The lactation god

I had to post this. I took a few pictures after this horrible storm blew through town because it was pretty impressive what it did to the neighborhood. Anyways, I was just looking at them on my computer since I transferred them off of my camera and this one really made me laugh! As a nursing mom, I think it is pretty funny that the lactation god visited my back porch...my her blessings pour down on me! :)

Here is what I meant to take the picture of...my blown table, my swing over the neighbor's fence, the sagging (boobs) canopy, and all the brush that was all over the yard. Amazingly enough the ferns didn't get yanked out of the tree in the back.

9 months

It is hard to believe that Elli is 9 months old! She is as old as I was pregnant...man - pregnancy seemed a lot longer than this has. Ofcourse, though, pregnancy sucked.

She is so funny. These pictures of her are cute and since it is a big marker for her, I am sharing them with you!

bad blogger

I haven't been very good about blogging lately. Sorry to anyone who checks up on my regularly. I get on the computer plenty of times throughout the day....I just usually have a baby on my hip, or I am nursing her, or pumping, or eating while I am at the computer and it is too hard to type with one hand. So I don't.
Life seems to be getting better control again. I have only been working 20 hours, which is good - I still wish I had more time to paint though. I shouldn't be working more than 20 hours a week anymore so I feel much less stressed and worn to nothing than I have been. I still need to do better work at keeping my house clean. I don't do a horrible job - I have kept the kitchen nicer since I bought some organizing stuff for it from IKEA not long ago. The living room isn't bad, but my bedroom is a mess...I have my clothes and shoes everywhere. Oh well...at least I have a home to throw all of my clothes...at least I have clothes.
I have all these projects that I want to do around the house. I want to paint my kitchen cabinets white and in some of the doors put chalkboard paint or magnetic paint (thanks Renee!). I am getting a new entertainment center for my living room from my boss - downsizing thankfully...the one we have has been good to us, but it is not kid friendly and it is peeling. So with the new entertainment center I have to build a box/cabinet to put Mike's sound equipment stuff - it would be nice to build pretty cabinets to hide his giant speakers in too...actually it would be nice if we asked for new surround sound speakers for Christmas that are tiny and could sell the big ones...hmmm.....I want to finish the magnet boards I started and build an ottoman for my sofa. There is more, but I won't bore you anymore.
I feel better. :)

So tired...

I am so tired....
I had a really long day today. It all started at 10:00 last night when Elli couldn't sleep because of all of her congestion. So I let her sleep with me last night thinking that if we both slept a little propped up by the pillows, we would each get some sleep. I must have alraedy been asleep when I thought that this was a good idea. It was a night of short cat naps - but I was too tired to get up and put her into bed - and I didn't want to disturb her if she was sleeping. It was all a catch 22. And I was so stinking thirtsy.
Then this morning I had to get up early enough to get a shower myself before Mike got up to get in there becuase we are sharing a car and I had to take him to work this morning before I took Elli to the doctor. (9 month baby visit - it was good! 19lb3oz,26.5inches long) So I crawled out of bed, showered, dressed, got Elli up, fed her, yadda yadda yadda we are off to the doctor.
Why do I go to the doctor on time? Wait - why do I go early? No matter that I try to be there on schedule...I am just going to have to wait 45 minutes in the waiting room full of sick people. I should just go 30 minutes late to cut my wait time down tremendously.
So that's done and off to mom's I go because now I have to go to work. I actually requested off of work today, but I guess there was confusion and I got scheduled. So I was and hour and a half late. Oops. Luckily I wasn't the only one scheduled to be there. I did do some pretty great displays today, though.
To make it shorter and less painful for you all - work, baby, cooking, baby, baby, cook some more, go to group, baby, get home late, baby, put tomorrow's dinner in the crockpot, and ofcourse blog. :)
I should be sleeping....I am so tired.... This mommy-wife-life stuff if exhausting.....

Peek-a-boo

I found the toy that Becky and Travis got for Elli a long time ago. I think I got it for a baby shower. Anyways, it is this gym that when she is only able to lay on her back, it can be set up on the mat and she can kick the things that hang from it. But now that she's able to crawl, the mat turns into a tunnel that she can play in and crawl through. So I pulled it out, put it together, and quickly the dangly toys were pulled off. But she did crawl through it and eventually just sat in it. She does that a lot now. So when she sat in it the other night we caught it on video. She really started to play serious peek-a-boo with us. It was so funny it was making my eyes water.

Becky's farm

Well we are back from Becky's! It was a good trip - long trip in the car - but a good trip. I had never been to her house before! I missed the big wedding reception blast -bummer. We drove straight up route 7 for 3 hours and then we there pretty much there. It was a nice drive...much better than the interstate! And have I mentioned that I have the best travelling baby ever? She did not make one whine or complaint the entire time we were ever in the car - EVER! She would sleep or play. She is so awesome! I am SO LUCKY!!


Becky's house is so cute - I am so proud of her and what she's done so far with her little home! Her yard work is really pretty too. And they have all kinds of animals - which Elli got to meet for the first time...horses, dogs, puppies, a calf...and they are building a chicken coupe to harvest the eggs. It is really neat. Elli had a fun time with the puppies. She loved "Coon dog" - he really made her laugh. "Entree", the calf, made her cry - he was in a barn, so when he started moo-ing she really got upset! She reached out and touched the horses snout and then buried her face in mine like she was embarassed...cute. She's such a fun kid. Becky had to work that evening we were there, so we didn't get to spend that time with her, but we did get to hang out with Travis. That was pretty fun and always good getting to feel more comfortable with someone you don't know that well. I like him a lot - and Elli's not scared of him! ;)

We also went to IKEA while we were up there. It is only 45 minutes from her house. I got some great organizing things for my kitchen! So exciting!

Anyhow here are a few pictures of the occation. Enjoy!

Poor little thing

Yesterday and the night before were long. Poor little Elli has caught a nasty cold - and I got some of it too. Her little nose was a constant stream of ooze and by the end of the day yesterday her nose was red from me wiping it all day. It was that annoying nose drip that is like a faucet you can't blow out or turn off - I know because I have it too. Poor thing. Her nose even got bloody last night....not very much....but enough to make us feel even worse for her. She didn't eat well all day, couldn't nurse because it was too hard to breathe, she wouldn't sleep unless I was holding her upright - and then I wasn't allowed to move....only rock...so no napping for mom yesterday. We slept in the recliner last night so that neither of our head would fill up with snot and be clogged for days. It went okay toher than the fact that I need a clock so I know what time it is...gotta know how long I've slept and how much more time I have to do so....but I didn't have one, so I was lost and after I got done thinking about the fact that I need a clock, I was wide awake....but couldn't move because Elli is on top of me. We actually slept okay. It was a little tight because it's not a large recliner by any stretch of the imagination - just a little bigger than a child's recliner it seems like.
Today though, she's not as drippy, and she's not as whiney. I think she is doing MUCH bettter. Good thing because we are going to be in the car for 3 hours to visit Aunt Becky!
Wish me luck!

Elli vs. Cali

So Elli and Cali fight for toys. Last night Elli wanted what Cali had, and since we were in the basement, we have a coffee table that Cali can hide around. So off Cali went to get away from Elli. Well, Elli followed close behind and the fun began! They are going to be good friends. :) Around and around and around the table they went. Elli did eventually figure out that she could go in the other direction and meet Cali when she didn't expect it...she's such a smart kid. It was pretty funny.
I have a video because I figured out how to put them on here :)

Elli playing piano

Elli's piano?

Okay - so in spite of the fact that I saw a giant cricket in my "good" side of the basement, and I know that it is in here somewhere...we let Elli crawl around and explore. Mike was manning one side while playing the piano, and I was manning the other side at the computer transferring pictures. He said something about her trying to reach the keyboard and next thing we know, she's playing along with dad...SO cute. :)

We may have a future pianist on the way. Her daddy and my grandma Riddle would have it no other way!

Great Grandma's house

Over the river and through the woods to grandmothers house we go....

Actually down the street a little and to the left. We have made a tradition of going to Grandma's house. It all started with this little thing called "American Idol." It is a great show that sucks you in - even when you say I am not going to watch it this year. Anyways, we all go over the Grandma's house on Tuesday nights, have dinner, hang out, then watch American Idol, and if we are really ambitious - we'll watch House as well. It is really fun...and since I don't have cable, it is an excuse to watch something other than Dateline or Law and Order. But alas, American Idol ends....but not Tuesday's at Grandma's! We have a common phrase now - it's Tuesday, dinner's at Grandma's. Awesome! I don't have to cook. :) Or do dishes. It is so fun and I am so lucky to have a family who is close and enjoys spending time with eachother and who is willing to feed me and my husband at least once a week. Here are some pictures of the "Green Queens" from our last Tuesday meal:

When life hands you lemons....

When life (or mommy) hands you lemons - make funny faces...

The last picture isn't actually in the lemon order, but I thought it

would have been funny if it was. It was actually taken out at my grandma and grandpa Riddle's.

Lists

So I love a good list. Packing lists, grocery lists, to-do lists...you know what I mean. I love to make lists on my days off of everything that I have to do. I never ever do everything on my lists, but when I do - WOW is it a great feeling. I probably never do everything on my lists because I take time to write down every thing that I would do during the day and then I have to take time after I do something to find the list and then cross it off. (That's why I don't like to phyisically write a wish lists...things don't get crossed off often enough.) My favorite thing about making a list is crossing something off of it. That's why I write things like...brush teeth...take shower...feed Elli breakfast...fill dogfood bowl... check email. I am serious that I write everything down. I like to think that it is because I like to cross things off, but I do find myself now and then rubbing my teeth thinking "Did I bruch my teeth today?" or looking around the fridge and say "Darn, the dog's out of food. No wonder she ate the cool whip tub."

My big girl

Elli busied herself today while I did the dishes. I snapped a picture of her too...because she is SO sweet. She loves this little table thing that I got at a yardsale for $2! I bleached the heck out of it before giving it to her- 'cause who knows where it came from. It sings a counting song and the alphabet now and then if she accidentally spins the bowl on top. The numbers song is getting annoying - I have been told this is just the beginning. :) It has 2 levels of sound - loud and louder. I am not sure why that is even an option...I mean seriously....why would anyone put it on the louder setting? She really loves to push it around and walk with it. I should put wheels on the bottom of it so it doesn't scratch my floor all up! I hope to find more baby stuff at yardsales...but I don't get up and out early enough to get the good stuff. There are so many babies in town right now, I don't think I could get to the yard sales fast enough if I tried. Everything gets snatched! I'll try this weekend.

Dishes

I did dishes this morning. I hate washing dishes, so that's generally why I let them pile up until I can't stand it anymore and then go to washing them. I don't know why I do that. Things would be easier if I washed as I dirtied them. Things would be a lot easier if I had a dishwasher - other than Mike or myself...it's true- Mike does the dishes half the time! I am lucky. I don't know if he does it to help me or if he thinks it's dirty. Either way - I am good with it.

Here is a picture of my magnificant stacking skills of CLEAN dishes from this morning. I thought it was impressive, so I snapped a shot to share :)

priceless

My blog is worth $0.00.
How much is your blog worth?

Oh wait..it get's better....here's what it said to get the link to post this awesome result :
"Paste this code into your blog to show off your result to others:"
SHOW OFF MY RESULTS? I am worthless!! Why would I want to SHOW OFF those reults? note* I am showing off my results because they are rediculous... I am such a dork. I knew it.

Much ado about nothing

So Elli and I have had fun hanging out these past few days that I have had off of work. It makes me want to quit even more. I am still really struggling with what to do. During church today I really felt a peace that it would be okay if I quit....that God would take care of us. So I guess that is encouraging. But not a definite "Yes, quit" but more of an "It's okay if you do" feeling. *sigh* I don't know what to do.

Here are some pictures of my sweet angel. Isn't she precious?! She will "kiss" now. It is cute. It makes her laugh. She drinks out of a straw really well which has spawned a new sound that she likes to make when she's playing. She's so funny. I don't want to go to work tomorrow...I don't want to miss anything.... I'm not going to think about it anymore!!!!!!! (Sorry)

Cali dog

My dog is so funny. She is deaf, which makes things interesting - but smart (usually) so that kindof makes up for it. Today I had a friend of mine come over to the house with me after church for lunch (which was pretty darn good) and Cali was a really good dog! I put her in the basement for a few minutes because I didn't want her scaring Levi (Renee's almost 2 year old), but then we let her out and she didn't jump or go crazy or anything! She just licked him to death and then ignored him.

She is getting more comfortable with Elli. She is gentle with her(usually) and doesn't snap at her or anything. She does trample her sometimes when she gets hyper and playful with dad - at which point I scoop up the babe and we watch from the chair. Cali just doesn't get the whole watching out for baby thing when she's excited....she doesn't really watch out for anything, so I don't know why I am not suprised. She likes to lick Elli's feet - Mike hates it. We are going to the vet tomorrow (should be fun with a baby) to get caught up on shots. This is my third try. I have missed the last 2 appointments because I have forgotten about them and voted on taking naps instead. I hope that I remember...or I am going to have to go to another vet because I will be too embarassed.

Thanks

Thanks everyone for your encouragement and your support for me. I didn't expect to have so much response to my latest cry-fest. I am honored and blessed to have you all encouraging me and offering your ears and shoulders to me. Thank you. You have no idea how much it all means to me. It is nice to know I am not alone in this crazy world!

Today we paint!

I painted a little garden scene for Elli on our front door. I think I finished it...I will look at it for a few days and decide for sure. I also bought some paint at the craft store today to work on this magnet board I am doing...I may try to sell it on etsy.com or ebay and see if I can get anything from it. We'll see. :) Anyhow...I painted today (it is still drying - supposed to kind of look like stained glass), and Elli helped - as you can see -

"Lifted" a Pixar film

Lifted Video @ Vidly.net

Pictures of Elli - by popular damand

Because I am a mom....and because I can....here are pictures of Elli....
I know - I know. I do have the cutest baby girl ever.



















She's showing off her teeth in this one - cute :)

Mom and Dad came over for dinner tonight. Here she is playing on the couch with them....

Can you handle this?

I have been SO busy.
I feel like I am one of those girls who balance the spinning plates on the sticks...only I am not one who is good at it. I have held up for a long time...but I feel like I am going to crash and burn any second now.
I like my job. Most of the time. I really can't stand customers - so, yes, I understand that I am in the wrong business. They think that just because I am working at Pier 1, I must be uneducated and stupid. I like to prove them wrong. It is a sport that I do well at. It may get me into trouble one of these days, but who cares. I want to quit, and that would just make things easier. But seriously, why should I have to put up with ignorant customers who think they can come in and boss me around and get all up in my face with their "money" and their "do you know who I am" attitudes? Argh.... I like my job....when I get to play with the merchandise and have people buy the stuff I put together, and when I get to work with people I like. That's not too picky is it? I have been working too much. I need a few days off in a row....like 60 days...that would be great.
I have had no time. I work at Pier 1 too much. I get home and then have to work theire with the usual laundry, dishes, vaccum, sweeping, mopping, dinner, flowers, dog care, yadda yadda yadda....oh yeah...and the baby too. She takes most of my time ALL the time, so my housework gets put on the back burner. So after working with stupid people all day, I get Elli and I am exhausted and she's taking my time and I don't feel like doing anything....so I don't. Mike goes hungry....again. I figure he has mastered the act of looking in cabinets, opening a pack of Ramen and consuming it...let him. Give me a break. My house is SO gross right now.
I want to paint. I want to be a full time mom and make my art. I have said all along that I want to paint and make money with that....would someone please tell me how I am supposed to do that while I am working 30 hours at the Pier (when it was supposed to be only 15 when I came back from maternity leave...I'm not bitter....do I sound bitter?) , and I have to take care of my home and family? I don't think I can do all of this. Somethings gotta give. I can' lose my gift that God has given me, and I feel like everyday that I don't use it, I am losing it. I have so many ideas of things I want to make right now...but I have no time to do it. I am getting really frustrated and depressed about it all.
I need to lose 15 pounds. I borrowed Mike's belt the other day. It fits. How upsetting that I can wear my husband's belt - IN THE SAME NOTCH! Seriously...someone make me quit eating.
I think I need to go to bed. This is all getting to me.