She's on or she's off

Just got home from possibly the worst walk with Fuzz ever.

I found this training program in my Fitness magazine, 6 weeks to a 5K. Supposedly it's for a beginner. Anyway, I'm on day 2, doing the 3-5 mile walk, and Stryker has a PT test tomorrow, so he said he probably wouldn't want to do it tonight, so I thought I'd go with Fuzz this morning. She enjoys our walks. Her latest craze is flowers. Loves loves loves flowers, and wants you to pick one for her at every corner. Hibiscus are her favorite, but maybe that's because there are so many of them around here.

So at about a mile and a half, there is this beach. Fuzz was starting to get a little antsy, so I thought, we'll stop at the beach, dip our feet in for a little bit, and then head back. I thought it would be a nice break for Fuzz. Well, apparently, 15 minutes wasn't long enough, because when we left she threw a huge fit. Arching her back in the stroller and the whole works. About a block into the way back, I stopped to talk to her and she had snot all over her face, her sunglasses, her fingers. That is how hard she was crying. I'm walking past people who can clearly hear her losing it, probably wondering if they should call CPS, smiling and saying "she wasn't ready to leave the beach".

She settled down a little bit, but whined and cried the whole way back. Right now she's eating lunch like nothing ever happened.

I need a nap.

My Moviestar

Not only am I her biggest fan, but she is apparently mine. Fuzz has taken to introducing everyone to me. As if she just believes everyone should know me. At least that's what I want to believe. Grocery store, park, parking lot, it doesn't matter. If there is someone around, she goes up to them, points to me, and says, "Mama!".

One of the best mom moments to date.

Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all you hot mamas out there!

I feel so blessed that the Lord has allowed me to be a mom. And to be a mom to this little girl:



is especially wonderful.

You know those moments that make your heart sing when you first start falling in love? I have those every day, as I watch her grow and learn. I fall in love every single day. How awesome is that? Being a mom has also been a test in patience, but it's good. She's making me grow just as much as I am helping her do the same.

I can't wait to see what this next year in motherhood holds.

Pretty in pink

We had a girly kinda day.

What I've been doing today...

And trying my hardest not to do this to Fuzz...

That girl was up at 6AM and would not go back to sleep. So she's been clingy and whiney all day. I just laid her down for a nap and she's fighting that as well. If you remember from a previous post, she has radar when something big is happening.

Hmm...I wonder what that "something big" could be?

I'm baaaaack

We made it! Still no Stryker, but we are here. Fuzz was really good on the flights, although she slept for less than three hours between the three flights. Out of 10 hours air time. Yes, she was good, but that's a long time to entertain a little one. And let me remind you, she's busy.

Apparently, she's also entering the terrible two stage. It's wonderful. Shrieking, tantrums, biting, slapping, you name it, she probably does it. Yikes, I am so not handling this well. I am so happy Stryker is almost home to help me. I feel like nothing I do to try and curb the bad behavior works. Worse yet, when I do reprimand her, she smiles or laughs at me. You moms out there who have a baby AND one Fuzz's age...bravo. Bravo.

She is doing some fun things though. Starting to talk more. Her favorite phrase is, "good girl". Yes, she has high self esteem and praises herself regularly.

Completely unrelated - does anyone know how to do the equivalent of a right click on a MacBook? I just got one (yay!), and can't even tell you how thrilled I am to finally be connected again. Let the reading, commenting, and writing resume!

Frozen faces

Last night as I was lying in bed desperately trying to fall asleep, I turned the TV on and saw the guy who played that shady sports agent in Jerry McGuire.

Holy Botox.

Then I changed the channel and on some news channel was another lady who looked completely unnatural.

I'm not completely anti cosmetic procedures. It's something I don't ever plan on doing myself, but I feel that it's a personal decision. But as I was watching these people, I wondered. Is this going to be the new "normal"? When Fuzz grows up, is she going to think that the frozen face look is what is normal? Because as a woman who grew up before Botox, I know that it is not a natural look. But Fuzz won't, and it makes me sad.

It makes me sad for the next generation of girls who will already struggle with body image. I just hope that I can be a good role model for her and show her that the frozen face is not natural, and that aging can be a beautiful thing.

I had an awesome memory...

...and then I gave birth.

My long term memory, still pretty rockin' (just ask Stryker how great it is when I get mad). But the short term? It's ridiculous! I'm not sure if it's taking care of Fuzz by myself and having to remember 742 things at once, but it leaves something to be desired, I promise you.

Today, I was so proud (my first mistake). I packed up Stryker's package, filled out the custom's form, got Fuzz dressed all the way to a winter coat and hat. I even started the car early because it was cold today.

We got to the post office just as Fuzz was nearing the end of her car seat patience...perfect timing. I get out, walk around the car to get Fuzz out and notice...

...I don't have my purse.

Biting

Fuzz is starting to bite. I know she's teething, but up until now she hasn't really been a biter. Once in awhile, but this last week it's becoming more regular. Any suggestions?

Please don't suggest I bite her back...that's not my thing.

Working woman

Yep, I got a job. Tomorrow is my first day.

I wasn't really planning on getting a job while Stryker is deployed. I didn't want a full time job for a few reasons.

#1 - We thought that while he is gone, Fuzz should have at least one of us around for her.
#2 - I am still breastfeeding, and at around 4 months Fuzz refused to take a bottle anymore. I know she would have learned if she didn't have options, but it made things difficult.
#3 - Finding a professional (I have a BBA in Finance) part-time job is nearly impossible, and probably wouldn't pay for day care.

But, I need to get out of the house occasionally and away from 24/7 mommy duty, and things just kind of fell into place.

My mom lost her job because they shut down the paper mill she worked for, and she's going back to school in the fall, so she's available to watch Fuzz. We went golfing a couple weeks ago at a golf course I used to work at and we were having a drink afterward. My old manager was bartending and she said that she needed waitresses. Voila, a very part-time, fun, low stress job to get me out a couple days a week. And a little extra cash is never a bad thing either.

Happy Mother's Day

Happy Mother's Day to all my fellow mothers! It's my very first Mother's Day and I think Fuzz knows. She's being especially pleasant today. The new toys from garage sale-ing could be playing a part.

Today my sister and I are taking our mom out for lunch (Chinese, one of my favorites!) and then we are all going and getting pedicures. Truly a treat for all of us. Mom's never had one before and I'm pretty sure after this one she will be addicted. The footrub never lasts long enough in my opinion, but I don't think it ever could.

We are sure to have a good day, I hope yours is just as wonderful!

Dear neighbors,

Surprise! All the banging in your bathroom wakes Fuzz up. Please quit, it's annoying...

Fuzz and fieldtrips

Tomorrow Fuzz and I are going to visit Stryker's family. It's about an hour and a half drive. We are leaving during nap time so she sleeps on the way. It was like a switch flipped about 3 weeks ago. She's not a very good passenger anymore.

It's better than it was when she first flipped the switch. At that time I had a pile full of toys in the front seat so when she threw one I could replace it when she started whining. Now I give her her puppy. This blankey that on one corner has a puppy head and on the opposite corner has 2 feet and a tail. She loves that thing. She got it from my Godmother at her baptism. I have put my order in for another one in case this one ever happens to get lost. I believe that would be considered a nightmare.

Fuzz is a darling, I love her. She is sweet, and happy, and..well I could go on all day but I'm pretty biased I think.

mmm...cookies

Today was a good day. I felt like a good mom today. We played together, we cuddled, it was a good day. I got quite a bit done today too, the kitchen is clean, laundry is as caught up as possible... I watched a couple movies, my grandpa came over, my mom stopped in to visit, it was a nice day. Now Fuzz is in bed, let the cookie baking begin. My Love and his guys love them some baked goods.

Today should be interesting...

Fuzz was up for 2 hours straight from 4AM to 6AM. Crying. I've been trying to wean her from night feedings. I breastfeed, and it's tough. She's 7 months old, she doesn't need to eat at night. There were a couple rough nights, but after that it's been great. I've been letting her soothe herself to sleep. Sometimes when she wakes up she jabbers for a little bit and goes right back to sleep. Last night she screamed. It's so hard because all I want to do is go in and cuddle and hold her, but I know that's not the best thing to do for either of us. I've really been good about being consistent. If she doesn't let up I go in and check on her, tell her I love her, tell her it's not time to get up yet, leave. Sometimes the outburst lasts 20 minutes, sometimes it's 2 hours.

It's nights like that when I really miss my honey. I really feel for single moms. Lord willing, my single mom status will end in less than a year.