Fabulous Friday Follow

Wordless Wednesday - Brotherly Love

From Day One There Was Love

Seven Weeks Later And The Novelty Hasn't Worn Off!

Mommy Brain

When you're pregnant you seem to become extra forgetful.  Everyone claims to have "preggo brain".  Unfortunately, it doesn't go away, it just changes  names.  I now have "mommy brain".  While it's a fabulous excuse for being forgetful or absent minded, it's also slightly embarassing and inconvenient.  It's only 8:30 in the  morning and I already have two prime examples of mommy brain.

First, I was looking through information to register Liam with our insurance.  I have to go down to the office today and was looking through things in his baby book where I had stored his temporary birth certificate.  I thought his footprints from the hospital were there, but they weren't.  I start freaking out that we don't have them!  I remember my friend Michelle showing them to me in the delivery room.  But between the rest of the delivery process and Liam not pinking up fast enough and being taken to the nursery I wasn't sure exactly where they were.  I thought we had them, but there was that moment of panic.  Fortunately my "mommy brain" cleared up long enough for me to look in a folder that had my pre-registration info for the hospital in it and there they were!  I knew I'd kept that folder for a good reason!

Second, I made myself a yummy and healthy breakfast this morning of oatmeal with banana and a serving of golden raisins in it!  In the process of mixing in my mushed up banana and raisins the fussbucket went at it.  I went to change him, walked around with him for a bit, put him in his bouncer and then went to the restroom.  When I came back out to the living room I smelled something burning.  What????  Yep, I left the burner on so there is now a layer of burnt oatmeal on the bottom of the pot.  That should be fun to clean!  But at least what survived my "mommy brain" is tasty!

Now to go wolf down said remaining breakfast so I can feed the fussbucket!  Hopefully my "mommy brain" moments for the day are all checked off and I can function like a normal human being!

Miscellany Monday

1)  I should be napping, but I'm not.  I'm so tired!  Liam thought last night was playtime.  If  I wasn't holding him he was screaming his head off.  I finally put him in the bouncer and went back to bed.  Now he is still sleeping.   Why am I blogging instead of sleeping?  I'm a glutton for punishment I guess.

2)  I really need to work on my golf game.  That is the moral of the weekend.  Had a fabulous visit with the in-laws.  We went to the Golfin Dolphin on Saturday since Cody's game was canceled and hit up the driving range and played a game of mini golf.  Liam slept the whole time and I was reminded how long it's been since I golfed.   To be quite honest, the last time I golfed was pre-Liam.

3)  Liam is seven weeks old!  Time is flying by.  He is so much more interactive now, it's crazy!  I love that he laughs and smiles back at me.  It melts my heart.

4)  Donuts.  I really want to run out to Dunkin Donuts and get a pumpkin donut.  But I won't.  Why?  Because I need to lose the baby weight and a pumpkin donut will do nothing for that goal.  But man, they are so good!

5)  I love this weather!  Now if only all my fallish clothes fit.  But they don't.  Hopefully soon I'll be back in my jeans.  But for now I'm enjoying the cooler temps.   I don't even mind the gloomy weather out when I can sit at home with a cup of tea and enjoy it.  It reminds me of Dublin and San Francisco.  I miss both of those cities more than you know.  Maybe I'll be nostalgic and look through old pictures today.  That sounds like a good compliment to my cup of tea.

Dublin, 2002

Gretchen Proof Baby Gear!

I am not the most coordinated person in the world.  'Nuff said.  I was so excited about using slings, wraps and carriers to have my hands free with Liam.  I had a particular wrap I really wanted to try, but it seems it is far too complicated for me.  It scared me off of all wraps, slings and carriers so I haven't used any of them for the past six and a half weeks.  (Well, besides the one huge FAIL of an attempt to use my wrap...)  Since there is a monsoon outside I decided to try out my Baby Bjorn.  Wow!  What a difference.  Either I'm getting more sleep and it shows, or it is immensely more user friendly than my wrap.  I was able to use it without even reading the directions!  So you know it must be easy! 

The best part was that after putting Liam in it he had such a fun time taking a tour of the house, checking everything out, loading the dishwasher and then, falling asleep!  He was so adorable sleeping on my chest and I wasn't stuck sitting on the couch or walking in circles with nothing else to do!

Even better, when he was out like a light I was able to move him from the Baby Bjorn to his pack n play without any trouble!  Miracles do happen!

I cannot thank the makers or the givers of the Baby Bjorn enough!  I am a hands free mama now when I need to be!  So, thanks a million!

Wordless Wednesday

Ok, I can't go without any words.  So here is my precious wee man at six weeks old.  Isn't he cute?

Fall Favorites!

Today is the first official day of fall.  It doesn't much feel like it with temps in the 90's outside, but hopefully fall weather will soon be on it's way.  I love fall, and I love lists, so here are my top ten favorite things about fall.

1.  Cooler temps!  That's right, I am over the 80s, 90s and 100 degree temps we've had, not to mention the humidity.  At this point I'd be happy to be able to wear jeans and a t-shirt, but in NC that is still a ways off!

2.  Football!  I love me some football!  Whether it's watching the Saints, the USC Trojans or Cody's 49ers play I love cheering the teams on!

3.  Pumpkins!  Whether it be pumpkin patches, pumpkin donuts, pumpkin pie, pumpkin muffins...I love it all!

4.  Halloween.  I love Halloween for two reasons.  First,  who doesn't love all the fun Halloween candy.  Yum!  Second, I love seeing what all the kids dress up as.  I have no desire to dress up myself, but I love their costumes.  I can't wait to dress Liam up for his first Halloween!  He's going to be a dragon.  So cute!  I'm trying to convince Cody to be a knight, and not one of the jedi variety either!  How cute would it be to have a knight and a dragon out trick-or-treating?

5.  Sweaters.  As a So Cal girl my obsession with sweaters is a little odd.   Can't explain why, but I do love them!  I have way too many for the climates I live in, but at least I get a little use out of them here in NC. 

6. New TV!  What can I say, I'm a bit of a TVaholic I guess.  It's only gotten worse since I got married to a fellow TVaholic.  Tonight alone I'm excited for the Bones and Grey's Anatomy season premieres.  And that is just tonight!

7.  Crock Pot Meals.  There's something comforting about the smell of dinner simmering away throughout the day.  And knowing that it will be ready after football practice or whatever else we have going on is a weight off my shoulders.  Warm, cozy, comfort food makes the season.

8.  Wine shipments.  What can I say, I love wine.  We are members of Opolo Vineyards in Paso Robles, CA and normally get two shipments in the fall from them.  Delicious vino puts a smile on my face!

Check out Opolo HERE!

9.  Marine Corps Birthday Ball.  Every year the Marine Corps celebrates it's birthday with a party.  Each squadron hosts a ball to celebrate the heritage and traditions of the Corps.  It's an awesome experience and we love attending.  Plus, my man is just handsome as can be in his dress blues!

10.  Thanksgiving.  I love Thanksgiving.  I love turkey.  I love cranberry sauce.  I love stuffing.  Most of all, I love all the wonderful people and things I have been blessed with.  I am a lucky girl!