Using the "Force"

 

Congratulations, Daddy!

This morning we attended daddy's graduation from Embry Riddle Aeronautical University. He earned a Master of Aeronautical Science.



Congratulations, daddy! Mommy and I are very proud of you!

My First Braid

This afternoon while mommy worked, daddy let me go to the barber shop with him to get his hair cut. While there, I decided to let the nice lady braid my hair. Keep in mind, I don't like for my hair to be brushed and I don't like it up.

Daddy took pictures for mommy so she could see how pretty my hair looked. Oh yeah! You're also going to see some pictures of me pitching a fit because I wanted to take pictures with the camera. You gotta love us toddlers!

New posts from the month of May

that we don't want you to miss...

1. Playing in the Jeep
2. I want it my way!
3. Am I not supposed to have this?
4. Auntie Anne Comes to Visit
5. The Kiddie Pool
6. My New Bike Seat
7. Weekend Road Trips in the Jeep
8. CC's First Trip to Busch Gardens

Mommy's been really busy at work so she hasn't had much time to post to the blog. She likes to keep events in date order so you might miss the posts above if you don't go back a couple of pages. To help you, she created this shortcut to all of the new posts from May. Enjoy!

My First Name

Usually, CC lets me know that she's awake in the morning with a "momma, where are you?" Well, this morning I heard her yelling for me by my first name. Yes, you can imagine my surprise. When I entered her room she was so happy to see me. She was standing in her crib with a big smile on her face. We went back and forth a couple of times with me telling her that I was mommy and she telling me that I was "insert first name."

CC's First Trip to Busch Gardens

Today mommy and daddy took me to Busch Gardens. They have a new kids area, Sesame Street Forest of Fun, that is a GREAT time. Yes, they even have rides. In fact, mommy and daddy were able to ride them with me. I rode my very first train and I was so excited. I kept saying, "choo choo" and "train" because I wanted to make sure mommy and daddy knew what sound a train makes. I got to see my very first Budweiser Clydesdale. He was really big and beautiful. Mommy petted him and I let her. I decided to just look and not touch. We ate lunch at Das Feshaus in Germany; I loved the music and dancing. Mommy and daddy let me play in the Land of the Dragons. We, yes all three of us, climbed the treehouse (rope ladders, too). And, then I played in the water. Yep, I was soaked but it was worth it. Afterwards, we watched another show (country music). I love music and I love to dance. By this time, it was almost 3:00 and we'd been there since 10 am, so it was time to go. Or, at least we thought it was. Daddy decided he wanted to ride Griffon before we left since mommy and daddy didn't ride anything the entire day (it was all about me). He said it was GREAT! Mommy and I sat on a bench waiting for daddy to come by (on the ride). He did and mommy got some great pictures. She's putting together a video of his experience and will upload it when finished.

Enjoy the pictures of our fun day!

Weekend Road Trips in the Jeep

are now possible with our new Rola Hitch Cargo Rack. We made a quick trip to NC to purchase our new cargo hitch. There isn't much room in a Jeep with 3 people and "stuff." So, mommy and daddy thought it'd be wise to purchase a cargo rack. It just so happens that it fits mommy's car, too. As always, I helped (or at least supervised) daddy put the rack together. In the parking lot of the store, I might add. :-)

Daddy boy, mommy girl!

This morning as I was changing CC's first diaper of the day, she said, "Daddy, boy.  Mommy, girl."

My New Bike Seat

Mommy and daddy bought me a new bike seat. Yeah, that means we can go bike riding. Oh wait! Mommy doesn't have a bike. I guess she needs one. Anyways, I can at least go bike riding with one of my parents.

The Kiddie Pool

On Memorial Day, some friends came over to play. I really wanted to swim in my big pool but it isn't ready yet. So, I settled for the "kiddie pool." Actually, this pool was originally a beer cooler at the 2006 Hogfest. As you see, we had a good time. And yes, I am in my clothes NOT a bathing sui.

From May 2009

From May 2009

Auntie Anne Comes to Visit

Auntie Anne came to visit me over Memorial Day weekend. It was so good to see her and I REALLY miss her being our neighbor. I think we need to take a trip to see her REAL SOON.

Mommy and Daddy Have a Date

Nutz and I decided back in January (I think) that we'd go see the musical, Wicked, when it came to Norfolk. So, being the planner that I am, we purchased two (not so cheap) tickets to a Saturday Matinee. Well, yesterday was the big day! It was FANTASTIC and well-worth the cost of the tickets! The singing was great, the music was amazing, and the story line was exciting. You'll have a greater appreciation for the Wicked Witch of the West after you watch the show, I did.

To read more, go to the Wicked website.

Grease is coming in September/October and I want to go. Also, Legally Blonde will be here over New Years. Any takers?

Am I not supposed to have this?

This looks like something really fun!

I want it my way!

Playing in the Jeep

One of my favorite things to do is play in the Jeep while daddy hangs out in the garage. Notice that I do wear my seatbelt.

A Great Mother's Day

I had a wonderful Mother's Day! It started out with CC bringing me breakfast in bed. Granted, it was food from her kitchen but it was thoughtful, just the same. We did a few things around the house before meeting the Arana family and Ana for lunch at the New Belmont. It was a great time and as always, we enjoy spending time with them. Afterwards, we drove around town so CC could get a power nap before the 3:00 play of Blue's Clues put on by the local Hurrah Players. It worked; she got about an hour's nap and was rejuvenated by the time we arrived at The Nauticus.

CC LOVED the play! It was mostly a musical so she danced the entire time. She loved Blue and each time he'd start to leave the stage she'd say "Oh no!" and point. The program lasted about an hour and she was engaged the entire time.

I really wanted a new bathing suit so we walked to the mall when the show was over. I shopped while Nutz and CC had a piece of pizza and a drink. Ms. Amy takes CC to the mall to play and they sometimes eat pizza. So, when we arrived, CC promptly told us that she was hungry for a piece of pizza. Nutz said she ate half.

I, on the other hand, did NOT have any luck finding a bathing suit. Hence the reason I'm wearing the same suit that I've had for the past three years. Can I tell you that bathing suit shopping is DEPRESSING. Unless you're a size 8 with no boobs, there's nothing out there for you. Well, I guess that's not true. If you want to look like a "hoochie momma," there's lots to choose from.

I forgot the camera at home so as soon as I get some pics from Laura (I used her camera at lunch) and download pics from Nutz's phone, I'll share them with you!

I hope all the mothers out there had a great day, too!

CC loves the mall...

Especially when hanging out with daddy while mommy shops! Only if this cup was filled with beer would life be any better?!

Happy Mother's Day!

Thanks for being such a wonderful mother! I love you, Crackerz!

May Pictures

Happy Birthday, Larry!

CC is 23 Months Old Today

Where has the time gone? CC is such a big girl and is changing every day. She certainly has her own personality (a good mixture of mommy and daddy). She's lovable and kind like her daddy and persistent and opinionated like her mommy.

Her vocabulary grows on a daily basis. Recently, CC and mommy were sitting at the desk in the office with their laptops. When Ms. Amy arrived, CC promptly told her "Ra Ra Work." On Thursday, CC grabbed her laptop and began to walk out of the office. She turned around and looked at mommy and said, "Ra Ra work."

CC LOVES the beach, the pool, the park (any swingset is referred to as a park), and the mall. And, she'll quickly tell you what she wants to do. She loves to color and she loves company when she colors. She'll say "momma color" or "daddy color" when she wants us to participate. She also is very particular about which chair we sit in: "momma blue" means I need to sit in the blue chair. CC also loves babies, books, bubbles, play doh, trains, and cars/trucks.

She doesn't mind sweeping the floor or mowing the lawn. Thanks to Ms. Amy, CC is a big helper when it comes to unloading/loading the dishwasher. She also likes to help set the dinner table and clean the table afterwards. She really likes to carry her own plate to the kitchen; miss self-sufficient. Her mommy is proud!

I'm sure there are others but you get a quick glimpse into the life of our little CC! She's a sweetie and we love her very much!

Check out the May 2009 Album to see some of the cool things CC's done this month.

Sclerotherapy Injection

Yes, you read right! Today, I had round 2 of varicose vein "work" done. If you don't remember, last August/September I had laser therapy done on both legs to take care of some UGLY and PAINFUL varicose veins. Well, that worked great but I still had some smaller vericose veins (and spider veins) that I wanted to have removed. So, today I had sclerotherapy injections done. Before the doctor started, he used a "vein light" to identify all of the veins in my leg that I wanted injected. WOW! It's amazing what you could see. Basically, for 20 minutes the doctor injects this medicine into as many veins as he can. When he was finished, we looked at my legs again and already I could see some of the veins were gone. It will take a little longer for the larger veins. I have to wear support hose for the next 5 days and right now, I'm in bed with my legs propped up so the blood can "drain." If you live in the area and are looking for a great doctor, I go to Dr. Noel Parent; he's GREAT!

Things that may you go hmmm....

There's a product for everything. Check out the Kush Support website. I wonder if it works?! :-)

Cinco De Derby Party

This afternoon, mommy and I attended my very first Cinco de Derby (combo Cinco de Mayo and Kentucky Derby party). In good Kentucky Derby tradition, mommy and I made hats. To celebrate Cinco de Mayo, we used sombrero's (thanks daddy for the idea) but decorated them with silk flowers and a butterfly on mommy's hat. We had a great time even though mommy's horse, Pioneerof the Nile, came in second.

Daddy's First Nascar Race

While mommy and I were at the Cinco de Derby party, daddy experienced his first Nascar race in Richmond, with the Rajin Cajun.

Margaritas-on-the-Beach

This afternoon was our first margaritas-on-the-beach of the season. As you can see from the pictures, we had a great time! A few of the regulars were missing and we really missed you!

Happy 8th Birthday, Cayleb!

I love you, Cayleb, and can't wait to see you in July!
P.S. For those of you who don't know Cayleb, he's in the green/blue striped shirt.

Updated Face Pictures

So, it's one week later and I'm amazed at how different I look. I added a "1 week later" picture to the before/after collage. Check out the difference! I also find it amazing at how fat my face got when I was on prednisone for allergies. UGH!

So is Momma a Cougar or is Daddy a Cinnabon or Both?

martinis for milk: Cougar Crossing

Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Cougar Crossing

*This post has been edited since its original posting.

Full disclosure: On my "work from home" day, the huz and I try to grab a coffee at the cafe where I sometimes go to work. We drop Nate at school, take the Goose along and try to have a bit of husband and wife time (while she tears the place apart and we futilely bribe her with a chocolate chip cookie). Then they walk home while I get some work done. It's a sweet ritual actually.

Some weeks it's packed in there. Others, not so much. Last week it was just us and a pair of moms avec enfants nearby. Lucy was, without a doubt, in their way as they were leaving. J wrangled her wriggly self out of the way and the mom was all, "That's OK. She's so cute..." and then the reckoning came.

"Oh, I recognize you from the drop-in," said the mom blushing. I subconsciously narrowed my eyes in her direction and she was quick to recover. "--Your daughter! I recognized your daughter... ahem... from the drop-in."

I am not the jealous type. I don't entertain the thought that my recently un-jobbed husband will end up in some kind of Little Children-esque neighbourhood tryst. (OK maybe I do sometimes, but then I kind of giggle. Because really? The huzzle? He generates enough belly button lint to knit a sweater. Only I could still find the sexy in that.) But I was totally offended by this woman trying to play me like I don't know what goes on at the drop-in centre.

Bitch, you think I don't know? You think I didn't spend the last five years checking out the hot dad ass at the music class, the gym class, the library? You think I don't have the lake to the Danforth covered? You think I haven't given a select few worth mentioning nicknames like Bon Jovi Dad and Chandler Dad? Shiiiit.

I have always said that my husband's target market was gay men and cougars. Those are the two groups who are wise enough to see his awesomeness. They have been around the block, battered around and know a nice guy when they see one.

This was not an issue in our twenties -- for me at least -- except when we'd go one cottage benders with our gay friends and some bold acquaintance would inevitably try to crawl into bed with J. Yes, with me in it. But the cougar drool would only appear if we were at say... a Huey Lewis concert at Casino Rama. (J LOVES Huey Lewis! His CHFI taste in music only makes him more appealing to cougars.)

But now that my peers (and myself included) are on the doorstep of cougardom (perhaps we're still pumas), I've been wondering whether women my age would start noticing my husband as a catch. Add the boredom of motherhood to the mix, a pinch of the huzzle's amazing way with kids and ding ding ding -- this cake is baked. The huz suddenly has the appeal of a Cinnabon with extra frosting on the side.

J, of course, eats this up. "Oh, we're on our way there right now!" Say what? After years of being "just a friend" he's loving the "hot dad" neighbourhood celebrity status. But drop-in mamas, watch your backs. This cougar's got sharp claws.

CC Updates

Just recently, CC started saying "Daddy, I love you." Granted, it's not super clear but you know what she's saying. Also, in the morning when she wakes up she tells me, "daddy work." Each day I'm amazed at the new words in her vocabulary. Right now, she only has 2 or 3 word sentences but she likes to talk.

CC loves to color. A couple of weeks ago, I purchased a table and 4 chairs at Big Lots. She loves it! It has become her area: to color, work with Play Doh, etc. The great thing about the table/chairs, it only costs $39.00 so who cares if she draws on it. This morning we were coloring (which has become a morning ritual) and I tried to sit in the blue chair. Oh no! She immediately said, "No, Ra Ra." I quickly moved to "my" chair, the red one.

She's a sweet girl and I feel very fortunate to have a job that is flexible enough to allow me to spend time with her. We love you, CC!

You're never too old...

to participate in the President's Challenge. Remember participating in this challenge when you were in school? I do. So, I thought what the heck. I created an account and will document my fitness activities to "win" an award. :-)

Great Website

CC loves this website, Starfall.

Lots of New Posts and Pictures

I finally took some time this morning to download/upload/post pictures. To see all of them, scroll down on the page. I must have the events on the correct day or it makes me crazy.

CC's mommy

A Weekend of Fun

Mommy and Daddy kept me very busy this weekend! On Saturday, after a tasty breakfast, we went to the Larchmont Spring Carnival. Here, I rode a pony, ran an obstacle course, met a boy and some of mommy's friends. I even got to get into a police car and fire truck! Cool.

After a busy morning, it was off to lunch at Cogan's in Ghent. Mommy and daddy like this place and were a little "out of the box" when they ordered the Pirate Pizza and not their normal 5 cheese. I liked the pizza but could have really used a beer to wash it all down.

This of course led me to our final Saturday event, the Norfolk Beer Festival. Did I have fun or what!? There were lots and lots of people,, it was hot, and I even cheered on the boy scouts. Daddy enjoyed the beer, even though he should have drank more. I even think mommy had fun; however, it was a little on the warm side and she looked uncomfortable. Did I mention that I did not have a nap at all on Saturday?

Sunday was more exctiment. We went to the Airshow at Langley Airforce Base. I saw some really neat hardware and watched some good looking pilots turn dinosour poop into noise! I love jet noise; however, the music to my ears is the rumble of a Wright Radial Whirlwind engine! Awesome. Airshows are fun and I got away with alot. Mommy bought me a 9 dollar Dove bar and I got it all over my face! I was looking cool until she had daddy wipe it off.

We left the show early to avoid the traffic and went to Sam's Club. I am glad Daddy was driving because it gave me the opportunity to take a nap; I needed one. It was hot and today and yesterday was busy.

We finally got home and Mommy suggested we should go to the pool. So we did! I like swimming. Well ok, it is bobbing around in the pool on daddy's arm. We had fun and mommy was able to get in a quick workout. She is looking fine! She tells me behind daddy's back that she is getting into shape for my wedding. The whole mother-of-the-bride thing, I guess.

Daddy fixed some brats and Mommy some beans for dinner, so tonight will be fun. Please pull my finger?! We played on the hammock in the back yard before bathtime and bed time. I had a great day with my parents. They are alot of fun!

I am sure Mommy will have some pix here shortly so check back soon. I want everyone to check out my icecream face!!

Beerfest 2009

Airpower Over HR 2009

Exercising with Mommy

Today after mommy's walk/jog/run, I worked out with her on our deck. As you can see, I've got the form down quite well.

A Sunday morning with daddy....

and a good book. Auntie Anne gave me the book, Princess Baby, and I LOVE IT! This morning when I woke up, I hung out with mommy and daddy bed. At my request, daddy read the book to me several times. Isn't he great?

Spring Carnival Pictures

My very first (and second) pony ride.

Ms. Amy's Family

This past weekend, Ms. Amy's mother-in-law, Mrs. Ruth Diehl Rhodes, passed away. We want you to know that your family is in our thoughts and prayers.

I'm Falling Apart

It's hell getting old. A couple of weeks ago I went to the dermatologist about a rash that I'd had on my hands for 4-5 weeks. The first trip resulted in a cortisone shot that did nothing but keep me awake for 2 days. The second trip a week later, resulted in 20 days of prednisone and some really expensive hand foam. A couple of days into the prednisone and the rash was gone. By the way, the dermatologist said the rash was allergy related (not contact allergens but inhaled allergens). Well, here it is 4 days left on the prednisone and the rash is back. AARGH!

Also, last Friday I started having some eye troubles and just assumed that it was a side-effect of the prednisone. Well, it continued to get worse this week. So, yesterday afternoon I went to the urgent care at my doctor's office. What is it? I have not one, but two pink eyes! I don't recall ever having pink eye as a kid. Oh well! Now, I'm on an eye antibiotic. Oh yeah! The doctor said that the prednisone has pretty much killed my immune system so I'm susceptible to all kinds of good things. UGH!

Vent over...

PS If you look at my eyes in the before/after pictures, you'll see the pink eye! GROSS!!

I love our deck...

Notice that the baby has her own chair and blanket.

CC and Chocolate

CC LOVES chocolate. For Easter, her daddy bought a big bag of chocolate from Sam's Club. I hid (or thought I'd hid) the bag of chocolate goodies in the closet. Well, this morning, I watched CC go to the closet, open the door, take a piece of chocolate (Rolo), unwrap it, and eat it. Now, she has chocolate on her face. Oh wait! She got a wipe out of the dispenser and is washing her face. That's my girl!

I'm a princess....

just check out my crown.

Before and After Pictures

This morning I had a laser skin rejuvenation treatment. WOW! What a huge difference in just a few hours. The treatment itself lasted about 20-30 minutes and the pulse of light felt like someone was snapping a rubber band on my face. Some areas were more sensitive than others but I survived. Okay, I took a Darvocet, just in case. Of course, I wanted to track the before and after so here are some pictures. All the "brown spots" will eventually "flake off" to leave a clear complexion; several days to a week. All of the redness in the "1 hour later" pictures represents the sun damage on my skin. The white areas (which are very few) represent the skin without sun damage. Granted, they aren't flattering pictures of me, but I don't care. I will be ready for my 20 year high school reunion this summer. :-)




If you really want to see a close up, click on the picture. I have no shame!

CC Says Her Name

This afternoon while sitting on the backporch coloring and writing with CC, she told us her first and last name.  If you don't know, she refers to herself as RaRa.  So, she said RaRa D. (fill in the last name).  It's so cute the way she says it!

Napping with Mommy

Mommy and Me

Rarely, do I ever get pictures taken with my mommy since she's always the one taking the pictures. Here are a couple of random shots taken by mommy (self-portraits) and daddy.

Silvia's First Birthday

Today, we celebrated Silvia's first birthday. As always, we had a GREAT time! Enjoy the pictures.

Mowing the Lawn

Daddy and I decided that the lawn needed to be mowed. So, daddy got his lawn mower and I got mine. We make a nice team!

I'm Cool

Artist in training?

I turn my back for 5 seconds and next thing I know, CC is drawing a lovely picture on the wall with a yellow crayon. I sure am glad we have extra paint.

Crackerz is Training for an 8k Mud Run

Whose idea was it anyways? For those of you who know me, I DON'T run unless someone really scary is chasing me. And even then, I'd think about fighting before running.

Anyways, while at a birthday party on Saturday, the girls started talking about the local "mud run" that takes place in August. So, we decided to put together a team, "The Dirty Divas." I guess a little motivation is what I needed to get me to exercise. We'll see how long it lasts. One thing about me, I love competition. I hope this is all the motivation I need. To help our team track our training progress (weight loss, too), I created a wiki. If you're interested, go to The Dirty Diva's Wiki. Yes, I put my measurements on my training page, but who cares! See, even more motivation to make those numbers go DOWN!

Do you like our team logo? Pretty sweet, isn't it?

New Kid on the Block

Conrgats to my cousin in Texas.  He and his wife are the proud parents of baby #2, A girl named Isabella.  Another Issi for the family.  Awesome!!  Welcome to planet earth Isabella!

CC Pooped in the Potty

This morning, CC took her first poop in the potty! Yeah!

Ben and CC

Happy Easter!

The weatherman got it all wrong today: I didn't see 50 and raining. Instead, we had a beautiful day and spent Easter with some great friends.

As you can see from the many pictures, we enjoyed the good food and great company; and, the kids enjoyed the Easter egg hunt, bubbles, dirt, trampoline, etc. To see the pictures taken by Tony, go here.

A couple of our "regulars" weren't here today and we missed you: Chris, Larry and Skylar; Auntie Anne; Mindy and Nate; and Bonnie, Todd and Bella.



Happy Easter!