Home Makeover

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7 Quick Takes FRIDAY!

This week flew by, can't believe it's Friday already!  And Clan Donaldson is hosting - hi Cari!!

1)

So last year, I wrote a bucket list of sorts, and one of my items was to see a woman give birth.  I just think it would be the coolest thing ever.  According to my husband, it is.  So everytime one of my friends gets pregnant, I bug them and try to convince them to let me be in the room when the miracle happens.  So far, no takers.  But!  My super pretty, intelligent, funny, friend (did I ingratiate enough?) Laura is due next month, and she is seriously considering letting me come to the labor!  Squeeeeeeeeeal!  I would be the photographer, and if it all works out (meaning she does not call me in the middle of the night because I love my sleep too much) I will actually get to accomplish a life long dream.  True story, I wanted to be an OB/Gyn when I was a little girl so I could deliver babies all day long, and then I found out what the Gyn part was all about, and that occupation went on my "way-too-gross" list.

2)

We got benches for our kitchen table!  

As a family of 7 (going on 8) we had run out of chairs at our table, and kept talking about getting/making benches to fit everyone.  My parents were at a consignment shop and saw these two 5 ft. benches (with backs!) for $50 total.  My Dad had his truck, so they called me up, described them to me, bought them and delivered them.  What service!

 Alexander was especially thrilled about the "diamond" in the center.  (It's a heart, but don't tell him that.)

3)

Soccer season is almost over!  Know how I know that?  It's getting cold and dark at practices!  But look at the beautiful sunsets we get to watch...

  

They paved paradise...and put up a parking lot.

4)

Anne got to hold her beautiful teeny baby boy!!!

And Kate had her gorgeous baby girl!!!

5)

The Red Sox are in the World Series, and I'm not even watching.  I just don't get baseball.  It's too slow and the season is too long, and the games are so late. 

But, Go Sox!?!?!?!

6)

This is why I refuse to go on rides at Fairs.  I will go on at amusement parks (where the rides are permanent fixtures) but traveling machines of death scare me worse than carnies.

7)

Okay, we need something happy to end the week...

A Maggie Einstein throwback.

Les Cinq Favoris

Oui oui, je suis tres cultivee.

1) Maggie.

 A face only a mother could love!  

She is by far my favorite daughter - hahaha, especially when she writes me notes like this:

"Dear Mom I No (know) you were mad.  I still love you." And then Xander helped color it.

2)

Running for a cause.

I was able to participate in the 2nd Virtual Run for The Little Flowers.  Last year, I ran it on the dreadmill:

Disappointed that it took me longer than 25 minutes.

I honestly remember thinking I looked fat in this photo last year.  Can I go back and smack myself?

My, my, my, what a difference a year makes.  Same dreadmill, mucho slower-o pace-o:

It's called waddling.  Hey, that's a W for Theme Thursday!

18 weeks, and that's sweat, not pregnancy glow.

But I am happy, happy, happy to participate and help such a wonderful organization that helps Chinese orphans.  I wish I could take them all home.

3)

Edy's Outshine Lime Popsicles

Me + Pregnancy = Lime Popsicle Cravings

With only 70 calories a pop, much better than my other current dessert obsession:

Y U No Good 4 Me?

4)

The Rainbow Loom

I've written about it before, but my kids are still going strong with their love affair for making these bracelets.  John-Paul is even using them as a form of currency "I'll help you with your homework if you make me a starburst bracelet."  And they do.  And he does.

5)

Coming home every day.  

Because I get a huge "MOM'S HOME!!!!!" complete with squeals and hugs from my cherubs.  

Even from the naughty one:

"You home, Mama?  You home?"
"Yes, I'm home."
"Yay!  You home!!!!!!"

Happy Feast Day!

We love you and miss you.

Our John-Paul, age 4.

Tossing and Turning

I wish I could use the excuse that pregnancy insomnia is the culprit for my lack of nighttime sleep.  But, I can not.  It's the abundance of weekend naps and evening siestas in front of the tv that are to blame for my laying awake in bed at night.  

Take yesterday for example, I laid down to take a nap when the baby was sleeping, and conked out for an hour and a half (Xander beat me and slept for 4 hours!).  Then after the kids went to bed, I fell asleep on the couch watching football from about 9 to 11:30.  I woke up, mumbled something to Phil who was also semi-dozing and went to get ready for bed.  I lay down and rolled my big belly from one side to the other but could not fall asleep!  Everytime I would turn on the side facing Phil, he would turn towards me in his sleepy state (jealous!) and I would have to turn the other way because I will not die from carbon dioxide poisoning.

I definitely saw 2:13 am on the alarm clock and must have fallen asleep shortly after.  So annoying.  Now I know what you're thinking - just stop sleeping so much in the day/evening, and you'll sleep better at night.  To that I maturely respond "But, waaaaahhhh, I'm tired."

Some thoughts from my insomnia:

~ My Dad told me a story this past weekend about my mom's friend who got bit by a spider on her forehead.  She had a little heart-shaped scab from it, and a few days later when she was showering, the scab fell off...and the spider walked out!  So disgusting, and every time I thought of it, I would get itchy all over.

~ Jim Gaffigan's show on Saturday night was AMAZING.  

Date night selfie.  

I am typically hard to please when it comes to spending money on entertainment, but this one was so worth it.  He had all new material for the first 3/4 of the show, and then closed with some snippets from the past (Hot Pockets!).  He made fun of himself for being fat {"All this talk about good fats and bad fats...I like to consider myself a good fat."}, wondered why anybody would eat seafood {"Here in New England, everybody likes lobster.  I mean, I get it, I love butter too."}, and made fun of health food nuts {"Whole Foods might as well just have a trashcan with a picture of a wallet on it when you walk in the store.  As soon as you enter, you just throw all your money in there."}.  It was perfect.

~ When our cat was a little kitten, she was such a lapcat, and loved to snuggle on our lap and purr.  Then she grew up and became a teenager and stopped associating with us.  Or so I thought.  Turns out she just is using us for our body heat in the cold months. So back to being a sweet lapcat she is:

Purrfectly stretched out.

~ The Red Sox made me happy and the Patriots made me sad.  Seriously, the Pats got robbed on this call:

~ Speaking of robbed, Phil's cookies won him 2nd place in the Cookie Wars at our Parish.  The Youth Group kids won 1st place...with basically a brownie entry.  Cheaters.  :)

~ Speaking of cookies, my friend Sarah sent us a box of her famous sugar cookies with frosting to celebrate all things Fall.  I should have taken a picture, but they are all in my belly.  How nice is it to get a random package of homemade cookies?  Very.

~ And since I'm on a roll with this segues...Have you all had Kings Hawaiian rolls?  I get mine from BJ's, and we basically plan meals around them.  Chowder and rolls, chicken and rolls, rolls with a side of rolls.

And that's all she wrote, lucky for you!!  Happy Monday!

7 Quick(ish) Takes Friday

1) 

I am dragging today because I stupidly stayed up until 1:30 am talking with my husband.  I actually fell asleep on the couch from 8:30 to 10:30 which is my norm, but then when I moved to the bed, I couldn't fall back asleep, so I started talking Phil's ear off and we had some awesome discussions going and before we realized it, it was 1:30 in the morning!  Then Xander woke up a few times coughing during the night and calling for Daddy (I have them well trained!) and that 6:00 alarm went off way too soon.  But I still have this happy feeling that it was all worth it because we never stay up talking anymore, and it was much needed.  

2) 

One of the  things we discussed ad nauseum was the post I wrote this week about how motherhood is a vocation, not a job, and some of the nice but opposing points of view I got in the comments.  

What it all finally boiled down to was that it's just hard to read/hear about someone stating that what you don't/can't do is the ideal.  Especially when you feel the same way in your heart.  So even if the original article defending SAHMs wasn't meant to leave working moms feeling offended, it's difficult to know you're doing the opposite thing (working outside the home) when you are reading about why staying at home is so much more ideal. 

Y'all understand where I'm coming from right?  It's like when a mom gives her baby formula due to life's circumstances, and sees messages all around her about how breast is best.  The breastfeeding advocates aren't meaning to put down formula feeding moms, but that's just the overall feeling that formula feeding moms are left with.  

3) 

OK, onto more lighthearted things.  

Phil made 50 of these last night:

There may only be 49 left.  Or 48.

because we are going to a Cookie War at our church tonight, and he's been talking smack for years about how his cookies are the best.  Well, we'll find out who the winner is tonight, and all proceeds benefit the youth group at our parish.  It should be a fun and tasty evening!  My kids are so excited to vote for Dad's cookies "even if they are not the best".  To which Phil replies, "Oh, you don't have to worry about that."  He's a confident cookie man, that's fo' sho'.

4)

After watching the Patriots game last weekend, Phil took a picture of the mark I left behind in our couch.  

True love, right? 

In other bum related news, Xander's newest horrible thing is that he calls people a "butt" to make them mad.  

In completely unrelated news, we have a 2 year old for sale.  He's going cheap.  Inquire within.

5)

Dear Jim Gaffigan,

     Since I know you are bff's with my buddy, Cari, I'm pretty sure you read this blog.  Therefore, when we come to see you perform tomorrow night, if you want to give a shout out to Phil (not to me, I'll die from blushing) that would be super awesome.

Love,

  Someone who is half as funny and currently twice as fat.

6)

Linky love time!

Have you all been reading Beth's story of MS and how she became pregnant at 44 years young?  You should, it's good, real good. Lisa is back to blogging after quitting the old facebook, and the angels are singing hallelujah.   Bonnie had a great post full of crafty ideas for an All Saints Day party, and I only dream I was 1/8 as talented to pull something like this off. 

And that's as good as it gets.

Michelle sent me that picture...so good.  Francine's quotes from her daughter were so funny, I want her.  Maybe a trade for Xander?  Kristin's love letter to her husband made me smile because I just love love.  Heather was hilarious and holy and inspiring all at once (how does she always do it?) with this post.  Katrina's baby bump is the envy of all pregnant women everywhere.  Too cute to hate.

7)

I got my shirt for the Run for the Little Flowers in the mail.  

What was I thinking ordering a Medium??  

Come to think of it, why did I agree to do a virtual run at 4 months pregnant?  

Katie, will you accept a 5k waddle?  

Have a wonderful weekend everyone!!