Cupcake Dream

It's Potty Time

2012-01-20T12:39:00.000-06:00

We've tried potty training in the past but Katelyn really didn't have any interest other than pushing the button to make noises on her Elmo toilet. She will sit for a minute, usually with her diaper on, and play by kicking her feet against the sink base. I urge her to take her diaper off and sit on the seat, but shortly after we have a bare behind running free around the house. Finally, one rare occasion, Katelyn comes to tell me that she has to use the potty. After taking my hand, she leads me to the Elmo potty and pulls down her pants. I assumed she was wanting some pretend play time. Her diaper was removed and she sat down. It didn't take long.. success! I was amazed how easy that was and figured it was a fluke. Sure enough, we are back to snubbing the potty the very next day.

I'm aware that pushing is never a good idea so do I just wait for her to tell me again? Since it is apparent she has some control and knows what to do, are we now on her time? I would love to hear from other parents. What are your potty training secrets? How do you encourage your little one to keep their diaper clean?

Can You Hear Me Now?

2011-12-06T14:08:00.000-06:00

I know... I know. An entire month and you haven't heard from me. If you are still reading, I really appreciate it.

So, where have I been this past month? Running.... all the time! The big race -- my first half marathon, 13.1 miles -- is this Sunday. I'm freaking out a little. Okay, maybe more than just a little. I've analyzed everything from the weather (which I know is out of my control but somehow in the back of my mind I believe if I keep looking at it, it will change to something a bit more pleasant) to the food I will eat the morning of. Do I choose a banana or maybe a bagel with some peanut butter? These are the things that have been keeping me away from all of my wonderful readers this past month. It will be over soon and hopefully I will be back with a shiny new medal and noodle legs :)

As for our frisky toddler, she's a bundle of fun. The things children learn at 2 y/o never fails to amaze me. Watching what I say around her has become a high priority. If you think they aren't listening... you're wrong! I thought we would have started potty training by now, but the princess is stubborn. She doesn't do anything unless it is on her terms and on her schedule :lol: We also haven't put the toddler rails on her crib yet. This has been an ongoing battle between mom and dad. I just don't think she's ready. I can envision it now... 3AM and I hear a loud "bang". Our beautiful wiggle worm has found her way onto the floor. Once she's up... she's up. It took over a year to get her to sleep through the night. It would be nice if we could keep her sleeping through the night. Yes, it might be a little while before I believe she is ready. Is 5 too old for a crib? Kidding... kidding...

My Little Bumble Bee

2011-10-28T13:35:00.000-05:00

Just wanted to share a few pictures of the princess in her bee Halloween Costume. I put this costume together for her using the following items:

DIY:
Black and Yellow Tutu - Just We Moms Tutu Tutorial

Bee Wings - I purchased some black linen fabric from Hobby Lobby. After cutting 4 circles of the same size from the fabric, I sewed the wrong ends together leaving a small opening. I turned the circles right side out and then stuffed them with batting until firm. Using a large yellow button, I sewed the two pieces together in the middle. I used small buttons to attach the wings to the top (wings are removable in case small hands want to tug at them all evening).

Black/Yellow Leggings: The Children's Place
Yellow Lace Romper: Dollar Daisies
Black Onesie: Hobby Lobby

Big Elmo Birthday

2011-10-24T09:00:00.000-05:00

The birthday girl had a great time at her party! Everything turned out great and the kids had a blast in the obstacle bouncer. The Elmo decorations were a huge hit, especially with Katelyn. Ready for some pictures?

Vendors:
Elmo Cake & Cookies: Sugar Boo Sweets
Dress: Caterpillar Kids Etsy Store
Glass "Fish Bowl" Jars: Favor Days
Elmo Pinata & Polka Dot Balloons: Party City
Favor Books: Lakeside Collection
Cake Pops, Crayon Wreath, Cake Stand, Tissue Poms: Katelyn's Mommy & Daddy :)
Elmo Paper Straws w/ Tags, Elmo Favor Tags, Water Bottle Labels, Cupcake Toppers, Dorthy Fish labels, and Elmo Invitation: Cupcake Dream

Counting Down

2011-10-17T09:08:00.000-05:00

Sorry, I know I haven't updated in a while. October is always a crazy month. I am now the mother of a teenager (scary) and we are counting down the days until Katelyn turns two. Honestly, I thought this milestone was going to be an emotional event (much like last year), but I am happy to say that I'm looking at this moment with positive eyes. Yes, my little girl is growing up and there is a good chance we will never have another baby. However, I am witnessing a life form as we speak. It is my job to help shape another precious life and watch her flower into something extra special! There really isn't anything that can compare. I love every moment of watching her learn... the sheer excitement of figuring out how things work! This is one of the best parts of being a parent... actually raising your children. So, I'm not ready for another teenager yet, but I think I can handle the big "2".

Besides, her "Katelyn's World" theme party is keeping me busy. It's so cute! Every time Katelyn sees another Elmo birthday decoration, she does her little stomp dance and sings, "Elmo, Elmo". I can't wait for her to see everything together!

Big brother had a pretty cool birthday as well. We took him and his friend to go ride go carts, bumper boats and play some putt putt golf. Dad got to be silly with the boys and even little Katelyn got to take a ride around the track. She had a blast! I think we might have another race car driver.

They got me again

2011-10-04T13:42:00.000-05:00

I'm always seeking the best deals for toys, food, clothing... basically anything we buy on a regular basis. Being a one income family definitely limits when we splurge. The Etsy store is doing okay, but not enough to be reliable as a second income. So, when I browse through Facebook and Twitter, I am usually looking for those killer clearance rack discounts.

Unfortunately, Katelyn has had the same group of books for almost a year now. I know books aren't that expensive, but they can add up quick! I've been on the hunt for those great deals. Every once in a while the big bin at the grocery store will run the $2 grab box special but it's so hard to dig through and find something she will like. I usually bite the bullet and end up purchasing one from the nice, neat EXPENSIVE book racks set up next to the dump bin. I know they put it there for that reason. Yes, I do have that big "SUCKER" sign on my forehead... thank you.

Anyways, I'm doing my usual read through on Twitter and come across the deal of the century. "Lots of books for $1.50 and up!! Earn an additional 10% off for signing up and free shipping". Wow, that's perfect! I rush over to the site, totsy.com, and what do I find? One book... yes ONE book for $1.50. Most of the others were a reasonable price $2-$4 but there were only 23 options available. I didn't really find anything for Katelyn so now I'm SUPER bummed out. I was imagining this huge library of discounted gold and after signing up was left staring at the bottom of a useless dump bin. That sucks! I really wanted to replace all of Katelyn's books for her birthday.

So, now I'm back on the hunt for the best book deals. Maybe one day I will get lucky and hit the jack pot! **fingers crossed**

Who's going to take over Apple?

2011-09-16T10:15:00.000-05:00

She is!

Okay.. so maybe it won't be for another 20 years but she's getting there. Like daddy, Katelyn is our little computer nerd. I know there are people out there that would insult me for giving my (almost) 2 y/o daughter an Ipad. There are people out there that don't believe a small child should be allowed to play with a computer. However, I believe these resources (in moderation) allow for development and growth. Katelyn is at the point now where she can add applications to her Ipad by herself. She turns it on, scrolls through the learning games, chooses the one she wants and then continues to play. Katelyn knows how to work a mouse, can tell you what any letter on the keyboard is, and unfortunately loves to show you how to turn the computer off (especially when you are in the middle of doing something). One of my favorite things is when she sits next to daddy with the wireless keyboard and pretends to "work" while he is working.

A friend of mine asked me last week when she should introduce these things to her daughter (also 2). Of course I always recommend starting children early but ultimately it is up to the parent and what they are comfortable with. I would love to hear your experiences and how you feel about giving computers to small children.

A BIG ouchy!

2011-09-06T10:37:00.000-05:00

This is a picture of a little girl who had a very hard weekend. I'm not sure if her guardian angel took the Labor Day weekend off, but Katelyn is now covered in bandages.

The bloody battle started early on Saturday as Katelyn was walking down the stairs. Since she is just now getting comfortable going up and down, we still have the gate attached. I don't like her going up when I'm not around so we keep it shut most of the time. Since I was right across the room, I figured it wouldn't hurt if she had some practice. Everything was going great until she decided to grab the gate where it closes. The gate swung open crushing her finger in the process. Katelyn yelled out in pain and I rushed to close the gate so she could get free. Before I could get to the gate, Katelyn ripped her finger from the gate's grasp leaving most of the skin behind. Watching her finger twist in directions I didn't think possible, I was convinced it was broken. However, after a ~~quick~~ strategic clean up it appeared everything was still in tact and a few bandages later she was running around all smiles again.

Sunday evening felt absolutely amazing outside. This is the first break from the heat we've had in months. I thought it would be really nice to go out for a walk and enjoy the beautiful weather. We took Katelyn to the park and let her slide until the sun went down. After loading Katelyn back up in her Step2 push car, we were on our way back home. A block from the house, Katelyn decided she no longer wanted to sit. Trying to keep her seated, I sped up... pushing the car faster and faster. I never thought Katelyn would jump from the car, but she did. Landing hard, Katelyn earned her second battle wound. Another bandage now covers her skinned knee. Concrete-1, Katelyn-0

Monday morning was yet another beautiful day. Daddy was outside working on the craft project we started many, many months ago. Katelyn wanted to see what was going on outside so I decided to let her free from the ~~cage~~ house. She ran straight to the slide. Up and down, around, and over. Things were going as usual... just a typical play time in the back yard. Well... that was until she tripped over her feet and went face first into one of the brick columns at the corner of our porch. This fall scared me more than anything because I watched her bounce off and fall to the ground. Before actually seeing her face I thought she had hit her head...hard! Sweeping her up into my arms I ran inside the house to clean up the blood and determine the "state of emergency". Assuming the worst, I was already making a list in my head of all the things I should grab before heading the hospital. Yeah, I'm a "list" person. The screams started to dim as the cold wash cloth dabbed softly against her skin. Sitting in front of the mirror, Katelyn gazed at her blood soaked nose. I'm fairly certain she fractured it, but having had several broken noses of my own I know the drill. We covered her face in more bandages and she was ready to go back outside. Katelyn is one tough cookie!

Hopefully her guardian is back on duty and the box of Bandaids can take a break.

Play Time With Molly

2011-09-02T17:09:00.001-05:00

Katelyn doesn't have many play dates... my fault! I am really trying to get her out of the house more often or at least invite others over to play. Luckily, little miss Molly was able to join us for a play date this week. Katelyn wasn't thrilled with the idea of having someone else play with her toys, but eventually she warmed up to the idea. Most of the time the kids were playing apart but both seemed to be having a really good time. Did you see that beautiful smile on miss Molly? She's a ball of energy and such a happy girl! I think the girls are going to become great friends and I can't wait for the next get together. Maybe the next time they will actually play with each other a bit more instead of running in different directions.

For those of you who do regular play dates, I would love to hear some ideas on how to get the kids together. I'm new (and unfortunately way behind) so any suggestions that will help Katelyn warm up to the other kids would be wonderful!

Katelyn Sings "I Love You"

2011-08-23T12:30:00.000-05:00

Finally, I got her singing on camera! This just melts my heart.

Crib until college?

2011-08-09T15:36:00.000-05:00

Katelyn won't need a bunk bed in her dorm because she will still be sleeping in a crib. I know most of my friends who have children close in age are starting to move their little ones into a toddler bed. Honestly, I can't remember how old my son was when he got his big boy bed. I just don't think our little princess is going to be ready any time soon. She is a really wild sleeper! The bumper is still in place because I fear she would smash her head into the bars. I check on Katelyn at night and find her in some very interesting positions. She literally does circles around the bed.... and yes, she is sleeping with her feet hanging out.

Forks Up!

2011-08-02T14:52:00.000-05:00

Hi. I'm Katelyn's mommy and I still feed her jars of baby food. I know... horrible! When it comes to breakfast and lunch, I'm not winning any mother of the year awards. Most people would probably say, "well, she's eating so that's what matters". Yes, that is true but I realize Katelyn is almost two years old so the baby food really needs to go.

Kids will eat just about anything so coming up with good quick meal ideas shouldn't be hard, right? WRONG! I wanted to find something that was easy to make, somewhat healthy, not horribly messy and tastes good. I'm happy to announce that so far all of my quick fix kids meals are a huge hit!

If you are looking for some easy ideas, here is what I have so far:

Kid Pizza:
1 English Muffin
Marinara Sauce
Mozzarella Cheese (shredded)
Turkey Pepperoni

- Preheat oven to 350
- Cut english muffin in half and toast lightly (I stick it in the toaster on a low setting for one minute)
- Spread marinara sauce
- Add cheese
- Top with pre-cooked pepperoni
- Put in oven until cheese is melted
- Let cool and serve

Hot Dog Sandwich:
Whole Wheat Sandwich Thins (thin flat bread)
Ketchup
Shredded cheese
Hot dog wiener

Microwave hot dog for 20 seconds. Toast sandwich thins in toaster until lightly toasted. Spread ketchup on one side of bread. Cut hot dog wiener in half long ways and then chop into small pieces. Sprinkle chop pieces over ketchup. Cover with shredded cheese and place the other plain thin round on top (creating a sandwich). Microwave for 20 seconds or until cheese is melted. Cut into "pizza slices". Let cool and serve.

I would love to hear some of your "go to" recipes for toddler breakfast and lunch so feel free to share!!!

Can You Tell Me How To Get...

2011-07-27T14:01:00.000-05:00

To sanity?

I design for birthday parties on a regular basis. I've never quite run into this "block" before. Katelyn's birthday will be here in a couple of months so it is time to get on the ball. No problem, right? I sit down in front of the computer ready to design the perfect invitation, cupcake toppers, favor tags... the whole shabang! My fingers are busy doing... nothing. That's right, completely blank. Oh the pressure!

She's going to be two. Katelyn won't remember the favors or the invitation so why does it matter so much? Haha -- funny question. Do you have kids? Well then, you probably understand the need for perfection when it comes to their special days. I think this is a million times harder because I'm a designer. People expect to walk in and be "WOWed". At the same time, I don't want to let her down. Yes, I know it's silly but that's just part of my crazy type A personality.

So, back in front of the computer. Something will come to me eventually. I'm sure I will go through many more "drafts" but at some point that perfection will appear and I will be ready. Keep that wine coming!

Flying or Swimming? You decide.

2011-07-18T08:42:00.000-05:00

We took the princess to a birthday party last weekend. Upon entering the backyard, Katelyn gets a good view of the massive water slide staring her in the face. It didn't take long before she convinced me it was time to go swimming. Getting her into the water is not a struggle at all. It's more of a struggle making sure she doesn't just run and cannonball right in on her own. Before I knew it, she was flying... literally! I never saw an ounce of fear on her face. That's a little scary.

After a while, Katelyn remembered the big slide. We've had our share of fun on the big slides at the bouncey place, so I knew she would have no problems going down. The only thing I wasn't sure of was the big pool of water at the end of the slide. I knew daddy would be holding her as they went down (or so I thought)... so would she end up going under water or would he be able to hold her head up? Didn't matter. Daddy helped her up the stairs and as soon as she hit the top, she was on her way down. I'm not sure how many people jumped up when they saw the baby flying down the HUGE water slide on her own. Daddy came barreling down after her, mommy had already dived into the pool at the end (along with Auntie and I'm sure a few others). Luckily, the dip at the end of the slide caught her and she never hit the water (at least not that time anyway). It didn't take her long to stand up and head for the stairs again. She absolutely loved it! Like I said, no fear.

If Your Happy And You Know IT....

2011-06-28T09:19:00.008-05:00

Clap Your Hands!!!

Remember when she was just a few days old? I held her in my arms, watched her sleep and cried because I didn't want her to grow up. I prayed that she would stay my sweet little TINY baby forever. It feels like the very next morning I woke up to find her smiling, cooing, laughing, rolling over, crawling, walking across the floor, saying her ABC's, counting to 10... and singing along to one of her favorite songs with her brother. So, she didn't stay my tiny little baby for long but I have to admit, I'm having so much fun watching her grow and learn. This is just too cute!!!

One foot in front of the other

2011-06-20T08:43:00.000-05:00

I know I haven't really talked about my running progress lately so I wanted to do a little update. Things are going very well. My knee pain is completely gone *knocks on wood. I'm trying to be very careful and use good form to make sure I don't injure myself again. Yesterday I did my longest distance -- 7 miles! I know, I can't quite believe it myself. I had to take things very slow because it was 95 degrees when I started, but I finished. The plan? Well, I'm training to run a half marathon in December. Most people would say that I'm crazy but this is something I'm looking forward to. As long as I come in under 3 hours, I will be happy. Actually, I should say as long as I finish I will be happy but I really would like to do it as quickly as possible. My ultimate goal is to finish under 2 hours, 30 minutes... but we'll see. Training in the heat is a lot harder than I thought it would be. My Nathan Speed water belt helps quite a bit but my poor feet sweat so much it is hard to keep the blisters from popping up. New socks are on order so hopefully that problem will be solved soon! For the past three or four weeks I've been trying to increase my mileage -- 1 mile per week. However, I think I'm going to slow down for a bit. Seven miles seems like a good place to pause and work on pace. As soon as I get my seven mile time where I want it, I will start moving towards the 13 again. Summer just started but I'm really looking forward to those cooler temps already. Hottest summer ever and I'm trying to run 13.1 miles. Just my luck...

Found the hose

2011-06-10T15:54:00.000-05:00

Just a quick post today because I have to show you this video. Sorry, I know it's dark and hard to see but we had to get this. Yesterday evening we did some yard work and moved one of our trees to the backyard. As we were filling the holes with water, Katelyn decided that she wanted to help. The result:

Perfect 4th of July Pictures!

2011-06-06T09:48:00.001-05:00

I definitely don't consider myself a lucky person when it comes to winning contests. Every hour I see another opportunity pop up on Twitter. Usually I just pass it over and don't bother signing up because I'm fairly confident I won't win anything. However, there was a contest for a gift certificate at a place called My Baby Clothes Boutique that I just couldn't pass up. Even if I didn't win, there was no harm in giving it a try. So, I entered my email address, followed a site on Facebook and submitted a few lines of my favorite products from the boutique on a blog. Two days later I receive an email, "You've won". OMG, how EXCITING!!!! Immediately I rushed over to the boutique to complete my order and within a week, two adorable dresses for Katelyn arrived at my doorstep. I'm sure by now you've noticed that I have a slight obsession with cupcakes so I HAD to order the beautiful 4th of July cupcake dress. With the upcoming holiday, I thought we should take the opportunity to get a few really nice pictures of Katelyn in her dress.

B and I took off driving around town to look for the perfect location. We spent over a hour driving in circles through bare fields and hill country roads. Our city vehicle didn't do so well on those gravel roads. Ouch! Unfortunately, we weren't having any luck so we turned around and went in the other direction towards the small city "downtown" area. A few back road turns and we were sitting on a gold mine -- the PERFECT picture location! Katelyn really didn't want to cooperate. Telling an almost 2 year old to "sit still" just doesn't work. She ran from one building to the next. It was impossible to get any good shots because she was a ball of energy and the camera wasn't keeping up (or maybe it was me that couldn't keep up). B and I went back and forth between playing "peek-a-boo" to taking a position behind the lens. After thirty minutes or so, the heat was starting to slow the princess down. Time for some good shots!

After taking these shots we went to search for another location. We found this cool red barn and decided to stop. The sun was going down fast but we wanted to try it out anyways. I was laying on the ground snapping away when I noticed a burning sensation on my arm. Stupid me... I was right on top of a red ant pile. Quickly, I jumped up and started wiping the ants away. I could see about 10 swollen bumps on the back of my arm but fortunately, Katelyn wasn't stung. At that point, we decided to call it a night. We'll try the barn again some other day.

Look momma, I FIXED it!

2011-06-02T14:45:00.001-05:00

Let me explain how we got here. It all started with my obsession of all things Pottery Barn. I do believe they intentionally fill my inbox every other hour with things they know I'm unable to resist. Almost feeling stalked by the almighty home furnishing store, I do my best to stay strong for the sake of my marriage. When the catalogs find their way to my mailbox, the highlighters come out and my ongoing wish list grows like a stubborn weed. At the top of my list sits the Bedford Project Table. I've wanted this desk for so long but the price is a little scary. So, when I came across Ana White's craft table build Instructions I knew I had to give it a try. Saving hundreds of dollars sounded good to B, so I convinced him to help me tackle this project.

This past weekend we went to Home Depot and purchased all the supplies. Since I'm picky, I wanted a really nice, light grain top. That type of wood was more expensive than the others, but we still managed to get out spending less than $350. That's a huge savings! B and I are really handy with the tools so we knew following this plan would be simple. What we didn't know is that our little girl picked up the "tool gene". I have to admit, watching Katelyn get so into helping us was very exciting!

Unfortunately, I don't have a table to show you yet but it is coming along nicely. We still have a ways to go -- the first two bookcases are built but we have to get the holes drilled for the shelves and do a lot of prep work before painting. I will post the finished product and a full review of the build soon!

Jump JUMP Jump!

2011-05-25T11:54:00.005-05:00

I'm really trying to make an effort to get Katelyn out more. We spend most of our days sitting around the house and of course, that's no fun! It is getting so hot outside now, our walks are slim to none. After 10 minutes at the park we are both miserable and drowning in sweat.

So, I started my search for inside things to do during the day. I would love to take her to places like the children's museum, but it's pretty far. By the time we got there, we would have to turn around and come home because it would be nap time. I really wanted to find something within a 30 minute drive so she would have time to enjoy whatever we are doing.

Luckily, I stumbled upon this company called Monkey Bizness. It's one of those party places with the big inflatable jumpers. We have passed this location so many times but I never knew it existed because it's located in an industrial business park. We got there right when it opened at 10AM. The place was really quiet. After paying only $5 for admission, we walked into the play room. We had the ENTIRE room all to ourselves!

Katelyn loved all the jumping. It took her a while to warm up to these huge colorful bouncy things. She played soccer with the balls that were scattered around for the first 5 minutes and then she climbed in. We ran through an obstacle course, went in circles around a climbing wall, and up and down several slides.

Katelyn really wanted to climb up the big slide. At first I thought she might get scared going down, but I gave it a shot anyways. I carried her up and then down we went. The slide was really tall and we raced down right into the wall stop at the bottom. She was quiet at first so I got worried for a second. Then she jumped up, squealed "hooray" and ran right to the ladder again. I'm pretty sure I got a better workout than she did.

One hour later, Katelyn was starting to wind down. Every time we climbed into a jumper, she would lay down to rest. I knew she was getting sleepy but unsure of how she would act when I told her it was time to go. Surprisingly, she handled the leaving part really well. After putting our shoes on, she did go back to kick around a few balls. She followed this purple and white ball around the entire time we were there. As we were walking to the door, she glanced back and noticed it again. I don't think I've ever seen her run so fast. Katelyn grabbed the ball and tried to bring it with us. "Uh oh... here comes the fight". Kneeling down, I grabbed the ball and asked her if we could put it in a special place so it will be waiting when we come back. Obviously, that wasn't working so I bribed her with Elmo. SCORE! She forgot about the ball and for the next 30 minutes the only thing I heard was, "Elmo? Elmo?" Overall, very good experience. We both had a great time and will be going back again very soon!

Again? REALLY?!?!

2011-05-20T09:50:00.001-05:00

If someone would have told me that my next child wouldn't sleep through the night until she was two... I would have laughed and said it just isn't possible! I guess this would be payback since my first did so well. I think he started sleeping through the night within the first 5 months. Katelyn hates sleep! I blame this on her father. He's a night owl and can function just fine on 5 hours of sleep. I need my eight hours (or 9.. or 10). However, that's just not happening.

Katelyn refuses to go to bed before 10pm. I can usually sit down and rock her while she takes a bottle (yes, she's still on the bottle... one thing at a time) and then she will play in her crib for a bit and finally, go to sleep around 10:30pm. I'm so happy that it is no longer a struggle to get her to lay down in the evening. I suppose we can call that one a victory! Things were going so well for a while. My nights were full of... well, sleep! Then last night I heard a faint sound coming from the monitor. The sheets started to rustle. "Oh no! No No No NO!" ...and then she started to cry. I paused for a moment waiting for her to drift back to sleep. By this time she is screaming at the top of her lungs trying to find a way out of her jail cell. I quickly make a bottle and head up the stairs. I'm there to comfort her and now.. she's all smiles. Within a minute she is snoozing again but if I try to lay her back down at the wrong moment, it's just bad. We rock for a while and I'm positive she's back in a deep sleep. Slowly raising up from the chair, she's still out. "Oh good.. this one is going to be easy and I can get back to sleep" WRONG!!! The minute I lay her down that head pops up and she's on her feet. Begging, pleading with her... just lay down and go back to sleep. "Please Katelyn... mommy is so tired. Just lay down and go night night". Unfortunately, she's not so caring at the moment and doesn't really have mommy's best interests in mind. Katelyn wants to be held. In fact, she asks for the Ipad quite a few times. "Not Ipad time honey. Go to sleep". Okay, she's fine with elmo book, doggy, anything? "No honey, lay your head down. See, it's dark outside! Night night time!!!". She's not listening.

We play that game for a while where I rub her back, she pretends to be asleep and the minute I walk away I get that "surprise, fooled you" hop on her feet and start screaming reaction. After 20 or so times, I realize this isn't working. I pick her back up and we rock for a moment. She's out now! I can finally put her back down and get some rest. WRONG again! Not working. What's next? Lets try the lay down in the crib with her trick. Nope.. she just wants to play. Urghhhhh. How about the stand over the crib and watch her until she falls asleep. Fortunately, this one works but I stand there for.. wait for it... wait for it... 1 hour!

Relieved, it is time for me to return to that big, soft, ~~warm~~ now cold bed to dream away. I lay down, close my eyes and begin to drift off. Then the sheets start to rustle. "OH MY GOSH! Please Lord, just let her go back to sleep. PLEASE just don't let her start crying. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE?? I'll do anything. I'm sorry.. I'll be a better person. I'll start donating more.. maybe start a charity of my own." Yes, by this time I'm completely out of my mind... begging and pleading with the Big Man upstairs. I just want to get some rest. Apparently I have to start donating and doing charity work now because it worked. She actually went back to sleep. It's amazing how good sleep feels when you can't have it.

Picture time!

2011-05-17T17:27:00.000-05:00

I know... I know... I'm slacking BIG time! There are just so many things that I want to do. I want to get my Etsy business really rolling. I've been designing new invites and party supplies like crazy. I want to start training for a half marathon. Crazy? Maybe! I still have a long way to go. I want to take more pictures and really get into photography. I want to finish decorating this house. I want to learn how to decorate cupcakes. I want to write in my blog more. Hopefully you can see and understand why I haven't kept up on my posts. It really saddens me when I log on and notice followers disappearing. Knowing that it is probably because I'm not keeping up on my end, it's definitely a sharp stab to the heart. So, I'm really attempting to make an effort to keep you updated. Please forgive me. * doing my pathetic pouty lip face.

This weekend we did take some time to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather. Katelyn loved running around and literally, "smelling the roses" and all the other flowers. We thought she would try to dive head first into the fountain, but she was careful and cautious. B and I did our best to capture her every footstep, but she's a busy bee. I couldn't get her to stand still for one second. So, out of the hundred or so shots I took, many of mine turned out blurry. I am happy to report that I nailed some of them though. Check it out!

Not THOSE shoes!

2011-05-12T10:31:00.000-05:00

I never thought I would have a daughter who hates shoes. There are so many adorable styles out there, but Katelyn won't put any of them on her feet. We have tried so many shoe stores but she refuses to try on anything that doesn't look JUST like the shoes she currently has. Poor little girl is wearing shoes that are way too small for her feet. I found the cutest hot pink sneakers a few weeks ago but every time I try to get them on her, she screams and won't let her feet touch the ground. Even taking her outside or offering to go to the park won't work. She just refuses to wear anything other than her beloved Carter's. So, after a mad search for these discontinued shoes... we finally found them in a size 6 and 7. Hopefully by the time she grows out of the 7's, Katelyn will agree to wear another shoe. I certainly don't think blinky shoes will be "in style" when she gets to high school.

Whatever They Need Me To Be

2011-05-03T23:19:00.000-05:00

Do you ever have one of those days where you feel like you might just fall flat on your face and sleep... for a very, VERY long time? I'm ready to just "stop going" for a minute. The day begins... and then it ends. Sometimes I wonder if I even had time to blink. It's funny when I hear people say, "What do you mean you're tired, you don't work". I know -- I have to laugh too. I still have my "pause the day so mommy can go somewhere else" moments! When one kid is screaming and the other is doing what I like to call the "teenage thing" (yes, you *pointing* the one with the 15 year old... you know EXACTLY what I'm talking about) -- slamming doors, huffing and puffing...the whole nine yards. That's when my moment slowly sneaks in. The room becomes quiet, I can smell the ocean air. Hear that? Yes, it's the waves! Can you feel the cool breeze? Then I get hit in the head with the sippy cup.... moment is over.

Day after day -- clean up after them, do their laundry, cook, dishes, clean some more, constantly following their trail of mess, making them feel better... making them feel worse. One minute I'm super mommy and the next I'm the wicked witch of the west. I'm getting kisses.. I'm getting spaghetti thrown at me. Somewhere it goes from "you're so smart" to "you don't know anything at all". "You're embarrassing me"... "Why are you ruining my life"... and I'll admit I've heard that horrifying, "I hate you" from my older one.

I hear people say all the time, "you should just make time for yourself". Huh? What's that? I would really like to see this time factory because making more sounds like a good idea. I'm still waiting for my last request to go through. Apparently the time factory is on strike.

At the end of the day, I sit here soaking in the silence of a sleeping family. I look around and see an amazing husband who has been so supportive. He may not understand why I look like I've been run over by a dump truck at the end of the day (he might not even see it), but he loves me completely and even if he doesn't always say it... I know he appreciates me as much as I appreciate him. Then I look at my kids. Big brother may be going through his "crazy stage" but he's a good kid. He has a really good head on his shoulders and when he's not on his hormonal rollercoster, I can see my sweet little man. Princess... bless these "nearly twos". She's so caring, happy (aside from those mood swings) and soaking in EVERYTHING! SO full of love and curiosity. They are all so different... yet, so similar.

They all make me tired, but they all make me so proud. At the end of the day, I sit here and know that even if I don't have some glamorous life, I wouldn't change it for the world. I will be up bright and early, ready to play maid, doctor, psychologist, chef, horsey... whatever they need me to be.

Finished my first 5k

2011-04-24T23:17:00.000-05:00

The alarm clock goes off promptly at 5:50am. I jump out of bed, grab a banana and hit the shower. Nervous but not nearly the wreck I thought I would be. After getting ready, I leave the house nice and early to make sure I have time to get warmed up. Immediately, I pick up my timing chip so my results will be logged and then get in the potty line. Unfortunately the line is going REALLY slow. When I notice it is 7 minutes until start time, I leave the line and decide to get in some warm ups before the gun. As soon as I get to the start point, I hear the gun (3 minutes early). Great... no warming up.

Everyone is so confused. There are people running to the line from all over the place. Absolutely no warning that they were getting ready to start. It was complete chaos! People are still doing stretches and since the crowd is packed in, it's not moving... at all. So, I do a few quick stretches myself and walk with the pack up to the starting line. As we go through, people start a slow jog but several are still walking... it really isn't thinning so getting past the walkers is difficult. Finally, I'm able to get up to a comfortable pace (11:00 min/mile). Everything feels wonderful! My knee isn't hurting at all. My legs feel strong, breathing controlled, nice breeze on my back, going slightly downhill. PERFECT! I have an arm strap I wear that holds my phone so I can use a GPS application to log my run. The phone beeps to let me know I made it to the 1 mile point (no markers). Time is 11:24 so I know I need to pick it up a bit in order to make my goal time. I go back to a flat 11:00 pace and start looking for the turn around point. My plan is to take it slow up and then cut some time going back. Looking up, I see my husband and daughter on the side of the road. What a nice surprise! Seeing them definitely makes me feel so much better and gives me a nice push. Running... running... running. Hrmm, I'm sure the turnaround should have been right here. People are asking, "Where's the turnaround". I glance down at my phone and notice we are passed where the turn around should have been... but I keep going anyways. Finally we see the turn around sign and I know the course is too long but since I feel good, I figure I can still make it under my goal time. THEN I turn around.

Holy cow where did that wind come from?!?! Oh yeah, it felt great on my back... not so much on my front. I feel like I'm running in place. Not to mention that slight downhill now feels like a giant mountain uphill. This is where it starts to suck. My knee begins to throb and I wonder to myself, "Am I going to make it?"... "Should I just stop now?". No way, I've come this far, I MUST keep going! I can feel myself trying to push against the wind and a quick glance at my phone tells me I've slowed down to a 11:37 pace. Not happy with this but I want to make sure my knee holds up so I stick with it. A girl and her mom start walking in front of me. As soon as I catch up, they take off sprinting and then walk a short time later. I catch up... they do the same. Hrmm... interesting. So, the next time I catch up I let them know they are doing good, keep up the pace, almost there. They take off jogging with me and we do this back and forth thing for a while. We have a small chat about the weather (hot, humid, windy... you know, awful running weather) and then my phone beeps to tell me we've made it three miles. My time at this point is a bit before 35 so I know I won't make my goal time. Oh well, I'm just fighting with my knee hoping I finish. At the same time I realize we aren't even close to the finish so I know we aren't running 3.1. I make sure to watch the clock to see what my actual 5k time would be (if that is what we were running). 36:14 -- not my best but not my worst either.

So, almost another quarter mile later... I finish. People are standing in front of the finish trying to grab the chips off of people so getting through is an obstacle. I can hear people complaining about the long course.

The official time is 38.43 but the course actually mapped out to 3.33 miles. My average pace was 11:40 minute/mile. I'm not sure which time to go by... but at least it will be easy to beat the next time around. The distance/timing issues are really upsetting but I feel great that I was able to finish seeing as how I couldn't even run to the end of the block 2 months ago.

Check out the pictures B took

Don't let the bunny go

2011-04-16T14:46:00.001-05:00

Our neighborhood put together a nice Easter event for the kids this morning. After dressing Katelyn in her first Easter dress and giving her a fuzzy pink bunny basket, we were ready to head out the door. A short drive down the road and we arrive at the community park. It was definitely more crowded than I imagined it would be. Katelyn was in absolute bliss being surrounded by so many other kids her age. At first she just stood staring at everything going on around her. Quickly, her eyes locked onto the bunny. Fascinated by this white fluffy creature, she takes off towards the small space where the Easter bunny is sitting. The announcer calls out for her age group so we lead Katelyn toward a field of eggs. Glancing back to make sure that big bunny isn't going anywhere, happy and reassured she places her attention towards a new task. The little ones take off quickly picking up the plastic eggs and dropping them into their baskets. Unfortunately, one mom decided it was HER egg hunt (not for the children). She begins scooping up eggs in her arms and dumping them into a nearby basket as her child sits alone in the grass next to her. I thought about saying something but figured if she really needed the eggs that bad, so be it. All the kids were having fun so I wasn't going to let one sore sport ruin it for Katelyn. We ran around a small area picking up what was available. Katelyn wasn't concerned about numbers. She was lost in the moment of watching all these "babies" around her having so much fun. Each egg lit her face up as she slowly grabbed it and placed it neatly in the basket. Fortunately, most parents were very respectful and allowed each child their own space... no tackling or trying to "steal" an egg that obviously was being hunted by a particular child. When the field was clear, Katelyn sat down and examined each egg one by one.

Leading Katelyn back to the bunny, she stopped a few times to check out what some of the other kids had in their baskets. Another glance of the floppy eared being and she was back on track. Determined to get that bunny, she quickly runs to the front of the line unaware of ALL the kids waiting. Try to explain "it's not your turn" to an 18 month old. If it works for you... let me know your secret. Honestly though, she did a really good job. She waited somewhat patiently until it was her time. There wasn't any crying, screaming... no fear! When I said okay, her feet carried her to that bunny as fast as possible. Extending her arms to the bunny, she was ready to be lifted onto the lap. I was really surprised how easy it was. Now, getting her away from the bunny was another story. She DID NOT want to leave the Easter bunny. I'm sure she would have sat there all day.

On our way out, we passed a petting zoo. Katelyn's frown quickly turned upside down when she was allowed to touch more bunnies. Parents weren't allowed inside so I was worried Katelyn might step on something. Luckily, she stayed in one spot and gently pet what she could catch. When the keeper showed her a tiny chick, she went to grab the head. No worries... she didn't hurt it. A quick "tutorial" on how to pet the chick and she was a pro.

Overall, very good day! Katelyn had a blast and met the Easter bunny for the very first time. She LOVES her eggs.

Can I borrow some glue?

2011-04-14T15:38:00.000-05:00

I really need to glue Katelyn's feet to the ground. There isn't one thing in this house that she hasn't tried to climb. Every time I turn around, she is standing on the coffee table, kitchen chair, bar stool and many times attempting to go from the stool to the counter. Katelyn is a monkey stuck in a little girl's body. I'm certain she keeps staring at the entertainment center trying to figure out how to make the climb to the top. Yesterday, Katelyn managed to get herself stuck on a bathroom stool as I rinsed the conditioner from my hair. Making a soaked, slippery dash across the floor mid shower to save the princess was not on my schedule but she made sure to write it in. If there is a moment of silence, I know it is time to do a mad search because she has found another obstacle to tackle. One of these days I'm sure I will find her trying to jump off our massive bed or do a back flip off the back of the couch. She has absolutely no fear. We solved the stair climbing with a nice gate B put together.... or so we thought. Now she just walks up the side of the stairs. Yeah, talk about a heart attack! I know she's trying to get up to the fireplace mantle. I just don't know what to do with this little dare devil. Maybe I should just tape some giant pillows to her front and back side.

Now that's a mullet!

2011-04-04T10:35:00.000-05:00

I noticed some red marks around Katelyn's eye last week. After seeing a drop of blood two days later, I decided to take a closer look. Wrestling with Katelyn is never easy but I finally get her to sit still long enough to see what is going on. Poor little girl has been rubbing her eye so hard, she broke the skin on the crease and it started to bleed. I believe the cause of her eye rubbing is her growing bangs. Far from hair stylist or lion tamer, I break out a pair of scissors and decide to tackle the problem. Getting the little one to maintain a position long enough to cut a single strand is quite the adventure. Not only is she grabbing at the funny choppers to show mommy she can be a hairstylist (or maybe a butcher), but finds it amusing to whip her head back and forth as the scissors get closer to her face. Instant heart attack for mommy! Holding her head with one hand and trying to maneuver the scissors with the other, I begin chopping away hoping the front turns out fairly straight. In the end, mommy still has her fingers and the bangs are out of Katelyn's eyes. Although, it is very clear now... my daughter has a mullet.

Excuse me... I have a request!

2011-03-29T11:58:00.000-05:00

Who do I talk to because I have a request?

These 24 hour days just aren't working for me. I think another two or three hours would be perfect. If you could take care of that before the weekend, that would be great!

Oh, and this house never seems to stay clean. Every day I pick up all these toys off the floor and move them to the basket. Vacuuming, mopping, wiping, dusting, laundry, dishes...
If you could just send over that magic cleaning fairy and make sure she doesn't forget the toilets, that would be wonderful!

I've signed up for a 5k race next month. The runs are getting easier and my pace is increasing. However, my knee is giving me some trouble. If you could just tell it to shape up and get with the program, that would be fantastic!

I'm all for nature and loving everything that lives, but seriously... can't these big hairy spiders stay outside? This is my home! So, if you could just banish all eight legged creatures from passing through my front/back/side door, that would be amazing!

Bikini season? Tell that to my butt!?! If you could just march this extra flab somewhere else, that would be superb!

I think that is all for now. Go ahead and work on this list and I will have more requests for you later.

With anticipation,
Tiffany

I quit... or graduated?!?

2011-03-17T14:08:00.002-05:00

The running program (couch to 5k) wasn't really going as I had hoped. Every time I stop to walk, it is really hard to get to the running point again. I'm enjoying the runs so I definitely don't want to give up. In fact, I went to a local running store and got a professional shoe fitting. This helped with all the knee/ankle pain. Come to find out, I overpronate when I run (lean towards the inside of my foot when I step down). My new Saucony Pro Guides fixed the problem and I'm able to run without pain. Now that I got that problem solved, I wanted to solve the "limping my way to 3 mile" problem. See, my goal is to be able to run an upcoming 5k race but my visions of coming in last send me running from the registration page.

So, I started my very own program yesterday. It's called the "put on your nice new running shoes and go". It's very simple.. just run. Run until you can't run anymore. Don't look at the time... don't look at the pace... don't look at the mile markers. Just run! Simple right? Yeah....uhh... sure.

I begin my run and get to that point where the muscles are screaming and I'm trying to maintain an upright position (usually around 1 mile). Still running, I do my best to take my mind off the burn and start jamming to some Fergie. At some point, my eyes close (I don't recommend this... trees can jump out of no where). Chanting to myself, "Don't walk. You can do it. You're a killer..a tiger..a freakin' jaguar RAWR! Go out there and stomp that pavement into the ground" Okay, so maybe I'm not making much sense but it gets me through. The second mile I'm still huffing and puffing but the burn is starting to go away. I convince myself that I'm still in the first mile and must keep going. I know my pace is slow but the legs are moving so I really don't care. The other runners speed me up at times, but then they are long gone. There comes a time when I wonder how far have I gone. Still trying to convince myself I haven't finished the mile, I realize my legs are starting to feel better and my breathing is actually normal. Wow, this feels pretty cool! I run on with my head held high and actually smile at the people coming the other way. Hrmm... this isn't so bad. I'm running! Oh... okay... don't get too excited. Don't go too fast. Fast forward.. running, running, running. I look ahead and see the sun going down. Wait, that means I've been running for almost 1 hour. The family is back home probably starving by now, so I decide this is a good stopping point. My legs slow, and it is now time to see my progress. Looking at the iphone strapped to my arm, I see it. Speechless. No way... I just did that?!?! NO WAY!!!! Oh okay... you want to know too. Sorry. The results? 4.17 miles at a 13 min/mile pace. Like I said, I'm slow BUT I ran 4.17 miles without stopping... not even once! The feeling is amazing. Maybe now I can actually call myself a runner. Every other day I will be back out there ready to enjoy the progress I'm making!

Filling your shoes

2011-03-01T14:49:00.000-06:00

Small things have caught my attention over the past week. For example, when I turn off the water after my shower, Katelyn runs to the door so she can hand me my towel. As I do laundry, her little feet are two steps behind with the clothes stacked up in her arms so far she can barely see. The sound of the dishwasher opening alerts her. I put away a glass and turn around to grab the next item. There she is smiling ear to ear with a handful of spoons for me to put away. The mop glides across the floor and right behind me is Katelyn with one tiny hand clenched around the end of the handle trying to keep up with the back and forth motions. When I'm getting ready to leave, my shoes often end up on her feet but she is quick to help with my socks. I bumped my knee on the cabinet door, but the hug and song that I got after made it worth the pain. Actually, the proud teeth showing grin and squeal of joy once she realized that she made "mommy's boo boo feel all good" was even better! I sit down to fix my hair, and she is holding the brush for me. When it is time to get dressed, Katelyn has already pulled a shirt (or two) for me to wear off the hangers. There are times she will even pull out a pair of shoes to match. One might be a 4 inch red heel and the other a running shoe, but I think the point is clear.

Well, it is for me... now.

See, these little things have been going on for more than a week but I now see them for what they really are. Before the same things would cause frustration. There are times I would get irritated when she started taking the dishes out because it was likely one would find its way to the ground and have to be re-washed. I probably pulled the mop out of her hand because she was slowing me down or cried out when I realized the cabinet door was left open by her and stormed off missing the part that comes next. When I would sit down to fix my hair and the brush had run off to the next room, it wasn't a gasp of "oh how cute, she is helping"... more like, "why is she doing this to me?". When all the shoes she had picked out for me ended up on the floor for the second time that day, I didn't take the time to see things through her eyes.

It isn't always obvious when they are paying attention, but it happens more than you would think. Of course we make mistakes, say and do things we shouldn't and aren't always the best we can be. I like to think that I'm being a good role model at all times, but I'm sure my kids will be able to make a list of my bad habits that I just can't break. We do our best to raise them so that they will grow up to be the most educated, well behaved, and motivated individuals. As my kids get older, I can see a reflection of myself or at least I find myself searching for it at times. I'm proud that I have the opportunity to teach them so much more than even I know.

The questionnaire at the doctor's office has me focused on what she is or isn't doing... but when these little things happen, I realize the fact that she doesn't "say 5 words" is meaningless. Just when I think I'm not doing enough... I realize that she is already filling my shoes! The little things that would sometimes cause a headache are the important things that I missed. I looked past what was really happening but I'm happy to say that these little things are now being treasured. Who cares if a spoon falls on the floor. Who cares if I can't mop as quickly as I would like. Who cares if I have to separate the clothes again or hang up a shirt that has been pulled off the hanger more times than I can count. My little girl is learning. She is growing to be a reflection and I am hopeful that this reflection will teach her to be patient, happy, loving and open minded. In the end, I realize the one who is trying to fill my shoes is the one who is teaching me more than I know! We're growing together and I'm looking forward to seeing what my big helpers next experience will be.

In shape?

2011-02-17T14:42:00.000-06:00

Yes, I'm a shape... but not quite the "in shape" I want to be. I'm a little late with the new year resolution, but I'm going to give this working out stuff a try. I enjoyed our walks so much, I thought I would step things up a notch. After a quick shopping trip and several pieces of running clothes later, I'm ready to go out and tackle the streets... errr... sidewalk. Beautiful temps outside, shoes are tied tight, got my trusty music... all systems are go! I take a fresh breath of air and begin my leisurely jog. After thinking to myself, I realize that my pace might not be good enough to bring on the shape I want to be.. so I turn it up a little. It doesn't take long to realize, TOO LOUD, TOO LOUD!!!

Oh gosh.. this running stuff is harder than I thought. Am I dying? Can I even feel my legs anymore? Must keep running but it's all I can do to not fall flat on my face and just "rest" for a while. How embarrassing would it be for that runner behind me to see me ~~gracefully~~ tumble to the ground like an eight hundred pound horse who just saw a mouse. Pushing harder and harder, the end draws near and I'm happy to be on the trail home. I don't think "my condition" really hit me until I walked into the house. Have you ever worked out so hard, your teeth begin to hurt? Yeah.. me neither. I guess there is a first for everything but I'm not so sure I want to try that "first" again. So, time to rethink how I'm going to shape up.

After spending some time with know it all (Google), I found a program made for people just like me. It teaches beginners how to go from couch potato to running a 5k in just eight weeks. The idea is to pace yourself by walking and running three times per week using a specific set of times/distance. I'm hopeful this new direction will help me stay on my feet and work towards my goal.

I'm sure some of you lovely ladies (and gents) have found yourself in my shoes at some point. I would love to hear from my workout peeps! Any advice, suggestions, tips or stories you would like to share? I could use all the help you want to give at this point.

It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood

2011-01-26T17:00:00.000-06:00

I don't think I've walked this much in my entire life. I'm not usually one to look forward to exercise or put "a stroll" on my top ten list. However, our new subdivision has changed my outlook and gives meaning to the phrase, "it's a walk in the park". They aren't finished building yet... but when it is all done, we are supposed to have 65 miles of walking trails. There are already so many things to see. I can't wait for even more!

Katelyn has learned the word "walk" and runs to the storage closet for her buggy when it is time. The Step 2 riding buggy is a life saver! Unfortunately, Katelyn has never been a fan of her stroller. With her car, she will stay seated and enjoys the ride without turning into Gumby and bending her way out.

I always try to take her to a different corner of the community so she can see something new. This weeks destination is turtle park. It's still a little too chilly to see any turtles walking around... but beautiful either way.

Been a while

2011-01-19T10:15:00.000-06:00

Sorry I haven't updated in a while. Things have been really busy around the house. I have a new Cricut machine being delivered next week so hopefully I will have some cute crafts to post up. I can't wait to try it out! Also, we've managed to get started on B's office. No pictures yet because it is still a "hot mess" -- boxes, wires, trash we haven't gone through :lol: I keep moving things into piles but the princess decides she doesn't like how I'm doing it and decides to change it up when I'm not looking. She's definitely my big "helper"!

The electric company is loving the fact that she found the switch that the nice builders left JUST for her!

I'm DROWNING in toys

2010-12-29T14:41:00.001-06:00

I do believe our house is turning into a toy factory. Not only do I think we could use our own warehouse, but from the looks of it, we are giving ToysRUs a run for its money. The toy "problem" is seriously out of control. I can't take two steps without tripping over something. Although, my ~~graceful~~ thunder shaking tumbles provide Katelyn with lots of laughs, I'm ready to take my house back! Hubby and I have discussed storage plans, and have decided to build something. Until then, we are trying to round up the evil plastic noise makers by filling any baskets we can find. Unfortunately, Katelyn has other ideas. Since climbing is her new favorite thing to do, these baskets have become her personal seating area.... and she believes there just isn't enough room for all those toys in there with her.

The big bad... Santa?

2010-12-16T10:48:00.001-06:00

Our neighborhood community center had a nice little event for the kids last weekend. Singing, snow, and SANTA! Surprisingly, the line was short so we decided to make a stop for some Santa pictures. This is the first time Katelyn has met the jolly old man. At first, things were going great. She stared at his glasses and beard. I was wondering how long it would take her to attempt the quick recovery of those toys on his face. That poor man didn't know what was coming... she's quick. However, it didn't happen. She would look at Santa, back at us, again at Santa, back at us... and then it happened. Katelyn realized she was sitting alone with the strange, fuzzy faced man... cue the water works! I quickly scooped her up and we were off to play in the "snow". They had several snow stations set up for different age ranges. Katelyn had a blast but wasn't exactly sure what was going on. The ice usually goes in her mouth... no difference this time *yuck*.

Of course we really tried to get big brother to sit with Santa as well... but he wasn't having any of that. A group of girls from his school were in line behind us. The only thing he was concerned with was not getting too close to us because we "are embarrassing him". I don't know why he would think that.... okay, maybe I do. What's the fun in parenting if you can't act a fool and make your kid's face turn bright red?

Time... fact or fiction?

2010-12-08T16:13:00.001-06:00

I used to know what this thing called time was. In fact, I had more than I knew what to do with. However, now I'm starting to think it is just some fictional word... an object that no longer exists. Finding the "time" to sit down and squeeze in a blog posts every now and then is becoming a harder task to accomplish. So, you might have noticed that one of the buttons (see up top) has disappeared. Yes, we still have the new house. I'm just trying to function and having several blogs to update isn't working out as planned. Most of the pages on the other blogs haven't been updated in months. So, I've decided to throw everything into one blog... this one! All the crafts, cooking, photography, sewing, and home decorating that will magically appear in the near future will all be posted right here... along with all the Katelyn cuteness of course. I've been blessed with so many wonderful followers and I hope you will all continue reading through the madness I call my life. Since I'm throwing my days out there on a page, might as well do it as I see it. There is no organization to my "routine" so trying to fit each section of my life onto a different blog just isn't right. With that being said.... I'm going to brag to all you lovely ladies (and handsome fellows that are in hiding) about the one project that I managed to accomplish in the past couple of weeks. Christmas decorations!!! Since most places are wanting an arm & leg for decorations, I decided to make some of them myself. After a "quick" trip to Hobby Lobby on Black Friday (yes, I'm insane), I came back with some goodies for my diy yard candy and wreath. Although I can't seem to get the wreath to stay on the door for more than a week, I'm happy with the outcome.

Hubby got up on the roof (no one ever said he was smart all the time) to put up lights and big brother helped set up some of the other yard decorations. I think it looks amazing! My plan was to show you the finished yard... but it seems I have popped a breaker and can't seem to figure out how to turn it back on. So, more pictures after hubby comes to my rescue.

Beautiful Day Park Pictures

2010-12-03T13:59:00.001-06:00

Today is such a beautiful day outside. I decided it would be a good time to go for a walk before we get another cold front. Katelyn was so excited to get out of the house. Although, the little stinker learned how to slide out of her stroller while it was moving. She hates the buckles and really hates being tied down. Fun times on the way back home.. For Christmas I am getting her a push buggy. I think she will enjoy that more and hopefully stay in her seat (fingers crossed). Anyways, here are a few pictures I shot today. While she napped, I decided to play around with some photo retouching.

I'm not beating my child...

2010-11-29T10:01:00.000-06:00

Even if it looks that way

We spent the weekend outside putting up Christmas decorations (pictures coming soon). Katelyn never wants to play in the grass. She always runs straight for the street or the sidewalk. Sometimes her feet move faster than her little legs can handle. This was the outcome. Although it looks pretty bad, Katelyn handled it very well. She cried for a short time while I cleaned up the blood. Within a few minutes she was ready to go back outside and play.

First Birthday Party

2010-11-16T14:18:00.000-06:00

The party was a huge success! All the kids had a blast in the moonwalk and the rain held out just long enough. With so much going on around her, Katelyn didn't rip open the presents like she did when we were alone. I opened most of the presents myself and she played with the balloons. I didn't get a chance to make the cake. We purchased one from Randall's and surprisingly, everyone said it was delicious. I still haven't had a chance to eat a slice, but I will soon! At first, I was a little worried we wouldn't have enough food, but in the end, we had more than enough! My last minute pigs in a blanket were gone in the first thirty minutes. I'll definitely be making those again.

I decided to make all of the decorations to save some money. I think they turned out well. We were going to do more of a cupcake theme, but the pink/green color scheme was easier. Hobby Lobby had the perfect polka dot plates and napkins. This was my first attempt at making tissue poms, but Martha Stewart and her genius instructions were simple to follow. I would highly suggest making these for any party.

...and here are some pictures of the princess enjoying her day! We had baby time in the moonwalk. Unfortunately, none of the pictures of all the babies together really came out. It's hard to snap fast moving objects in a tight, dim space :lol: However, they all had a blast jumping, crawling and rolling around. With so many kids of different ages (4 months to 14 years old), the moonwalk was the best entertainment for everyone. Even adults were enjoying a good bounce.

Paper is flying

2010-11-09T13:57:00.000-06:00

This weekend is Katelyn's first birthday party. We were going to wait to let her open her presents, but well... I have no excuse. I just wanted to watch her rip the paper to shreds. She didn't react as planned. The camera equipment was actually more appealing to her than the presents. I had to get one of them to play music before she was even remotely interested. Then... well, the pictures tell all. I think she really enjoyed her gifts. Although, maybe getting her one of those popper pushers wasn't a good idea. The entire morning it has been nothing but *pop pop pop pop pop* all around the house. I know exactly where she is at all times. :lol:

Peek-A-Boo

2010-10-25T21:36:00.000-05:00

One thing I love about Katelyn getting older is play time. Daddy set up this pretty cool fort for a game of peek-a-boo tag. Katelyn loves chasing everyone around the ottoman. The added tunnel made it a million times better. Mid way through the chase, Katelyn found an added bonus....mommy's phone. When she was done playing, the perfect "cannon ball" brought the fort down! Hopefully she will sleep well tonight :)

I would love to find some new games to play with her during the day. Any ideas? What games do your little ones enjoy?

Happy Birthday Princess

2010-10-22T20:00:00.000-05:00

Dear Katelyn,

I'm not going to write a big long emotional letter because this is not a day for tears. Although it saddens me to see you growing up so fast, I am attempting to remain positive. Trying to concentrate on all the good moments ahead, I am thankful for my wonderful, smart, healthy princess. You have taught me so many things over the past year. I realize this is just the beginning to the many lessons you will teach me in the future. We've got time before you are asking for the car keys and wanting your own makeup. There are so many years before you are sitting in front of the mirror getting ready for your first date. Or, is there?

Our time with you is precious. I won't give you a list of regrets because we didn't capture every second... only plans of what I vow not to miss in the coming years. I can't promise that every day will be sunshine and rainbows, but I will do my best. What I can promise is to always be there to pick you up when you fall. I promise to hold your hand on the first day of school and wipe away your tears when little Jimmy breaks your heart. I may not win mother of the year, but I hope that each year you grow older you also grow to understand the love I have for you. When it feels like mommy "doesn't understand", I hope you know that you and your brother are the light of my life and I'm here for you no matter what. Everything I do, and will do, is for you. I want nothing but the best for my angel and pray to God that I'm able to give that to you.

So, here's to another wonderful year. May it be full of growth, changes, happiness and many more blessed experiences. I love you princess. Hope you have a very happy first birthday!

Bad Mommy

2010-10-15T10:03:00.000-05:00

Last night made me feel like I should win the worst mommy of the year award. We've never been able to let Katelyn "cry it out" because she has severe anxiety about being alone. I usually go in to get her shortly after she starts crying. Well, I put her down to bed around 10:30pm and then wanted to get some more house stuff finished before going to bed myself. One hour later I realized that I never turned the monitor on. Immediately I rushed into Katelyn's room to check on her hoping that she would still be asleep. There was the worst sight I've ever seen and it almost made me sick to my stomach. Katelyn had gathered her security blanket into a corner of the crib. She was huddled up in a little ball laying on top of the blanket. I could feel her shaking when I place my hand on her back, so I grabbed my phone for some light. As soon as I turned it on, a faint whimpering started. Katelyn had been crying for so long that she was just now at the point of giving up. I can't imagine how frightened she must have felt thinking that her mommy had abandoned her. Picking Katelyn up to comfort her made me realize how bad it was. The front of her sleeper was covered in puke. Turning the room light on uncovered many more spots all over her bed and on the floor. My poor little girl had been so scared, she threw up multiple times. It took everything in my power not to break down in tears. The guilt still haunts me even though I know my sweet little angel forgives me. After cleaning up, Katelyn covered me in wet kisses and the tears turned to giggles. Not wanting to let her go, I crawled into the crib with her to put her back to sleep. Although she didn't go back to sleep until 1am, I wasn't leaving that crib until I knew she was sleeping soundly. I will never forget the monitor again!

Rubba Dub Dub

2010-10-04T22:46:00.000-05:00

Katelyn's in the tub...

"Katelyn, it's time to take a bath!"
There she goes! Running around the corner towards the bathroom with a HUGE smile on her face. Most of the time, trying to take her outfit off before I can even fill her ducky tub. If she could climb in by herself, Katelyn would probably sit in that duck all day waiting for bath time to begin. Just look at this face. This little girl LOVES the water.

Run Run Run

2010-09-28T12:18:00.002-05:00

A "cold front" blew in this weekend so we decided to take Katelyn out for some pictures and let her run around the park. Now that she is walking, getting a good photo is really tricky! There was no way she was going to stand still. I tried to bribe Katelyn with some shiny camera equipment, but she was overwhelmed with everything else around her. Remember her love of grass? Well, that one never went away. In fact, she stepped it up to taste testing.

Then I tried to bribe her with a stick. That worked for a while, but eventually it ended up in her mouth as well. B says she was using some Harry Potter voo doo on him.

She practiced her karate kicks for a while before turning into the most adorable scary monster. Here is Katelyn ready to attack. Her "RARR" is priceless. I'll get that on video soon!

I'm coming to get you!!!!

We didn't get the usual posed picture but I think these are perfection. She had such a great time... well, until we took her stick away.

Nature Fun Day

2010-09-26T09:48:00.002-05:00

The community where we are building had a Nature Fest day at one of the larger parks. We decided to take the kids to see what it was all about. Although, the weather was scorching hot... the kids had a blast! We started the day in the petting zoo. Katelyn was overwhelmed with the number of animals. She, of course, wanted to run free but watching her pull the hair of many of those poor, defenseless creatures.. I decided to stay close. Surprisingly, none of them really cared about the poking and prodding of little kids as long as they were being fed in the process. Big brother grabbed a handful of food and was bombarded by an artillery of overweight goats. After finding a bottle of hand sanitizer to try to minimize the stink, we headed off to laser tag. Big brother took our friend's little girl along and they did a great job! He said that their team won both rounds. If the lines weren't so long, I'm sure he would have stayed there all day. Since the heat was really starting to build, snow cones were calling our names. Unfortunately, the line was moving REALLY slow. After almost 30 minutes, we had our snow cones and a shaded table. Katelyn enjoyed a cup of ice while we scarfed down the yummy sugary goodness. While seated, the stage presented a show full of predator birds. The kids also enjoyed seeing a water skiing squirrel and a large dancing parakeet who could do tricks. This event is just one of many to come!

Little Miss

2010-09-21T22:12:00.003-05:00

Meet little miss priss

How can such a sweet, innocent face have so much attitude? Well, she is my daughter. I'm amazed how much personality comes out of this soon-to-be one year old. Yes, the countdown has started. Tomorrow will be 11 months. I'm going to pretend it isn't happening and just skip right on.

Lately I've noticed many new faces coming about. It's cute now, but I realize this expression is going to become quite the "problem". Squishing up her face and letting out several firm "BABABARAMAAA AHHHHHH" while waving her arms in my direction lets me know that I've angered the princess. Katelyn has also learned many ways to be sneaky. I've found her watching me with side eye while slowing pulling the papers off the table. Katelyn notices she has been caught and immediately runs to the table in the corner to hide underneath. Peeking out from behind the leg, I get a cute, "I didn't do anything" stare before emerging to cover mommy in kisses. Yes, trouble is coming....

The sleep is still an issue. Sleeping habits were getting better, but again Katelyn has changed her mind and decided sleep is over rated. If you are a parent, at some point you know that nervous feeling you get as the sun goes down. The feeling in the bottom of your stomach wondering what will be in store for me tonight as I lay my head down on the pillow. Well, it looks like that time has come back around again. The other morning, after she decided there was no way she would stand being alone, mommy decided to climb into the crib with her just so she would go back to sleep. Scrunched up in that tiny bed, I lay there for an hour while she used me as her pillow. After a while, she decides I'm in her way and removes me from her grasp. I make my great escape from the crib and return the blood flow to my legs. Crawling back in bed, ready to appreciate a few more hours of sleep.. the time quickly comes to an end. One hour later, the princess noticed mommy is missing. I gave in.. she gets her way. Mommy is up although not so ready for play time.

Oh, and I just have to brag... big brother actually took this picture :)

Dance Dance Dance

2010-09-16T12:06:00.002-05:00

I think we found the next "So You Think You Can Dance" star right here!! Katelyn absolutely loves to sit in front of the television and listen to the music. Most of the time she will sing and dance along.

Gesundheit!

2010-09-07T12:28:00.006-05:00

With the start of school, cold season has invaded our home. Big brother was the first to be attacked by germs but luckily he is getting over it quickly. Katelyn is experiencing her first illness. Fortunately, she doesn't have a fever. Although, her nose is giving Niagara falls a "run" for its money. I try to keep a constant supply of tissue near. The exploration stage has no boundaries. As soon as Katelyn sneezes, her fingers are magnetically drawn to the oozing snot. Before I can grab a tissue, she is smearing the interesting texture all over her face. The strings of mucous between her fingers are now being used as hair gel. As I frantically run after her with snot rag in one hand and disinfectant wipes in the other, she quickly touches everything within reach. Unfortunately, the giggles turn into tears really fast when the tissue reaches her nose. Poor little girl. I'm guessing her nose is being rubbed raw. I'm hoping the symptoms stop here and she recovers soon. However, big brother had a sore throat and a cough... so I'm guessing the worse is still ahead. I see lots of flu shots in the near future.

Just One More Bite

2010-09-01T14:27:00.002-05:00

Every baby book and magazine I read tells me how far behind Katelyn is when it comes to eating finger foods. Trust me.. this isn't for a lack of trying! That poor little girl would gag on anything more than a stage 2 puree. Luckily, over the last month we've successfully (and slowly) made the switch to stage 3 foods. For a while, I was worried that she would be eating out of jar on her eighteenth birthday... but it looks like we are making some progress! Katelyn can really scarf down the Gerber puffs and "melt in your mouth" snacks. Although small pieces of watermelon still cause gagging, most of the time she is able to swallow them without the show stopping poltergeist purge. I purchased a new steamer so we could try some carrots. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to get them soft enough for her so I have to figure out what I'm doing wrong. She is definitely in the beginner stages but we are hopeful that her eating experience will see a lot of growth over the next month.

I really want to give her more foods to experiment with. Searching the web for "10 month eating charts" gives me some great ideas for foods we can try... down the road. This is where I am getting stuck. At this point, I'm scared to really get into some of the things that the charts recommend (shredded chicken, Cheerios, cheese, toast, etc) because I think they will cause her to choke. I would love to find more foods like watermelon and banana, but I'm really drawing a blank! We need items that don't take much effort to swallow if she is unable to chew it completely. If anyone has some suggestions, I would love to hear them!!!

Got It!!

2010-08-21T22:12:00.004-05:00

Like I said in my last post... determined to get a shot of Katelyn walking by her 10 month birthday. Well, she turns 10 months tomorrow and look what daddy filmed -- sorry the film quality isn't that great. With everything still in boxes, we haven't located the real video camera. Also, please ignore the mess. We don't plan to be in this apartment for long, so we aren't unpacking.

Sometimes these videos load really slow. If this is a problem, pause the video and wait until the bar is complete before pressing play. :)

On The Move

2010-08-16T21:50:00.003-05:00

A few days ago, Katelyn was holding onto the ottoman as she walked around in circles. Stopping only to take a quick peek at the singing cartoon character displayed on the screen. Her excitement sent her right off the end and towards the television. Four steps before hitting the ground! Adjusting to apartment living isn't so easy. "Heavy tush" (as I call it) probably angers the downstairs neighbor quite a bit.... but what can you do? Anyways, she pulled herself up on the television stand and took off back towards the ottoman. This was a fun little game for her, so I rushed to grab the camera. I thought this would be my chance to finally capture her "first steps". Running around the apartment like a mad man, I found the camera and slowly peeked around the corner trying to film without catching her eye. Unfortunately, she witnessed my arrival and decided her walking time had come to an end. So, I still don't have it on film but mark my words, I am determined to get that shot before her ten month birthday! On another note, we took the princess to a friends house and she immediately headed for the stairs. She's quick at getting up those things! Can anyone recommend a good baby gate (easy access for adults and works with iron stair rails)? I would like to pick up something for when we move. I've gone so long without baby proofing but I think that time has come to an end.

Just to let you know

2010-08-10T22:28:00.003-05:00

For those of you interested in following the progress of our new home, I started a "new house" page. You can access the page by clicking on the button at the top or HERE.

I don't usually talk about my Etsy store much on here, but I thought some of you would be interested in this. Since the sewing machine and all my crafts are packed up, I've decided to work on something new. Here are a couple of the birthday invitations I recently designed. I plan to add these personalized invites to my Etsy store. Hopefully I can get a few more designs together very soon! As always, if you have any questions feel free to contact me.

No I will not

2010-08-09T10:28:00.003-05:00

Once upon a time in a far away land, I had a baby that would sleep through the night. It was so nice knowing I would lay down around midnight and not have to wake up until 8am the next morning. Around the seven month mark, our sleeping beauty started waking up once or twice during the week. No biggie! After a few ounces of milky goodness, she was slumbering the night away. Fast forward to the nine month mark. We are now waking up every single night. Katelyn has this horrible 4AM internal rooster that I can't seem to put a noose on. After hours with my trusty friend, Google, I decided to give formula a try in hopes it would help her sleep through the night. Since Katelyn is always waking up hungry, the idea (or hope) was that formula would sit in her belly a bit longer than breast milk and she wouldn't have to wake up for a feeding. Little did I know our picky princess isn't so fond of formula. Last night we sat down in the big cushy yellow rocking chair, going through the motions of the sleepy time routine. Katelyn took the position as she slipped the bottle into her mouth. The eyes closed immediately, as they always do, and it was time to suck down all 6 ounces before catching a few z's. NOT! Katelyn opened her eyes and pushed that bottle out of her mouth faster than I could grab it. Sitting up, she looked at me like I was trying to poison her. Not understanding her displeasure, the bottle was returned to her lips but she refused to open her mouth. Moving her head back and forth, I now realized there was no way I was going to get her to eat this formula. I don't blame her... I smelled it. Gross!!! Back to the drawing board. I mixed in two ounces of formula with 4 ounces of breast milk. Katelyn wasn't trilled with the idea of putting that bottle back into her mouth, but after some subtle convincing, she finally gave it another try. She wouldn't close her eyes or lay back until she knew what was in that bottle. After a few sips, she decided the interesting mixture was suitable for ingestion. When she sucked it down, I put her to bed hoping this miracle concoction would mean a good nights rest. WRONG!!!

Splish Splash

2010-07-29T22:51:00.003-05:00

Katelyn went swimming for the very first time at my niece's birthday party. I knew she would like the water because bath time is one of her favorite activities. Katelyn loves splashing around in her little ducky bath tub. We never imagined she would take to it as fast as she did. I started walking into the water slowly but she had other plans. As soon as her tiny feet hit the water, she was ready to go swimming! The pool was like a large heavenly bath tub calling her name. Dunking Katelyn's head under the water was no problem at all... in fact, she planted her face quite a few times. Immediately after, she would start laughing and splashing everyone around her. The legs were moving and those arms were paddling when I placed her on her tummy. Looks like we might have to get a pool!

I'm Featured!!

2010-07-26T22:26:00.000-05:00

We've finally made it to the big leagues now! Cupcake Dream has been featured on the fabulous SITS community. If you are not already a member, run over right away (no, not later.. do it now) and check it out. These are some amazing female bloggers who offer support and TONS of suggestions on how to make your blog "red carpet ready". If you are here to share my big day, WELCOME!!! -- *hugs -- come in and take a seat. Grab a mimosa and relax!

Now... a little about us!
Originally, I started this blog so friends and family could follow during the "trying to conceive" process. After getting married to my wonderful husband, anyone and everyone wanted to know our "baby status". I'm not sure there was ever a conversation that didn't begin with, "So, when are you going to have a baby". Although, I would have loved to tell them "oh, I think we'll get pregnant at 8:04pm on Tuesday"... it doesn't quite work that way. We were trying and sometimes it wasn't the best topic of discussion. So, this blog helped keep people up to date with our progress. Also, I'm not the best at staying in touch so a lot of friends found out I was pregnant by reading the famous "It finally happened" post where I proudly displayed all half dozen of the positive pregnancy tests I took. CVS loved me and my "pee on a stick obsession".

After our perfect little angel arrived, Cupcake Dream blossomed into an "all about us" story. We're a picture-a-holic family. The camera is permanently stuck to my hip and anytime Katelyn does anything remotely interesting (all the time), I've got the lights out and the camera is snapping. I swear her first words will be "smile for the camera". We also have an 11 y/o son who is at the "OMG you're embarrassing me Mom" stage. He works very hard to avoid the camera and usually proclaims his desire NOT to be the center of this blog. However, I'm just going to take a moment to gush my joy on the Cupcake Dream readers with a brief description of my handsome, BRILLIANT, extremely loving son. He's a very sweet boy who absolutely LOVES his little sister. Big brother was also accepted into the gifted program when he was only 5 years old (yes, my little butterfly is a genius). I'm expecting the door to fly open and hear "MOOOOOOMMMMMMM, why did you write about me?" any second now.

I could write about my family all day but quiet time is coming to a close so I will sum it up as quickly as possible. Being a stay at home mother allows me to witness every special moment of my daughter's life as she grows. Every moment is priceless from the learning to crawl to the "look how I can get the green beans to come out of my nose" fun time. However, it doesn't allow me too much of my attempting to be Martha Stewart minus the jail term time. Unable to remain focused, my hobbies range from sewing to baking, decorating, a little bit of crafts, writing, and of course photography. Before having Katelyn, you could add drag racing and building cars to that list but after getting pregnant, I sold the car (*sheds a tear). That's a sore subject so we'll skip it and move on.

Sadly, I haven't had much time to do any of these things because Katelyn is learning how to get into everything she shouldn't. The harder I try to hide something, the more she works to find it. On top of that, we are currently selling our home and building a new one. Can I say the stress of wedding planning and trying to conceive has NOTHING on the "dance around your questions, take all of your money, not work with your requests, but rush you to make very important decisions and then leave you pulling your hair out piece by piece" building process. This must be a test of our sanity because at times I feel like crawling into the back of a dark closet, balling up into the fetal position, and rocking back and forth while humming The Doors tunes. I've been told there is light at the end of the tunnel... it's just turned off at the moment.

I've really enjoyed having you all visit my crazy life! I hope you will stick around to see Katelyn walk! This should happen very soon because she is currently doing the take a few steps and fall down routine. I'm sure she will be off and running before we know it. Also, we will have pictures of our new home being built from the ground up, and possibly a few sneak peeks of big brother when I can catch him off guard. Beyond that, I love to share my yummy recipes and fun crafts with you.... and of course LOTS and LOTS of pictures.

Here I come

2010-07-17T12:17:00.003-05:00

Katelyn has a deep obsession with electronics (she takes after daddy). Any time the phone, remote, or laptop is in view, she immediately becomes focused and refuses to play with anything else. Not even Sophie can remove her attention from the big, black, button filled toys.

Picture time! It was no surprise that the camera would become a new object of her affection. Not trying to compare Katelyn to a dog, but that was the first thing that came to mind during this adventure. If you have ever tried to train a new puppy.. you know exactly what I'm talking about. You tell the puppy to sit over and over again. They got it! Now you introduce the treat. Your hand is the only thing that keeps the puppy from darting off to chow down that yummy dessert. Over and over you repeat the words, "Good puppy.. sit.. sit.. stay.. sit". Yeah, that was me. I put Katelyn down begging her not to move. "Who's a pretty Katelyn? Smile big for me! Who's going to sit pretty for me?" Well, it never fails. The puppy starts to shake with excitement as soon as you begin to remove your hand. How long does it take before the delicious treat no longer exists? For Katelyn, that yummy treat is the camera. Once I am out of arms reach and the camera goes up, the race is on. Although, you have to love this excited face..

Two years

2010-07-12T10:31:00.004-05:00

Two years ago today, I was sitting in the chair staring at my face in the mirror. My best friend was twirling strands of hair around the curling iron while I anxiously slurped down my mimosa (okay... so it was more than one). Already fighting back tears, the curls were firmly in place and the time was flying by so fast there was no way to hold on to any of it. Actually, I have a hard time remembering most of that day.

I do remember sitting in the church watching the clock count down. I remember putting on the dress and taking pictures. I remember hearing the minister's voice over the speaker and breaking down. My mother and sister jumped up and down making silly noises trying to get me to stop crying... it worked. I moved out into the hall where my dad was waiting. He didn't say a word... just looked at me and smiled. I think he was nervous but probably not as much as I was. My knees were shaking as I watched the bridal party step through the doors and down the aisle one by one. The music changed... it was time. Dad and I rounded the corner and there stood my handsome "soon to be" husband with tears in his eyes. The urge to cry instantly fled and all I wanted to do was run down the aisle and give him a huge kiss.

Our time at the alter was so quick, I honestly don't recall our vows. I know I messed up on part of it because laughter broke out across the church floor. The words were quickly recovered and before I knew it, we were pronounced husband and wife.

Two years later... we are still reliving the happiness of that special day. Happy second anniversary and here is hoping for MANY more wonderful years!

Time to Snooze!

2010-07-03T13:41:00.005-05:00

What do you get when you mix teething with no nap? A baby who can't make it through dinner....

Will you help me?

2010-06-28T12:36:00.002-05:00

A local television station is running a beautiful baby contest. Of course I had to sign Katelyn up! She really needs your votes. The contest does give you multiple ways to sign in (Facebook, Google, etc) and allows one vote per day. So, if you have a moment and would be so kind as to send us your vote, I would REALLY appreciate it!!! All you have to do is click on the link below, scroll down and click on the "vote for this baby" button and sign in.

Click Here To VOTE for Katelyn

THANK YOU!!!

Don't Leave Me!

2010-06-22T23:00:00.003-05:00

Can I just vent for a moment? Let me tell you... severe separation anxiety and teething does not mix well. Toss in the fact that we have to get this house ready to put on the market this week and welcome to my nightmare. Katelyn has been stuck to my hip lately. Any time I put her down she screams. Not a small whine but the all out "tears, snot running, face turning red, gasping for air" screams! You would think she was dying. Unfortunately, she doesn't want to go to anyone else other than me so getting anything done has been hard. As if things weren't bad enough, her top two teeth popped through and my poor little girl is in pain. These cries are totally different and absolutely break my heart. It takes every ounce not to just break down and cry with her. It hurts to watch her going through this and knowing that there is absolutely nothing I can do. I've tried the teething tablets and Tylenol. Nothing works! Such a helpless feeling. Now she doesn't want to go to sleep... or stay asleep. Last night I was in and out of her room for almost 3 hours trying to get her to bed. She finally fell asleep around midnight and was back up again at 5:30am. I know some people are reading this and thinking, "Oh poor you (add sarcastic tone)" but she was my easy sleeping through the night baby. It wouldn't be so bad if she were just waking to eat. I can deal with that! However, waking up to the tears because I know she is in pain... that's even hard to write. Just thinking about those awful cries gets me all choked up. Hopefully this will all end soon! Tonight getting her to sleep was a little easier but she's been up twice since then. After going in and rocking her, eventually she will go back to sleep. I just have to be really careful laying her back down.

I know there are always pictures for each month birthday. My attempts this week have failed. For Father's Day I was planning to take a picture of Katelyn in B's shirt and tie. However, each time I picked up the camera and moved away, she would have a break down. So, I will do my best to get some pictures as soon as she is up for it.

Milestones for this month include: crawling, pulling up on everything and can walk around things while holding on. She has a total of 4 teeth now but isn't quite eating table foods yet. When we ask her to give kisses she will plant a big open mouth one on us. I always love that!

Movin' On Up

2010-06-15T22:08:00.002-05:00

It looks like the new house is actually becoming a reality. I wouldn't say it was easy, but we agreed on a lot and completed the build contract. If it was possible to go directly to the builders instead of dealing with sales people, the process would be so much easier! There is still a lot of work to be done before we can really sink our thoughts into the new house though. The current house isn't quite ready to go on the market yet. This next week is going to be full of cleaning, painting, and other small repairs. I'm not really looking forward to that part, but it has to be done! Yesterday I started putting things in the few boxes we had laying around the house. This made me realize how much crap we have. I was finding things that probably haven't been touched in ten years.

Big brother had a chance to check out the new community when we went to complete the first contract. He's really excited about the golf course and the big swimming pool. I was actually trying to get a speech together about all the pros of moving. Assuming the worst, I figured he would fight me and be really upset about leaving his friends. I guess water slides are a good bargaining tool.

The design studio contacted us today for our first appointment. Design studio. Do you hear the heavenly "AHHHHHHHHHH" and see the blinding light? I'm actually scared. Me in a design studio?!? That is a million times worse than a fraternity in an all you can drink beer factory. Appliances, granite, CABINETS, LIGHTING, FLOORING!!!! Oh gosh... breathe Tiffany BREATHE! I just know I'm going to go in there and be sucked into the home design evilness. This is one place where it is probably very easy to spend 50k in a matter of minutes. The problem... we haven't won the lottery yet. I'm really going to have to find some restraint. I'm sure B will be holding my ankles and pulling me back down to reality.

Busy Bee

2010-06-09T22:16:00.003-05:00

Today was our first day back to baby gym. This class had so many babies right around Katelyn's age (one month plus or minus). She immediately greeted as many of her buddies as she could before class started. Actually, she was still trying to greet even after introductions were complete. Looks like I'm not the only one having problems staying focused. Being the first session for many people, the stretches took us a bit longer than usual. Since actual play time was limited, Katelyn was climbing the walls when we got home... literally!

In order to decrease the left over energy, we decided to do our own "gym time". After air plane rides and baby weight lifting, Katelyn wanted to show me some of the moves she learned in class.

The elephant walk turned into rolling around on the floor. The rolls sent her barreling towards her own reflection. Of course she had to take a moment to make faces at her best friend before finally reaching the end result. NAP TIME!

...and I'm sure you notice that nice little bump on her head? That's her floor bite. As of now, she has three more -- a cabinet, wall and bed rail bite. There is no stopping her. Pulling up on things isn't the problem. She's actually got that down pretty well! Standing up and then letting go.. not so much. Balance is not working in her favor at the moment.

Focus Focus Focus

2010-06-06T16:40:00.004-05:00

Have you noticed the minimal updates lately? My mind just hasn't been in it. There is so much going on but the ability to focus is non existent. Trying hard to get back into the usual routine, I made a special batch of chocolate chip blondie muffins after finishing up some cupcake clothing dividers for my Etsy store. As you can see, the recipe isn't listed because something went terribly wrong and the muffins didn't turn out... at all. Well, unless you like eating toffee flavored rocks. I was trying to rush through because Katelyn has been extra fussy this weekend. She is finally getting over the cold she had last week. However, just like the remaining post pregnancy flab, she is stuck to my hip! B's ipad does a good job of keeping her entertained for a while. The "wheels on the bus" application is a life saver! Katelyn is getting really good at pulling up and grabbing the computer (and everything else) off the ottoman and throwing it onto the floor. After she removes everything, she goes to town ripping any paper products (magazines, mail, big brother's school work) into as many pieces as possible. Who needs a shredder when we've got her? Crawling is mastered but our little princess doesn't like when her knees rub against the carpet. She will move forward a few times and then try to lift her knees off the ground. That isn't working out so well so I tried the baby leg warmers... but they are too tight. As much as she is pulling up and trying to stand, I'm thinking we will have another early walker.. yipee (<--- can you sense the sarcasm?).

I wasn't going to say anything just yet but there is a reason for my lack of focus. For years we have talked about moving. Currently, we are living in B's house. Yes, I know... we're married. It is my home as well. It just doesn't feel like "OUR" home. Honestly, I just don't like this house or the surrounding location. All of our friends and family have heard "we're moving" so many times, I've lost count. We always talk about where we are moving, or what house we are thinking about building. By now, it probably sounds like, "house.. blah, blah, blah.. we're moving someday.. blah, blah, blah". I get tired of telling people we are thinking about buying a new house because we never do. Every year the answer is, "next year". During our usual house ~~searching~~ dreaming, we came across a plan that just knocked me off my feet. I'm not sure why we were looking at models or what landed us in this particular community... but it was like a dream come true! Obviously with our house "buying" track record, I don't want to say too much. Although, this does feel a bit more real than it has in the past. It's within our grasp.. I just REALLY hope it comes through and doesn't fall apart like so many times before. Building this house is the only thing I can think about right now. There are knots in my stomach because I'm just waiting to know something. We are actually waiting on the builder because they don't have lots available... and unfortunately don't know when they will get them. They really haven't given us much information at all which bites a big one. If you can't tell... I REALLY want this to happen. REALLY! Can I say that one more time? REALLY want this to happen!!!

...and here is a drawing of the object that has my head so far in the clouds. Hopefully soon I will be posting pictures of the house building progress *fingers crossed*. I know this picture isn't as nice as the cutie pie I'm always posting. Stay tuned because I will have more pictures of Katelyn this week. :)

Get Organized

2010-05-31T22:09:00.002-05:00

Several months ago, I decided to use my "spare time" to start an Etsy store. It was so much fun designing things for Katelyn's nursery. I thought making things for other people would not only give me something to do but might bring in a little extra spending money. The feeling after my first order notification is impossible to explain. No words can describe the excitement, the feeling of accomplishment, the overwhelming joy and drive to just do MORE, MORE, MORE!!!! After finishing a set of closet dividers for my friend, several more custom orders came pouring in. Those were SO much fun! B even jumped in and started helping me create different shapes that match perfectly. Knowing that I am able to add a small personal touch to such an important room really makes me feel good. However, I've run into a small problem. It appears a tornado got into our home somehow and destroyed my craft space. Paper, fabric, ribbon, baskets... it's EVERYWHERE! The problem spilled over and somewhere in the wreck, we lost our dining room table.

I'm ashamed to admit I've allowed it to go on this long. After a ~~quick~~ long and stressful search, I settled on a big, ugly plastic thingy from Target. Getting things in their correct bins didn't take long and Katelyn was my big helper. Although it isn't the best looking thing in the world, the dining room table is back! Not what I was hoping for, but it's a start. Fingers crossed, one day VERY soon we will have a new home with my very own dedicated craft space. Then the real organizing will begin. For now, I'm just happy to have a clear space so I can get back to working on baby stuff! Now you see what I did this holiday weekend. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend and did something more exciting than cleaning and storage bin hunting.

Everything Emotion

2010-05-25T23:35:00.000-05:00

Watching the local news stories only makes things worse. Not sure why I put myself through it. Almost daily I hear about some criminal breaking into a nearby home. I play every possible scenario through in my head. Sitting on the floor with a gun aimed at the handle has crossed my mind, but I'll admit, that ~~might be~~ is crazy! The house is going to burn down while we sleep and I can't get to the kids. I've checked the smoke detectors five times today but won't close my eyes until it is done once more. With so many beautiful days around the corner, Katelyn is going to love playing in the park. She gets so excited running her fingers through the grass and watching the ducks dance around the pond. Having all this time on our hands, these trips should be plentiful but I just know the second we cross into that intersection, someone is going to run the red light. My heart races after each turn waiting for it to happen. To ease my mind, we could walk to the playground down the street instead. Although, it doesn't help because I know young Tanya will be texting as she veers off the road towards us. The picture is vivid in my mind! Obviously it's more likely we will arrive safely. With Katelyn in my lap, we swing and glide down the slide together. Will that be the day a swarm of bees attacks or the time when a police chase ends at our location? How do I prevent getting caught in the middle of a shoot out? This is when the images of smiles and laughter etched in my mind turn to... well, it's something I would rather not describe.

The "what ifs" have me running scared and the anxiety can feel like a giant elephant is sitting on my chest squeezing the life right out of me. Rushing through the house, I'm checking locks, windows, investigating the noises outside and making sure everything Katelyn touches is securely in place. In the time it has taken me to write the last two sentences, I've already examined the tree taps and the birds pecking at the front door. At one point, the paranoia had me questioning my own husband. Doubt of his feelings for me grew to the belief that he was going to kidnap our daughter and run away. Pulling apart the house, searching for bugs, video equipment... anything that could prove he was watching and waiting for that moment. This is only a small piece of the irrational concerns I struggle with on a daily basis.

It isn't always worry though... I will go through ten or more different emotions in the blink of an eye. One minute I'm ready to crawl under the bed with my hands over my ears screaming for just five minutes of peace and quiet. Then the guilt sets in for wanting to get away. The alone time in the shower might cause a few tears to fall and the frustration of a "to do" list that never ends causes my jaw to clench.. teeth pressing so hard it feels as if they are going to bite right through my bottom lip. Wanting to hear all about big brother's day, excited to know what he is learning. Then not wanting to hear him at all. I'm stuck to Katelyn like her very own right hand. We're smiling, playing, laughing... nothing in the world could be better than that moment. The happiness fills every void and life seems so perfect. Just watching her, I want to stop time and hang onto this forever. Right now it is horrifying embarrassment after admitting to these crazy thoughts that go through my head. There are times I wonder if something is wrong with me. Is this just a stage in parenthood? Several months ago, I did mention a very small portion of my concerns to the doctor but was assured these feelings are normal and will go away in time. It's possible the problem was down played a little.. okay, maybe a lot. Did I mention the embarrassment?

This is a topic that I've tried to avoid. It's like an unspoken subject that haunts me no matter how hard I try to hide it...tucked away in that little dark room inside my head. From the beginning, I've told myself that the intense emotions of worry, guilt, sadness, fear will suddenly vanish like it never happened. I promised myself that I would never talk about this to anyone (especially not here). Maybe to avoid the obvious or prevent negative opinion. There are times I want to shout from the roof top but judgment and society's readiness to label brand prevents me from doing so. Already suffocating from the fear, the worry of someone looking at me as if I am going to hurt (possibly kill) my child because I suffer from some hormonal "disorder" sends me tucked away in the fetal position hiding behind this mask of "June Cleaver bliss". A couple of weeks ago I read a very inspiring posts from Diana which made me realize it is time to stop hiding. Yes, it took me that long to build up the nerve to actually publish this, but hopefully it's worth it. Obviously I want people to see me for who I am instead of wondering if I'm stable or not. I'm prepared for the whispers that will go on behind my back but relieved when I don't have to always force a smile or tip toe around the fact that today might not be cupcakes and apple pie. Who knows.. maybe I'm not alone (I'm fairly certain I'm not) and this could be the stepping stone that not only helps me but others as well. It does feel good to have some sort of "release".

Onto The Other Side

2010-05-23T11:14:00.004-05:00

We are officially closer to the big "one". Katelyn turned 7 months old yesterday and honestly, I'm not sure how I feel about that. I can see my tiny baby growing into a little girl with every passing day. This month has been filled with milestones. She's learned how to pull up on lower items such as the bouncer, but can stand holding the ottoman for a short time as well. Although she isn't crawling, Katelyn manages to get around by scooting on her belly or rolling from room to room. Not a picky gal, she is eating all types of foods now! She doesn't turn anything down but seems to favor pears, sweet potatoes and carrots. Listening to her "talk" is so much fun and a lot of times I can get her to say mama although she doesn't know what it means yet. These things do make the fact that I'm losing my baby easier.

A new month brings new pictures. Of course we spend time seeking out the perfect location. This isn't always easy because there are so many "hidden treasures" but finding them is a treasure hunt. After some creative searching online, I find a few clues to this beautiful spot. When we arrive, I realize it is actually private property in the back of this home. No fear... I walk right up to the door, knock and ask the confused homeowner if we can take pictures of our daughter on their lot. She actually agrees to it so we park the car and the hike begins. After loading up all the gear and the baby, we head down a dirt trail towards a pond. Unfortunately, we didn't make it that far. After the first stop, we realize how bad the bugs are. Mommy and daddy become Katelyn's personal mosquito shield. Fighting off these quarter sized bugs while taking pictures is not a simple task but I'm proud to say she wasn't bit at all... not even once! The fence surrounding the chickens really catches my eye, but after a few snaps... so do the enormous bees flying over head. Seeing how I was jumping into every shot to bat away any potential danger, it was time to move on to the next location. Unfortunately, the barn isn't much better so we call it a day. Swatting all the bugs out of the car is quite an adventure in itself but in the end we leave with some good pictures and no bug bites!

Almost missed it!

2010-05-20T08:51:00.012-05:00

This week has been pretty hectic. For some reason, Katelyn wants to be held all day, every day. If she isn't in my arms, she wants to "walk" around the house. While holding her hands, she moves her tiny little legs across the floor. Katelyn never seems to get tired of it either. When I put her down, she does her best to climb up on her Exersaucer, bouncer, the kitchen chair... anything she can find. When she can't do it herself, she gets frustrated and starts to cry. We purchased a lot of new toys for her, but the only thing she is interested in is the papers and laptop sitting on the ottoman. Eventually, I will help her stand up so she can reach for everything at eye level. She can't stand by herself for long but somehow the papers always find their way to the floor. This new stage is exhausting but it is fun to watch her explore.

On another note, I found my way to the D-Listed Blog Party! Although I'm quite late, I didn't miss it. This is a really great site of mommy bloggers. It's always exciting to find new blogs to read and hopefully gain more blogging friends.

Also, I want to thank a few people for the wonderful awards.

The beautiful Mrs.G for giving me the sweet blog award.

The fabulous Trista for honoring Cupcake Dream with the Versatile blogger award.

and last but definitely not least...

The lovely Christine blessed me with the happy 101 sweet friends award.

Please make sure to check out these amazing blogs along with a few of my other favorites:
Mommytobe
Baby To Go
Raising My 4 Sons

Taggie Letters

2010-05-18T13:31:00.014-05:00

Before Katelyn was born, the wonderful Mrs.Carroll sent me the cutest ribbon tag letter. Katelyn loves to chew on everything so this gift definitely comes in handy! I'm a huge fan of the taggie toys because they are great for teething, easy for little fingers to grasp, and one of the few items Katelyn can roll over without discomfort.

So, when I read the story of Keegan, I knew I wanted to make him something. The taggie letter was the first thing that came to mind. Although it isn't much, hopefully it will make his hospital stay a bit more comfortable. If you have a moment, please say a prayer for this special little boy!

To make your own taggie letter, here is what you will need.

Materials:
- Fabric
- Sewing pins
- Scissors
- Sewing machine
- Needle
- Stuffing
- Ribbon
- Paper (for pattern)
- Printer or pencil

Start out by making a pattern. You can either draw the letter onto a piece paper or use a computer to print it out. The letter can be any size but chunky fonts are best. Cut it out.

Place two pieces of fabric together with the right sides touching. Pin the letter pattern to the fabric and cut along the edges.

Cut pieces of ribbon. Each piece does not have to be the same length. Fold a piece of ribbon in half (cut edges touching) and pin it inside the fabric.

The cut edges of the ribbon should be outside of the fabric. Make sure to pull the ends of the ribbon past the edges of the fabric so the stitches don't miss anything. Once you have gone all the way around the letter, it is time to start sewing.

Sew around the outside of the letter. I like to do a straight stitch first and then come back with a zig zag outside of that. It is important the material holds well through washings and baby play. Leave an opening to turn the material right side and to have a hole for the stuffing.

Turn the material right side out. This may take some time. Work slowly and pull just a little at a time. Use a long straight edge to help push the fabric through. Fill the letter with stuffing. You can make the letter as soft or firm as you would like, but make sure you can still stitch over it again. Once the letter is stuffed, place another piece of ribbon inside and pin the opening closed. (I realize my picture does not have the piece of ribbon inserted. I found my boo boo and had to remove the pins and insert the ribbon but forgot to take another picture. Oopsy!). Hand sew a hidden stitch.

To complete the letter, sew a straight stitch around the edge. Make sure to push the stuffing back as you sew. This will help the stitching stay straight and hopefully no buckled fabric or broken needles.

You are finished! I hope your baby likes their new taggie toy as much as Katelyn does.

Giddy Up Horsey

2010-05-14T11:05:00.003-05:00

Sitting her down in the pile of bright colored plastics, fuzzy over-stuffed animals, and crunchy fabric, I know she will be occupied for the short time it takes me to prepare her breakfast. Spoonfuls of banana hit the bottom of the bowl while the same tune repeats as Katelyn rambunctiously strikes her hands against the bongos. Making sure the entire neighborhood can hear, she calls out to carry on a very important conversation with me. Although, it sounds more like an Indian rain dance, I do my best to give the appropriate response. If I fail, she has no problems voicing her dissatisfaction.

Alarmed by the lack of Mary Had A Little Lamb melody, the rice is tossed into the bowl without measurement before flying back to see why the room has suddenly become silent. Facing away from me, her little hand reaches out to explore the vibrant, twisting twigs which explode from the top of the rose tinted vase. Calling out her name just before she is able to grab a handful of home decoration, she bends her neck back in my direction giving me that cunning smile. I realize now it is time to lock down the house like Alcatraz because Katelyn is on the move.

Heavy concentration is needed otherwise she ends up in reverse with her backside getting stuck under different pieces of furniture. Although, I've found that when she really wants to get to something, those little legs will push her in whatever direction she needs to go. It's funny to watch her rocking back and forth on all fours. Katelyn smiles and laughs as she picks up her back legs but ultimately lunges forward back into the tummy time position. The arms aren't quite working with her legs yet, but I figure it will only be a matter of time before I put her down in that pile of toys to run to the kitchen... only to turn around and see Katelyn at my heels.

What's That Noise?

2010-05-09T22:12:00.009-05:00

I've noticed a lot of new visitors to Cupcake Dream lately. Let me take a moment to welcome you and give you some background info before getting to our regular post. I hope you enjoy your time here and visit often! It's so much fun to share with all my blogging friends and comments are always nice. After you have a moment to look around or if you are a regular reader, I would love to see what your favorite things about this blog are. There is a new poll listed on the right hand side. Please pick one (or more) thing that really sticks out to you. I can't wait to see the results! If you would like to leave me a comment in regards to your favorite things (or anything else), that would be even better!

My name is Tiffany and I'm a stay at home mother to a very sweet angel, Katelyn. I also have a wonderful 11 year old son who grew up way too fast and now gets embarrassed when he becomes the center of my writing. Since becoming a SAHM, I've had to adjust to being somewhat idle (without school or work). Don't get me wrong... Katelyn has me going all day long but I wanted something that I could enjoy for myself. The well needed "me time" activity. One problem though, picking one thing is impossible! Starting out with graphic design, it soon turned to blogging, home decorating, crafting, baking, sewing, and now photography. The many years leading up to my pregnancy I stuck with one (racing and building cars) but decided to ~~give it up~~ put it on hold because it isn't practical at the moment. It's very possible I am over compensating to fill that void or maybe I'm just trying to show up Martha Stewart. Either way, I love to share my new hobbies and, of course, the adventures of Katelyn with you. One day I hope to turn these blog posts into pages of a book that Katelyn will read and hold onto for years down the road.

As you will see in almost every post, we are picture fanatics! I'm not sure a week of Katelyn's life has passed without the flashing lights and someone screaming, "Katelyn, look over here and smile for the camera". Fortunately, she's not sick of it yet. In fact, she's become quite the model. Some of her facial expressions are priceless. At this point you probably want me to stop all the blah, blah, blah and get on to the important stuff. Where are these pictures I keep talking about?!? We'll get there shortly! Your patience is appreciated because... well.. I like to ~~talk~~ write.

Last week I finished my favorite sewing project (so far). The twirly skirt pattern from Little Lizard King turned out better than I thought it would. Breaking out the sewing machine is always fun and ending up with something this cute is icing on the cake! Of course we had to run out and take pictures of Katelyn showing off mommy's new creation. After a short drive around the neighborhood, we found the perfect spot! I never realized how many gorgeous spots there are so close to home. A quick set up and time to shoot. The grass is always an obstacle. Katelyn becomes a weed whacker anytime we put her down in it. She would pick at the grass for hours if we let her. However, this time was different. It wasn't the grass that held her attention... it was the water! I'm happy she can't crawl yet because there is no way she would have stayed in one spot. Getting her to turn around and look at the camera was almost impossible. For a while, I was thinking we would have to post pictures of the back of her head. The sounds from the waterfall had her in a trance. We put her down facing away from the water but she was constantly turning around to see what was going on. Even though her mind was set on climbing into that giant bath tub with the crashing water sounds, we managed to grab a few glances in our direction every once in a while.

...finally made it. PICTURE TIME!!!

Queen For A Day

2010-05-06T22:14:00.006-05:00

I can barely keep my eyes open so hopefully I'm not asleep before the end of this post. Today was such a busy day doing absolutely nothing! Confused yet? Yes, you read that right. I ~~sat~~ laid down for five hours straight while different people pampered me. B treated me to a day of luxury at a local day spa!

A young girl greets me at the door with an itinerary and a cold bottle of water. She leads me to a candle lit room where a sweet older lady is waiting with warm hands and a smile. After signing a few forms, I follow my new best friend to an even darker room. The area is filled with jasmine aromas and the sounds of an angelic harp. We have a short discussion about medical history and then the rest is all a blur. The next 90 minutes is pure bliss! Every muscle in my body from my fingertips to my toes is singing with joy. She must have magical fingers because when the massage ends, my body feels like a pile of goo just oozing off the table. I can't remember the last time I've been this relaxed.

Instead of changing back into my clothes, I'm directed towards a dressing room where a big fluffy white robe is waiting. Have you ever done a cannon ball into a sea of cotton balls? Yeah.. neither have I, but I'm guessing this is what it feels like.

A cheerful voice follows a light tap on the door. It is time to move down the hall for my de-stressing facial. I'm now laying back down on another thick padded, comfy table while the skin expert looks deep into my pores. Being my first facial and never using skin care products, I fear the news to come. Nervously I wonder... does she see my past tanning obsession, my lack of skin care routine, is she judging my chocolate cravings and suffocating ducts. Unbelievably, the comments regarding my skin are very positive. She mixes together a hydrating/cleansing solution and begins the transformation. My face is painted on, buffed, washed and massaged. The products go back and forth from warm to cold. I feel everything from wet textures, to slimy creams, grit and finally a soothing rose scented oil. It becomes a game trying to guess what I will experience next. Another massage follows the facial routine but this one focuses more on my face, neck and shoulders. I'm excited to choose the fragrance from a detailed list. A sweet melon scent reminds me that I haven't had lunch. My mind wanders from food, to the relaxing ocean sounds and then is interrupted by the unfortunate, "okay, we're all finished. I hope you enjoyed your facial". Done? Already? Oh man... can we do it again?

Oh wait. No, we can't do it again because I have a mani/pedi up next! Sliding down the hall to the next room, I sit down in a large pedicure chair and soak my feet in a bath of warm, bubbling, mint water. The back of the chair is pulsing and rolling up and down my back. Glancing around the room, the sights of chandeliers, large oil paintings and bronze fixtures grab my attention. All alone in such a grand room soaking in the comfort but thinking about being away from Katelyn. After four hours, I'm missing her laughs and slobber kisses. A very small framed, beautiful woman enters the room with a rolling cart and asks me how my day is going. We discuss kids, work and current events as she applies the different lotions and oils to my hands and feet. My legs are massaged with soothing hot rocks and wrapped in warm towels. Then my hands receive some much needed hydration therapy. The months of hand washing pump parts has not helped my skin. A quick coat of polish and the day is coming to an end.

I'm so thankful B gave me such a wonderful day of quality "me time". Now I'm going to go enjoy some much needed sleep!

Such A Pretty Tutu

2010-05-01T22:46:00.004-05:00

Last month I won some really great hand crafted jewelry from Gerber Days and this week I found out that I am the winner of an adorable pattern from Little Lizard King. Maybe I should run out and buy a lottery ticket!!!

Choosing just one pattern is impossible, so I got some extras. Today I finished Katelyn's first tutu. The tutorial was very easy to follow and I'm absolutely in love with the end result.

I can't wait to get started on the other patterns. Next she will get a twirly girl skirt and then after that, a cute ruffle diaper cover. The new patterns gave me a good excuse to hit up the fabric store. Running wild through the aisles led me to some really great finds -- bright green cupcakes, hot pink flowers, cute polka dots, and more. Did I mention Hancock was having a sale? That word gets me every time! It's a sickness.. worse than a kid in a candy store.

...and it wouldn't be the same without pictures. Poor little girl. Her first words are going to be "smile for the camera".

Nap Time

2010-04-29T09:49:00.002-05:00

Since Katelyn started sleeping through the night three months ago, she refuses to nap during the day. On rare occasions, she will fall asleep while I feed her but only for a short period of time. If I try to put her down, she will quickly be up and ready to play. It's quite exhausting! Yesterday she gave me all the signs of "sleepy baby" -- rubbing her eyes, wiping her face across my shirt, and grabbing at her face/ears. Thinking it is the perfect time to try for a real nap, I took her upstairs and placed her in the crib. At first she gave me that blank, confused stare. When I turned the white noise machine on, she started to whimper because that is the first stage of "bedtime". Then I left the room. My heart sank as she started crying. I've never let her cry it out before. With my ear pressed against the door, I was ready to wave the white flag. Less than a minute had passed and the cries turned to spaced out mumbles. It's a good thing she can't actually say "mama" because it is hard enough to resist swinging that door open and rescuing her from the baby jail. Then there was silence. Unable to walk away, I opened the door to peak inside. There she was.. my drooling, SLEEPING baby. Nap time success!

Where is my baby going?

2010-04-25T23:13:00.002-05:00

On Thursday, Katelyn hit the big six month mark. I wish time would just slow down! Watching her grow and develop is a wonderful experience but it is a little sad to think that one day I will wake up and she won't be my "baby" anymore. This month was filled with milestones -- sitting, rolling over, waving, first teeth, and starting to crawl backwards.

Six months really isn't a long time but it feels as if she has already grown so much. Remembering back like it was just yesterday, we were leaving the hospital and out into the pouring rain with our tiny bundle of joy. Strapping her into the car seat...scared, anxious, paranoid. Every day was a new test! I shed so many tears the first few ~~weeks~~ ~~months~~... well, I will let you know when it ends. Happy tears, sad tears, tears from exhaustion and the gut wrenching tears of fear! The first time we tried to put Katelyn into her crib, I sat down on the floor and cried on B's shoulder for hours until he moved her back into our room. It was another three months before I was ready to try again. That is just one of the MANY "unable to let go" moments I've had. I know that we are blessed to have healthy, maturing kids... I just wish they wouldn't grow up so quickly!

Anyways, enough of those gushy sob moments that turn on the water works. Here are some pictures that warm my heart and brighten any day.

We took a trip to our local park. At first, all Katelyn wanted to do was play with the dirt and grass in front of her. The park could have hired her as their very own weed whacker! The first batch of pictures show nothing more than the top of her head. So, we try again the next day! This time we are smart enough to bring a blanket to cover the grass. It worked.. now her attention turned to her dress (which spent most of the time in her mouth). She loved showing everyone her cute belly! Oh, and the stats from her doctor appointment last week -- 16lbs, 12oz and 26 1/4" height.

Let ME Do It!

2010-04-19T21:07:00.006-05:00

With Katelyn glued to the hip, I proceed to the kitchen for a glass of water. Overwhelmed with curiosity, she leans forward watching with wide eyes as the liquid rises to the top. As soon as the water makes it to my lips, her hand injects letting me know she wants the first sip (or the entire thing). When we started solids a couple of months ago, the pediatrician recommended giving her two ounces of water each day to keep things moving "down there". Each day we try, but princess refuses to drink it out of a bottle. So, we move to the sink as I place the glass of water to her mouth. Bless her heart, she tries to stick out that tongue-tied tip as far as possible as she slurps away. Annoyed with strings of water dribbling down her chin, she grasps the sides of the glass attempting to do it herself. This is an easy way to mop the floor because that is where the rest of the water ends up.

Fortunately, Tommee Tippee came to the rescue! An adorable set of stage one Tommee Tippee trainer cups (6+ months) arrived today. After a good wash in the dishwasher, I fill one up and give it a test drive. With Katelyn secure in the high chair, the experiment begins. Being her first experience with this type of drinking device, my expectations are modest. She stares for a moment before reaching out to seize the bright colored object and insert it into her mouth. The soft spout becomes an instant teething toy. When the cup is turned upside down, my immediate reaction is to gasp and dive. Not one drop comes out! Of course I have to turn it myself and give it a few shakes... nothing. Yes, this advance-flo valve feature has me quite amused. Not wanting to anger the princess, the cup goes back into her grasp. Katelyn isn't holding a bottle well by herself yet, but she has no problems grabbing the easy handles. They are the perfect size for her little fingers.

Unfortunately, she doesn't understand the concept of tilting the cup up yet so big brother comes over to offer a helping hand. Thinking it would be easier if she was on her back, we remove her from the high chair.

Since the fluid did not escape during my play time, I assume Katelyn will have difficulties sucking it out. We aren't really sure how to teach her to draw the water up through the spout with her mouth. Up to this point, she is still using the beaming Explora cup for her chewing pleasure. Allowing her to play for a few more minutes, I hear a suction noise escape the Tommee Tippee trainer. Baffled by the sudden flow, Katelyn drops the cup and shockingly looks to me for an explanation. After placing the cup back into her hands, she instantly positions the spout to her lips and starts drinking. While on her back, she does have some issues regulating the flow and spits the fluid out to the side. A few more attempts and things are going down much better. Trying different positions, I find that sitting her up with the cup works best.

More practice is needed before Katelyn can handle the trainer on her own. Seeing as she is just turning six months old this week, I believe it went really well! The experience is definitely a positive one. The colors really grab Katelyn's interest (just like the big mommy glass). I also like the fact that she can explore and play around with the trainer cup while not spilling a drop. Traditionally, the word sippy cup gave me carpet stain nightmares. With this Tommee Tippee trainer, that is no longer a worry of mine. Overall, I'm really happy with this cup and would highly recommend it to all of my friends. Currently, these cups are only available at Babies R Us but if you want to give them a try, the price is very reasonable. A set of two nine ounce cups will only set you back $7.99. Make sure to come back and tell me all about your experience!

**The featured product was provided to me free of charge by Tommee Tippee for review. The opinions expressed in this review are my own, honest and not influenced by the company.**

Hands Up In The Air

2010-04-17T21:07:00.012-05:00

After our fun day at the baby gym, nothing I do at home can quite compare. The Exersaucer and play mat just aren't cutting it anymore. Katelyn will play with these for fifteen minutes tops and decide she is ready to move onto something else. Turning on the toddler music channel and dancing around will entertain her for a little while longer. However, we don't have bells, bubbles or balls!?! So, it's time to take a trip to the toy store. After showing her a few items, it doesn't take long to pick out some favorites. At the top of her list is the Fisher Price Crawl-Along Drum Roll. This little drum set can be set up in two ways (rolling or sitting) and plays musical beats as she bats at the bongos. Along with our toy shopping spree, I've been keeping my eye on the daily deals over at Growing Tree Toys. Sometimes they have some really good discounts on baby toys.

We get home and put Katelyn down on the floor with all of her new toys. She immediately goes for the drums. Then we witness her new trick! After leaning against the toy for a while, she sits straight up and stays that way for several minutes. Getting really excited, she begins swinging her arms up and down and flies backwards. Don't worry, she's not hurt... the carpet is nice and cushy. I sit her back up and no more tripod. She is using her hands to try to pick up the toys and has absolutely no troubles sitting for a long period of time by herself. Oh, and can you see those teeth now?? Katelyn is growing up way too fast!!! Of course, we have pictures...

Just in case you missed the teeth in the other pictures

Time to hit the gym

2010-04-15T22:16:00.004-05:00

...well, not a gym for me. I'm way too lazy for that. It's a baby gym!

Since it is a rare occasion for Katelyn and me to get out of the house, I thought it would be fun to take some type of class together. Surprisingly, there isn't much available for small babies and parents unless you want to sign your life away to a crazy play group with a "rule book" larger than the Harry Pottery boxed set. After a lot of Google searching, a neighborhood jewel hit me square between the eyes. I'm not sure how I missed it, but a few short blocks away sits a gym made for kids! Calling them up to see what kind of classes they offer, led to one more item on our summer schedule. This afternoon, we were given the opportunity to join the baby bug class (4 to 10 months).

Arriving ten minutes early to check in, we are greeted by several friendly faces. The class instructor takes our names and has us grab a seat in the waiting area. All the kids are sitting together so I plop down on the floor so Katelyn can join them. In her tripod position, Katelyn immediately focuses on the shiny legs of the chairs parked in a row against the window... uninterested in what is going on around her. One of the mothers inquires about Katelyn's age as her daughter scoots across the floor towards us. The girls, now face to face, give each other blank stares for a moment before trying to exchange slobber fingers. Quickly interjecting the moment, we are called into the gym to begin class. Both girls, full of giggles and now holding a conversation, maintain locked eyes.

Confused on where to go, I pause for a moment to see where the other parents sit. Watching them form a circle on the mat, I find an open space and get comfortable. Katelyn continues eyeballing her friend sitting next to us until the bells come out. The bucket full of jingles is placed directly in front of us. Grabbing a set and placing them in Katelyn's hand, she immediately waves it in the air before forcefully throwing them a few feet to the side. After fetching the bells, I decide it is probably best to hold onto them myself so no one gets hit by the flying instrument. Fortunately, Katelyn doesn't fight me and enjoys the singing and ringing as we move the bells from side to side. The class moves fast, never sitting on one thing too long so we put the bells away and onto the next event.

The warm up process begins and the instructor shows how to follow some of the stretches. The movements are fairly easy so we pick things up fast. Katelyn really enjoys the bird wing which involves flapping arms around, up and down, to funny music. She doesn't quite understand what is going on when the instructor grabs her legs to demonstrate the bicycle stretches.... however, she plays along like a pro. While giving the girl a confused glance, Katelyn completes the motions. The song ends and again, we are ready to move on.

Since Katelyn isn't crawling yet, I place her feet against my stomach, holding her chest against my arms, and let her fly like a bird as we walk around in a large circle. Some of the other babies decide they would rather crawl (or walk) to the adjacent play areas so the circle gets smaller and smaller each time around. As it shrinks, she goes from flying to being tucked away under my arm like a football. Now we are running! So, maybe I did get a bit of a workout...

Exhausted, the instructor ends the song and allows us to rest while she grabs a large, rainbow colored, round piece of nylon fabric. Placing it in the center of the circle, the fabric is unfolded and the babies are placed along the edge. Each parent grabs a section and gently waves it as we sing another song. Some of the babies were not thrilled with this part, but Katelyn did very well. She watched the bright red material go up and down in front of her. Managing to grab some of the slack, it immediately goes straight for the mouth (I checked... all of the stuff is washed/sanitized between classes). The fabric is then pulled tight as the parents walk around in a circle allowing the babies to explore the room. (**no babies ever left the ground). All kids are removed from the top of the fabric and placed in front of their parent. We lift the fabric up in the air so everyone can say "bon jour" to each other and then everyone climbs underneath. Thankfully, we're not claustrophobic! Actually, the instructor does very well to keep the fabric from falling completely so there is more than enough room for the babies.

The next minutes include free play time. We are allowed to explore any part of the gym. This is where I take some pictures of Katelyn eating her favorite sheer scarf. I'm sure she would be happy to chow down on any colored scarf, but this is the one within reach. After a few minutes, she decides to go after her friend's scarf as well. Who needs a gym full of toys when you have pretty pieces of fabric to gnaw on?

Back to the circle for bubble time. Katelyn's eyes light up when hundreds of bubbles fly out of the instructor's mouth machine and surround her. Reaching to the sky, she attempts to catch them one by one. As the last bubble hits the ground, Katelyn watches the instructor closely waiting for the next set to come. Each time the bubbles fill the room, Katelyn's level of concentration intensifies. Focused, she waits for her bubble to hit the ground before moving her eyes to the next one. Looking a little disappointed when all the bubbles are gone, Katelyn patiently waits for the next game. It doesn't take long to cheer her up when an entire bin of balls are dumped onto the floor. Katelyn picks out a bright orange bouncy ball and follows it as it rolls around her. I pick her up and sit her on top. She laughs uncontrollably as the ball springs her up and down. Unfortunately, play time must come to an end.

The teacher brings out another bucket of bells so we can sing the goodbye song. This time Katelyn dives for a set and holds on tight. I felt bad for having to take it all away but I'm sure she will forgive me. We are going to have a blast this summer. It will be fun to see what different things each class will offer.

The worst part of the day... as soon as we decide to leave, it starts to POUR! Fortunately the instructor watches Katelyn so I can pull the car up closer to the door. I end up looking like a wet puppy dog but Katelyn stays fairly dry.

I would like to thank...

2010-04-14T22:17:00.008-05:00

I know I've fallen WAY behind with the awards so I want to quickly acknowledge a few lovely ladies that have nominated Cupcake Dream.

*Joni of Six Cherries on Top presents me with the Honest Scrap

*Eliza of Postcards from Parenthood presents me with The Sunshine Award

*Anne of The Makings of Baby Ostie presents me with the Preppy Mafia Award

It's such an honor to be recognized and know that others are actually reading/enjoying Cupcake Dream! As always, I love the awards and even more so... LOVE comments!! Seeing what the readers have to say always makes my day better. Thank you!
I hope I'm not forgetting anyone... If I did, please send me a swift kick and let me know. Unfortunately my busy schedule won't allow me to sit down and write an acceptance speech all about me so I'm going to make it short and sweet.

Ten things that make me happy
1. Family
2. Friends
3. Baby laughs
4. Sewing
5. Baking
6. 50% off deals at Hobby Lobby
7. A great glass of wine
8. Selling something I made
9. Watching the numbers on the scale go down
10. A clean house (especially when I don't have to do it)

...and since I don't have time to list nominations of my own (yes ----> slacking) I will leave you with a few of my favorites. Enjoy!

Raising My 4 Sons
Who Doesn't Love Coupons
Ballet Shoes and Yarn and Hooks and Books

Many sides of Katelyn

2010-04-10T23:34:00.006-05:00

Since I have so much free time (<--- BWAHHAHAHAHA!!!), I've decided to take on yet another hobby. I'm trying my hand at photography. People always ask what we use. Our camera is a Canon 5D (for anyone who is interested). Anyways, we have all the lighting equipment, lenses galore, filters... you name it, B probably has it. Fortunately, B is very patient and willing to work with me. A few weeks ago I got my first crash course in how to use the camera. He was spouting off things about aperture, ISO, exposure, focal length, manual mode this and tv mode that.. my head was spinning. I tried to soak in as much as I could, as fast as I could. The next day I picked up the camera with my new knowledge and started snapping. I thought I was doing pretty darn good until I realized my shutter speed was too slow (1/30) and nothing was clear. All my precious images were garbage. No problemo... I'll try again! Making sure to keep my eye on the settings, I checked, checked again, triple checked just to make sure everything was where it should be. With my happy trigger finger, I went to town taking hundreds of pictures. Uploaded everything to the computer and realized, I forgot about lighting. SHOOT! This stuff is much harder than it looks. B went over some things with me AGAIN (someone should tell him he talks really fast). Mentally taking notes, I jumped back into the ring with the camera and went a few rounds. This is when I got the pretty nice shot of Katelyn on the changing pad (see below). With a win under my belt, my confidence level was on the rise. It's somewhat of an addiction... must have more! B keeps changing the settings on the camera. I'm sure he enjoys watching me squirm every time I forget to fix something. Anyways, I took a step back on Friday when most of my pictures came out just a tad blurry... but hello, my name is Tiffany and I'm a perfectionist. So, with B's help we tackled this one together. Some of these are my shots.. some are his. The bad part.. I don't know which is which. The good part.. I don't know which is which!!!! No, I don't plan on stepping down from the pedestal just yet. So, check these out. Pretty cool huh? Oh, and it might be a little hard to spot at the moment... but that is two teeth you see at the bottom of her mouth. I'll try to get some better pictures and make a tooth post later this week. Stay tuned!

Blog Party

2010-04-08T23:36:00.005-05:00

Originally, I started this blog to take close friends and family on our trying to conceive journey. Reading my first few posts not only brings back memories but also gives me quite a laugh. It's amazing how far my writing has come. Not only has the length and detail of each post changed, but fortunately, so has the content. Feeling so blessed with this new direction, I enjoy sharing each moment with all my wonderful new mommy blogging friends. Still, there is so much more to come! My hope is to provide more craft projects, more recipes, more giveaways... and of course, more pictures and stories of our wonderful children! This week, I have decided to be a part of the Blog Party! I'm excited to meet many more future blogging sisters. Hopefully, I can win one of the great prizes they are giving away. My top picks would be --
Of course the grand prize, Toshiba Satellite L505D-ES5025 or...
2 - Two winners will receive a $50 gift certificate to shop our tagless baby apparel.
Provided by: Happy Panda
USC 15 – $50 Target gift card to one winner.
Provided by: Haley Quarles of Love, Life, Family…and then some
USC 8 – $55 E-Gift Card for Amazon.com Gift code will be emailed to the winner and can be used for purchases from Amazon.com.
Provided by: Kelly’s Lucky You
16 – A custom-made tutu for a baby or little girl. This can be made in any color combination you like (classic pink or your favorite team colors). Tutus made by Sweet Patootie’s are the fluffiest little girl tutus you’ll find – like a REAL ballerina’s tutu! Great for costumes OR everyday play!
Provided by: Sweet Patootie’s via Peachy Keen

Also, number 5, 19, 32 (or any Target gc), 61, 75, USC5 and anything else baby related would be wonderful. Check out the list at 5minutesformom.com!

...Come in, grab a seat, get comfy and stay a while!

A day in the life of... me!

2010-04-06T22:46:00.034-05:00

Today I received an email from my mother (sweetest woman on the planet). Her message is occupied with guilt over a singular inactive day. Ignoring the fact that she has a broken toe, the need to constantly accomplish inessential undertakings drives her. I thought about snapping back and telling her to enjoy retirement. Years of slaving over a household of three children (and I was not an easy person to deal with) has earned her the right to many “Peg Bundy” days.Then I thought about my sister. For over five years, she has been a stay at home mother. After obtaining a law degree she left her career to care for my two adorable nieces. Some would say she is crazy... I say she is an amazing mother! See these girls? They are absolute angels... Okay, they are terrors but still precious! Like my mother, my sister keeps her plate full and dives into everything head first. Both women are truly inspirational but sitting idle is not in their vocabulary. Now I understand where I get it from. Leaving my perpetual “to do” list behind is impossible! I love being a stay at home mother but my job is definitely not exotic bliss on the beach. It can be quite the roller coaster. The day takes me through a variety of tasks. One moment I'm a psychologist and the next a culinary chef, teacher, janitor, doctor and even magician. You would be amazed with some of the tricks I can pull out of my... hat. For me, there is never a dull moment.

On occasion, I have to remind myself that Martha Stewart is not taking care of an infant. So, today I thought I would take the Cupcake Dream readers through my typical day. Buckle up and sit tight... this can be a long ride!
It starts in our queen-sized, cozy, pillow top bed. Drowning in the covers enjoying a blissful dream, my sleep is soon interrupted by loud, playful squeals over the monitor. Relieved that Katelyn allowed me to doze until 9:00am, I pull the covers back and hop out of bed to quickly complete my morning routine. Slowly opening the nursery door, she is staring in my direction with wide eyes peeking through the crib bars. Knowing mommy is here to make the great escape, her face lights up with a huge gummy smile. What a wonderful way to start the day!
After replacing the ten pound weight strapped to her bottom, we head downstairs for a nutritious breakfast. Laying on the floor watching mommy's every move, Katelyn waits ~~patiently~~ for her bottle to finish warming. Not wasting a moment of the day, I decide to wash the pump parts until the bottle is ready. Most of the time hubby cleans them for me before he goes to work but unfortunately, today is not one of those days. Feeding Katelyn is followed by pumping and then a quick breakfast. To avoid upsetting the princess, I throw two frosted strawberry pop tarts in the toaster and hurry back to keep her entertained. While bouncing Katelyn on my knee and singing some made up song with random words that instantly come to mind, email browsing is complete. Since she is still being amused by the melody of the day, my attention turns to checking the updates on a few of my favorite blogs such as Postcards From Parenthood, Our Growing Garden and Trendy Treehouse.
For weeks putting together the high chair has been on my “to do” list. If I can put together an engine, this shouldn't be that hard. Not putting it off any longer, I drag the box out of the closet and lay the parts out side by side. With a curious gaze, Katelyn watches me bury my nose into the instructions. Following step by step, the high chair is starting to come together. Some of the screws give a good fight. It's funny how the manual says, “this may require extra force”. Why not just make holes large enough to fit the screws? He-Man would have trouble getting some of these in. The important part... Katelyn was entertained by my grunts, growling and beating on the plastic with the screwdriver. Well, it is finished and looks exactly like the picture on the box. Score one for mommy!! With no time to spare, Katelyn is strapped in and ready to eat! I grab one of her soft spoons and a jar of sweet potatoes. Proclaiming her excitement, she begins banging on the tray while blowing raspberries in my direction. Lid is popped and the food is shoveled into her mouth. This process does not take long unless it is peas or rice cereal (then it could take all day). Most of the food makes it into her mouth. Overall, not too bad. A quick clean up and onto the next task.
Since Katelyn is all cleaned up, it is my turn. After grabbing the bouncer, we are off to the big bathroom. The noise from the shower and radio will only keep her entertained for so long. Luckily I'm able to make it through the shampoo before she is whining. Singing with my head under a faucet and shampoo running down the face is not a skill I have mastered yet. A few creative tunes keep her occupied through the conditioner and soap application. The shower door opens and the smile returns to Katelyn's face. Trying my best to keep her happy, the hair dryer is set to turbo and the transformation from bed head to satisfactory is almost complete. Sweeping up Katelyn from her seat, we enjoy two stepping around the room to one of the best George Strait tunes before heading back to the kitchen for her next meal.
Katelyn is napping so it is time for me to ~~relax~~ clean up the house. Starting in the dining room, I organize and put away all of my new craft materials. Then it is off to the living room to shred old mail, go through all the junk piling up on the ottoman, and do a quick once over with the Swiffer duster before she decides her thirty minute nap is ready to come to an end. Still needing to do a load of laundry, I put her inside of the basket and take her with me to gather clothes. She loves to help me fold and sometimes adds her own spit shine.
My belly is starting to rumble. Looking over at the clock, I realize it is 2:30pm and time for me to eat. Sitting down at the table, ready to eat my ~~gourmet meal~~ pizza microwave dinner, Katelyn decides it is her lunch time as well. No time to breath, I shovel the pizza down my throat. Of course the thought about the pizza being hot never crossed my mind, so the top of my mouth behind my teeth now has a lovely blister....but the hunger is gone and Katelyn can now get her jar of pears.
We take a trip up to the nursery for the famous doggy book. Funny stories, a few more songs, and some tummy kiss play time makes a sleepy baby. Rocking Katelyn in the bouncer puts her out. I'm so happy to get some time to myself. Then big brother comes running in from school, excited to tell me about the prize he chose from the treasure chest. This wakes Katelyn and the crying alerts me to the fact that it is time for another bottle. I was really hoping it would put her back to sleep.. but no luck. Big brother sits down at the table to begin his homework. I'm always thankful when he doesn't have any questions. The show “Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader” is not for me because I find myself constantly running to the computer to look up answers. Regrettably, I'm in the need of an elementary refresher course.
I've been dying to try out the new KitchenAid Mixer B surprised me with last week. With the urge for some chocolate toffee brownies, I grab Katelyn and head to the kitchen to start baking. Watching me pull the ingredients, she kicks her legs with excitement thinking another jar of goodies is headed her way. After a few minutes of nothing, she lets me know of her displeasure. Running back and forth from the mixer to her bouncer, I'm finally done with the preparation and the brownies are ready for the oven. BTW, if you are interested in the recipe, you can check it out (along with many others) here. Now it is time to think about dinner. There is no way Katelyn is going to let me cook a meal after making her sit through the baking. I decide to take the easy route and prepare some hamburger meat. When B gets home from work, he can grill the burgers.
We eat, Katelyn has another bottle, more pumping followed by more cleaning. Now it is finally time for a small break. B spends some quality time entertaining the princess while I gather coupons to mail for my coupon train, box up one of my customers craft projects, and have the most delectable glass of wine! Then we finish her evening with a bowl of rice cereal, time in the exersaucer and then rolling around on the play gym mat. After a long day, it is now 9:30pm and Katelyn is ready for her bath. Once the soap is all rinsed off, she kicks around in the water for another ten minutes. A bottle is made and we head to the nursery to wind down. I turn on the white noise machine, she finishes the bottle and ultimately, it's mommy's play time. Laying her down slowly, I tip toe from the room and exhale. Dashing to my craft table, I'm ready to have some fun!
My current project is a set of closet dividers made to match a customer's beautiful nursery bedding. After setting up the design, I sit down to paint some of the wood shapes hubby cut out for me. Unfortunately, tonight will not get me very far because more sanding is needed before the next coat can be applied. I'll just call it a day and move on to some quality blogging time. So, here I am wrapping up a long, exhausting day writing. If you have made it this far, you are definitely a loyal follower and I appreciate that. It is nice to know that others are interested. :) So, here is a big thank you. Now it is time for me to do some more pumping, catch up on the daily baby forum gossip and hit the sack so I can gear up for another adventurous day. Wishing you all a good night full of cupcake dreams!

What Big Ears You Have...

2010-04-01T22:26:00.003-05:00

Do they make meetings for sale-aholics because I'll admit, I'm a sucker for those red tag specials! Immediately going for the weekly discount ad during my routine visit at Hobby Lobby, my eyes scan the page in search for the next "can't live without" specials. Normally I skip right over the garden goods, but that big flashing "sale" sign draws me in like a plastic surgeon at a Joan River's gathering. The moment my cart turns down the first aisle, my eyes catch sight of an adorable white picket fence basket. Of course I don't need it... but the brain steps into overdrive trying to come up with many reasons why the purchase is critical. Easter pictures! Now that the objective is clear, I'm back on the hunt for more props. I finish my garden department rummaging by adding a few more must haves to the basket and then it is off to the holiday aisles. Hugging the cart to the shelves, practically scooping things in, I succeed in finding plenty of precious materials to create the perfect Easter scene.... oh, and everything is fifty percent off. SCORE!

Enough of my shopping chit chat -- here's what you all want to see!

Sew Happy!

2010-03-31T22:31:00.003-05:00

Walking past the fabric aisles of Hobby Lobby often leads to senseless salivation over the soft, playful patterns. The cute animal prints, pink ruffles, fancy hearts, and bursts of color leave me in a euphoric trance. Pausing for a moment to consider the many adorable things those patterns could create, I leave that section foiled and empty handed. The possibilities are limited because an important item has been on my wish list for years but never made it to the shopping cart. After a nudge from hubby (he was getting tired of hearing me complain), the sewing machine was purchased. After days of research, which left me with the realization of my limited sewing education, we decided on the Brother SE-400 model. This machine has 67 built in sewing stitches, automatic needle threading, touch screen LCD display, automatic bobbin winding, electronic variable sewing speed, connects to the computer, along with many other options. My favorite part (and the only thing I understood at the time of purchase), this model does embroidery! Thoughts of running around the house embroidering every household item I could left me feeling like a giddy school girl who just scored Justin Bieber tickets.

As a beginner, I'm not sure what to expect. The last time I used a sewing machine was eighth grade home economics. Things sure have changed since then! The door bell rings and there sits a large box surrounded by a heavenly glow. Definitely a lot bigger than I imagined. After wrestling to get it inside, I quickly rip the box open to find another much smaller, sealed box inside. You know when you were a kid and your parents would wrap a really small gift in a huge box to throw you off?? Of course you imagine that huge grand present that is hiding inside. Maybe a new bike? Could it be a swing set? Then you open it to find the Scooby Doo glow in the dark watch you asked for. Yeah, it was like that...
Not being defeated by the deception of the enormous box, I turn my attention back to the package. Tearing through the second box with my trusty scissors, each strange piece is removed and set to the side. Confused and overwhelmed, I grab the user manual and start reading. Luckily, a step by step disc is included because the manual reads like some strange foreign language. After a few short minutes with the disc, the sewing machine is threaded and my creative adventure begins. I don't have a pattern so for the first project, I'm just going to wing it. Making a burp cloth should be fairly easy. If I mess it up, it really doesn't matter because all Katelyn is going to do is spit up on it.

Amazingly, I make it through the project with all fingers attached. Nothing is sewn to the table cloth or my shirt. I'm pleasantly surprised with how easy the machine is to use. After choosing my material and stitch, the machine tells me which foot to use. Everything is in place, automatic and ready to go. With a push of a button, the sewing starts and before I know it, the burp cloth is finished. The first one I did didn't turn out so well. The lines are a bit all over the place but with each one, I get better! I'm having so much fun! I love this machine.

Here is the finished product --

I don't know how good this "how to" is going to be, but I'll give it a shot.

Supplies:
- Flannel fabric
- Terry cloth fabric
- Thread
- Quilt batting
- Scissors
- Straight pins
- Iron

1. Decide how large you would like your burp cloth to be. Measure and cut one piece of flannel, terry cloth and batting. Iron any wrinkles out and pin these together (wrong sides together with batting in between).
2. Using a straight stitch, sew around each side, leaving at least 1/2" for the fringe border. Sew two more lines to hold the batting (about 1 inch from the sides).
3. Cut the terry cloth and batting off (close to the outside seam). Be careful not to cut into the seam.
4. Going around the outside, make small cuts into the flannel material.
5. Wash several times to achieve the fringe appearance.

Shop Till You Drop

2010-03-27T23:06:00.006-05:00

Early last week I had a nice mommy chat with a friend. You know, the conversation that somehow always turns to the new stain that just won't come out or the interesting texture of baby poop after starting solids. In there somewhere the topic of clothing came up. I was bragging about Katelyn still fitting into her 0-3 months clothes and how we can use the extra cash to take a trip to Bora Bora. Okay, so maybe it would be more like a baby pool in the backyard filled with Katelyn's plastic bathtub fish and a snorkel mask, but I can dream. I just knew at the rate she was growing, we would have clothes for her until she was at least seven, possibly eight months old.

Earlier this week, we finished bath time and I pulled out the adorable frog sleeper with the fuzzy feet. After bargaining with Katelyn for a few minutes, she finally put her arms into the sleeves. That's always the hard part. She's so helpful now. Automatically putting her feet up in the air ~~for me~~ for her mouth. Either way, I was able to steal a foot from her grasp so I could slip the bottom part on. Pausing for a moment, a confused stare crossed my face as I yanked and pulled at the material. Not going to work! Well, I knew the 0-3 month clothing wouldn't last too much longer. That's okay. After tossing the outgrown sleeper into a box, another one was fished out and slipped on. Of course this happened without any screaming or fighting on Katelyn's part (<--- see, I have a sense of humor).

On Thursday evening, our bed time routine was coming to an end. As I was getting Katelyn dressed, I noticed the feet of her sleeper were snug again. Unlike the previous night, the outfit did go on but she could barely stretch her legs out. After double checking the size on the tag, denial struck. Pulling out all types of 3-6 month outfits and trying them on one by one, I was left with the realization that our little girl didn't want mommy to have that snorkel mask. She must have hit a growth spurt. Time to go shopping...

After B finished up some lawn work, we headed across town to the Carter outlet store. Having been only once before, I thought we might find some of the same great deals as last time. Little did we know some rude piece of trash would run into Katelyn's stroller and then act like we did something wrong.
Long story short..
Rude girl walks into the side of the stroller -- rude girl and her mother say something bad about B (he was the one driving the stroller) -- B responds -- I get into it with rude girl's mother ----> lots of restraint on my part -- witness steps forward and tells girl & mother that she saw the whole thing and agrees with us -- words are exchanged and then we continue shopping. I know, the best thing to do would have been just walk away and ignore them... but sometimes it's just really hard to let stupidity go.

Anyways, back to the good stuff. SHOPPING!!
Carter was running a 40-50% off Easter sale. There was so much to choose from! After roaming back and forth through the store, we finally left with a bag full of goodies.
- 6 pair of socks
- 4 footed sleepers
- 5 onesies
- 3 bibs
- 3 sun dresses
- 1 pants outfit
- 1 short set

Total spent $112.58. Overall, we did really well. Backyard Bora Bora... here I come!

Finding Feet

2010-03-25T20:59:00.006-05:00

Katelyn figured out a way to make diaper changes a bit more interesting. It started with a wiggle of the toes and the inquisitive stare. While sitting in her bouncer, she would watch her feet as they made peculiar movements. Her toes curled, kicked out and then remained motionless. At times, she would mumble a few sounds in their direction, letting her feet know she was paying attention. As they kicked out furiously, she would squeal with excitement. After flailing her hands a few times, she finally made contact with the tips of her toes. Eyes lighting up with victory, she latched onto that foot and wouldn't let go. Since that day, she has made it a point to show me how she can grab her feet every time I lay her down to change her diaper. When her head hits that changing pad, the feet fly up into the air. Getting the diaper off isn't too bad but once I lift her butt and slide the new diaper under, the game begins. Rolling from side to side, I start by trying to get one side of the diaper attached. As the feet reach the sky, she glances over to notice the pretty curtains hanging nearby. She must have those, so to the side she rolls in order to grab a handful of material. When I unleash her hand she rolls in the other direction to seek out a new item for discovery. I've learned to keep all potential "toys" out of eyesight during diaper changes. If she can't find something to insert into her mouth, her attention goes back to the feet. As I struggle to keep her back flat, feet down, and diaper under her butt... I attempt to latch the other side of the diaper. Usually I have to attack this routine several times before magically getting it on right. At least Katelyn gets a laugh out of watching mommy fumble around urgently trying to get the diaper on before a very messy accident occurs.

Five months already?

2010-03-24T21:47:00.010-05:00

Before Katelyn was born, I would spend hours searching the internet for photography props. That is when I was introduced to the website, Etsy (my new addiction). Instantly, I fell in love with all the adorable handmade creations. For Katelyn's five month pictures, I wanted to find something new so I headed to my favorite site. When I stumbled across the store LovebyCC the cutest elephant ear hat was featured. As soon as I saw it, I contacted the seller (who was very quick to respond) and put in my custom order. Within days she was emailing me back to let me know my hat was on the way. Needless to say, I've been stalking the mailbox. When the package arrived, I ripped it open and Katelyn tried on her new ears! She was more than happy to model her new hat for daddy. I think he got some really cute pictures!

We don't have a doctor appointment this month, but we did have a chance to weigh her yesterday. So far, she is up to 16lbs flat. This month we have witnessed so many new milestones. Not only is she rolling from back to belly but she is sitting by herself for short periods of time. Tonight we tried her second solid per day, so we will see how she does with that. Over the next month, the pedi wants us to increase her solids to four times per day. Overall, she is our happy, healthy growing girl! Hopefully we will have two teeth to show you soon...

Also, if you have a moment -- can you please give Katelyn your vote by clicking the button below. This will send us up the Top Baby Blog ranks. Thank you very much for all the support!

Valentino Vinyl?

2010-03-22T16:43:00.006-05:00

Okay, so my closet may not be filled with Valentino designs, but I do enjoy the hunt for a slimming pair of designer jeans. There is something about those precious Kate Spade heels which help me escape from the fact that my boobs are headed to Cancun for the summer. I don't want to admit it, but I have a feeling they aren't coming back until the plastic surgeon gives them a ride. Anyways, that's another story for another day... back to the clothing.

Unfortunately, my current wardrobe won't make me a fashionista until sweet potato stained button ups find their way to the runway. Being stuck in old, worn out jeans and over sized t-shirts does not make me feel like a modern day Audrey Hepburn. In fact, I consider it a good day if I only have to change my clothes twice and don't end up with pea green strands of hair. Nothing is more trendy than drool branded cotton with a side of rice cereal. Katelyn loves to add a personal touch when she clenches onto mommy's shirt, pulling the fabric...the seams gasping for air and holding on for dear life. Desperately trying to get the new interesting texture to her lips, she struggles to make my shirt her new teething ring. To add that couture touch, she enjoys sticking her head between the extended fabric before unloading an entire jar of pears into my favorite bra. Not exactly what I was hoping for when I said I wanted a "one of a kind" design.

Window shopping through the latest Vogue, I began eying a lovely eclectic spring ensemble. However, with easy to clean comfort trumping fashion forward these days, I've decided to trade in Vogue for Martha Stewart Living. I've embraced this new slobber rag status and turned my attention away from the latest "mommy trends" and towards the glamorous infant elephant ears of Etsy.

Rollin', Rollin', Rollin'

2010-03-18T11:21:00.034-05:00

I have to admit, I was getting a little worried about this particular milestone. For months we have worked on "tummy time" with the anticipation of the roll.

At Katelyn's four month checkup, the doctor looked her over, took some measurements and questioned developmental progress. In the proud mommy manner, I boasted about her smiles, laughter, squeals and the amazing interaction we have on a daily basis. The doctor interrupted my rambling to question her rolling status. After going on about her flourishing advancement, answering this question did not come as easy. Feeling defeated, I lowered my head and mumbled under my breath admitting that she had not mastered this activity. With a reassuring pat on the back, the doctor gave Katelyn a good bill of health and left the room.

Although, I realized how fortunate we are to have such a healthy, beautiful daughter... I couldn't resist the competitive urge to prove our little girl was the exceptional genius I believe her to be.

As soon as we got home, I removed Katelyn from her car seat and gently placed her on the living room floor. At first she was not thrilled with being forced to participate in tummy time. Letting out of a few shrieking cries, she was informing me of her displeasure. Frantically, I grabbed Binky blue, her favorite teething toy, and began hysterically shaking it in front of her. With wide eyes, Katelyn paused for a moment to investigate mommy's actions before burying her head into the pink cotton blanket beneath her. After regaining her attention, I flipped her several times to imitate the action of rolling over. As she pulled up on her arms, I believed I was about to witness "THE moment". Instead she utilized her brilliance to escape the torture of tummy time by forcefully spraying out her lunch onto the carpet, playful kittens and Binky blue.

Fast forward to today...

Bright and early, I am listening to her playful cooing through the monitor. With farfetched desires of returning to sleep, I lay here staring at the ceiling fan praying for some quiet time. Her frolicsome tones are sounding more like irritated demands, so its time to drag myself out of bed. Ready to hook up the coffee IV, my feet slowly shuffle down the hall to her nursery. Up on her arms, Katelyn is peaking at me through the crib bars with excitement and smiles. For this moment I am lost in her glow and forget the racking exhaustion taking over my body. We are going to do the normal routine after I sweep her up in my arms... kisses, diaper change, kisses, bottle and more kisses. Glancing over at the bottle rack, I notice the pump parts are not clean. I despise washing these parts multiple times a day but Katelyn has to eat so I head to the kitchen leaving her to play on the floor next to the entry way. She enjoys being on her back so she can stare up at the television and analyze all the new things around her. Her eyes are locked on to daddy's keyboard positioned a few feet to her left. B doesn't always pick up his computer parts when he is finished using them! Arms stretched out to her sides, Katelyn is reaching for the big black toy she always sees mommy and daddy playing with. My glance is focused back on the chore requiring completion so that I can endure my position as her personal milk cow. A light tapping noise diverts my attention so I take a quick peek in her direction. Overwhelmed with emotion, I stop washing and rush over to Katelyn. She just rolled from her back to her belly and is drumming away at the keyboard with a closed fist and an enormous smile. Dying to witness this event for myself, I pull her away from the keyboard and flip her onto her back again. Eagerly I await the presence of her new ability but she remains still, grinning in my direction. Removing the distraction, I step back and silently cheer her on. In my mind, I am chanting like a crazed soccer mom at the championship game. "Go Katelyn Go! You can do it!" Practically begging her to do it one more time I sit, not blinking, waiting for the proud moment. She is starting to wiggle her rear end while arching her back. Slowly rocking back and forth, I'm confident she is ready to turn. I am crawling towards her on my knees. I don't want to miss it this time! False alarm. Katelyn farted. That sounds like it could be a wet one. Oh well, I'll give her a minute to finish doing her business and we can try rolling again later. Feeling crushed, I am looking at her with feelings of disappointment and sadness. How could I miss such a big moment??? Staring back at the television, she is arching her back and pushing her butt up with her feet. Must be uncomfortable so I guess it is time for a change. But wait.. now she is leaning more towards the side. Is this really it? Is she going to do it??? Leaning, arching, pushing, arms stretched out over her head... there she goes. She's ALMOST there!!! Just a little bit more.... *pause, you could hear a needle drop in this room*
Go Katelyn!!! Don't stop! ROLL OVER!!!



(Click the images for large versions)

... SHE DID IT! Oh HAPPY day, she did it!!! Now I am off to email daddy. :)

Cutie Hair Bow Holder

2010-03-16T15:50:00.009-05:00

The dryer eats our socks, the junk drawer makes pens disappear, we have a troll that enjoys stealing our remote and hiding it in random places through the house and now Katelyn's closet has become a black hole for her beautiful hair clips.

It never fails, she's in a good mood and will tolerate the flashing lights of daddy's camera. After running up the stairs in anticipation, I pull open the closet doors in a mad search for the most pink, frilly, ruffle explosion I can find. To finish off the cuteness, I decide to add the matching hair clip. With the perfect one in mind, I reach for the plastic bin where they are stored and fling open the top with excitement. At first I begin slowly rummaging through the clips, disarranging as I push each one to the side. After a few minutes I'm tossing each one over my head and onto the floor so I can get a better look. My eyes light up with excitement when I catch a sudden glance of bubble gum pink! Little do I know, I will soon be back on the hunt when I discover it is a rose and not the daisy with the cute frog on the front. Now the bin is empty.

Hrmm... maybe it fell behind the shoe cabinet? Pulling the shoes off the rack like Bridezilla at a Kleinfelds sample sale, they pile up next to the current mound of clips scattered all over the floor. Trying desperately to wedge my head in between the shelves so I can get a peek behind, I find one of her missing socks... but no hair clip! B enters the room to find my butt up in the air and my head awkwardly positioned under the small gap beneath the book rack. After giving my back side a swift kick, he laughs and tells me the camera is ready. Well, we're not!! I have to find that clip! Daddy mutters a few things about crazy momma to Katelyn and after she lets out a chuckle he is off to mess with the camera some more.
Back to my clip hunt!

Now I am going out of my mind trying to find this clip. I struggle to think back to where I last used it. I prepare to move the dresser that I believe was made with cement blocks so I can take a peek behind it. The vein is popping out of my forehead as I plant my feet firmly against the wall and give my best push. If I would have had a natural birth, this push could have won first prize. As I let out a few massive grunts, Katelyn is laughing at momma's pain. I've managed to move the dresser a few inches but it is enough to see that the clip did not find its way here. Maybe the troll got bored with the remote and decided to play hide and seek with her hair accessories. Since most of her closet has made it onto the floor, I decide to dump out her dresser drawers as I hunt for the trolls new hiding place. Still no luck! Now I am turning over the lamp table, doing circles around the crib and crawling under the recliner. Exhausted from the search, I collapse. Then I see it staring at me from behind the closet door. A small piece of bubble gum pink fabric. THE CLIP! Pealing myself off the floor, I grab the new found treasure. Stumbling over piles of clips, shoes, and clothes, I hurry to get to Katelyn. She is laying there playing with the stream of vomit that has erupted from her mouth like Mount Fuji. The puddle of regurgitated prunes decorates what once was a tulle perfection! My perfect little princess has to be redressed. As I yank the soiled clothing off of her, the deafening screams begin. B enters the room where War War three has just taken place. As he stands shocked to see a naked, crying baby that is no longer accepting her role as a model, I hold up the hair clip in victory.

This is where I came up with my next craft project.... Something I can hang and have easy, organized access to all hair accessories.

Supplies:
- Wood plaque
- Ribbon
- String
- Paper flowers
- Paint
- Triangle hangers
- Glue gun
- Hot glue sticks
- Decorative letters
- Felt
- Thread
- Sewing needle
- Lighter

1. Sand and paint both sides of the wood plaque. Let dry.
2. Screw triangle hangers into the back of the plaque. Tie string, ribbon or decorative rope to each hanger. Make sure to heat treat ends.
3. Attach paper flowers and decorative letters with hot glue.
4. Heat treat the ends of the ribbon and hot glue to the back of the plaque.
5. Draw pattern for flower, butterfly or any other shape you would like to use for the bottom of the ribbon. Use the pattern to cut the shapes out of the felt. You will need two pieces per design.
6. Sew the pieces together.
7. Secure the designs to the ribbon with needle and thread.

Now you are ready to hang your new hair accessory organizer and attach your clips!

Maya Ring Sling Giveaway!

2010-03-15T10:49:00.008-05:00

And the winner is.....

MommySavesMoney

You have an email coming your way. Please respond within 48 hours to claim your prize! Congrats!

Whether you are going out for a walk or just running inside the store, the Maya Ring Sling is a quick, convenient way to carry your baby. When shopping, it is easier to browse when you don't have to fight with a bulky stroller that always gets in the way. It seems like I am always trying to avoid that embarrassing moment when the stroller runs into one of the product racks knocking items onto the floor. As I try to squeeze through the narrow paths, the clothing is always just close enough for Katelyn to grab and pull. I can't count the number of outfits I've had to buy just because a part of the fabric made it into Katelyn's mouth when I wasn't looking. Yes, there is a gross, germ factor in play as well. With the sling, I didn't have that problem. She is wrapped tight to my body so I can move easily and her arms can't reach any unwanted items.

The Maya Ring sling is also very comfortable! Unlike some other slings, the strap does not cut into the shoulder because it is lightly padded for comfort. The fabric is so soft and made from 100% organic cotton. The beautiful pattern is printed with Azo-free dyes and goes great with whatever you are wearing! I receive so many compliments on this sling! Another plus, the sling is reversible if you would rather show off the solid side. Instead of carrying around a separate purse, use the available pocket for your keys, phone or even diapers. When you are finished using the sling, it can be folded and quickly put away into a diaper bag. The sling is really easy to clean. Throw it in the wash and hang it up to dry!

The weight recommendation on this sling is 8 to 35 pounds. As your child grows, the position can be changed for their comfort. An easy to follow instructional DVD is included so there won't be any problems putting it together.

Giveaway:
One lucky reader will win a Maya Organics Charcoal Eclipse Ring Sling!

**MANDATORY ENTRY**
Visit Maya Wrap and leave a comment on this blog about your favorite product.

Want to increase your chances of winning?
ADDITIONAL ENTRIES: (please leave a separate comment for each additional entry)

1. Become a follower of Cupcake Dream and comment that you are (1 entry)

2. Blog about this contest (include a link to this blog) and leave two comments here with the link to your blog (2 entries)

3. Grab the Cupcake Dream button and add it to your page. Leave three comments with the link to the blog. (3 entries)

4. Click HERE to vote for us on Top Baby Blogs and comment (1 entry). You are allowed to vote once per day. Each vote counts as a separate entry!

Rules: Open to US and Canada readers. Winners will be randomly selected and announced Wednesday March 24. The winner will have 48 hours to respond. Please leave a valid email address in one of your comments. Good luck!

*The featured product was provided to me free of charge. The opinions expressed in this review are my own and not influenced by the company.

She doesn't listen

2010-03-14T22:50:00.005-05:00

I've been trying to get video of Katelyn laughing for a while now. Every time she starts cracking up, I grab the camera and she immediately gets "serious face". For the next thirty minutes I will beg her to laugh and shamelessly make myself look like a fool for a simple chuckle. I've done everything from the bounce on one leg chicken dance to the cross eyed hand stand with tongue sticking out of my mouth move. Most of the time she just stares blankly at me thinking I'm a complete weirdo. Well, we FINALLY figured out how to get her to laugh on camera. All we had to do was tell her what not to do.....

As you can see, she doesn't listen!

Mommy's Treat!

2010-03-13T23:10:00.006-06:00

I don't normally feature my recipes on this page but I think this one deserves the spotlight. My boss (and friend) gave me a bottle of this homemade Bailey's many years ago and after one sip, I was begging for the recipe. This beverage is my own personal spa day... yes, it is THAT good!

Ingredients:

- 1 c. light rum (this makes it a bit strong so you might want to start with 1/2 to 3/4 c. and go up from there to see how you like it).
- 1 can of Eagle brand sweetened condensed milk
- 1 c. of half and half
- 4 eggs
- 2 Tbsp. Hershey's syrup
- 2 tsp. instant coffee
- 1 tsp. vanilla extract
- 1/2 tsp. almond extract

Preparation:

Combine all in a blender and blend well. Top with whipped cream (optional). Pour in an air tight container and refrigerate. This will keep up to one month.

Out, Damned Spot!

2010-03-11T12:37:00.004-06:00

At my baby shower, a really good friend of mine gave me the cutest little bikini for Katelyn. Unfortunately she can not wear a diaper with that swimsuit, so we will use it for pictures (coming very soon). So, the search for a new swimsuit began! I finally came across this online boutique. They had the most adorable puppy dog suit listed. I quickly purchased it and waited for it to arrive. A few days later, I was thrilled to see it in the stack of mail. I ripped the package open like a kid on Christmas morning! I pulled it out of the wrapper only to find several large brown stains on the back. I was hoping that I could just exchange it for another. However, as my luck has it, that was the last one. The owner was very apologetic, gave me a full refund and told me to keep the suit. So, I've been desperately trying to remove the spots. No luck yet but they are getting lighter. I believe they are water stains... so if anyone has a suggestion of how to get it out, I would love to hear it!

Do you believe in God?

2010-03-11T11:09:00.009-06:00

At 11 years old, we ask so many questions. Things no longer make sense and we have to explore every part of life. What should we be, what are we now, what our future will look like -- all the pressures. Parents don't understand as we constantly struggle to fit in anywhere possible.

...I remember those days but somewhere along the way, they were forgotten!

My son came home from school the other day and sat down to do his homework like he always does. Then he told me that he had a question for me. For the past few weeks, this has been fairly common. See, they just watched "the video" in school so he has had tons of questions about his body, the female body and of course... sex. I thought it was going to be another uncomfortable discussion about condoms or kissing. I told him to ask away and I would do my best to answer. The question... "Do you believe in God?".

I was blown away that he would even ask such a thing. I laughed and said, "well of course I do". Then he hit me with it. His response, "well, I don't". I didn't know what to say. I just stood there with a blank expression. At first all I could feel was anger. How could this be possible? Is he out of his mind?!?! Did he not understand what we went through getting Katelyn into this world? How could he not see that as a miracle in itself? The anger quickly turned to hurt. I was sad for him. What did I do wrong? Should I have taken him to church? Was I a bad role model? Is he blaming God for all of my wrong doings and for the struggles we faced when he was younger? Does he even remember that? Am I not giving him enough attention? The hurt turned to confusion. Why did he pray before? Who was he praying to? Why did this all of a sudden change? How long has he felt this way?
He looked at me. "Mom, say something!". "Why?". That is all I could say. Why? I really wanted to scream, shout, cry... but at that moment, I realized he was becoming his own person. He can no longer live as the person I want him to be. He has to find himself. If that means he will have different spiritual beliefs, then so be it. We all talked about it in a very calm manner and I could see that he was confused. We closed the conversation with no definitive answers. It was left open so that he could explore all the options and find some answers for himself. I guess this is where the real growing up begins....
The only thing I know for sure, I must set aside all the anger, hurt, confusion and continue loving him regardless of what I think is right and wrong. Hopefully I can be there for him when he needs me. Now, I don't want to portray him in a negative light (if you take it that way). He's a wonderful child! Not only is he EXTREMELY intelligent but he's very caring. He has a HUGE heart and absolutely loves his little sister. I'm very proud of him.

**disclaimer: he doesn't like when I write about him so please keep this post hush, hush**

Dress me up

2010-03-10T21:04:00.005-06:00

It isn't often that I get visitors so when a good friend of mine, Nicole, stopped by... I was jumping for joy! Not only has it been forever since I've seen her, but it was really nice to have an adult conversation. Unfortunately I wasn't the greatest host because Katelyn was having a fussy day which makes a very tired, flustered momma. Per the pedi's orders, we increased the amount of rice cereal we were giving Katelyn and this caused some major constipation issues. B had to run to the store to grab some prunes in hopes of giving her system a "push". Our poor friend (due to deliver in May) had to sit and listen to a screaming, constipated, teething baby. I hope it didn't scare her too much! Although, as soon as Nicole left Katelyn decided to "let it all out" and then she was all smiles after that.

Anyways, I wanted to show off this ADORABLE dress that Nicole purchased for Katelyn. It is a bit too big at the moment but it will be perfect for this summer. I'm sure we will have some pictures of her in it in the next few months. Isn't this just the cutest thing?

....on another note, I just want to thank you all for clicking the top baby banner and giving me your votes! We are slowly working our way up. Please continue voting (it can be done once a day). It means a lot!

JUST a SAHM!?!

2010-03-09T23:22:00.007-06:00

Being a stay at home mother is such a luxurious thing. This morning I woke up to the sound of birds chirping and decided to head downstairs for a hot, delicious homemade breakfast. After scarfing down some pancakes, bacon and a mocha latte, it was time for my daily bubble bath. The aroma of lavender candles surrounded the room as I spent hours relaxing in the jet tub and listening to my favorite tunes on the radio. When my skin started to wrinkle, I realized it was probably time to get out. Besides, I didn't want to miss Maury! I got dressed, did my hair and plopped down on the couch with my trusty remote and Bon Bons. Twelve men tested and still not the father?!? What a shame! My favorite shows were over so time to check email. I had so much time, I decided to search the internet and play around on Facebook. After that, I sat down with a wonderful romance novel. All that reading was exhausting so I took a long nap before my husband arrived home to make me dinner.

.....And then I woke up. Lets get real -- how it really went down.

I wake up to Katelyn screaming or milk filled boobs that feel like they will burst at any moment. If she happens to sleep in late, my hot breakfast consists of toaster pop tarts or a breakfast microwave dinner. It's really fun when the microwave beeps letting me know my gourmet meal is finished and at that very moment, the screaming begins. This is where having multiple arms would come in real handy! Bubble bath? HA! I consider it a good day if the soap can touch my body before she starts screaming. I do have the radio on... but only so I can sing at the top of my lungs and hope that will entertain her long enough for me to scrub down and maybe get through washing my hair. Did you know if you mix the shampoo and conditioner and put it on your head at the same time it really doesn't work. Trying to get a brush through that was like trying to pull apart Saran wrap with only one hand (try it.. nearly impossible). Unfortunately the brush took out more hair than I have to give at the moment. She enjoys the hair dryer so I can usually get through that part of "fixing my hair" but once I go for the curling iron, all bets are off. So, I've managed to get clean but I won't smell like lavender or any other pleasant scent for long. Usually thirty minutes tops and I'm covered in baby spit up. I'm pretty sure making mommy her personal burp rag, milk cow and teething ring are her top three goals... all of which she has accomplished! I can't wait to see what is next! No Bon Bons or coffee because that upsets Katelyn's tummy. I can check my email and search the internet as long as I am bouncing her on my knee while making stupid sounds. Sometimes I get lucky and she will sit quietly in her bouncer long enough for me to update the blog but then she realizes her "big toy" isn't dancing around anymore and the screaming begins. I'm really good at feeding her and checking my baby forums at the same time though. I can get laundry done if I carry her around in the laundry basket. My arms get quite the workout! When big brother comes home, I enjoy balancing homework with feeding Katelyn, cleaning the kitchen, and starting dinner. This is usually the time Katelyn decides to fill her diaper or spit up all over the floor. She wants to make sure mommy doesn't get bored. I do love playing with her though. We roll around on the floor, play in the exersaucer, and dance around the room. I wouldn't give this up for anything... her smiles, laughs, "talking to me". It is so wonderful! I love being a stay at home mother but at the end of the day I AM exhausted.

So, the point to this post? Well, every once in a while I come across ill-informed individuals who like to spew their ignorance. When I comment that I am exhausted, the correct remark is not "Why are you so tired? All you do is sit at home all day because you are JUST a stay at home mother".

Pretty in Pink Closet Dividers

2010-03-08T11:33:00.003-06:00

I was searching around for 1st birthday ideas. Yes, I know crazy... but I'm a planner! I already have the theme and several ideas, but we'll talk more about that later. Anyways, I came across these adorable pink polka dot cupcakes with purple plaid holders. That was my inspiration for these nursery closet dividers.

Supplies:
-Wood door hangers
-Paint
-Brushes
-Wood cutouts
-Ribbon
-Lighter (or candle)
-Painter tape
-Printer
-Scissors
-Hot glue gun
-Sand paper

1. Sand the door hangers smooth and prep for paint.
2. Paint the door hanger a solid color and let dry.
3. While the paint dries, find a font you like in Photoshop or Word and print it out. Cut the letters/numbers out for your stencil. Trace them onto the hangers when dry. Use a thin brush to go over the letters/numbers and fill them in.
4. Apply painters tape for plaid design. Masking tape can be used but make sure it is pressed firmly. Unfortunately I didn't do this the first time so some bleeding occurred and had to be touched up by hand. Paint the lines with the colors you choose.
5. I used a flower cutout and hand painted it for extra decoration. I traced a quarter for the inside circle.
6. When the wood cut out is dry, hot glue it to the wood hanger.
7. Measure and cut a small piece of ribbon for the top of your plaid design. Make sure to heat treat the ends to prevent fraying. Hot glue the ribbon from one side to the other.
8. Finally, cut and heat treat a long piece of ribbon to use for hanging.

CHOO CHOO Coupon Train!!!

2010-03-07T13:44:00.003-06:00

Love coupons? Jump on the coupon train!

Jess over at Confessions of a Scrapaholic had a wonderful idea to start a coupon train. I'm so happy that I get to be a part of it. However, she still needs more people. If you are interested in getting some great coupons in the mail, please go check it out!

Also, if you enjoy reading Cupcake Dream please give us your vote!!! All you have to do is click on the button below. With more votes we can continue bringing you great giveaways!