My Afternoon off....

If you are a stay-at-home mom you know what I mean when I say that you are ALWAYS "on". There is never a real break as long as you have a child in your house, a roof over your head and a husband to feed. Sure, there are busier days than others, but the fact that you must always be alert and fully aware 24/7 can become somewhat taxing. And you know when I tell you that even just a ride in the car sans Disney tunes and questions of "Mommy, juice? Mommy, cracker? Mommy, I fahted" can be pure bliss. 

I'm not one to need "me time". I can go a while without needing a moment all to myself. I absolutely LOVE what I do, and compared to Mr. Clean's job and demands, my job is cake! And I love cake! But there comes a day, every once in a while, that I need just an hour or 2 to roll the windows down, listen to whatever the heck I want, and eat with both butt cheeks on my chair while being able to enjoy a lunch without fear of forks flying or giving constant reminders of good manners. 

 Yes, I hit my max and needed an afternoon to re-boot and Mr. Clean obliged. It was me, Norah Jones...

...lemonade, soup-in-a-bread-bowl with a side of extra bread (because I'm pregnant and the baby said)...

... A trip to the farmers market, then the bookstore, and finally a much needed haircut. It was great! And I think I'm good for a few.

Happy Monday, Happy Week!

My Monday Mind Dump...

1. Yes, I know I haven't done one of these in like, FOREVER, But I've had a few requests (and by a few, I mean one person) to bring back this beauty, so here goes nothin'!

2. This Summer girl is actually ready for fall, believe it or not. I'm stoked about all the fun stuff right around the bend!

 3. I picked up a hitchhiker a few months ago near my house...I know reeeeeally not smart and once he got in my car I asked myself what I was thinking. But ANYWAY, ever since then, I have seen him everywhere! Walking around my mema's apartment complex, walking around Publix....very strange.

4. Do you remember Monica's closet on FRIENDS? The one where she's a secret hoarder? Well, that's what Kidd-O's closet looked like until I decided enough was enough. I have ONE child right now, why on earth would I have 9 bins of clothing for him??? So, I kept what I love (2 bins) and the rest I'm consigning. I have almost $400 worth of stuff that I am selling this week. Ridiculous.

 5. I have a certain teenaged sister who just started high school and I'll just say one thing....I don't miss high school...at all.

6. I'm 17 weeks pregnant and while those who know me would say I'm rocking a bump, I know that those at the gym are thinking I need to frequent that place more often.

7. If I don't have something to eat at 8pm and again at 11 pm I will undoubtedly be up at 3am with a very angry and empty tummy that won't shut up until I feed it. Annoying...and embarrassing when I'm packing a lunchbox to take upstairs with me for the evening.

8. I think every girl should have at least one friend that they can vent to without needing a solution or needing to give one. Just someone to let it all out...even if it's for the 1 millionth time that week. I have that and I'm thankful!

9. My son has become petrified of going outside for fear of hearing an airplane...because apparently, there is nothing scarier on the planet. It's strange. And when he hears one pass by he starts crying and tells me that he wants to go inside to the bathroom....he's not even potty trained. Like I said, strange.

10. But good night in heaven! Look at those lips....

The Great Big Birthday Post!

 Well, yesterday was Kidd-O's second birthday and we celebrated in a really fun way over the weekend. Honestly, I wasn't going to do a darn thing. I've been so sleepy and the thought of throwing a party slap wore me out and I have also been slammed with photoshoots that I haven't been able to give a party a seconds thought. Not to mention that, with my family, it can't possibly be a small gathering, because with my siblings, and both sets of grandparents, we're already close to 20 people! But when I spread the word that I was skipping out on any party, there was mass pandemonium followed by a guilt trip.  Apparently, I've only thrown one birthday party since I've been a mom and so, it was said by some, that it is way too soon to punk out on parties

Thus, Cooper's Rootin' Tootin' 2's Party planning went underway. I was told by Mr. Clean that I was to pull this thing off on a dime. Several dimes, quarters, dollars, and a small loan later, I had pulled off a party. I can tend to be like my mom in the "go big or go home" kind of way and that was my thinking; If I'm going to do this thing, I'm gonna do it right.... I thought I had stayed on budget, but after further review and a strongly worded lecture from Mr. Clean, it turns out I didn't come close. It was decided that this would be my last party for a while.

So here it goes, a rundown of this Rootin' Tootin' Good Time and how I did it!

I'm not so good on the computer and our printer NEVER works, so I hand wrote my signs.

 The menu consisted of "Bucaroo BBQ", "Silver dollar fruit salsa," "dastardly deviled eggs," "Sheriff's Slaw," "Gold Miners Mac-n-Cheese," "Rootin' Tootin' Beans," and a few other items.

I used scrapbook paper to make labels to go around mason jars.

My kids table was a lot of fun to put together. I bought a lot of scrapbook paper, a couple of mini hay bales, bandanas and sheriff badges. All came from Hobby Lobby, along with the plates, napkins. cowboy hats and mustaches.

 I found these great little buckets from Target ($1) and I used a white paint marker to write their names.

 This Hobo goody bag was something I SOOOO wish I had come up with on my own! I found this great idea on my favorite blogger's website. They were too precious to not use. They are filled with little items from the dollar store.

 I turned our center island into "The Watering Hole" and we had sweet tea and bottled Coke and Root Beer, which is usually always a staple at any gathering I host. People love to drink out of an ice cold bottle!

 I had the "CowPoke Corner" as the dessert table with cake and ice cream with all the fixin's!

 I had a heck of a time coming up with a small activity that 2 year old's would enjoy...soooo we panned for gold. I spray painted pebbles gold and buried them in potting soil, filled up a kiddie pool and let the kids go to town. They used their little buckets to put the gold in.

 The kids enjoyed dressing up like cowboys...

 ok, not just the kids. My dad got into it too!

 

And that's about it folks, there's the nitty gritty! And let's not forget Kidd-O's long awaited gift: The Bike. I found one for $10 at a consignment shop and Mr. Clean gave it a full detail and it was as good as new. And Kidd-O's expression was well worth the time and effort...and cash flow that went into this party.

And so, another party in the books! Thanks for stopping by!!

2nd Mommyversary

As we are fast approaching Kidd-O's 2nd birthday, July 30 will always be a special day for me as well. It's the day I became "Mom". It's on that day I found out just how much I could love someone and it was also 2 years ago that I realized that I had no idea what I was doing. And while I'm excited to be a mom to more kidlets, the birth of my first will always be special because it was the day I learned to love someone more than myself. Because of that day, I am a better wife, daughter, sister and friend...And THAT is something to celebrate!

Now that I have 2 years of Mommyhood under my belt, I can say that I'm definitely hitting my stride. If I was to describe it in a running metaphor, I would say that the first year was the stretching. A slow start to find out what works, while running through the kinks and the cramps and just pushing forward. And as for year 2? I would say I've hit  a very comfortable stride. It feels good and I feel as if I could go the 26.2 to the end-- if everything would just stay the same. Key word being: IF, because we know it won't stay the same. But for today, I got this!

And to all those new momma's that are wondering if they will ever shower, sleep or eat again-- you will, I promise. Just power through those kinks, find that stride and GO!

Writer's Block...

 So, it's been a few weeks since I last posted. I don't know if it's because I'm still in my first trimester and I haven't been able to keep my eyes open long enough to even brush my hair, which is exactly why I've been sporting a hat every.single.day.... except Sunday's of course. Or maybe my lack of writing is because I haven't really known what to say, or maybe it's because this Summer is shaping up to be quite uneventful.

 I can say that I've been super busy with my photography business that I haven't even bothered to take pictures of what is going on in my personal life. I don't even have a single picture of my very favorite day of the year or proof that I completed my 9th consecutive (and second pregnant) Peachtree Road Race! I've forced myself to snap a few here and there because, let's face it, Summer is coming to an end and I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't have anything to show for it! So, here's what's been going on lately:

 Auntie sleep overs with dress up....

 Watermelon eating...of course,

 Lawn mowing....

 And swimming....

 And that really and truly is about it! I'm rounding out my first trimester and starting to turn a corner, so I hope to be by more often. I do have a special birthday that is coming up, so prep work is underway for a rootin' tootin' good time! 

 Thanks for stopping by!