Playing around

A friend told me about "Picasa". I love it! Look what I did to this photo of Mom and Elli. There are so many features to play with - so many that I have been wanting for a long time to do to some photos that I have.... I am SO excited to have this! I still have some learning to do - but I think I can do some pretty cool things. You should check it out (especially you - Becca!)

Ugh.

*Sigh*
I am so tired. I have a sick baby again.
The other night I slept as much as she did - not very much at all. She and I slept on the couch so that I could hold her up-right while she slept so she could breathe easier. It would work for a little while, but then she's wake up pouting and upset....it's so sad. It is sad that I can't help her except to just constantly hold her - which is not good for mommy's back. Oh well...it keeps her from crying all the time. She's more pukey too (aren't you glad that I'm writing this?). I don't know what the deal is.
I thought at first that she was just teething. She may still be, and all this was just triggered by it. I don't know. I've never done this before. I am just sleepy.
This morning she isn't as clingy, but she flipped out when I tried to wipe her nose off. Poor snotty girl...I got her though. :) She's playing at the moment, so I guess she's feeling a little better. She slept all afternoon (in my arms - she wouldn't let me lay her down)yesterday after we got home from "volcano days" at the park, so maybe that helped a little.
We're skipping church, so hopefully she'll get a good nap in this morning....Lord knows I need one.

Poor Elli

Elli was NOT excited about Aunt Jackie putting a diaper on her head. Jackie, on the other hand, thought it was hysterical. She looks so embarassed and un-amused ~ doesn't she? Hee hee hee....

again with the no blogging....

So I have been a bad blogger again. I just don't know what to write about lately. I haven't really been into anything except the usual stuff - working, baby, wife, housekeeper, yadda yadda yadda. There haven't been any exciting things I have felt were "blog" worthy.
We did get my little red car back in (semi) working order. It starts now. It doesn't STAY started...you can't actually idol at a stop light or wait too long at a stop sign without it stopping. Mike didn't tell me this when I drove it to work the other day, and so when it stopped on me the 3rd time on the way to work, I was REALLY MAD and hot (it has no AC) and sweating and on my way to work and hungry and it was a crummy evening. He didn't understand why I called and out of frustration, yelled at him. But yeah...this little red car is 15 years old. The paint is faded, there are dents in the side where it's been hit, it's rusting, has no AC, won't stay running, and it sounds like an 18 wheeler. The exhaust system is all but dragging the ground and leaving a stream of sparks flying behind it. It is so loud, it's embarassing. So when I am sitting at a light my car is the loudest out of 30 cars there, and it stops, and the old vinyl seats are peeling....at least it kindof works right? I mean, Mike drives it 95% of the time. It is better than having only 1 car. At least I have a second car. I could be starving in the desert of Africa with no shoes, no shelter, and being beaten.....I hate complaining....

Snapfish photo contest

I meant to post this earlier - but forgot. Oops. There is still time though! Go to Snapfish and upload your pictures to try to get into this "America at Home" book....you can read more about it on the website. I have uploaded a few pictures onto it - I hope they get in!

flowers flowers everywhere

Yesterday Grandma, Mom, Elli, and myself all went to Tyler County to this old lady's farm where she has fields of flowers. I didn't have anything else to do, so I thought I'd tag along. It was pretty neat...it makes me want to live in the country. I love the hills and the trees and just being in nature like that. We didn't really do much....well, Elli and I didn't do much. It was hot and sunny, so we didn't stay in the flower field that long. We toured this lady's drying sheds and sat under some trees while mom and grandma talked and picked flowers. It was a long trip in the car that I felt sick all evening from...me, backseats, and curvy roads don't mix well.

Anyways, here are some sweet pictures

Elli and I in the drying shed for these flowers...

In the fields of flowers....

Elli smelling the flowers...brave girl!

first steps!

Elli has officially taken her first steps! Yesterday at my grandma's house, she took one step and then fell on the other! WHOA! And then again last night she did the same thing! I didn't notice it today, but she is walking around furniture with ease. This is crazy!

Messy Jessie

Today was a messy day at work for me.
I work at Pier 1, and we are always moving things around to keep things fresh and fabulous. I love this part of my job - and am proud to say, I am good at it. Though I enjoy the visual aspects of my job, I don't like moving around the things in the perimeter walls....especially candles. But! Today was my lucky day! Today I got to move around our candle wall. We had just shifted and moved the candle scents around earlier in the week, but it was done wrong. Blah. So, since I am good and quick, I got to start it by setting as many shelves as I could so the next shift would know where to place the shelves correctly. These are not fun to move and not necessarily easy to move either....it is a full body workout...seriously. I knew better than to wear my white capris today - but I thought since it's Monday, we won't be moving much around. I was wrong.
So before I could set the shelves, I had to clear them off. There is a lot of crap stuffed into these walls. I started with the reed diffusers, since there is a lot of them. Well, I was going along (in my least favorite scent area) and with arms full, a Patchouli reed diffuser shatters in the crease of my elbow! GROSS!!! I HATE PATCHOULI! I could have at least broke an "Island Orchard" or "Citrus Cilantro"...but no. I had to bust the worst smelling scent of all....ALL OVER MYSELF. My shirt is ruined. My arm has little invisible pieces of glass in it. My capris reak of patchouli and if it doesn't come out, they are ruined too. Arg! I am going to smell like a dirty hippie who refused to shower and shave her armpits and wears patchouli because it is the only thing that will cover up my body odor - for a week. I might soak in the tub over night.
So to top things off, the other manager that I was working with (luckily there were 3 of us today - there has to be at least 2 if anyone's to leave the store) she was at the bank and had to run an errand. So I had to smell my stinky self for an extra long time before I could leave and get some new clothes.
Oh man, I stink so bad...it's embarassing.

Picture Day!

The other day was beautiful! So I thought to myself, "Self, let's take that cute baby of ours outside and get some pictures." So I tried. I tried very hard. But this is what Elli said to herself, "Da! Da! Baaaaa.....Mmmmmm.....Gagagaaaaa!" Translated means "Self! Look! Something shiney! Stick it in your mouth....hurry!" And that didn't make for a very good picture day. Here's the best I could come up with (after "enhancing" them). She just wouldn't look at me, and it was really bright. She was enjoying herself though.

*sigh*

Tub time!

I love that Elli is big enough now to sit in the tub without me. I put her in the floor of the shower with me while I shower and she plays around and sits in the water so it goes all over her head and really enjoys herself. When I am finished, I fill the tub with enough water for her to slap and splash, the I GET OUT - without her! It used to be tricky getting in and out of the shower with her in my arms, trying to put her in her bouncy seat so I could dry off. Now I get out and she plays! I have a mat that fits the length of the tub, so it's not too slippery for her! She loves it and I get to dry off and clean up our clothes and things while watching her sing to her decals on the wall and giggle in the water. And now I can take her from her high chair and stick her right in the tub without having to get in myself...this is a good thing :)

Here are some pics:

Okay okay okay

So here's the plan. I think I will paint my cabinets a creamy-white. Not a stark, bright, blinding white. Then, maybe the red won't seem so obnoxious. I love my red walls and would be really sad to get rid of them. But I think I would like to paint my cabinetls, so it's a risk I am willing to make. I will probably paint some of the inserts of the cabinets with magnet paint and chalkboard paint for recipe notes or phone notes (probably above my stove- so I get a double bonus). Then, under the window between the fridge and the cabinets, I am going to paint a big square the same way and frame it in the same color as my cabinets so that when Elli get's bigger and feels she still has to be right under my feet, she will have somewhere to play that is away from the stove and she can draw and enjoy herself.
I haven't decided yet, but I think I will put fabric on the wall (you can do that like wall paper, only it comes off - and you don't need glue) as a back splash behind my stove and sink area...that will help lighten the red...then there will still be red, but it won't be all over the place.
Thanks so much for everyone's opinion! You have helped me a lot - and confused me too. :) I appreciate your thoughts!
Now, where's my paintbrush....

Now I'm torn!

Okay.... Someone mentioned something that I have been kindof things about myself as well....should I ditch the red walls? I like them...will it be too much with the white cabinets? The red walls are so fun and energizing - hmmmm..... maybe I should paint the cabinets first and see.... any suggestions?

help me decide!

I have been sying that I want to paint my kitchen cabinets white since I moved in...almost 4 years ago. I can't decide. Sometimes I think it would be nice to keep the cabinets the way they are because it will keep a cohesive flow to the wood throughout the house. Most of the time though, I think it would really brighten and lighten my oh-so-small kitchen and make it a lot more fun to be in. I took some pictures and got Mike to photoshop them to show me what white cabinets will look like in there....help me decide. I think I have finally got him going with the idea of painting them - so I am ready for the final decision and to jump in with both feet!

So....before:

-or after:

to floss or not to floss....

I have discovered the joys of flossing! I know....I know....I should have been flossing for a LONG time by now. I think it is rewarding to dig back inbetween your teeth and scrape the plaque and food out of there. (nice) I feel so clean, so refreshed! My gums aren't used to it yet...but I think my teeth are enjoying it. Wouldn't my dentist be proud?! He's never said anything about me not flossing before - he may not even notice...but I know...I notice.
While we are on the subject of body and health, I have been trying to wash my face and put this moisturizer on it to help keep me young looking. I don't know why I even try. I mean, as soon as I start washing my face - it breaks out and I get all pimply....too much information? I am trying to keep my face healthy and young looking - but I don't want it THAT young looking. That is why I never ever ever wash my face...ever. I never put soap on it, I sleep in my makeup, and my complexion is still nice and pimple free inspite of the fact I don't take care of myself. I don't know if I should keep trying to put lotion on - but I need one that won't mess with my complexion...any suggestions? brands? home-remedies?

complex

I am starting to get a complex here.
I see on my friends' blogs all of these links to see "how much your blog is worth" or "what blogging level are you on" (I am not even posting my results on this one...it's sad) and other things like that. I like to think that I am pretty good at blogging...I can keep up with the rest of them. Anyways, so I go to these links, type in what they ask and find out that I am worthless and on the lowest blogging level and just a total loser!!! WWWhhhaaaaa!!! Why am I such a goober? My friends all are high on the lists and can brag about it all....I am going to quit checking. It just depresses me.

She's so helpful...

So Elli LOVES to "help" me fold laundry. Well, she LOVES to "help" me get it out of the basket. I figure she is just keeping them fluffed because she pulls everything out and then tosses each piece she can up into the air over and over again. That is, until I put everything back in the hamper for her to pull out all over again. We have a routine by now. I make sure the floor is clean, she attacks the pile of clothes and I fold what I can before she rips it out of the hamper. We put it back and start all over again. And then she spies the clothes on the couch that I have folded already, lunges for them, we wrestle a while, and then she sees something shiney that distracts her attention and I continue folding. It's a good time.

baby shower

Elli and I went to a baby shower today for a good friend of mine - Shannon. It was a sweet time. I think she really felt honored by what she received and the support she was given. Elli did so good! I went early and helped set up, and she just sat in the middle of the floor and played with her toys! The accoustics were really good, so she shouted and sang a lot to herself:

Mom and I made the cake for the shower (chocolate girl is supposed to look like the mom-to-be) (I have better pics, mom- I just don't feel like uploading another right now):

Elli and I (she doesn't smile for the camera like she used to, and yes, she has a bruise on her cheek - she's learning to stand and get around -it's a hard world out there! ) (and I was hot and have a balloon growing out of my head...oh well):

Our trip to Texas

This evening my grandma, mom, and myself (with Elli in tow) headed off to dinner. Where we usually have dinner at grandma's, we decided that since dad was out of town and Mike was golfing, we'd treat ourselves to dinner out. I mean, seriously, why cook if you don't have to? Anyways, we decided to go to Texas Roadhouse.
Elli had a great time! She sat for the first time in a restaurant high-chair. She loved it. She wasn't stuck in her car seat or on my lap. She could sit and bang the table, play with the straws, shout at people - she was free! She shouted with the music and kept talking to this lady (who was rude and seemed to have a chip on her shoulder that she was sat at a tiny table and of all things beside a baby...jerk...I mean, sho would think that about MY baby? :) )She loved the sweet potato I got and I think that tonight was the official "everybody-who-has-a-birthday-on-Sept.5-go-eat-at-Texas-Roadhouse" night. The wait staff were clapping all evening! I swear they did it 7 or 8 times....doesn't that seem like a lot during the span of an hour? I think so. Though it was excessive, Elli thought it was the greatest thing! She clapped when they were finished like she didn't want them to stop. It was pretty cute - but, how could it not be? Ha!
It was a fun trip. I'll have to go back sometime.

On what holiday were you born?

So this is pretty fun!
Go to this page, click on your month and find your birthday! You should then laugh and feel honored to have such an occasion on your birthday - and then post your holiday on my comment list!
My birthday, April 2, is National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day! Who knew! So next time you bite into your pb & j and think to yourself that there should be a holiday for it where everyone eats pb&j and only pb&j for 24 hours because it is so mmm mmm yummy....there already is! And it's my birthday! Awesome!

Giveaways aren't 'superdumb'!

My cousin, at superdumb supervillian, is having her first giveaway on her blog! Whether you blog or not, you should sign up for it (and I know someone who would really like it if you won and didn't want it...hint...) . She is giving away a brand new...well...I am not sure what you call it exactly, but it is this convertable stool thing for children to play and learn on. It pushes up to the counter, or they can us it as a desk....why don't you check it out on her blog!

Check me out!

Actually - check out this photo that a great friend of mine (Rebecca) took. It happens to be of me on my wedding day! She is a great photagrapher - be sure to look at her other photos while you are there!