Art in the city!

We went to the arts festival in the city. It was so humid. I can't believe how bad it was, but it was gross... come on usually it's at about 2% humidity or something like that here.

We saw our friend at the festival where he had booth and bought a piece! We are so excited. We have to find a place to put it in the house, whenever we get a chance to take pictures I will post some, otherwise they will be on our flickr site.

It was a great day. We had a good time, but BOY are we pooped.

Rain anyone?

Every once in a while I keep wondering why I have this blog. In the beginning I started it as a way of mapping out the pregnancy, and lil S's early days.

Now I think that it's a place to keep in touch with my family and friends, also I just feel that I can say what I need to here.

I hope that you (any readers that I have) understand that this is just MY blog. Not anyone else's.

I have been having a great summer. Got to see family, then family has visited, and friends are coming to visit, and it's just been a great summer, minus the fact that we have only had 2 tenths of an inch of rain in these parts. It's tough in this desert-like area. Hope we get some rain soon! (and yes my east coast blog friends, I know you wish you never saw any rain, and if I could ship it back here I would)

Wars with Kittens

THIS just made my day!

If you love cuteness, then you will just freak when you see it!

Thanks Blonde Eskimo, I thought that was so adorable!

Thanks for a wonderful golden birthday!

YEAH!!!! It's my birthday! hehehehe...

So far so good... I am up watching the Teletubbies with the lil one. She is thrilled!

D got me some of my favorite frappacino for part of the breakfast he is making for me... (where did I get so lucky to get a good man!!)

Did I say how much I am so blessed with the family and friends that I have.

I love you all! Hope you are as blessed!

EDIT :
D made me breakfast in bed (toast with jam, maple syrup flavored sausage, and a fried egg) and OJ... and I got a candle (an ocean breeze type) at breakfast..

We went to the mall and I got a pair of Crocs.. (*black, so they go with everything)... and then came home and we all napped...

ANd then right before dinner (steak, corn on the cob and a baked potato) he told me to go and fix a snack, and when I went to the fridge there were flowers and a birthday card filled with lotto scratch offs.. but we didn't win.. )

And I got the Bambi DVD (i had been bugging him since Christmas)...

So it's been a wonderful day! Just hearing from friends and family, and getting spoiled rotten from D... but then again he always does. He's a prince.

Lil S even gave me a gift.. she let D and I eat dinner together.. she played for about 20 minutes by herself in her play pen.

It's been a perfect day! Thanks again for all the well wishes! I hope everyone had a good day!

Golden birthday...coming up!

And he didn't believe in such a thing as a golden birthday! Mine is coming up! I can't wait!!!

I told him that I didn't make it up.

I might get a pair of Crocs.

We miss you!!

Thank you for coming to visit Aunt A! We miss you already!

Grow Up

Sorry usual readers, this is just something gnawing at me, and I needed to vent.
EDIT : If you do not like what is written below, please do not read it. I have to vent, and this is somewhere I feel that I can.
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I can't sleep anymore since this has happened.
I don't understand why you can't take your "issues" and problems to someone else that actually cares.

If you have issues and/or grievances with me, why don't you call me, you have my phone number. Why do you have to involve my family? Why do you have to take your inane saved up twisted around petty stories and try to make them into some attack on your family.
Why don't you ever hear yourself talk? Do you have friends anymore?
What/Why do you feel that we owe you? Why that sense of entitlement?

I don't know what she ever did that you ever had to talk to her like that. We cared about you all. Once a not so long time ago. You and your family alienated many people, and now that no one calls or cares you take "issue" with that?

Respect is something that is earned, it's not something handed out depending on the birth order of the family. I have said this TIME and time again. None of you listen to anyone but yourselves. You need to grow up. Your whole family. Time and time again we have let it go, or said that they don't know what they are doing. And time and time again something stupid like this happens.

She just hoped that MAYBE this conversation was going to be a patching up. She hopes. We told her not to go. That she would be disappointed, unfortunately we were right. Almost 30 years and she gets to hear about what you think our "issues" are?

Let me tell you something. There are many things we can tell you as well. But we don't care. We don’t want to play this pathetic game.

We don't want to be talking to you anymore. We don't want to hear what you have to say anymore. We just want you out of our lives. We have made so many excuses as to why you say and do the things you do.
Take your venomous half-baked accusations and leave. We don’t want to hear from you.

People that are two-faced don’t have room in my life.

Aaaaachoooo!

Allergies are punishment enough in and of themselves.

It's been baking hot out here, and baby's and my alleriges are going full throttle!

I can't wait for winter now... and I am sure 6 months ago that I was wishing for the heat to come here! Never satisfied I tell ya!

Ooooooo! Thunder.. it might rain.. that would be nice. Every time we see the sprinkler on here we see little dollar signs coming out instead of water, weird isn't it?

Is C for Cookie? If you have been watching Sesame Freaking Street as much as I have you will say HELL yes it is. hehheeh.... sorry... But I did find this GREAT rap song... Tell me if you like it...

Updated my pics on flickr, if you want to see them, I need to have you added to my contacts. Email me and let me know if you want to be added. You have to create a free account there.

had to do it

I just had to write something to say that I have an entry for 6.6.6

By the way Happy birthday P!

Where are these people from???

We are back home, and never leaving again. It seems like every time we travel it ends up horrible! We had a good time, and the lil one was fine in about 2 days since we got her on an antiviral asap! So anyone that ends up with it, get the kid *or yourself* on an antiviral.
I am tired, just unpacking, and trying to stay out of the heat. We got spoiled in Seattle with the cool breezes and the rain, the endless glorious rain! Here we are huddling in front of the fans and outdoor sprinklers...

In other hilarious news.. as we were driving to our friend's house to pick up the dog, we were driving by a house.. the kids were playing outside.. the dad was sitting in a lawn chair, and the mom was..... (THIS IS FOR REAL) she was SHAVING his back in the FRONT YARD.....
I almost fell out of the car laughing so hard.

When it rains it really pours!

So here we are in beautiful Seattle, the setting of Grey's Anatomy... and we even got in a hospital (well the doctor's office at the local hospital.. sorry no Mc Dreamy) Anyway... about 1 day after we got to town, the lil one has CHICKEN POX... so that's how we're starting off vacation. The lil one has all her medicine, and all her family around her, so she will be better soon.. just itchy now...
Please send some get better soon vibes my way! Thanks

Summer's almost here!

I've updated more pics on my Flickr acct, so if any of you want to see more pics of her royal cuteness you can swing by there.

My MIL and FIL came by this weekend to visit. We had a great time. We went on a day trip to the mountains, and then the next day we had a BBQ, and on Sunday went to church.

Only a few more days and we are off on vacation again, this time it's only a 2 hour flight, so I am confident that I can keep her occupied for 2 hours.

I will try to update some pictures while we are gone, but if not, see you in June!

Gah!!!

I can't believe the girl is 9 months old today. It just seemed so quickly that I found out that I was pregnant, and then had her, and then saw her roll over and smile. It's going by too fast. I am glad she is growing up, but could there please clue me into where the slow down button is? I feel like time moves faster the older I get. I think it's true.

Onto other great news. The mother's group (MOPS) that I am a part of... I am now their publicity person. I am the one that write the bi-monthly newsletter and gets advertising. I am very excited! I can't wait til September when we meet up again. I have so many ideas. This is good, since I still can spend tons of time with the baby, but still get my creative juices going.
I love working on the computer, sometimes I think I am just such a geek!

The Worst

*EDIT : the corporate office called, and they are going to mail us "certificates" and would like us to try the place again, and let them know how it did. I think we will do it again. But if this happens again. we.are.never.going.there.again.
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If there is anyone out there still reading this and thinking "hmmmm I wanna go out to eat tonite with my honey... hmm where should we go?"

before you answer that question.. let me tell you.. never ever let yourself go to Biaggi's... it was awful. There is one other place called Bare Bones in Maryland that rivals it.

Today D and I were thinking about having a day out sans baby girl. So we went, and our friends babysat. We were very excited. So we get to the place (I can't even say the name now without wanting to puke) and we order the stuffed mushrooms for appetizers, and get our drinks. Our waitress looks a bit frazzled.. but the place wasn't even half full. This should have been our sign to leave after the appetizers. The next sign should have been that it was about THIRTY MINUTES to get our meal. People that came in 15 minutes after we did had their meal before we did. My iced tea by then had all melted to a nasty watered down version, and D and I were fuming and ready to leave.

Well along comes Mr. Manager in his tie and nice pressed shirt, and says here are your plates, and sorry about the delay..

Any of you that know us know that we are polite and we say we understand. We are still at that point looking forward to the food. It all smells good around us.

So we get the plates and what do we see????
D’s looks edible. Well that turns out not to be the case. It turns out that the noodles were so dried out that we couldn’t tell if they were cooked or not.
If you think that we are snooty about our food let me just tell you about my meal.

I ordered the Penne Sardi… if anyone goes to the link of Biaggi’s up there you can read what it’s supposed to be… well mine looked like a pool of oil and breadcrumbs… it looked like a pig vomited in my food. It was so sick. I am not even pregnant anymore and I thought morning sickness was coming back.
I asked the waitress, when she came by to ask how things were, “ I thought this was supposed to be a tomato sauce?”

She replied, “ Well there is tomatoes in it.. you just have to mix it up”…
MIX IT UP??? WTF?? Am I the damn chef?

Ok so I do mix it up.. all the so-called sauce settles back to the bottom.. it is no match to all the oil and fat fighting to get to the top…

So I try like 2 bites, and the noodles are all greasy and they are either dried out or not cooked…
What D and I think happened is that someone forgot our order.. and then left it either in the oven or just under the heat lights or whatever they have nowadays.. and we got screwed.

So when the check comes I mention to the waitress that I couldn’t eat it as it was too covered up in oil and it wasn’t tasty.. she asks me what she could replace it with, I tell her that we are going to see MI3 (which was excellent by the way) and she said ok and went to get the check…

As she leaves us with the bill, she looks at me and says “I hope this didn’t ruin the experience.”
IF she had just shut her mouth it would have been fine and we would have not been as peeved I think. But HELL yes it DID ruin the experience.

She should have comped the meal. We also probably should have complained to management. But you know what. Even if they gave us free meals I don’t think I will ever go there. It was that bad.

The Bare Bones story is for another day. But it too was awful.

And I will post about what a great flick MI3 is later… even though Tom Cruise has gone a little bit overboard in his personal life the movie kicked ass… I recommend watching it in the theater!

Sorry if there are any typos!

More freaking pictures of the (cute-as-a-button-totally-adorable) child

(so hungry...must eat!!!! and then I'm going to a BBQ)

I am going to the city, and I look too freaking cute!

I can't stop

she is just too cute!

IDing every stinking animal? what next ???

This is so true... Well in my opinion... and if you read the 6th paragraph down you will understand why. I don't usually get into politics (cause I learned that it's not polite to do that in public) but I couldn't help it, and the author of this site is just so dead on on this issue.

Read on and let me know what you think. if you want to :)

Unretired and cute

Ok since there is popular demand. I won't retire. Just cut back a lil for the summer... the lil one is now a little drama queen. D thinks she should be a Gerber model. She loves to pose in her new outfits.

Moo

Oh it's been great weather lately. I am glad that I have less allergies here than when I was in Texas. I am ready to be running around outside than cooped up inside.

I think I might not keep updating this as much any more, busy with the kid and hubby and all the projects around the house. If there is anything important to me I will update, but otherwise I just don't have much to say I guess. Not that I had too many readers.. lol

Big Favor!!

Hey there everyone.. I have a big favor to ask you... if you go here to Genuine's blog and post a comment.. it will really help out. This story real hit me hard, and if you can show support via a comment I would really appreciate it, and I know the family would also.

Doing this will help a family purchase a plaque with their son Ben’s name to put in the Memorial Garden at the Anschutz Cancer Center. You can help with that too. For every comment Genuine gets from you today on this post, he will donate one dollar to the Steadman’s so that they may buy the plaque in Ben’s honor. Help me get to their goal of $240.00 for the price of the plaque. He’ll show them each of your comments, so take a moment and show your support. If you want to read about Ben and his life, please go and visit the Steadman's site here. He was a 6 year old boy who has a lovely family.

Oh lovely Cheeseburger

Shivani and me

Ammuma, Appupa, and Shivani at the park

So baby and I went to get the mail today... beautiful day, a little windy...

We had a nice surpise in the box... the mothers group that I go to 2 times a month sent us a veggie tales tape... and I know what you are all thinking.. but S loved the songs.. she just thinks it's fabulous.. and the lessons in there are just good. I would rather have her watch that than the million episodes of What not to Wear (WNTW) that I love to watch.. I should totally enlist myself for that show... WNTW not Veggie Tales...

Also at the mailbox we saw that Appupa(gramps) sent us the pictures we took when we were on vacation. Can't wait to see them!

There is some type of Gourd singing a love song to a cheeseburger... weird... even in my dreams I would have never thought of that... S is mesmerized

House Blahs

OMG... D is reading Three Cheers for Tacky to the lil one... it's oh so adorable... well toot.. she just decided that she was going to have a fit and that she MUST eat RIGHT THIS SECOND when it was so cute.. the reading I mean...

she is wearing her mickey outfit that ammuma and appupa got her.. and MOM it's still BIG on her... so it will be a while before she fits in the 12 month old clothes...

So actually made a good (if not somewhat bland) dinner, and he topped it with SALSA.. sorry about the caps.. but I guess salsa on plain rice is good... I grew up with lots of spices on everything... but it was good...

Tomorrow I want to have a plan about changing up some of the rooms and PAINT.. painting the baby's room gave it personality... so I want to think about doing our room the guest room and all the bathrooms...WILL not touch the living room other than to repaint it white.. it's got like 18 foot ceilings.. I don't want to do a color.. and it's just a huge project...

we'll see.. the first prioity house-wise is to get the trees in the front planted... the irises and tulips are starting to bud.. so spring is right around the corner.. well after it stops snowing here...

ah house ownership... so rewarding and yet so many levels of frustration!

Oh yeah before I let you go... did I mention she peed on me.. but it was my fault... I guess when she decided jumping on mommy was a fun exerecise.. I should have made sure that she had a "clean" diaper on... it was a good laugh and we both had to clean up and change clothes... ahhh the good times!

Shades

Here are some snapshots of our trip.. this was a great trip, and Shivani really got to bond with her ammuma and appupa (grandma and grandpa)... it was hard to leave since they were all so teary eyed! Don't you just love the shades? Very adorable, that's my girl!

Long vacations!

ahh vacation... it's nice... and we are staying a lil bit longer with grandma and grandpa.. having a good time, and since D was so nice.. we get to stay a bit longer... :)

Hope everyone is doing well.. it's going to be in the 70s this weekend here! yeah!

Sigh...we made it

We made it... which in and of itself isn't a huge deal... but the first time that I fly with a 6 month old, we are delayed 2 hours which felt like 2222 hours... and then once we get to the state in which we are visiting on the east coast... we are like 6 inches from landing when all of a sudden the pilot pulls the plane STRAIGHT back up into the air.... kinda freaked me out, but it was because another plane was on the tarmac still... everything delayed.. luckily no harm... than goodness.. the flight attendants doted on baby, and totally helped me out and made my flight bearable even with the delays etc... baby girl was just fine.. upset a little bit because mommy did not get her the bottle right at the stroke of 3:30.... but otherwise just played.. she slept like 30 mins on the flight..

My parents FINALLY got high speed internet... last year i was dialing up when i visited them.. so there was only one post when i was on vacation...

we miss d, baby misses daddy... but we will chat with you soon!
Hope anyone travelling with kids really needs to... it's really tough, and definitely draining, but to see the smile on grandpa and grandma's face was SO TOTALLY worth it.

Sorry about any spelling or other grammatical errors...

Tips please

Edit 2/19/06 : Do I need a bassinet for a 6 month old.. she doesn't lay in the one at home... She only lays in her crib at night? The doc said to give something to drink to the baby on takeoff and landing..? Anything else.. and yes we are flying coach... I wish we were getting in firstclass, wouldn't that be nice. It's like that line from Jerry Maguire, " First class used to be a better meal, now it's a better life"!

Any tips on flying with a 6 month old? Anything essential that I should bring with me? What worked for you? I have always been the person that never wanted to sit next to the "kid" on the plane.. especially the one that was crying.. and now that it's going to be ME... I just wanted to know what's worked... Any advice is appreciated.
**************************************
So D is recovered, took some time off work, and is on the mend. It was kinda worrisome, but I just wanted him to feel better. So I made sure that he walked around more, held the baby. I hope he is feeling better.

The baby has liked having D home all week. It's been funny, anytime D comes up to her, she lifts her arms up, thinking she is going to get picked up. He thought that was funny, and kept walking up to her, and then away.. she kept lifting her arms up and then let them down.. and then when she figured out what daddy was doing, she started to get upset and fake-cried, then she was picked up and giggled like crazy.

I wish there were jobs that we could be at home for. I am glad I get to stay home and see my baby grow up, but I know that there are days that D wishes he could see more moments. I know there are also days that I wish I got to spend more time with adults and work. I think that this is the best for now, and maybe when she is a bit older that I will work as a nurse.

Thanks for all the comments for D's recovery! Each and everyone was appreciated.
D's co-workers were so awesome and send him a bouquet of yellow (Texas) roses! It was so nice, and family and friends sent cards. We are so lucky with the family and friends we have!

Update on the Hubs

Ok so D had a "gallstone attack"... very painful, from Friday late night into early Saturday morning.. he has had these before.. and though they are not life threatening it is very painful.. this is one of the things that you can equate with the pain of childbirth.. it's also similar to trying to pass a kidney stone...
anyway so sometime in the afternoon on Saturday he calls a family friend (read : doctor) and she tells him to get checked out in the local ER.. so off we go.. and when we get there we wait.. they do their x rays and all that fun stuff.. and then we find out he will get admitted.. and last night to this morning is was feeling better.. the gallstone was passed..

The surgeon comes in to look at all his numbers, and while they are going back to normal, they stated that it was better that the gallbladder come out.. so about 11:30 or so.. they went off.. he was really nervous.. but did well.. the doctor was done in about 1 hr. Said the surgery went very well.

Before baby and I left, he was able to eat dinner, and take a walk around the hospital with us. He is very sore, (understandable) but ready to come home and rest and be around his girls!

Thank you for all your thoughts, prayers, and support!

News about the Hubs....

ooo... so we were going to try to do something romantic for Valentine's day... well didn't quite turn out that way... D is in the hospital tonite.. he is going to get his gallbladder out (well most likely) they are still checking him out.. but that's what it looks like.. so those of you who come by this and are inclined to do so.. please say a quick prayer.
Thanks. Will keep you updated!

Joaquin!

Sorry for the lack o posts... I have been catching up on my shows after the lil one is asleep.. yes.. til MIDNIGHT.. yes I know I should just go to bed.. but I can't sleep... so i flip on the tv.. and it's so nice seeing all those old sitcoms.. I was flipping through yesterday.. and saw CNN and headline news... it's all BAD stuff.. all the time.. who the hell wants to watch that.. why can't they have a good news channel? Or something better than who does what, who was shot, etc... it's so depressing. I can't watch news anymore.. really haven't watched much of the news sinec 9/11... I think a lot of ppl haven't... it's just too hard to watch.. too much...

So any good movies lately? I really have been wanting to see a few... but don't want to go by myself, and the lil one is not ready to accompany us to one.. Oh but I am DEFINITELY getting WALK THE LINE when it comes out on DVD on the 28th... I am so excited for that... Oh Joaquin!

Was it a mohawk in the making?

While the wee one and daddy are listening to U2, I have to post this totally cute picture. I know that's why you all come back, to see this adorable child!

(she is teething, and drooling, so that's why her chin is so raw)

Wishes

Oh wow! it's almost my one year blogging anniversary! How neat.. I kept up with something other than the baby. That makes me very proud! I have always liked to write, and I know having a blog (well ME having a blog) is pretty narcissistic, but oh well I like to blab. It's fun, it's like talking to all your friends, but not really, they just come by and comment, and then they blog about something and you go there... but it's free! well actually unless you pay for your internet, which we do, and it's then close to 50 bucks a month to visit your friends, and if I just saved that up for like 6 months I could just fly out there and see them anyway. Was that a run-on sentence?

My wish list for this year:

To see Aunt Helen (Helena - for whom we gave the middle name to the baby) and Uncle John - she is the raddest great-aunt in the whole world! I love staying up late and talking with her about when she grew up (the 30s and 40s)... She is one of the most amazing women I know. I love to hear all the stories, and look at their picture albums of the eras... it's like a world away, but at the same time you feel a part of it when she and Uncle John tell the stories. I love all of Hub's family. His great aunt and uncle are unequivocally the best! They are the most generous and loving people. They know so much about the world, and the way it works. I hope that when I am older that I will be like them.

Beauty and the Betta

("Really Mom, I will guard him, I promise.")

This is our youngest cat. He always liked to go and try to drink the fish water. So naughty. The betta that we had in this picture, Gunther, died when his water was changed. We had him for over 2 years. Even though it's a fish, I still miss him. He was good and just was there, when D was working late or just to harass the cats. I know that might be weird even to pet lovers.

I don't know if it's just me, but we just got cable, and it's soooo much overload. We had just the basic channels. Like maybe 10 channels, but OMG since we got the digital stuff. It's craziness, I watched ER docs pull a pole that was impaled in 2 girls in a car crash on TLC, watching Robot Chicken, watching a show about tatoos, Trick my Truck... it's just too much! I feel so crazy trying to figure out what to watch after the lil one goes to sleep. So crazy instead of choosing I just fall asleep. Sad, isn't it?

So I hope Seattle wins the Superbowl. Gotta go for the team that has their debut at SuperBowl. Sorry Steelers.

School and Baby

Here is Hub's and my decision : (this was something that I just wanted to get of my chest)

I thought about it for a long time, and I will never get the time I have now with her back. I won't get her 1st times. I am of the philosophy that it's never to late to finish school. So I will be an older student, but I will never get the chance to see my baby's 1st time doing all the things babies do. Plus day care is so incredibly draining to one's budget, when one (namely me) is not working.
I just think for the best interest of baby S, and the way I feel about it. I just am going to be staying at home with her. It was really a hard decision as the program for nursing is spectacular here, and I had an excellent chance of being accepted into the program. The thing that did it for me, is that I knew that I would regret not being with Shivani at this point in the long run. I don't think I will regret not working right this second.

The way I pictured being a mom is the way I was raised, by an SAHM. Once this one (and any other sibilings) get into school I will go back and work.

Not trying to justify my decision to anyone, just wanted to let it be known. I think people are going to think whatever they want to, but in the end it's my decision, and what's best for my family.

Woe is me

I feel so bad... I know that i have been such a slacker and no one should come and comment on my blog anymore, but I have a good reason... It was the holidays, and I was so busy.... WAH...

Ok that's over, just noticed that no one has commented (and I guess I take that as a sign that no one has visited me) but that TOTALLY my fault cause I haven't updated much.

SO I apologize internet... it's that whole catholic guilt thing!

Ok... so where was I ... oh yes... tomorrow I start my drug class (it's called pharmacology).. the reading looks interesting... I have only taken OTC or prescription, and never DONE any "drugs". So I wonder if the prof will get into the effects of "drugs"... I mean I know a lot about them from TV, and other ppl talking about stuff, but I guess I was a sheltered kid that just never did them. Never wanted to, plus I would have probably been addicted. So I just steered clear.

Not to say that I was any angel, but I guess it intrigues me the people that do "drugs" and the reasons why....

Ok, well that's as meaningful as I am going to get tonite, in other news the little girl is now 5 months old... TIME IS FLYING!

Party Pooper

Here is the sweet and cute poop maker!

This was BEFORE she soiled herself. She has picked up this new thing, where she gets new clothes and and any new clothes she makes dirty. Must be something in the water!

Happy New Year

Oy... I am so lazy that I have only written on holidays! HAH

Ok, not much going on.. probably going to fall asleep before the new years hits Mountain time, just too tired. It was our first day without anyone else here.. It wasn't too bad. Just sometimes wondering if she is thinking that she has the nuttiest parents in the world. She is such a good kid.

I am so lucky. Had a great year. Married to a good man (3.5 years strong), had a beautiful kid, got such loving parents that support me and my growing family, have a great little sister and her husband (who spoil us every chance they get), have the best friends a girl could ask for!

I had a wonderful year! Hope next year is just as wonderful, hope everyone has a good 2006!

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas, hope everyone is having a good one. Can't wait til D is home so we can open presents (he had to work today)!

Will post more later hopefully with pictures!

Oh yeah.. did I mention that's it about 65... almost 70 degrees in this part of CO?

crazy weather!

Three Generations

MooMoo's mom, Moo Moo, and baby Moo Moo

Miscellaneous

Awww crap, just had a good post, and it deleted.... argh... I like this site, but sometimes I get so frustrated...

Not too much, doc appt for baby tomorrow, she's also 4 mths tomorrow...
Hope she pulls through like a trooper after her round of vaccines...

Excited about my christmas present, D got me tickets to the symphony. I can't wait to see it. It's the Christmas concert. I know it will be awesome. Also have dinner, and a night at fancy hotel. So ultra-romantic! It'll be a while before we get to go out alone, so this is the last time before mom goes back...

I hope that I will get to post more now that I am done with school, and I hope my buds will check back more often.

It's been a nutty crazy semester, but it's over and I really have such a good time blogging, and it's such a great way to keep in touch and make new friends... I know that there was this Dear Abby Column that had this concerned person say that googling the name etc can bring your blog up and that it will be "negative" in the eyes of an employer, but I say, we are grownups, and grownups know what they can say and not say. So say what you have to, but know that there will be issues if it impacts your work, etc. I know that this is not the same as a locked up diary, and that this is PUBLIC... so therefore there are things I don't/won't talk about here... So maybe that makes my blog not as interesting as some others... oh well.

Ok I think that's the end of my rant for now....

DONE

Did my last 2 finals today, thanks goodness it's over!
Apply to nursing school,
if accepted start 18 months of school June 2006 , graduate Dec 2007.
If not, get to be with baby full time!
whew! It's been a long semester!
For sure... 2A's... still waiting to hear about the Biology class

November 2006

I am totally doing this next year!

Girly Girl

Here she is ticked off that we are trying to make her look girly!


The bows make her finally look like a girly girl!

Happy Turkey Day!

(Shivani and grandpa - Sept 2005)

It's that time of year again, time to eat lots of fowl, and then watch sports!
And miss family that is far away!

Anywhere y'all are, have a Happy Thanksgiving!

Sorry about that!

Sorry about the lack of updates, just bogged down with school... almost done. Only a couple more weeks...if I somehow pull off a 4.0 I will just have to have a BIG celebration! Any ideas?

Baby is doing well, just on her routine, and you veer off, off with your day! She will not be a happy camper.. I never understood why we had the need for a schedule til I met her.. lol

Ok peeps, if I don't post for a couple weeks understand it's because of school, and I will post again!

Also please send my frined E-lo, a hello and happy vibes to bring on labor :)

THANK YOU !!!

Thank you for a wonderful weekend (she is so happy)!!

Baby Fun

Babies are so much fun!
They are for the most part, but so labor-intensive (pardon the pun)

I just am amazed at the speed at which this little one has grown.

I can't believe it's been about 90 days since she arrived either.. it feels like she has been around for years! haha

Ok gotta go and finish some more homework, and then gotta play with the baby!

Happy Birthday DAD!!!

There he is in the middle, with his sons...

I can't believe he is a grandaddy now. He really is completely in LOVE with the "GK" as he calls her. GK for GranKid.

Dad, I hope you are having a wonderful birthday. Mom made some payasam today in honor of your birthday. We wish you were here to celebrate it with us.

You're a wonderful grandpa, and the best dad in the world!

We love you! Happy Birthday!!!

I hate school. no not really, just ONE class

If y'all want to see pictures of the lil one, go here. I have updated a few.

Not much going on, getting KILLED by my biology class, at this point I am just trying to get through it. All the other classes are going well, and in a few weeks I will apply to get into the Nursing program. I am excited. I hope school goes by quick. Then I can have a life with my hubby and baby... it's really hard to balance everything right now, but I imagine with a job it will be worse.....

Enjoy the pics of the lil one!

My baby Pumpkin!

My Lil Punkin!

She is doing well, learning some habits that we have no clue where she got them from. She has this habit of making herself as taut as a stick when she is super hungry, once she starts eating she turns into a little spaghetti.. very fun, let me tell you.

She has been trying to stay up past her bedtime "playing" with her cows (they were orignally mine)..

Being a parent is nothing like I thought it was when I planned it out in my head. I guess she will teach me a few lessons.

Oy...

I am going around in circles... I know I have to do what's best for my family. But having a CHOICE creates so many kinds of hell for me. Part of me wishes hubs would just tell me what to do. Having a choice makes me doubt myself and my judgment.

I envy the parents that didn't have a choice and had to do what they had to do. It takes that gulit out since one has to work/etc for the kids to eat, and that throws out the guilt. I don't necessarily have to work for the food to be on the table... but I know it would help out for us as a whole for me to work. I think it will affect me more than it does her. She will probably love it and not even miss me...

I don't know, but I know that it's a hard road, filled with hard decisions.

Little Trooper

She just got her first set of immunizations today... she did good. She was pissed when they shot her up, but then she took a tiny nap when we went to wal-mart to get the tylenol *just-in-case*

She is such a little trooper... Hubs aka DAD aka Dee came too, and didn't like to look at the needles.. so I told Shivani that he was scared of it, so she shouldn't be too scared. She smiled at me.

She doesn't seem to have any side effects so far other than being a little bit irritable... but wouldn't you be if you got stuck in the legs with vaccines :)

You won't believe this!

"Scientologists are encouraged not to comfort or nurture young children because Hubbard believed a child is simply a small adult who can look forward to look after themselves from a young age"

Read the whole article here.

I can't even fathom not being able to comfort my child because of my religion. I am sorry, I believe that everyone has the right to practice whatever they want to, but I think "what's the freaking point of HAVING the child if it's already considered an adult 'who can look forward to look after themselves from a young age' ????

I don't get it.

Ahhhhh!

Ok well I was just wondering about ppd. I don't know that I had it really.

I just felt pissed off about things. Nothing about baby, but just that my life changed and I didn't understand why. I think part of it is with the whole school (eventually work)/baby and just getting used to the idea that it's just not me and D anymore. It's a WHOLE new person, and that person needs me 24/7.

Sometimes I just sit there and wonder if I am a good mom, if I am doing everything right. I feel like I just let her down sometimes. But other times I think I am a supermom and can make her so completely happy (as she has made me)... It seems so contradictory.

I guess I really am going through normal things...I don't usually feel depressed as much as I do overwhelmed at times.

I think as time goes that I won't feel so glum.

Sweet Baby

She is 2 months old today!!!

Survey - Please inform me

Ok I need some info, so here's an informal survey :

Internet if you had a CHOICE to stay at home with your child, (or insert what you want to stay home or) would you CHOOSE to stay at home, or would you pursue work (or whatever passion you have) and to drop the child at daycare?

If you chose to pursue your work (passion, etc) please state why, did you have any regrets?

If you chose to stay at home with your children (or what else you are staying at home for), please state why and did you have any regrets?

Thank you, and if you remain anonymous, please answer the question completely as I want to know.

Thanks :)

Tagged

"And NO :( we didn't get to meet them last night"

This was referring to when we went to go and see U2 with our VIP tix...

So now I pass the tag along to you...
The rules are:
1. Go into your archive.
2. Find your 23rd post.
3. Find the fifth sentence (or closest to).
4. Post the text of the sentence in your blog along with these instructions.
5. Tag five other people to do the same.

Ok Cyto_steph, arnair, Catt, BUQT, lilbittyladybug YOU ARE TAGGED!!!!

PINK FLAMINGOS

This picture was taken when I went vacationing in (where the hell are flamingos from?)... and who came up with the word flamingo... it's so neat!

Pretty aren't they, much more than their plastic counterparts.

I was just thinking that I am growing up. I can't believe it.

I still don't feel grown up, is that normal? I thought with this kiddo's arrival that I would somehow get omnipotent, but that's still evading me.

I don't know how these creatures find it comfortable to stand on one leg.

(H-town friends/family, and those elsewhere in TX/LA, please please please stay safe. You are in my prayers!)

Blessed

So far I am happy about all the life changing things that have happened.
***Everyone is healthy and safe, (minus me and the hubs getting pretty sick once this month)...
***The little one sleeps through the night (thank god, really!)
***Getting school work done, and the reading isn't too out of control. Met some new friends in school this semester and had some funny stories about their kids.
***With the hubs working 12 hour shifts, I don't get to see him as often, because when he is home, he is usually sleeping, and I am off at school or studying. So that is the part that is hard... I hope he doesn't miss a lot of the baby's milestones. I think I would go crazy if I didn't see her smile everyday...

I know there are a lot of things in my world that are going on that are horrible and have been discussed at length on the internet and other blogs, what I know is that I am very blessed by all that I have. Good family, friends, and a great life.

unBEARably Cute

She is so cute, isn't she? The outfit is from my cousins down in Littleton, CO! Thanks Lakshmi and Malini!

Blech

Something is wrong with uploading pictures on here and shivani's site.

weird.

so sorry, no cute pics today.

Sick again with allergies, so trying to alleviate it with Benadryl. Lots of reading, and I did ok on my first Pathophysiology test.

Gotta get to bed, I will try to upload the totally cutest pictures again tomorrow!

Shivani's site

It's up and running. Go and check it out! It's on the right (under Blogs I read), called My Life and Times. Enjoy!

More and more pictures of her will be there, and while I will still talk about her here, I might not post as many pictures here. We'll see. You will just have to keep checking!

Who's your GrandDaddy?

Grandpa feeding the little PRINCESS.


Hubby with Shivani, saying her name 3 times in her ear. This is usually done on the 28th day to "name" the child. Hubby is wearing a mundu (not sure of the spelling), it's what men wear in Kerala on special occasions such as this and Onam.


Grandpa and grandbaby getting to know each other!

Sicker than a dog!

oh man... I haven't been this sick since 6th grade... I think it's a stomach virus... I wasn't able to even get up much except to yak... fever hasn't left... Just keep praying that Shivani doesn't get sick. Hubby, I think, had this about a week ago... so THANKS A LOT HUBS!!!

Better go back and crawl under the sheets. Feeling ice cold again.

Family bonding

All the ladies in the HOUSE!!!


Aunt RMR with her baby niece (this was taken when Shivani was 2 days old)

Pics of her Room

Finally I have some pics of her room.

My lil Maggie Simpson

Here she is laying in Grandma's arms. She is so content... so this must be after she got done eating.

Usually after she is done inhaling her bottle she does not want the pacifier, for about 20 minutes. Then she ends up sounding and looking like Maggie Simpson.

Once she is a month old (Sept 9th) I will be updating and having MANY more pictures on her own site which is at http://babeka1ser.blogspot.com/ ; if you want to go ahead and bookmark it. I will have more baby things there, and I will resume my daily bitching about life here. Haha, actually I don't have much whining lately, the baby has taken over that.

Ok well Internet, have a great upcoming Labor Day! I know it will be nice to have a day off to catch up on reading and no Anatomy Class that day, (Oh man, is it hard!)

Daddy Day Care, anyone?

So my dad will be out here in a little over a week. He is coming out the weekend after Labor Day to "avoid" the rush of the people at the airports and all that jazz. And next week lil Shivani will be 4 weeks old! A month!

I can't believe it's been a month, some days it feels longer than that, other days it feels like the month just rushed by (especially when I look at all the school work I have to do)

In Indian tradition we do a ceremony that is called the "28 day naming ceremony". What that consists of is putting gold jewelry on the child and her dad will say her name 3 times in her ear, while covering the other ear, so that she recognizes her name. At least that's the way I understood it. And then we celebrate by eating some good home-cooked Indian food. At least that's what we are going to do. I promise pictures will be up here as soon as my Dad gets here and we can do the ceremony for her.

I am so blessed to have my parents. I hope they know that.

To all our friends/family in New Orleans, please let us know if there is anything you need. I can't imagine how bad the damage is, but all that can be rebuilt one day, please stay safe!

Be Quiet!

It's nice to have a routine. Routines are what we need.

Baby sleeps well through the night, with usually one feeding, but during the day is a whole 'nother deal.

She must see what everyone else is doing, and she doesn't like it all quiet.

She likes the radio on, the street noise, the tv on, someone talking, or people talking on the phones.

No quiet time for baby. So that's a relief too. We don't have to tip toe much. We can even vaccum while she is sleeping.

I should be happy about that, right?

I wonder when she will be old enough to mow the lawn? Isn't that why people have kids? (just kidding!)

Pacifier Pandemonium

Ahh finally, here is a picture of her with her eyes open. Still can't figure out if she looks like her dad or me...But she is cute nonetheless.

That damn pacifier is the bane of my existence. We had to order a bunch. I swear the nurses got her hooked at the hospital. If you go to www.childmed.com , this has the one that SHIVANI loves. I ordered a crap load more, in a couple of cute colors just in case she decides to lose it and then we freak out cause we can't stop her conniption fits for the pacifier. There is a reason they call it a PACIFIER.

My sweet lil girl

I am at school right now and I miss her so much. I just called home, and mom (her grandma) was warming up her lunch..errr bottle... oh and I heard her squawking! She better have her meal on time OR ELSE. The wrath will be raining down on us!

It's amazing how in 2 weeks she has hubby, grandma, and me wrapped around her tiny little fingers. Grandpa (my dad) is so excited to come and visit her in 2 weeks. He is calling and asking about her every day. I can't wait til they meet.

On the school front, lots of reading. But I can actually manage it so far. She is pretty good after her feedings so I am getting time to read, and hubby and grandma are helping with watching her other times so I can get a bit more done. I know the sacrifice, that I am making right now in the time spent with her, will be worth it in the long run, but for right now I am missing looking at her cute little face and playing "where's the pacifier"...

Kisses to you sweet Shivani! (sweet?hmmm... well when sleeping)

Love, Mommy

Why Oh Why!

So the little one is keeping us busy. I found some really good pacifiers on sale today, and wanted to get her used to different ones, as she is SOOO attached to the one that she got from the hospital. Well she HATES it. So that is going to be great when she loses this one.

About feedings, well the whole natural breastfeeding thing isn't so natural for me. It's been hard and horrible. I am still pumping, but we are going to be putting her on formula. I know there are a lot of opinions out there on the breast vs. bottle feeding, but for me it finally came down to the fact that she wasn't getting much from me, and she was NEVER satisfied. I didn't want her to feel like she was starving, and on top of that she would only sleep for 45 minutes at a time, which I know was contributing to her losing weight. She is fine, and is a happy 10 day old.

Ahh she cries now... like ALL the time.. even when she is fed, diapered, and soothed... she STILL cries! What do I do? I hope it was just a today thing, and she goes back to being the sweet little munchkin she was yesterday.

I'm BACK!

Hi there,

I am finally back... haven't had much time for the computer. Little Shivani is keeping me busy.

Feeding her is definitely a hard task, and I am working on it, but it's tough. I wonder how I will be able to balance going back to school and her. I hope that I don't shortchange her.

But Granny (in the pic posted) is in LOVE with her granddaughter. She completely is gaga about Shivani. They have long talks about what a little brat she is.. lol!

Dee(hubby) and I are ok, suffering the lack of sleep, but moving along.

Thank you for all the concern and comments, when I came to check on the site I was so floored that so many people were checking in and keeping tabs and wishing us well. It's so wonderful. You all are so wonderful.

When I get a chance I will post the birthstory, but the short of it is, I went into labor at 3:30am on Tuesday August, 9th (no induction) and was admitted to the hospital at about 10am, got an epidural at about 12:00 noon, and then was pushing from about 2:30pm til 4:53pm at which time Shivani was born.

There was a scare where I was starting to hyperventilate, and they put me on oxygen as the baby went into fetal distress, and they were talking about c-sectioning me, but luckily I was able to pull it together and delivered her without the c-section.

Thanks for your concern Internet. I love y'all!

Talk about a grand entrance

Well its official, we're tired now. Yes, our kid has kept us awake and annoyed us for stupid, petty needs like food, diapers, shelter and for her entertainment.

Details: Shivani is the name
8-9-05 is the date
6-0lbs is the weight
20" is the length
Leo is the sign

More pics and gory diapering details to come, but its time to sleep now.

9 Months and Counting!

So here is a picture of me from last Thursday. My dad hasn't seen me in about 9 months (in person) and this picture is so he can (full term belly there!)... Can't wait to see you Dad, and hopefully when you visit the baby will FINALLY get here...

Squiggles

Baby Stuff Update :

Went to Doc's... they made me do another NST (non-stress test) and THIS time, the doc said that I had a contraction (some squiggle on the paper told him so) and that he thought it was time to check the cervix... (oh, joy to the world)

Well the good news is that compared to 2 weeks ago (when I was at 1cm), now I am 2 cms.... YEAH!!!!

yeah, right... He said that if I don't have the baby between now and thursday to come in and we will discuss inducing the baby. I have gotten lots of info stating that inducing is MUCH more painful and the chance of having a c-section goes up... I am a bit nervous now... but I just want the baby to be healthy... So please pray (or if you don't pray, think good thoughts) for baby K.

In other non-baby related news I am REALLY learning how to cook, so if you people come and visit me, I can make some good grub, and even better, I will have ice cream too. mmmmmmmmmmmmm

Boats

Oh wow... I thought FOR SURE the kid woulda shown itself by this weekend... and still NOTHING... that's not to say there is no movement...

Oh no.. the kid likes to kick like it's having some fit, because I didn't go and get it a chocolate milkshake or Cookies and Creme ice cream. I think I should listen to the baby and definitely put that on the menu for today.. ;)

Actually, good news, and it's NOT baby related, Dee/Hubby, got his boat to start up and BOY is it loud, there was something wrong with the starter at first and he got that taken care of, and now he told me once the kiddo was here, he wants to fire it up on the water. I can't wait.. I love being on the water... Mom on the other hand... she doesn't swim.. so she might not be as thrilled to go... and the baby? well I guess he/she will have to get used to going boating/fishing as her mom and dad love to be on the lake..

I think we could fit the bassinet on the boat. Maybe. LOL (just kidding, Internet)

It's a..... Still not here yet!

I have been such a bad girl. I am sorry Internet. I have been having a ball with my MOM in town. It's like the Indian food network here. I have learned a lot of new recipes, and now Hubby (Dee, as he likes to go by now on here) gets a packed lunch every day for work. He is so blissfully happy.

The house is clean, the clothes are washed and FOLDED (hubby still puts them up), the baby's room is ready (yes I will be taking pics tomorrow), the cats are crazy, and the dog has not yet chewed the house down.

BUT I HAVE STILL NOT HAD THIS BABY.

I am about 5 days overdue now.

Doc appt said that he WILL induce me when I hit 42 weeks, let pray that it doesn't go that far.

Tomorrow I have a non-stress test to measure the fetal heart acceleration, and to see if I am dilated past 1 cm or not. I bet NOT.

Other than that, Internet, not much else is going on. I have been getting so many phone calls, just been reassuring everyone that baby is not here still, it's just holding onto all those chocolate shakes and ice cream that I have been imbibing all this time.

Family Bonding

My mom's coming in today and staying forever (well til December)!!! I am so excited (really, she is the best mom ever, better than Donna Reed)... she is coming to lend us a hand(s) when this baby decides to arrive.

Also I will be getting cooking lessons, I am so excited, I am sure that I will have to taste test a lot to make sure that the recipe is exact... you know with these high altitude directions everything is just tweaked around a lil bit.

And then my sis and bro-in-law will be coming thru mid-aug, and then Dad should be here at Labor Day weekend! I can't wait... I wish everyone would be here at the same time... (can you say family portrait?) But I will just be happy to see everyone, but it's not like they want to see me.... it all about BABY now!

Happy Anniversary, Dear!

So the hubby and I went to the doc's this AM, and it was nice, the DOC was "measuring" and I had to have D hold me down, how embarrassing. All so the doc could tell me I was 1 cm dilated and NO NO NO effacement.

How nice. I wake up early (well earlier than I usually do this summer) and get probed by the doc, while hubby is there, on our anniversary. Nothing says I love you like getting probed while your husband watches...

I know I sound so whine-y lately here, and I apologize. If you saw me in person now you would HEAR how whine-y I am too... it's bad.

And why is it, when I tell the hubby that I don't like ham, he goes to the deli, and gets 1 lb ham? really? is that just to piss me off into labor? in that case he's doing good!