Keeping up with Kennedy

Kenne update!

2012-02-12T08:00:00.000-08:00

I feel like I haven't given you guys a Kennedy update in awhile. Not a TON has been going on, but none-the-less I felt I should write down some things for my memory. This is going to go in the totally none flowish(I made that word up) bullet list format.

Oh and I am going to throw some random pictures in there as well. Ok? Ok.

- 15 months old. Where does the time go? I feel like 2 yrs is giving me the staredown.
- She is eating adult food pretty much all of the time. She still does have a bottle in the morning and at night, but we are weaning her off of that. We wanted to wait until we were done with all of our traveling the last few months before we took that & her nuk away. So now is the time...yikes.
-Her favorite foods to-date are: bananas, pear, winter squash, oatmeal, carrots, yogurt, cheesy broccoli soup & whole wheat saltines.

- Foods she could go without: peaches, any rice cereal, chicken, and meat ravioli (can't say I blame her)
- She drinks whole milk out of her bottle or sippy.
- She prefers to drink water out of a regular cup. I pour it for her.
- She loves to snack all day long.
- She is obsessed with ice cream.
- We are down to 2 naps a day (3 if she is crabby). Her naps consist of 1- hour to 1 1/2 hours in the morning & usually 2-3 hour nap in the afternoon.
- She sleeps from 7pm to 7am for the most part.

- Went on her first plane ride to Florida in January and was amazing. She slept most of the way.
- Loves her dogs. She climbs all over Bode & Riley and they are so good with her. She sits on them like she is going to ride on them or throws herself on them to use as a pillow when she is tired.

-She knows where her nose, ears, eyes, mouth, belly, heart, knees and toes are. Also, if you say "oh Gees" she will put her hand on her head. so cute.
- She laughs all of the time. Her personality is amazing. Sometimes the sass can be a bit much, but it usually doesn't last long. She is so happy. And silly.
- Her hair is a blondish-brown full set of curls. She gets that from me.

- She still hates bathtime. I am hoping she grows out of it before summer because we are always at my in-laws in the water.
- She is wearing 18mo to 24 mo clothing.

- She had her first pigtails for our work party at the end of January
- She hates socks. If you put them on her she will have them off within 5 minutes if she doesn't have shoes on.

- She loves loves loves being outside. Especially in the winter. This makes me very happy.
-She cut 2 of her molars.. one on each side on the bottom. Pretty soon she will have a full set of teeth!-Speaking of teeth, she loves to brush her teeth. Insists on it whenever we walk by the bathroom her toothbrush is in. She knows. Good oral hygiene. That's my girl!

- She is a very busy little girl. Into everything, climbing on everything and thinks me telling her no is funny.

xo, j.

Dinner Menu this week!

2012-02-11T12:22:00.000-08:00

So I am back to the weekly menu making.
For a couple reasons.

First being that I found this cool menu idea off of pinterest and wanted to make it. So I did. & now I have to use it. Second being that I have quite the collection of cookbooks. I am obsessed with the idea of cooking & baking, I just struggle to find the time to do it. But there are way too many recipes that I want to try so I need to get on that. Lastly because we eat out way too damn much. I am talking we have been home from Las Vegas since Wednesday and I haven't cooked a single day. Takeout every single day. Not because I am lazy, but because I haven't had the energy to go grocery shopping. I have been fighting off a horrible head-cold since we got back and I just have wanted to sleep... and sleep some more.

:: As in, Thursday... I slept until 2. yikes! I woke up with Kennedy when she got up at 6:30 and she went back down for a nap around 8 so I did too... and kept sleeping.... and slept some more. Andy stayed home in the morning to let me catch up on sleep and try to get a headstart on beating this cold. Bless his heart. You guys... I needed it. I probably would have went back to sleep if I didn't have to get up as well ::

So today being Saturday, Andy is only at work until 3. So I planned on doing my grocery shopping today when he gets home. That way I don't have to bundle K up and bring her out.. it is f to the reezing out the last couple of days. In preparation to going to grocery shopping, I decided to make my weekly menu. And you guessed it... I'm going to share it with you!

I love you pinterest. Numerous recipes this week come from there. The pictures suck me in. The others are from my beloved Williams-Sonoma cookbook or recipes I've picked up along the way.

So The Grundstrom Household will be stuffing our faces with the following for dinner this week.

Saturday/Today: Creamy Chicken & Broccoli Casserole with Rice. And for Dessert we will be having Cream Cheese Banana Bread.

(via pinterest)

Sunday: Sloppy Joe Grilled Cheese without the fries.. I am going to try baked avocado fries instead.

(via pinterest)

Monday: Turkey Stuffed Peppers with a side salad. (I have made this before and LOVED it..) I found a new recipe on pinterest that is pretty close to the same so I am going to give it a try.

(via pinterest)

Tuesday: I will be making Chicken Parmesan & honey glazed carrots for my loves. It is Valentine's Day afterall. Chicken Parmesan is Andy's favorite meal that I make so that was a no-brainer. I think for dessert we will have frozen chocolate banana bites. I blogged about it before here and included the recipe and pictures.

Wednesday: Rigatonis with butternut squash sauce and Cheesy Cauliflower Puree (substitute for mashed potatoes) I don't have a picture of the rigatonis because it is just one of my recipes but I do have a picture of the cauliflower!

(via...yup.. pinterest)

Thursday: We will actually be in Green Bay for dinner on Thursday so we will be eating out. Probably at Olive Garden or a Steakhouse. We are going to be there with my sister & BIL to see the Jason Aldean & Luke Bryan concert. (one of Andy's & BIL's Christmas presents from my sister and I) Oh and all my American Idol fans.. Lauren Alaina is opening for them.

Friday: Grilled Chicken & Pineapple Quesadillas.

(via pinterest)

(And since I started on a Saturday.. that is what my weeks are going to look like. Saturdays are shopping days.)

*If you would like any of the recipes I listed you can find them on my Food & Drink Board on Pinterest here. If they are recipes that are mine (eg. Chicken Parmesan (I have the recipe linked in this post) or the Rigatonis.. send me an e-mail and I would be happy to share any of those with you-that goes for future recipes as well!)

Buon Sabato!

Love Story Link up!

2012-02-09T18:19:00.000-08:00

Ok, although late.. I am going to link-up with Becky over at From Mrs. to Mama because it looks like a lot of fun!

So here goes..

1. How long have you and your significant other been together?

Andy and I have been together since September 2007. "Technically" dating since December 15, 2007 but those are just logistics :)

2. How did you meet? {What's your "love" story?} Ha. Well Andy tried to "meet" me 2 years prior to when we actually met. We were both at a party at my bestfriend's house and he asked her about me, and she snapped at him with "nevermind! She has a boyfriend". Total protective bestie. So fastforward 2 years. I had graduated from NMU in May, and moved away for the summer but ended up coming home in August. School was starting again and I wanted to stay on my mom's insurance but in order to do so I had to be enrolled in college with atleast 1 credit. My bestie, Sarah (same girl that blocked him last time) was taking Hunter's Safety because she liked to go with her boyfriend (I actually introduced & set them up.. they are married now). So anyway she told me to take the class with her because it was only 6 weeks 2x a week and then I would have the credit needed. So I did. It just so happened that Andy was also in this class. He was the one that came in 10 mins late every class. I remember telling Sarah "he is going to be my boyfriend..he would be so cute in pictures." Mind you I was dating someone at the time. The same someone that I was dating 2 yrs prior. So whenever we would have a break in class he would always come and sit by us to talk to Sarah. I thought he had a crush on her. I would always tease her. Really he was hanging around because he liked me. So we became friends, talked and he became my counselor for my boyfriend problems. Funny, right? Anyway I ended my relationship with my past boyfriend and Andy and I became inseparable. He sabotaged things any time I would meet up with another guy. How sweet... haha. Then I had a work Christmas Party on the 15th of December and asked Andy to come with me. It was the weekend of his guys weekend that he went with his friends to every year. He ended up leaving them Saturday morning and making the drive back and showed up at my door with a rose to be my date. The rest was history.

3. If married, how long have you been married? If not, is this the guy you hope to marry? {do tell}

2+ years. We were married on New Years Eve 2009.

4. If you are married, where did you get married at? Big or small wedding? If not, where would you like to get married? And will it be big or small?

We were married at Upfront and Company at dusk on New Years Eve. They had HUGE windows overlooking Lake Superior and the snow was gorgeous. At our wedding ceremony there were only 50 people there.(I have horrible anxiety) We had a rather large reception that followed later that night at the same place to ring in the new year. It was perfect.

5. Do you have any nick-names that you call one another? Do share!

Well besides the regular, babe, honey, hun... we just call eachother jod or aj for short names.

6. Name 3 things you love most about your honey.

Three things I love about my husband are his love for his family, his drive, and his loyalty. He would do anything for Kenne and myself and he shows that everyday. His drive amazes me everyday. He is such a hardworker. Although at times, it may drive me crazy when he misses lunch or comes home late from work, but I know that he does it all so that he can provide for us and take care of us. His loyalty is everything to me. I know that he will love me through anything. He will always be there for me and he will always support me. I would never in my life have a doubt about his loyalty to me or our family. He is one of the good ones.

7. Tell us how he proposed? Or your ideal proposal?

Andy proposed to me on February 4, 2009. He called me at work on a Wednesday (which was my long day at work) and asked to take me out to dinner when I was done. We went to Elizabeth's Steakhouse, which is a very upscale restaurant in our town. I didn't think anything of it though because I had actually been telling him recently how I really wanted to go there just the two of us. (we usually went with his family). So we went and had an amazing dinner & before we left Andy said he had to use the bathroom.. really he was just going to get the ring. So he came back... and said Jody Lee... will you marry me??

8. Is he a flowers and teddy bear kind of guy for v-day, or strawberries, champagne, and rose petals?

ha. not really either. Well I do usually get flowers for Valentine's Day and some sort of surprise. But he has filled our house with rose petals before.. when he wanted to get his freak on. He is more of a dinner and a movie kind of guy & brings in the romance when he knows he needs to step up his sex game. :)

9. Are you a sunset dinner on the beach kind of girl, or pop a movie in and relax on the couch?

definitely both. The sunset dinner on the beach sounds amazing, but we don't really ever get a chance to do that. The beach by our house isn't usually warm except for one month a summer and at that time it is usually packed with people. Movie night in is usually how our house rolls. And I love it.

10. Tell us one thing you'd like to do with your significant one day. If you could do anything? Go anywhere?

I would love to go to Italy or Ireland with Andy. Or for a hot-air balloon ride. Wait.. you said just one. haha

11. Tell us what you plan on doing on this Valentine's Day.

We don't really have any plans this Valentine's Day as of now. We both will be at work and were invited to go to dinner with Andy's family (including his gma). His grandparents were married on Valentine's Day so they usually bring his grandma out to celebrate. If it were up to me, I would just like to have a nice night in with the baby.

12. Are you asking for anything this Valentine's day?

Well I didn't ask for something for Valentine's day specifically but there is a necklace that I have mentioned to Andy that I would really like. It is a gold arrow necklace that points upwards. The necklace is for a fundraiser for "Stand up against Cancer" cancer research. Hence the arrow pointing up. I have had some very special people in my life fight and lose their battle and others win their battle against cancer, so it is very important to me to support the fight.

13. Give us one piece of advice of keeping a relationship strong and full of love.

Forgive easily. Marriage is not always easy. Marriage is nothing like the fairytale you read about in the books and watch in the movies. That doesn't mean that marriage isn't a fairytale though. It just isn't that kind. It is what you make it. There will always be tough times but it is so important to remember to forgive easily and quickly, and never let that hinder your love for one another.

14. Show us a picture of what love means to you.

to tattoo or not to tattoo?

2012-02-02T07:05:00.000-08:00

I want to get a tattoo.

I have always wanted to get one, but I wanted to wait until I was at an age that I would get one that had meaning to me.
I'm at that age, now.

Once I knew what I wanted I had my sister write it on my foot (which is where I want it) with a sharpie so I could have it for a day to make sure I really liked it.
That's legit, right? Anyway.. this is what it would look like.

It reads:: l' amore e tutto (with the proper punctuation over the e)

It says in Italian:: Love is everything

I feel like at the end of the day, everything in life comes down to love.

Love for your family, your child or children, your spouse, your friends, your life.

And well the Italian part is obviously because I am just that, Italian.

My grandpa's name was Francisco Alfredo Michael Donofrio.

Hear that MTV??

Guest appearance on Mob Wives?

Anyway.. so back to the tattoo. I have been set on this idea for awhile now. So what's the problem?

Well a few things.

1. I have horrible anxiety & need to do it spur of the moment.

Which brings me to problem #2.

2. The one person I would want to have do it is scheduling like 3 months out right now.

Damn it!

3. I read online that you should be up-to-date on your tetanus and Hep B shots.

I have neither.

I haven't had a tetanus shot since I was 7.

Hep B shot?

Not since I was a baby.

So if I don't have those vaccines, can I still get a tattoo?

Is it extremely risky if you don't have them and get a tattoo?

4. How bad does it really hurt to get a tattoo on the side of your foot?

I like to think that I have a high tolerance for pain, but I guess I don't know what this type of pain feels like. Ugh, I hate the unknown. Did I mention I have anxiety?

__________________________________________________________

I should just suck it up and do it.

I think I will.

to be continued...

I'm leaving on a jetplane..again.

2012-02-01T06:39:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow we leave for Las Vegas for a work conference.

I don't want to go.

It never gets easier, for me it gets harder. Last year's conference was in San Francisco and I had a meltdown before I left because I had to leave Kenne when she was only 3 1/2 months. I didn't think I could go through with it, but it was for work, and I didn't have a choice. I had committed to it the year prior and couldn't back out now.. trust me I tried. The one blessing about it was that she was going to be staying with my mom (who she LOVED spending time with) and she was young enough where she slept the majority of the time.

Now? Well now she needs a tranquilizer to go to bed or nap. Simmer down.. that was a joke, I don't REALLY give her a tranquilizer, but she does put up a good fight usually to go down. She wants to play and eat and then play some more. Never stops... go go go. Which is great. But I am terrified to know how she is going to be for my mom while we are gone. She is used to spending 2 days a week every week with my mom anyways, but she also is at the stage where she is really clingy to myself and Andy. She doesn't like either of us leaving the room, let alone the house.

Thank God for computers and Skype. It worked last year, so hopefully it will do the trick this year as well.

I always like to plan trips and see different cities, but when it all comes down to it, I am such a homebody. Living out of a suitcase for a week isn't appealing to me. I am sure I will have a great time while we are there and will learn a ton but in that same breath I can't wait to head to vegas.. so that I can turn around and head right back to my baby girl.

how could I not want to spend every second of every minute of every hour of every day(you get the point right) with this sweet face?

In other news.. Kenne had her first piggies this weekend!
Ahh I could die she is so adorable.
Call me biased but she is the cutest little 15 month old I have ever seen.

Like her little tracksuit?

RHOBH in training...

Happy Wednesday!

xo, J

Daddy's girl

2012-01-23T08:12:00.000-08:00

My daughter loves her mama.
My daughter loves her grandparents.
But my daughter loooooooooooves her daddy.

We can be playing, cuddling, half asleep, it doesn't matter. The second she spots, hears or senses Andy in the room all focus goes to him. She will cry if he walks out of the room and can't get to him, and will follow him around the house all day long if she is running free.

She is all like.. "mom get out of here..I'm hanging with dad" and pushes her hands in the air as if to push me away. Pshh. She has no compassion for the 9 months of carrying her I did. It's ok though, I love seeing the two of them together and their bond amazes me. Kennedy and I are both extremely lucky to have Andy. He is so good with her. I always tease Andy that I think she is a total "mama's girl." Which obviously at the moment she is not.

Thats ok, the more she wants to sit next to him and play with him over me, the better the chance he will get stuck with the poopy diapers. :) See not a bad gig for myself. She still likes to come to me a lot and she is such a snuggler. She loves me very much and you can clearly see it, it is just that at the moment she is in a daddy stage and lights up when she sees him. I know it makes him feel so good as well when she goes running to him the second he walks in the door and won't leave his side. I think most of it comes from the fact that she is home with me way more often so when she sees him she gets in the "ugh finally I have been with this broad all day, dad" mood. And ok, I suppose it might be because he is a pretty sweet dude. :)

And hey, I can't argue with the extra freedom to craft. Damn you Pinterest. I mean I love you Pinterest.

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili Recipe!

2012-01-19T07:27:00.000-08:00

I am obsessed with pinterest.

I don't know how I survived before it.

Whomever created that little gem, has my vote!

I love to cook.

I wish I had a HUGE kitchen..

like this one..

...or this one. (ahem husband)

Hopefully when we build our new house in a couple of years I can sneak one of these into the houseplans... we'll see ;)

Anyway, back to Pinterest.

I go crazy on that website with the recipes. What a great way to share tasty treats! I have plenty of recipes pinned (take a looksy if you'd like) but I wanted to share with you what I am making for tonight!

If you live in the Midwest you are no stranger to snow storms, especially after this week.

~~If you don't, damn you, in the nicest possible way of course.~~

Living in Michigan we definitely were graced with some snow. (I use the word graced lightly as it hasn't been fun). Today especially, it is balls cold out. Yes, I did just say balls cold. And now am going to talk about food. Hey whatever, man.

I found this recipe on pinterest but when I followed it back to it's posting it actually came from a blog called Plain Chicken.

Ok so onto the food.

Cream Cheese Chicken Chili.

1 can black beans
1 can corn, undrained
1 can Rotel, undrained
1 package ranch dressing mix
1 tsp cumin
1 Tbsp chili powder
1 tsp onion powder
1 8 oz package light cream cheese
2 chicken breasts
**Made in the crockpot**

Drain and rinse black beans. Place chicken at bottom of pot, then pour out whole can of corn (undrained), rotel, and black beans. Top with seasonings and ranch mix. Stir together. Place cream cheese on top. Cover with lid and cook on low for 6-8 hours. Stir cream cheese into chili. Use 2 forks to shred chicken. Stir together and serve.

Sounds easy enough right? It takes about 5 minutes to throw this together. Now we're talking! And if the sounds of it doesn't rope you in.. here's a visual.

taken from pinterest

Well, now that my mouth is watering I am going to get my butt in the kitchen and get this going for dinner tonight before Kennedy wakes up from her morning nap!

Stay warm. Happy Thursday!

That time we went to Florida

2012-01-17T08:08:00.000-08:00

Well we are back from our vacation in Florida and have recooperated from all of the traveling.

Our trip was amazeballs!

I can't tell you how proud we are of Kennedy.

She was a rockstar on all of our flights and slept most of the time but when she was up, was so good.

Didn't cry at all.

She loved playing peek-a-boo with other passengers.

Would you believe me if I said we did basically nothing?

Yup. That was us.

I loved every minute of it.

The weather was amazing, mid to high 70s all week and blue skies. We had a pool and hottub at the house we were staying in so we just hung around there all week. We did venture around for walks and went out to dinner but besides that we were homebodies.

Just what we needed.

We were on Marco Island with Andy's parents and stayed in a house they rented for 2 weeks. I spent most of my days drinking ~~Bud Light Limes~~ water and chasing Kennedy around with the camera. When I wasn't swimming of course. Kennedy did so well in the water.. the only downside is she would cry and want out unless you let her have her pacifier. It somehow gave her comfort while in the water. Maybe they are also used as flotation devices?

Hello Paparazzi!

Happy Tuesday Everyone!

Oh hey 2012!

2012-01-04T06:58:00.000-08:00

I feel like 2012 is going to bring great things. Well I atleast hope it does.

We had a very nice dinner for our anniversary. Although we did have a little bit of a hiccup that day. Andy's 91 yr old grandma fell the night before and ended up breaking the top of her femur and had to have surgery New Years Eve morning. So unfortunately she was unable to meet up for dinner but she is doing very well! I swear that lady is 91 going on 16. Such a spitfire.

And I did promise you guys a photo from this year.. so here you go :)

(pay no attention to the fact that my legs look pasty white)

I totally just made you look, didn't I?

I am excited for holiday's to be over just for Kennedy's sake. It took a lot out of her having to go to so many gatherings. But that doesn't mean that I am not already thinking about next Christmas :) And what presents I need to buy! I'd love to share photos from Christmas morning with you guys, but I actually don't have any. My mom took all of the pictures so that I could be involved with Kenne opening her gifts and she still hasn't gotten me the sd card.. ahem.. mother. GET YOUR ASS MOVING :) just kidding. love you. ha.

Tomorrow we leave for Marco Island, Florida for a family vacation for a week. My in-laws are already down there, they left on New Year's Day and SIL, Andy, Kennedy and myself fly down tomorrow at 6:30am. I am not looking forward to waking Kennedy up at 4:30 to get ready and go.. I don't know how she will be. I am packing everything I can imagine to keep her occupied on the plane and hopefully it goes smoothly. Santa was so kind to bring her a portable dvd player to watch movies on the way down.. it's weird how he knew that she was going to be needing one?

I tell ya, that guy is a stitch!

Besides the obvious things.. is there anything that I should be packing for the planeride? This will be Kennedy's first and I am a little scared. Who am I kidding, I get anxiety over just about anything. But especially lately because Kennedy is really into throwing tantrums when she doesn't get what she wants. ~~She obviously learned that from her father... heehee~~

Usually I just walk away from her at home and not give her any attention when she does that, but that is impossible on a plane. And did I mention I am terrified to get the "shut that kid up" staredown, or statement. If I hear anyone saying any snarky remarks I am going to be all ..."what did you say biatch??" well not really. ok not at all so I hope that doesn't happen :)

Well I should probably get back to packing the carry-on while little missy is taking her morning nap so here is the rest of what we have been up to... in pictures! :)

we've been unwrapping gifts before Christmas

and stomping on the paper to make noise

we've ran around in our swimsuit and hat getting ready for Florida

we've also done some laughing

we've insisted on wearing our sunglasses while eating

we've made funny faces

we've turned the living room into a playroom

(not for long)

we've given Riley kisses

we've given mom the look. The one where she gets right up in front of the camera and just stares like, ok enough pictures.

we've played some soccer

oh, and we have gotten a little snow.....

xo, j.

It's our anniversary!

2011-12-31T06:57:00.000-08:00

(Talk about fail. I haven't updated since Christmas Eve. Well I am glad that I didn't make any promises to be back sooner because our life has been anything but calm the last week. We had parties on top of more parties, and with it being the end of the year it has been crazy at work. I will go kind of backwards and post pictures from Christmas and do that update tomorrow or something because today has to be talked about.)

Today, my friends, is my anniversary.

Two years ago today I married my bestfriend. Cliche I know, but oh so true. We have had an amazing two years of being married and have been so blessed. I am not going to pretend that we haven't had any trying times because let me tell you... we drive eachother crazy on a regular basis. :)

So this is to you, Andrew James.

I love you more than anything and I think that you are simply amazing everyday. You are an amazing father to our daughter and will be to our future children and a very devoted and caring husband. You let me get away with moodiness and high shopping bills. You are very supportive of my dreams and are there for me when I have horrible anxiety attacks. You love the best of me and you love the worst of me. I can't imagine my life without you, and I hope to never have to. You have shown me how powerful love can really be. Thank you for being the incredible person that you are and thank you for loving me and Kennedy with your whole heart. I look forward to many more years with you and our family full of love and laughter. (Because let's face it, we are fun peeps.) ..oh and last but not least, thank you for being the total hotness that you are. ;)

Love you mucho!

your wifey.

our 1st new years eve together

right around our 2nd new years eve together (I didn't have a picture on this computer from that night)

And sadly I don't have a picture of us from last year on New Year's. Well not on my computer anyway.

BUT I will take a picture tonight before we go to dinner.

Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year!!

Be safe tonight if you are out and about.

Here's to 2012!

xo j.

a GREAT savings site. you need to do this.

2011-12-24T07:20:00.000-08:00

first and foremost..

Merry Christmas Eve friends!

We are quite busy today with my nephews birthday party and a Christmas get-together at my mom's house.

I did, however, want to share with you a website that I came across that is AMAZEBALLS. It has great deals (brand name electronics, other stuff) for a great deal. It kind of works like plum district where they have a certain amount of deals per day but they also offer "insane deals" that are things at around 93% off. I'm talking ipads, apple tvs, etc for like $20.

YEAH BIG SAVINGS.

I wanted to share it with you, you know since I am in the Christmas spirit and all.

Go here.. and register. It is totally free to register & I promise you won't be disappointed. It's called No More Rack. The people on extreme couponing use it.. no surprise there, right? :) They know what's up.. and now you do too!

http://www.nomorerack.com/?cr=5281936

ok, we are off to get ready for birthday parties & christmas parties..

kenne says have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

xo, J

That one time I went to NYC

2011-12-22T17:24:00.000-08:00

Well I went to NYC and back. I think I am still trying to catch up on sleep, even though we weren't in a different timezone. That trip really wore me out! It was fun though!

I do wish I would have run into someone famous though. oh well, we can't have it all, right?

We did some sight-seeing, some shopping, ate some delish food & went to see The Nutcracker in Brooklyn. Busy bodies, we were!

Instead of writing and telling you everything that we did, I figured I would just share pictures with you.

Be prepared, there may be a lot.

my sister and I at lunch the first day we got there

we walked around downtown.. see the Empire State Building in the background?

In front of the Christmas tree at our hotel

I had to get a hotdog in Central Park :)

walking around

pretty much the only reason I wanted to go to New York...

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree!

Oh hey girl! We skated at Central Park.

We walked around some more.

Spent some time in Times Square.

Flew around with Mary Poppins!

Visited Rockefeller Center again at night.

Soooo beautiful.

& went to the Top of the Rock to see the Empire State Building & city.

amazing view!

But after that was all said and done, I do have to say that I was very excited to get home to my husband and baby girl.

I missed them so so much!

That's where I've been instead of on blogger..

snuggling my family.

Oh and being consumed with the Holiday!

Tis the season!

in-laws Christmas photo.

SIL, Me & Kenne, Andy, MIL and FIL.

Hope everyone has a WONDERFUL and BLESSED Christmas.

I'll try to update before Sunday but I can't make any promises so just in case :)

xo J.

baby fever. not bieber fever.

2011-12-14T13:24:00.000-08:00

I have a bad case of baby fever. yes I said baby, not bieber. I am not a fan of Christmas music that says "shawty" in it, sorry biebs.

It all started a couple months back actually. Ever since Kennedy was born, we kind of left future children up in the air. I have always wanted 3 children but after the tough pregnancy that I had with Kennedy, I was a little turned off by the idea of having to go through all of that again. Andy has always said he wanted 2. Then when Kennedy was born, we just decided that we would wait until Kennedy was out of diapers to even discuss future children. At the time, I was perfectly ok with that.

Funny how quickly you forget the bad or scary parts of pregnancy.

It was actually Andy that had brought it up again. For the longest time he had said that he would be content with just one child. I think part of him just didn't want to think of having to give his attention to anyone but Kenne. (She is a daddy's girl to the core right now) So I actually didn't know if we would have any other children, but I knew not to bring it up for now.

Then one day OUT OF NOWHERE. We are talking, flew at me from left field. We were sitting around the living room & Andy said to me " you know what I think we should do?" instantly I thought he just meant an activity we should go do that day. But he said " I think we should start budgeting & hopefully build our new house in like 2 years & I think we should have another baby"

Wait.. What?? OK!

So that brings me to now. Pretty much all that has been on my mind since that conversation is baby #2. It doesn't help that so many of my bloggy mom friends are pregnant right now. I love thinking of names (Pshh. I already have them picked out. The boy name is set in stone & the girl name is a toss up between 3, ha) and thinking about what they are going to look like and everything that we will experience. At work, I always walk up to Andy and say.. ohh hunny what about this name? And he always replies with "Know what name I really like right now?... none. Because we aren't talking about this now. This is why I didn't want to tell you, because as soon as I say I want to do something.. you want to do it RIGHT.NOW.) Fine.. whatever, Andy. All I heard was blah blah blah.. anyway. :)

Now the problem is getting Andy to convert his "in 2 years" to sooner. I mean it isn't that much to ask. I'm not asking for tomorrow. I am the one that has to carry the little bundle, no? When we got married we had talked about waiting a year and then starting a family. Well lets just say I changed my mind and said lets have one sooner. Thankfully, he obliged. (like he had a choice.. I wear the pants) jk! well, sort of... anyway, I got pregnant our 2nd month of being married.
We were truly blessed.

I have some things planned next year that I don't think would mix with being pregnant. ie. wine tasting weekend getaway with Kristen (oh and scott and andy) But I was thinking maybe next winter we would try and then maybe have a baby in the summer of '13? Then the babes wouldn't be too far apart in age but far enough that we can really focus on each individually.

So that is my plan. Perfect, right?
Now just to get my husband on board may be tricky.
(If you know Andy personally.. please don't mention anything to him about it.. he didn't want me to really talk about it because then he felt like everyone would bug us and always ask "are you pregnant yet, are you pregnant yet??" and he didn't want that..please & thank-you loves)

Ahhh. now lets just hope I can get hubs on board for another baby sooner than he thinks. heehee.

After all my baby-making clock is ticking.. geesh!

Kennedy update!

2011-12-09T06:39:00.001-08:00

I realized that I haven't given a Kennedy stats update lately.

Wanna know why?

because she hasn't been in for her 12 month check up yet.

I know I know, I should probably do that ASAP.

But really things just keep coming up & we get busy.

So with that, there are certain things that I don't know ie. height

Kennedy is...

23lbs her weight gain slowed down since she started walking.

And on that note... Walking.

practically running.

She says mama, dadda, DAT (that), yeah, no, deer

She is interested in knowing what EVERYTHING is.

She will go around the room pointing at stuff all day long saying dat?

(I did this when I was a baby and drove my mother nuts)

She can point out, Mama, Daddy, Grandma(MIL), Mima(my mom), Macy, Riley, Bode, Auntie Jamie, Uncle Neil, Evan (my nephew), Kennedy, her nose & "deer" (my BIL has a deer mounted in his mancave

She LOVES cats. When she sees any cat, especially Macy, she goes nuts. Screams with excitement, points and chases her around. She gets such a big grin on her face when she sees her and will give her hugs. So sweet.

She gives hugs, kisses, high fives, low fives, points at things & waves bye.

If you tell her to say cheeeeeseee, she will smile at you.

She loves Mickey Mouse Clubhouse & Baby Einstein.

Thank the lord for baby einstein dvd's & rear dvd player in the car.

She loves music & dancing, and books.
Oh the books.

She is obsessed.

(good thing Santa is bringing her TONS)

She is wearing size 4 diapers.

She wears 18-24mo clothes since she is so tall.

She loves jewelry and toothbrushes.

If you give her one of her toothbrushes and say Brusha Brusha she will put it in her mouth and brush.

She HATES taking baths now unless I go in there with her.

She likes to pretend to talk on the phone to people.

"Oh hiiii friend, yeah... I'm like at home hanging out with my mom, sooo boring I know, totally!"

She is eating big girl food now, no more formula.

Halle-fricken-lujah

She eats pretty much anything you give her & drinks whole milk, juice (natural pressed apple) and water.

She still struggles with chewing her food completely and once in awhile will choke on it a little and puke (if that's what you call it) back up but she is getting better.

She sleeps from 7:30/8pm until 7:30 in the morning.

She takes two naps a day. about an hour in the morning and 2-3 hours in the afternoon.

She HATES sippy cups.

She will carry it around but refuses to drink out of it.

She will let you pour the stuff in her mouth from a regular cup though.

Next up..taking the bottle away from her completely.

And baby girl, has 7 teeth. 4 on bottom & 3 on top.

And most importantly she melts our hearts a little more everyday...

cookie exchange & my agenda

2011-12-07T17:16:00.001-08:00

Today, I made Christmas cookies. 8 dozen to be exact. so that was fun. ~~not really.~~

I am the one that came up with the bright idea of a cookie exchange, and my mom opened her big mouth(bless her soul) to some people at work and all of a sudden we were at 13 people. Thankfully, it dropped down to 8 by the time the day came around. Still, that is ALOT of cookies.

Now I am relaxing on the couch about to watch a movie. Andy is gone for work so it is definitely a chickflick night. Crazy Stupid Love to be exact.

I can't believe Christmas is right around the corner! I am so excited for it. I still have just a few presents to get, mostly the guys in the family. But besides that I am done, presents are wrapped & Santa got everything mama thought Kenne would like.

Because we wouldn't want to let this face down.

Santa is bringing her a new sofa chair from Pottery Barn.

She.loves.chairs.

Such a big girl.

I wish we could host Christmas at our house so that Kenne could be home for naps, and bedtime and such, but I got overruled on that subject and we are going to Andy's grandma's. Oh well. There is always next year. I am going to start asking as of the 26th of December to call dibs.

I can even look the part, see?

I would be a legit hostess.

With Christmas being right around the corner, that also means our trips are as well! Next Thursday already is when I will be going to NYC with my sister & sister-in-law. I can't wait to go! I just wish I could take Kennedy. I hate being away from her... for any amount of time, let alone ~~4 days~~ what feels like forever. Thankfully I have Skype on my phone. (thank you iPhone) and I plan to bug Andy all the time to skype with me. Good thing he loves me! Then January 5th we are going to Marco Island, Florida with Andy's parents for a week for some vacation. It will be the first time Kennedy is ever on a plane. I am actually just as worried about bringing her in the airport as I am on the plane. Coming back we don't have a ton of time between our connection in Detroit and with the chance of weather being back around that time, I can just see me flying through the airport with a child in tow. Thank God Kennedy can still be carried... we wouldn't want to have a little Home Alone action going on. :)

On a totally different note, we bought our new cabinet knobs for the kitchen cabinets (we have lived in this house for 2 years now & never had them, it was a fresh build when we bought it so they were never installed). And we also ordered and are waiting for the backsplash to be put in. I can't wait!! My stepdad came over tonight & put the knobs on the doors for me. It was so cute, Kennedy LOVES her grandpa. She follows him around like a puppy when he is around. So while he was working on the counters... she had to help. So cute. I love having a handyman in the family.

Ok, I think I should start my movie. I need a good night's sleep tonight and it's already 8:30. I am such an old woman.

total randoms.

2011-12-04T11:07:00.001-08:00

hey ladies (and gents if there are any of you reading this)

hope everyone is having a great weekend!

my weekend has consisted of a lot of down time. But after the sickness that went through our house last weekend and the beginning of last week, that is perfectly ok with me!

The weather has been cold, and it has been snowing.

But hey it's December in Upper Michigan, that is pretty much a given.

a whopping 24 degrees out.

jealous?

Saturday morning, Kenne and I went to the craftshow at the Superior Dome with my mom.

We found some good finds!

kenne with her mima.

then we just kind of hung around...

umm.. mom can you move this gate?

And today? well we did a little grocery shopping and now I am watching repo-games on tv while andy and k nap.

Have any of you seen this show??

Holy sketchball people!

this is almost as funny as watching the american idol reject episode.

wah...

Ok that's all for now :)

weekend & home on a Monday.

2011-11-28T08:18:00.001-08:00

Hey guys!

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving Day and weekend. We had a wonderful day with family.. and it was actually very low key. loved it!

I did the unimaginable & decided to head out at midnight on black friday with my mom.
Note that I had to work at 8 on Friday. It was not a good mix! But I did score a sweet little kitchen playset for Kennedy which was normally $89 for $20, and a portable dvd player (for the plane in january for k) for $79 and it was normally $130. Oh and my mom bought us new pots and pans for Christmas! Normallly $299, on sale for $99. SCORE!

But the people in the stores? They were awful. People definitely turn into a different breed when they are out trying to beat eachother to deals. Wow! I can't believe the cruel things that I heard while out. People are selfish & downright rude. I'll stick to my Cyber Monday from now on thank.you.very.much.

On Friday we actually had 8 of our local stores evacuated due to bomb threats. Pretty scary stuff. They had roads blocked off for a couple of hours, but after being searched they all were cleared. Many people think it was part of the Occupy Wallstreet group. Who knows.. thankfully I wasn't a part of that and didn't need to be in any stores for any reason.

Now onto why I am home this Monday. No it isn't because I needed to focus 100% on cyber monday sales but good guess. That is definitely a plus for being home. But I am actually home because baby is sick. :(

She came down with a fever on Friday night but it would go up and then down and back up again, so we thought maybe it was from teething because she is getting some more teeth.
Then Saturday she was really needy and cuddly and burning up again. You could tell she wasn't feeling quite right. She was very cranky and uncomfortable so we kept up with baby motrin and lots of cuddles.
Then yesterday came.
She pretty much just wanted to sleep all day, and had a fever again & when she would cry it sounded for hoarse. As the day went on, it seemed to get worse so at 7 lastnight we decided to take her in to the walk-in center to find out the culprit.
Croup.
The NP we saw was very nice and good with Kennedy and seemed to know almost immediately. I knew of croup but wasn't sure if that's what it was because she wasn't coughing... yet. They gave her a single dose of prednisone & had us give her a nebulizer treatment while we were there and checked back in on her.
That treatment I thought would be the end of me. I had to hold a mask over her face. She cried. She screamed. She looked at me for comfort and I couldn't hold her the way she wanted me to. She gave me a look like she didn't understand why I was doing it to her. It broke my heart. Awful. But if it was going to help her, we had to do it.

She doesn't have the hoarse sound when she cries anymore, but she does have the barky cough now. Hopefully with the cough she will get some of the junk out of her chest. The NP said she had a lot of drainage going on from her nose. She is in good spirits today and no fever. I have been giving her plenty of liquids along with lots of naps and hugs. Hopefully this clears up in a few days and baby girl starts to feel better soon!

I want my spunky baby back please.

now if you will excuse me I have some more cyber monday sales to hit up while baby naps next to me on the couch.

j.

Thankful Thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T05:20:00.001-08:00

I am so excited for today. Last year, today my child was too young to understand just how great today is. And well, maybe she is still this year but she gets to watch the parade with me on tv & eat good food for dinner!

I figured in light of Thanksgiving I'd share what I am thankful for.

Sounds like an appropriate thing to talk about, right?

I am thankful for my family. All included.

But I can't help but smile full of joy when I look over and see my daughter sitting with her daddy and giving him hugs.

I am thankful that both sets of our parents live within 20 minutes of us. We get to see both of them on all holidays and even though it can be stressful trying to juggle the time, it is always well worth it.

I am thankful for DVR. I have to throw this in here. DVR is a lifesaver when I need to jump in the shower when I'm home alone and don't have time to wait for kennedy to nap. We have episodes of Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, or what Kennedy calls "mi mo" when she sees him, and if we put her in her play area and turn that on.. she is like glue.

I am thankful, for our jobs. In today's economy many people are struggling for work. I am thankful that everyone in my family has a job that they can go to. I am thankful that I love my job & being able to work with family and also be home with atleast 1/2 of the day, everyday.

I am thankful for my mom & mother-in-law. They babysit Kennedy when I am at work and besides the fact that they love seeing her so often, I am thankful that we don't have to put K in daycare.

I am thankful for Blogger. I have an outlet to share whatever is on my mind at the time, I have an outlet to meet amazing people and develop new friendships, which I have with some of you (and hope to with the rest of you!) I think it is great to find a connection with certain people that you normally would have never met in your life. Some of those people turn into such great friends.

And although I could go on forever about things in my life that I am thankful for today & everyday, I will leave you with this last one.

I am thankful for the day.

Family, food & football!

woot. go lions!

Happy Thanksgiving Bloggy Friends!

boobs.

2011-11-23T08:56:00.001-08:00

This post is about boobs.

aka boobies, breasts, hooters, jugs, tatas, the girls and probably a bunch of more vulgar terms.

but we won't go there.

you know what place I'm talking about.

the gutter.

so lets talk about boobs.

my boobs to be exact.

sounds fun right?

awkwarrrrrd.

I have never been ahem... overly equipped in that department.

And that is totally fine with me!

I was perfectly happy with the size of my boobs.

I was happily a 34-36b.

Super.

they fit my body. they made me, me

then came pregnancy.

oh hello big busty boobs.

besides the fact that it was because they were filled with milk to feed my daughter, I was not impressed.

To be honest, I was kind of let down.

I thought that when I got bigger boobs, I would feel all confident &

"looky at these babies"

I wasn't.

But still, I was happy I could feed my daughter.

then after I wasn't able to breastfeed anymore (lack of milk) I figured they would go back to their normal size.

Their smaller size.

They went down a little bit. But not enough!
Now I am perfectly aware that I am in the small % of people that don't have HUGE boobs and wishes they would just go smaller.

And it isn't because I feel like people are just staring at my chest.

they aren't that big people.

I'm not all like "hey look at my eyes! Not my boobs buddy!!"

no need for that.

They are just too big for me.

I love wearing v-neck shirts and strapless dresses.

Now when I wear either of those I have cleavage!

Ugh. the dreaded word.

I hate cleavage.

I think it is gross.

(on me anyways)

I don't judge others.

no worries to my big boobed bloggy friends! I still love you all!

Hubs thinks I am crazy.

Like there is any surprise there.

he is a guy.

a three breasted woman would be a bonus.

SCORE!

boobs are like gold to them.

but that is a totally different boob type story.

and remember... we weren't going there.

Basically, I want my old boobs back!

I don't want these ones.

They are going to get saggy someday.

I know that.

It's a fact of life

(well unless you get implants)

I don't need any extra help ie. weight hanging around up there.

Anyone know of any amazing thing I can do to get them to go back to normal??

Besides surgery I have never heard of anything.

Is there even anything?

Oh lord. I'm totally screwed aren't I?

ok... go ahead tell me I am crazy.. I don't mind.

trust me, I am totally okay with that.

But if you are going to, I just ask that you throw in a little advice as well.

You know like

" you are crazy, or you are an idiot... but if you really are going to continue to whine about this stupid, superficial topic, I've heard such and such works..."

please? k thanks lovers.

baby got baptized

2011-11-23T07:04:00.001-08:00

This past weekend Kennedy had her baptism. I bet you are thinking, why now after a year? Well there is a perfectly good reason for that. Remember that post where I talked about one of my bestfriends, Sarah? Well she lives in Oregon now & the last time she was home was a week before K was born. But when she was home last year, I asked her if she would be K's godmother.

I could have had someone be a stand-in, and just had her on paperwork but I didn't feel that was right to do. So we waiting. and waited some more.. and FINALLY after over a year she is home again for Thanksgiving. So we planned Kennedy's baptism for when she would be home. And that was that.

It was a great day. Perfect. Kennedy was an absolute angel the entire day.

I think she knew it was all about her.

Such an attention hound, that girl.

There weren't a ton of GREAT pictures taken, because Kennedy as good as she is, is a wiggle worm.

That, my friends makes blurry pictures.

So here are the survivors..

playing with grandma's purse

Sporting her pretty ring she got when she was born.

K with her godparents.

and now I am off to feed my child & then write up my blogpost about boobs.

stay tuned friends...

Christmas Cards

2011-11-22T11:49:00.001-08:00

When I realized that my "go-to" photographer was booked up & then taking the holiday season off to say I had an anxiety attack is an understatement. How in the hell was I going to order Christmas cards if I didn't have any pictures to go on them?

Then Andy's friend, Mike saved the day. It just so happens that he is pretty decent photographer and he was more than willing to come over & take some pictures for us. I did end up ordering cards but of course I can't show you because, well then you wouldn't be surprised when some of you got them in the mail. But I will share with you some of the other photos that we took. More so just so that I can share pictures of my adorable little child with ya'll!

how precious is that face?

Aww! Just kills me.

Well those are all I can show you for now.. I'll share the rest another day.

You know.. I like to keep you coming back for more..

Now off to daydream about Robert Pattinson in preparation for Breaking Dawn tonight.

Yup, you heard it... I am a total twi-hard.

It happens to the best of us.

Bloggy's fresh new face!

2011-11-21T09:17:00.000-08:00

Sooooo New layout is pretty sweet, am I right, am I right??

I wish I could take credit for it, but I can't.

Yup. This is all thanks to Miss Becky over at From Mrs to Mama.

She did an AMAZING job.

But really I wouldn't have expected anything less from her.

Go over to her blog & tell her how amazing she is.. go ahead do it.

.... no seriously, go do it.

I am forever indebted to her. Or well, until I make it up to her with wine.

Trust me, that is the perfectly acceptable thankyou between the two of us.

We stayed up late working on the layout.

I'm talking past midnight.

Blowing up eachother's phones.

Extreme Makeover: Blog Edition over herrrr.

Becky, hard at work, sweating over the computer, doing manual labor.

Me, barking orders and requests from 8 hours away.

She may have slapped me ~~multiple times~~ a time or two for my indecisiveness if we were in the same place.

Now I feel all official & sassy and like I have extremely important things to talk about all of a sudden.

Hopefully I live up to it.

Even if I don't on the official, or important part, I would bet on the sassy part.

That is a natural talent of mine.

I'm talking A.N.T.

Advanced Natural Talent.

Where are my disney watching peeps at?

Ok, now in order for me to do my part of this blog, I must go and update the pages I have listed across the top.

You know, because you may want to know About me.. like RIGHT.THIS.SECOND.

Or what about Fashion?

Trends are changing everyday & since I am a fashionista and all

(ok, not at all really.. wannabe.. YES)

But damnit. If a link is clickable, and you click.. you want to read some content.

So that is what I am going to do.

right.

this.

instant.

Oh & I have some really really cute pictures to share with you guys from yesterday. And a couple of posts that I already know I want to talk about. Like K's baptism, christmas card pictures, boobs.

Yeah thats right, I just threw boobs in there like it was nothing out of the ordinary.

Ok. Ok. going now.

Thanks agin mucho, B!

Seriously Thursday!

2011-11-17T13:47:00.000-08:00

Wow, this week is flying by!

So things that made me say Seriously..

Seriously.. I woke up this morning with a swollen eye. NO idea what happened. But then it went away by noon. Just call me Michelle from the Bachelor.

Seriously.. Kennedy is walking ALL over the place. She doesn't stop, and it is so darn cute.

Seriously... in less than a month I will be in NEW YORK CITY with my sister & sister-in-law for a girl's long weekend!

Seriously.. I am ~~totally going to~~ may be that crazy tourist there. And stop at all the places that Kevin did in Home Alone.

Seriously.. one of my very bestfriends is flying home tomorrow for Thanksgiving! I haven't seen her in over a year. She lives in Oregon so it isn't the easiest to.

Seriously.. I need to get my ass back in the gym. Or workout at home ( we do have plenty of equipment). I fell off the workout wagon & well I need to get back on. I will be in Florida in January & Vegas in February and I WILL be wearing a bikini.

Seriously.. how amazing is all of the Christmas stuff in catalogs? Love Love Love. Now if only I could win the lottery...

Seriously.. it was fricken 20 degrees outside this morning. Now if it were accompanied by snow then it would be a different story but I am not a fan of bare grounds, sunny skies and FLIPPING 20 DEGREES. are you out of your mind, mother nature?? Get a grip!

Seriously.. I need to go grocery shopping, and have zero urge to do so. I hate it. I hate grocery shopping. especially by myself. Yuck. But I can't let Andy do it because ... well I am picky about what food we have in the house & I know he would get the wrong stuff. You know because he is a guy, they never get the "exact" stuff you wanted. Well atleast my guy doesn't.

Seriously.. I am so obsessed with looking at baby names for our future child/children. Like.. I could sit all day and research. You know, if I didn't have a job, a child to play with, food to cook, a husband to ~~please~~ hang out with.

And last but not least... Seriously, my blog is getting a makeover. It is long overdue and Becky is going to help me! Love my bitch.

Ok so what made you go SERIOUSLY?

Pamper yourself! You deserve it.

2011-11-16T08:07:00.000-08:00

Being a mom ~~usually makes~~ can sometimes make you feel invisible. Yes you have that unconditional love from your child, and I know that there isn't a better feeling. But still, its hard to lose sight that you are still a person. I was reading the Self magazine the other day and they had this cute little fill-in-the-blank love letter to yourself section. I thought it would be neat to share it with you guys because after I did it, it just made me think to myself, you are still the Jody you always have been, and it makes you smile. So please say this to yourself, copy and paste it if you'd like, write it down.. just take a minute to yourself and remember how AMAZING you are as a person.

(Pulled out of Self Magazine)

A love letter to.... you!

I'd like to take a minute to give thanks for me. I deserve (your favorite snack), a(n).. (item on your wish list) and the (reason you're wonderful) Award, becasue I truly rock. Remember earlier this year, when I did (good deed you did) and (awesome accomplishment)? Not to mention the fact that I frequently help (someone close to you) (task you help with) without (destructive action). Someone with my (good personal trait) and (another good trait) should be feted with (way to celebrate). So on November 16th, I vow to take at least a few hours for me. I'll (activity you enjoy), (way to pamper yourself) and give (person you love) a call, because we have the most (positive adjective) conversations. I may even wear my (favorite outfit) and refer to myself as (fun title) all afternoon. Starting now, I'll remember to acknowledge that I deserve time for (passion or hobby) and space for (ritual that leaves you calm and centered). In short, I'm going to enjoy the heck out of myself, on Self Day and every day!

A to Z!

2011-11-08T18:05:00.000-08:00

I found this really cute idea over at Liz's blog and thought it would be fun to do!

A. Age – 26.
B. Bed size – King. And there is no going back. My husband is 6' 2".
C. Chore that you hate – picking up dog poop. yickkk.
D. Dogs – Riley (our aussie) and Bode (our rescue lab mix)
E. Essential start to your day – Brushing my teeth! As soon as I wake up.
F. Favorite color – Green.. or my baby girl's baby blues.
G. Gold or silver – I have always liked white gold, but lately I have been buying some yellow gold pieces and loving it.
H. Height – 5’7"
I. Instruments you play – I play a mean guitar......hero. ha. In middle school I played the clarinet.
J. Job title – Mama. Oh & Internet Manager
K. Kids – One. the love of my life, kennedy marie.
L. Live – Marquette, Michigan! The U.P. baby..
M. Mother’s name – Jackie.
N. Nicknames – joders, jod, jods, j
O. Overnight hospital stays – When I had Kennedy, I stayed 3 nights from the c-section.
P. Pet peeves – when the toilet seat gets left up.. really guys? Is it THAT difficult to put it down.
Q. Quote from a movie – Ohh. I am a movie freeeeeeak so picking just one is tough.. how about-
Stepbrothers. "I manage a baseball team"
"oh like little league?"
"fantasy"
R. Right or left handed – Right.
S. Siblings – Two sisters: one older (Jamie), one younger(Shelby)... and if you count my SIL that makes 3.
T. Time it takes you to get ready – Depends if I shower the night before or in the morning. Night before 30 minutes. Morning- 1 1/2 hours
U. Underwear – hmm.. skip?
Vegetable you hate – brussel sprouts
W. What makes you run late – Not finding anything to wear.. because obviously I have those days when EVERYTHING I own is ugly. And nothing looks right. Oh & did I mention I have a child? Enough said.
X. X-rays you’ve had – Dental x-rays & one of my foot when I broke it college. (alcohol may or may not have been involved)
Y. Yummy food you make – Pasta! & my husband happens to love my chicken parmesan
Z. Zoo animal – Giraffes. Because they are uber TALL and who doesn't find that fascinating.

I'd love for you guys to play along! If you do, post the link back to your entry in the comments section! :)

Goodnight, Moon.

What's in YOUR closets this November?

2011-11-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

So I know that I said I would post this on Monday (yesterday)
But... in normal Jody fashion.. I forgot.

Well ok thats a lie.

I didn't forget.

I had company over so I didn't get a chance to write it.

Ok, so since it is today that I writing it first and foremost I need to wish a special little girl a Happy Birthday.

HAPPY 1ST BIRTHDAY ELLI-BELLY AND MAMA BECKY

Ok. so back to fall/winter fashion.

What kinds of things do you ladies HAVE to have for winter?

Lets go down the list of my necessities..

Scarves. MUST have these.

There are so many ways to wear a scarf.

There is actually a video online to show you 25 different ways.

Youtube it.

Its great.

The other thing that I love about scarves is that they can dress up any outfit so quickly while keeping you warm.

BONUS!

Layering.

I am a total fan.

In fact you will ~~never~~ rarely see me with only 1 layer on regardless of the season.

Obviously excluding swimsuits & dresses.

Let me give you an example.

Todays Outfit:

White tanktop.

then a blue sweater.

white, blue & tiny bit of yellow scarf wrapped with the infinity style

and then an olive green cargo jacket over it.

Paired with skinnies & light brown riding boots.

Super easy, warm & dressy!

How about boots?

I love wearing boots because where I live we get about 180 inches of snow each winter.

No lie.

I know, you're totally jealous aren't you?

So anyway, I L-O-V-E boots.

I have uggs, I have riding boots, I have dressy boots, I have ankle boots I have rainboots.

You name it, I have them.

They keep my poor little toes warm

which keeps me happy, which keeps my husband happy.

Happy Wife Happy Life.

I am cranky when I am cold.

just saying...

Hats vs. Hoods.

Both are great.

I have curly hair.

Which means I have to keep my head dry or whatever style I did that morning will not stay if it gets wet.

And it won't look pretty either.

It will be a mess.

I'm talking frizzy out of control mess.

Wait, that's hot right?

wrong.

But there are two different times when one should be worn.

Playing outside? Running Errands? Going Casual?
HAT

Going to work? Dinner? To an Event?

Go Hoods.

There is no reason to have hat hair if you can help it.

Trust me, it won't look like you meant to style it like that.

Oh & always make sure you have a totally badass jacket to go out in.

After all that is what the majority of people see on you.

Now lets talk colors.

You usually hear that winter colors should be grays, blacks, navy blue, maroon, orange.. you know darker colors.

Why can't we wear any color?

It just depends on how you wear them and with what!

There is no reason to look like a Thanksgiving Day pinata just because it is fall and you feel like you need to wear rustic colors.

Try mix-matching.

Be Bold.

(ha.. get it.. I bolded the text, funny right?)

If you just went based off the girl in the magazine, chances are by the time it is on shelves & then into your hands... the editors are already working on the NEXT trend.

So tell me... what are YOUR November MUST-HAVES?

Christmas Traditions.

2011-11-06T09:41:00.000-08:00

Only 49 sleeps until Christmas is here!

But who is counting, right?

I can hear all of you yelling at my through the computer.

"let's worry about Thanksgiving first"

"why is she SO excited for cold weather, and snow"

"SHUT UP ALREADY"

yeah... I heard that..

it's all said with love though right? ..or something like that :)

But to me, Christmas is SO exciting.

The entire season just makes me giddy.

Why wouldn't it though?

I get to celebrate with my friends and family.

The snow outside (although cold) is breathtaking.

I get to decorate the Christmas tree with my daughter.

The radio & tv are full of Christmas classics and songs.

It is still to be determined if my sister and I are actually Elves.

I just feel like it gets everyone in such a good mood.

Well unless you are the grinch of course.

So every year I start a countdown until Christmas with my bestfriend, Sarah.

She lives in Oregon now but that doesn't stop us.

We text eachother, we facebook eachother, we skype... we remind eachother how many days there are until Christmas!

I shop early, and then shop some more.

I stock up on more wrapping paper than one ever needs.

And the day after Thanksgiving is free for all around my house.

I can officially decorate!

ahhh I can't wait.

And I promise it isn't about the gifts.

Although, I am that type of person.
I like to buy gifts for people for all occasions.

But that isn't the most important part.

To me, it's about the traditions, the special things that you do with your family.

Anyway, the reason I wanted to write this post was because I wanted to know what YOUR favorite christmas/holiday tradition is??

Do you do something special with your children?

Do you have a favorite tradition from when you were little?

Please share! I'd love to hear.

o.m.g.

2011-11-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

See this baby??

You know.. this little baby?

Who likes to sit in her bumbo still to play?

who has been 1 for less than a week?

This little precious one??

The wagon riding one year old?

Well THAT baby.......

WALKS!

gahhhh.

I am such a proud mommy.

I cried.

Yup that was me.

throw me a kleenex will ya?

Wanna see?

Well you're going to because I want to share!

I am so excited for her, yet so sad that my little "crawling baby" will soon be no more.

Not to mention it just brought up a ton more projects for ~~my husband~~ us to do to babyproof things she can hurt herself on from walking.

Ever since she did it... she won't stop!

She is so proud of herself.

I clap and say good job and she laughs and nods her head..

so so cute..

now back to playing with my little girl. <3

dinner party= success!

2011-11-02T07:22:00.000-07:00

well the dinner party was a HUGE success lastnight.

We had our neighbors over for dinner, you know since they are just a few years older than us & have a 7 month old & a 3 year old. We figured it was time to get to know them so that we can have playdates and such.

They are really nice people, we just never really knew much about them.
Since we have lived here for over 2 years now.. we figured it was time to bite the bullet.

I have to admit I was quite nervous.

They don't drink.

No "drinking" isn't a prerequisite for being my friend.

But like I have said before, I am Italian.

When I make dinner... I like to have a glass of wine with it.

And I feel like it kind of loosens you up.

ha. ok so I would probably drink a ~~bottle~~ glass of wine even if I wasn't Italian.

So anyway.. they came over lastnight & we had a wonderful meal(if I do say so myself) complete with...

drumroll please......

WATER! :)

But they were so easy-going and nice.

The kids LOVED playing with eachother.

So I'd have to say it was a success.

Hopefully we can get them together more often.

Their 3 year old, Edie, didn't want to leave.

So I think she thought it was a success as well.

I made Pasta Milano (my fave)

And chocolate fudge pudding with strawberries on top!

If you would like the recipe for the pasta, please let me know.

It is to die for!

Oh and the pudding?

That was a cook & serve made with whole milk.

(I really put a lot of effort into that one!)

Today we are having a girls' day.

Well, every wednesday is a girls' day.

Mommy is off on Wednesdays.

But today we are going to play & play and then play some more.

We have been so busy lately that today is finally a day that we can just relax and not have to be running around to get stuff for an upcoming event.

I swear I always do that to myself, and as fun as it is.. It wipes the energy right out of you!.

Oh did I mention next Wednesday, I am hosting an Arbonne Party?

oy vey.

My daughter is one.

2011-11-01T13:39:00.000-07:00

I still don't like the way that sounds.

Don't get me wrong, I love every stage of Kennedy's life, but I ~~was~~ am not ready to have a one year old already.

And you know what comes with a 1 year old?

Conversations like so..

"So don't you think its time for #2 now?"

"Not yet"

"Well you aren't getting any younger.."

Ok so they may not have said the last part exactly, but they sure implied it!

I see your judging eyes..

Anyway, since I have SO much to catch up on... ahem like 2 weeks worth, my post would be long and annoying if I wrote everything out. Instead I will just catch you up in pictures, because who doesn't love them!

baby on her actual birthday! :)

And now onto her party on Saturday!

My nephew, sister, Kennedy & my mom at her party

mama & the birthday girl

So excited that elmo showed up!

opening presents

Not totally feeling the smash cake, but got a little messy with it

Happy Halloweeeeeen

look at that smile... ahhh <3

dancing to the neverland pirate song on Disney

love that face.

my little ladybug

Is she not the cutest little bug you've ever seen?

Daddy & baby

riding around in the wagon with her cousin, Evan aka the turkey

Out trick or treating in our neighborhood.

And did I mention that our street was like a MOB of kids???

I have never in my LIFE seen more trick or treaters, it was crazy.

People everywhere, I felt like I was at the fair.

Kennedy loved it.

I mean, I would love it too if I got to ride around in a wagon and get candy from people?

what is not to love about that, right?

Sorry I have been so MIA, these past two weeks have been soooooo crazy with birthday festivities, stuff at work, family coming over, & halloween weekend.

Hopefully now things will slow down!

Now, back to the kitchen to finish dinner for the dinner party I am hosting tonight!

Pasta Milano anyone?

Knee pads anyone??

2011-10-22T09:25:00.000-07:00

The savior to my child's knees.

I just ordered Kennedy some little knee/shin pads and I have to say, so far.. I am in love!

We have hardwood floors in our house, so her legs get little bruises on them and I would cringe everytime she crawled around. (even though she could care or less)

Anyway, I went onto Etsy and found the cutest little shop that had adorable knee pads that were stylish!You can guess what I did...bought them! The item that you get is exactly like it is photographed and described when you order them. I was so excited as soon as I saw the little package in my mailbox! I whipped them out, scooped Kennedy up and put them on. It did take a little bit for her to get used to them but not very long after she was scooting around on the floor with them!

I will definitely be frequenting that site! If you are interested, here is the link up to their store! Pam is very easy to work with, and gets your order out quickly! So really... you should head on over & check it out! I just heard that they are cominng out with little pants with the knee pads built in!

HavenforlittleMavens

Now check out my little girl sporting her new duds...

checking them out..

**I did not receive anything to write this review. I chose to write it because I was happy with my recent purchase and wanted to share this information.

Yummy Chicken Parmesan

2011-10-16T16:16:00.000-07:00

Well Sweetest Day has come and gone.

We had a lovely Saturday together.

Hope you guys all did also!

Andy worked half of the day yesterday so kennedy and I ran errands in the morning.

If you follow me on Twitter you know that my dear husband got me a ~~sassy dirty minded~~ Sweetest Day Card and well if you know him in "real" life.. then you know that it didn't surprise me one bit.

It was the thought that counts!

Along with that he bought me a Stafford Jersey & a Yooper Bar.

What is a Yooper Bar?

Only the most delicious chocolate bar out there.

I am obsessed.

So in return I got him a mixed case of Autumn flavored beer, a lottery ticket & I am making Chicken Parmesan for him for dinner tonight (since we went out lastnight).

This is the man's FAVORITE dish.

I found it in one of my Williams-Sonoma Cookbooks & gave it a try a long time ago & the rest was history.

He will beg for this meal.

And I have to say, I think it is pretty yummy myself.

So onto the reason why I am writing this post.

The Recipe!

2 tablespoons of olive oil

4 skinless, boneless chicken breasts

2 stems of Kale

salt & pepper

16oz of marinara sauce

8 slices of Mozzarella cheese

1/2 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Then in saucepan heat 2 TBLs of olive oil over medium-high heat.

Salt and Pepper the chicken.

Cook the chicken in the saucepan just long enough until the chicken is golden brown on each side.

When the chicken is golden brown, move it to a plate.

Then strip the Kale leaves from the stem and put them in the saucepan and cook until wilted.

When wilted, spread the kale across the bottom of a baking pan and place the chicken on top of them.

Then pour 16 oz of marinara sauce over all of the chicken.

Followed by two slices of mozzarella cheese on top of each piece of chicken.

Then sprinkle 1/2 cup of shredded parmesan cheese over the top.

Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes, or until the chicken is completely cooked on the inside.

Final Product?

(the photo doesn't do it justice)

Oh & then EAT!

Please try it... you won't be disappointed!

So yummy.

See?

Always a hit.

Happy Husband.

So good it is plate licking good!

(ok, so I may have staged this one...)

Disclaimer: Husband not included.

Seriously?! Thursday

2011-10-13T06:40:00.000-07:00

Its Thursday again, folks!

You know what that means...

Its time to link up with Becky to share what made us say Seriously?!

1. In 2 weeks I will have a 1 year old. Gahhh! I am so heartbroken over this.

Nothing a little wine can't fix.. I mean, I am sure it will be ok :)

2. You all probably think I am a winey now. I swear I don't closet drink by myself at home.

Why the helll would I want to sit in my closet?? ha.

3. My child's attitude grows by the second. Don't get me wrong she is a lovey sweetheart most of the time, but man when she wants to..she is a tantrum throwing sassy baby.

Terrible Two weeks to One?

4. I am heading back down to Detroit on Monday for work.

I am not looking forward to the 7 hour ride, but am looking forward to sleeping most of the way.

No sillies, I am not driving/sleeping.

I am riding/sleeping.

5. There is a lady that lives in our neighborhood that walks her dog literally a millions times a day.

Ok maybe not a million, but atleast 5.

FIVE

Cinq

Cinco

Or Cinque.

Am I the only one that thinks this is a bit excessive. I said atleast.

That is all her and her husband do all day.

They are retired.

And you'd think they would go together?

Nope, separate.

As soon as one gets back 5 minutes later the other one is going by with the dog.

Give me a freaking break!

SERIOUSLY!

6. I went to walmart lastnight to buy The Lion King at the request of my dear husband.

I went in capri workout pants & a grey zip up and my hair all a mess.

And chances are I was the best dressed person there.

Now I am not one to judge others on the way they look.

I promise, I am not shallow.

But I am talking "people of walmart" were out and about.

Seriously, google that shit.

Those were the outfits I was seeing lastnight.

HALLOWEEN IS NOT HERE YET!

Well that is seriously all I have to say for now..

Have a Great Thursday everyone!

Ok seriously... get scootin' I'm done here :)

Unless you want to comment.

Then please do, I'd love to hear from you.

Seriously.

new template?

2011-10-12T11:47:00.000-07:00

Ok, for some time now, I have wanted to have someone make my blog page. I want the about me section at the top & links I can have people click on. You know things that will make all you lovely readers think I know what I am doing here.

I have looked into it before but felt like I got myself into an even deeper mess.

You see, it isn't just about having someone create a template for it, it is about finding the right person to do it, entrusting that they will make something exactly how you were hoping.

And have I mentioned I have commitment issues?

Not in my marriage, don't worry honey!

But with templates.

I fall in love with colors & designs & then I feel like 3 months later it changes.

I don't know how long I could keep it.

Who knows, maybe I could keep it for a really long time.

Maybe I will L-O-V-E it.

I guess I wouldn't know unless I tried.

I mean, it isn't like I HAVE to keep it forever if I didn't want to.

So that part is settled.

Now I just need to figure out who I should have create it.

Who do/did you guys have make your pages?

Anyone you do or don't recommend?

Because this mama does not have a clue how to do that kind of stuff.

I need your help!

I should be pregnant

2011-10-12T06:36:00.000-07:00

I should be pregnant.

Based off how I have been feeling lately if I knew for a fact that I wasn't pregnant..

I would put my money on me being just that... PREGNANT.

Trust me, I am not.

I just had my period & Andy and I have been careful with that.

"We call it the baby-making blanket"

"ohh, lets be careful with that one.."

Quick guess the movie!

Right, The Proposal :)

Ok back to where I was.. hello blogging ADD.

So lets take a look at the symptoms.

Headache? Yep.

Tired? How about exhausted.

Nausea? Yesterday was awful.

(I blame it on stress.)

Irritability? You betcha.

Sorry husband.

Sore boobies? Well now that I think of it... kind of.

Oh right, that is just from my child climbing all over me when I hold her.

So based off of those.. I would say YES.

But don't get too excited yet, I am not pregnant.

And as of right now I don't know when I will be.

Maybe next summer?

Maybe next winter?

Hmm. maybe never? (umm I already have future names picked out..)

Maybe we will adopt.

Who knows.. we don't.

Not yet anyway.

We made a pact that we are just going to enjoy Kennedy for right now & go through all of the first time experiences with her before we start thinking about #2.

If we happen to get pregnant before we are trying.. then I guess it is just meant to be!

Now back to the nesting.... I mean cleaning ;)

Give me your money & run!

2011-10-07T08:26:00.000-07:00

A conversation with my husband lastnight went a little like the title.

We bought our house in 2009 and it was brand new.

Which meant, all white walls, basic cabinets, unfinished basement.

It has taken a lot of work & money to make it "our home."

Although I swear if it were up to Andy alone, it would still be all white, basic and no curtains.
Men... geesh.

One room that has unfortunately been neglected is our bedroom.

Have you ever seen a picture of our room?

I can answer that for you.

Nope. Never.

Why?

Because I refuse to take any pictures of Kennedy while in there.

We have an amazing bedroom furniture set that we got as a wedding gift but that is about it.

Our walls are basically empty with no personal touches on it.

It is about to drive me nuts!

Well, if I am not already that is.

You be the judge.

Anyway lastnight while laying in bed & Andy was in the living room watching sports.

I yelled out to him & it went a little something like this..

"Honey... you should just give me $300 that I can do whatever with & leave me home alone for the weekend so I can do what I want with our bedroom"

silence.... silence....silence..

"ya know Jod, I may just do that! I hate decorating."

Then this morning when I got to work I heard him talking to his dad asking if in 2 weekends he could bring Kennedy out to their house for the weekend.

He really is going to do it! And I have to say, I am super excited.

I need 2 days with that house... alone.

How much of a dork am I?

I am pumped to have a weekend date with my house.

And if I get lonely I can always go out to visit because my in-laws live oh about 15 minutes away from us.

That man knows the way to my heart ;)

Just let me do what I want with our house,

And let me sleep in...

Seriously?! Thursday

2011-10-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

Linking up with my girl Becky today to do Seriously Thursday!

Seriously... I just wrote 2 blog posts within 20 minutes of eachother. RECORD!

Seriously... I feel like I haven't slept in days and could crash just about anywhere... College weekend flashback over here!

In my defense I was being both creative & proactive.

I knew if I fell asleep everyone was going to pick on me, so obviously sleeping on top of the fridge clutching my vodka was the responsible thing to do.

You know.. so no one could reach me :)

Seriously...ever since I had Kennedy I pee on average 3 times throughout the night.

I wake up.. I don't pee the bed fyi.

I just can not hold it, and this is quite a shame because then I sleep like crap...which is why I feel like I haven't slept in days.

Any suggestions, loveys??

Please help a bladder out! ;)

Seriously.. I am uber excited to go to Chicago with Becky & her fam in April! We are going to have a blast, whether she is pregnant then or not.

Seriously... I am going to have a 1 year old in 3 weeks. This past year has been so bittersweet. I am going to miss my little munchkin so much, but she is so fun now & am sure will be everyday from here on out.

Seriously... I can't wait to decorate for Christmas.

(ducks while people throw tomatoes on stage)

I LOVE decorating our house - Oh, hey Pottery Barn! & wrapping presents.

The whole season just brings me so much joy.

I can't wait to start Holiday traditions with Kenne.

Meeting Santa Claus? Not so much.. I feel like she is going to hate him.

Seriously... I am sick of my 2 year old washing machine putting holes in my shirts.

wth?

I am not overloading it, I am putting it on delicate and what not, and still, holes!

I am getting a little tired of getting all prettied up for work, only to realize there is a big hole on the side or under my arm.. not cool!

Come on washer.. get it together already.

I don't ask much of you.. just a little scrubba dub dub here and there.

Is that too much?

I'd boycott you except I would be the only one hurt from that situations... or the people who have to smell me :)

Seriously.... I am done seriously'ing you guys :)

Plan 1st birthday party? Check!

2011-10-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

Kennedy is going to be 1 in 21 days... 3 SHORT WEEKS PEOPLE.

Someone give me a Xanax.

I don't know how to deal.

My little baby, the one that I carried in my belly for nine months.

The one that I held in my arms and rocked to sleep everynight.

Yeah that one...

A YEAR OLD.

That same child is now too long to snuggle completely on my lap.

Has 5 teeth, eats REAL food

Babbles to me then looks at me like "What? How do you not understand what I am saying?"

She dances, stands on her own, cruises furniture & walks around pushing her shopping cart.

And have I mentioned the attitude??

Oh yes.

She is a finger waving, tell you off then giggle, spit fire!

When she isn't happy (ie when you put her down or she is ..wait for it... forced to entertain herself for more than 2 seconds), you will know.

She screams as loud as she can and then as soon as she gets her way it is like a switch.

Just done.

Giggly, smiley, lovey baby.

I can hardly wait for her mood swings as a teenager.

Oy vey.

So onto birthday planning.

I said I would have her birthday party planned months in advance.

And I feel like I have been talking about her birthday for months.

I just missed the actual planning part.

Yesterday it hit me.

WABAM!

Earth to Jody, get your ass moving!

So I did.

I loaded baby girl up, begged my sister to come up to town shopping with me and we went on our way to get all things 1st birthday.

And it was a complete success.

We decided not to have a theme for her birthday this year, just because I want to save themes for when she will actually remember them.

My luck I would do a theme & then in 2 years she would want it again.

And we can't have doubles.

So we just went with fall colors.

We are going to do it at 12 on Saturday the 29th because her birthday falls on a Thursday this year.

The 29th also happens to be trick or treating here, so we are going to party it up.. nap it out, then get up and eat candy?

Sounds pretty fun to me!!

I picked up little pumpkins, glittery leaves, plates, napkins, decor, I ordered her invitations from Etsy & am going to make pumpkin cookies with big K's on them!

For a party favor, I decided to make the guests make their own.

Sounds harsh, right?

Yeah.. that's how I roll, so what?

Ok so I am not that bad.

It was actually Andy's idea.

(If I don't give him credit he will stalk my blog until I do...love you honey!)

So as a favor/ activity for them we are going to buy all things needed to make caramel apples.

I am talking Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory goodies.

All toppings, and such & let our guests make their own caramel apples & then take them home.

I have to say, I was extremely proud of my husband for putting so much thought into it & coming up with that idea.

I think he is hoping to get rewarded for his efforts... if you know what I mean ;)

haha.

I am still working on her outfit. I ordered her an autumn colored tulle tutu and bow but I still have to figure out what I want her shirt to look like.

Now that is what I call a productive Wednesday!

Now I must get back to work. My SIL and I are heading out in a bit to play Santa to some local schools.

Our dealership made up backpacks full of stuff for kids and schools and we are going to deliver them!

Man I love my job :)

Happy Thursday!!

sorry I've been gone.

2011-10-05T13:59:00.000-07:00

sorry that I have been away... life has just been super super crazy lately, and now that all of our traveling has slowed down I am going to try to get back into it. Thanks for the patience bloggy friends :) If you are reading this, then you stuck around and didn't stop following just because I was gone a little bit.

I will write up a post tonight when Andy is home and I can use the computer for more than a minute.
(I spend my time chasing Kennedy around all day!)

Brusha Brusha Brusha!

2011-09-24T07:42:00.000-07:00

She loves her toothbrush!

She loves the toothpaste.

And actually gets pretty upset if you take it away from her.

My favorite part?

That she doesn't just play with her toothbrush, she puts it in her mouth and chews on it.

Yay!

It is very important to me that she gets the brushing down early on.

I have always been a freak about teeth.

Did I tell you that I wanted to go to school to be a Dental Hygienist when I started college?

Anyway.. baby girl has her bottom two middle teeth, her top two middle teeth are through but still coming fully in and a third bottom one cut through already as well.

I am going to miss that gummy toothless smile.

But how cute is she??

Yes, she takes a bath in the kitchen sink sometimes. haha

Also she is loving food the last couple of weeks.

I know awhile back I mentioned how she refused to eat baby food all of a sudden.

It must have been because of her teeth coming in, because they cut through about 2 weeks ago, and that is around the time she started eating again.

My baby LOVES baby yogurt.

And other things, but really really LOVES that stuff.

Something that she doesn't love?

The tot watch at the YMCA.

Well that is Andy's and my fault though.

We brought her in there and only stayed for a few minutes before leaving her.

At first she was having a great time because there was another baby in there but since it was late in the evening the other child left after only a few minutes and then she was left there with two people she didn't know and no other baby to entertain her.

So today we are going back.

Difference?

I am going to just stay with her in there so she gets used to it.

The toys are new, the people are new and she needs her mama to be there for her so she gets comfortable with it.

Tonight we are going to a get-together at my sister's in-laws.

Hopefully it stops raining before we go because right now it is pouring out!
We definitely need the rain, but it just sucks that it is on a weekend.

Oh and did I mention that we are going to Detroit next weekend for Kristen & Scott's wedding??

SOOOOOOOO excited.

Andy and I are both standing in it so Kennedy is going to stay here with my mom, which I know she will love.

My child is obsessed with her Nonna.(my mom's family is Italian)

They will have a great time, as will Andy and I!

Well I am off for the day to be productive & get some shopping in.

Enjoy your weekend, everyone!

Happy Tuesday!

2011-09-20T08:58:00.000-07:00

Wow.

Everytime I turn around it feels like I haven't been on blogger in over a week.

Or maybe it actually is over a week and not "feels like".

This weekend we had family time.

All weekend.

Besides when Andy worked on Saturday.

It was glorious.

Much needed.

And so fun.

We took Kennedy up on the hill at my mom's house to help her pick apples to make apple crisp.

She had so much fun up there.

Really my child loves to do ANYTHING outside.

We also went walking around downtown with Kennedy in her stroller and had a nice dinner just the 3 of us at Sweet Water.

Yum.

Nothing too, too exciting but we had a good time.

yes..that is a goat.

I told you.. my mom has a farm.

my beautiful little blondie babe

Mama & Kennedy

football stance!

so happy

Look at that smile..swoon.

Baby in the apple bucket!

(She did not want to share any of the apples)

For example.. this is the face she makes if you try to take it away..

Oh & of course my Detroit Lions
Yes, they are my Detroit Lions. I own them, didn't I tell you?
;)

Happy Monday!

2011-09-12T08:08:00.000-07:00

Well the weekend came and went.. fast!

Kennedy was amazing for me while daddy was out of town.

This weekend could have went either way.

Sometimes she is an absolute angel and others she is a terror.

But even then, she is my little terror.

I was able to get all of our wall art on the walls, now I am just waiting for my husband to kindly put our tv up on the wall. Then we won't have anything that Kennedy can fall and hurt herself on..well except the hardwood floors.

I also put up my fall decor yesterday, it was just time.

I love love LOVE the smell of our house in the fall, courtesy of all of my delicious candles.

Now if the weather would get over the 80 degree weather and drop it down to oh say 60s I would be a much happier camper.

I like sunshine, and a light breeze and 60s.

That way I can wear a long sleeve, comfortably but don't need a jacket.

That is football weather, or hiking weather.

Heck for me, it is anything weather!

On a different note, did anyone else see that amazing Lions football game yesterday?

So awesome!

I swear it is because Kennedy was wearing her jersey.

She is their little good luck charm.

ahh. this picture makes my heart skip a beat.

We are definitely football fans in our household so prepare for more updates.

Probably comments like Go Lions! Adore the Roar! and such.

Excited to watch Bachelor Pad tonight!
Although I already know what happens.

Reality Steve is so good to me.

We have a special relationship.

not THAT kind of special relationship.

Geez... where are your minds at?

Creepers. ;)

Just kidding.

But I did read and it will be a fun ending.

I am happy with some of the decisions made.

One I'm not happy with?

Blake and Holly.

ick. I really liked Holly and I really didn't like Blake.

Not after all of his shenanigans he pulled this season.

Even though Melissa was batshit crazy.

Seriously.

I am totally Team Holly and Michael.

Or maybe Michael could be the next Bachelor?

I'd watch!
Heck who am I kidding, I am going to watch regardless.

Ok that is all for now!

Happy Monday ya'll!

9.11

2011-09-11T11:14:00.000-07:00

10 years ago.

It sounds like forever ago, yet feels like yesterday.

Every year I feel like we heal a little more but take just a tiny step back on this day because of all the anxious feelings that come rushing back with the utter of that date.

September 11, 2001 is a date that I think everyone in America will forever remember exactly what they were doing and where they were when planes hit the WTC, Pentagon and then crashed into the field in Pennsylvania.

Me?

I was a junior in highschool.

I was in my History class and I remember someone coming to the door and calling my teacher into the hallway. Shortly after that she came back in and turned on the tv and explained what had just happened.

When the bell rang for the class period to end no one moved a muscle.

We stared at the t.v. in awe.

Too numb to move, to talk, to do anything.

How could someone have that much hatred for people and that much lack of feelings for innocent lives?

This was an act to terrorize people.

My people.

I can't tell you how angry that makes me.

This morning I woke up and got Kennedy and I ready for church.

We walked in to meet up with my mom and it was (obviously) a tribute service, which I knew about.

What I didn't expect was the live coverage from that day 10 years ago on a huge projector in the front of the church.

I couldn't watch.

I instantly felt sick to my stomach.

I have never been able to see that footage and really don't want to.

That video isn't just a plane going into a building.

When that footage was taken, there were people, live people, in that plane.

I can't imagine the feelings they felt in those minutes.

My heart breaks for them.

My heart breaks for the families that have personally lost a loved one on that terrible day.

My heart breaks for the country that feels the pain every year for those people lost, especially on the anniversary.

One thing that I know more than anything else is that I am damn proud to be an American, today, and everyday.

We will forever bring honor to the names of all those lost on 9.11 and all of the names of the people who fought and are still fighting for our freedom.

God.Bless.Our.Country.

Girls Weekend

2011-09-10T13:47:00.000-07:00

Well little buggy and I have had a stellar weekend for far.

She has been amazing for me & it has been so much fun just having alone time with her.

Lastnight we went to dinner with my in-laws at an amazing restaurant.

I had the best soup.

Thai Coconut.

I even got a bowl to-go for dinner tonight.

Then we had to run just a few errands and pick up some more Vitamin D drops since Flu Season is dropping in pretty quick this year.

My MIL and FIL both had it last week.

STAY THE F AWAY FLU.

k.thanks.

Anyway we had a great night, she went down like an angel and even slept in until 7:45 this morning which is super.

She wakes up anytime from 6 until 7:30 usually.

Thank you, baby. Mama needed a good night's sleep.

Then this morning we had planned to go to the Farmer's Market with my mom, but instead went down to my sister's house and hung out with her.

She was having a rough morning..

Nothing a little TLC (from her mama & sister couldn't fix though.)

And that stands for Tender Loving Care, not the band just FYI.

Although I may have told her

Don't go chasing waterfalls

Please stick to the rivers and the lakes that you're used to..

ok just kidding, I definitely didn't.

You ~~do NOT want to~~ should hear me sing ~~off-cue.~~

Ok where was I?

Oh yes, what we did today.

So we ran some errands today... or in other words, went shopping.

She is a great shopping partner by the way..

makes it way too easy for mama to hit the stores.

We found some great finds!

I bought her a bunch of summer clothes for when we are in Florida in January since by then she won't fit in the clothes that she wore this summer.

Also I bought some fall things for the house, a halloween costume for boo & some other goodies.

I am trying some new things around the house.

For example, I purchased some of the "slip-on" diapers to try since everytime I try to change Kenne's diaper she high-tails it across the room, or if she is on her changing table tries to get out of the strap and screams at me.

So far so good.

I'll let you know if that opinion changes.

Also, I bought some new diaper cream.

Its an all-natural brand

BabyGanics.

The diaper cream is called

Hiney Helper Diaper Rash Cream.

I may have bought it just because of the cute name haha.

But that is also working out really well.

So it's a win-win.

Well I should probably write out our weekly meal plan while the little one is down napping.

Jilly the Cow!

(outside our local ice cream shop)

the new kitty winter hat we bought today

making her model it

(she is definitely in just her diaper.. it is sooo hot in our house today)

too busy to look

Modeling her cute ladybug halloween costume!
gahh! how cute is that?!

Have a wonderful rest of the weekend.

God Bless America.

what I've been up to

2011-09-08T12:25:00.000-07:00

I have been in a total blogging funk. Why? I can't tell you. I just have conveniently found other things to occupy all of my free time with and haven't really been on my computer when I am at home. Two weeks ago we took on the project of painting our house. Well the living room, kitchen, entry room, and "we" means mostly me, although I did make Andy paint the tops of the wall because we have cathedral ceilings and there was no way in hell I was climing up that high. ha. So anyway, we finally got that part completed and now I only have the two bathrooms, guest room & hallway to get done before we can change out the doors & trim to white. And we are putting a backsplash in our kitchen so I can't wait to get that done as well. So many projects, so little time :)

Kennedy had her 9 month checkup last week, even though she is 10 months old and she is looking great! She is in the 95th percentile for weight and she is "off the charts" in height. She is 31in tall. HOLY COW! Not literally. I am not calling her a cow. She is going to be a tall girl! Speaking of being tall, shw is already in 18-24 month pants and shirts because her torso and legs are so long. It is difficult to find things for her because she needs the length but she isn't chubby or anything so the shirts are a little big on the arms and the pants are big around the waist. This is life.

Let's see here, the other things that she is up to. Well she says mama now, only when she wants to, but clear as day, she stands completely on her own, and LOVES the independence. She gets so excited when she stands up, and starts flapping her arms around and gets a huge grin on her face. Oh & the grin, she has the smile that my sister had as a child. She squints her eyes up so much that they actually almost look closed and gets the biggest smile I have ever seen. It makes my heart skip a beat. so so cute. She loves to dance. When music comes on, she will pull herself up and hold onto something and then wiggles her booty. It is absolutely priceless. She is so much fun.

Except.. when she is mad.

When she gets mad, she screams. I am talking LOUD, "step on a nail" scream. I get so embarrassed when she does it because she does it when anything happens that she doesn't want.

Take something from her that she shouldn't have... SCREAMS.

Change her diaper and not let her sit up...SCREAMS.

CHANGE HER SHIRT ...SCREAMS. (she hates when you hold her arms)

Put her in her playpen...SCREAMS.

Atleast we know she has extremely good lungs.

It is crazy. When she is happy, she is the HAPPIEST baby on the planet.

But when she is irritated in the slightest, it is the end of the world.

Actress on our hands?

I think so.

My little drama queen ;)

I can't think of too much more to update on right now.

Andy is heading out to camp for the weekend with his friends for his bestfriends Bachelor Party so Kennedy & I are having a girls' weekend.

Sunday before Andy gets home I am heading to Appleton to do some shopping, and hopefully get the rest of my Christmas shopping done.

(Did you just say Christmas?)

Yep. I sure did!

I already have all of Kennedy's presents wrapped, and my parents are done.

It feels great to be done with those.

And I can't help but smile when I get to play with wrapping paper. :)

Well.. Have a great weekend everyone!!

Daddy & Baby after bathtime

Look at how long that hair is!

riding Dino around the kitchen

blue eyes <3

Grandpa bought her her own nametag for work since whenever she comes into the office she pulls everyone's off.

She was so excited for it!! :)

Happy weekend All!!

I'm leaving on a jetplane.

2011-08-24T06:04:00.000-07:00

I went to the store yesterday... yes I totally caved for the no shopping August. I had to get a new dress for Kristen's bachelorette party & needed a new planner & got some things for Kennedy, for Christmas.

Yes I really did. I love Christmas.

Actually, I love it so much I have a Christmas countdown app on my phone.

123 sleeps until Christmas.

In case you were curious.

You know you were.

Now where was I?

Oh yes, the crazy schedule I have over the next couple of weeks.

I am heading to Chicago on Friday.

I was supposed to drive but decided to fly because I need to be back on Sunday by a specific time.

This way I don't have to worry about getting up and driving 7 hours then rushing when I get home.

Sunday is Andy's parents' 35 wedding anniversary.

Woooooohooooo

We were supposed to just go to dinner with the family on Sunday, and then those plans fell through because the restaurant isn't open on Sunday, so they didn't plan on doing anything.

Here's where the plans changed.

I couldn't stand thinking that 35 years of marriage was going to pass without a celebration.

No way.

My wheels started turning, I made some calls & we are throwing them a surprise anniversary party in the top floor of a gorgeous hotel here in town.

That is where the flying comes in.

I have to set up and get things ready before they come, so I have to be back by a specific time.

Lastnight I just sucked it up and handed over my credit card for another plane ticket.
So that's that.

But it is so worth it... I can't wait to celebrate one of my good friend's up-and-coming marriage.

Then when I get back I have appointments and meetings basically everyday for the rest of the my life.

Ok, maybe I am being ~~a little~~ way dramatic.

Not every day.
Just a lot.

AND I am trying to plan baby girl's 1st birthday!!

I cannot believe that on Saturday I am going to have a 10 month old!

Where does the fricken time go?

please.slow.down.

I look at Kenne now & realize that I don't have that itsy bitsy baby anymore, and I hate it.

Now, I do love her the way she is, and love this stage.

It is the knowing that she is just going to keep growing on me that sucks.

I cuddle her as much as I possibly can, I promise you that.

"You can spoil a child with items, but you cannot spoil a child with love."

Amen to whoever said those beautiful words.

Ok enough for today, but I have a couple blog posts I am going to type up.

1. Will we have more than one child?

2. Birthday parties

3. Places to visit before I die.

4. letters everytime I travel.

so please, please stay tuned.

I am going to want some advice!

Now back to planning a surprise party before I leave aka in 2 days.

Tonight is date night for me and my hot husband!

Happy Wednesday All!

update in pictures

2011-08-20T06:13:00.000-07:00

What we have been up to this past week

We did some playing in the yard..

we had a picnic in the park..

played at the park..

rode our dino ..

went for a hike in the woods..

practiced her kayaking skills at my work

made a mess out of nama's (grandma) living room

then made a mess out of Auntie Jamie's living room.

K played in her pack n' play

Safety first

took a couple of evening boat rides

Riley got a haircut

Bode did ~~some~~ a lot of sunbathing

Oh yeah.. and mama got her hair cut too :)

Now we are waiting for Daddy to get home from getting the boat and hopefully spending the day outside!

Happy Weekend Everyone!

9 month update.

2011-08-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

I haven't done one of these posts in awhile and when I think back this was one of the main reasons that I wanted to blog.

To document things for Kennedy so that hopefully one day she will look back and can have a piece of her childhood that she doesn't remember.

And because I suck at keeping up with her baby book.

So my sweet Kennedy Marie,

You are 9 1/2 months old.

In 10 days you will be 10 months.

Where does the time go?

You were napping in your pack n' play the other day and I went to check on you and it was then that I realized that you were so big.

You almost filled up your little playpen.

You aren't my itsy bitsy baby anymore.

It is so bittersweet.

I love you more and more each day even though I swear I couldn't possibly love you more than I already do.

You are so fun, and sassy.

You crawl all over the place and pull yourself up to stand.

You hold on to your daddy's legs and walk with him.

Only a few steps though & then you get tired.

You wave bye-bye to people and say mama pretty much all of the time.

You think the dogs are hilarious & you are very protective of them.

Daddy likes to tickle you and you laugh so hard & just think everything is funny.

You give kisses back, well your version.

Slobbering all over our cheeks and humming.

You still only have your two bottom teeth but you are a chewing machine so it is only a matter of time until more come in.

You usually fight naps and will only go down if you can sleep in our arms.

If we put you down in your crib when you fall asleep you wake up 10 minutes later and refuse to go back down.

No matter how long we let you "cry it out"

You LOVE Elmo's song & Knee Deep by The Zac Brown Band.

Your namma (Grandma) dances around with you to these songs and you just laugh & dance.

Oh that brings me to your dance skills.

You dance whenever any music comes on.

You flap your arms around as fast as you can and bounce.

It is hilarious.

You are in size 4 diapers & are wearing 12 month clothes.

Yup, you are super tall.

I don't know exactly your measurements right now because you haven't had your 9 month checkup yet.

You go in at the end of the month so I will update those later.

Oh & of course you are so beautiful.

Thank you for being so amazing everyday.

You are mommy & daddy's everything.

we went to the fair!

2011-08-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

We took Kennedy to the Fair this past weekend and although she was too small to go on any rides this year she loved people watching, the animals & even the clowns!

I was a little scared she was going to scream her head off in the 4-H buildings because she hates going by the horses at my mom's house, but she was so good.

Her favorite?

The ducks.

They kept quacking at her and she thought that was hilarious!

lovely face she makes, I know.

checking out the clown

look at my hot husband! rawr.

This coming weekend we talked about taking Kennedy to the DeYoung Zoo to see even bigger animals.

The fair was a trial and she passed with flying colors.

Next weekend I am off to Chicago (by myself) for a Bachelorette Party for Kristen!

So excited about the party!

Driving in the city by myself for the 1st time(normally andy drives)?

Not so much but it will be so worth it.

And can I just throw this out there?

This is for all of you Bachelor Pad 2 watchers.

Who else is sick of the Jake / Vienna drama??

I could pull my teeth out!

Jake just needs to let it go and quit following her around and trying to talk to her when she clearly wants nothing to do with him.

Whatever the reason, he is just making himself look pathetic trying to make amends.

Now onto Vienna.

She is annoying to watch.

Plain and simple.

She always gets this scared look on her face when anyone talks about Jake or anything.

Really? Is that necessary?

If you are over him. Then actually be over him.
Quit going on and on and on and on...and on about him to everyone.

You sound obsessive & it isn't entertaining to watch.

You can quit acting scared everytime he comes around.
I'm pretty confident that he isn't going to jump at you & try to bite you or anything.

And I am kind of disappointed in Kasey.

Who made you king?

And the "go kick rocks dude" line is getting a little old.

Get on with it people.

I like the excuse they use about how they are "edited" to look a certain way.

I'm pretty sure producers can mess with the way things are said.

But they can't change words?

Regardless of what they show and what they don't show.

If you said certain things and they showed it, even if they didn't show all of it?

You still said it.

That isn't editing.

That is you looking like an ass, my friend.

Anywho, enough about that!

I am off to finish some things up at work & go out to my mom's to go horseback riding!

One of my favorite hobbies.

See?

(taken a few years ago on my horse Cocoa, who passed away last August)

xox

one more thing :)

2011-08-12T07:32:00.000-07:00

Kennedy says Happy Friday everyone!

Hope everyone has a great weekend!

my love for fall & Sarbear

2011-08-12T07:17:00.000-07:00

Football season has started & it was a nice (high) 60 degrees yesterday.

Do you know what that means?

FALL IS ALMOST HERE!

go ahead, throw tomatoes at me.

Heck you can even boo me off stage.

I will not stop doing the happy dance.

There are just so many things that I love about fall.

The weather, ohhh the 60s with lack of humidity.

It's glorious people.

Now don't get me wrong, I love warm weather & do enjoy the sun.

But that is what vacation is for.

The humidity this summer is just killing me.

Oh and the colors where are I live are gorgeous in the fall.

There is a place that you can drive to and overlook a gazillion (I counted) trees with colored leaves.

Don't believe me?

Drive up here and see for yourself.

Let me know when you come and you can stop at my house on your way and I will provide you with a tasty meal. :)

Ok back to my love. Fall.

Fall has so many wonderful reasons of why I love it.

My daughter was born in October (which I totally planned by the way)

Football, good hearty food

Colors

But one big thing that has always meant so much to me when Fall comes around is my bestfriend Sarah.

Sarah is Kennedy's Godmother & my bestfriend.

We have been friends since we were little kids.

I'm talking like age 5 people.

We lived together for part of college, lived in the same apartment building another year.

We have always been inseparable.

I introduced her to her husband.

She introduced me to mine.

Her family is my family & my family is hers.

I can't explain in writing our relationship.

After college her and her husband(fiance at the time) moved back to his hometown which is about 2 hrs from here.

That took a toll on me. I no longer saw her everyday, although we did talk all of the time.

What I didn't know is that it was going to get worse.

Almost 2 years ago, they moved again.

To Oregon.

~~Ugh. I still hate that word.~~

And since then I have only seen her 3 times.

Sarah & I both have always been obsessed with all things Fall & Winter.

We are freaks.

Start countdowns to Christmas in July, freaks.

Again, I can't explain in writing our obsession with the two seasons, or our weird connection over it.

But everytime a football game comes on, a leaf changes color, a snowflake falls, a christmas song or show comes on, I make chili, really anytime I do anything that has to do with Fall or Winter, I feel just a little bit closer to Sarbear.

I don't feel like we are thousands of miles apart.

I don't feel like I haven't seen her in almost a year. (ahem Sarah, get your booty home)

I just kind of smile to myself & know that no matter where she is, or how long its been since I saw her last,

She is my bestfriend & that will never change or weaken.

So now I hope you can understand my craziness about Fall being in its way. It isn't just because I am a weirdo, It has a little to do with the fact that my bestfriend is just as much of a weirdo as I am :)

picture overload

Happy Fall!

we've hit a wall on eating people!

2011-08-07T08:51:00.000-07:00

My child refuses to eat baby food somedays.

I don't get it.

Sometimes she will, no problem. & other times she will either keep her mouth pinned shut or she will stick her tongue out and just spit.

What the heck?

The food is good, too!

I may have tried it.

Do any of you mamas have a trick to get your little ones to eat?

She seems so interested in food when Andy and I are eating, but when I try to give her some, she won't eat it.

I try to give her food mashed up.

I try baby food.

Nothing.

But not all of the time.

Somedays (few though) she will devour an entire meal.

I even eat the food first.

Sometimes that helps but sometimes she just laughs at me.

So frustrating. But I know that I have to be patient. And I am

I just wanted to know if anyone else went through or are going through this also with their little ones?

Any tricks I should try?

Maybe she is just being the sassy 9 month old that she is :)

Still... I love her to pieces.

Food waster & all<3

playing with auntie jill at dinner

a little torturing auntie jill at dinner too :)

Happy Sunday!

Birthday party planning.

2011-08-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

So I just purchased my plane ticket & hotel room for my girls' trip to NYC in December. After doing so, my SIL says "start counting..132 days." Right then it hit me.

BAM!

132 days until December 15th.

Which means it is less than 132 days until K is 1!

I need to get my ass in gear & start planning her birthday party.

I want it to be special & I also am going to try to do most of the decorations and such by myself.

Yeah, I'll let you know how that one goes.

Then I went out to check the mail & there were two catalogs in there for Halloween costumes. Then it hit me again.

BAM!

(I know, I may be getting carried away here)

I still have to figure out what I want her to be for Halloween.
I do only have a few years of making the decision for her.

Soon I will have a little sassy toddler telling ME what she wants to be.

So anyway, I am torn on the birthday party ideas & am feeling forced to have a Halloween theme.

K turns 1 on October 27th, which is a Thursday so I was planning on doing something with just Andy, her & I that day, and then having her party on Saturday but that is the day that trick or treating is being held in town.

Should I have a halloween/costume theme to her party?

Or should I completely try to separate the two holidays?

I would like them to be separate so that we can celebrate her, but I feel like a lot of the kids that would come are going to come dressed up so they can go on to trick or treat after.

Oh decisions, decisions.

Like I don't have a hard enough time deciding things when it doesn't involve a party.

Ok now onto pictures of my cute little babe!

Warning! PICTURE OVERLOAD

Chasing Riley around on the floor

Sitting on the boat in the shade with my MIL

lovin' on my babe

self photo shoot

sometimes we take morning naps :)

kisses for mama, maybe?

checking out the beer & cocktail menu at BWW

the apple doesn't fall far from the tree..

kidding.

All of my pictures of her look blurry on her arms because she never keeps them still!

the floor was the coolest place to sit I guess

sleeping beauty

Oh & we also like to make funny faces.

waiting impatiently for her food

her grandpa smile :)

Oh & the best summer salad, ever!

mixed greens

cut up strawberries

dried cherries

feta cheese

raspberry walnut dressing- optional.

And VOILA!

(ya, thats right, I speak french)

no really, I do.

Anyway, the salad.

to.die.for.

My husband begs for it.

Ok off to look at clothes online for K.

(I am allowed to do things for her on my month long hiatus, just not myself)

The girl is growing like a weed!

But way cuter than one, I promise.

Happy Weekend!

Shopping Detox August

2011-08-04T05:58:00.000-07:00

I like to shop.

Ok, I love to shop.

So much that my husband would tell you I am a borderline shop-aholic.

(not in credit card debt, have to sell lemonade on the side of the street to pay off loan sharks sort of way.)

But I do realize that I spend probably a little more than I should on clothes.

It doesn't stop there though.

I like to shop for things for the house.

You'd think that is ok, right?

Well I do it just so that I can be in stores & use the excuse that the house needed it.

When really we probably have a perfectly good substitute at the house.

No hunny, we really did.

Look how cute!

I wouldn't go as far as to say that I am out of control.

I don't use up all of our money & I don't have to steal coins from Kennedy's piggybank to pay for groceries.

But let me be honest.

I have so many clothes that I buy & never wear.

I always tell myself "one of these days I am going NEED that shirt for an outfit."

& repeat.

I also have a hard time getting rid of anything.

Pack Rat Alert!

Ok, not really.

But it isn't pretty people.

My poor husband gets a little nook on one side of our walk-in closet with a top and bottom rack.

This mama?

I get the rest.

So onto the point of this post.

I made a deal with myself that I needed to get this under control.

I like money.

And I like having spending money when I really want it.

Not just when I am bored.

Damn you Target.

In my defense it is literally on the road RIGHT off of the end of mine.

too easy to get to.

(So without my husband telling me I have to, or yelling at me, or even asking me)

I have decided to go the entire month of August without buying myself or the house, anything.

Except for a few things for the yard that we have been talking about for awhile.

ie. more cedar chips & a couple of bushes.

Of course, I will still need to go into the store to get some things for Kennedy & the neccessities.

But no "fun" shopping.

Nada.

I can do this.

I know I can.

I actually even started at the end of July.

And to show you how serious I am..

My husband, Kennedy & I were heading back from his parents' house on Sunday. We had driven out separate because he took Kennedy out early & I still had some girls at my house after the bachelorette party. So Kennedy was with Andy in front of me and I was going to stop at Target on the way home to pick up baby food, more cream for K's bug bites & a few outfits for Kennedy since she is growing so fast.

I promise the clothes for her were legit.

Andy even asked me to get some.

On my way, I got this feeling.

I just knew that I was not going to be able to go into the store & not splurge.

It always happens at Target.
So I called Andy.

I asked him if he could meet me there and come in with me.

I told him, I just feel like if I go in there looking at clothes, I am going to buy a lot & I know we want to stick to just a few.

How can I not buy a million things when I see them?

Baby clothes are so cute!

So anyway, my husband, the one that HATES to shop agreed.

He was more than happy to.

He knew I wasn't just trying to lure him in to get him in the stores.

I really needed him to come with me.

To keep me grounded.

So there you have it.

No spending for this girl.

..well atleast for August. ;)

I do want to get better at it and I know I will be.

I just need a sort of detox from the retail world.

Besides I have a bunch of big trips coming up & I need to save up.

My sister, SIL & I are going to NYC in December to do some Christmas Shopping, then the first week of January we are going to Marco Island, FL for a family vacation for a week with Andy's parents and sister & then the 1st week of February we are heading to Las Vegas for a conference.

That one will be ~~a little~~ all work & ~~mostly~~ no play.

So I do need to save some money.

Correction: I will save some money.

Plus I know it makes my husband happy to see me wanting to ease up on the shopping.

Especially on my own.

Now maybe he won't cringe everytime I drag him in the store. ;)

Ok, so again, I promise I am not TOTALLY out of control.

I do not have an addiction.

I just really enjoy it & it's fun.

But I need to give up a little.

& am totally willing to.

So here's to August & all of you wonderfully devil stores!

You won't be seeing this girl!

Shower & Bachelorette Wig Party!

2011-08-02T19:02:00.000-07:00

My good friend Emilie is getting married in September.

She lives in Wisconsin now with her fiance but was up for the weekend to celebrate her bridal shower & bachelorette party.

The bridal shower was beautiful!

Unfortunately I didn't bring my camera, so I don't have any photos to share with you from that.

Let's just start by saying, I will never bring Kennedy to a Bridal Shower again, until she can is a little older and is past her "screeching" stage.

That part? Not a good time.

After the shower, the girls came back to my house & we got ready for the night & hung out at my house.

Andy took Kennedy out to his parents' house & had dinner with them before coming back into town.

Anyway, the night was filled with so many laughs, and sharing of stories, it really was a great time.

The funny part about the party was that we had to wear wigs out. Yeah it was quite interesting.

We did some karaoking (which by the way did not know is actually a Japanese word?)

I just learned that when I googled it to double-check my spelling.

We did a lot of dancing & I would say had a fabulous time catching up with friends.

so onto pictures..

well I did take one picture at the shower with my phone

Kennedy with my bestfriend, Sarah's mom at the shower

Emily & I heading out to dinner

Yes, I wore a white wig.

doing Jen's makeup to go out :)

karaoking our hearts out

I don't normally stand like that haha.

I was copying a pose from online.

Jen, Emily & I

Emilie (the bachelorette) the morning after :)

xox J

Belly Bandit?

2011-07-29T07:38:00.000-07:00

Belly Bandit.

You know, this little gem?

The one that so many mamas, including Kourtney Kardashian swear by.

The one that is supposed to work magic.

Abracadabra!

I remember looking at this way back when & thought it might be a good idea to try, but for some reason never did.

Now I am kicking myself in the rear.

My question now is..

It says post-pregnancy.

But just how long post does it work?

Hypothetically could I try to start it ohhh say about 9 months post?

Hypothetically remember ;)

I try to eat right and I do good most of the time but somehow chips sneaks up on me..

with cookies dancing there way right behind it.

sneaky little things.

I am active.

Probably not as much as I should but I do try.

I just feel like I don't have time to hit the gym as much as I should.

I am chasing Kennedy around all day, everyday it seems.

Shouldn't that do something for me?

I have been lucky enough to lose most of my baby weight.

I am really only 6lbs over my pre-pregnancy weight

but I was really happy with my weight before my sweet little munchkin.

And I would really like to have that back.

Mostly the inshape part.

I just want my stomach muscles back damnit!

The downside of having a c-section was that I lost all my muscle.

They cut through 5 layers of muscle and I had to wait months before even trying to get that back.

And it was/is h.a.r.d. to do.

It doesn't help that I am too impatient to be in the gym in order to catch up!

I know, poor little Jody.

I know, do something about it.

Ugh. Maybe I need to just suck it up & get in the gym.

~~Or, maybe I should just try the belly bandit!~~ ha!

Have any of you fine ladies tried the belly bandit before?

Anyone have any secrets that they would like to share with me?

Or, anyone want to fire me up to get my sweat on?

Ready

Set

GO!

9 months old!

2011-07-28T05:32:00.000-07:00

Guess who turned 9 months yesterday??

This Girl!

does the birthday dance...

9 months make me older and wiser?

This child is all over the place & she has a new thing where when she is flapping her arms around or trying to pull herself up she breathes really fast in and out of her nose and puckers her lips.

It is hilarious.

It is like she is snorting.

Oh and she likes to motorboat things as well.

{you're probably thinking, did she really just say that??}

Yes, yes I did.

She makes the noise with her lips & 9 / 10, spit comes out as well.

It is out of control.

She even does it when she is tired and falling asleep.

ie. in my arms

which usually turns into motorboating my boobs.

so inappropriate, I know, but she does (by accident)

I will try to catch it on video if I can.

(Of her different noises, not my boobs.)

Awkward.

Usually as soon as I bring the flip or camera out she stops all activities and refuses to cooperate.

I'm certain she gets the stubbornness from Andy ;) haha

In other news, one of my very good friends is getting married in September & it just so happens that this weekend is her bachelorette party.

This isn't going to be just any bachelorette.

This, my friends is a wig party.

I have a chin length white wig and some sweet "secretary" glasses.

And this mama has some ridiculous friends, so I can't wait to see all the others.

I will have plenty of pictures to share with you from that this weekend!

Hate to run, but K is on the move these days & knows two speeds.

Stop & Fast.

Happy Thursday!

Ps. If any of you are interested in meeting a really cool mama who has become a great friend of mine, head over to see Becky. She is doing a "meet this mama" feature for awhile & it just so happens that today is mine! :) I do highly recommend that you stick around though because you are going to want to hear what she has to say(she is so honest & hilarious) & see that g.o.r.g.e.o.u.s mother/daughter duo!

Bachelorette Recap.

2011-07-26T10:44:00.000-07:00

First off. I so want to go to Fiji.

If you know me, you know that going there has been my dream since I was in 5th grade.

cough:: And it wouldn't hurt if I was there & could watch JP shirtless all day :: cough

Ok ok. TMI. And I am only kidding...I promise.

Ok onto the guys.

All in favor of JP taking home the gold (Ashley) say ey.

EYYYYYYYYYY!

This man is gorgeous.

Lets talk about her other dates first.

(you always save the best for last)

Constantine, I just knew wasn't going to work out. All along it always seemed like he wasn't as outgoing as she was and wasn't willing to ever fully give it his all. And to be completely honest, I saw zero sparks between them. Zilch. Nada.

The one thing that I don't get though is why it seems like this whole season has revolved around guys leaving Ashley.

What the hell?

She is beautiful and so down to earth.

Even if she did ~~repeatedly~~ slightly whine about Bad News Bentley most of the season.

Ryan as the exception.

Not only did this guy get eliminated once.

But he came back for more.

Really?

This guy must have a pretty solid ego because I don't think I could do it.

I did feel bad for him..for about a second & then remembered how overly chirpy he was on the show.

And that drove me crazy.

But I do hope he finds happiness.

It takes a real man to bounce back 2 seconds after getting rejected to wish someone well.

Way to go out gracefully Ryan. Twice.

Ok back to the dates.

Ben.

Oh Ben. You are so cute & I do love your hair.

But you just aren't right for Ashley.

He just seems so quiet & shy.

She would eat him alive.

nom.nom.nom.

Don't get me wrong.

The guy does have almost the total package.

He has dark hair, beautiful eyes, owns a wine vineyard.

um, yes please!

Still, I just feel like there is something missing.

His family on the hometowns seemed a little leary of Ashley.

Then there is Gorgeous JP.

Yes I gave him a nickname

. That smile gets me everytime.

Do I sound like I have a bit of a crush?

(yes, I do & my husband is totally ok with it because he has a crush on Ashley)

Is it just me or do their makeout sessions teeter totter on the borderline of rated R?

naughty naughty guys..

So can you tell who I hope wins??

I know this was supposed to be a recap of the show & really all it was was a campaign for JP & Ashley.

::chants to crowd:: JP JP JP JP

Now lets get to next week & see what happens!!

any secret diaper rash remedies?

2011-07-25T13:00:00.000-07:00

Diaper Rash.

How the hell do I get rid of it?

My poor little child has her first case of diaper rash.

(I hope that is what it is & not something worse)

It started over the weekend with little dots all over & this morning when I changed her all of those red dots combined to make just a really red private area.

I use diaper cream on her.

I try to change her diaper as soon as possible when I feel like it is wet.

I don't put her diapers on too tight.

What the heck is causing it?

And how do I get rid of it?

The poor little lover is so uncomfortable.

When I take her diaper off to change it, she immediately tries to rub down there like it is hurts or is really itchy. And when I don't let her she starts crying as to be saying "mama it really hurts!"

Do any of you fellow mama's have any ideas of how to help get rid of it?

Please, please share with me.

I have tried Burt's Bees Diaper Cream before and she never got diaper rash so I am thinking maybe I should just go back to that? I also have Aveeno Diaper cream which is what I started using this morning.

The last couple of weeks we have been using Destin & that didn't seem to help it.

HELP me help my baby girl to be more comfortable and get rid of this annoying rash!