Monday, August 30, 2010

A Twisted Mind

A twisted mind. We all have one about....something. Whether it be about money, or food, or guilty pleasures. Mine is 'alone time'. I want something I never have, and then when I have it, I feel guilty about it. Some examples:

I'm a working mother, so I will take all 3 of my kids to the grocery store when my husband is home, just because I feel like I should be with them because I work. The end result? I leave with nothing that I actually went for because I can't even think straight. (this happened just today)

I left Bella home from my dance class tonight because she was sleeping. I got to get in the car all by myself, and just go. I felt so guilty when I got to the dance studio and my mother was sitting there waiting for Bella. :(

I let my 12 year old sleep with me on the nights that my husband works because she loves to, and I know she won't want to sleep with me much longer. The end result? I end up falling off the bed, or getting slapped in the face/head etc. because she sleeps like a lunatic.

I get dressed in the morning with my 2 big kids in the bathroom with me because they just want to hang out with me. The end result? Sometimes I have mascara on one eye. Maybe only one earring. You never know.

I actually complain that I have no time to myself, and the when I do, I say to myself.....I should have...could have.....I mean, really? I know this is a twisted mind. My sister always tells me I'm a nut with this stuff. She's right.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

First Day of 7th Grade

Yep. 7th grade. Where did the years go? I feel like I was just getting her ready for preschool, and now she is asking me if she can wear make-up. (No.)

Amber got up at 5:30 on her own and got in the shower, blew out her hair, straightened it, and was ready with an hour to spare. If you know my daughter I hope you are laughing your butt off right now. Amber can't get up in the morning. She usually showers at night for that reason. Amber never dries her hair. Amber rarely wears her hair down. She tends to rock the 'housewife' hair. She usually likes to wear sweatpants for comfort. When I got up at 6:15 and she was bright eyed with a towel on her head, I thought I was going to pass out. She was too cute.

She wanted this bag so bad. I can't/won't/ would never spend $55 plus tax on a book bag. Thank you Dad.
She got this lunch box at the beach. I love it, and so does she. I was proud of her for getting it, because all of the girls at her school carry Vera Bradley lunch boxes. She branched out on her own. Go girl!

I can promise you by no later than next Wednesday the girl sitting there will have her hair in a bun, and a puss on her face. I will have my camera handy too.

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

Feelin' it

The summer is coming to an end, and I can't figure out how any of us are going to be able to get up and out! We have really become some lazy daisy's around here. We have vacationed, we've been doing friendship trays all summer, sleeping late, and watching Bella grow like a weed!! Overall, we have had an amazing summer. We couldn't have asked for more.

This year, I have taken on a new position as a 5 day 3 year old teacher. I am so excited! New age, new curriculum, new classroom....and I am getting to do what I love ever more, which is work with children. I know it's my calling, it's what I am meant to do, and I hope to do it with excellence. Now, as a middle school teacher I would get fired in 2 days for man handling someone else's kid, but preschool is perfect for me. I am so excited for this new season to begin.

Feelin' it-Bella. Leaving Bella. Overall, it is a better fit for our family. I will be home at night much, much more. Job #2 will be very sporadic. I will be home by 1:30 everyday. Bella will not have to go to daycare. She will be with her daddy, and sometimes with my mother. You can't beat that. I just don't want to miss anything! I've been spoiled by being home with her all summer, and so so thankful for it. She has gotten so big and she changes almost everyday. The following year she will come to school with me a few days a week, so if I can make it through this year, I'll be alright! Look at her! Isn't she just awesome!


Thursday, August 12, 2010

Do you believe in signs? 7-11

How do you feel about 'signs'? Do you feel that some things are just too coincidental to be 'just by chance'? Here's my sign, you decide.

A HUGE part of who my father was was that he owned a 7-11 food store. We owned this store for 12 out of the 18 years that I spent with my father. It's not so much that he owned it, but more of how he got there. With no college education, my father had several different jobs in his younger years. I think he may have even had a coffee truck? My sister will help me with that, she knows more than I do. She actually blogged about something similar here. A bartender I believe....whatever it took to keep provision for his family. He has a true story of working your way up from the bottom. He worked for the Southland Corporation (7-11) training franchisees, which was an office job, and he also worked as a clerk in a local 7-11 store. I remember that was when he taught me how to tie a tie, and he used to let me shave next to him with a razor with a cap on it. He started to travel with this position, and after a short while, he couldn't bare to leave his wife and 4 kids alone to travel quite frequently. He was quitting the job all together, to find something that better suited his family. They didn't want to let him go. So much so, that the store that we owned was about to close, and they decided to practically give him the store (for $4000.00) in hopes that he would be able to bring it back to life. He did just that. And then some. It turned to be one of the top performing stores for many years.

The sign? Just when you're not sure if your loved ones are still with you....you have a baby girl, and she weighs 7 pounds, 11 ounces. Coincidence? You decide. I know what I think.

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Alex and the Summer

I realized I haven't blogged about Alex in a while. He has been having a great, busy summer. He started out his summer with 4 weeks of summer camp. Then he had 12 private swim lessons with Miss Morgan, and he is now swimming on his own! In the mix, we went to Myrtle Beach for a week on a family vacation/dance nationals. He just got back from a four day weekend in NY. He is about to walk out the door with Robert to go for a swim while I mop the floor. He is having a great time. He's getting so big, and I am so excited for him to go to preschool 5 days this year! Here are a few pics from the past few days. Last night we fell asleep on the couch together watching Home Alone. That has never happened before. Our night usually gets cut short when he can't be still. But last night, he did great. I woke up to Robert picking up Alex, and putting him in his bed.

He's a great big brother to Bella. He really loves her. He's such a vibrant little boy!







Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Sweet Escape

Robert and I went to Charleston this weekend. We spent our honeymoon there, and we just love it! It was our first adult getaway since we had Bella. We left Friday morning, and came home around 7pm on Sunday. It was a perfect long weekend, but not too long to be away from the baby. My big kids were in NY. Friday, we had a nice lunch on Sullivan's Island, went to the beach for a little while, and retreated back to the room for 13 hours of uninterrupted sleep. It was amazing. This house suffers from severe sleep deprivation. We were out eating breakfast at the farmers market in Charleston by 8am. We treated ourselves to Starbucks every morning! Then we headed over to Folly beach, and other than to sleep, we never left there for the next 2 days. We LOVE that beach! We are already planning a family trip to Folly beach for next summer!

Robert and I are pretty simple people, and we had the best time and laughed to tears over and over again on this little getaway. I love being married!





Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Slow Down Baby Girl

Sitting in the tub. Sitting in the high chair. Sitting in the shopping cart. All at 4 1/2 months. It's going too fast.

Slow down Bella. Mommy isn't ready for all of this.






Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Love it(s)-Diaper Bags

Bag #1. I registered for this bag, and it was a gift from my friends at school. WOW. Let me just say that you could go away for 5 solid days with an infant and just this bag, and have everything you need-yet it's not grossly huge. It's like a clown car that stuff just keep coming out and coming out, and your like...is this ever going to end? So many compartments and space, and it's durable (I brought it to the beach, and it's still in perfect condition).It's made by JJ Cole and it's lovely. I give it 5 stars and would recommend it to anyone and everyone that is having or has a baby. You definitely need a bag like this, especially with an infant. It's a dream come true.

This bag was given to me from 2 of my girlfriends. This bag is a show stopper. It's a one of a kind, original design. Everybody asks me where I got this bag. My friend Katie knows of this store in Hickory, that she and my friend Rachel got to pick out each and every piece of fabric, and decide exactly where on the bag it was going to go. I mean down to the straps. The changing pad that is in it as well. I knew she has done this before, so when she asked me what I needed for Bella, with no shame, I replied: "A diaper bag". I wanted one. They are pricey-I would say over $100. But I LOVE IT. It has plenty of space, and it's beautiful-however I would not bring this bag to the beach. I kinda hate to set it on the floor, but I do sometimes. It's special to me, and I think they did an amazing job on it. The picture does it no justice. Next time you see me, check it out. You'll love it too. It's made by Ella Blu. At least that's what it says on the bag.

Happy Tears

Last night was Amber's awards banquet for dance. It was at a park, and the kids had sooooo much fun. Apparently, so did Robert because his legs are sore from a few killer games of kickball!



Anyway, if you were dancing for 2 years or more, you received an award for how many years you have been dancing. Amber received her 9th year award!! She started at 2. I wish I had a picture to post. So, so beautiful. There were also a few specialty awards. These awards had the dance studio 'mascot' on them, and they were personalized with the children's names. It is a great way to honor the kids in special areas. I had no idea that Amber was getting one! It went something like this.....



" This dancer joined in with a group of girls that have been dancing together for 5 years. There were lots of tears, and struggles, and progress, and determination. She has come so far in this year, and I am so, so proud of her! And this dancer is.......Amber Delemo!"



She got the 'Most Improved' award. Naturally, I did what any mother would do. I cried. I did my best to have a quick recovery and told myself I was being crazy. Until I looked over at her father, and his eyes were welled up too. Such a proud, proud moment. I was in the car with her every Tuesday night when she broke down in tears saying she can't do it. I encouraged her. I told her I believed in her. I told her to believe in herself. I pushed her to persevere, and not to quit. Miss Charyl let her know that she believed in her. She told her to wipe her tears, and go get help from the other dancers. She gave her some tough love. She made sure that she knew that by the first competition, she would be dancing with these girls. And she did. And she has had her strongest, most productive year of dance that she has ever had in her life.



We are so proud of our Shining Star!!! I can't even post a picture of the award because her very proud father took it. When she called papa and told him, he asked her to bring the award to NY with her next weekend so he could see it. We are so happy that Amber finally found a school and an amazing teacher that will push her to be the very best that she can be.