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Saturday, May 30, 2015

2 Whole Days!

2 whole days since a post. Have you missed me? 

This is what we've been up to...


Sorry. That's the only picture I have. Well, I actually have another but it's of a very naked J. 

I was worried J wouldn't like the ocean but after we slowly get him aquatinted, he LOVED it!! He giggled and played for a solid hour. 

I loved bringing him as an infant but this year is so much better!

-W

Thursday, May 28, 2015

The Beach

We are headed to the beach and I couldn't be more excited than I am right now. If only I could stop worrying that I'm going to forget something, I'd be ok. 

Just realized I'm late by 6 minutes and I need to go to bed. I promise, I have a half decent post coming your way.

-W

Tuesday, May 26, 2015

Vacation

This happened today...


Yep. What a great start to my week long vacation. 

-W

Monday, May 25, 2015

My Day

I was supposed to work today but I was canceled instead. Woo hoo! The down side? I made the cheesecakes I posted about last night for a party today at work. Now I have 18 cheesecake cupcakes that are calling out to me. 

I had a decent breakfast with my guys and then J and I went on a run. Then we got lost. My normal route was a little weirder than normal so I thought we would take an alternate way home. Not a great idea. I found a lot of really steep hills in my little town. Needless to say, my time won't count. 

I then cut the last half of the grass for B and met a new "neighbor". I give it quotes because he lives two streets over but he was still enough of a resource to find out about some break-ins going on. No worries, the guy was caught. I can go back to leaving my keys and wallet in the car now. 

After J's nap we went in search of dinner and a new floatation device for him. Homefry has been deathly afraid of open water swimming. Open water meaning the lake and the hottub. Doesn't look so good for the beach on Thursday. 

We ended the night with a great dinner and I was able to paint my nails. 10 bucks says B won't notice for days even though I did it in the bed next to him. 

Have a great week! Here's to more interesting posts. 

-W

Sunday, May 24, 2015

Cheesecake

I found a recipe for cheesecake cupcakes that are so easy, you'll eat two batches in a mere 24 hours. I'm not kidding.

Have I ever told you how I think cheesecake is what makes the world complete? No Golden Girl episode was ever without cheesecake and for good reason. Do you really think 4 menopausal women can live together without it?

The women of my family always took a beach trip for spring break for about 10 years and every year we had two things; cheddar cheese buscuits and cheesecake. The biscuits are another story for another day. 

I hope you have a great Memorial Day and don't forget the cheesecake!!

I need to go run now. I've gained 10 pounds from this post alone.

-W

Saturday, May 23, 2015

Cousins

Cousins are so much fun, right? They're the only people you will ever really remember from your childhood but they're the ones that got you in trouble the most. Check out a recent cousin spotting...


Oh yeah. They've even got the bigger cousin in on all the mischief. I'm glad J has them to grow up with. 

-W

Friday, May 22, 2015

Food

My kid and his food are pretty hilarious.


This was him at the mall earlier today. Yep, that's a hot fudge sundae. Grandma is a bad influence.


He ate every last bit. 

He then came home and ate dinner a few hours later. But definitely wasn't going to share with the dog, even though he had declared himself done.



After she walked away, he ate the peas she didn't want. Don't tell grandma.

-W

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Graduation

Tomorrow is a very special day for a lot of people. First of all, tomorrow is the last day of school so it is also someone's graduation. How very exciting for all of these young people. I'm not sure why but I get so excited for the last day of school and I don't even have a school aged child nor am I in classes right now. But something about the end of the school year is still so exciting and magical.

The stores will be filled with little ones and their frazzled mothers as they try, for the third time that week, to refill the refrigerator. People will be traveling into town to watch their loved one walk across a stage that takes them from their dependent, high school years and into an independent life search. And the water parks will be open longer to accommodate the major influx of visitors.

But let's not forget about our graduates. They enter into a new time of life where they will no longer have their hands held every moment of every day. Now they will be expected to show up to class on their own account and will need to pass the class instead of "extra crediting" their way out. They will need to choose a life long career and begin advancing towards that goal. It's a scary thought.

"And everyone's, telling me 'you gotta pick a major, you gotta pick a major'. So, on a dare, I pick paleontology."

Name that show. Extra points if you know who they are speaking to.

The idea that you're entire life is a blank slate and ahead of you is a daunting but exciting thought. Some will fail but some will reach their maximum potential and go on to change the world. I wish them all luck and good blessings. I hope that whatever they choose in life, they are happy.

The other reason tomorrow is exciting? My commute lessens by 15 minutes.

No school= No school traffic= Shorter commute time= Happier me.

-W

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

A New Realm

J wanted to play tonight when I came home. Guess what new little trick he has learned?

Biting. 

Great. 

Pray for us.

-W

Monday, May 18, 2015

The Dump

You know you're a homeowner when you frequent the dump enough to take a picture of the rules and hours of operation. 

In case you need the Buford City dump information, I've got you covered...


You're welcome.

-Dump Officianado 

Sunday, May 17, 2015

Personality


He put this hat on by himself. He has developed such a personality lately.

Actually, he's more like his dad every day. 

Pray for me.

-Doomed

Saturday, May 16, 2015

That Boy

I miss this little guy.


I haven't seen him since yesterday morning. You know what the worst part is? He's in the next room over. 

I could easily walk over and give him some lovins but I'm pretty sure B wouldn't appreciate it. You know, since he worked so hard at getting him to fall asleep in the truck on the way home.

-W

Friday, May 15, 2015

Date Night

The little guy is with the grandmother tonight. What does that mean for us? 

DATE NIGHT!!!

What does date night mean?

FISHING ON THE LAKE!!!


And dinner too!

We even got a new pet to replace Cat.


But seriously, I miss my cat. I have slept so well since he left us a week ago. It just isn't natural.

-W

Thursday, May 14, 2015

I Love You

He did it. He said "I love you" today. And by "he" I mean J. He definitely doesn't say it on command but every once in a while, he will say it to us and my heart melts.

But this just makes me giggle.


*Note: You cannot watch this video on a phone or iPad. You must use a computer.*

The kid cracks me up.

-W

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Lady Cave

That term isn't really sticking with me but I'm not sure what to call it. Anyway, it definitely have lights now.


Oh, that ugly white cable in the right hand part of the picture? That's the cable wire. Hiding it is tomorrow's project. Wish me luck!! The ladder is beginning to make me nervous and I know it will be needed for hiding a wire. 

-W

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

T.V.

We now have t.v. in the craft room and boy am I excited! Now I can run away and watch Olivia Pope in peace. We're thinking of "cutting the cord" in our house so the basement has been a practice spot with the craft room as the first test subject. I can't say my wires are pretty right now but it's the only way to pick up all 36 channels.

That's what's worrying me about going without cable and just an antenna. I'll lose the ability to sit down in the middle of the day and watch something so stupid, it forces me to take a 3 hour nap. Seriously, I was meant for nightshift. If we get rid of cable, I'll actually have to plan out what I watch and can no longer "accidentally" sit down at the same time a show is coming on. I'll have to face the fact that I have one too many t.v. show addictions. How will I keep up with them all?

It's stressful to think about it all. I also need to pick a new name for the room. "Craft room" is a little too girly. I tried on "Lady Cave" but that makes it sound like a dungeon that's decorated in doilies. Any suggestions are welcome!

-Lady Cave Queen

Monday, May 11, 2015

Let There Be Light

Today was a big day. I took a little trip to Ikea and bought the lights for my craft room. And dish brushes, a bath mat, shower curtain and cinnamon buns. I love Ikea. 


The one with a light on is the one I chose. I'm having to make some modifications to them but I hope to have them up tomorrow. 

On a much sadder note, I think Kitty may have run away. We haven't seen him since yesterday afternoon. I did a little research this morning and learned that cats of his age are usually at their "maturity" level and may start seeking out female felines. If that's the case, his little body will be changing when he returns home. 

-W

Sunday, May 10, 2015

Sacrifice

On Mother's Day, you usually only hear one word.

Sacrifice.

I'm sure non-mother people get tired of hearing that word so let's dissect what you're actually hearing.

Sleep. Any time you talk about a mom, you talk about how much sleep she has lost due to her new, nursing "bundle of joy" but what you don't understand is missed sleep goes well beyond the nursing months. For years afterward, you lay in bed at night and replay the day wondering where you went wrong. Maybe you're trying to master a new dinner routine so that your little one gets fed adequately, bathed completely, read two books and in bed by 8:30. Some think about how they've lost their temper with the smallest members of their house and blame themselves for everything that went wrong. You say things like "If only I had done..." or "Maybe I went a little overboard with...". It. Never. Stops. Eventually, you look at the clock and see that it's 1 in the morning and the cycle will begin again in 6 short hours.

Sanity. When my mom was younger, she took my siblings to Disney World.... alone. To say sanity is lost as a mom is an understatement. You don't really care if people look at you and think that you're crazy. You love ferociously, care deeply and ooze passion from your pores. Who cares if you're insane?

Life. This isn't just about your night life and hanging out with friends. I say this one because I've heard so many people say "If only I can make it to 18 years" or "When they turn 18, they're out". Let's take a step back for just a minute. If you're mother is still with you, stop talking to her.

Cold turkey.

Never speak to her again. Never again share your ups and downs. Never call her "just to chat" about what's going on in your life. Never again call her for a white sauce recipe for your cucumbers (M, you know I'm talking to you). Just don't.

When you step back and think about it, a mother's job is NEVER done at 18 years post delivery. You may not be physically providing for your child (and some may) but you'll always be there for your child no matter what the situation is. The job is never done. I angers me when I hear people talk about how when their kids are 18, they want to take back their lives. Like they made such a sacrifice to someone they didn't want in the first place. I would gladly take a day with J over a day in Paradise.

Home. This is one is just for fun. I remember when we moved into our house, we started painting a few rooms. B had painted the baseboards in our living room and was obsessed with keeping them clean and scuff-free. Now J is here and there are toys all over the house (and some that sing during the night) and guess what, scuffs on the baseboards. You sacrifice your cleanliness when you have kids and you don't really care. You know you've made memories that day and that's all you care about.

My mother is a rock star. She always has been and always will be. When she was young, she sacrificed her "party years" to raise 3 kids. One of whom has a disability from a birth defect. She then sacrificed her dignity when she divorced at a young age. I say dignity because I'm sure she had to say to my granddad at some point "you were right". Ugh. Don't you hate those words?

She never complained and never used her situation as an excuse. (I hear that so much these days. Grow up and get a grip on your life!) She did what she had to do for her little family and made the best of the situation. Then at the "ripe old age" of 35, she sacrificed her freedom to bring another life into the world (your's truly). To say she has made sacrifices throughout her years is an understatement. She has loved.

She's an amazing lady and I'm so happy to call her my mom.

Happy Mother's Day, Icky-vay!

-W

Saturday, May 9, 2015

Whoa!

We took the boat out for a driving lesson today. While I was driving us around, we came across this...


Whoa. 

They have a mega house and a houseboat the size of our normal sized house. How insane is that?! And, the houseboat has a little toy boat hanging from it that is the size of our only boat that barely fits down our driveway.

We also saw a two story, 7 car garage. Nuts!!

From a quick look on Google Earth, they also have 2 swimming pools. One of which has a waterfall. 

The sad part? I bet there are only two people who live there.

Can you imagine cleaning that thing? We're doing good if we remember to put the wet clothes in the dryer. 

-W

Friday, May 8, 2015

Camping

This weekend is a big deal for us. For one, this is the first time we've been camping in 2 years.

2 WHOLE YEARS!!!

And two, this is J's first camping experience. So far things are going well. 


He asks a lot of questions that we don't know the answers to mainly because we don't understand the question.


And I think this sums up his thoughts overall.

-W

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Trapped


Just like out of a cartoon, the cat trapped himself. It was too funny to not take a picture.

-Easily Amused

Wednesday, May 6, 2015

Nurses Day

I am a nurse.

I am not your mother. No, I will not clean up your room or wipe your nose. I'm also not your lawyer. Nor do I work for the State Vital Records Office. I'm not sure which baby daddy you should put on your birth certificate. And NO! For the 100th time, I don't want to hear how they both came into your life, so conveniently, at the same time..... On the same night.

I'm also not your drug dealer. I will never believe your pain is a 15 out of 10 when you're laughing in the room with your family and posting your makeup-less selfie on Facebook for, so called, breast cancer awareness. 

That actually leads me to my next point. I'm not an idiot. I do not, for one second, believe you are going out to get "fresh air". Only two things on God's green Earth will keep a new mom from her newborn. Drugs and cigarettes. If you try to walk off my unit with an IV in your arm, I will body slam you. Check yourself, I don't play. And I always know what you've really done. Seriously, it's in your chart. You can thank "Dr. Magic" for that.

But you know what I am?

I am your cheerleader. I will cheer you on and stand behind any and every decision you make. It's your health and your entitled to a choice. 

I'm also your advocate. When I feel like a doctor is making a wrong call, I don't mind calling him or her out. But unfortunately, I'm a postpartum nurse so I'm also your baby's advocate. Even if that means advocating against you. Those are called margarita nights.

I'm your shoulder to cry on and boy have I dealt with the tears. Remember, I work on a postpartum unit. The mom's I work with are just delirious hormones with access to Percocet.

But first, and most importantly, I'm a mom. I have a family outside the four walls of your room. I don't live and breathe to take care of you and your ouchie when there's a little person at home that needs my attention and care even more. 

Do me a favor and thank your nurse. She's tired, hungry, has had to pee for the last 2 hours and is missing her kid's first big school play but she's voluntarily putting your needs ahead of her own. And she claims to love it.

So at the end of all of this, do you still need a giggle?

Here it goes.

Today is National Nurse's Day. A coworker's husband sent her flowers for the occasion and on the card it said "Happy Nashville Nurse's Day". 

Way to go.... Nashville nurses.....

-WB, R.N.


Another Off The List

I was able to work on my room a little more yesterday. 


I, totally by myself, installed the shoe moulding and I only had to recut a few pieces several hundred times. Angles confuse me. 

Next up is caulking the shoe mould and adding one more layer of paint. Then I'll be ready to build a craft table! 

I have to say, after using the saw and nail gun yesterday I'm all "I am woman! Hear me roar!" Then I was too weak to man handle the backdoor closed and locked. It was nice while it lasted. 

-Woman

Monday, May 4, 2015

Fruit Loops

This morning, I heard a crunchy sound and came around the corner of the dining room to find this...


Yep, that's a Fruit Loop thief.

Later on in the day, I heard the same crunching sound. I said "are you eating Fruit Loops!?" To which the reply was "No" but muffled. I walked in to find this...


So I guess we can add this to the list of things he will eat. 

-Keeper of the Fruit Loops

Sunday, May 3, 2015

The Lake... Again

I know I post a lot of pictures of the lake but sometimes I'm in awe of how beautiful the sunrises are.


Amazing!

Have a great week!

-W

Saturday, May 2, 2015

Oh Pa


Do you know how many times my dad has gotten on to me because J doesn't have shoes on? Too many to count. I guess it's all ok when you're with your granddad.

-W

Friday, May 1, 2015

Alone

I have to work all weekend so B is camping and J is with the grandparents. That leaves me in the house alone til Sunday. These are some things I've learned so far.

1.) I would rather take a beating over folding J's tiny clothes.

2.) B goes through underwear quickly.

3.) Grey's still sucks and I'm definitely done watching. What's up with all the ridiculously sad story lines?

4.) I eat too much Chinese food.

5.) Golden Girls isn't always on the gay channel so it's best to look ahead on the TV schedule before planning a night around that.

Maybe there have been no lightbulb moments but it's the first time I've been alone in a few months so don't expect Einstein posts. I'm mainly just enjoying taking my time in the bathroom.

-Simple