The Dishes Can Wait

Tonight, I had one of those moments.  One of those, smack yourself in the face, or kick yourself in the ass moments. 

Gwen likes to lay in our bed at night and watch some TV to wind the night down.  And many times, we will use that opportunity to eat dinner together (Gwen eats earlier depending on when Jason gets home).  At some point during each time, she will call to us to come into the room, either for a new show, maybe a bottle refill, and sometimes for a "cuddle cuddle."

Tonight, I went in there when beckoned for, and she wanted a new show, and some tickles.  So, I happily obliged, laying with her and making her laugh, when she stopped, hugged me and said, "Momma, cuddle cuddle?"  And I replied, "No, sweetie, Mommy has to go the dishes." 

And it was like, SMACK.

I repeated my previous sentence in my head, and thought... "Are you SERIOUS!?!"

I then proceeded to mentally reprimand myself...  Really, Sam???  There is going to be a day that this little chica is gonna be too-cool-for-school and not want anything to do with cuddle cuddles, maybe even you for that matter.  You should be soaking up every second of this rapidly growing little girl, this little girl that was once your tiny little baby, and tomorrow could have grown that  much more.  

So, I curled up with that lil pumpkin of mine.  And even if it were only five minutes until she wanted to be up and moving again, it was worth every second.

The dishes can wait.

xoxo.

Sunday Social: We're Getting Deep.

What is your ideal way to relax?

On a beach with a cocktail in hand.  Or, if I could afford it, I would have a live in masseuse.  But, I can't lol.  Not yet at least.  Mani/Pedis always seem to do the trick.  I would say, though, that the most simple and my favorite way to relax is with a glass of red wine, a cuddly blanket, and a movie or some trashy reality tv show that I am currently obsessed with.  Preferably the beach though ;)

Where is your favorite place to be?

Home, obviously.  Isn't that an easy one?  I mean we travel so much throughout the year, that it makes coming home to our stuff and bed and space make us love it even more.  Specifically, my favorite place to be is snuggled up in bed as a little family, yes, including Wiley.  It's in those moments that all I can think is, "This is what life is all about."

Who do you consider your biggest role model?

I can't pick just one.  Seriously.  I have had so many different role models during very different stages of my life.  I am blessed to have a lot of strong people in my life.  People who helped me be the person I am today.  

What does your life look like in 3 years?

Happy.  Fun.  Full of love.  I would hope that we could have given Gwen a sibling by then.  That my husband would be thriving still in his work.  Gwen would be starting Kindergarten. {Shit, I can't believe that!}  And living life to the fullest!

If you could go back and change one decision, what would it be?

None.  Honestly, I had a very different answer written for this but, I realized that whether my decisions have been good, bad, smart, or extremely dumb, they have brought me to this place in life.  And I have never been happier.  I'm happy with my family, immediate AND extended, I'm blessed with supportive and strong relationships, I married my best friend, and I have the most precious little girl in the world. So, one changed  decision may have placed me somewhere else, and this is the only place I would want to be.

What is your biggest accomplishment in life thus far?
Gwen.  Simple as that.  Being a mom is a gift, and a blessing, and a constant growing experience.  Being a stay-at-home mom isn't all roses... it's a challenge.  Believe me, I am not complaining, but sometimes I think that being a mom gets overlooked as a very important job.  And I couldn't be more proud of the job I currently hold.

We spent all day in PJs, just our little family, napped together, snuggled together... perfection.

xoxo.

Laugh It Up

I'm linking up with Melissa today for some Saturday Laughs. 

 *****

When driving, if we hit a speed bump/pothole Gwen goes, "Whoooooaaa, careful Momma, caaaare-fuuuulll.  Thanks back seat driver.  Lol.

*****

She is currently obsessed with the little coupon book that comes in diaper boxes.  She woke up this morning and the first thing she said was not "Good Morning,"  it was, "Momma, I can't find my coupons." {A kid after my own heart}

*****

After changing a massive diaper the other day, Gwen stood up, began petting my face and said, "Goooood guhrlllllll."  Guess I had done a good job with that one.

*****

Gwen calls sliced American Cheese "Turkey Sandwich Cheese," but at first she was only calling it, "Turkey Sandwich" and we couldn't figure out what she meant, especially since she doesn't eat them.  My "a-ha" moment came while waiting in line at the deli counter when my cranky and I guess hungry daughter decided to throw a FIT because all she wanted was a "Turkey Sandwich."  As I began to sweat and sort of move closer to the edge of the department away from all the onlookers, Gwen finally got close enough to point to the woman slicing Yellow American and said  "Momma, look, Turkey Sandwich!!"  I was so relieved that we reached a breakthrough! And believe me, I got that girl her "Turkey Sandwich" ASAP.

*****

Hope you're having a good, warm Saturday.  We have a weekend of doing nothing... my favorite kind of weekend.  The next few months are going to be pretty busy, so I am relishing the down time, while we have it.

xoxo.

5 Days In 1 Post.

Monday
Update of Pics

1.15 - A pattern that I am loving right now.
1.16 - A Christmas present from Hubs, pretty in love.
1.17 - My little hoarder with almost every book she owns on her trampoline.
1.18 - She never naps anywhere but her own bed, must have been tired.
1.19 - A pic from our Poconos trip, love her whole outfit.
1.20 - From Poconos too, loving the pool right after the snow.
1.21 - Making candy with our "pi-doh"

Tuesday.
Began the freeze.

Yes, I understand that it's winter.

And, yes, I will probably bitch about the heat in summer... but dammmnnnn it's cold!  Like become a prisoner of your own home because bundling your child in 18 layers takes longer than it does to go run the errand at hand.

So, we may have left the house as little as possible.  At least there was lots of cuddling.

Wordless Wednesday.
She's gonna be one hell of a rockstar!

Thursday.

Was one of those, "this toddler is going to be the death of me" days!  Cooped up in the house, more energy than me with five cups of coffee, and on the go, go, go.  I truly believe that, although I didn't have any, this is the reason wine was made :)  AND also the reason that God makes children so freakin adorable... to ease the blow of toddler tantrums.

And then, just when you think you can't handle a moment more... "Momma, hug?"  Yes, baby, let's hug it out.

Friday.
We've entered the potty phase of life. More details on that later.  But I need some suggestions.  Some good books? Videos? She was scared of it for this first week and cried when we tried to get her to sit on it, but she did, and didn't go.  She would go to the bathroom and THEN come get us and point to the potty.  I know it's only the beginning, I am going to be patient, just looking for helpful hints.

Thanks!

So that's our week.  Hope yours was good. Hubs and I are sitting down to watch End of Watch  and enjoy a cocktail or two.  Be jealous.  Lol.

xoxo.

Social Sunday. All About 3's.

Top 3 Favorite Kinds of Food.

Seafood, Pasta, and Wine {what? Don't judge me... It has calories, it should count.}

First 3 Things You Do In The Morning.

Get Gwen and change her diaper, check phone {email/fb/instagram/etc}, and make coffee.

Last 3 Things You Do At Night.

Brush teeth.  Get a glass of water, and             {sorry, you may not want to know that one ;)}

3 TV Shows You Never Miss.

Sons of Anarchy.  Criminal Minds.  World News With Diane Sawyer... and in writing that, I just felt ten years older... ugh.

3 Places You Want To Visit.

St. Regis Bora Bora {from Couples' Retreat }.  Ireland.  Jamaica. 

3 People You Can Always Count On.

Jason.  Every single one of my parents/inlaws/stepparents.  My brother.  And many more ;)

We spent the weekend with family in the Poconos, and Gwen loved every second of it.  One minute she was playing in the snow, and the next in a pool.  Lots of fun, great pics and so many memories.

  

xoxo.

She Got It From Her...

From the minute a baby is born, actually even while in the womb still, comparisons are already being made.  

"Omg, she looks just like you."

Dude, it's an ultrasound.  She looks like an alien. lol.

But, I must say that Gwen has very distinctive Mommy  or Daddy  traits.

Straight out of the gate, girlfriend was a spitting image of her Daddy.  Like, if I hadn't birthed  her myself, I would have questioned if she was mine.  Their baby pictures... identical.  As time has passed though, she has started to look more like me.

Just like her Daddy, she is a morning person.  An "I'm up, everybody's up, let's get this day crack-a-lacking" type of morning person.  Momma bear... not so much.  I am reaaaaalllly not a mornin' person.  I am a "let me sleep, don't speak to me until I speak to you {except Gwen} which will probably be after coffee has entered my body"  type person.

She's bossy... like her Momma... and Daddy.  Seriously this kid didn't have a chance in the "bossy" department. lol.  But, I would say that we aren't too bossy, and I am pretty sure that we can keep her under control :)

She's a piiiiiicky eater... just like her Mommy {well, I used to be when I was little}.  My mom used to have to roll my cheese sandwiches into little balls to get me to eat it.  And I would mask my broccoli with ketchup to be able to eat it.  I must say that Gwen is getting better, thank God.

She loves music and to dance... like Mommy and Daddy.  I'd say that she enjoys music as much as her Daddy, but thankfully gets her dance moves from her Mommy.  {sorry babe, I'm def the better dance in this duo. love your efforts though}

She's a lefty like her Mommy... aaaannd a righty like her Daddy.  Yup, she's ambidextrous.  For now.  Lol.  She currently just puts the crayon/marker/pen/etc into either hand and has a pretty good grip with both.  I am pushing for a Southpaw though.

She's a little party animal {the PG kind} like her Daddy.  They love to have a good time, laugh, and be the life of the party.  I do too, but they are so similar in this area.  And boy, is she the life of the party!

It's so interesting to see some of our traits coming out in her, let's hope that they are all the good ones!

Happy Friday, peeps.  Hope there's a fun weekend in store for you.

xoxo

I confess...

...Gwen still gets a bottle. ::cringe:: Yes, one, at night, after dinner.  It's the STRANGEST thing.  She won't drink anything but water unless it's milk, in her ba-ba.  Milk in a cup? She flips!  I know that it is something that we NEED to break, but we are currently using it as a bribe tool to get Gwen to eat better.  And honestly, it's working.

...Gwen also still sleeps in a sleep sack.  And probably will until her toes poke out of it and then some.  She has slept in one since she was a baby {it was a Godsend, bc it helped her sleep through the night} and she cannot go anywhere without it.  Therefore, it's here to stay.

...There are some days that I don't  want to move.  That I am content in our home, in our town, away from all the "everybody knows everybody's business" type town that we grew up in.  Wish I could have the best of both worlds... and a backyard. :)

...My daughter has her own Coach purse.  I didn't buy it for her.  It was a gift.  But, I love it. Yes, she's two.  Don't judge me.

...I like Duck Dynasty.  Yes, husband, I don't mind it.  Don't get too excited now.

...this year is going to be an amazing year for my friends, family, and hopefully us{baby, maybe?}.  We are pretty much gonna kick ass and take names.  I couldn't be happier for each and every one of them.