Ten things to smile about

I'm linking up with Emmy today for Ten Things to Smile About.  If you haven't checked Emmy out yet, you should. :)

1.  Maggie gives kisses now.  They are open mouth kisses, but adorable and cute and there's not much better than open mouth kisses from your baby girl.

2.  I got to have a great holiday celebration with these lovely ladies:

3.   PJ got to play in the snow and had so much fun.

4.  Sibling love, instead of rivalry.

5.  The Packers lost to the Giants in the playoffs, thus ensuring me to be able to watch the Super Bowl again.

6.  It's going to be nearly 60 degrees in Chicago today -- so we are grilling steaks.  This doesn't happen in January in Chicago.

7.  Had a play date with my two oldest and best friends -- seen here in our younger YOUNGER days.  (and yes, we are in a bathtub, at the Tropicana Hotel in Las Vegas).

8.  Result of said play date:

9.  I made chicken tortilla soup for the first time and it was delicious.

10.  I got a new blog follower on the last day of January (HINT, HINT -- you know you want to be #63!!)
 



Hugs.

Best big brother ever.

Life Lessons: The I Can't Come Up with a Clever Title Edition

1.  This week? Was my first 5 day week since the week of December 12.

2.  Not awesome.

3.  PJ officially remembers stuff.  We were reading a book with a polar bear last night, and he said "Polar bear jumped in the water mama!" (This happened at the zoo a couple months ago and the polar bear put on a show which eventually ended with him jumping in the water).

4.  Maggie will pound her hand on her chest and say baby!

5.  Speaking of Maggie -- earrings do NOT stay in little girls ears.  We've lost so many earrings.  It's frustrating.

6.  So I got those little plastic thingies and put them on the back of the earring on top of the original earring back.

7.  Those bitches better stay on there.

8.  Started our taxes last night -- still waiting for my W-2 from the workplace from hell.

9.  We are getting a good return - YAY!

10.  Which means operation "Shopping all day by myself without children or men" will commence soon.

11.  I haven't had steak since New Years Day.  I am starting to go through withdrawal.

12.  I'm almost done reading 11/22/63.  I was skeptical, but I really really like it.

13.  Maggie is almost in 18 month clothes completely.  She probably could be, but I am being super lazy about switching out the clothes, plus she doesn't enough yet, which is part of what will be happening during #10 above.

14.  I am planning on buying her about 6 pairs of shoes from Target.com though.  The store never has what I want.

15.  I'm going to see Brad Paisley and Miranda Lambert.  At Wrigley Field.  And we have seats ON THE FIELD.

16.  Life is good.

PYHO: Vowing

I've been kind of asshole again.

To the person I love most.

I need to stop and realize that I have a fantastic husband.  That my actions are causing him hurt, pain and to not want to be around me.

I know this, but for some reason, I can't completely stop.  I get better and then I relapse.

I don't want to go into detail.  I just want to stop.  I want to be nice, sweet, and loving.  I want to show him how much he means to me, how much I love him, how important he is to me, and how much he is the best part of my life besides the kids (which is a total different kind of love, as you moms know).

I'm starting today.  I'm vowing today.  To make our marriage better.  To make him feel the way I should be making him feel.

I feel like a total asshole.  And I should.  But he shouldn't any longer.

Chocket.

This is what PJ was asking me for this morning.

CHOCKET MAMA!
I stood there puzzled.

What do you want baby??

CHOCKET MAMA!!! While waving his cup at me...

Finally, annoyed with my stupidity, he went to the fridge, opened it, and took out the Hershey's Syrup.

CHOCKET FOR MY MILK!

Ah.  Chocolate.

:)

Rainbow Babies

I don't normally post twice in one day, but I felt this was necessary.

I had a miscarriage before I got pregnant with PJ.  It was terrible, but I was lucky enough to get pregnant quickly after.  However, I never stop thinking about the baby I lost.

PJ is my Rainbow Baby.

"Rainbow Babies" are the understanding that the beauty of a rainbow does not negate the ravages of the storm. When a rainbow appears, it does not mean that the storm never happened or that the family is not still dealing with its aftermath. What it means is that something beautiful and full of light has appeared in the midst of the darkness and the clouds. Storm clouds may still loom over but the rainbow provides a counterbalance of color, energy, and much needed hope.

Please share this with someone who has lost a baby.  There is nothing that will ever fill the hole that is caused by losing a child.

Monday Musings.

How exactly does an experienced NFL kicker miss a 32 yard field goal that will end your team's quest for the Super Bowl?

How exactly does a punt returner NOT hold on to the ball better when losing the ball means your team's quest for the Super Bowl is over?

Why did it snow around 8 inches on Friday, was 17 degrees outside, and last night there was a thunderstorm, the snow melted and it is currently 45 degrees?

Why are women lacking the gene men seem to have that enable them to do absolutely nothing but sit and whine when they don't feel good?

Why when I go to Target thinking "I don't need much today!" I get a cart full, which is 85% stuff I needed, and still spend $100? 

How is possible to need a $100 of things at Target every week?

Why don't we have a four day work week? It would be so much better if we were always off on Mondays.

Will Maggie's four teeth that have been coming in for over a month every actually come in??

Why, when logically if you do laundry every week you should have 14 outfits for two people, do I have about 30 outfits for each of us?

How is it possible for socks to disappear off the face of the planet?

Why, when a small toy falls to the floor, does it always go underneath a piece of furniture, and as far back as possible so you have to actually move the piece of furniture to retrieve it?

How, when I didn't cook a single thing yesterday, and was gone from 11-8, how are there still dishes in the sink?