense she has been sick for the past two days. She also has a lovely bruise on her cheek courtesy of the soap holder in the bathtub. Anyway, it was serendipity and I even let Andy hold the camera for a moment, but we couldn't get Addi to look at the camera. I blame this on the fact that I have had it in her face since she was born. I think she thinks it is just an accesseory I wear and she really doesn't care.

A late post on LoVe

My Valentines day would have greatly disappointed me two or three years ago. I always wanted some really awesome romantic surprise (which never really happened) and I wanted Andy to read my mind and get me the gift I had already picked out in my head. I am pretty sure I set him up for faliure because this girl has a big romantic imagination that had been dreaming big for a long time. This year, I had no expectations. We don't have a ton of extra money floating around to spend on gifts or fancy dinners, but I am ok with that. So instead we grilled hot dogs on the back patio and sat outside to eat our dinner. You wanna know something?? It was perfect. Perfect. This girl doesn't need a fancy gift to feel appreciated, although every once in awhile it is nice. I was so happy to just BE with my family, eating dinner in the 70 degree weather.

Since everybody else seems to be talking about this topic, I will join in too. People seem to either love or hate Valentines day. I have taken both sides, but this year I feel like I ended up falling in the middle. Yes, I do think that we need to celebrate love everyday, but you know what?????...... Love isn't easy! Our society likes to make it out as this warm fuzzy feeling that you always feel. Puppy Love. Wouldn't it be nice if LOVE always felt that way? Love is hard. It's tough and yes there are amazing days when you feel all the ooey gooey feelings, but they are definitely mixed in with a big bowl of hard, sad, and funny. So, Valentines day is a great day to step away and say, "Gosh, I really appreciate you and think you are pretty amazing". I am not sure a big box of chocolates say that for me, but grilling hot dogs sure does :) So, here is to all the people in my life that have wiggled their way into my heart. I love you all and I do think you're pretty amazing (especially my incredibly awesome husband and adorable daughter...... God's greatest gift).

P.S. I am so ready for March! We are ushering her in with 70 degree weather. 

Somebody has recently tried to use one of my blog posts against my Mom. Let me make something perfectly clear: I love both of my parents DEEPLY! I have grown up feeling incredibly blessed to have the parents that I have..... they were both amazing parents and role models. My childhood holds the sweetest memories that I will cherish for the rest of my life.  Nothing that is said on this blog is meant to be a jab at either one of them. Do I have real raw emotions that I write about? Of course! This blog is my attempt to be real with those who care to share my journey and I am a little angry that anybody would abuse that.

Uphill Battles

Happy Wednesday! It is cold and rainy today and I am hoping they will send Andy home early because it is getting a little icy outside. Fingers crossed!

Some of the girls in my small group have started reading So Long Insecurity by Beth Moore. It has been interesting. I have never thought of myself as an insecure person, but it is amazing how this book has brought it all to the front. You have to examines all the ugly parts inside that you hate. It is such a lovely feeling realizing you are WAY more insecure than you originally thought. It has been a great process though... a bit painful, but good. I constantly find myself praying for Christ's security as I head into situations that I know will make me feel insecure. I have seen a difference AND that, my friends, is where the change begins to happen. The amazing thing is that when I hand over my insecurities, I feel like Christ give me an "atta girl". Ok, I'll let you into a secret for the sake of a good example. Reading other blogs often times makes me feel really insecure in a number of areas. These women are amazing writers, photographers, and mommies. I have battled losing who I am in order to make my blogs become more like theirs BUT I refused to do it. I refuse to pretend to be somebody I am not. Once I let it go, I had two messages waiting for me in my facebook message box. These messages were from two women who were thanking me for my blog.... for the way it is. That was such a sweet blessing to my heart. Nobody says that overcoming your insecurity is a quick fix, it will be a constant uphill battle for a long time....... but I think it will be worth it.

Speaking of uphill battle...... uhhhhhhh my HOUSE!!!!! I know mom's complain about this all the time. I read at least one blog a week from a mom with a messy house. I am SO glad that I am not the only stay at home mom who can't seem to get it together when it comes to house work. I FEEL like I am constantly picking up something, but it never results in a crystal clean house. Before Addi, I would just set aside an hour, put on some good music and go at it. That doesn't really work when you put a toy away, start on something else, and come back to find that the same toy you just put away is now laying on the floor. I have been able to get over the first major hump of acceptance, but I don't think I will ever completely get over it.

Addi's new favorite thing is to sit in the laundry basket where she loves to
throw the clean laundry out and bring her toys in.

All the stuff laying on my bedroom floor was NOT put there by me.

And while you are looking at my ugly/white walled bedroom, just know that I have some big plans for it. I just need the time and the money to do it. I THINK I can do it fairly cheap, but sometimes that is easier said then done.

On another note: She is a girl after my own heart! Ok, it was mostly ice, but I know she will be a Doctor Pepper girl!

I am only 13 weeks along and already strutting this belly. Really??

I have heard that you show earlier the second time around, but goodness....

I was not expecting this. The funny thing is, with this pregnancy I would be

perfectly fine with not showing anything until 7 months. I am already out

of my normal jeans and into the lovely stretchy preggo jeans. It is game on!