Oops, I did it again...

The truth is God blessed us with a very content baby. Gillian Grace just doesn't fuss unless she's hurt or just not feeling up to par. So the other day when GG was acting a bit out of sorts, I began immediately running through my checklist of things that could possibly be troubling my tiny tot.

Teething? I gave her a few Hyland's Teething tablets.

Dirty diaper? Nope, a quick sniff ruled that out.

Thirsty? Nothing a cup of juice water wouldn't fix.

Hungry? Let's try a few Gerber puffs for a snack.

Tired? Nah, couldn't be! She just got up from her morning nap.


Finally I settled on the conclusion that it must just be one of those days.


So imagine my surprise {and guilt} when I discovered a little something extra in GG's onesie during a diaper change later that afternoon.



Since her post-nap diaper change, GG had been toting around a tube of tushie paste in her onesie. And we're not talking about a teeny travel size, but a huge full-size practically new tube of Desitin that spent the afternoon poking and prodding Gillian's sides and tummy while on a joy ride through her romper. Now I'm no Sherlock Holmes, and I've certainly never spent the afternoon with a tube of anything floating around in my underroos, but I was pretty sure I'd found the reason behind GG's irritability. I felt terribly for being the cause of her discomfort, but felt worse knowing that this was not the first time my sweet baby girl had spent an afternoon smuggling contraband in her britches no thanks to me.

Does mommy brain have a statue of limitations? I could really use a good excuse for my stupidity right about now.

Mommy and Me Monday

"The world is a playground, and life is pushing my swing." - Natalie Kocsis

Not even a few clouds and drizzle could keep us away from GG's tree swing this weekend. I'm sure our new front yard attraction will see plenty of action with summer just around the corner. Come on over and join us, a little fresh air {even if it's a big muggy} is good for the soul.

Hope your Monday is off to a swinging start!

Hosted by Krystyn

Monday Musings

After a stormy Saturday, the skies cleared making for an absolutely beautiful end to the weekend. But unfortunately, my mood Sunday was anything but sunny and pleasant. To say that I woke up on the wrong side of the bed would be putting it mildly. For no reason at all, I was just in a funk.

Do you have days like that?

Gillian Grace got every ounce of kindness and patience I could muster, so needless to say my husband was the undeserving recipient of most of my crankiness. Try as he might to do right by us, I found flaw in most everything he did. I was on his case about how he fed GG to how loudly I thought he was eating, and I was relentless. I might as well have been the Big Bad Wolf because I huffed, puffed, and sighed about practically everything. Unfortunately my mom even got a taste of my terrible 'tude when I called home to check in. Suppose I could blame it on being peed on {twice}; thinking I lost my wedding ring after a catastrophic diaper change and sifting through a bag of poopy wet wipes and diaper only to learn that my husband had my ring the entire time; or that I was over tired from our six a.m. wake up call courtesy of the next door neighbor's yard man and his mower! But that would be unfair. The reality of it is, I was just in a no good, very bad, don't listen to a thing I say because I don't really mean it, kinda mood. And I've decided it's okay to have an "off" day every once in awhile, but I have learned that when a bad moon mood is arisin' I need to head off by myself. After all, my family shouldn't have to endure my bad moodapalooza!

But the weekend was not totally without laughter, smiles, and the usual fun family times. We did enjoy spending a little time outside Sunday, and celebrated the first birthday of one of Gillian Grace's friends {our neighbor's grandchild}. After the party and a quick change into comfy clothes, we headed to Fresh Market to pick up something for dinner. As we were walking out, I noticed the small oranges and after reading the name on the boxes, just had to have Bret snap a few quick pictures. Who could resist posing with a bunch of "cuties"? I sure couldn't!

Gillian Grace is watching the cutie she did have in her hand, roll into the parking lot. Whoops!

Still looking for her cutie! I just know she thought it was going to come back.

For more great Mommy and Me pictures check out:

Hosted by Krystyn

Hope your week is off to a great start!

365, oh my!

As hard as it is for me to believe, today marks our one year blogiversary! With only a handful of followers, I began blogging so that family and friends could keep up with all the changes in our growing family. Since my bloggy beginnings were humble at best, it is surprising to me just how much our blog has grown over the past year.

As much as I love my new job as a stay-at-home mom, I do miss the social interaction that I had when I worked. Though GG tickles me to no end with her cuteness, coos, babbles, and giggles, she's not the best conversationalist. We can watch a show or two together, but I can't get her opinion on last night's reality tv or listen as she fills me in on all the latest gossip. She is great at tugging my hair, but she can't tell me that it looks good styled a certain way. And while she can pat my knee and flash a smile that would melt any heart, she isn't able to reassure me that things will get better after a particularly rough morning. There are times that I am so desperate to talk to someone that doesn't require a bib when they eat, that I've stalked our mail carrier just to have a quick chat while I'm grabbing the mail. Not to mention my sudden transformation into the Chatty Cathy Momma when I go shopping. My mouth goes ninety miles to nothing from the time my items hit the checkout conveyor until I'm walking out with receipt, buggy, and baby in tow, giving cashiers much more than they bargained for when they asked me the generic, "How are you?"

My blogging hobby has grown from simply chronicling our family adventures into a way for me to connect with others. And as silly as it may sound, I still get excited when I gain a new follower or when my email pops up with a new reader comment.

With our first blogiversary falling on a Monday, it seemed only fitting that the Mommy and Me picture be one from last April. Even though Gillian Grace's debut was still a few months away, she was still very much a part of our lives.

Mommy and Me, the early days (April 2009)


Just like your parents told you about the sun, don't look directly at this picture, it will hurt your eyes! I'm au natural---no makeup, hat to hide my messy hair, and still wearing the clothes from our early morning walk. Gosh, am I a fashion statement or what?!

Hosted by Krystyn

Happy Blogiversary to me, and thank you for sharing in our lives!

Mommy and Me

This picture was snapped Saturday evening at our favorite Mexican restaurant tiny strip mall hole-in-the-wall, complete with inflatable Corona planes covered in dust hanging in between flags and sombreros obscuring a soccer match on Telemundo dive. After an eventful day, we decided to throw caution to the wind and enjoy a nice family dinner out. And if you're wondering if our life is truly so mundane and routine that I really consider going out for dinner spontaneous and daring, the answer would be YES!

For months our lives have revolved solely around Gillian Grace and her schedule. And although I'm a bit ashamed to admit it, there have been times when I've actually used GG as an excuse as to why we couldn't do something. We would go, but that's GG's naptime... Maybe we'll catch you next time, that's right around her supper time...Sorry, but we don't have a sitter and that would put us out after her bedtime...The list of excuses go on and on.

So for us, Saturday night's dinner was more than just a meal, it actually marked a turning point for us as parents. For the first time in over 8 months we did something that we wanted to do despite what her schedule was telling us we should be doing. And you know what? We had a great time, all three of us, and Gillian Grace was no worse for the wear.

Despite a day spent on the go and in the car, with new things constantly being thrown at her, GG was a little rock star! Whether it meant eating lunch on the go or grabbing a quick cat nap in between destinations, Gillian Grace learned to go with the flow and adapt to each new situation. But the most progress that day wasn't made by GG, but rather me. That afternoon I threw my playbook out the window, ignored the ticking hands on my watch, did not obsess about all the what-ifs, and instead focused what was truly important, spending time with my husband and daughter. It was about time that I realized that it wasn't GG keeping us from doing things, but rather me. There just may be hope for me yet!


Hosted by Krystyn

Mommy and Me Monday

Gillian Grace and I love spending time outside. Since Spring has sprung and warmer days are here, we look forward to may more days outdoors. Now if only I could find a way to keep her from eating the grass!

Hosted by Krystyn

Mommy and Me Monday

It wasn't until my mom recently asked me for a picture of me with Gillian Grace that I realized something, I don't have many!!! How could this be? I mean we must have thousands and thousands of pictures of GG and many of them include other family members so why aren't I in but a handful of them? Oh, that's right, I'm always BEHIND the camera!

While leapfrogging from blog to blog this past weekend, I came across another great idea--- Mommy and Me Monday. The idea behind this meme couldn't be simpler, post a picture of yourself with your child. I can do this!




Please excuse the orange goo on the tip of my nose. I was singing to Gillian Grace just before the picture and to show her appreciation she gave me licking, quite literally. Thinking it was sweet at first, I had no idea that she left the reminder of her snack on my nose until my husband began laughing hysterically (after the picture was taken, of course). Oh well, I'll take what I can get, Gerber peach yogurt melt gunk and all.

Hosted by Krystyn