Ten Years

Ten years is a long time? No?

When I look at what has all happened to me in the last ten years, it's easier to understand. However, when I think about ten years being almost half of my life, thus far, it seems like a very long time.

Today, Heath and I have been together for ten years. Holy cow.

First year together

Still learning about one another and our crazy quirks

He would visit from college to support me :)

We were blessed with a God-son

Goofing off, in college together

Learning to be "adults" ;)

Husband and wife

Praying to become "Mommy" and "Daddy"

Thanking the Lord for our Blessings

Continuing on with this crazy life!

Proms, graduations, college, a house, chihuahuas, new cars, a wedding, remodeling, and a baby Lucy later...and, we are still so happy together.

Here is to the next ten years, hunny! Let's hope it brings us more blessing (babies!) and maybe even a winning lottery ticket. I can dream can't I? :)

I love you Heath.

Lucy's First Birthday?

That was four months ago? What? Oh, so it was. Well, didn't you wonder what we did for it?

Me, being the awful photo-gatherer that I am, didn't share it all with you. Sorry! Better late than never? Of course.

We had a nice gathering at our house with cake, presents, and chatting. We don't have a lot of friends with children, yet. So, it was more of a child-themed, adult party - minus alcohol. :) Oh well. I will eventually get to make games and fun scavenger hunts!

After reviewing the many themes at Party USA, Heath and I decided on the Princess theme. Lucy is spoiled rotten and well, it seemed kind of fitting!

We didn't get too out of hand with decorations; however, we still managed to spend about $250 on her birthday all together. How did that happen?

Answer: one very large present. Oh yeah...

Here is the main table of cake and goodies - notice the cold, snowy background? Brrr.....

My mom made the wonderful cakes! She did an amazing job!

She used the princess banners with hearts, flowers, and butterflies for inspiration.

And this one, below, was Lucy's personal cake! :)

And, this is the hat that she wore for point two seconds -

We have one picture with her in it and she is snarling...seriously.

Everyone brought the best gifts (lots o' toys!), hence the need for a new playroom. Lucy loved opening gifts.

It's only been 4 months; but, I don't even recognize that little girl anymore!

Everything went as planned, except for Lucy eating the cake. She wanted no part in it. We literally poked it and tried to feed it to her for about 20 minutes, with no avail. Heath even squished her hand in it, which only made her mad. It was so not like on TV...

The ice cream? Well, that, she loved.

It was a wonderful day and we will always remember it fondly! It came and went so quickly. Before I know it, I'll be planning another (birthday that is, not a first - don't get too excited yet)!

The good news about the cake is that at her friend Ty's birthday, in May, she mutilated a chocolate cake - just as it should be done. :) She's learning.

Happy Monday! Hopefully you'll hear more from me this week. Last week I was at a work conference and spent a lot of my day in the car.. (insert super sad, pathetic, tired face here). By the time I got home, I was lucky if I even changed my clothing and got into bed. I hate getting up early... :{ Good information though! :)

Oh, and Happy Late Father's Day to all of you dads out there! I hope it was a good one!

Bursting with Pride & Animal Noises

Ahh, yes. This may border a post of the typical mom, telling you how awesome her child is. However, bear with me, as I try not to do that...

Lucy loves books. She gets them and brings them to us, ready for us to read. Lately, she keeps bringing me books with animal pictures. Last night I read a five page book probably 20 times!

"Curly the pig goes - oink, oink, oink (insert awkward snorting noises here)."

After the 20th time through, we were finally able to move to another picture book of animals.

I started reading the one word pages, "Lion."

I looked at Lucy and asked, "What does a lion do? Does he rooooaaaar?"

I of course held my hand up like a claw. She smiled.

"Duck. Quack, quack, quack."

Lucy indulged me as I somewhat formed my arm into a "chicken-wing" and flapped it.

"Bear. Raaawrr.."

I paused and thought, "hmm......that certainly sounded a lot like the lion from before. That was probably a little confusing for her."

I continued, "Tiger. Raaoooaawwwr."

Okay, that was a little bit of a tiger and a bear. Oops. This book was really testing my animal calling skills.

Next page,"Giraffe....um,.....yeah, giraffe." I had no sound for that one.

Next page, "Sea Lion..umm......."

I finally asked, "How about we read something else?"

Nope - Lucy literally grunted at me and wanted me to continue.

At the end of the book I was happy to see an elephant. Classic. None of these odd, soundless, exotic, animals.

I immediately pursed my lips together, pressed my nose to my bicep, flailed my arm, and made a big elephant wail.

Lucy took the most enjoyment in that one. She took her arm, flung it in the air, and tried to mock the sound.

I could have burst with pride. Animal pride? :) haha.......corny, yes - I know. I was proud nonetheless.

It is crazy how proud I am of her for the smallest things. She is just learning so much and growing so fast. I know it is simply a part of her development; but, I still feel like she is the smartest girl in the world. Ahhh...enough with that though. I won't be that mom. haha

Have a good Tuesday!

Parenting: I Just Don't Have the Stomach for It

I have the heart, soul, legs, back, and mind for parenting. But, stomach? Nope.

Last night, we enjoyed a nice evening. I went for a run while Heath and Lucy ran around outside. We came home, ate dinner as a family. Then, I cleaned up a bit and cut a few coupons while Heath and Lucy rolled all over the floor.

It was nice and simple, and enjoyable.

 - DO NOT CONTINUE IF YOU HAVE A WEAK STOMACH -

I decided to finally put my post-workout bum in the shower and five minutes in.....

"Cori! Lucy just threw up. I mean larger than life!"

I peek my conditioned head out of the shower and there he is. He is covered in vomit. It is on his shoulder, his cheek, down his arms, and he's holding Lucy, also covered in vomit.

"Can you get out, so we can get in?

I only had one leg shaved and conditioner in my hair.

"Can I rinse the conditioner out first?"

"Fine. Hurry."

He runs back out of the bathroom, for I don't know what reason. I throw a towel on and hop out. He comes rushing back in. He is in the exact same state, holding Lucy.

He walks past me and I start gagging. I just can't do it and I could not believe that he was just, like, bathing in it and hadn't flinched a bit.

He throws Lucy in the tub. She is also unfazed. She is just excited to be getting in the tub and hadn't shed a single tear. I watch as he peels her clothes. He then peels his own, down to his underwear. He leans over and starts pulling......gag......chunks....gag....out of her hair. He picks some up off the side of the tub and throws them in the toilet.

I'm just standing there, gagging, shaking my head, and holding a towel over my nose.

"Do you want to give her a bath, while I go clean the stairs?" he asks.

"Um, yes!" Do I want to scrub it off the stairs? Absolutely not!

Apparently, he picked Lucy up to go to bed. When he was walking up the stairs she started heaving. She threw up a little on the stairs and he tried to catch/shield it. Then, he ran through the kitchen, making a trail, to the sink. Then she threw up so more.

Awesome.

He left the bathroom. Lucy was in the tub, with the water running, playing with a bucket.

I stood there, a good three feet away, watching her. Course of action?

1) Turn the air vent on. Gross...
2) Get myself clothed.
3) Drain the tub water and start with new, clean, vomit-free water.
4) Freak out a little bit when having to reach into the water to pull the plug.
5) Refill the tub.
6) Use toilet paper to pull out the remaining remnants in Lucy's hair.
7) Gag some more.
8) Steal the bucket from Lucy and dump water on her head.
9) Continuing giving the bath, like normal.

It was a late night, well, later than usual. Lucy seemed fine. I think she ate too many chicken nuggets - five!

Heath's comment about the whole ordeal, besides telling me what a good team we were at cleaning up?

"I don't think Lucy really chews her food."

"Nope."

Oh and my leg never did get shaved. I have to be careful how I cross my legs...I hide the unshaven one in back...haha.

24 Hours?

Sometimes I just don't believe that there are 24 hours in my day.

I'm a momma.
I'm a wife.
I'm a family person.
I'm a friend.
I'm a full-time employee.
I'm a house cleaner.
I'm a cook.
I'm a chauffeur.
I'm a lover of television.
I'm a sleeper.
I'm a night person.
I'm a wanna-be exerciser.
I'm an on-again/off-again weight watcher.
I'm a lover of junk food.
I'm a shopper.
I'm an organizer.
I'm a coupon clipper.
I'm a blogger.

I sometimes just can't get the hang of things.

At work I am very organized. I mean it is borderline OCD ridiculous. I have two calendars, an electronic one and a paper one. I will plan time to "map out" my schedule, several times a year. I am always adding items to my 'To-Do' list and if I don't get them done that day, it moves to the next. Nothing ever goes undone.

At home? Sunday - fold the laundry. Didn't get it done. Monday - fold the laundry. Tuesday - fold the laundry. Nope. Let's just say - it still needs to be done and it's Thursday. Ugh!

Our bedroom looks like a small bomb went off in my closet. The laundry room and den are in serious need of organizing/cleaning. The closets are to a point where I am afraid items may fall on me when I open the doors! And, don't even get me started on the master bathroom. :{

The good thing is that from the "outside" it all looks good. :) The rooms that visitors see are pretty clean and organized! Kudos for that, right? Maybe...

I've been thinking about making a calendar/to-do list for home. I could plan out my cleaning and activities. Then, I would have more time to do, and less guilt about doing, the things I love!

You are probably thinking that I just need to give up some sleep and some television. I need to make the sacrifice that comes with the responsibility of being a mom and an adult....yada, yada, yada. That is all fine and dandy for a week or so. Then, I am at my wit's end. I get grumpy. I simply need some 'me' time. I have to get another hour of sleep sometimes. I have to just sit and stop moving sometimes. It keeps me sane. So, hopefully a plan or schedule could allow for both my selfish and non-selfish needs.

What do you think? Is this just another thing that will get pushed to the side? Will I stick to it like I did my last five diets? Time will tell. I need a plan first.

Any tips on how to juggle all the many roles we have? And, keep our sanity? I'll let you know how it goes...

Seven More Things

1) I love to be tan; but, I am getting more and more scared of skin cancer and wrinkles as I get older. I am liking the idea of spray tanning more and more these days! :) Healthy!

2) I am on a salsa and avocado kick lately. My favorite salsa is Chili's salsa with ranch. YUM!

3) I love buying exercise clothing. Is that odd? It motivates me to work out. haha.

4) When I pick Lucy up from daycare and she comes running at me, smiling, and gives me a big hug - that is the best feeling in the world! :)

5) I think that I'm too mean. I wish sometimes that I was a nicer person. :(

6) Lucy got a new kitchen set and I think that I'm more excited than she is (as of now). We are going to have a blast with that thing!

7) I wish on stars regularly and I always make a wish when I see the clock at 11:11.

Rookie Move

Lucy was hitting a bag of chips with a plastic drumstick. I told her, "No. No."

She insisted on hitting it and looked me straight in the eye while hitting a few more times. I said, again, "No!"

Then, I put my hand on top of the bag; so, she would quit hitting it.

What does she do? She, of course, whacks the crap out of my hand.

Rookie move...

Next time I'll take the drumstick out of her hand.

The drumstick hit a nerve and I couldn't feel my index or middle finger for a good 2 minutes. My hand is bruised. It hurts.

Lesson learned.