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: