Adios August

I've been in total denial that summer is ending.  I don't believe in the ever-so-popular bucket lists, but we did a lot of fun things this summer with the kids.  Zoo trips, Farmer's Market, Library visits, Splash Pads, play dates, playing outside (even though we are in desperate need of a safe backyard that doesn't back up to one of the busiest streets in our town), Park trips, lots of swinging, picnics with PB&J in the sun, and lazy days spent at home.  We did whatever we wanted, whenever we wanted, and it was just right.

I get an itch every fall to color my hair darker.  And when I do, I make my husband and those around me promise to not let me do it ever again.  So what did I do?  Got my hair colored darker.  It was supposed to be Ombre, but didn't turn out quite the way I'd hoped.  I'm going back next week for a few tweaks to get it just right (I need more blonde in my life for right now...I just do.)

Eh...I don't love the hair.  It's a work in progress.  I'm sure I'll be back to blonde next week.

 The Hubs and I went to the Kid Rock this week....he put on a great show!  I am not the biggest Kid Rock fan on the planet, but was pleasantly surprised.  We had really good seats too, so that helps ;-)  It was 200 degrees out and even Kid (that's what I call him now) commented on the humidity.  He said something like if you wake up in the morning and lick your arm you'd be drunk again, lol.

We are getting ready to transition yet again into a new daily schedule.  Morgan will be starting pre-school at Bluebird Christian next week and I'm super excited for her.  She asks every day "Mama I go to school?"  I'm going to have to wrangle her out of that darn birdie shirt (or birdie dress, as she calls it...but it barely covers her diaper, so no sweetie, it's not a dress.)  I am trying to find better balance in our lives.  With school taking up a lot of my time I need to find us a new routine that works for us.

We are in Potty Training Purgatory.  That's the best description of it.  Morgan totally gets it and is now just refusing to sit on the potty.  She tells me "I don't like sit on the potty Mama."  I've tried EVERYTHING.  And no dice.  Last night I forced her, and amidst the protest and tears, she produced some results.  Which I praised and rewarded (her reward is tattoos because that's her thing these days?).  Anyway...say a prayer or throw some advice my way.  They say it won't work until she's fully ready, so I just keep telling myself not to stress over it because she's just not ready yet.

What else...I've been obsessed with buying sweatshirts lately.  Fun Fact:  I owned ONE before this little sweatshirt escapade I embarked on.  

Maybe I'm ready for Fall afterall?

Around Here

I still love Fridays, even if they mean nothing these days.  Lately:

• Joey was up every.single.night screaming this past week.  Exasperated, I took him in to be looked at suspecting another ear infection.  Nope, just a big molar poking through and randomly, pink eye?
• The next day he busted his lip and chipped his other tooth.  His pictures are going to be a little goofy the next few years.  At least they'll fall out eventually!
• He seems to be back to his fearless happy-go-lucky self.  He LOVES to swipe whatever Morgan is holding and run off.  Little stinker.  Also LOVES to be outside and throws the limp-body tantrum whenever I have to drag him back inside.
• He's starting to say so many words:  Mama, Dada, Nana, No! No! (hears that a lot, haha), Wawa (water), cheese, shirt, ball, get down, thank you ("tee too"), here you go ("dee y'do")

Yesterday, Morgan and I were snuggling on the couch.  She dropped one of her two blankies on the floor.  Joey walked by, picked it up, and put it on her (gah! So sweet!  I melted!)  She said "Thank you buddy!".  Then he promptly grabbed her BY THE HAIR and RIPPED HER ENTIRE BODY OFF THE COUCH.

Morgan is still in her phase of only wearing her "Birdie Dress".  I'm waiting every day for this to pass, especially before she starts preschool in a few weeks.  The fights are not even worth it.  She's getting to be VERY particular about things and I suppose it's all about toddler control and decision making, but man!  It's challenging sometimes.  She's become very sweet & loving toward Joey, which I am relieved to see.

She tries to say "Joseph" because that is what I call Joe when I think he's not listening to me, lol.  Except, it comes out "Do-fess" (dufus, lol!!)  As hard as she tries, she's only said it right once or twice and it's hard for her to correct the order of the "f" and the "s".  Hilarious!!  She'll say "Heeeey Dufus!!" and we all laugh hysterically, which makes her keep doing it.

I SWEAR they were trying to kill me yesterday.  With Joey's pink eye I didn't want him around other kids so we were staying home.  Today we ventured out for lunch and some park running around.  Turns out all we needed was fresh air & new scenery.  Isn't that always the case?  I found a new park to turn them loose at...they can wander and explore to their heart's content and I can walk behind them, relaxed instead of helicopter parenting.

I started my BSN program classes this week and so far, they haven't been too bad.  (Nursing Research and Professional Concepts & Theories)  But I always feel like I'm missing something.  I used to have this recurring dream (nightmare!) there was a class I registered for and completely forgot about -- til the last week of the class and by then my grade was already an F.  Let's hope I can keep on top of the 2 I'm taking!

I'm trying to ignore the pull of fall clothes & sales, but the force is strong.  I've been filling up my shopping carts online, letting it sit there, and then just forgetting about it (much to my husband's delight), never buying anything.  Am I the only one who does this?  Everything I'm choosing is black or gray.  Hmm....  And then there's my new Stella & Dot obsession.  

Happy Weekend!  The Hubby's on call so I plan to try to wear the kids out on my own.  And maybe do a little online fall shopping for back to school - that's totally an appropriate reason now!

Super Quick MN Trip Recap

Last weekend, Joe & I flew to MN, sans offspring, for a wedding of one of my former nursing school classmates.  There's a core group of us who've kept in touch and we've all tried to make it to each other's weddings/keep in touch/etc. over the years.

We were there for less than 48 hours, but made the most of our short time there.  Due to a delayed flight (again and again, grrr) we got in around 1am Saturday morning.  We checked into our hotel (which was a neon purple lit legit rave, but that's neither here nor there) and crashed.  At one point in the night I woke up, shot straight up in bed and asked "Is that Joey crying?"  I then collapsed back to sleep and slept like the dead.

*Sidenote:  I was very apprehensive about leaving Joey because he came down with a fever Wednesday and it hadn't subsided by the time we left...I felt awful leaving him :(  But my MIL is very capable, a former Peds nurse herself, and I left detailed instructions on "when to call the dr." since I had taken him in before we left*

Saturday morning we checked out of hotel #1 and drove down to Rochester to meet up with my family.  It was great seeing my Dad, Sis & her BF, Sis-in-law, nieces and nephews and my newest baby nephew, Carter.  He was only 8 days old when I met him for the first time!

My Seester Connie, and baby nephew Carter.  Uh-oh...be quiet ovaries!
PS: I had a cute necklace to go with this dress but lost it in my packing disarray
PPS:  I did my hair, swearsies, but we drove down with the top down and I looked a wreck by the time we arrived, soooo.... mom pony it was.

Me & My nephews Jacob & Carter.  Brothers!

My SIL, Jen, and my nieces Shiayne & Brynlee. AND my nephew is in Jen's belly, due in Oct.

I'm not sure why there are no pictures of the menfolk, but trust me, they were there.  Missing was my brother (#ahem#)

We met for lunch and then had to turn around and drive back up to Minneapolis/St. Paul to check into hotel #2 and primp for the wedding festivities.

.
How cute are the bride and groom?  They are two people perfectly suited for one another.  Her dress was perfectly her.  LOVED it!

 And then she changed into this sequined little number + sneakers for the reception.  We expected nothing less:

Nurses gone wild/grown up/married/had babies:

 And just because my friend thought they were being funny, I was actually sneezing in this picture:

 Me and my best guy (he cleans up real niiiiice!)

And that's it for family-friendly pictures.  We were all too busy dancing our faces off.

We even managed to catch up Sunday morning with my childhood BFF Melissa & her husband Bayard and their sweet little guy, Parker (who is 2 months younger than Morgan).  They met us at the airport for breakfast, pre-security and that was SO convenient and so fun to catch up!!

When we returned Sunday evening, my little guy hadn't gotten much better and it was pretty clear what was plaguing him:  Roseola.  The next few days were negative amounts of fun, but he's finally back to normal.

 
 And here's what I'll be doing the next 4 months.  School starts up again on Monday.  I already have a reading assignment.  That's totally uncalled for if you ask me.

While I'm on my complaining pedestal, can summer PUHLEEEEEEZE not be over yet?   I feel like it was barely here.  It's been unseasonably cool here and I really need people on the interwebs to stop forcing fall upon me (cinnamon/pumpkin candles! Boots! Smores! Sweatshirts+leggins! STOPTOPSTOPIT!).  I'm a summer girl.  Always have been, always will be.  That is all.

At least they make me laugh

As challenging as some days are around here, I have to say that these two wildlings are extremely funny sometimes.

In the past week or so, they've really started interacting with each other, playing together, talking to each other, etc.  Morgan has taken to "mothering" Joey, telling me "He gwumpy?  He need a nappy Mama" and "Joey cwyin'.  Give him medicine?"  She also helps him with his drinks and picks up the food he throws on the floor and says "He ya go buddy!"

Joey wakes up first in the mornings and immediately goes over to the baby gate at the stairs and starts pulling on it to go up the stairs and get Morgan up, which we do every morning.  It's really cute.

Today I bought Joey his first tooth brush and let him play around with it.  He decided to brush Morgan's teeth for her:

This $2 toothbrush kept them entertained for 10 minutes.

He's really quite a ham...and LOVES to come up and swipe whatever she's holding, right out of her hands.  Then run away as fast as his meaty little legs will carry him.

This is driving me nuts lately -- my sanity saver used to be throw both kids in the double stroller and go for a walk or run.  Now Morgan refuses to get in AT ALL and demands to walk.  So we go 50 yards in 30 minutes.

Come onnnnnnnn

 Like this:

"Yook Mama....yook at me....I got chee-e-os!"

Tonight while getting dinner ready, I hear crazy giggling and little feet running around.  They come into the kitchen like this and I couldn't even contain my laughter:

They may just be having a toddler dance-off.  Who knows.

 

Just Another Day

We played hard this last weekend; and I feel like I am still recovering.  The Hubs and I hit up the Reds game Saturday night and got to see an awesome game (any game where there are home runs {plural!} is more fun in my book, because let's be honest, a full 9 innings of baseball is about as adrenaline-inducing as watching paint dry).

PS: I 'm still loving my new spray foundation.  For those interested in seeing it on, um, this is it.  Ha!  I should mention you need to use a brush to smooth/blend it in good.  A foundation brush or Kabuki brush will do.  I just used an old one I had on hand.

 Sunday night was the perfect end to a loooooong call weekend for the Hubs (and the whiney wife who stays at home with the whiney children) and we went to the Maroon 5 Concert.  Kelly Clarkson opened and she was pretty hilarious.  She kept referring to her engagement ring, saying "Boom!  I'm engaged, see the ring?"

The photobomber behind us is clearly unimpressed, haha

 I was kinda disapponted that we weren't close enough to see Adam Levine's sweat.  But they put on a great show.

 And then there's Morgan....her big thing now is she WILL NOT remove this shirt.  It's been 7 days in a row now (and I sneak it into the washer whenever I can!)  She is also refusing pants/shorts, saying this shirt is her dress.  And wanting to wear my high heels.  Already?!?!  I told my husband that heels obsession is allegedly called "The Suri Effect".  Stupid Hollywood.

Different day.  Same shirt. 

Saturday, Morgan went on the much-anticipated Princess Cruise with her girl cousins, Aunt Janice & her Nana and she had a blast.  I could tell she was worn out from all the fun.  An added bonus?  She has been in the BEST mood - and so well-behaved - since then.  Maybe she just needed a break from me?

So excited she can't contain herself. 

Monday, I hesitantly went to the consultation with the Plastic Surgeon about my nose.  I almost canceled, thinking it's going to be too expensive, my nose is really not that bad, and the recovery will be long & awful.

I was pleasantly surprised to find out I was all wrong!  Turns out I have a structural problem from when Joey clocked me with the toy that's significantly affecting my breathing -- so it will be FULLY covered by insurance.  He pulled on my face from a few different angles and for a split second, I could breathe through my nose - amazing!  I guess I didn't realize how bad it had gotten, since I just became used to breathing this way.

The surgeon explained he won't have to break any bones, but I need a cartilage graft to fix the collapsed/broken/damaged cartilage.  He would take the cartilage from inside my nose or behind my ear.  Recovery will only be a couple of days and I shouldn't have swelling/black eyes like with a typical Rhinoplasty.

So then the surgeon asked if I'm happy with the tip of my nose.  To which I replied "Um, should I be?"  It never bothered me before, lol!  And then he asks me if I want him to file the bump on the bridge of my nose down.  What?!  What bump?!  I told him no, I don't want my nose to look different, just symmetric, thank you.  I'm waiting for the official word from our insurance company before I schedule it.

Getting ready to fly to MN this weekend for a quick trip - one of my nursing school classmates is getting married and it should be a fun little weekend for me & the Hubs!  My MIL (who is staying with MoJo) should be canonized as a Saint.  Seriously.

Friday Ish

Lots of goodies going on...

First, my sister is having my new nephew probably as I type this!  She had a c-section scheduled for this morning and I'm dying to hear an update!!  I *think* they settled on the name Carter and I can't wait to be kissing on his sweet cheeks next weekend!

I love my makeup.  'Tis true.  Like, I would never leave the house without it.  So naturally I've been patronizing the local Ulta since it opened and an angel of God was sent to me in the form of a woman named Candace.

Candace introduced me to something life-changing:  Spray foundation.  I had been thinking about it since I'd seen some buzz (Kandee Johnson, YouTube makeup guru, anyone?) and was curious to try it.  But not the airbrush, gazillion dollar kit & kaboodle.  No.  This stuff is magic in a spray can, and y'all know I love to spray paint ANYTHING that will hold still long enough!

Sorry for the less than stellar graphic.  You can get try it out at Ulta, Nordy's or buy online.  

It's a bit pricier than my normal stuff (Bare Minerals) and some of the reviews say it runs out fast, but Candace assured me a little goes a long way and it should last me.  The finish is flawless people.  That never happens for me!  I also got the NP concealer (amazing! and I will DIE with concealer on, friends) and their bronzer.  I feel at least 3 years younger ;-)

What else, I found my way back to the gym yesterday.  I had taken a lil summer hiatus due to my class and I got my arse handed to me.  In a good way.  I hurt today and I sorta love it.

I bought these Steve Madden shoes for a wedding next weekend and have to return them.  There's no way I can toddle around in 10 inch heels, even though they are SUCH a gorgeous shoe!! (Truth is they're 4-inchers, but still)  I'm so torn, but know my feet will thank me.  Back to the search for the perfect nude strappy heel.  First-world problems here.

I wanted to love you.  Really.

Joe is on call this weekend and Morgan is going on an all-girls Princess Cruise tomorrow with her Nana & girl cousins (I'm jealous!).  I plan to have some one-on-one time with my little man, can't wait.

We were somehow generously given tickets to both the Reds game & the Freedom game this weekend, but with Husband on call, it's tough to make it work.  I love me some Champion Level Reds clubhouse tix though (Free food & drink?  Yes please!).  Plus the Reds play the Cardinals and that's always a big rivalry...so....must.find.a.way.

And then the big grand finale of the weekend:  Maroon 5 Concert on Sunday night.  Because we are raging concert-goers now.  Or something like that.

One last thing that I hesitate to even type - because more than likely I'm going to chicken out and cancel it, but I have my consultation with the Plastic Surgeon on Monday to get my nose fixed.  After watching a few youtube videos on Rhinoplasty Recovery, I am thoroughly freaked out of my gourd.  I can live with a little crookedness and not breathing out of my left nostril, right?