Soul Refilling Weekend

A Long Trip Alone by Dierks Bentley is playing on the radio and we both comment that it’s been a long time since we’ve heard it.  All that I want to do is stop for a bag of Limon potato chips.  But, Kage is in and out of sleep in the backseat and we don’t dare stop in fear that it will wake her.  We’ve been on the road for just about two hours and still have another four ahead of us.  I’m sure those Limon chips will be joining our trip before long.  

We just lost our station and that song that we both hadn’t heard in so long was lost. 

Now, it’s The House That Built Me by Miranda Lambert.  Equally as nice to hear.

This weekend, we abandoned responsibility and drove to southern IL.  My best friend called me and said that I needed to come down for a pumpkin patch trip.  She knew I needed it.  Despite the looming load of work that I have to complete for this week, I have faith in myself that I’ll find a way to get it done.  I needed this break.  We all needed this break.  So that’s just what we did.

It was a secret trip, in a way.  We didn’t tell anyone we were going.  Just loaded the car and went.  Trips like that are nice.  It’s hard to see everyone and do everything that you want to do in just a short weekend…the expectations are too high.  Secret trips are just kind of nice… we were able to stay in our pajamas on our best friend’s couch all day long.  The kids were able to play together.  We ate and talked and rested. 

They live on a farm—kind of.  And you know how much my KG Layne loves the farm.  (It is the theme of her second birthday party.)  She was able to run out their backdoor, across the back yard and into a barn full of moos.  She was in heaven.  She met and fell in love with a “moow” kitty (think the word now but with an m).  Her and her best friend ran hand in hand speaking in conversations that only they could understand.  I’m sure she told him all about her stressful times at day care this week.

We took the kids to the pumpkin patch, the same one we visited one year ago and took KG’s 9 month pictures.  It’s almost impossible to wrap my mind around the fact that she’s now almost 2.  Her and her buddy ran hand in hand through the corn maze.  It was so adorable, we just followed behind them.  Needless to say, we were corn maze drop outs.  We passed the same place twice and decided their lead was going to get us nowhere fast.   The pumpkin patch had a play zone where Kin was able to play in a bin of corn kernels and slide on a big slide!  Sliding is one of her favorite past times…for sure.  She was in heaven.

On Saturday night, the husbands took off for a night of haunted houses.  You can’t drag me into one of those things.  You know that there is always a clown hiding around the corner and this girl doesn’t play when it comes to clowns.  Or any haunted house, for that matter.  I am a chi-cken.  Big time.  It was nice to send them out and get to have a girl’s night in with the babies.  Our third partner in crime came over with her little boy and the three of us stayed in to just hang out.  We’ve been best friends since the babies were about six months old…and now we’re all planning second birthday parties.  Where does the time go?

It was an amazing weekend.  I can’t wait to share all of the pictures with you…we sure did get some good ones.

A Happy Place

Monday can be a much more tolerable existence when the weekend is fulfilling.  Have you ever felt that way? 

We spent the weekend back in southern IL and while the traveling wasn't the easiest (Kinley cried pretty much the whole way there), the time spent down there was the best.  We moved back to Chicago-land because the jobs are up here.  The money is up here.  Opportunities are up here...endless opportunities.  But going "home" makes us long for that life again.  Our friends are there.  Some of our family is there.  Life seemed simpler there. 

But I think you always long for what used to be or the whole "the grass is greener" philosophy. 

We have a good life now.  We are very happy where we are.  Our future looks brighter and brighter every day.  But it doesn't make us miss southern Illinois any less.

I got some time with my dearest best friends and their babies....although they aren't really babies anymore.  When we lived in southern Illinois, I started up a mommy group to help me meet other moms and find friends for Kinley.  She was only about four months old then...so she wasn't too eager to meet other children her age--but mommy wanted friends!  I was relatively new to the area and didn't know many people, especially moms with babies that could relate to my new psycho tendencies.  That was when the SoIL Chic Mommy Group was born.  I met the most amazing women from that group.  And leaving the group and those mommies behind was one of the hardest things I've ever done.

The friends that I made from that group will be my best friends for life.  I have no doubt.  We bonded on such a special level--and even though we only see each other every few months, it's the kind of friendship where everything picks up where we left off without any need for words. 

It is hard to not see them and share every day with them...but that's why we love Facebook and texting and pictures on blogs.  I keeps us connected in these busy times.

Visiting with my girls on Saturday was probably the highlight of the whole trip. Who am I kidding--it was the highlight of the trip!  The kids were able to run and play and climb and slide.  Play dates were so much easier when they could just lay on the blanket and stare at each other!

Saturday evening, the hubby and I left Kinley with grandma and we went to visit our dear friends who just had a baby a few weeks ago.  Holding a newborn was so surreal. It has been so long and it was almost impossible to remember Kinley being that tiny. 

Later, we went to the Southern Illinois Raceway to watch the races.  It was like old times!  Back in the day before we were married and had a baby, we would go and watch the races all the time.  So it was fun to go back and just relax and pretend we were dating again.

I tell ya....life is pretty good right now.  We are both so happy in our relationship and so happy in our lives....  it's a true testament to the power of prayer!  When things were so bad--a couple of months ago--I would have never dreamed that I would find happiness in our life again.  I was ready to throw in the towel and just walk away.  I thank God that I didn't.  I thank God that my husband held on while I let go.  I thank God for answering our prayers and keeping our family together.  Cause even though times are tough and we may not have it all--we are happy and that makes everything else so much easier.  I am forever grateful, that's for sure.

While sitting outside at the cabin over the weekend, I was watching my husband from afar while he was on the phone...and I caught myself crushing on him.  Do you know cool it is to crush on your husband?  I mean, it's so easy to crush on random hot guys (like Adam Levine) but to feel the butterflies in your tummy over the man that loves you above all things....and crushes on you too....  that's pretty amazing.  And I am so happy that I have been able to return to that place in my life where it's okay to love and it's okay to feel and it's okay to trust.  Makes you just want to shout it from the rooftops.

It was a good weekend.  A fill your heart kind of weekend.  And that's good, cause a week from today I will be starting my adventures in student teaching!

Festival Festivities

How is it that my days are *so busy* but then I can't seem to figure out why or how they are so busy?  Must be the life with a toddler.  Just constantly moving and going but really, going no where.

Last Friday, my bestie and I spent the day together.  We went to the gym, ate at Chipotle, watched When In Rome and napped a little.  Then after Kage woke up, we went shopping for some fun things.  Finally, at about 10:00 we headed out for our girls night.  Almost missed the band!  But we had a good time anyway.  Those monthly girls nights are so worth the wait.

The shirts and bracelet (you can see mine, but not hers) were some of our finds while out shopping earlier that afternoon.  We also got matching blingy watches.

Saturday, R and I celebrated our anniversary (even though it isn't until Tuesday).  We went to eat at a really swank restaurant in the downtown area of our town.  Then we did a little shopping and ended up going to see Bad Teacher.  That was awesome.  Laughed through the whole movie.  Oh, and you can see my date outfit to the left.  Shirt is from Old Navy and the skirt is stolen from my BFF about three years ago.  Shoes....had them for like 5 years.  No joke.

We also received our new iPhones in the mail on Saturday morning.  We're moving away from my beloved Verizon and going to AT&T.  I've been with Verizon since like.....forever?  So this move is big.  Huge.  And I know that I'll eventually love my new phone, but right now I'm in that whole new phone transition phase and I feel all disoriented.  Hate that feeling.

On Sunday, I got in my workout early so that we could have the rest of our day as a family.  We were taking Kage to see the parade in town.  This weekend was a big annual festival and it ends with the "grand parade."  This parade was no joke.  It was about an hour and 40 minutes long.  Kage lasted an hour.  Had they been throwing candy....she may have tolerated it a bit longer.  But this is the first parade that I have watched where they weren't belting the crowd with tasty snacks.  They handed out American flags instead.  I thought it was fun though. 

We then walked through the carnival area to be harassed by the carnie rats get cotton candy and a corn dog.
And then walked home.  I thank God that Kage isn't old enough to bug us to ride the rides and play the games.  I am appreciating these years until that whole fit starts.  I know that I'll be amongst the other poor parents out there forking over a whole paycheck so that the kids can ride every rickety ride offered.  Ugh.

After the festivities, we came back and had lunch and then I went to the pool while Kage napped and R played with his new phone.  I think that I slept through the whole pool time though....or most of it.  Oops.  And now, I'm slightly burned.  Ever so slightly.  Oh well.

Pool Date!

Yesterday was one of those "good for the soul" type days.  Chicago finally warmed up and resembled summer.  The sun was shining.  Birds were singing.  Okay, so I really don't know if the birds were singing.  I just assume that they were.

So I sent my BFF a text:  Great day for the pool!

She responded that she'd be over by 1:00.

I texted both of my babysitting options and got a big fat no from both.  Okay, no biggie.  It was late notice.  BFF suggested that it'll be a nice "distraction" to have Kage there with us.  Haha  Oh boy, she just doesn't even know!

She actually didn't do too bad.  She "swam" for a bit and even allowed me to lay out for a few minutes.  Then she swam again.  Then it was obviously nap time.  So our "pool date" lasted all of about an hour?  Tops. 

Long enough for Miss Pocahontas to show up and make me feel like Shamu.  There is always one chick at every pool that never fails to make every other chick, feel like a jerk.  Ugh.  She has been there twice now when I show up with my wild toddler, dressed as a bee, with our bee floatie and bag filled with sippy cups, a floppy hat and towels.  I feel like such a mom sometimes.

I'm just jealous....not hateful.  It's all jealousy.  I just can't figure out how some girls can lose every bit of evidence that they gave birth.  I mean, she has a son.  And she has the flattest stomach, ever.  Ugh.  Here I go, throwing rocks at myself again.

We walked back home and put Kage to bed and planted our butts on the patio.  Finally.  I have my patio beer friend!  Well, I've had her all along but now I have my friend on my patio.  We drank beers, grilled food, ate food, got buzzed.  Kage woke up and we brought her outside to play.  Her dad came home and he joined us for food and a beer.  Her and I did a couple of cartwheels in the backyard to prove that we still "had it" even though we're old.  Kage loved it and kept signing for "more" cartwheels.  She doesn't realize how old we are and how hard those cartwheels are these days.

For dessert, she and I ran over to the DQ and got ice cream for everyone.

It was a genuinely good summer day.  A good day that I'll pay for at the gym later.  :)

After Kage went to sleep, BFF and I decided to go make-up shopping and had so much fun.  We both filled our cart with random stuff to try and colors to experiment with.  And walked out each spending $50 on less than ten items.  How does that happen so easily?

Shopping and Texting

I'm prepared for her wanting to kill me for posting that picture.  When she saw it, she specifically said not to Facebook it.  So I won't.  But I will blog it.  :)  Hey, at least I didn't take one of us in our bikinis, right?



I love warm days.  I love my BFF.

Bloody good time!

There is about two inches of standing water on our patio.  It is pouring.  So much for that beautiful day that I ordered!

Today is a Kinley and mommy day.  Sort of.  It's just us and I love it!  We had breakfast together.  Or, I fed her a donut.  And then we went to the gym.  She played in the day care, I busted my butt working out. 

Okay, so maybe it wasn't much of a mommy and Kinley day.  Sounds like more of a mommy day.  Yikes.  I feel guilty.  She's napping now....but when she gets up....it's on.  Mommy and Kinley day.  Not sure what we'll do in this rain, but we're doing something!

Despite my back and forth with the whole tanning decision.....I decided to do it.  The mega gym that I'm now a member of (popping my collar--okay, not really) has a tanning salon inside, and the day care.  So how easy is that....work out and tan and Kage is being watched and having fun.  Win/win no?    The more I talk about this day care thing at the gym, the more guilt I feel.  Ugh.  So my bad-mom self worked out for an hour and tanned today.  And I enjoyed it.  While my baby was in day care.  Such a bad mommy.

I am proud of myself for accomplishing a work out though...despite the guilt.  I did 30 minutes of level 1 on the elliptical and then 30 minutes of strength training (is that what you call it?).  If I can do this 4-5 times a week, I think I'll lose those nagging 15-20 pounds that I'm carrying in my gut and face.

Enough about that.... Kage got her new backpack.  That thing came quick!  They must have embroidered her name like that second that I ordered it....  and she looks so freakin' cute wearing it.

I know it.....she's way too cute.  And so is that backpack!  It fits everything that we need in it but is still a smaller size.  Love it! 

Last night was my girls night out with the bestie.  We normally do the whole dress-up in heels and try to look totally hot and then hit the town....but last night was just one of those nights where the gym shoes were calling our names.  So we opted to hit Buffalo Wild Wings to watch the pay-per-view UFC fight and eat wings.  Yep....we were acting like men for our girls night out.  And it was so relaxing...and so fun!  We did jeans and t-shirts, gym shoes and just hung out.  The wings were eh....okay, the atmosphere was super casual and fun and the beer was good.  Beer is always good though....so that's a sure thing.

Normally, I'm *so not* a UFC fighter type.  I hate fighting, really.  But for whatever reason, I enjoyed the evening.  So much so, that we joked that it's going to be our "thing."  She loves the fighting.  But she's not a girlie girl....well, most of the time she's not.  I, on the other hand, feel sad for the boy that loses.  We even each other out.  So we chose a guy to become fans of and we'll make plans to attend these fights to root him on.  Or so that's our plan.  Silly girls.

While bestie was getting ready for our date, she ripped her toenail off.  I mean O.F.F-off.  Gives me the weebie-jeebies just thinking about it.  She's such a trooper that she just wrapped it up and came out anyway...but not before posting the bloody gore picture on facebook.  Haha

So I'm getting a kick out of talking about her "bloody toe" as if I'm British or something. 

And the point of this blog....?  Yeah, I don't even know.

In a nutshell...

Every time that we get home, I say that I will never make that trip again.  Six hours to get to southern IL to see my in-laws.  SIX HOURS.  With a toddler.  And a dog.  Ugh.  The ride there is usually tolerable.  We've learned to leave super early in the morning instead of at night....because if we leave at night, she sleeps the whole way and then wants to stay up all night long.  No fun.  So we leave early and hope that she takes a short nap through at least half of the trip.  And she mostly did just that.  On the way home, not so much.  She was awake the whole time.  And she was not diggin' the car seat. She wanted out.  Now.

I think that I heard the Super Why video about 60 times.  And the Baby Einstein show, oooooooh about 100.  And then we had the Will.I.Am song on repeat for over an hour. 

That was on the way there...and back.

On top of that, it is silence in the front seat as well because we just don't talk much.  Wanna go on a road trip with this family!?  *big grin*  Didn't think so?

I did make it in time to attend my friend's baby shower and had a really good time.  Despite looking a hot mess from the insane humidity there that has yet to find Chicago and the sweating from chasing a toddler while wearing wedge shoes.  I literally watched my hair go from a nice flat ironed look to the look of a poof ball while on the trip up.  Nice.

Kage had a blast showing off at the shower and she wore her little zebra print dress and gladiator sandals.  I could have eaten her up.  Love that kid!  But, I have zero pictures to show you because although my husband said he packed the camera, it didn't actually become found until long after the shower ended.  We pack well.

After the shower, we met friends for dinner and then I was dropped off for my girls night!

Ohmagosh that was fun.  We started at Applebees for drinks.  I know, you're asking, "Wha?  Applebees for drinks?"  Whatever.  Yes.  Applebees for drinks.  And two of us (not me, I just ate dinner, remember?) ate.  I had Corona.  Yum-mo.  We quickly became "that table" and we're pretty sure that the older couple sitting not too far from us, complained.  Or that's how it seemed when they called the manager to their table and then complained while POINTING at our table.  Seriously fogey?  Get your depends out of a wad.

We weren't really doing anything wrong....maybe we got a little loud on the second round.  But what the heck?  We were sitting in the bar.  It's not our fault that Applebees puts their sober tables close to the drunk tables.  And so what if we were talking about sex and man bashing (a little bit).  We obviously were not phased.

We stayed for about two hours until the movie was about to start and then paid our tabs.  I could be wrong, but there may have been a round of applause when we got up to leave.  I'm not sure.  I thought that I was being carried out on Aladdin's carpet....but it could have been the Corona that I was feeling.

The movie Bridesmaids was next on our list.  Let me just say that the worst part about going to the theater with a buzz is that you are completely surrounded by people that aren't buzzed.  Total buzz kill.  Anyway, the movie was so funny.  I mean, so.freakin.funny.  Like, I would spend another $10 to see it again.  Probably two more times.

And then we all hung out in the parking lot gossiping and just being girls wishing that the night wasn't over.  Those girls make my world go 'round and I sure wish I could see them more.  I think that I'd be feeling so much more sane (more sane?  saner?) if I had them in my corner.  I miss them more than words can say.

See, I'm a hot mess.  Frumpy, ugh.

The following day, we met up with my friend Bethany again (above in the green) and she did Kage's 18 month pictures.  She's done her pictures for every milestone from 6 months and up.  She does an amazing job and it's just a hobby.  The girl should totally go professional....but she's doing this nursing thing instead.  :)  But we had so much fun running (chasing) our babies through wheat fields and down gravel paths while praying for the perfect photo op.  Those 6 month and 9 month photo shoots were SO much easier.  They sat still and we posed them.  I tell ya...this toddler thing is NUTS!

My baby is getting so big.  But I'm so glad that Bethany has been there to capture every milestone for me.  And I honestly feel that she loves my baby girl as much as a non-mommy could.  Just as I love her son...him and Kage have been 'besties' since they were just a few months old.  And we hope to keep it that way.  Initially we said they would grow up to be married but the more time that goes on, I think that they are going to be like brothers and sisters.  Which is a perfect excuse for me to say (yet again) that I don't need to have any more children!  She's got the Carder-bug!

Such a wonderful weekend.  Despite the crazy ride home.  And I again said that I will never make that trip again, but the next one is already scheduled.  I'm seriously thinking about looking in to a train ticket or plane ticket next time though.  Six hours each way, in two days, is too much for a baby girl (and her mommy).

This one is for you

I have someone in my life that I love so very dearly. This morning as I was driving the commute to class, I was listening to K Love and crying happy tears.  The music just has it's way with me....  Just me and my thoughts and prayers.  Today, this song came on.  And while I have heard it before, today I was thinking of this dear friend, and just felt that it was being sung for her.  She remains nameless, but I think she knows who she is.  This is for you.

Is it Friday yet?

I missed my blog.  I had a to-do list a mile long for today and I told myself that I had to find a few minutes somewhere in the day to check in and see what was going on out here in blog world.  I literally have only a few minutes.  K is down for a late afternoon nap.  The husband will be walking in the door at any minute.  Dinner is still hiding in the freezer somewhere.  But, the to-do list is dwindling away. 

Such a beautiful day!

KG was in the most amazing mood.  She woke up so happy.  We played with the new toys that she got over the weekend from her Nonie and Papa.  She got a tea set and a new piano.  She poured the tea so delicately and then brought me a cup and a spoon.  Ahhhhhh, I love having a little girl.  She's such a princess.  At her nap time, she went down without a fuss and slept for.......  wait for it..........  THREE HOURS.  Thankyouverymuch.  She knew how much homework I had today.  It was so great.  I missed her immensely, but I loved getting my homework done.

We had to run a couple of errands as well.  Back to Kinkos for more copies and then to Walmart for some lesson supplies.  The sun was shining and she was so happy.  Glorious day.

This weekend flew by so fast.  We were being helpful servants.  My bestie moved into her new apartment in the city.  Oooh, so jealous.  I mean, would you look at her view from her balcony?!

I mean, I could never swing this lifestyle now....with a child and husband (a husband who is terrified of the city) but if I could go back in time.....I would so love to live in the city.  Just to try it for a week or two.  Or three or four.  But, I am happy to say that I now can live vicariously through her.  If she'll let me.  KG and I will have to visit her lots this summer.

Mom was able to come and stay with us after her work meetings in the city.  She stayed over Friday and then watched KG while we helped DL move on Saturday.  So then Saturday night we drove mom home and stayed at her house Saturday night.  It's been cra-zy.

And because of midterms at school, the work load has been insane.  I have had to stay up till 2-3 in the morning just to get homework done while the rest of the house sleeps.  It's impossible to get quiet time with a toddler.  And a husband.  They refuse to let me work.

Probably why I feel so hopped up right now.....no sleep and a steady diet of crap food to keep me going.

Tomorrow I teach a lesson on renewable and nonrenewable resources.  Say a prayer for me.  Lord knows I'm going to need it!

I'm blushing...

This is what I woke up to this morning.  It's going to be a good day.

Stinky Mango

She is her mother's daughter.  I remember my parents always saying that I wasn't happy unless I was right in the middle of everything-didn't want to miss anything.  I guess I'm still that way. 
Kinley, most definately is.  She is so nosey!  When we're in restaurants or just out in public, she will stretch her little neck as far as she can to see/hear what the people next to us are doing or talking about.  I just laugh, cause I know that she's just like me.  People watching is my thing. 

I had a friend (whom I don't ever see or talk to anymore, sadly) that was my people watching buddy.  Him and I would plan "dates" to go out for dinner and people watch.  We would analyze people and make up stories about what their life was like, what they were doing out, etc.  Stalkers?  No.  Just imaginative.  Those "dates" were some of the best times.  We could come up with the best stories. 

So last night, we had Dave over for Richie's small birthday celebration.  Dave is a very good friend of ours....one of our best.  Him and my cousin were in that wedding contest last week.  Richie and I always say that the song "You Find Out Who Your Friends Are" is about Dave--he's that kind of friend.  Anyway, he came over and we had appetizers and chili and cupcakes.  It was a nice time. 

Kinley, however, thought the celebration and visit was for her.  She was in major show-off mode.  Trying to show off all of her mad skills by climbing on top of everything, pushing her upside down cart, and proving that she is the boss when it is time for bed. 

Normally, she puts herself right to sleep.  She has been for a couple of weeks.  There is this cue that she gives us that lets us know that she is ready.  So we walk her up, kiss her lots and tell her good-night, sweet dreams, we love her to the moon and back, and we lay her down.  She rolls over and goes to sleep.  It rocks. 

Well last night, she started the cues out right....wanted to nurse, was getting cranky...the norm.  So then when she was done nursing she did the nuzzle/thrash which says "put me in my bed, now" and so we walked her up, kissed her lots, told her good-night and that we love her to the moon and back and laid her down.  In a split second she popped back up.  Almost as if she just realized what was happening.  And she cried, and cried, and stood up and cried.  We gave her about ten minutes (she didn't cry solid for ten minutes, I couldn't handle that) but she whimpered and we knew that she wasn't going to sleep.

So I went up and got her and brought her back downstairs and she just smiled at Dave!  She was like, "I'm sorry that my parents took me away from you."  And she had to show-off some more.  It was getting late (for us old folks, in reality, it was about 9:00) and Dave had to get going home.  So he grabbed the chili I packed up for him (and Jaime) and headed out.  Five minutes later, we repeated the bed-time routine and Kinley went to sleep.  I swear that she just wanted to see Dave off.

She just didn't want to leave her company.

Lucy is also thinking that Dave was here for her.

Kinley had to show Dave our "bzzzzzz" game.

Yesterday on Facebook, there were some funny status updates regarding that number game that is going around.  I was rolling outta my chair reading some of them!  My favorite, "Anyone who sends me a number and a question will get a solid fist to the face for your answer. Lol."  I'm not playing the game.  I think it's silly.  I mean, really, if people were truly honest, then maybe I would play.  But really, who is going to say, "#67867868, your whiney, stupid comments make me crazy and I think you need to get over yourself.  Oh, and learn how to spell." 

Or in my case, I could see someone saying to me, "#98798798, If you post one more thing/picture about your daughter, I'm going to snap.  You are 'that girl' that thinks that everyone else should be as interested in your child as you are."  So yes, I am aware that I overpost about Kinley.  But, come on, no one is honest on the game.  So why play it?  It annoys me.  If you really want to say something nice to/about someone, just do it.  Send them a message or put the little "@" in front of their name in your status update to tell them that they are a great friend/mom/sister.  Don't say nice things just for the game, say them because it's just the nice thing to do.  -stepping off my soap box-

Oh, and one more thing.  Mangos (or is it Mangoes?) stink.  I have one in our fruit basket on the table right next to my laptop.  Ick.  Nasty smelling-great tasting thing.  Kinley and I will have to eat it today cause I can't handle smelling it another morning.  Gross.

Your morning reminder!

Just wanting to remind everyone that there is just over two hours left in the contest...and if you'd be so kind, hop over to WTMX.com and VOTE FOR JAIME AND DAVE!  You can vote as many times as you'd like, there is no limit.  Just click "back" and vote again.

They want this more than anything, and I want it for them. 

And if you want to listen it, you can stream from their site.  I'm tuning in at 9:00 (cst) because that is when voting ends.

Please and thank you.

A simple favor.

My cousin, Jaime, and very good friend, Dave, have been together since Richie and I got married.  They actually met during our bachelor/bacherlorette party weekend.  We've always joked with them about getting married and always got the same response...."we don't know" or "who knows" or "maybe" or whatever else they could think of to politely say "shut up" haha.  Since that day in May, 2008, they have really become a perfect couple (right, Jaime! haha) and are so good for each other. 

You can imagine my shock this morning when Dave called to tell me that they are finalists in the local radio station contest to win a dream wedding.  I nearly fell off my chair.  I am so excited and want to do anything I can to help them win this.  The best part, if they win, they have to get married in 16 days!  SIXTEEN DAYS!  I love it!

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE go here and VOTE!  (and vote today and tomorrow--don't worry, I'll remind you--oh, and you can vote multiple times--so refresh and vote again!)

Click on Jaime and Dave! 

Good luck, guys!  I love you both!

Randomness

My morning starts with a glass of Oberweis chocolate milk. I was so excited to crack that baby open...glass bottled milk, can't beat it right? It's always been a splurge that I've just never indulged in. Well, even though it was on sale for cheap, it wasn't worth it. I'm a skim milk kind of girl and choking down that thick chocolate syrup was not what the doctor ordered. I'll just leave it in the fridge for Richie. I am now having my coffee, with peppermint mocha creamer. Who knew that they now have that all year? I stopped at two different stores last night in search of a pumpkin flavored creamer and come home with peppermint mocha. It's good, but I want pumpkin.

Would you believe that it took me almost TWO HOURS to get to campus yesterday? Good ole' traffic. All routes were pretty clear except for 355. Luckily Kinley slept most of the way. We were supposed to leave the house at 7:30 yesterday morning but of course when we have something to do, Sleeping Beauty wants to sleep in. So we left at 8:00 and arrived at about twenty minutes till ten. I was ten minutes late for our first appointment. It was with financial aid and it wasn't a big deal cause the guy stood me up. Grrr. I was hoping to discuss some options for grants with him....or not. It did give me time to give Kinley her breakfast before our next appointment though.

I sat in the common area near the cafeteria to feed her and it felt so weird being there. It was familiar yet strange. The whole baby thing just made it odd. The Joy that was there before is soooo not the Joy that is here today.

Not much has really changed there, aside from the new parking lot. It's kind of like cobblestone but not. Either way, not stroller friendly because I feared that Kinley would have shaken baby syndrome by the time we made it to the doors. And by the way, don't you think that it should be universal that there should be a designated "Mom with young baby" parking spots next to the handicapped? Maybe I'm asking too much. It just always seems that it's either too sunny or rainy or cold and I hate dragging her through a parking lot in the weather. I just have the luck of finding that last parking spot waaaaaaay in the back and have to walk 15 minutes to get to the building.

After Fin Aid blew me off, I went up to meet with the advisor. She's new this year and the one she replaced was at least half a deck short. And that's being generous. I was thrilled to hear that we had a new (and improved?) advisor. Ha. Boy oh boy...this is just the old advisor in a younger body. Seriously. I showed up at her door and she acted like she had no clue who I was and when I told her she was like "oh, ummmm, yeah. I have been searching for your file and I can't find it anywhere. Do you happen to have copies of all of your stuff?" I did have copies (because I'm anal like that and have learned not to trust the previous advisor) but it's her job to have my file! I've been conversing with her for weeks via email and she's been telling me to take Shakespeare to fill my English concentration so obviously she was looking at SOME of my file. Ten minutes after her running from place to place looking for my file, she found it on top of her desk. So I push my big ole stroller into her cube and it nearly swallows the whole area. Every question I asked her, she had to run out to find out the answer. So it was stroller in, stroller out, stroller in, stroller out, stroller in...you get the idea. Every time she had to move, we had to push Kinley out. It was that cramped. I met with her for a good forty minutes only to find out that I'm on target and set to go. And I later found out that much of everything else she said was wrong.

I took a Stats class down in southern IL to cover my final math selective (advice from the previous advisor) only to learn yesterday that it was "Elementary Stats" that I completed (with an A, go me.) and that the "elementary" part of it makes it not fulfill the selective. So I filed a "petition" to see if they'd make a program exception since I was advised by my advisor to take the stupid class. See my frustrations?

Following that appointment, Kinley and I crossed the bridge into the administration area and met with the coordinator. It took her a while to figure out who I was...even though we emailed a few times a week for the past two. She kept thinking I was a different Joy. How many are there in this world? I guess the other one is also at GSU ready to student teach. It took a bit to get her bearings straight but once she did we got on the ball. Long story short, I'm good to go for Lab 2. My grades are phenomenal (her words, not mine, haha), my portfolio for Lab 1 was a 99/100 (go me, again...I'm still going) and I have all of my Candidate Tracking Form current and accurate (umm, go me). She told me that registration for Lab 2 opens November 1 (hmmm, the "advisor" told me Oct.25) and that I could register as soon as I was "flagged" as approved to enter into Lab 2 (not at the opening date, as my "advisor" told me).

Kinley was the perfect angel through every meeting and I was asked "is she always this good?" to which I replied "I am blessed." Not a peep out of her the whole time. Now the ride home was a different story. She sang and talked and cried and then slept. Only an hour to get home, by the way.

All in all, I was satisfied with my first visit back. It was all that I hoped it would be, despite the issues with financial aid and my advisor. But you have to remember that I'm used to the advisor thing. In my opinion, GSU has the worst administration staff but the most supurb instructors. And for me, the instructors are what make me want to come back.

Today our agenda includes Kinley's 9 month well check, with the Polio vaccine. Scary! The flu shot is also included on our schedule but I'm still undecided on that. I think she may still be a bit young for the flu shot. I'll discuss it with her doctor first. I have told myself that I chose him because I feel I can trust him. Therefore, I will trust my instinct after discussing it with him today. Can you tell that I'm still trying to convince myself that trusting a doctor is the right thing to do?

I don't want this blog to become a controversial place about vaccinations...I'll just say that I am an educated parent that made choices for our daughter the way I see fit for our family. She is on an alternative schedule because I feel it is best for her and only we know what is best for our daughter. End of that. I'm super excited about finding out her height and weight. After seeing her monthly calendar picture, I see how much she's grown since her six month well check. So we'll see how big (or little) she is this time around.
After the pediatrician, depending on how much the shot freaks her out, we have to go to the park district office to drop off Lucy's rabies certificate and buy our pass for her to go to the doggie park. It's right down the street from our house and she will LOVE it. We're really excited to take her there.

I have so much work for that Shakespeare class to do but so little drive to do it. I realize how crucial it is for me to do well in it to keep my GPA up but it's so hard for me to read (wah, wah, wah) and I just don't enjoy the reading. Now, I enjoy the movies! My mom has them in the mail to me as we speak. So there, I admit that I'm going to be one of "those students" that watch the movie before reading to help me understand. Some say that's cheating, I say it's a learning tool. And in my defense, I did TRY the reading first. I got through Act 1 and part of Act 2 before wanting to throw the book out the door. Not too shabby. Ha.

Have you noticed (sure you have) how random my blogs are? I keep telling myself to pick a topic and stick to it each day. I can't do it. I'm that random. Too random. But that's just me.

Last thing...I am missing my mommy group back home. Really missing the girls and babies.... so I searched out another mommy/baby group and found a MOPS group. I've heard good and bad and decided to check them out. The first meeting is on Friday and I am so stinkin' nervous. I may just chicken out. After I mail in the dues (it's due by Friday), Richie will make me go and I'll probably love it but I always have that fear that I won't fit in. That's normal, right? My goal right now is for us to find/make new friends. Friends with kids. We have friends up here but very, very few have children. None have small children. We really need to find friends that understand why we don't go out all the time, or why sometimes we'd just rather stay in and play cards, etc. So my first step to achieving this goal is MOPS and our second move is to find a chuch. There are *so many* to choose from here and I guess we'll just start shopping until we find one where we feel at home. That's how it works, right?

Kinley is still sleeping, so I better get in the shower now otherwise I'll have company for it later. Her appointment is before noon today so I've got to get on the ball. I've learned that a baby in tow creates a new way of "getting ready" and that new way takes at least two hours.