all the pretty brown stuff......

What is brown and round…….

And rather smelly….uh huh…..you guessed it. We have more progress. After that potty talk we had last night, we had poo-poo in the potty this morning. It was so shocking to me that when she got up, I was kinda like, “huh, what’s that?” Well Baylee knew what it was and she was willing to snatch it up if I didn’t. Ewww Bayle and Yay Murry! I’m not pushing too hard, just encouraging her interest and bribing her with candy. Kids’ll do anything for candy, right?

I started this post last night and I didn’t get done--but I’ll continue on from here.

She is really doing good on the potty training…..I’m so proud and I hope to have her completely trained by age 2 if not sooner.

Today she went pee first thing in the potty and I put her in some panties. Then about an hour later I was ignoring her because she just jabbers on and on sometimes. When it finally came through my head, she’s yelling pee-pee! I thought, oh no she’s peed her panties. A quick check showed me that she hadn’t yet so we ran down the hall. I got her sat down and she went---a lot! Well somewhere in our little run she did leak some out, but we’re blaming this one on Mom! I need to listen to her, but sometimes I feel like if I listen and respond to everything she says, I may go brain dead or insane……………

For now we’re just potty training at home, but pretty soon I’m going to have to try the public thing…..not too soon, though! The big potty scares the bejeezus out of her.

So we went to the park today and she had a blast. Didn’t want to leave. I can tell this year is going to be tougher watching her, but she’ll enjoy it more. We took our lunch there and she ate, but as soon as she was done, she climbed up on the equipment all by herself and was ready to head down the slide before I knew what was going on. Scared me a little, actually. She was all over the place…..slides, swing, sandbox……Mommy likes the sandbox. It gives me a minute to stop and chat. So does the swing. I’m so glad the weather is turning nice. We really have missed our park playdates. I think the park is the secret to an awesome nap. Shhhh...don't tell Murry!

She was not ready to leave, but she didn’t throw a fit. I could tell she really wanted to and I think we got her home and down for a nap just in time! Whew!

I’ve been feeling a little stressed lately and I think I needed a day at the park, myself. I don’t like having to run around and pick out all this stuff for the house. I think on the last house, I was just so involved having drawn up the plans and all. I knew exactly what I wanted to do, and I was happy with all of my choices. This time has been more challenging. That and the prices of things have really gone up just in the 4 years since we built the other one and I hate spending too much money on things. Grrrrrr……

I always go out on a limb on paint colors. I like my life to be colorful. The outside got painted once, but the color was not good so that is why there will be no outside pics until the “new” color is on. They were able to darken up the paint we already had to make it look better. Onto the inside…..so I ended up with a light brown for the main part and a light sage green for my bedroom and the nursery. Ann-Marie’s room is a beautiful Mocha color. I am most excited about doing her room! She’s even getting her own Mocha colored carpet. Our carpet is a med brown color. My life is going to be full of brown it seems. I picked up countertop samples, but I’m having a little trouble picking that one. Tomorrow is light fixtures. Wish me luck--I’m gonna need it!

Off and running..

That's the name of the game this week. Murry and I were off and running all day and apparently tomorrow is more of the same. We hit the carpet stores today--2 of them. I got the tile ordered and I think I may have finally settled on a carpet--exciting stuff! She was a good little shopper and I hope it holds out for tomorrow. Tomorrow is countertops and ordering carpet. Finally!

So we were in the carpet store and this balding fella with a mustache is walking around looking at carpet samples minding his own business. My darling daughter is pointing at him and saying something. I hear her, but I'm trying to move along and quickly. The saleslady finally asks....is she saying "Dr. Phil". And she was, of course. Yes my 19 mos old daughter knows who Dr. Phil is and now she's pointing at complete strangers yelling it! I don't know which part of that is worse.......... Luckily the guy wasn't paying attention or if he was he had the courtesy not to let on and make the situation sticky. I know she's going to "Santa Clause" someone soon. A few guys on TV have already gotten it.

Big news on the potty front.....3 of 4 pee pee's went in the potty today! Whoohooo! The candy bribing is working out. She wants to pee on the potty now! That's the good news. We had never really discussed poo poo too much. So needless to say, we had to discuss how Tinkerbell doesn't like it when you poo poo on her, and Mom got her first experience at cleaning the poo out of the panties......not so much fun!

Oh and today was, I love Mommy day--my favorite day. She wanted me to hold her a lot and wanted to hang out with Mom a lot. Lately she's been a Daddy's girl, but not today.

They were hanging out by the window and Dan was trying to put it down since it was cold and something popped loudly. Ann-Marie says "DanIEL" in her best mommy voice.....LMAO! That's my girl!!!!! Dan said, "Well if she isn't just you all over" Awwwww.

Today was a good day in Murryland. She was a good kid with not too much fuss or whine.

Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary...........

How is it that I miss my girl before I even drop her off??? I mean I want a little break and I have a great time once I'm out, but I get this bad feeling in the pit of my stomach when I know it's time to leave her.....and I'm leaving her with Mamaw, so I know she's gonna be fine and she's gonna have a blast! Oh the insanity of motherhood.........

It is nice to have a few hours out where all I have to worry about is me......sort of. I don't have to wonder how much pee-pee is in the diaper, or if she might be getting hungry, thirsty, or sleepy. I don't have to entertain anyone, dress them, or keep their behavior in line. (wellllll maybe I have to watch myself a little ;) ) I don't have to read anybody any stories, or watch Monsters for billionth time. I don't have any little people to pick up or any toys laying in the floor around the house for that matter for those few hours. I don't have to wake up to someone yelling "mommy" and needing my attention immediately. And you know what? When I don't have all that to think about, I really, really miss it. I feel at a loss being able to hop in the car without buckling my girl in behind me. (I do enjoy listening to some loud music, however.) And after just a few hours, I'm ready to go get my baby girl.

She went to stay at Mamaw's for the night last night, and I enjoyed my time away from her, but I was very anxious to see her. I woke up the next day....and I thought about all those things that I always think I want to get done when she's not around to keep me distracted...and you know what? I said pooey on it, I can't wait that long to see her. So I got around and I did make a few quick stops along the way, but I was back before 24 hours was up. She was without her mommy from 6pm Fri. to 2 pm Sat. Whew! I think we've only been apart for 24 whole hours one time. Mamaw did keep watching her while I went to check out the new paint and try out yet more carpet samples. They took a nap together....so sweet. Thanks Mamaw for watching my little angel girl. I know she had a great time with you!

Tonight when bedtime rolled around, there was no way I was giving up my snuggle time. Daddy has been doing storytime since he's gone so much. But tonight was all mine. We cuddled and snuggled and all was right with the world because my baby was right where she was supposed to be.....with her Mama.

Now how in the hell am I going to survive her first day of school? They may have to pry her away from me---LOL!

Sobfest 2006

OK adventures in motherhood continue for me. We've been runnin, runnin, runnin for 3 days now, so I needed a home day. We got up late as usual......had breakfast, played with her new tea set...thanks Nana;), and then I did my morning chores. After this I needed to sit down and see what was going on in the outside world....(get on the computer) so I put on the Lion King for the grunyun and sat down here. She was totally digging it with all the animals. She just loves animals. She's just watching along and all the sudden bursts into tears. Now I didn't see Lion King till I was much older--since that's when it came out--but I don't remember it as being so violent. She was scared to death of the hyena's and Scar--the evil brother Lion. So I calmed her down and about this time Dan calls and she gets back into the movie....problem solved, right? NO! I totally forgot about the part where Mufasa dies.....*eyeroll and knocking myself in the head* I was actually on the phone with Jami at this time and she broke into total sobs and I had to get off the phone---fast! So I thought welllll I'll turn it off, but that upset her even more. "Lion on!" she said....about 5 times. So there went all my plans of getting a little computer time and then getting laundry done---which is still sitting in the dryer. We sat and watched the rest of Lion King together, and she would spontaneously burst into tears if the animals played to rough or if Scar was on the screen at all---but it was more upsetting when I tried to turn it off--so we kept going so that she could see the end and the happy ending. She was sooooooooo upset about the stampede scene........I don't think we'll be watching that one for a loooong while. I think I'll go hide it in a box under my bed and forget about it. lol

Ok here's the goofy part, I still cry when I watch Lion King as I discovered today--so she must get that from her mommy. Dad used to call me waterhead--still does actually----for a good reason! So I think my little darling comes by it naturally...........lots of things like that upset her.......She doesn't like me getting on to the dogs....she can't handle us fooling around like we're hitting or being rough with each other. One time I punched Dan's shoulder in the car...playing....and she just lost it....poor baby!

Down with the Lion King!!! I need movies that get me some time, not ones where I have to console her for hours afterwards......someone should warn people....rated G hmmmph!

More later....maybe...

The loooong goodnight(nap)---the one that didn't happen!

Where to start.................

OK I'll start with tonight. I went to my WW meeting and my weight is the exact same as it was 2 weeks ago......I'll look at that as a positive thing. I'm fairly certain that I'm still losing, but sometimes I just eat too much salt and by the time my 6 o'clock WI comes around....I'm bloated. I did shave off 2 lbs on my scale 1 hour before going just by drinking a glass of water and then depositing it in the potty. The reason I think I'm still losing is that my morning weight, the one before I eat, keeps going down. I'm gonna go for getting the evening one down this week. We did our dancing the past couple days after taking the weekend off. That definitely helps as does the pilates I've been doing.

Today was a very loooooooong day. We had a good time for the most part, but AM was a spazz and I think maybe an alien in a parallel universe switched bodies with her today. Some little alien mom was glad to have my angel for a day, but she can have her whining spazzy little poot back. I do have to say she redeemed herself right at bedtime. She was all snuggly and she can win me over with snuggles anytime...and she knows that.... and I know she knows it....and she know that I know that she knows it.......ya know? Little girls learn how to work their charms at a young age. We went to the JBF sale and got her summer wardrobe as well as 4 pairs of shoes and who knows how many books! The kid loves books, which is awesome! She gets that from me--I'm taking credit for this one. Dan likes to read now, but he only started reading after he met me. He said that before that he couldn't remember the last book he read and actually finished. Hmmmm....the problem was the crap he was trying to read.....he gave me a book that he was trying to read and I didn't finish it either. So I hooked him up with some good stuff and the rest is history. Now he reads everynight before bed like I do. I may not do much to fill my family's tummy, but I keep their heads full of stuff ;)

Ok so we (Murry, Mamaw, and Mom(the M's)) went to JBF, then hit Jason's Deli, where I made semi-bad choices on WI day and I'm sure that didn't help. Then we went to Garden Ridge. Miss Murry was a total poot every time things didn't go just her way. Grrrrr.....I took her out of the stroller for God only knows what reason. Then when I went to put her back and she cried, Mamaw came to the rescue...which didn't help......and I forgot her snack and anyone with a toddler know how important the freakin snack is.....it's almost like a kiddie crack---they HAVE to have it and now! I may have to stay home tomorrow just to put in her place. That's how looooong the day was.....

Then after we got home, I tried to put her down for a nap. You may have noticed the word "tried" there. She played crib trampoline, and talked to her bears, and tried to talk to me. I even went in and got ugly about it, but she wasn't closing those eyes. She laid there and played in her crib for almost and hour and a half!!! So at 5:30 it was time to pack it up and head to my meeting with my non-napped child. She did fine during the meeting, but I think the tired-ass bug hit her right as we left and she was fussy all the way home. Fussy sucks!

I've been busy running here and running there for things on the house. And I know that is just gonna get busier for a while. I think I've got paint, carpet and tile figured out. Carpet is still iffy and I need to check one more place before I choose. Next is countertops, appliances, and light fixtures. Whoohooo........

A few Ann-Marie'isms to live by:

1. when you're eating eat the food and not the plate....not the plate, not the plate, not the plate, not the plate........I told her to pick up the pizza today and not the plate and I'll bet ya she said "not the plate" about 200 hundred times after that.......I think when she learns a new phrase she likes to really wear it out!
2. As you walk through Garden Ridge....ask your mom if you can "touch it please" 3000 times till her sanity is questionable. And because her sanity is not there...she answers you 2500 of those times.....why? why?
3. Hear every baby within a 5 mile radius and ask your mom if you can "hold da baby" when she has no clue what you're talking about because her baby radar is focused on the baby right in front of her.
4. Melt your mom's heart when you ask to dip your grilled cheese sandwich in her tomato soup so you can be just like her.....then say "dip it" and smile cheezily every time you dip it!
5. Say "luboo" as Mom walks out the door after tucking you in and telling you goodnight before she gets the chance to say love you. *sniff, sniff* *wiping the single tear, but still sighing a huge sigh of relief that the lil one is tucked away for the night*

Yeah I have more to say, but I think I'm brain dead from spending too much time with a nutty toddler today so I'll have to re-gather my thoughts, knock out the cobwebs and put up some more tomorrow.

Who's ready to party???

Ummm not Mom at 3 in the morning!

Don't you just love the double tubes of snot running down AM's face in the last post. It seems like that's all I've been doing lately is wiping snot. It's gone from a clear faucet to a green drip......ewww!

So last night sucked butt--sort of. Dan got home after 10 which has been bedtime lately so he can see her. So I put her to bed at regular time, but she didn't get to see her daddy. She went to sleep and all, but she was up at 1:30, 2:30, and 3:30. Ok so she's sick right? Well she is , but she was up in there jumping around having a party--not feeling bad at all. I'm getting to the end of my rope and not feeling like the good mommy I was Monday night when I could understand all this disruption of my sleep. So I'm laying there and I'm thinking why the hell is she awake??? So I've come up with some options:

1. The medicine is keeping her up, but this theory blows since she had it 6 hours ago now.
2. She has too much medicine in her tummy and not enough food since she didn't eat much. This could be hurting her tummy.
3. She didn't get to see her Daddy before bedtime, so she thinks this is a nap, and it's time to get up and PARTY!!!

Read on to see which one wins. I decided the first one was instead that her medicine wore off and gave her more since it's one that says every 4 hours. So that kills #1. Then I get up and make her some oatmeal since it's one of the few things she wants to eat right now. I go in there and feed her oatmeal at 3:30 am. (I promise I didn't shove it down toooo hard!) Ok so I sit with her in the rocker and now she wants to visit with me. I asked her if she had an owie anywhere and she point to her foot. Whatever...so I kiss it. I am beginning to suspect an ingrown toenail, though because she says this often and I don't see anything. Reason #2 is still a slight possibility. Anyhow, she finally says it, Daddy at work? No, he's sleeping I say. I want to see Daddy. Awwww and she was so sweet when she said it. So I take her in there to show her that Daddy is sleeping and she wakes him up and is all hugging on him. They play for a few minutes in bed and he takes her back to her room to read a few stories. The best part is that I had been telling her that Mama was trying to sleep. So I brought in to see Daddy for a minute and sat her in bed between us. I lifted my head up for something and she patted my head and said, Night, Night, Mama. LOL....this kid cracks me up! It was like I'm seeing Daddy now--you go on to sleep. Nevermind that you're the one who's been back and forth for 3 loooooong hours. That's when I told him to takeher in and read to her and put her back down. He puts her down around 4 am and off to sleep she goes......not to be heard from until 10:45 thank goodness. The funny and by funny I mean frustrating thing is that if I'd sent him in there at 1:30 we could have had many more hours of sleep. I told him one of the times that he woke up that I thought she might be wondering about him and if he made it home and all. Oh well live and learn, right?

Up all night......wondering what to do?

Here's what Miss Murry's up to right now as I type. Awww nothing as sweet and peaceful as a sleeping baby. So she's been sick. It's just a nasty cold, but she scared me a little. She's had several colds and never had a night like Monday night! We were literally up all night. We have an occasional cruddy night where she's up for a couple hours, or maybe she's up 2 or 3 times, but goes right back down. I can handle those....I might need to catch a nap, but it's no biggie. Well Monday night there was NO sleeping going on around here. I could tell she wanted to sleep, but just couldn't get comfy. We tried different positions in the crib. I rocked her to sleep about 3 times, but it was not working. I tried to lay on the couch with her, but neither of us could get comfy. So we tried sitting in the chair together. Note to self: get a comfier chair. So my last resort was watching movies so that at least maybe I could doze off because she was wide awake and wanting to talk to me and play. So we watched the Santa Clause, and still nothing. She sat through the whole movie. I dozed for a few minutes. Then I kept trying to think, now what makes me feel better when I'm sick----a hot bath! So we took a bath--not too hot, but warm. Keep in mind this about 5:30 am. After I've tried all I know to get her to sleep including giving her dimetapp which usually knocks her out. I've pretty much given up on sleep till she just crashes and figure why fight it. So after the bath, we put on Monsters, Inc and I set her up in her chair while I laid on the couch. Here I finally got in some good dozing till Dan got up. I guess Murry went and got him up on her own when she saw that the sun was up. He came in and had cereal with her and she finally, finally fell asleep. This was a little after 8 am!!! He laid her on the couch with me and that should be it right, but NO! At 9:30 I have solicitors show up at my door. I was not happy to say the very least. I told them to go away. Then I made a little sign saying baby sleeping--go away. Sweet huh?

She slept till 11:30--big whoop!

Ok so lots of Moms have long nights and lose sleep----this I know. I've done it when she was a newborn, and it made me a walking zombie who cried at the drop of a hat. This time was easier somehow. I knew she was hurting and I did what I could to help. Instead of getting upset or mad, I just tried to keep thinking about how bad she felt and what I'd want my mommy to do for me when I was sick. Yeah it sucked butt, but I do have to say that I'm proud that I kept my cool and made her as comfortable as possible.

The next day I took her to the doctor since it just seemed worse than anything she's ever had before since she couldn't sleep at all. It's just a nasty cold. Which is good because I sure didn't want it to be anything bad. So we picked up a few new medications and one of those vapor plug-ins. We went home and took a nap. She napped about the same as usual--1.5 hours. Grrrr.....now Mom was getting very tired and somewhat grumpy.

But by the grace of God, she slept all night last night.....whew. I woke up feeling tons better, and hope that tonight goes the same.

She's been a good girl all day, and I can tell she's feeling somewhat better already. She is a real hoot, and I hope she stays that way. Mmmmm, I am loving motherhood. Check back with me when #2 comes along and I might be singing a different tune---lol!
We had a very nice day together. She is so sweet and lovey when she's sick. I have to just sit here and soak up the sweetness. These pics are from Monday night--aka hell night. She was dancing around as you can see from the move she's doing in the picture on the right. The other one just shows her natural angelic glow.......lol.

When her Daddy got home from work, she was being a goofball. She was sitting in her chair saying "gooosh" and shaking her head back and forth as fast as she could. Then when he put her down she ran around like a wild Indian screeching, but being absolutely adorable about it. The more we laughed, the more she performed, of course.

That's the news that is the news from the homefront of Miss Murry and her Mom!