tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34841526487029965572024-03-19T02:11:51.467-07:00Prairie GlitterKellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.comBlogger184125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-65046048440029083952016-03-23T19:59:00.003-07:002016-04-24T20:16:22.461-07:00Little bird<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There's a lullaby my mom sang to us--<i>and other babies she's cared for</i>--over the years. It's called <i>The Little Birdie Song</i>. Naturally, now that I'm a mother, I sing it to Jude. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tonight I had a thousand things to do. Homework waiting, dishes in the sink, laundry that needed done. Scott took Jude to his bedroom, gave him his milk and was working really hard to get him to sleep. But Jude just wasn't having it. He kept crying "mama, mama," which are the most heartbreaking four syllables a mom can hear, by the way. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm a little embarrassed to admit that my first thought was to wish that he would just go to sleep. I had so much to do and I was anxious to sit down at my computer and get to my homework that was due by 11:59 p.m. But something, maybe the Holy Spirit, whispered in my ear, "go be with him."</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I got up from my post, went into his room, and started rocking him. And I started singing <i>The Little Birdie Song</i>. Actually, it was my own version of it, because I can never remember the full lyrics. As I sang, "Where are you going little bird? Where are you going little birdie? I am going to kiss my mama, I am going to kiss my mama, I am going to kiss my mama, sweet child," Jude smiled the biggest smile, pulled my face down to his, and gave me the sweetest little kiss. My heart felt more joy than I can describe and broke into a thousand little pieces all at once.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tears formed in my eyes as I thought about how I would have missed that moment if I would have just let him cry and let Scott attend to him. And I thought about how he is going to be two in April and already doesn't need me as much as when he was just new. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Being a mother is strange. Your heart can feel the greatest love and happiness and an intense pain and longing, all at once. That's the only way I can describe it. Strange but wonderful.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tonight, I'm glad I listened to that whisper and went in and held my little boy. I'm glad I was reminded that my child doesn't need to have a spotless home to live in or care that his mama has a master's degree. All he wants is me. How amazing is that? That someone loves you so purely, that just your presence is enough. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And just like all little birdies do, some day he'll leave the safety and warmth of his nest and fly away on his own. Until then, I plan to sing as many lullabies as I can, snuggle him while he'll still let me and, most importantly, be present. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div align="CENTER" style="background-color: white;">
<strong><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LITTLE BIRDIE SONG</span></strong></div>
<table align="CENTER" border="0" style="background-color: white; color: black;"><tbody>
<tr><td valign="top"><span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh where are you going, little bird, little bird?<br />Oh where are you going, little birdie?<br />I am going to the woods<br />I am going to the woods<br />I am going to the woods, little child</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh what's in the woods, little bird, little bird?<br />Oh what's in the woods, little birdie?<br />There's a nest in the woods<br />There's a nest in the woods<br />There's a nest in the woods, little child</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh what's in the nest. little bird. little bird?<br />Oh what's in the nest, little birdie?<br />There are five little eggs<br />There are five little eggs<br />There are five little eggs, little child</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Oh what's in the eggs. little bird, little bird?<br />Oh what's in the eggs, little birdie?<br />There are five little birds<br />There are five little birds<br />There are five little birds, little child</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkqbG6m3kAcPzUe11RRrPh_umRLKJCyC1bICPAQlPpT-VOumfJ5cQin7ypgBAV0-tIyqGtJtjLwZWz2YrksSNDn2RCCgc-DhQgcohi58DvXzcEqI3j2krBcGZMr-4Qe7GyBzQsshQtAI/s1600/IMG_9803.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkqbG6m3kAcPzUe11RRrPh_umRLKJCyC1bICPAQlPpT-VOumfJ5cQin7ypgBAV0-tIyqGtJtjLwZWz2YrksSNDn2RCCgc-DhQgcohi58DvXzcEqI3j2krBcGZMr-4Qe7GyBzQsshQtAI/s400/IMG_9803.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "helvetica neue" , "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-13312455712827138042016-03-21T20:33:00.000-07:002016-03-21T20:33:21.305-07:00Catching upCatching up. Do we every catch up? My answer is "probably not," but I'll still attempt to catch up just a bit here on my blog.<br />
<br />
First of all, I have an almost-two-year old son! I used to internally roll my eyes when people said "oh, they grow up so fast," but seriously, they grow up so fast. Right now I'm in the process of planning Jude's second birthday party at the Henry Doorly Zoo. He seems to really love animals and we thought it would be a lot of fun for our friends and family. I'm hoping to get our invitations in the mail next week because his party is at the end of April. I love a good theme, so naturally, we're going with a zoo animal theme. A few weeks ago Jude's Montessori school was closed for staff training, so he and I spent the day at the zoo. We had an unfortunate run-in with a super-loud monkey, so I'm hoping any of the memories from that are gone by the time his party rolls around. I have brought up the zoo monkeys a couple times and he starts saying "no no no" and hugging himself. Sorry, little buddy!<br />
<br />
Most of my friends and family already know this, but I have been working on my master's degree over the past couple years. I started out going full-time, but once I had Jude it was just too much. I was working a full-time job and going to school full-time. So, now I am working full-time and going to school half-time. I have no idea when I will finish, but completing my master's has been a goal of mine for several years. I'm really blessed that my husband is supportive of my continuing education. Late last year I had a practicum and the hours involved were killer. My husband was seriously super-dad, taking great care of Jude on the weekends and several week nights while I worked. This term just started and will end this summer.<br />
<br />
We took a trip to Colorado in February and visited Copper Mountain and Vail. Scott and I had a wonderful time with Jude. Traveling was fun before kids, and I'll be honest--I wasn't sure how traveling would be after kids. It's different, and more challenging, but good. Experiencing different things through your child's eyes is magical. Before we had Jude, Scott and I always said that we wouldn't be the type of people who stopped going places because they have kids. And I'm really proud to say that we've been able to keep that promise to ourselves. However, you get really skilled at distraction, making up songs and games, hauling bags and supplies like a pack mule and teamwork.<br />
<br />
Both Scott and I are making a better effort to eat healthier foods and exercise more. I started exercising at the YMCA again and it feels good. I'm in terrible shape compared to where I was when we moved to Omaha (and 45 pounds heavier!) but I'm working at it. One day at a time.<br />
<br />
I'm usually someone who dislikes warm weather, but this year I'm really looking forward to summer. I can't wait for fun at the splash park, meals on the deck and time spent outside. And I'm hoping to blog more, too. I really enjoy writing and blogging, but over the past couple years, I've been doing so much writing for school and work that writing for pleasure has taken a back seat.<br />
<br />
So that's it for "catching up." This week is Holy Week which is special to many people, including to me as a Catholic. Whether or not you celebrate Holy Week, I pray that you are blessed this week.<br />
<br />
Kelly<br />
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-31565597555713195722015-09-03T19:56:00.001-07:002015-09-03T19:56:51.868-07:00#TBT<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubHZcNOzdR0MIe5NAB8yC9oKoKUDu1iOkC0z462hOSVtduDUbOtm-CeggiyAwOXjQ53CGytT-lYGXsYGU-SyjtN_wvclU1yWDJs_DqOARDVGYLNIm31s-NS1Q22_wtX2jV2IA29f0tc0/s640/blogger-image-1839412414.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubHZcNOzdR0MIe5NAB8yC9oKoKUDu1iOkC0z462hOSVtduDUbOtm-CeggiyAwOXjQ53CGytT-lYGXsYGU-SyjtN_wvclU1yWDJs_DqOARDVGYLNIm31s-NS1Q22_wtX2jV2IA29f0tc0/s640/blogger-image-1839412414.jpg"></a></div>This photo was taken in 2009. I was healthy and happy. Running every night, lifting weights and swimming. I had completed my first triathlon just a few months prior. <div><br></div><div>Sometimes I look at this photo and it evokes a sadness in me. I suppose because the body I have now looks and feels nothing like the one in this picture. </div><div><br></div><div>But today, instead of feeling sad, I am choosing to look at this photo and feel hopeful. I am hopeful that my body can look and--more importantly--feel this way again. </div><div><br></div><div>When were you at your best physically? How did you feel?</div>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-37493695998547786492015-06-15T13:09:00.000-07:002015-06-15T13:09:02.255-07:00Pineapple Pink Lemonade Pool Drink<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I wanted to share the recipe for a sweet, easy pool drink I mixed up while we were on vacation in Florida last week. My goal was to create something that didn't use 2,000 ingredients and tasted fresh. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This recipe makes a huge batch. So either put it in one gigantic pitcher, or just use about half of each of the bottles/containers (listed below). I made mine in two batches. And I eyeballed the ingredients because I am a rebel like that. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP96uh2ksblKfYXWWCWqtjXiRpjDmzQY4XaqbuEr66wvVBHp1End_OuqeYnqxt-wADwegan0pMkfRa98XcHOK-zHaaDue6VEufxXkbB8VewhPtknvvRyk1vcK8fFwfgzn8AP13ko0WxI/s1600/11222298_10206672212314623_101918603208046816_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcP96uh2ksblKfYXWWCWqtjXiRpjDmzQY4XaqbuEr66wvVBHp1End_OuqeYnqxt-wADwegan0pMkfRa98XcHOK-zHaaDue6VEufxXkbB8VewhPtknvvRyk1vcK8fFwfgzn8AP13ko0WxI/s400/11222298_10206672212314623_101918603208046816_n.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Pineapple Pink Lemonade Pool Drink</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Ingredients</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bottle pink lemonade (I used Trader Joe's)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 bottle pink lemonade vodka</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1 can/container of pineapple juice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ice</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Instructions</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Empty half of each bottle/container into a large pitcher (or the entire bottle of each into a gigantic container). Serve over ice. Enjoy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My husband found some really tacky and awesome plastic pineapple containers with straws at a Dollar Tree near our resort and that's what we put our drinks in. They worked out great because they kept bugs/dirt/whatever out of our drinks and were pool-friendly. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also think you could come up with some great garnishes such as pineapple, lemon wedges or fancy swizzle sticks. This would be a great party or girls night out drink!</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-41068237172730217932015-01-04T19:40:00.004-08:002015-01-04T19:40:40.575-08:00Jude | FIve & Six Months<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jude, months five and six have been full of so much change and so much joy. You've changed so much in the past two months. I know it is so, so very cliche, but I can't believe how fast time has passed. I remember like it was yesterday, watching the doctor hold you up--<i>pink, purple and perfect</i>. A brand new life.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn55NbMC6VWkplqtWDiI3wvt7VrtZvbETkxEFi3eejlub_7Fd-yyyK7UCfQRydJOQhGKcZAIYt5tbFhvWlm2csl-iudMl6ZNO7yHXHTUnL4ve6jYc_adhLlZLsyz6yXOf-wvwXvnTNpE/s1600/IMG_7551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrn55NbMC6VWkplqtWDiI3wvt7VrtZvbETkxEFi3eejlub_7Fd-yyyK7UCfQRydJOQhGKcZAIYt5tbFhvWlm2csl-iudMl6ZNO7yHXHTUnL4ve6jYc_adhLlZLsyz6yXOf-wvwXvnTNpE/s1600/IMG_7551.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOa2a8GmsqGxIC9eXlSWPoK1qxvycy4J5sLSBchv1vhISZ9oXQChfnbarmJewmpADtGOvOa8WxLS9gqk9VcAzTO_qa89b-u1P8enB8Zne7Y-eG8rFoMFJ-AyICK_dMlEjn6oQsUXvyW0/s1600/IMG_7888.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwOa2a8GmsqGxIC9eXlSWPoK1qxvycy4J5sLSBchv1vhISZ9oXQChfnbarmJewmpADtGOvOa8WxLS9gqk9VcAzTO_qa89b-u1P8enB8Zne7Y-eG8rFoMFJ-AyICK_dMlEjn6oQsUXvyW0/s1600/IMG_7888.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>Diaper size</b> | Size two</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Weight</b> | 17 pounds</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBVWrlDdm_qSeQPgCBRqHBnAf-eN401b3kv5IjqQEomBuljWRFjBfWy9C3WyQM2qmQMvwlwTOt5SDFlRgi8yOH-rLyr15CgsUwnlzyJ1-Sqx-lZUwZxQd5M-Ha6Ycb6jwk7i2oilfYAA/s1600/IMG_7828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuYzNDpJLEX21LeV46HKaf1EtdtAQpwY66kDw_RDCxu9pdxdm7NF99YVIRqEr9yvpJasqp3WQvi9ltuwHXXEC1cBhnbV7P58i8O_4puZhW2JAOc2xuE3dLWHNYr-erzUKNvJ0NS69e-s/s1600/IMG_7627.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixuYzNDpJLEX21LeV46HKaf1EtdtAQpwY66kDw_RDCxu9pdxdm7NF99YVIRqEr9yvpJasqp3WQvi9ltuwHXXEC1cBhnbV7P58i8O_4puZhW2JAOc2xuE3dLWHNYr-erzUKNvJ0NS69e-s/s1600/IMG_7627.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjBVWrlDdm_qSeQPgCBRqHBnAf-eN401b3kv5IjqQEomBuljWRFjBfWy9C3WyQM2qmQMvwlwTOt5SDFlRgi8yOH-rLyr15CgsUwnlzyJ1-Sqx-lZUwZxQd5M-Ha6Ycb6jwk7i2oilfYAA/s1600/IMG_7828.JPG" height="266" width="400" /><b></b></span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe6cAZFERMKZaNVOhNGEIJoA9x1IWPWNs2arYrk1JVTiqUkaLwBgCvgD96gvfOMlajYxoIXhJcrwEj8UnUo9Z7fD4eggKDLxJn8G24HOnPonR8OJvu97pm9o2YP4Pa8hcM2Smdq6LcdE/s1600/IMG_7814.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTe6cAZFERMKZaNVOhNGEIJoA9x1IWPWNs2arYrk1JVTiqUkaLwBgCvgD96gvfOMlajYxoIXhJcrwEj8UnUo9Z7fD4eggKDLxJn8G24HOnPonR8OJvu97pm9o2YP4Pa8hcM2Smdq6LcdE/s1600/IMG_7814.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
Health</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You've been a very healthy little boy so far. At six months, however, you did get a case of pink eye. Yuck! You had to go to the doctor and then stay home from daycare for a full day while you started eyedrops. Putting the eyedrops in are about as fun as wrestling an angry bear. You have two teeth on the bottom and now you're working to cut the two teeth on the top. Your poor gums look so red and swollen and I can see two little white marks on your gums. We try our best to relieve your pain with teethers, homeopathic gel, ice cubes inside a mesh feeder and sometimes Tylenol.</span><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc4hDKLicQQuxGRBWl8bFoGny4gO00td4BWeyy1xKpQ_k8tYAO019SpUPm23C792b75jkCKSo7-zKZMd8X0kwHeBCIw2gUA_YnS5xeSPhGmqGDjPi2QIg9Kmz1QulAJ6I7QhLnbYwBLw/s1600/IMG_7716.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc4hDKLicQQuxGRBWl8bFoGny4gO00td4BWeyy1xKpQ_k8tYAO019SpUPm23C792b75jkCKSo7-zKZMd8X0kwHeBCIw2gUA_YnS5xeSPhGmqGDjPi2QIg9Kmz1QulAJ6I7QhLnbYwBLw/s1600/IMG_7716.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vESz8OlqRvDx29PX7TJS2j717EwoZK7GY4MEVkUhbHNIZBtaB6-aziIOwxFSTFNrXxh5SWbRjwzG3PsVH8x_Jmk4pjVqy8J69FOgCixi92wYG4kCFwNFe2ejVAChepCLfTJzR18zONU/s1600/IMG_7795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vESz8OlqRvDx29PX7TJS2j717EwoZK7GY4MEVkUhbHNIZBtaB6-aziIOwxFSTFNrXxh5SWbRjwzG3PsVH8x_Jmk4pjVqy8J69FOgCixi92wYG4kCFwNFe2ejVAChepCLfTJzR18zONU/s1600/IMG_7795.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sleep</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From around the end of your fifth month to the beginning of the sixth, you've had a bit of a sleep regression. You have a bath, play and take a bottle and then go to sleep around 8 p.m. You proceed to wake up a couple times during the night to eat. You wake for the day around 6:30 or 7:00 a.m. During the day you take "cat naps."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diet</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are getting formula and breast milk. We're looking forward to trying to start solids with you soon, as you're starting to show some very early signs of "readiness."</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW2otaGxLir3_Ipy-Z_A7SF6p0kIdYQe4hxdMMHJGCCIOjO9JsZUyTSz2-FDKbkSFe6VfHA7vst9RLRdtVB6Y5S1nhBG0VnrUU_WQ1mUJ1d87qheQJ0nfhXpW4RS2YlDgcYkEzUgKELw/s1600/IMG_7654.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMW2otaGxLir3_Ipy-Z_A7SF6p0kIdYQe4hxdMMHJGCCIOjO9JsZUyTSz2-FDKbkSFe6VfHA7vst9RLRdtVB6Y5S1nhBG0VnrUU_WQ1mUJ1d87qheQJ0nfhXpW4RS2YlDgcYkEzUgKELw/s1600/IMG_7654.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a><b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Milestones</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You're starting to sit up very well on your own. You also roll very well. It seems like you're doing something new almost every single day and it amazes us. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Likes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are truly one of the happiest, most fun-loving children I've ever met! I hope you keep this happy personality. You just love to laugh. You laugh at daddy picking you up and holding you in the air. You laugh at being kissed and when we "eat" your neck. You laugh when we say "boo." You also love sitting in your highchair. I think it makes you feel like a big guy. Your favorite toys are your vibrating owl we named "Owly" (super original), Sophie the giraffe and books. You absolutely love reading books with us. You also love being outside and going on walks.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dislikes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You don't like when mommy uses the Nose Frida on you. And you hate your pink eye drops. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nicknames</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Peanut, peanut butter, little pumpkin, pumpkin butt, punk, boo boo, boo boo bear, boo berry pancakes. (Why is this list growing every month!? Ha!)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><b>Things I want to remember</b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You had your first trip to Vala's Pumpkin Patch, your first trip to the Joslyn Art Museum for the Andy Warhol exhibit and your first Halloween recently. For Halloween you were a cute little monkey and we trick-or-treated to your Great-Grandpa and Great-Grandma Holcomb's house in Arcadia. We spent Halloween weekend with Grandpa and Grandma Hickman and it was a lot of fun. Jude, you are the light of our lives and this is such a happy time with you. We're looking forward to the next six months!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EqehUQJ7Igf6Py0DO_wU2t78nTXubc4S4N0bWE8w6sFwzt6QS_sZDQIwJbGY4saTlPjNieuu-d_ih0M8dqxXE7xDLELMlVTFspO52J4QmZ-LOHskm7lw2US44o6mEdr1Y2R3a-qyUHM/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1EqehUQJ7Igf6Py0DO_wU2t78nTXubc4S4N0bWE8w6sFwzt6QS_sZDQIwJbGY4saTlPjNieuu-d_ih0M8dqxXE7xDLELMlVTFspO52J4QmZ-LOHskm7lw2US44o6mEdr1Y2R3a-qyUHM/s1600/IMG_7872.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-4937742289832700932015-01-03T12:35:00.000-08:002015-06-15T12:35:50.587-07:00Jude | Seven & Eight Months<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMyfEpSG-tAMnK2y3nOCFKpni3F9A4H64PvQYGWFjRRTu1y7OFfl0vJNu7yqm_AExmQjpspHBzrfQwpG_GW_ORIzKHL8Y7Qw_GcyqhNv9-ik8oc8bRDuJf0ytYBVbVwH1y4prbas7zLo/s1600/IMG_7941.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMyfEpSG-tAMnK2y3nOCFKpni3F9A4H64PvQYGWFjRRTu1y7OFfl0vJNu7yqm_AExmQjpspHBzrfQwpG_GW_ORIzKHL8Y7Qw_GcyqhNv9-ik8oc8bRDuJf0ytYBVbVwH1y4prbas7zLo/s1600/IMG_7941.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ4npGc-uoqibcN7rI7zuZDDSMYmkObndYYBIgRQqINMCXsPLoWNzIhNeWOkWNknFcB37UXQ7Q7mQdw1DumMQsUmHtdRWq38n-rJN9m3IQBD3HO2I_ZP-X7oz2m_FfszuACMn8w19Two/s1600/IMG_7977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJ4npGc-uoqibcN7rI7zuZDDSMYmkObndYYBIgRQqINMCXsPLoWNzIhNeWOkWNknFcB37UXQ7Q7mQdw1DumMQsUmHtdRWq38n-rJN9m3IQBD3HO2I_ZP-X7oz2m_FfszuACMn8w19Two/s1600/IMG_7977.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefwRiHi8FsWTlBFzRLG-A8fP8jf1nyJEOz6CvXj31laE2aq3kIr1fLuEFPQ_Ut91spYqN68W3TxjVybU7y6BQm8hI3S58wQAWmCU5Ahsyr3RJIe6fp8iOZWCD0LHQz9HWFxs4y4bXWqs/s1600/IMG_8006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiefwRiHi8FsWTlBFzRLG-A8fP8jf1nyJEOz6CvXj31laE2aq3kIr1fLuEFPQ_Ut91spYqN68W3TxjVybU7y6BQm8hI3S58wQAWmCU5Ahsyr3RJIe6fp8iOZWCD0LHQz9HWFxs4y4bXWqs/s1600/IMG_8006.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif53KTdu5USlVPn3XZXKjjmPBjewcMlQMsQXehLz3DXz-TcfVOu87IO2J7YSGH_S-TCExhXVWqVdILa-zeAFMAuXrhyJS57ryBKPBeoVjmYGyQlq18BpN_qXXW_1kK64zfPfpRwLRLN14/s1600/IMG_8011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif53KTdu5USlVPn3XZXKjjmPBjewcMlQMsQXehLz3DXz-TcfVOu87IO2J7YSGH_S-TCExhXVWqVdILa-zeAFMAuXrhyJS57ryBKPBeoVjmYGyQlq18BpN_qXXW_1kK64zfPfpRwLRLN14/s1600/IMG_8011.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNZdG9KoJYuDp0tOJ4qQP9VKZchd84uiwt_yeqWRtBBk1QMwPrXz3dxITUdopFphJksxkLvTliLrAY3u24UzEMWFInf9B2SIbQhRniw6XFAlJ8905jbXqKphCRTsmlQFGV7sekflQmt4/s1600/IMG_8184.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJNZdG9KoJYuDp0tOJ4qQP9VKZchd84uiwt_yeqWRtBBk1QMwPrXz3dxITUdopFphJksxkLvTliLrAY3u24UzEMWFInf9B2SIbQhRniw6XFAlJ8905jbXqKphCRTsmlQFGV7sekflQmt4/s1600/IMG_8184.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMDZ92Ox9lM5u_BfAKj_n-8MnZq3RHaG1C_Vkhh3pJg-Y40acWAn5G2F-vHYKU45FCYUiCTKdj33vp0_HM7zRcO0fTQuSqBHQjbBEmOy5gOJ3SoFy123_vbePfmozEVHaL0ELPbCNtNA/s1600/IMG_8211.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwMDZ92Ox9lM5u_BfAKj_n-8MnZq3RHaG1C_Vkhh3pJg-Y40acWAn5G2F-vHYKU45FCYUiCTKdj33vp0_HM7zRcO0fTQuSqBHQjbBEmOy5gOJ3SoFy123_vbePfmozEVHaL0ELPbCNtNA/s1600/IMG_8211.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U5h9cenST1bf_2VAVbSZVwznfKA4xlelZbKhnmv_TxtrlhXnTmaebeCLh7zYLe_nTOqBrCuB2tiunZDdZan3LI_PTMew6N9LEo2XbYq2Mn_B6PWqZiB23CqBEvIRfC9rx1kPAZn2_mc/s1600/IMG_8244.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7U5h9cenST1bf_2VAVbSZVwznfKA4xlelZbKhnmv_TxtrlhXnTmaebeCLh7zYLe_nTOqBrCuB2tiunZDdZan3LI_PTMew6N9LEo2XbYq2Mn_B6PWqZiB23CqBEvIRfC9rx1kPAZn2_mc/s1600/IMG_8244.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vX4loA55-si1Uk8wUgS3-HjzJwixSIUkPOenrouYBcc4_uul6bXzt1yh1SNfVnMk5CfZ28ujLrNGSmkqZ9HjmZJdePiJh2WfQ1nTv8zIRhP3a6IulSni5R1F0P9HMHgrdf-tSJ6ERq8/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3vX4loA55-si1Uk8wUgS3-HjzJwixSIUkPOenrouYBcc4_uul6bXzt1yh1SNfVnMk5CfZ28ujLrNGSmkqZ9HjmZJdePiJh2WfQ1nTv8zIRhP3a6IulSni5R1F0P9HMHgrdf-tSJ6ERq8/s1600/IMG_8308.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif21e4WVM__9pqXyvyiZqLCUxzBilF8m82aPYO8cwkh-6dLJwhCPcNF7d14FMxi7lpbyAS8mY9L5XLl39zIrvQD-P4WdWpVv3fM4l_t0NfeKvrSTA4YXRDqs-Idt-IAJN0nl2aOOzD0O4/s1600/t1226944.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif21e4WVM__9pqXyvyiZqLCUxzBilF8m82aPYO8cwkh-6dLJwhCPcNF7d14FMxi7lpbyAS8mY9L5XLl39zIrvQD-P4WdWpVv3fM4l_t0NfeKvrSTA4YXRDqs-Idt-IAJN0nl2aOOzD0O4/s1600/t1226944.jpg" /></a></div>
<br /></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-22726607454419171822014-09-17T19:04:00.001-07:002014-09-17T19:04:36.494-07:00Jude | Four Months<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2dhdTonc4km8B-N-gMXDgpKcPqItVpefe1fEu7SJlfejkUPQXTawWEHPWPFqY1tt4FcWB_xXXhBUvxCCobC6M9Ct6H1PknmvcUiHqpHJHqABaxaCm2BIerjRSRCqnnmP1LOARCnHAgQ/s1600/IMG_7234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo2dhdTonc4km8B-N-gMXDgpKcPqItVpefe1fEu7SJlfejkUPQXTawWEHPWPFqY1tt4FcWB_xXXhBUvxCCobC6M9Ct6H1PknmvcUiHqpHJHqABaxaCm2BIerjRSRCqnnmP1LOARCnHAgQ/s1600/IMG_7234.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you are four months old!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diaper size</b> | Size two</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Weight</b> | 15+ pounds (we think!)</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Health</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Chomp, chomp, chomp! You got your first tooth right around your four-month birthday. We got you an amber teething necklace and I'm not sure it works. I may have noticed a tiny bit less drool when you wear it. Otherwise, we manage the discomfort with cool teethers, homeopathic gel and Tylenol. You also might be getting your first little cold. I knew it was inevitable since you go to daycare. You had a bit of a stuffy nose.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sleep</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your typical routine is to have your bath at 9 p.m. followed by playtime, food and rocking you to sleep. You will sleep from about 10:30 p.m. to 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. You eat and then go back to sleep until around 6:30 to 7:00 a.m. You take a few short naps throughout the day.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diet</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are still getting breast milk and being supplemented with formula. You eat a four ounce bottle about every two hours or so.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Milestones</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Of course, your first tooth is a huge milestone. You've also began to hold your head up without help and now you reach for your toys and grab them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Likes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You love, love, love to laugh and smile. You have a smile for everyone and it melts my heart. You love tummy time and playing on your play mat. And you're totally a "toy child." Toys of all kinds pique your interest and you love to use your hands to explore them. You also still like your bath time and get really happy after you're clean. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dislikes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You really don't have too many dislikes right now. You're not a big fan of me wiping your nose and you don't like to be hungry. Other than that, you're a happy camper. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicknames</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peanut, peanut butter, little pumpkin, pumpkin butt, punk, boo boo.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things I want to remember</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your laugh is music to my ears. You LOVE to laugh, smile and have fun. When daddy bounces you or "Supermans" you, it makes you squeal with joy. I also love how you nuzzle your head into my neck when I pick you up. And when I come to get you from daycare, you just light up. Jude, you are the light of my life, little boy. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-36866199575322757882014-08-02T08:31:00.005-07:002014-08-02T08:31:57.702-07:00Jude | Three Months<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWxrdcxgDFza4R0zIbipuZLRqksB_2IPtFbs4faAYUGWbk2ksqvrWCQ9OkFa8rKlDn3rhtHe1dgxaT-fzh2wnIWjyrMMiPQ2ijDCC8j4LH2fHTwt5Pr8oS1rnCIog0Up-gFybiP742Gc/s1600/IMG_7108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfWxrdcxgDFza4R0zIbipuZLRqksB_2IPtFbs4faAYUGWbk2ksqvrWCQ9OkFa8rKlDn3rhtHe1dgxaT-fzh2wnIWjyrMMiPQ2ijDCC8j4LH2fHTwt5Pr8oS1rnCIog0Up-gFybiP742Gc/s1600/IMG_7108.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you are three months old!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diaper size</b> | Size one</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Weight</b> | 13+ pounds</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Health</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nothing to report in this department. You're still a healthy baby! Although you have been drooling a bit more and chewing on your hands. Maybe you're teething early?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sleep</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10313180_10203589617452286_2757182462062383849_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xfp1/t1.0-9/10313180_10203589617452286_2757182462062383849_n.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Your typical routine is to have your bath at 9 p.m. followed by playtime, food and rocking you to sleep. You will sleep from about 10:30 p.m. to 3:00 or 4:00 a.m. You eat and then go back to sleep until around 6 a.m. You really don't like to nap during the day and when you do, it's only for a half-hour to 45 minutes. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diet</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are still breastfeeding and being supplemented with formula. Lately your appetite seems to be increasing, so I'm suspecting it's the three-month growth spurt. You eat a four ounce bottle and breastfeed about every two hours or so.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Milestones</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you recently started laughing! It was the best sound I've ever heard. Mommy was kissing on your face at a restaurant and you let out a big laugh. My heart melted. We're still working with you on tummy time and being able to hold your head up. You'll get there soon. You also like to make a lot of noise! You coo, yell and babble. Another developmental milestone is that you've started to reach for items and grasp them. You're just getting started with this skill, but are making progress. Recently, you found your tongue and really like to stick it out at us. One big milestone is that on your three-month birthday, you rolled over! </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Likes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You love "talking" to mommy and daddy. You also love your play mat and mommy bought you a bouncer seat this week so you can sit in the kitchen while I cook. You like when mommy reads you books (especially your black and white books). And at bath time, you're all smiles when I lotion you up! You also still like spending time in your swings.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNNTKr6JOoR4RUQmDPt7G0KVQgrirEU7a9rYYQWQwL9Ns7afE29XimvdJjMivw8WGsgbnmzukEWIvN1KmJozsgWl5LAoL1CFEEAgJ1wIqfsDK8PiuoW43RCcTzznxsfw4jenTXeqNI8o/s1600/IMG_7083.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTNNTKr6JOoR4RUQmDPt7G0KVQgrirEU7a9rYYQWQwL9Ns7afE29XimvdJjMivw8WGsgbnmzukEWIvN1KmJozsgWl5LAoL1CFEEAgJ1wIqfsDK8PiuoW43RCcTzznxsfw4jenTXeqNI8o/s1600/IMG_7083.jpg" height="320" style="cursor: move;" width="213" /></a></div>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dislikes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you really don't like to nap. Even worse? You hate being tired! Yep, it's a double-edged sword. You fight sleep and then get pretty crabby if you're overtired. Luckily, it doesn't happen too often because mommy watches your sleep cues closely. As soon as you yawn or act tired, we start a calm process of going to sleep. I also discovered that you don't like me to wipe your nose or clean your ears. </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicknames</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peanut, peanut butter, little pumpkin, pumpkin butt, punk.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things I want to remember</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You have such a funny little personality. You smile at us all the time and love talking to us. When daddy walks in the room, you always look toward his voice and give him a grin. Lately I've been trying to spend as much time holding you as possible, especially when you nap, because on Monday </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I have to return to work. The past few months at home with you have been some of the best days of my life and I love you so much. But I know the ladies at your daycare will take excellent care of you and you're going to learn and grow. Other things I want to remember include taking you to see daddy race his BMX bike for the first time, you having a pretty epic meltdown in church (thank goodness for the nursery), and you being a good little shopping buddy to me. Jude, you are such a sweet, smiley little boy and I'm looking forward to how much you'll change and grow in the next month.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2O2xr3QvuJABpcZaH-ZuC1UA-St2MzvVn7Ag9PQiXD38RVdhglotPCHLCq804u-fHpgdPTZ1sYiY8AntIKaeNXxkRP2qQEcG-rboLjm2RWsG3Vu5Hr_n9UvCTeJuY5N_K0_NZ3h6oM4/s1600/IMG_7110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2O2xr3QvuJABpcZaH-ZuC1UA-St2MzvVn7Ag9PQiXD38RVdhglotPCHLCq804u-fHpgdPTZ1sYiY8AntIKaeNXxkRP2qQEcG-rboLjm2RWsG3Vu5Hr_n9UvCTeJuY5N_K0_NZ3h6oM4/s1600/IMG_7110.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span>
</div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-52410036216998411882014-07-30T11:31:00.001-07:002014-07-30T11:31:27.648-07:00New recipe post at Simple.Chic.Savory | Garbanzo Bean Salad<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Head over to <a href="http://simplechicsavory.blogspot.com/2014/07/refreshing-garbanzo-bean-salad.html">my cooking blog</a> and check out my latest recipe for Refreshing Garbanzo Bean Salad. It is seriously delicious, healthy and super-easy!</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://simplechicsavory.blogspot.com/2014/07/refreshing-garbanzo-bean-salad.html"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit8AeW3feE-3oyE8Ft6Sf9iR6-MMQhWc1n2oZoum78ye2wwHixc0oQAdelIm6vXWD8LHBV30mHjuNIoPertGMnAg56S0j8yFBXxfGinXJnRLItLjLSuPGUgfpCvgfL77RsfqrH3w4yHaw/s1600/IMG_7096.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-76519273415906935352014-07-08T14:42:00.001-07:002014-07-08T14:42:16.266-07:00Jude | Two Months<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW0QtfvDZJTpQ6qjSScfnYr4tkX4wck-QnRFu8gxm98qZf4KP6hMRr2LfuwrYZ2EC9Eku2VmjINfNA51Y0_gk71hh7xDG9-dXvQ_xzl1clco0wRULLEuBsCFEsxh6NfbTCTTnFl3WlWo/s1600/IMG_7027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiW0QtfvDZJTpQ6qjSScfnYr4tkX4wck-QnRFu8gxm98qZf4KP6hMRr2LfuwrYZ2EC9Eku2VmjINfNA51Y0_gk71hh7xDG9-dXvQ_xzl1clco0wRULLEuBsCFEsxh6NfbTCTTnFl3WlWo/s1600/IMG_7027.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you are two months old!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Diaper size</b> | Size one</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>Weight</b> | 12.1 pounds</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Health
</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You've been a pretty healthy baby. On
Monday, July 7 you had your two-month check-up and shots. The
pediatrician got you to coo for him. When you had your shots, you let
out a bit of a cry and then calmed right down. Mom was preparing for
the worst, but you did great.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Z9ViOSO-8wPvcsRMfcqRz9k_HhJvnDxvxi2qdavDD1j6LC6OQ_MRp6M77HjydrA6_FFOyepeguqWrvvdtGWoeFcpY7hNiMBWayU9jmZ7dYJjcDsvpJb35C8ViWUyfE51YlmDEDDd_w/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf3Z9ViOSO-8wPvcsRMfcqRz9k_HhJvnDxvxi2qdavDD1j6LC6OQ_MRp6M77HjydrA6_FFOyepeguqWrvvdtGWoeFcpY7hNiMBWayU9jmZ7dYJjcDsvpJb35C8ViWUyfE51YlmDEDDd_w/s1600/IMG_7042.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Fourth of July outfit. Not happy, but cute.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sleep</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You don't sleep through the night, and
that's okay. We have, however, had two six-hour stretches of sleep
from you in the past week. Your typical routine is to have your bath
at 9 p.m. followed by playtime, food and rocking you to sleep. You
will sleep from about 10:30 p.m. to 1:00 or 2:00 a.m. You eat and
then go back to sleep until around 5 a.m.
</span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoU5DW7lfa6LbV5oS-q_uWjzowPeJwhFfhyphenhyphenj6JS4YJYaGNX_JGretU2CpA60bkEBxejhXOLsASct1sYeOs38DTCpLp4pknOAGlZ5KpzDmW8f1kvo5aqJI3hHOEPig4vi8vKurxsLDEU4/s1600/IMG_7020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaoU5DW7lfa6LbV5oS-q_uWjzowPeJwhFfhyphenhyphenj6JS4YJYaGNX_JGretU2CpA60bkEBxejhXOLsASct1sYeOs38DTCpLp4pknOAGlZ5KpzDmW8f1kvo5aqJI3hHOEPig4vi8vKurxsLDEU4/s1600/IMG_7020.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Loving your play mat.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Diet</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You are still breastfeeding and being
supplemented with formula. You take eating very seriously and squeal
and scream when we have to use the burp rag to wipe your face in the
middle of your meal. I think you get that from mommy.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Milestones</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude, you are a cooing and smiling
machine! You smile when people interact with you and coo very loudly.
In fact, you've been smiling since you were three weeks old! You also
follow things with your eyes very well and even like watching mommy
vacuum. We're also practicing “tummy time” which you seem to
like. This week I watched you try to roll over during tummy time.
You're very strong.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3j_IVvr1217BX7q_sg2RiV4MMARwnGA-Eq0hNknaE1WHDzGMy3z_jb5fael6lC0bsB2pvMPxpa0XKHmQw-x6seLmSS9fFqguOHDAJHkBsll3o93D7pMKla1yKKpJzAFKbj8hmLImT0E/s1600/IMG_7026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn3j_IVvr1217BX7q_sg2RiV4MMARwnGA-Eq0hNknaE1WHDzGMy3z_jb5fael6lC0bsB2pvMPxpa0XKHmQw-x6seLmSS9fFqguOHDAJHkBsll3o93D7pMKla1yKKpJzAFKbj8hmLImT0E/s1600/IMG_7026.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Riding in the Baby Bjorn.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Likes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You like when we talk and sing to you.
Your play mat/baby gym is also a hit right now. Another “like” is
your swings. Yes, swings (plural). We have the Mamaroo but you loved
the swing grandma keeps at her house so much that mommy and daddy
bought one for you also. You love the crazy faces and noises your
daddy makes at you and get especially happy when he howls at you like
a wolf (we're a strange bunch, what can I say?). You also like your bath time. When we're done, mommy always gives you a baby massage with lotion and puts fresh pajamas on you. You get really happy afterward!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDAwTbcLz2qPWxD9VMgbk2sDlzXytZb3W7xh7xETvi-OzvuVEkhOlVkfEUqBB4_LO49c-mfxCGgwcD35I2oVg4BVCMBWMbngkEm1Zh8mRw9ItYm9-yfO7FvnL7eBrOuP2veZWW2gfs4M/s1600/IMG_7050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlDAwTbcLz2qPWxD9VMgbk2sDlzXytZb3W7xh7xETvi-OzvuVEkhOlVkfEUqBB4_LO49c-mfxCGgwcD35I2oVg4BVCMBWMbngkEm1Zh8mRw9ItYm9-yfO7FvnL7eBrOuP2veZWW2gfs4M/s1600/IMG_7050.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Sleeping in grandma's swing.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b><br /><b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Dislikes</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You don't like to be held facing
people. You like to be able to see what's going on. You also don't
like to have a wet or dirty diaper. As soon as we change you, you're
all smiles. You also don't like to sleep that much. I think you feel
that you're going to miss out on something. I assure you, when you
sleep, mommy isn't doing anything fun.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Nicknames</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Peanut, peanut butter, little pumpkin,
pumpkin butt. You'll just hate that I called you these someday. I
promise to drop them once you're old enough to be embarrassed.
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br />
</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Things I want to remember</span></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">You are just such a happy little boy.
Sometimes when I'm trying to get you to go to sleep and I go to check
on you, you give me a huge grin. I tell you that you're supposed to
be sleeping and you give me the gummiest smile and it melts my heart.
You've enjoyed seeing a lot of your family lately including Grandpa
Duane and Grandma Dianne. They came to visit and we all went to lunch
together. We spent the Fourth of July weekend with Grandpa Doug and
Grandma Michelle and Aunt Kara and Uncle Kevin. It was a blast and
grandma and I had fun dressing you in a patriotic outfit. We also
stopped by mommy's office for lunch so that my co-workers could meet
you. You were very good and fell asleep while we were there. You also met your great-grandmother Naoma this month. She thought you were pretty special. In
August mommy goes back to work full-time and you will start daycare.
It will be a bittersweet day for sure. I'm excited to go back to work
and see all my great co-workers but I will deeply miss the time we
spend together every day. But I love your daycare and I think it will
be very good for you. It's a Montessori school and I'm sure you'll
learn so many new things and explore your senses. Jude, you bring so much joy to our lives and I am so thankful that you are our son!</span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-25515019979909758602014-06-09T13:58:00.003-07:002014-06-09T13:58:30.171-07:00Postpartum Weight Issues<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZScOcKg05bhvKZW_hscsjV_HsEmBx6geZ5JLpDI5DrndpL7w5KkflTHUGcrYLxIX0osPS9nnEjqbLK_P0LsKvaEXAjPk22EhxrWbjQBc2cjqglC-8oUvJOuy6m7RSf2GOFCOFWvYKvkQ/s1600/IMG_6060.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZScOcKg05bhvKZW_hscsjV_HsEmBx6geZ5JLpDI5DrndpL7w5KkflTHUGcrYLxIX0osPS9nnEjqbLK_P0LsKvaEXAjPk22EhxrWbjQBc2cjqglC-8oUvJOuy6m7RSf2GOFCOFWvYKvkQ/s1600/IMG_6060.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The weekend I found out I was pregnant.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">You've just had a baby. You are exhausted, your hormones have completely crashed, you are covered in a mixture of breast milk (or formula), spit up and baby pee (if you have a little boy you know what I mean). You feel lucky to get a shower and putting on makeup is a feat you would compare--at this point--to climbing Everest. Your body looks and feels completely different. The adorable, round tummy that you loved and once held your little one is gone and left in its place is a soft, poochy thing you don't recognize. And thank God for maternity clothes. <i>Yep, you'll still be wearing them after you give birth. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Postpartum body issues can be tough. Perhaps you're one of the lucky women who don't/won't struggle with these issues--and I hope you are. I, however, haven't been so fortunate.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Back in August 2013 when I found out I was pregnant, I had actually been trying to lose the approximately 30 pounds I had gained since Scott and I moved to Omaha. Why the weight gain? I went from working out almost daily (I worked as the marketing director for the YMCA at the time so I literally worked in a gym) to being really sedentary and the stress of a new city, new job and new home triggered my previously-resolved emotional eating issues. It was like the perfect storm for weight issues. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">I'm not going to lie--although I was thrilled to discover I was pregnant, my mind soon switched gears and I began to panic about my weight. I had hoped to lose 30 pounds and was now pregnant, which can typically cause the average woman to gain about 30 pounds (or more!). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnMJBsA_1jHJ8-kufBhjqC1eaEkBxiy_nPEd2vGzUasG-iOH4a5yYaQwHIm1_WNz86BT9-UWjBHDxJt8W5bYRrMJJq_qe1PEnaKzjXmmDgWziLuQ73ijt3KI4dSLvFwq4cvil0Xn8x9A/s1600/IMG_6801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihnMJBsA_1jHJ8-kufBhjqC1eaEkBxiy_nPEd2vGzUasG-iOH4a5yYaQwHIm1_WNz86BT9-UWjBHDxJt8W5bYRrMJJq_qe1PEnaKzjXmmDgWziLuQ73ijt3KI4dSLvFwq4cvil0Xn8x9A/s1600/IMG_6801.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Me at nine months pregnant--about<br /> a week before having Jude.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">During the nine months of my pregnancy, I worked fairly hard to maintain a heal</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">thy amount of weight gain. At my first pregnancy appointment I weighed 174 pounds. For the first six months my weight didn't increase a ton and my doctor was pleased. Starting the pregnancy overweight, it wasn't recommended that I gain a ton. But as any of you mamas know, some gain is inevitable and I ended my pregnancy at about 205 pounds.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">After Jude was born, I was so worried about the baby weight coming off. Now, I know it doesn't work this way for everyone, but breastfeeding really helped me with this. At first I was exclusively breastfeeding and was back to my pre-pregnancy weight within two weeks! I was thrilled, naturally. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Breastfeeding was getting more and more difficult, though. He didn't have a good latch from the beginning and my supply was really suffering. Because he wasn't gaining weight, I had to begin supplementing with formula (which devastated me, but more on that in a later post). Soon, I found that because I was not breastfeeding exclusively, my weight began to slowly creep up. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJfIsFrGqLi8-6wdutE6zXlA3xr8AYC3eCAQP3PLgvINNl4u-xzMuWSMZ1UV1nKSpKLiFcvp-R-SXMLy6w0C55TQs_8GRf44lQAJVL31ztjYxkokeM3Z6TJwv3jgm1mgzDjdJPcoAmU/s1600/IMG_6892.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOnJfIsFrGqLi8-6wdutE6zXlA3xr8AYC3eCAQP3PLgvINNl4u-xzMuWSMZ1UV1nKSpKLiFcvp-R-SXMLy6w0C55TQs_8GRf44lQAJVL31ztjYxkokeM3Z6TJwv3jgm1mgzDjdJPcoAmU/s1600/IMG_6892.JPG" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two days after giving birth. Getting ready to leave the hospital.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">So, here I am, just over six weeks postpartum. I've decided that now is a good time for me to get my body and health back on track using Weight Watchers. About six years ago, I used Weight Watchers to lose weight I had been packing on before taking my job at the YMCA. The program worked really well for me and I was successful. As someone who has suffered with eating and body image issues in the past, I like this program because it doesn't restrict foods and creates a supportive environment. I'll be using my iPhone to track my Weight Watchers points and progress. I would also stress that I'm not planning to get too stressed out about the numbers on a scale. My main priority is my health and being fit and healthy for my little boy, my husband and of course, myself.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Because I'm a first-time mom, I don't have a ton of advice or wisdom for other moms dealing with weight or body image issues after the birth of their babies. But I can say that I empathize with you. In a society that puts airbrushed celebrity post-baby bodies on the covers of magazines and applauds these women for "having their bodies back" within mere weeks of giving birth, the pressure to look a certain way is real. And while I don't think it's bad to be concerned with your weight or health after giving birth, I think the best thing we new moms can be obsessed with in the postpartum period is our precious little babies. Our weight will still be here in a few months and we can work on it in our own time. <i>Newborns, however, don't keep. </i></span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-54021304668964256862014-05-30T09:38:00.001-07:002014-05-30T09:38:13.121-07:00Baby Gear Part IThe world of baby gear can be overwhelming. The day Scott and I registered for baby items, we stood in Target looking at each other and just began to laugh. We had no. freaking. clue.<br />
<br />
And guess what? We still don't. <i>But we're figuring it out.</i><br />
<br />
Here are a few of the things we decided to purchase after receiving recommendations and reading reviews. I plan to share a "Part II" of this post with more items as well as how we're getting along with the things below. Hopefully this will help other first-time moms as they register and shop!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=21910606&cp=&parentPage=search">Arm's Reach Co-Sleeper </a></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-16145580dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-16145580dt.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=12989686&cp=&parentPage=search"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">4moms mamaRoo Swing</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-12927855dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-12927855dt.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.buybuybaby.com/store/product/Angelcare-reg-Video-Movement-and-Sound-Baby-Monitor-System-with-2-3-4-Inch-LCD-Color-Screen/1042424833?Keyword=angelcare"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Angelcare Video Movement Monitor</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/BedBathandBeyond/35860042424833p?qlt=85,1&op_sharpen=1&resMode=bilin&id=EYBSN3&hei=537&wid=537&fmt=png-alpha" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://s7d9.scene7.com/is/image/BedBathandBeyond/35860042424833p?qlt=85,1&op_sharpen=1&resMode=bilin&id=EYBSN3&hei=537&wid=537&fmt=png-alpha" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.bloomingbath.com/blooming-bath-baby-bath.html"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Blooming Bath</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.bloomingbath.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/350x350/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/l/blooming-bath-baby-bath-turqouise-in-sink-baby-closeup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.bloomingbath.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/350x350/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/b/l/blooming-bath-baby-bath-turqouise-in-sink-baby-closeup.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/BABYBJORN-Baby-Carrier-Active-Black/dp/B000XDXC4K/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1401467104&sr=8-4&keywords=baby+carrier"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Baby Bjorn Active Carrier</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NVHkOIG0L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41NVHkOIG0L.jpg" height="320" width="189" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Boba-BW1-005-Gray-Wrap-Grey/dp/B005SP2LWW/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1401467173&sr=8-1&keywords=boba+wrap"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> Boba Wrap</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71di2xOBL9L._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71di2xOBL9L._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="214" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.target.com/p/britax-b-safe-infant-car-seat/-/A-14140246?ref=tgt_adv_XSG10001&AFID=google_pla_df&LNM=14140246&CPNG=Baby&kpid=14140246&LID=9pgs&ci_src=17588969&ci_sku=14140246&gclid=CJ_tsLSI1L4CFSsV7AodwzwA7w"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Britax B Safe Carseat</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://target.scene7.com/is/image//Target/14140246?wid=610&hei=610" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://target.scene7.com/is/image//Target/14140246?wid=610&hei=610" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/product/index.jsp?productId=24616306&mr:keyword=&mr:trackingCode=68415801-4E27-E311-A497-90E2BA285E75&mr:match=&mr:adType=pla_with_promotion&mr:filter=69226125406&cagpspn=plab_16956416&mr:referralID=NA&mr:ad=48938714926&mr:device=c&camp=PLAPPC-_-PID16956416&KPID=16956416"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Britax B Nimble Stroller</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-16956416dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-16956416dt.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Munchkin-Warm-Glow-Warmer-Colors/dp/B000CNOIQ2"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Munchkin Warm Glow Wipe Warmer</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r4z6ez2RL._SL1500_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51r4z6ez2RL._SL1500_.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/buy/reusable-cloth-diapers/gerber-10-pack-cloth-diapers-50635r060101std-12378513"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gerber Cloth Diapers (I use as burp rags!)</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-11790017dt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="http://www.toysrus.com/graphics/product_images/pTRU1-11790017dt.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.gilt.com/brand/caramellles/product/168965579-caramellles-truffle-diaper-bag"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Caramellles "Truffle" Diaper Bag</span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://cdn5.giltcdn.com/images/share/uploads/0000/0002/0092/200928198/420x560.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn5.giltcdn.com/images/share/uploads/0000/0002/0092/200928198/420x560.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-61434791909115002222014-05-30T09:16:00.000-07:002014-05-30T09:16:59.995-07:00Hey, Jude.<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Jude Scott Miller joined us earthside on Saturday, April 26, 2014 at 4:57 p.m. He was 7 pounds, 9 ounces and 21.25 inches long. He's just perfect and we are in love.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7vwN36Q5vpTDk8VlibLnyI-llOikc6eAzFFqCST5CUMCiJxvHSJC5Qo04cymkNercr0Cm5wkf6daxLIho5afkzAg8-HLeUfhjSr1wExVfFci3i1q95fWmUbUmbu46vBD3vO4qTPuiFY/s1600/Jude-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7vwN36Q5vpTDk8VlibLnyI-llOikc6eAzFFqCST5CUMCiJxvHSJC5Qo04cymkNercr0Cm5wkf6daxLIho5afkzAg8-HLeUfhjSr1wExVfFci3i1q95fWmUbUmbu46vBD3vO4qTPuiFY/s1600/Jude-21.jpg" height="640" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Photo by the talented <a href="http://kpechaphotography.com/">Kimberly Pecha Photography</a>.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-75353640730102229082014-04-12T20:39:00.001-07:002014-04-12T20:39:40.555-07:00Nursery<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had so much fun decorating Baby M's nursery. The project was a collaboration between my husband and myself. Our goal was to create a warm, welcoming space with a lot of color that would also transition from a baby's room to a toddler or child's room easily. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkVFGvmj3-3_RhyXAkZUOrb5fJ_vgpTw9E8mc55uxu8_d98DNAyQYGbFb4_OurLDh5fN-sUZGKmpUsQvRbEq-jZ65FwUddwU6VFtA9ky2KTETWgCMdfBaYWOWXTngVTFFiGdMtfU4OWM/s1600/IMG_6721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPkVFGvmj3-3_RhyXAkZUOrb5fJ_vgpTw9E8mc55uxu8_d98DNAyQYGbFb4_OurLDh5fN-sUZGKmpUsQvRbEq-jZ65FwUddwU6VFtA9ky2KTETWgCMdfBaYWOWXTngVTFFiGdMtfU4OWM/s1600/IMG_6721.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlQSnCC4sE0Pt064vlS7Ktj5PB5QiCxdv_fFqkcEPZO1wV1ZDIT3E7PCMOddXFL3lIJj92P_7x8DTO8cW0Y5xw60tTCEcT4QZkmzAZ1mhgzJC2pSXFV9G44eSStxyyTIG_y0yqCMUbvU/s1600/IMG_6723.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlQSnCC4sE0Pt064vlS7Ktj5PB5QiCxdv_fFqkcEPZO1wV1ZDIT3E7PCMOddXFL3lIJj92P_7x8DTO8cW0Y5xw60tTCEcT4QZkmzAZ1mhgzJC2pSXFV9G44eSStxyyTIG_y0yqCMUbvU/s1600/IMG_6723.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxjxSJOMCg5YfSWAU7b-a5NsyNh5_Yey7C1ZN00n3nFbA1xlKJwknT35qDCQihKvCmyYMdKSIAAVl80e4YTUX0G3ThteRQPeIH0g9WKUg8wQ2vfihTt1JYc6lKzlqYDA8uqdadKkpjcg/s1600/IMG_6724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwxjxSJOMCg5YfSWAU7b-a5NsyNh5_Yey7C1ZN00n3nFbA1xlKJwknT35qDCQihKvCmyYMdKSIAAVl80e4YTUX0G3ThteRQPeIH0g9WKUg8wQ2vfihTt1JYc6lKzlqYDA8uqdadKkpjcg/s1600/IMG_6724.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL-WCYcnYJreiSwmVDBUNROX7Hgd_V2kERLHdiNxQyCGrCJoYEwTvbWQ53l034akc_b2rwH6BFgRXwAELmM9BVPGwyCHV6zCVyM4hXmlfOloGneKRZKaI-pZa6HZ-oZc_7my42Fn-3Nw/s1600/IMG_6725.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL-WCYcnYJreiSwmVDBUNROX7Hgd_V2kERLHdiNxQyCGrCJoYEwTvbWQ53l034akc_b2rwH6BFgRXwAELmM9BVPGwyCHV6zCVyM4hXmlfOloGneKRZKaI-pZa6HZ-oZc_7my42Fn-3Nw/s1600/IMG_6725.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzP5T-FJiuvVput1KgUkRna8tEc97y8SBvLMyvKfxawsDWWMTtB5rA9SOOEjIX_BLrBZk3tED_jblQzhm8AUt_cCWwlzOjnI4tHeNVtEPCdKF4LErFm-IIIi_u8cXrfgFm-sjadskPSU/s1600/IMG_6726.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzzP5T-FJiuvVput1KgUkRna8tEc97y8SBvLMyvKfxawsDWWMTtB5rA9SOOEjIX_BLrBZk3tED_jblQzhm8AUt_cCWwlzOjnI4tHeNVtEPCdKF4LErFm-IIIi_u8cXrfgFm-sjadskPSU/s1600/IMG_6726.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc5ZyBvdlbpZJlnQgCvdnIepPgAECtGXmuOLx1hmrA84OzrCeauu1cw5zhxt3RhnmC9wfFKhYoPHHlj2K_zIZMUvmkXIO-GbgzgXOwA-AIMhgnvZFCg1ndL3WyA9ALZ0pHTZ5yNJ-abc/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguc5ZyBvdlbpZJlnQgCvdnIepPgAECtGXmuOLx1hmrA84OzrCeauu1cw5zhxt3RhnmC9wfFKhYoPHHlj2K_zIZMUvmkXIO-GbgzgXOwA-AIMhgnvZFCg1ndL3WyA9ALZ0pHTZ5yNJ-abc/s1600/IMG_6727.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK9dwWfkk_4CEWfp1eiiMrlLzBHO0wv_xKlc_CdBYTxM6e_hqBMgMyIOVcWwmFFnm1dB88MtvG81OB3Y9T56fyN7wGHjWs9YBbHNCxvZM_pCyzQhYSvfevXPDawVcgGiOXSkHA9XYMo8/s1600/IMG_6728.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwK9dwWfkk_4CEWfp1eiiMrlLzBHO0wv_xKlc_CdBYTxM6e_hqBMgMyIOVcWwmFFnm1dB88MtvG81OB3Y9T56fyN7wGHjWs9YBbHNCxvZM_pCyzQhYSvfevXPDawVcgGiOXSkHA9XYMo8/s1600/IMG_6728.JPG" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KbmTh7yE8hToMieT5SlUdLGfF4XcPplGjubekZT2poHlmhEj3vvhiAPcBODjTibqHXzqWtBQZHi6ercjJWGmhNBnzua-BoCRq8datHTPN2h8c6lp_roqgFVGouVi3MgZIs2mUGhrvxA/s1600/IMG_6731.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KbmTh7yE8hToMieT5SlUdLGfF4XcPplGjubekZT2poHlmhEj3vvhiAPcBODjTibqHXzqWtBQZHi6ercjJWGmhNBnzua-BoCRq8datHTPN2h8c6lp_roqgFVGouVi3MgZIs2mUGhrvxA/s1600/IMG_6731.JPG" height="640" width="426" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWtv_YN_gh-JeUQRVOhOHvstz6REyDIYZAg_OX39TzOsrb3Idl-vrcv_xed7cPq8T4fZ0HArJkUMXN0ztTXtmdBOJ7tWE7WE_ITCq-4E-7TYIAeYOv0uH7NGcIqOPSn-rCjodYF7VeE4/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDWtv_YN_gh-JeUQRVOhOHvstz6REyDIYZAg_OX39TzOsrb3Idl-vrcv_xed7cPq8T4fZ0HArJkUMXN0ztTXtmdBOJ7tWE7WE_ITCq-4E-7TYIAeYOv0uH7NGcIqOPSn-rCjodYF7VeE4/s1600/IMG_6732.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rF2Mx_bMA8-ZwglG3yO9bDud4BXHMN4r6MDpGfDMIgWem7rNQ-8eAWpuq_ALHoPhSIUHaojaZbq27sKREYLKa0sGE2NDDpvLA2i2zn3AcpEwkinTC4mYLBwQTVld-JUZZjMvMd1StVU/s1600/IMG_6733.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1rF2Mx_bMA8-ZwglG3yO9bDud4BXHMN4r6MDpGfDMIgWem7rNQ-8eAWpuq_ALHoPhSIUHaojaZbq27sKREYLKa0sGE2NDDpvLA2i2zn3AcpEwkinTC4mYLBwQTVld-JUZZjMvMd1StVU/s1600/IMG_6733.JPG" height="640" width="425" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSq6Ju6cc_gC1BrbOhWuAXDnA1opHT-5SvYrqgDRA8Yopq6P0RlpegmUVtvwaucHWryNFY1ihazWE2wzHiaYiNNDexcDkkH6_OCEAqRKDJ300Zw1QS2SkD_RtCWMix5U1Xv-REAOg5Nw/s1600/IMG_6722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkSq6Ju6cc_gC1BrbOhWuAXDnA1opHT-5SvYrqgDRA8Yopq6P0RlpegmUVtvwaucHWryNFY1ihazWE2wzHiaYiNNDexcDkkH6_OCEAqRKDJ300Zw1QS2SkD_RtCWMix5U1Xv-REAOg5Nw/s1600/IMG_6722.JPG" height="425" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-10178533095354688262014-03-24T18:34:00.001-07:002014-03-24T18:34:58.394-07:00My Pregnancy: 34 Weeks<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How Far Along:</strong> 34 weeks</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Weight Gain/Loss: </b>+20 pounds</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep:</strong> Sleep is getting a bit uncomfortable. Last night I tried to sit up to get myself out of bed and fell backward and hit my head on the headboard. Fail.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Best Moment This Week: </strong><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Taking maternity photos and going out for Mexican food afterward with my husband.</span><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Movement: </strong>Little man is kicking up a storm!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Food Cravings/Aversions:</strong> No significant cravings or aversions lately.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I Miss: </strong>Being able to bend over and pick things up off the floor.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stretch Marks:</strong> Finally had my first stretch marks appear. I'd been doing everything recommended and yet, here they are, on the bottom of my tummy. From what I understand, the concept of putting lotion/oil on to avoid them is actually not necessarily correct. I've done some research and it appears that you're either going to get them or not. Dang. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Belly Button</strong>: It's still there! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wedding Rings:</strong> Dealing with a bit of swelling, so they're off right now. I'm wearing a white sapphire Scott gave me as a gift.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mood:</strong> Getting a bit anxious to get everything prepared for baby's arrival!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Labor Signs:</strong> None yet.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Milestones: </strong> This week marks our sixth (and last) Hypnobabies childbirth class. It's gone by so fast!<del style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></del></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upcoming Appointments/Events: </strong>I have an appointment on Wednesday. We also have our last Hypnobabies class on Wednesday and a newborn care class on Thursday. And Friday we're visiting daycares.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I look forward to: </strong><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">The weekend. </span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; color: #222222; font-family: Nobile; font-size: 13px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weekly Wisdom:</strong> I'm trying to accept my body, stretch marks and all. After all, they are little reminders of the amazing job I'm doing right now--carrying our baby boy!</span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-41110466095537308512014-02-09T18:40:00.002-08:002014-02-09T18:40:15.405-08:00My Pregnancy: 28 Weeks<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1798526_10203043348463294_831553161_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/t1/1798526_10203043348463294_831553161_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scott and I at a charity event last week.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How Far Along:</strong> 28 weeks, four days</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Weight Gain/Loss: </b>+11 pounds (I cleaned up my eating this past two weeks and lost a bit of weight).</span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep:</strong> Still not sleeping the best, but I've been taking naps when I can.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Best Moment This Week: </strong><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Feeling this little guy kick and move like crazy this week!</span><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Movement: </strong>Lots of movement at this point.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Food Cravings/Aversions:</strong> No significant cravings or aversions lately.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I Miss: </strong>Sleeping through the night. Being able to shave easily!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stretch Marks:</strong> Not yet. I've been using an organic almond shower oil and Burt's Bee's Mama Bee Belly Butter. And sometimes my Hope in a Jar for Body. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Belly Button</strong>: It's still there! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wedding Rings:</strong> Dealing with a bit of swelling, so they're off right now. I'm wearing a white sapphire Scott gave me as a gift.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mood:</strong> I think I'm starting to "nest." I have a really strong urge to clean, organize and prepare for the baby.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Labor Signs:</strong> None yet.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Milestones: </strong> I passed my glucose test last week!<del style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></del></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upcoming Appointments/Events: </strong>My check-ups are now every two weeks!</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I look forward to: </strong>Finishing the baby's nursery.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weekly Wisdom:</strong> Take time to relax and slow down.</span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-53723599457239075702014-01-26T20:40:00.003-08:002014-01-26T20:40:26.229-08:00Weekend Wrap-Up<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My weekend plans are always much more ambitious than they turn out to be. On Friday, I have these visions of being a weekend warrior--<i>a machine</i>--that conquers deep cleaning, clutter and to-do lists. And on Sunday night I find myself looking back wondering where the time went. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I did get a few things knocked off my to-do list, however.</span></div>
<div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Embarrassingly, we took down our Christmas decorations. <i>At least it isn't February yet.</i></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hung up a bunch of the baby's clothes in his closet. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few loads of laundry were tackled.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I made a chicken in the crock pot today so that we can enjoy it for lunches this week.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some vacuuming and dusting was accomplished.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I took a nap.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bought groceries on Saturday. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scott snowboarded both yesterday and today and I must admit, I feel a little jealous that my board is in storage for the season. It's for the good of the little one, though. Saturday night, we went out for Mexican food, so I did join the land of the living (and get out of sweat pants) at least once. </span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not sure what the "nesting" instinct feels like, but I think I may be starting to feel it a bit. My mind is constantly going over the things I need to get done before baby arrives and I feel a strong pull toward cleaning and organizing. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This week I'm looking forward to lunch with girlfriends and to my doctor's appointment on Friday. Here's wishing you all a fabulous week!</span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-23478096100516034902014-01-19T20:47:00.001-08:002014-01-19T20:47:49.960-08:00My pregnancy: 25 weeks<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqhvq-C6l0VyndyZuFje4I0LK9fhbBYkcH4h99ENys7flPVFV6i_U93bTncwH5726_YhY46gMWvIk8SsZctktcL0KHFhgh50QiIXc8FBdLq2-pnFEYrl7F3QlkTb9Ydw1J5JUkDKDWwA/s1600/IMG_6609.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqhvq-C6l0VyndyZuFje4I0LK9fhbBYkcH4h99ENys7flPVFV6i_U93bTncwH5726_YhY46gMWvIk8SsZctktcL0KHFhgh50QiIXc8FBdLq2-pnFEYrl7F3QlkTb9Ydw1J5JUkDKDWwA/s1600/IMG_6609.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">How Far Along:</strong> 25 weeks, 4 days.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Weight Gain/Loss: +14 pounds</span></strong></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Sleep:</strong> I haven't slept well since about six weeks. And this past week I had a terrible cold, so sleep has been pretty crappy.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Best Moment This Week: </strong><span style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Seeing my handsome husband put together the crib. He's going to be an amazing father.</span><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></strong></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Movement: </strong>Quite a bit of movement. Once in a while, he'll give me a big kick.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Food Cravings/Aversions:</strong> Sweets still don't sound good. Unfortunately, EVERYTHING ELSE does.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I Miss: </strong>Sleeping through the night and sometimes wine. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Stretch Marks:</strong> Not yet. I've been using an organic almond shower oil and Burt's Bee's Mama Bee Belly Butter. And sometimes my Hope in a Jar for Body. </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Belly Button</strong>: It's still there! </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Wedding Rings:</strong> Dealing with a bit of swelling, so they're off right now. I'm wearing a white sapphire Scott gave me as a gift.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mood:</strong> Is pregnancy rage a mood? </span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Labor Signs:</strong> None yet.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Milestones: </strong> My next appointment includes the dreaded glucose test!<del style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; font-weight: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><br /></del></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Upcoming Appointments/Events: </strong>Glucose test and check-up on Jan. 31.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What I look forward to: </strong>Finishing the baby's nursery.</span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; border: 0px; line-height: 21.00792121887207px; margin-bottom: 1.154em; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Weekly Wisdom:</strong> Have a good cry.</span></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-90529469946600152062014-01-16T08:10:00.000-08:002014-01-16T08:10:13.006-08:00Baby and blogging<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of my goals for 2014 is to get back to blogging. Writing here is something I truly enjoy--a forum for me to share my feelings, thoughts and experiences. And while I write each day as a part of my job, there is something so different about writing for pleasure.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Less than a month ago, on a cold New Year's Eve, sipping sparkling cranberry apple juice, I told myself I would make Prairie Glitter a priority again. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Why no bubbly? Typically, I would be indulging in a glass or two of my favorite champagne, Asti Dolce (shout-out to my friend Melissa who turned me on to it), but not this year. This year, I was celebrating for two! Scott and I are expecting our first baby on April 30, 2014. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To say finding out we were expecting was a life-changer is an understatement. It's been exciting, scary, difficult, wonderful and has brought us even closer.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On August 19, 2013, the second day of vacation in Vail, Colo. I became convinced that there was something wrong with me. Scott and I were on vacation to celebrate my 30th birthday and I wasn't feeling great. I was tired, crampy and where in the world was my monthly bill, which was several days overdue. <i>I was convinced it was something catastrophic. </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1557478_10202794285368873_890206868_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1557478_10202794285368873_890206868_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">View from our balcony.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">That morning, we ventured out to go to the grocery store to get a few snacks for our stay and decided to make a pit stop at McDonald's for a quick breakfast. McDonald's just happens to be the home of one of my favorite foods of all time. It's trashy, unhealthy and a bit unconventional--<i>the McGriddle</i>. Two pancakes hug a stack of sausage, egg and cheese and it is truly heaven on earth. We placed our orders and when we got to our table, I realized I had ordered the wrong sandwich. No McGriddle for me, but a sausage, egg and cheese muffin. I wanted to cry. Scott suggested it was "no big deal" and we could get the right sandwich if I wanted and I remember yelling something to the effect of "my McGriddle IS a big deal, okay!?" <i>All this drama over a $4 sandwich</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The wheels in my brain began to turn and once we arrived at the grocery store, I decided I should probably pick up a home pregnancy test. After all, I <i>was</i> late and wanted to celebrate that night with a glass of wine. So, I picked one up, just to be safe. When we arrived back at our hotel, I quickly hit the restroom to take the test. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've taken several of these fun little tests over the past few years but this test was different. For the first time, instead of one simple line, two lines slowly appeared. I came out of the bathroom and Scott was on our balcony about to enjoy his coffee in the crisp, Colorado air. "Is this two lines?" I asked. That was how my husband learned I was pregnant. Yes, it was two lines. Two little lines that changed my world that day. </span><br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/69257_10202794307649430_269801040_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/69257_10202794307649430_269801040_n.jpg" width="425" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tiny baby on board.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Happy birthday to me.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I never got to have that glass of wine, but we did spend the rest of our vacation in awe and excitement. What really made this special is that Vail was one of the first places we traveled together while we were dating, it's where we got engaged and now it is the place we found out we were expecting our little one. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1538859_10202794324729857_1644296964_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://scontent-b-dfw.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1538859_10202794324729857_1644296964_n.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The same spot where we got engaged in 2007. <br />Here, we had just found out we were expecting a baby!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pregnancy is one wild ride, but we've been enjoying every minute of it. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We learned we are having a little boy and couldn't be more excited. Right now we're working on his nursery and getting prepared for his arrival in April. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, I'm welcoming myself back to the blogging world and hoping that it will not only be a creative release for me but a way to document our journey into parenthood. This year will surely be one for the books ( or blog). </span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-77485892311563352472013-04-15T20:32:00.001-07:002013-04-15T20:32:28.808-07:00Work it<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This morning I worked my new 'do. </span><div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had only gone about two years since stepping foot into the salon. I'd like to say I'm embarrassed by that, but I have no shame. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Scott and I were looking through old photos and we stumbled upon a few "composite" photos from my sorority days in which I had chin-length hair. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>"Do you think you'd fix your hair more often if it was shorter?" </i>he asked. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I purchased the next salon Groupon that showed up in my e-mail inbox. When a guy makes those kind of statements, you know you need to step up your effort. Quite frankly, mine had been pretty poor. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My hair was long, stringy and I was resorting to a bun or braid nearly every day. I looked like a sister-wife. <i>Minus the long, denim skirt and multiple children.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-aZOJXzDYoCpSdXhLNxBU843VXLPmf7sOAepSR0dj0HshTNolBaK9Wabirn5DuKJBlk6Mo1udFh2wUwnoKa42y7xN2UhBJckuubgS1XYYu5xCUjnvzKqnoWx1UdBzFa-wOpnT3AdGiHU/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Speaking of working things. This glamour shot was taken directly after an intense workout I did in the basement tonight. At one point I considered putting Scott on standby,<i> just in case. </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvCHmfsK3hwup4pHRQgsCV9niSD15OB4NVHGDhC8cGceazFjjJwRHPXNnZ3XhXETJpPVoOgcS9Nw7uN050Vfo4ZaAY0DtRPDIPfgJkgQWIhQZI04YS63r6fJi-jcp_CIPD54d_ajbPUA/s1600/Image+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSvCHmfsK3hwup4pHRQgsCV9niSD15OB4NVHGDhC8cGceazFjjJwRHPXNnZ3XhXETJpPVoOgcS9Nw7uN050Vfo4ZaAY0DtRPDIPfgJkgQWIhQZI04YS63r6fJi-jcp_CIPD54d_ajbPUA/s1600/Image+%25281%2529.jpg" /></a></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is so hard for me to believe that people exist who really enjoy working out. It just does not compute. However, I am really going to try to be one of those people. Fake it til you make it?</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In all seriousness, I started a Summer Kickstart Plan that was recommended to me by my sister-in-law. For a reasonable price, I received a nutrition and fitness plan that I'll follow for six weeks, measuring my results along the way. The plan is from Ali McClafferty and you should check out her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Ali-McClafferty-Training-Nutrition-Motivation-Wellness-Coaching/378483515556092?fref=ts">Facebook page</a>. Not only is her page visual motivation (check out her bod!) but from what I've seen in the plan, it should be effective as long as I put in the hard work. I'll be sure to chronicle my six-week journey here on the blog.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Do you have a fitness or nutrition goal that you're currently working toward? Do you find summer a big motivator? (For me, it's the pain of chub rub! <a href="http://www.md-health.com/Chafing-Thighs.html">Here's the scientific name for the condition</a>.)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Cheers to the start of a new week.</i></span></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<br /></div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-51603280722840307612013-04-03T19:56:00.003-07:002013-04-03T19:56:37.775-07:00Laundry Room: Before and After<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When we purchased our home, we knew there would be a few things we would eventually change. Easy things, of course, like wall colors. (<i>No, I was not one of those House Hunters folk who refuse to consider a house because a wall is painted bright pink.) </i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And then there are some not-so-easy changes. The kitchen, master bath and the laundry room. The laundry room was the only thing in the home that wasn't finished. It ran the entire width of the basement and housed some old cabinets and a piece of carpet that smelled like a mix between an old basement and the year 1976. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong. I was thrilled just to have a laundry room. In our townhouse, the laundry was in the unfinished basement that was also home to a den of snakes. And I had to "crank start" my dryer for a while. I'm not exaggerating. Really. Just ask me sometime--preferably over a glass of wine.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We decided the laundry room would be a DIY project. The plan was to split it in half because of its large size and make one part a walk-in closet. Our master closet isn't huge, so I graciously agreed to give it to Scott and take the big, new closet in the basement.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Did we run into any snags? Yes. When gutting the laundry room we discovered an enormous crack. To make a long and very expensive story short, we had to have hydraulic pillars installed under our house because essentially, it was sinking. I'm sure there were a few other set-backs, but when you deal with one really big one, the rest don't seem so bad.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, here you have it. Our laundry room "before and after." Huge props to my husband. I didn't marry him for his carpentry skills but they are certainly the icing on the cake.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">BEFORE</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KTRjGX5Y_ykFREY98O_E26PJurbd9UcCWTVvVkrsQ0sl2zP0IwcYAS2UTuhOa1QCyzKownbqNJR0XMWPkAXw43VP2GFaid7eGt9Cy3AtMotFd2kZbxYd1m_rkFGd-tKRS2eVKfMHzas/s1600/DSCN0380.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_KTRjGX5Y_ykFREY98O_E26PJurbd9UcCWTVvVkrsQ0sl2zP0IwcYAS2UTuhOa1QCyzKownbqNJR0XMWPkAXw43VP2GFaid7eGt9Cy3AtMotFd2kZbxYd1m_rkFGd-tKRS2eVKfMHzas/s320/DSCN0380.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMugzUqgax71IgGvMeYfAH4E01FknMKR9A0hoqT5SFFVp26cV7PITkpWojTF7MNgHDv0iNPnDC0QEiJptlxsUu7LdC-vFsgHnrvnDRMaPaXaqqi4Bvs93PyIRgo-dT481d8KJ2NEqmlTQ/s1600/DSCN0381.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMugzUqgax71IgGvMeYfAH4E01FknMKR9A0hoqT5SFFVp26cV7PITkpWojTF7MNgHDv0iNPnDC0QEiJptlxsUu7LdC-vFsgHnrvnDRMaPaXaqqi4Bvs93PyIRgo-dT481d8KJ2NEqmlTQ/s320/DSCN0381.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1y7DSlxvvyAMyG3uhIWc2fmzUHppGIrJe-0KlS8qYenaRicDY237oXiKk8-nv3GGzW7fqY3DQ-kj5ha__YHSrcEaJCDDxbDWm5FCKU3CvlpkfD0NzRjxWN_h9UgK0UZ0KnTTPA7iZzQ/s1600/DSCN0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm1y7DSlxvvyAMyG3uhIWc2fmzUHppGIrJe-0KlS8qYenaRicDY237oXiKk8-nv3GGzW7fqY3DQ-kj5ha__YHSrcEaJCDDxbDWm5FCKU3CvlpkfD0NzRjxWN_h9UgK0UZ0KnTTPA7iZzQ/s320/DSCN0379.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">AFTER</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3C2%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469:97346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3C2%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469:97346nu0mrj" width="426" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This painting was done by my husband. On the wall to the right, there is a wall-mounted stainless steel drying rack from Ikea. I didn't get it in the shot.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp54384%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469:99346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp54384%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469:99346nu0mrj" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is a built-in desk/work space. To the right, there is a custom nook for our cat's litter box. I'm still searching for an attractive rug to put down underneath it. Right now, there is a piece of scrap carpet.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp54382%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::3346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp54382%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::3346nu0mrj" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I love knick-knacks. The shelves are great for displaying little items.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3C3%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::5346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543%3C3%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::5346nu0mrj" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543;3%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::9346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://images2.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp543;3%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::9346nu0mrj" width="640" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734::%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::7346nu0mrj" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://images3a.snapfish.com/232323232%7Ffp734::%3Enu=5254%3E793%3E255%3EWSNRCG=3493469::7346nu0mrj" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll plan to share a closet before and after post in the near future. We were really happy at how it turned out, too. Let me know if you have any questions about our laundry room process. I'm happy to share. You can reach me <a href="mailto:theprairieglitter@gmail.com">via e-mail </a>or by leaving a comment below. Have a wonderful Wednesday evening, friends!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-42110498043755103302013-03-24T19:38:00.000-07:002013-03-24T19:38:02.693-07:00Snow days<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
It may officially be Spring, but here in the Midwest, we're still getting snow.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Saturday night, Mr. Miller and I went out for supper with a friend and then couldn't help but take a few photos in the snow. After all, it won't be too long before we're ditching the coats and boots for sundresses and sandals. <i>Well, me anyway.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5B544LRLu3llInokNvMbgUe8Qrbl1brRQ2TYeUeOOnqCmF3aCVxGm688jUANjFNe6ODWtohLkUnGTo9JeOylaC2dJnOQpYfpUwMKFCKVN9KuvYd23p6F3VkDzrR8Q0V8o4v9jlgVHbI/s1600/Image+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5B544LRLu3llInokNvMbgUe8Qrbl1brRQ2TYeUeOOnqCmF3aCVxGm688jUANjFNe6ODWtohLkUnGTo9JeOylaC2dJnOQpYfpUwMKFCKVN9KuvYd23p6F3VkDzrR8Q0V8o4v9jlgVHbI/s640/Image+(1).jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwGwd8T5hZT3NSY7NH6-luFL3RRmfiE4uVZOPxDar3aU5v5mt0KCq0kKYPDUaOi3tRxL6GGTnanT5zo5gX5d7BDNn0N2wjUFsEwEqHHipxq7_h8R946cBQsslXLe_aVv88XDRaccfpVo/s1600/540149_10200746754581883_2099061231_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJwGwd8T5hZT3NSY7NH6-luFL3RRmfiE4uVZOPxDar3aU5v5mt0KCq0kKYPDUaOi3tRxL6GGTnanT5zo5gX5d7BDNn0N2wjUFsEwEqHHipxq7_h8R946cBQsslXLe_aVv88XDRaccfpVo/s640/540149_10200746754581883_2099061231_n.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyJRIEWLacTpPObvKxrGJOxOij9aQFOSFxZSMGEyBQcZJgCZsL6Ow5CZv2M2SLavEvFNd8fV8mtUpL9ycBinTZp_GV975MzMIBHAnZ_5BYdnI47MC1aUU-9AkA09l2ZBimPCb0447FQE/s1600/Image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPyJRIEWLacTpPObvKxrGJOxOij9aQFOSFxZSMGEyBQcZJgCZsL6Ow5CZv2M2SLavEvFNd8fV8mtUpL9ycBinTZp_GV975MzMIBHAnZ_5BYdnI47MC1aUU-9AkA09l2ZBimPCb0447FQE/s640/Image.jpg" width="480" /></a></div>
<br />Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-41328714416844783692013-02-08T04:00:00.000-08:002013-02-08T04:00:03.338-08:00Free Your Mind<div xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">
<div style="margin: 0 auto; width: 500px;">
<div style="position: relative;">
<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/free_your_mind/set?.embedder=1907750&.svc=blogger&id=71557331" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Your Mind" border="0" force="1" height="314" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/YoZmshNEn7e1cC0Zv6JOqA/cid/71557331/id/Ul_AzCx-Rdqx20du0gSf9Q/size/c500x314.jpg" title="Free Your Mind" width="500" /></a><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.polyvore.com/free_your_mind/set?.embedder=1907750&.svc=blogger&id=71554299" target="_blank"><img alt="Free Your Mind" border="0" force="1" height="342" src="http://cfc.polyvoreimg.com/cgi/img-set/.sig/0t9Eq9lVcZXWNNG0Ci601w/cid/71554299/id/RIMIjuf2TKOHeK6kCEsGDA/size/c500x342.jpg" title="Free Your Mind" width="500" /></a></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Step away from the Starbucks. </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From one caffeine-dependent woman to another, sometimes it is worth trading your cup of Joe for a cup of soothing, hot tea. And if you've been stressed, it's been suggested that caffeine can make you feel even more keyed up. I wouldn't suggest going cold turkey, especially if you're a several-cups-a-day drinker like myself. Try swapping your second or third cup for tea. I really love Tazo's Zen tea. You can find it at most grocery stores. It has a nice, smooth mint flavor.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. Soak away the stress.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When is the last time you took a bubble bath? There is something so relaxing about a good, long soak. One of my favorite things is to run a bath (with Philosophy's Coconut Frosting bubble bath), grab a stack of magazines and indulge. The steam is also great for your skin and sinuses, both of which can be suffering this time of year.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>3. Write it.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Have you ever kept a journal? Not the "dear diary" type you had when you were ten (you locked that puppy up with the little key it came with, didn't you?)--<i>a grown-up journal</i>. Somewhere you can write down your thoughts. Thoughts you might not be able to share out loud. Thoughts you may be struggling to express. Treat yourself--so many stores have pretty journals that are just as nice to look at as they are functional. Try Marshall's, HomeGoods, Barnes and Noble or Target. Bonus, if you keep a food journal, this might be a good way to kill two birds with one stone.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>4. Phone home.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or a friend, sister, brother, grandparent, etc. Hearing a familiar voice can be therapeutic. It's been said that the best mirror is an old friend. Talking to someone who knows and cares about you and/or asking for their advice could provide you just the perspective you need. So, skip the text or e-mail and pick up the phone. In a world of smartphones and instant messages, it's good to know these devices still serve an additional purpose...<i>making a phone call. </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Pray about it.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">When I have something heavy on my heart or mind, leaning on my faith is one of the first things I do. Perhaps you're not a spiritual person and that's okay. I just want to share this with you because it is such an important part of my life. Don't know where to start? Pick up a Bible. You don't have to spend a lot. I've actually seen some beautiful Bibles in thrift stores! Find a passage or two (try Psalms, for example) and meditate on them. What speaks to you? Been a while since you've prayed? I don't think there is a right or wrong way. We can come to the Lord just the way we are. Without judgement, without fear. So, just talk to him like you would an old friend. He'll listen and you'll feel a weight lifted.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>6. Make a list.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sometimes when life feels overwhelming, one of the things that makes me feel the most calm is making lists. Have a lot to get done? Write a list and rank each item in order of priority/importance. It will feel good to see all your tasks in one place (rather than taking up space and energy in your brain) and you'll feel empowered each time you check one off your list.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Feel-good flicks.</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Does your mind simply need a break? Find one of your favorites (especially if it's a movie you don't have to think too hard about) and just relax.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-81210481579302269582013-02-07T19:49:00.003-08:002013-02-07T19:49:52.832-08:00Bleh.<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been out sick the past two days, feeling like I've been hit by a truck. The couch and I have become pretty close. I can't say I'll miss her when I go back to work tomorrow.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Being home sick, however, has made me realize that I would probably watch a good amount of television if I didn't work eight-to-five. The View, The Chew, The Doctors, Rachael Ray--Why am I not DVRing these? <i>Oh, because I already consume more television than is healthy.</i></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I also did a bit of browsing on Pinterest from my sick station on the couch. Seeing all the thousands of pins made me think, "what if we spent as much time actually<i> doing </i>stuff as we do <i>pinning</i> stuff?" Deep thoughts. And perhaps some motivation for me to actually get to some of the projects and recipes I've pinned.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well that's all I've got tonight. I'm about to go enjoy a hot bath in preparation for entering the <i>Land of the Living</i> tomorrow.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stay healthy!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelly</span>Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3484152648702996557.post-71077913831176244652013-01-06T18:32:00.002-08:002013-01-06T18:32:59.316-08:00Sunday, Sunday<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VFRU73NXWjC-5Xle47_9ETcr8xSNrJe1i-zhUDgXKaFYp1krOkXpk5O0eKniIwJ_c3a6gHe3cN0jvci-ezb8YNZeJeKYT9BsF-dQujOADsI_0aMrDIKeF6w4fb66GhQm9kIWLxxLjN8/s1600/IMG_3526.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_VFRU73NXWjC-5Xle47_9ETcr8xSNrJe1i-zhUDgXKaFYp1krOkXpk5O0eKniIwJ_c3a6gHe3cN0jvci-ezb8YNZeJeKYT9BsF-dQujOADsI_0aMrDIKeF6w4fb66GhQm9kIWLxxLjN8/s400/IMG_3526.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
How can you not have a good day when you start it by looking at a face like that?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVd07cGJIQv6kGiWWMf7fwkSMbxVCW_FjtSLzr7uekJrSt1R8d51e5TRYN-r8l8dgLf1cbALfQNDcsPgTkGCw38aKbHvcjmGdUyuk7UuuWmTDazfXe85-3ZzsOi14uLmTmLXt0uujfU4/s1600/IMG_3535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjVd07cGJIQv6kGiWWMf7fwkSMbxVCW_FjtSLzr7uekJrSt1R8d51e5TRYN-r8l8dgLf1cbALfQNDcsPgTkGCw38aKbHvcjmGdUyuk7UuuWmTDazfXe85-3ZzsOi14uLmTmLXt0uujfU4/s400/IMG_3535.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
If those long, luxurious whiskers don't do it for you, there is always cinnamon roll pancakes.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
I tried out a new recipe this morning and they were a big hit. They were by no means healthy. But delicious? <i>Absolutely.</i> I blogged the recipe <a href="http://simplechicsavory.blogspot.com/2013/01/cinnamon-roll-pancakes.html">here.</a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The majority of our Sunday was spent out-and-about. We took a trip to Cabela's first and then spent the rest of the afternoon searching for the perfect lampshade for one of our guest bedrooms. It has yet to be found. Why is it so hard to find the right lampshade? I think there is a rule in the universe that when I'm actually out to buy something, I can never find it. On the other hand, when I'm trying to save money or I don't need anything in particular, there are pretty, shiny, handy items everywhere.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Tonight my brother arrived at our house. He recently got a new job here in Omaha and will be living with us for a while, which will allow him to save money and search for a new place. Scott and I (and Dart) are happy to have him here. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b>Week-Ahead Challenge:</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
For this week, I am challenging myself (and you, also!) to take time to do one thing that you've been putting off. Maybe it's a difficult conversation. Maybe it's a doctor's appointment. Maybe it's cleaning out a junk drawer. Whatever it is, just do it! You and I both know that we'll feel so much better when it's done. Let's check in back here next Sunday for a re-cap and another Week-Ahead Challenge.</div>
Kellyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10191188347824668302noreply@blogger.com0