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There are days I wouldn't mind doing over, my high school graduation, my wedding day, the day I found out I was pregnant and despite the fact that Eleanor's birth didn't go the way I had hoped I'd redo that day if it

 meant lots of those sweet brand new baby snuggles. 

Yesterday was not one of those days (although I did put Wednesday socks on her today so maybe 

subconsciously....?)

Eleanor woke up about 1:30 am. I nursed her and she went back to bed. At 4 am I 
was woken by a strong storm. That thunder was so loud it was shaking the windows. It lasted until about 5 - or at least the worst of it. I could not sleep. I wasn't scared (although tornadoes

 frighten me); it was just that loud.I finally drifted off to the sound of distant thunder only to be woken again 

by Eleanor. I fed her, got her back to sleep and round 2 of the storms came through. So by this point it's  

pushing 6 am. I think I finally fell asleep only to have Rob came in a little after 7 (sleeping in the other room), to get clothes and I said goodbye, gave him a kiss and 

was out before he even got in the shower. 

Eleanor woke at 8.  It was still storming.  It down poured and I was checking the radar because I needed to go get a gift for my moms birthday tomorrow. I thought I'd be good. She took her usually short morning nap and I tried to eat while she played on the living room floor but she was crawling all over me trying to get my

 salad so I shared (and so that begins) and then we left. 

We got to the first store-quick stop and when we left it was sprinkling, got to Target and rushed through.  At checkout the sky was very dark  (it was about 1:30). It was starting to rain a little heavier when we ran to

 the car.

Now my car key fob doesn't work which means I have to manual unlock the car.  Not a big deal except my car alarm goes off when I do this. every. single. time.  The only way to stop it is to start the car. So I do that with Eleanor on my lap and get back out of the car and into the back seat to buckle her into her seat.  And 

by the time I'm done it is a downpour and I have to get out to get back into the front seat.  I'm soaked.

I couldn't see more than 20 feet in front of me and my wipers are blasting. Thankfully Eleanor wasn't scared and just watched it.   We get home and it's starting to slow down and I was however also thankful for the

 garage.

She of course fell asleep just before getting home.  I figured I'd get her out, nurse her and she would fall back asleep.  But that didn't happen.  I tried rocking with her, walking/pacing/swaying with her.  I tried letting her cry it out and still wide awake.  At this point she's slept maybe 45 minutes since waking.

The rain has stopped so I put her in the stroller because that usually works.  I reclined it so she would be

 more likely to sleep but still nothing. 

Finally at 4:45 I decided we need to take a drive as a last ditch resort.  But first I need to blow out the 

candle in the bathroom.  I blow a little to hard and somehow manage to get hot wax in my hair and the 

corner of my eye - but how it missed my actually eye I have no clue. I was okay luckily.

So we get into the car and 1/2 mile later little miss is out.  I drive around for another 15 minutes then sit in the car for 30 before bringing her in.  It's getting to the point where I'm worried she'll be up super late at this 

point so while I bring her in the carseat sleeping, and I don't make any more noise than normal, I'm also not 

quiet.

While I'm sitting in the garage Rob calls and says he is working late. Yippee!!

So he finally gets home, eats (dinner was at least done in the crockpot) and I go hide in my room with a 

margarita for half an hour.  Then I give her a bath with lots of bubbles thinking she might like that.  When she tried to eat her bubble covered bath toys I realized that wasn't such a great idea.

But after that I nursed her and she went to bed pretty well.

I stayed up for a little but getting a few things done, and about the time I'm getting to head to bed, she wakes back up.  I look at Rob but he is so tired he can't keep his eyes open (his words'; frankly I wanted to smack him...just kidding...and make him get her- that is true.  I'm tired too.)

Oh and she got tooth number two yesterday so add to it teething pain and 

crankiness

So by the time I finally get into bed its 11:30 and my day is over.

Eleanor decided to pull another wide awake in the middle of the night last night, but other than being 

exhausted the day has been better.  
11:30 to bed

Monday Quiz About Me 8/26

1. Yesterday (August 25th) was Kiss and Make Up Day... when was the last time you had to kiss and make up?

I don't know.  I'm kind of a hormonal pregnant woman sometimes and even though I think it's a totally acceptable excuse I do feel a little bad sometimes and apologize to Rob for it. 

2. Are you doing anything special for Labour Day weekend?

We might go to Rob's grandparents; they live on a lake about 30 minutes away.  Really I don't feel like doing much or going far away. 

3. If you could go back to school, what would you major in?

I really don't know.  I have an associates in child development, and a bachelors in family studies. I initially started going for business.  Funny thing is that while I hate math I actually enjoyed the few accounting classes I took in high school and college.  So maybe something to do with that?

4. How much rain did you have this summer?
We had a few weeks of constant rain it seemed like, but for the most part not a ton.  More than last summer though.  It was so dry last summer.

Monday Quiz #MQAM

1. July is National Ice Cream month - are you celebrating?

I wish I could.  I did have yummy s'mores ice cream recently, but even a small come made me sick afterwards.  It's this pregnancy aversion thing.  I don't want to have an aversion though.  I did eat a lot of ice cream back in May when we had some from Rob's birthday.  I put marshmallows  chocolate syrup, cherries, whip cream, and nuts in my ice cream so I guess I celebrated early! 

2. What is your favorite rainy day activity?

Sitting on the couch under a blanket with a book or playing on the ipad

3. What is the one book from High School that you remember reading most?  Why?

The Scarlet Letter.  10th Grade (which was 13 years ago. Oh boy!).  I only remember this because my teacher at the time used the phrase 'Hester the molester' and was a creepy old man.  Lots of people loved him, but I was never a huge fan of his.  Sorry if any of my high school friends were. 

4. Have you ever visited Charleston, SC?

Nope

Weekly Wrap up

1) I started this week of with a win.  I won a set of daddy scrubs.  I'm not sure if Rob will actually wear them or not; I think he will wear the pants at least though.   I've been seeing them on various blogs for a while and thought they were kind of fun.

2) One of my goals for July is to get the garage cleaned out enough to fit both cars in there.  We worked on it on Sunday and  made some progress, but there are a few big items that we need to do something about.  Rob has a snowmobile that he hasn't used in like 5 years.  I think it might still need to be fixed or something.  I don't really care if he keeps it or sells it.  I just want to park and not have to clean off my car in the winter.  In the summer it doesn't matter, but I let Rob park in it more because he has to leave for work earlier than I leave.

3) I also won a $25 gift card from crowdtap, a glow bug diaper & some sunscreen this week.

4) My grandma's husband is not doing very well at all.  He's home on hospice.  Even though they were married before my parents and he was the only grandpa I had on that side (my mom's dad died when she was a teenage), I never refer to him as grandpa.  Always by his first name.  And honestly I don't know if all that well.  He has always had health issues and as a result tends to stay home a lot.  But he's a really nice guy and it makes me really sad for my grandma.

5) And speaking of grandma's, my dad's mom isn't doing so well either.  She is almost 93 and has been on the decline recently.  She's can no longer take care of herself and is losing her memory.  Last month she asked me who my parent's were.  It was the first time I had an experience like that with her and it mad me feel sad.  This is the grandma that we got Eleanor's name from.

6) I made s'mores cookies this week.  Um... they were amazing!  I know the picture doesn't look pretty, but they tasted great.  They were so easy to make.  Take a graham cracker half, add the chocolate and marshmallow (I used mini because that is what I had), just like you would a regular s'more and top with chocolate chip cookie dough.  I bought the pre-made stuff and baked according to the directions on the package.  They were a hit.

7)  We spent the fourth at Rob's grandparent's cottage.  It was a quiet year up there.  Usually there is a lot more people hanging around.  We went into the local town and visited the carnival and got elephant ears, and played bingo (yes we are lame, but it's cheap entertainment).   Then we went back to the cottage and sat out on the pontoon and watched the fireworks from town.  For a really small town they do a great job with them. 

Also 3 years ago Rob proposed on that boat just as the fireworks were starting.  I wrote about it yesterday and you can read about it here. 

8) Later we (or me, Rob already left) are going over to my sisters in laws and spending the afternoon there.  My brother in law bought a ton of fireworks and Rob is going to help him light them off.  

9) I got a hair cut this week.  It hasn't been cut since just before Easter and it needed it.  I had my sister's sister in law do it (also Rob's boss's wife; the ones we went to dinner with last weekend).  It's shorter than it's been in a really long time and it is layered now.  But my one requirement was being able to pull it back in a pony tail so I'm happy.

9) While I was there it started to rain unexpectedly.  My windows were down.  My seat was soaked.  It was a really wet ride home.  In jean shorts.  I felt like I peed myself.  

Enjoy the rest of the holiday weekend!

Weekly Update 4.19.13 (lots of pictures)

1) Our nephew was born on Monday. Welcome to the world baby Gabe! I loved those newborn baby snuggles.  Now we have 2 nieces and 2 nephews.  Our baby will be the tie-breaker on both sides. 

2) Monday was also our anniversary.  We were a little busy with work, visiting the hospital and then going out to dinner that it was after 9 before we got home and I just forgot about it, so we actually took the picture on Tuesday.  I'm a little weird about not doing it on the exact day, but it's silly.  It's not like one day makes that much of a difference. 

3) I figured out how to add a link to my blog's facebook, twitter and my pinterest page using an icon.  I figured out how to do it before but I wanted to use the icon.  It took me a while to find html code to do it, because I have no clue how to write my own code, but then it was fairly easy.  I couldn't find a smaller image for pinterest though.  Visit them and like or follow them, and if you could click the 'we're on the fence button' I would appreciate it. If not I'll still like you.

4) With all the bad stuff that's been happening this week, the Boston marathon bombings, the explosion at a plant in Texas (although I think that was accidental), I am more thankful than ever for knowing that when I die I am going to Heaven.  Jesus saved me and I can have hope.
I don't want to have to suffer, who really does, but I know that in the end it will all be okay.  Not everyone can say that, and that makes me so sad.
I am reminded though in the stories I read about the good people that exist; the people who ran toward danger instead of away from it; the people who worked night and day to save and protect people.  I am  going to remind myself of that because I need something positive.

5) In weather related news, we've had rain here almost every, if not every day for the last several weeks.  As a result flood levels are high.  Like really high.  Higher than I can remember them every being and high enough that if it rains today there will be records set.  Here are some pictures (I didn't take most these; found them on local news sites and facebook)

Summer 2008; Traveling Vietnam Wall; I did take this one

April 2013

Downtown Grand Rapids

April 2008; Taken by me

April 2013

6) This week was kind of a roller coaster week with the job.   I posted last week about how it was ending.  Then Monday there was a chance it could still work out.  Yesterday I found out it won't.  I understand budgets and not being able to pay me what I need.  I'm just not willing to work 9 days a month, some 8 hour, some 5 hours, starting at 6am until 3pm (on the 8 hour days).  It winds up being 5-8 dollars an hour.  I know I should have taken it because it's money, and I know Rob was annoyed that I asked for $500 instead.  My time is still valuable though, and I know what I am worth.  I'm hopeful I can find something.  It almost might be easier since with that job my scheduled would have varied so much (like different days every week).  I have no hard feelings that it won't work out.  I wish it could have, but budgets stink.

7) I won a cloth diaper and inserts from Imagine diapers and a certificate to Chelory this week.  Chelory has a hunting camo diaper which I probably am getting.  It is a one size which means it won't work in the newborn stage (baby needs to be 12lbs I think).  Rob asked me last night if I could find a newborn camo print and I am having a hard time.  I want to so badly since it's the first time he's asked for something like that.  I can find a few one-size, but no newborn.  It has to be hunting camo, not military camo. If you have seen one let me know please.
I have time, but it would be so perfect considering I am due on October 1st, which is opening day of bow season.  I did tell Rob that he could go out hunting if the baby hasn't come yet, as long as he doesn't go more than 30 minutes away and keeps his phone on him at ALL times.   I also told him that he won't be going up to deer camp with my dad and brother this year for opening gun day (November 15), because that would be an overnight trip.  I'm not sure I want to be overnight alone with a tiny baby.

8) And I've been thinking about birth announcements this week.  We ordered all our wedding stuff from vistaprint and I was really happy with them and we got a lot of free stuff as well.  One of the free things we got were photo magnets and I put an engagement picture on them and shared them with family.
Anyway so I was going to order the announcements from vista print because they are cheaper than shutterfly (where I would have otherwise). Then my smart self thinks to do magnet announcements and I can get them in a post card size and they are cheaper still than shutterfly.
Then yesterday I see a groupon for vistaprint.  $17 for $70 worth of stuff.  So I bought it.  It expired October 15.  I think I should be safe with that.  So I can get at least 50 announcements plus note cards for under $20.  Awesome!

9)  This is my latest craft project.  I like to start them and not finish them.  This is made from felt.  The little bucket stores the pieces, and is sewn on with embroidery thread.  I sewed it by hand because I didn't know if I had a proper needle for my sewing machine.  The potato head form is glued with felt glue to the sheet.  I just need velcro for the pieces. I'm proud of it so far.  It's the start of my quiet book.

10) Speaking of contests I am participating in my first blogger giveaway (see right sidebar).  They are free to participate in and I think it's cool too. I love sweeping so I love helping others find them as well as promoting them. 

Weekly Wrap Up 4.12.13

1) Here is my duh moment of the week.  Me: Why is the tv so quiet?  Rob: It's on mute. 

2) I haven't won anything in a few weeks. I got the last prize that I won this week and it is adorable.

It is a onesie from Kinderstuff and is made with organic cotton and it is so soft.  I don't know if baby is a boy or a girl yet (just a few more weeks), but I went with this because while it might be more boyish, I think a baby girl could still rock it.  If I change my mind I always have a baby nephew coming who probably doesn't really need clothes, but would look adorable in this.





3) I also won this (Premama Prenatal Vitamin Powdered Supplement Mix, 30 On-The-Go Servings) a while back, and was not impressed. I mixed both packets with 16oz of water and it was not flavorless at all.  It tasted awful.  Maybe if I did one packet at a time in with juice or soda it would be okay. I want to give it one more shot though. I was a little hesitant at first because the box wasn't sealed, the flap was just tucked in, but the blogger I won it from said the same thing happened to hers. Oh, and there was only 29 instead of 30 (yes I counted), but it was free so I just let it go.

4)  We celebrated Rob's mom's birthday on Sunday with lunch at Outback.  I was a little nervous I wouldn't find anything because of my meat aversion, which is mostly me eating it, but sometimes the sight of it grosses me out a little.  I had a baked potato and a salad and that was actually sufficient for me.  I'm really happy to have in-laws that I love and get along with.  I hear horror stories about in-laws, and I have never had an issue.  They are always helpful and supportive to us.

5) The weather here has been cold and rainy all week.  I don't hate the rain, but the cold plus the rain together is awful.  All I want to do is stay inside under a blanket.  I had to run errands Wednesday and I wore my rain boots   Bad idea.  I went to 7 stores and walking around in them for hours was not a smart choice. My feet were in agony.   I didn't realize it would be a problem, but I won't make that mistake again.  The rain is likely to continue for another week or so.  Come back sun!

6) I made fajitas this week for Rob.  I baked them in the oven and Rob said the taste wasn't any different, but I think they were easier.  I still had to do all the same prep-work, but then I didn't have to constantly monitor the pan.

7) I'm attempting to make cloth wipes using old pajamas.  I cut them up but I'm not very good at that and the sizes are all different.  I am using 3 layers of fabric.  My plan is to sew
them together.  I started to and the needle kept coming un-threaded and then I finally got into the groove and the bobbin ran out of thread.  I took it as a sign to stop for the day.

8) Actually I did win 2 things yesterday (I add to the post throughout the week so when I wrote #1 I hadn't yet).  I won a bottle of contact solution in an instant win.  I don't normally enter those, but it had a really high amount of winners.  I also won a paint color deck, which I don't really know what that means, but I'm guessing it probably wasn't the top prize in the contest.
I have a list of everything I've won in a tab at the top of the page for those who have been asking.  I don't keep everything.  I've kept most of the baby/kid stuff, but a lot of the other things I have given as gifts.

If you made it to the end and want to do me a favor can you click on the vote for me button on the right sidebar.  I'd appreciate it. Thanks!  You don't have to sign up for anything and it is seriously one click.