But I don't even WEAR lipliner!!!

If there is one thing people feel comfortable pointing out, it's the fact that my lipliner is crooked. Considering I suck at putting makeup on, this observation could be very true, except that I don't think I've worn lipliner since my high school cheerleading days. Yes, I was a cheerleader, shut up.

I'm telling you, one night in Cancun and for the rest of your life, you have strangers pointing out what is wrong with your lips.

Yeah, okay, I had a lot to drink. Who doesn't when they are on vacation? AND, who doesn't when you are in Mexico?

So, apparently I refused to take a cab back because I didn't need one. " I can WALK!" I don't remember this.

Apparently my friends stayed with me. (Remember how much I love my friends?!)

Apparently, I was not sober enough to walk, took off my heels and continued barefoot on the Mexican pavement.

I tripped.

I thought my shoes were more important than my face.

I broke my fall with my face, arms in the air, holding the shoes high.

The shoes survived, not even a scuff, not a scratch, nothing.

Why did I care about my shoes?

I woke up the next morning and wondered why my face hurt so bad. Wondered why it felt like my lips were sticking out further than my nose.





My lipliner isn't crooked, my scar is. I decided to ground my face into the Mexican pavement and not use my hands to break the fall. Thanks for reminding me.

On a Lighter Note

My friend Nikki is a dive instructor in Turks and Caicos. She just started a blog about some of the things tousists say. I thought this one was pretty funny!

Pruning

There many types of people in this world. When it comes to my topic today, I'll say, there are TWO types of people in this world. The type that can let go of a friend or a relationship easily and the type that can not.

It doesn't take much for me to drop you right out of my life. Drop you like you were never there in the first place. I always say how great and amazing my friends are, and it's true. My friends ROCK THIS WORLD! They are great. Geoff is meeting more and more of my friends and he is even blown away by their awesomeness. Achieving such a great circle of friends is a process. I get along with almost everyone, I like most people but have always been really intuitive towards people I meet. Yes, I judge and have ALWAYS been right! Ask my friend Victoria, she'll tell you! She hates it too! It's my downfall, I'm almost always right. I say almost, because another prediction I have for a couple hasn't happened yet. It will though, mark my words. Anyway, point is, if I feel someone isn't honest, has low morals, or anything along those lines, I'm can't warm up to them, I try and find the good, I try and like them, but if I can't kick my first intuition of that person, it's all over. EVERY time I have felt this way, months or even a few years down the line, my prediction always proves correct. I wish it didn't, but it never fails me. AND, when that person does do something I morally disagree with, I cut them right out of my life. Snip. Gone. Not even sad about it.

I thought this was weird and noticed not many people can just cut others out of their life and wipe their hands clean until a friend pointed out my past. My family wasn't the family I needed and my friends filled that role. Minus Geoff, his family and a few other people, my friends still fill a large part of the family role and always will. Because of this, I had no time to be upset if someone treated me poorly, I didn't stick around a friend who wasn't worth it. I just pruned the friend tree and moved on. Easy. Simple. Cut. Snip. Have a good life.

I also thinks this has a lot to do with my 'masculine form of communication'. I'm not that person who talks for thirty minutes about a problem just to be heard. I want to hear solutions. Ways to fix it. I also can not listen to you without offering solutions and ways to fix some sort of problem you presented. I don't understand having a problem and just being heard. Fix it and move on. Makes so much more sense. I think I approach my friends in the same way, you don't live up to your expectations of a friend, I fix it and move on.

Not to say I don't work out the bumps, or run from my problems. I will confront you, talk about where we stand on topics, tell you why I'm pissed. If I don't see a solution or find we have a MORAL disagreement, I'm out. Snip.

My husband does not feel this way. He cherishes the people in his life and holds on tight. He loves his friends and continues to call them close even if they treat him like crap. I just don't think he sees their behavior as unacceptable, or doesn't hold his friends to the high standard I hold mine. Today however, he saw things I've always seen. Funny thing is, I didn't have to do a damn thing to show him the view. Today, his friend tree got some much needed pruning. I'm so proud of him.

Cut.

Snip.

Music to my ears.

He'll NEVER be a Model

I got out the video camera yesterday to video tape Sawyer jumping and laughing like crazy in his doorway jumper. We have this great video camera and hardly use it. Note to self: must record more often. I pull the video camera out and Sawyer stops jumping and just sits there, squinting his eyes over and over again. Was something in his eye? Was the light in the living room too bright? Is this just the beginning of something more serious? I stop the camera and walk over to him. The squinting stops. I turn the camera back on the record a little more and the squinting begins. I look into the camera and there is no light. There is no light and now there is a really un-flattering close up of my inquisitive face. I point the camera back at Sawyer, more awkward, long, continuous squinting. Weird.

Later last night, we head out to dinner. I mentioned it before, it's restaurant week in Denver. Great food, great restaurants at a GREAT price. We decide on Ruth's Chris and head out the door. Sawyer looked so damn cute in a collared shirt, sweater vest and little hat. I must say, we get so many comments on how cute he is. The other day, someone said, "Must be nice to produce a genetic masterpiece. Seriously, put that kid in commercials and get his college paid for." I think he's cute, of course, but still think that no parent thinks their kid is ugly, and realize I'm biased. Last night though, Sawyer looked insanely good looking. I pull out my camera to take some pictures of him to show you all my 'genetic masterpiece'. Once I aim the camera at him, that squinting started up again. I took some pictures, all of them he had his eyes closed in, and laughed the entire time. He knows what a camera is, and anticipates a flash. My kid hates the flash! I'm sorry if all the pictures I post from here on out, Sawyer has his eyes closed. Another realization, it doesn't matter how cute he is, he'll never be a model and once again mommy and daddy have to pull some plan out of our butts on how we are going to pay for his college. Damn camera flash, you ruin EVERYTHING!

Just a Day, Just an Ordinary Day

Today: I taught Kickboxing, made some reservations, got some paperwork completed and filed, made two batches of food for Sawyer, made myself breakfast, cleaned the whole house, did two loads of laundry, all before 9am. I'm waiting for some people to return my call regarding vacations and now that I'm sitting, I'm exhausted. I feel spent. You know when you are so busy, you just go and go and go, and if you stop, everything hits you at once, and you want nothing else but a nap. I would like a nap. Maybe tomorrow.

Yesterday we got our taxes done. This was a much more stress-free experience than last year. Last year, we waited until the last day and couldn't find the correct paper work. Not fun. Yesterday, we were sitting in this girl's office, when the tax pro next to her had a question. The two peered in explaining this guys past year. I guess the question was about a joint file or not. They were simply asking this guy if he was with this girl for any of 2008. This is all he said, "Naw, man, I just got out of prison! I just got out of prison! I don't know, I just got out of PRISON!" Was he proud of this? Umm, prison is for people who do bad things. Like, pretty bad things, right? I tried as hard as I could to bring Sawyer closer to me without it looking like I was freaked out. Clearly, I was a little freaked out. This office is a few blocks from where we live. I do not feel comfortable walking around with Sawyer if there is a large population that JUST GOT OUT OF PRISON just right out my door! Am I wrong for feeling that way? And let me say this, we do not live in the ghetto, by any means.

Geoff and I have a difference of opinion on where we should purchase our next house. He wants to be in the mountains, in the trees, surrounded by acres. I wanted to be closer to the city. Realizing that there are more people than I know, roaming around who just got out of prison makes Geoff's idea of a future home a little more comforting. I'm more ready than I have ever been to give up city life.

Evergreen, I'm liking you more and more every day.

On a non-prison note: Happy Friday everyone!!!! Aren't weekends the best?! If you are in the Denver area, it's RESTAURANT WEEK!!! Multi-course dinner for two for only $52!!!! Check out this for a list of participating restaurants. I already have a few places in mind...


So, who's stuffing their face this weekend? I am, I am! (Then I'm taking a nap.)

Dear Greenpeace,

While I commend you on working for a cause that you may be passionate about, probably not making much money, and having to stand out in the cold all day, you are really annoying.

I live one block from 16th street mall and Larimer Square. I understand that these blocks are huge tourist attractions and tourists are your biggest suckers, but I live here. This is wear I purchase toilet paper for my family. Point is, I'm walking the streets (Oh, shush you!) almost daily. I am bombarded by at least FIVE of you a day, yes, at least FIVE and I can't handle it anymore. This is why New York City is not MY city. I don't like people constantly trying to sell me things and hand me stuff, sign petitions, etc. I don't want your stuff.

You yell at me as I pass by and try to use my child against me. How do you know I haven't done what you wanted me to do a hundred times already? I get that he is our future, but right now, I'm his and standing here in the cold for 30 minutes while you school me on what I should and should not be doing is not in my child's best interest. I KNOW you have seen me numerous times and you still yell things my way. The more annoying you are, the more I want to throw my recyclables into the trash.

I think the best solution is to print this (on un-recycled paper) and hand one to each and every one of you that yell at me.

Stop yelling at me and let me purchase toilet paper in (green)peace.

Things that happen.

While teaching kickboxing last night, something flung onto the floor while we were busting out some hitch kicks. I looked down and realized it was Sawyer's sock. This is the second time this sort of thing has happened to me. Last time, it was a pair of my own underwear while walking across a crowded living room at a friend's get together. I think I need to shake out my clothes after I pull them out of the dryer.

While half laying on Geoff and watching T.V. I asked him if I was too heavy. He went into this whole thing about how to never ask guys that and no one would really ever get the truth and blah, blah, blah. I figured he would quickly reply, "NO, NO WAY!!", so I could say, "Well, my left hand is resting on you and with all these diamonds, well, you know, I thought the weight would be crushing to your chest!" That joke when right down the toilet. MEN: Just say NO, not all of us mean to depreciate ourselves, sometimes we are just being funny... then you ruin it. He totally thinks I'm fat.

My Mac currently says it has ten hours of battery time. My Mac is on crack.

On the topic of fatness. I'm losing weight at alarming rates. It's actually getting annoying and I am not doing it on purpose. I keep having to buy new stuff because NOTHING fits. I wear the same thing over and over again because I can't keep buying clothes, it's stupid and I'm not good at it. If I hit 105 I'm going to start eating lard.

My skiing skills are starting to diminish. This can't happen. I am pretty sure that the Olympic Recruiter has his (or her?) eyes on me and totally stalks my ski trips. I didn't do any jumps yesterday and only did a blue/black run. Not even full black. What is the U.S.A. going to do without me on their team? I've got to get better... then again, I didn't drink at all yesterday, and we all know, beer makes EVERYTHING better.

I've never seen such wussy cab drivers like the cab drivers here. I live downtown and get to see bad driving first hand on a daily basis, I just didn't expect the most timid drivers to be the ones behind the wheel of a taxi/cab. Grow some... and take a little field trip to N.Y.C. and learn what real driving is like because frankly, I'm sick of passing you.

Point is, shake out your clothes, don't ask a man if you are fat (even if you are doing it as a joke), and feel free to race the taxi drivers here- you will always win.

Peace!

Exciting Changes! Need a Travel Agent or D.B.A. ??? Call the Strebels!

Just to update all of you... I have a new blog.. and a new job. I wouldn't even consider it a job, because I'm predicting a lot of fun to be had.

As you all know, we spent Christmas in California. My friend Kim and her family put together a big dinner and invited all of my friends. It was great. Long time friend and running partner runs her own Travel Agency and works along side her son. They put together our Turks and Caicos trip, she scheduled my Hawaii trip and I could not say enough great things about this family and this travel agency. She know how much I love to travel and how much experience I have in the traveling world. So, she invited me to work with them. I feel honored for her to think of me as a partner with their agency. Since then, I have been taking online classes to learn the booking system and just booked my first vacation on Friday. I get to work from home, I get to help out my friends company, and I get to share my passion for traveling with all of you. It couldn't be any more, win-win.

I've decided to start a travel blog. This blog is not just mine. I would love for you to share this blog with me. Been somewhere you want to rave about, want to share your vacation pictures with all of us? Send me your stories, along with any links you have and I will post it on there. I also plan to post travel deals to good to pass up, and it goes without saying, please get in touch with me for any of your traveling needs!

More changes? As of May 1st, my husband is starting his own business. He has tons of experience as a DataBase Administrator, is always the one everyone goes to when things go wrong and never fails to produce the solution no one has thought of yet. My husband is a smarty pants! Know anyone that needs a DBA? Check out his site here.

So, a lot of changes in the Strebel household. Join us in the fun!!!

Happy Valentines Day Peeps!

Check it out!!! Isn't is sparkly? Did you go blind momentarily? Did the diamonds accidently hit you in the eye? THAT, my friends is what my husband got me for Valentines this year. The bottom ring, the WEDDING ring, to be more exact. See, we had a really small wedding, we used my engagement ring as the 'with this ring, I thee wed' ring. We never got around to purchasing the wedding ring. I really wanted one, and lets get this straight, I'm not that girl who asks for jewelry, I'm not the one who is asking for diamonds, I simply wanted the finger to make a statement, I'M MARRIED! People congratulated me on my engagement well after our marriage. I didn't want that any longer. Let the world know, I'm happily, gleefully, lustfully, lucky MARRIED to the most amazing man on the universe.

Isn't my husband the best???

So, what did I get him you ask? Well, nothing... yet. I know, I know. Ding. Ding. DING! Times up, girl. Remember how much I suck at presents and how I said I like Valentines because it gives me a boost on the whole present shopping experience?! Yeah, forget all that. I couldn't come up with one thing. I have a card for him that he will receive at dinner, but no, count them-ZERO presents. Wow, I suck. Day isn't up yet, have any ideas for me???

BUT, here is to you! YOU! I'm talking to YOU! Happy Valentines Day. May yours be filled with people in your life who are more thoughtful than I am!

Cheers.

Everyone is Talking about that DAMN HORSE!

I hate it. For the record I hate it. Did I mention I hate it? Just making sure.



So, if you aren't a Denverite, or haven't been here in a while, some clown decided that a huge sculpture of a bright blue horse with evil red glowing eyes, and balls larger than most apartments would be the perfect welcome statue at the Denver International Airport. If you have not seen it, you aren't missing a thing, except perhaps, some vomit in the back of your throat and a few nightmares. This thing is U-G-L-Y, you ain't got no alibi and now I know, I'm not the only one who feels this way.

I remember when I first saw this thing. I strained my neck to get a good look and said, "ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW?!?!" I remember that. I remember those words exactly. Later that day in the airport, I mentioned it to anyone who would listen. Not too many people knew what I was talking about and if they happen to see the thing, they didn't feel too strongly in one way or the other. I'm not shy about my opinions and very seldom feel on the fence about something. How could these people NOT see how ugly this was and where were all the angry people picketing around it? You all come out picketing for everything else, why not this?

Fist of all, who paid for this? Did I pay for this in my state taxes? Did you? Did you pay for this nasty blue horse? At Rocky Mountain News, Daniel Chacon states, "City of Denver commissions the sculpture for $300,000 with a 1996 delivery date... the city took possession of the sculpture in mid-October [2007]. The piece took a detour to California for repairs and safety upgrades. A budget of $350,000 was approved to rehab the sculpture, ship it, install it and dedicate it." So, am I wrong, or is that a total of $650,000?! I can buy some crap with that kind of money and I can guarantee you it won't be a nasty blue horse.

A few days later, I learned before the horse made it's trot into Colorado, the torso fell on top of the sculptor and killed him. Great, so a life is now NOT due to this carnival ride gone wrong looking statue? I feel whoever was in charge of actually approving the, uh, artwork as some call it, saw how ugly it was and was about to pull the plug until someone died. It's all fun and games until a horse torso crushes the life out of you, right? That's what I always say.

A year and a half later I'm not the only one complaining. Denver Post, Mile High Mamas, Fox News (Yeah, I said it.) and more are all talking about this well-hung, shiny blue pony. All I'm saying is, my husband has a pretty muscled out jeep. If we get enough together, I'm talkin jeeps, hummers, tanks, wrecking balls, whatever you got, bring it, and I think we can bring this thing down together. As Denverites. Who's in? I'll even supply the beer.


UPDATE: My husband just shared this site with me. LOL

Dinner for an 8 Month Old

I make all of Sawyer's baby food. It's pretty yummy if I must say so myself. Almost everything so far has been amazing. One bite for Sawyer, one bite for mommy! I have the Beaba Babycook to make Sawyer's food in, which I LOVE and highly recommend. Anyway, everything has been great until I introduced meat. Monday night he had pureed Chicken breast for the first time. He liked it, I wanted to gag. Tonight, I made this instead...

Tomato, Garlic, Onion, Sweet Potato Chicken. (Shut up about the name, I don't know what else to call it!)

So, here it is:


Chicken breast, cooked
Sweet potato, cooked
1/4 cup onion
1-2 cloves garlic
1 tomato- de-skinned, de-seeded
1/4 cup chicken broth

To de-skin and de-seed tomato, drop tomato in boiling water for 30 seconds, then dunk in cold water. Make an X shaped cut at base of tomato. Peel skin off, cut in half then scoop out seeds.

Chop onion and garlic. Saute onion, garlic and tomato with some olive oil. Add broth. Puree, onion mixture, chicken breast and sweet potato. Cool and store.

Tonight, I didn't gag.

Busy Busy

I haven't been able to post lately, I've actually been extremely busy. Oh no, not that getting to you guys is not important, you are all extremely important, but I've been, just, booked. You know the kind of booked that makes you crash at 7:30pm. Yeah, that is me.

I also have some picture updates. Obviously, blogging only gets accomplished when Sawyer, aka-boy who takes up all my energy, is sleeping, and I keep leaving the camera in his room. I don't dare go retrieve the thing while he is in there. That guy sleeps like a cranky old person who wakes at the very slightest of sounds. I always said that I wasn't going to make people be quiet when Sawyer sleeps, that I wanted him to be able to sleep through anything, sleep anywhere, blah, blah, blah. Here I am, holding my breath if I even get near the door. Screw what I thought before, I'll do anything for a few more minutes of mom time.

Aside from Sawyer, my husband and I are both starting a new path in terms of career/work. So, the updates are coming soon, I promise.



Meeeeeee

Oh, also, I just finished reading The True Story of Hansel and Gretel. Great book, it's sad but forces you to appreciate the things we have now. Currently I'm reading, Water for Elephants. Fantastic so far. I'm completely engrossed. Thanks to the book club we started at our moms group, I'm forced to read again, which is good, I really miss reading. (Then again it adds onto the whole busy thing. Do you see a trend?)

The Other Night

I woke up to a violent kick to the foot via my husband.

He woke up immediately and asked if he just kicked my me. "Uhhh, YEAH, and hard!" He apologized profusely and rolled back over. I heard this before he fell back to sleep:

"UGH! The alien was holding on to my leg and wouldn't let go. BUT THEN, he started to lick my toes so I KICKED (complete with kicking action) him off!!!"

Can't argue with a man kicking off a toe-licking alien.

Sick Plate

I dedicate this to my ex-boyfriend.  Thank GOD we are not together.

Everyone who knows even a little of me knows I worked in Club Med.  I taught aerobics for a few seasons in Turks in Caicos and had the time of my life!  (A little more on that here.)  While there I dated this guy, my first boyfriend (Yeah, I'm a little behind on the dating stuff.) who was also my last boyfriend until I met my amazing husband.  Lets just say, boyfriend one was not the sharpest tool in the shed.  Here is a story my husband actually likes to hear about the ex... 

Every night at the village we had to put together a show.  The G.O.'s (Those who worked there.) were the stars of the show every night but once a week, when we had to put together the G.M. show.  The G.M. (The guest.) would learn a dance of some sort, via us, and perform on stage to their families, drunk friends, chicks they hooked up with, whatever and whoever was out in there watching.  This night was G.M. show night and my boyfriend and I were each in charge of a group for the show.  I wasn't feeling very good that day and wanted to basically call in sick for the night.   I was exhausted from teaching five aerobic classes that day, coming down with a cold,  and in general feeling really crappy.  When you call off a night, is isn't just the show you are calling off, it's the pre-show, the post show, the dancing, the partying, the dinner festivities.  Every night is a party and party that night is NOT what I wanted to do.  

Being in a relationship in that village was looked down upon.  They wanted all of us to be free, single, fun.  On more than one occasion the chief (the boss) would try to end relationships.  Put a little bird in someone's ear that being in a relationship was no, noooo good.   So, if you are in a relationship, you play by the rules.  You are out and about, you are hanging out with the guests,  you are living it up, and you keep your relationship somewhat secretive, especially from the guests who always wanted to know your business.  It's pretty suffice to say, both parties of a couple calling in sick the same night would not work out.  

Feeling crappy, I walked into my boyfriends room to tell him I was going to call in sick for the night.  I wasn't feeling good and I didn't want to play.   He was in his bed napping, looked up and said, "I already did, I'm just really tired."  Tired?  Just tired?!  I actually don't feel good here, like I'm TIRED AND SICK!  You are just tired and already called in sick so now I can't!  I was a little upset.  When you are on your last leg of energy expecting some downtime and that downtime gets pulled from you, like a carpet under your feet, you get a little pissed.  

"Fine, I'll go out, and be in the show and try to make it an early night, meanwhile, I'm hungry, I'm going to get something to eat."  I say, getting ready to leave his room.

"Oooh, will you get me something to eat too?"  He asks.  

I think it's asking a lot since I'm already annoyed, but fine.  "Okay, what do you want?"

"Ummm, I don't know, will you just bring back a sick plate?"  

I perk up wondering what these 'sick plates' are.  "And that is...?"

"You know, like the stuff they prepare in advance and have out for people to take if they want to eat in their room and not in the restaurant."

"Huh?  Like a bagged lunch, I've never seen that here."  I've been at this village for a while, been to that restaurant at least three times a day, EVERY DAY, how could I have missed these 'sick  plates'?

"No, you know, the plates they have prepared at the entrance, right on your left hand side, with all sorts of yummy looking food."

Is he talking about what I think he is talking about? Has he NOT been to a restaurant before in his life.  "The display plate?  That food is PLASTIC!"  

"No, the sick plate."  He says.  

Needless to say, I didn't pick him up any food that night.

Dear Sawyer: 8 Months!!!

Last night, I lay awake in bed unable to sleep due to various thoughts bouncing around in my head.  Not one of these thoughts were significant enough to keep me from sleeping.  I thought back to the time we brought you home from the hospital, you ate every two hours leaving me an hour tops to fall back asleep at night.  I would lay there visualizing a black circle and try to think of nothing else, literally boring myself to sleep.  Reminiscing on that time forced me to that realization, once again, of how quickly time passes.  Here you are, eight months old, sleeping through the night, taking naps like a champ, sitting up on your own, eating tiny pieces of my food.  You are my boy now.  Boy.  I can't say baby and it makes me sooo happy and equally sooo sad.  

Man, I'm not really sure what to say.  You amaze me every day, every minute, and each day that passes we know each other more in depth.  I'm noticing that you one of my best friends, we hang out every day, read books together, roll around on the floor, squish food between our fingers.  It's fun.  I'm teaching you how to grow up and you are teaching me how amazing the simple things are in life are, like texture, colors and sounds.  The world is an interesting place, I'll give you that, and I'm so thankful that I get to help you explore each ounce of it one step at a time.

January was a good month.  It was calm, I'm sure everyone felt the calm.  The holidays were over, the traveling was over and it was just me, you, and daddy hanging out, taking a breather.   We went back to our basic schedule.  Wake up, eat, play on the floor, read a book, have some cereal, take a nap, repeat (Plus or minus the cereal part.).  It was nice having things calm, normal, and though it sounds boring, we were busy.  You no longer are content playing alone, even for a little bit.  You require me to be there, you like to show off, you like to do something (Bang on a toy, dump toys out of a bowl, push a button to make music play, etc.) and make sure I watch.  If not, scream to get my attentions, do it again and smile, like, see mom, see how smart I am?!  Yes, I know you are smart, once again, you amaze me every day, but lets work on that scream thing, shall we?

Onto the screaming.  Wow, where did this come from?!  Full blown screams!  Screams of joy, screams of excitement, and sometimes, those dreaded screams of anger, COME PICK ME UP NOWWWWW!   This is something we will have to work out, screaming out of anger is not acceptable, my love.   Daddy or I will set you down and try to get something around the house done, we'll get maybe five minutes out of you, and you are sooo over solo play time.  You want one of us, usually me, and it starts with some crying, then,  "mamammammmama", to full blown screams.   Relax.  We are here, we are your parents, we are crazy about you, we love to hold you, but we can't hold you 24/7.  It's not good for either of us.  A scream like that now means you go straight to the crib.  Once this started happening, your fits, I decided to read about about it and what to do regarding these fits.  Eight months old and we are getting fits, ALREADY?!  Just like every time before, I researched, read whatever I could get my hands on and the consensus is... no discipline until nine months.  Nine months is the magic number.  You've got one more month to go, if I were you, I would milk it!

This month we officially booked our sailing trip.  June, we are charting a boat with Becky, Dave and your buddy Ethan.  You will be one year then, I'm thinking of it as a 'happy birthday Sawyer', and 'good work mommy for pushing that thing out' sort of gift.  I can not wait for this!  Of course I couldn't help myself from buying you and Ethan a little sailing shirt.  They are totally adorable and I can't wait to take a million pictures of you two little guys out on the open sea.  Speaking of our buddies, this month they moved away from us.  They are only about forty minutes away but that is a HUGE difference than three blocks.  We had a sleepover at their new house and each time we drove up their mile long (no joke) driveway,  I couldn't help but think of all the fun you two are going to have and how much trouble you are going to get into together.  We are going to have to keep our eyes on you two!!!

This month, you realized that rolling over can get you to where you want to go.  You roll in your crib, you roll around on the floor but you always decide the rolling over game is finished when you are on your stomach.  You still HATE to be on your stomach.  You scream for me to come pick you up, reach your little arms toward me and of course I cave it.  Your pouty face is one of the cutest I've seen! 

 This month also marks the first month you liked your bath.  You splash!  I know, I shouldn't be excited, or even encourage it, but when you acted like bath water was some sort of acid to your skin, curling up trying to avoid being placed in the tub just last month to enjoying your bath and splashing this month, well, it is a feast to my eyes.  I was so excited the first time it happened.  I'm also realizing now that you are enjoying water time, mommy can get a few dishes done next to you.  Before a bath was all business to you, get in, wash body, wash hair, rinse and get you out of there before  you start to cry.  BUT with this new splash stuff going on, bath time is a whole new world for both of us.  I'm sure next month my letter to you will be me pleading for you to stop soaking the floors, but for now, I'm enjoying the water logged kitchen!  

I can't end this letter without talking about one thing I am extremely thankful for: Cuddling.  You are cuddling with me!!!  My eyes just about water ever time.  You reach for me, put your arms around me like in a big hug, and rest your head on my chest.  It's amazing.  You were never a cuddler, ever, even as a new born.  Once you could hold that head up, you kept it up.  You wanted to see the world, everyone around you, what was going on but now, NOW, you cuddle, and have cuddled on more than one occasion.  It has been at least once a day now, for a few weeks.  I can't get over how much I love this, how much I missed you not cuddling with me before and how much I realize you are going to be able to walk all over me and get away with it by just one cuddle from you, my boy, my eight month old.

I love you big boy!  Happy eight months mister!

Your mama

 

RIP Babystyle?

I think I might be a sad mommy grieving a loss.   Babystyle, one of my favorite baby, kid, and maternity stores, I think, is out of business.

It started off with some pretty nifty sales.  Not everything was on sale, and there was no signs warning of any type of liquidation, closing, and so forth.

  

It continued with a non-working web site.  Let me say this, I am addicted to researching... anything and everything.  I will read 400 reviews of every product before I pick out the most perfect car seat (high chair, feeding spoon, swing, etc) for my little guy.  I also love to see what is new.  What is new at Pumpkin Patch?  What is new at Babies R' Us?  What is new at Babystyle?  It didn't help that some of Sawyer's friends have a first birthday party coming up, babystyle.com was where I TRIED to go for the perfect present.  Fine, no website, I'll make the drive to the dreaded mall.

I parked in my usual spot and head downstairs.  Downstairs corner, nothing.  Am I sleepy?  Is it upstairs?  I KNOW it's downstairs, I'll go upstairs anyway.  No Babystyle.  No signs, no empty store, just not there, like nothing was ever there.  I feel like I have false memories like those movies you see.  I know there was a babystyle, it was downstairs, right where I am standing.  I look for a directory walking though half the mall and decide to ask another baby store regarding the whereabouts of Babystyle.  Two other families where there asking the same question.  Out of business, just disappeared, was the answer we received.

Huh?

Babystyle, what happened?  Where are you?  Can you come back?  Can you come out to play?  My questions are unanswered, I only found this online.

Today, I'm a sad mommy.

To Sawyers friends, I'm sorry if  your gift sucks.

On a happier note, I just learned how to make a word a link (See 'this' a few lines above.).  Did you notice how tech savy I'm becoming?