Wordless Wednesday

Reflections

Several of the blogs I read will occasionally put out posts in lists and/or bullet points.  I've had a lot of things swirling in my head lately and I thought I might give a post like this a try.  Please enjoy this random unrelated list of things that have popped into my head over the past few days!!

*I got fresh flowers while I was at the grocery store this week.  I honestly cannot say enough about how much I love the feel/look of a freshly cleaned house capped off with the beauty of a few fresh cut flowers!  I got sunflowers for the kitchen...and tulips for the bathroom.  They are spectacular :)

*The terrible twos have taken residence at our house.  They claim his name is Owen.  But I swear I don't recognize him.  Sometimes...I'm not sure what takes over...but my little boy disappears for awhile.  I know I didn't picture this side of him when he was a baby.  But I know I don't care for his tendency to hit and kick when he is angry!

* Speaking of this subject...it's about as much fun as chinese water torture trying to get him into his car seat right now.  Even if we're going somewhere just for him.  He doesn't get it.  The car seat is the mortal enemy.  He fights to the bitter end.

* On that note, I'm still grappling with how to process time spent with my precious little boy. It doesn't make sense to me that he can in the same day (even same five minute span) make me ready to spit fire, but then turn around and melt my heart. Emotional roller coaster anyone???

*On a happier note, we had one of those weather days roll around that I just love!  I had windows open to air out the house all day.  And as the afternoon came to a close, dark clouds rolled in and thunder began to peal across the sky.  I love listening to the gentle thunderstorms that spring and summer bring...especially when it's finally warm enough to open a couple windows and listen to it come down!

*My hubby is studying for a test that will grant him his Professional Engineers License. It's an 8 hour test that says you have the knowledge you need to have the final say on any projects that you design...well that's the best explanation I can give you.  He might tell you something a bit more technical.  When he passes this test he will be able to put a little PE next to his name.  It also signifies a major milestone for his career. I'm proud of how hard he works everyday.  And watching him study, while some nights drives me crazy because I miss him, makes me him love him more than I already do.  Hang in there babe.  You're gonna get there!!

*We recently have discovered that Owen has a love of all things ocean.  He loves the movie Free Willy. He loves the whale bath toy we have since named Willy.  He even just plain loves water.  He has started pulling his stool for brushing teeth over to the bathroom sink 2 times a day to wash his hands and play in the water.  Too cute!  But anyway, we purchased the Disney's Oceans on Blu Ray this week...and Owen was absolutely captivated.  If you have a little one who enjoys anything ocean...this film is a great choice.  It gives us a great chance to talk with Owen about different creatures like whales, fish, dolphins, crabs and even birds.  We give it a thumbs up!

*Pregnancy at this stage of the game has kind of set me back.  I was going along feeling wonderful...but ever since last weekend I've been struggling.  My allergies have flared up.  My back is achy at the end of the day.  And I'm just flat out exhausted.  Prayers for my family as we cope with my lack of energy and lack of patience with this new development would be great!

*Speaking of back aches, I'm hitting the stage of the game where normal things like sitting down in the tub, running the vacuum cleaner and picking up Owen to get him in his car seat are getting difficult. And if I do push it, I end up with a back ache! It seems early for this, but I guess I am nearly half way there.  Kinda crazy when I think about it that way!

*And speaking of being half way there...OMG.  We have lots to do!  I hope April 7 (the weekend of Jer's test) gets here soon...so we can begin figuring out what we need and how best to prepare for a house with two little ones to care for!

 *This is a reminder to myself to take a look at my goals.  I know I am doing well with my goal to read more...but some of my other ones have fallen by the way side.  I thought I made some great goals worth achieving...so I need to get my bootay in gear and get on it!!

Okay...I think that's all.  Thanks for reading :)

Belly Shot - 17 Weeks

So here’s a shot of my belly at 17 weeks.  Please please don’t look too hard…this was taken on a Sunday…b/c Sunday’s are my week marker.  But I was sans makeup and sans a decent hairdo.  But when I thought about gussying up just for a photo of my belly…I couldn’t muster the energy!  So this is NOT pretty…but it’s me.  For better or worse!  Thank God Jer doesn’t mind the worse!

A book signing, a shopping trip and a 4 hour wait...

This Saturday, I experienced several firsts!  


Steff and I ventured to book signing of one of her and my favorite bloggers, and now author of an awesome love story. We also have her cookbook...which I have mentioned here. Needless to say I LOVE this woman!!

I honestly can't say when else in my life I've had that much fun waiting 4 and a half hours for something. But it was a blast. 


We arrived at St. Louis County Library at 5pm.  A whole hour before the signing began. Already, the sidewalk was lined with people.  We decided to take ourselves to find a restroom and wait out the line indoors instead of out.


Directly across the street from the library was the Plaza Frontenac. I realize that admitting it was my first trip to this place ever in my life, may just mean I live under a rock.  Regardless, it was warm and delightful browsing the stores and chatting with my friend!!


Around 5:45 we departed the mall and decided to brave the craziness once again.  To our surprise the line wasn't there at all.  Everyone, we discovered, had gone inside to receive a ticket and be assigned a group number.  Hmmm.  


This was another first for me.  My first book signing of someone with a best selling cook-book, award winning blog and best selling first-time novel.  The process of group numbers and tickets was totally new.


Anyway, we were assigned to group 12 and sat down just as Pioneer Woman got up on stage to joke about how she was the opposite of a public speaker because she was a blogger.  She also joked about sweating, a problem she mentions in her novel a few times.  She is extremely humble and does not give herself quite enough credit I don't think!  


Shortly after 6 they began sending the groups in to get their books signed. This is where we found out we were group 12 of 13.  Nearly dead last.  It was gonna be a long night!!


But a surprise visit from PW's famed Marbolo Man certainly did help pass the time a bit. He walked right out to our spot in the crowd and said, "How ya'll doin'?"  He was making small talk and all I could think about were the things I knew about him and the way his wife swooned over him.  I didn't even know what to say!  Shortly after some small talk, a few ladies began asking for photos and autographs from him.  DUH.  I told you I'd never done this before!!  Why didn't we think of that?  Soon, his line of admirers was a mile long!  But we did hop in line to get our own autographs from him.  I'm so glad we did :) 

But like I said, I've never in my life had so much fun waiting 4 hours for something.10:30 rolled around, they called group 12 and we got in line!  It was a great experience...and I know I'll never forget it.  

We had a pretty good laugh as we left the library too.  We got a shot of Marlboro Man snoozing on the seats in the study area!

By 11:30 I was dropping Steff at her door.  We were weary and wiped out from a crazy afternoon together.  But that just means we had fun!!  What a great girls night out!!!

Thankful Thursday on a Friday

Wonderful xray techs at the Lab where Owen got his chest xray. 

Antibiotics and figuring out why Owen was running a pretty good fever for 4 days in a row.

A very patient baby boy who didn’t understand a thing about what was going on…but just clung on my shoulder as the afternoon wore on…drank his chocolate milk and played with his Power  Ranger figurines.  He was such a good boy for me.

Watching lots and lots of movies with Owen over the weekend.

How absolutely sweet Owen can be…even when he’s sick. He melted my heart over and over again. There is nothing like this.

Spending Saturday afternoon with my best friend.

Cruising Plaza Frontenac for the first time in my life…and falling love with Pottery Barn (thank you Steff for the new obsession) and William Sonoma!

Meeting Ree Drummond and Marlboro Man…getting pictures and autographs with them both!!

Late Night Jack in the Box…it hits the pregnant girl’s craving spot no problem!

Snuggling on the couch with Jer and fallng asleep…two nights in a row.

A lazy Sunday drive up the River Road

A full fridge of groceries and snacks to keep us packing lunches and eating at home more!

Having Purcey return home after a 3 week run in the wild. It took us all afternoon to get her back in the house…but now that she’s home…she’s certainly happy!!

$5 foot longs at Subway

That Wal-Mart put up a store…less than 2 minutes from the house…it’s good…and well…it’s bad too.

Getting caught up on sleep – even though…for some reason I’m still tired.

Delicious coffee stops in the morning with my hubby.

Dinner, laughter and lots of babies at our InterACT gathering this week

Catching up on American Idol with Jer

Starting to plan Owen’s birthday party

A happy, healthy toddler who has a 110% recovery from what was ailing him...now his main goal in life to wear his Momma and Dadda out as much as he possibly can!

Looking forward to a wonderful weekend relax, eating dinner with friends and spending some time as a family!

Pneumonia, Wall Flower Plug-ins, a Missing Cat and this Crazy Thing I Call My Life...

I realize I just need to face it.  My life…it’s been known to be chaotic.  And that’s putting it mildly!  Most days go by and get a little crazy here and there.  However sometimes, a tornado is unleashed. It’s like a freight train with no brakes.  The craziness just piles up!  

Last week, on top of a crazy work week, we dealt with a child who was sick.  By Friday it was clear that he wasn’t getting better…so to the doctor we went.  2 hours and one chest x-ray later…we were home with medicine for the start of pneumonia.  He was such a good boy at his x-ray, he left with this sticker.  My little hero :)

We spent the better part of the weekend trying to keep him relaxed as possible!  

***I should make mention that my sick child…the one with fever and the start of pneumonia?  He ran off from me while I handed a card to the pharmacists regarding insurance and such.  He was half way down the dog food aisle before I caught his chubby little arm.  And guess what?  He was cracking up laughing!  Go figure.  He also made it a point to say Hi to every Schnucks patron we passed on our short trip around the grocery store after leaving the pharmacy.  Oh to have the energy and will power of a toddler***

Anyway, Saturday came, the fever was gone…but the nose was still going crazy.  I got a nice afternoon break with my bestie while we took in a book signing over in the STL (more on that soon) and the boys held down the fort with a movie marathon.  

By Sunday, we were all stir crazy…Owen was a maniac because he was feeling better. Every toy and book was boring and was tossed on the floor. So we took a car ride to entertain us all. It was peaceful and long. When we got home…I took a nap!  I thought life was settling down from the worries of him being sick…I even remember thinking to myself on Sunday…I was ready for the work week.  The weekend had been good…but routine would return on Monday and that was good.  

That’s when we got a knock on our door.  4pm Sunday afternoon.

It was our neighbor Joyce.

She found our cat, our cat that went missing 3 weeks ago last Friday.  Our cat that not once since the day we rescued her from our front yard and decided to give her a home, has ever stepped back outside. I didn’t ever post anything about this because well…I was in denial that she was missing. Amazing as it is, 3 weeks later she shows up under our neighbor’s shed.  She was about half her weight…but otherwise healthy. I am SO happy to have her home!  

Happy to have her home, but when we found her I had to go out and repurchase the things we owned for her oh like a litter box, cat food. You know?  The essentials! Rack up two trips to Wal-Mart to my Sunday accomplishments!  It also took us 4 hours to coax her out from under the shed.  Mama Mia. My back was killing me and I’ve had a scratchy throat since spending the afternoon on the damp, cold ground calling Kitty Kitty.  

With luck and patience though…we got her inside, got her to eat, made her comfy in the breezeway (we separated her just to be safe until she saw the vet) and in no time all was well!  I slept like a baby that night b/c it was storming outside and I no longer was wondering where she was.  Our dog was plastered to my hip because of the thunder…Owen and Jer were snoozing peacefully and Purcey was warm and safe in our breezeway, curled up in my basket of scarves.  I was exhausted and content.  Tomorrow wouldn’t be crazy.  Tomorrow would be great!  A new week. A fresh start.

And then it was Monday. But the craziness did not cease!

Monday afternoon I took Purcey to the vet and got the all clear for her to rejoin our family in the main parts of the house again. So I promptly got her home safe and sound.  I was just settling in at home for the evening when I looked out my breezeway door to find the dog standing there waiting to be let in.  She had jumped her fence and apparently decided she wanted to come in that way!! Her battery in her collar...the one that keeps her in the fenced in part of our yard...was apparently dead. After a search of the junk drawer I swore we’d never have…I located a replacement battery for her collar.  15 minutes later (and let’s be honest a few curse words later too) Deci was happily back out in the yard…safe from taking herself on a jaunt through the woods across the street. 

Purcey safe. Deci safe.  Owen maintained.  Ok….now to make dinner.

The chaos was not meant to slow down this day…b/c it wasn’t 30 minutes after this that Owen came wandering up to me.  He smelled. And not bad…but good. I told him…you smell good!  

Then the thought slowly crept into my mind…what on earth?  My lotion?  Our Febreeze in the bathroom??  I frantically smelled him again. Praying the smell would become familiar. My mind failed to recall the scent.  After a quick search of where he’d been playing I spotted it.  My Bath and Body Works Wall Flower.  On its side.  Upon inspection I did not see any oil really missing from the glass bulb.  Just oil on the outside.  I washed his hands, face and scrubbed his mouth with a wash cloth.  I also changed his shirt.  Freaking out…I called Jer to see if I should call the doctor…or poison control.  We decided on poison control…who advise juice and to keep an eye on him. He went straight into the bathtub once I called.  They said he’d be ok if he didn’t actually drink the oil.  

Other than the highly potent scent of cherry blossom…his bath time was relatively normal.  He likes to splash and goof around. This is usually a lot of fun…and this time was no different…except he unloaded all his pent up energy from being cooped up.  And expended them on several splashes that doused my hair and shirt and arms and face.  Biggest splashes on record for him.  I think we had the Tidal Wave in our bathtub. But....he did not smell like Japanese Cherry Blossom any longer!

Once he was dry and cleaned up, he thought it’d be fun to turn the Play Station on and off 100 times.  When I told him no about that…he picked up and promptly threw down one of our absorbable coaster stones.  It broke in half and I had to clean up the pieces.  

Let me just say…some days…bed time is a blessed time.  Luckily Dadda got home in time to rescue me from the craziness so I could escape to a bubble bath and then the welcoming sight of my down comforter.

Hallelujah…it was nearly Tuesday.  The craziness just couldn’t continue on this way right??

Lucky for me…Tuesday was a very normal day in Casa De Linley.  Sing praises!

Now you know why, Jer and I have a tendency to sign Anniversary cards and notes to each other that we love our crazy life and would never change it.  I’m just glad I have a partner who is willing to dig in and loves it as much as I do…even when the going gets…crazy!!!

Here’s to crazy days that make the peaceful ones seem boring and uneventful…but oh so lovely!!

Just finished up a PW Romance…

So far I’d say I’m doing pretty great with my goal to read more because I have three….count them…three book reviews coming your way!! 

This however, is not one of those book reviews. Those are harder to write than I thought! This is simply a status on my reading list/goal and to state that I just finished Pioneer Woman’s Love Story Novel called Black Heels to Tractor Wheels. I cannot say enough how much I loved it!!  And I had the awesome added bonus of sharing thoughts with Steff since she was also reading it!  We were both totally psyched because Ree Drummond (a.k.a. Pioneer Woman) came to St. Louis this past Saturday, February 26^th to do a book signing.  We couldn’t wait to meet her. She even brought Marlboro Man along with her! More on that experience soon!! 

If you haven’t picked up a copy of this book…and are a sucker for romance…GO BUY IT NOW!!!

Oh and my reading list!  Because that’s what this was about in the first place right?!?  Looks like I’m going to need to make a trip to Borders to do a little book shopping b/c my list is getting small!  

Safe Haven – Nicholas Sparks

Lucky One – Nicholas Sparks

Black Heels to Tractor Wheels – Ree Drummond 

Freedom – Jonathon Frazen

Anna Karenina – Leo Tolstoy