stop me if you've heard this one before...

i am so overwhelmed right now!

seriously, i don't know how some moms manage to do it and look so put together!  i haven't showered in 2 days and i'm still in my pj's...  yikes!

we just got back from our 2nd long weekend trip in a row (which, i wish i could say was a vacation).  we love our families dearly, but since they live so far from us, we don't get vacations- b\c the cost to see family is the cost of a vacation.  worth it to see family/friends, but i would like to say that we're going to take a vacation some day...  so our entire house looks like we were out of town...  my suitcase is still packed w\ my stuff (and ian's)... and i keep avoiding it- b\c if it's in a suitcase, then it's not all over my room.  our living room still has a couple bags that aren't completely emptied, and i need to do laundry- the story of my life.

our room also looks like a warehouse.  we are desperately trying to de-clutter, so we've been selling some things on ebay (b\c if i'm getting rid of it, i might as well try and make some money) and i've got boxes that are ready to ship, and boxes filled with stuff still awaiting payment, and boxes with stuff that is currently up for auction...  i have sold only 1 thing on smashion, but i've traded several things which doesn't help when you're supposed to be getting rid of stuff...  we are giving some stuff away however, so we've got to sort through that too.  it's amazing how many things you accumulate in your life...  aaaaaah. 

i'm also trying to sort things out from our car accident- waiting on insurance checks, trying to find out when i can get repairs, getting a rental car, buying a new car seat.  ai yi yi.

well, i've done all my office work, made a grocery list, gotten the car stuff taken care of, packed boxes and blogged.  it's a regular miracle...  i just need to shower and i might feel like a normal person...  dare i even say super mom?  i wish i could just clone myself- and then have my clones do the stuff i don't like doing, like cutting coupons and cleaning the house- folding my laundry and actually getting to the grocery store.  one day people, one day. 

what are your tricks for getting it all done?  certainly i can do all this stuff without staying up until 3 am.  i need tips, people!

15 months ... and a winner(s)

ian turned 15 months old on april 20!  i can't believe he's already 15 months old... it's going by so fast! 

ian still isn't walking... i sound like a broken record, don't i?  he's really making strides though- he's started walking with his push toys, he'll actually let you hold his hands and walk him around, and he's standing on his own on other surfaces besides our bed!  he even took single steps a few times this weekend! 

ian is no longer eating pureed baby food, with the exception of a few times when we are out and it's easier to feed him- and he loves almost all foods!  there are a few things he doesn't care for, or only eats on occasion.  he loves sweets too- which we don't normally give him, but we have been out of town this last few weekends where there has been cake, and he cries as soon as he sees cake... how does he even know what cake is?!

ian had 3 shots at his 15 month appointment and a blood draw.  this was the most upset he's ever been- and i was pretty upset myself.  a blood draw was done to check for anemia, however, ian has iron levels comparable with an adult... 

ian is still super tiny.  he measured in at 30", which is only up 1" from his 9 & 12 month appointments.  that puts him somewhere around the 10-25th percentile.  his weight is now 17 lbs 12 oz, which is only up 11 oz from his 12 month appointment.  this was part of the reason he was checked for anemia.  so, he's just going to be tiny for now.  dave & i aren't very big either, so it's to be expected. 

he's is talking more too!  he now says baby and bye-bye.  he's waving "bye" more too, but usually not until the person is completely out of sight...

tooth number 7 has broken through the surface... we're still waiting on its arrival.  he's becoming more of a toddler and less of a baby every day.  ::sigh::

and now for the winner(s)(!!!) of my vera giveaway! 

commenter #3- cutiepies said...  I already follow you and I just posted this on my FB!!! I love all 3 things... hope I win!!

Congratulations!!  email me @ melissalmcfadden (at) gmail (dot) com with your address and which shopping bag you'd like

and since i had 2 shopping bags... someone gets the other one!  and that winner is.....


commenter #12 -Allison W said...  Posted to FB wall: http://www.facebook.com/home.php?ref=home#!/awishs5200 

email me with your address, and i'll get the other bag out to you!!


congratulations girls!!  and if you didn't win, come back!  this was so much fun, i hope to do more giveaways soon!!

happy easter

up from the grave He arose

with a mighty triumph o'er his foes;

He arose a victor from the dark domain

and He lives forever, with His saints to reign.

He arose!  He arose!  hallelujah Christ arose!

-lowery

happy easter everyone!

last day to enter my vera giveaway!  i will draw the winner when we are back from atlanta!  good luck!

mommy reads: BUtterfield 8

elizabeth taylor is one of my favorite actresses, and i saw the movie BUtterfield 8 several years ago.  i felt it was a fitting tribute that i was reading BUtterfield 8 when she passed away.  i'm not even sure how i found out it was based on a novel- but i received the book recently and was really excited to read it.  i wish i could say my excitement followed me to the end of the book...  john o'hara based BUtterfield 8 on the death of ny socialite starr faithfull.  this book is definitely a character study, but sometimes it studied the wrong characters.  it started off soooooooo slow- i didn't think i would ever get into it.  there were characters that didn't have anything to do with the story, and it studied them in depth, and then you never heard about them again...  the main character, gloria wandrous is glamorous, yet promiscuous girl who gets involved with a married man, weston liggett.  the book follows their tumultuous relationship.  as i already said, the book was difficult to follow, especially when it was following characters that had nothing to do with the story.  also, BUtterfield 8 was mentioned many times in the movie, but never in the book, other than to explain that it was the name of the telephone exchange.  there isn't too much else to really explain about the book- it's considered an american classic, but it definitely had mixed reviews from what i could find.  

i saw the movie again after reading the book- it's definitely easier to follow than the book!  the movie has a really interesting back story though.  it was the last movie elizabeth taylor (28 at the time) made for mgm in order to finish fulfill her contract and allow her to move on to 20th century fox to make cleopatra.  eddie fisher, who plays gloria's best friend steve- had just left his wife debbie reynolds to marry taylor.  fisher & taylor hated the movie, calling it "butterball 4."  she hated it not only b\c she was being forced to make the movie, but because the american public saw her in the same light as her character gloria, after stealing fisher from reynolds.  although she hated the movie, taylor won the 1960 best actress academy award- which also wasn't without drama.  taylor nearly died while making cleopatra (which nearly bankrupted 20th century fox) and many people feel she received the "pity vote."  while making cleopatra, taylor began a public affair with her costar richard burton, which later led to her divorce from fisher.  

anyway, there's your movie history for the day...  as far as the book goes 2\5 stars.  movie 3\5.  

have you entered my giveaway yet? 

My 1st Giveaway!- ENDED

THIS GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED!

I'm so excited to be hosting my very 1st giveaway after nearly 2 years of blogging!!  This weekend i attended Vera Bradley's annual outlet sale.  This is my 3rd year attending- my mother-in-law goes every year- and it's a really fun thing for me & her to do together!  She manages to outspend me every year though- and that's probably a very good thing!  Anyway, they have amazing deals, and with such amazing deals, I couldn't resist picking up something for you guys!  So here's what i'm giving away!

Vera Bradley metal reusable water bottle in Simply Violet. A great alternative to plastic bottles!  

Vera Bradley Shopper Tote.  Sturdy reusable bag!  Stop bringing home grocery store plastic bags!  I'll let you choose which color you want!

Vera Bradley Birdie Wallet

One lucky reader will walk away with ALL of these items! 

So easy to enter (2 ways):

1.  be a follower of my blog via Google Reader or Bloglovin' (required- leave your follower name).  new followers are welcome- but i'd love you to actually read my blog!

and for an additional entry

2.  Tweet, Facebook or Blog about this giveaway (link back to your blog- or leave your twitter name)

make sure you leave a separate comment for each!

I will announce the winner, which i will let random.org choose- on monday or tuesday after we are back from atlanta!  i will stop taking entries sunday @ 11:59 pm.

good luck!!

this giveaway is not sponsored by vera bradley.  i am not affiliated with vera bradley in any way.  the gifts were bought with my own money!

Adventures in vera!

I'm away in ft. wayne, indiana at the vera bradley outlet sale, but I haven't forgotten you dear readers! I will be back on monday with an exciting giveaway! I've picked up a few things that I hope you will love! Come back on monday!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!

perfect weekend

spring decided to give us a 2 day visit this weekend (don't worry, the temperatures will be back in the 50's with promises of snow to come).  it. was. amazing.  you know, a little something to prepare me for how incredible it's going to be when we're in georgia (knock on wood).

saturday, we had lunch with friends at chick-fil-a.  but before we left, someone practiced walking around with his push toy for a while..

so close!!

after chick-fil-a, we all headed over to our favorite ice cream shop!  i was so excited for ian to try ice cream for the first time.  we decided to go with banana since that's his favorite fruit!  he loved it!  he gobbled down his entire kiddie cup and cried for more!

when we got back home, he took a short nap, had dinner and then we loaded up in his wagon for a ride around the neighborhood (i forgot the camera)!

sunday was 85 degrees!  i was in heaven wearing a skirt and open toe shoes!  dave's hockey team had their championship game.  unfortunately, they lost in the championship for the 3rd straight session.  they played a really great game though.  

 go yams!

after the game, we hung out for a little while.  ian had a great time with his friend margaret!

look at those skinny little legs!

then we headed to grammy & grampy's house for steak, baked potato and veggies.  ian looooves steak.  after all this, he was a pretty tired little boy, so it was home and to bed.  we start our next swim class in the morning.  i can't wait.  he was really getting the hang of things by the end of the last class, so i know he'll really be enjoying it this time around!  

how was your weekend?!

30 before thirty update

i wanted to review my 30 before thirty now that we are coming in on 2 months to go!  some items needed an update or an edit as well!   look for the edits below the 1st list...

1.      renew my passport 
2.      visit canada 
3.      start an actual work out plan or start riding a bike 
4.      lose the rest of my baby weight + 10 
5.      bike out to crystal lake and back 
6.      drink less soda 
7.      visit babyland general  CHANGED
8.      develop a weekly plan for keeping our house clean 
9.      finish printing all my pre-baby photos and put them into albums 
10.  plant a garden 
11.  date night with husband twice a month 
12.  finish watching all of the academy awards best pictures or afi top 100     CHANGED-
13.  take our first family vacation 
14.  pay off hospital bills so we can pay off student loans and be debt free! 
15.  teach ian sign language 
16.  get my nose pierced- maybe? 
17.  bake a cake from scratch 
18.  cloth diaper and cloth wipes 
19.  start a compost pile 
20.  make ian’s baby food myself   (done)
21.  eat healthier- more cooking at home! 
22.  finish the love dare  CHANGED
23.  join the rest of the modern world with a smart phone 
24.  get rid of the clothes in my closet/drawers that i’m never going to wear again 
25.  have all my old camp/college tshirts made into quilts 
26.  take ian to the georgia aquarium 
27.  get rid of our junk- have a yard sale at my parents home   CHANGED
28.  file our financial documents- shred the junk! 
29.  visit at least 5 more ballparks  CHANGED
30.  drink at least 32 oz. water a day

7.  This just isn't going to happen since I don't live in GA anymore - it's completely out of the way on a drive to atlanta.  need an idea!
12.  This has been changed to something else.  I just don't have enough time to watch that many movies.  What i changed it to is a secret.  It will not be completed before i'm 30 b\c the event is not until July.  But it's on the calendar. New Item:  Super Secret Item
22.  we're 200+ days into the love dare, but it's not going to be finished by the time my bday rolls around.  we'll still have about 85 days to go.  we must have started later than i though- plus Dave forgets to pack the book every time we go somewhere.  New Item:  Keep working toward finishing the love dare
27.  my grandparents have been gone for 5+ years and all the stuff at mom & dad's house is no closer to being put into a yard sale.  plus, being away from Atlanta just makes sorting through that stuff and selling it nearly impossible.  New Item:  Purge the junk at the house we actually live in.
29.  5 ballparks is really difficult- that's 5 trips, plus i already have a family vacay thrown in- which also looks impossible...  New Item:  Visit 3 ballparks.  

my new 30 before thirty

1.      renew my passport 
2.      visit canada 
3.      start an actual work out plan or start riding a bike 
4.      lose the rest of my baby weight + 10 
5.      bike out to crystal lake and back 
6.      drink less soda 
7.     NEED YOUR IDEAS
8.      develop a weekly plan for keeping our house clean 
9.      finish printing all my pre-baby photos and put them into albums 
10.  plant a garden 
11.  date night with husband twice a month 
12.  super secret Item
13.  take our first family vacation 
14.  pay off hospital bills so we can pay off student loans and be debt free! 
15.  teach ian sign language 
16.  get my nose pierced- maybe? 
17.  bake a cake from scratch 
18.  cloth diaper and cloth wipes 
19.  start a compost pile 
20.  make ian’s baby food myself  
21.  eat healthier- more cooking at home! 
22.  continue growing our marriage by working on the love dare
23.  join the rest of the modern world with a smart phone 
24.  get rid of the clothes in my closet/drawers that i’m never going to wear again 
25.  have all my old camp/college tshirts made into quilts 
26.  take ian to the georgia aquarium 
27. purge our own home of all the stuff we don't need.
28.  file our financial documents- shred the junk! 
29.  visit at least 3 more ballparks 
30.  drink at least 32 oz. water a day

so what should i change my newest item to?! 

i resolve... april

not to make stupid resolutions this year that i will have forgotten about by... yesterday.

instead.  my "resolution" is to make a short list of attainable goals each month- and to share them with you.

i'm getting earlier with my posts... that's good.  let's review my goals for march.  i feel like i kicked some serious tail this month!

• go to bed before 2 AM ---maybe i did this 3 times...
• list clothes on smashion --- boo.  ya.  smashion is like ebay in that listing stuff takes for.  ev.  er.  it probably took me 4 hours or more to upload all of this stuff- and i don't plan on keeping it all up for months until it sales.  if it's not gone by a certain point- it's off to goodwill.  so, buy this stuff.   seriously- i want it out of my house.  shop
• seriously, clean your house, it's a disaster. --- we tried to take on a "project" per weekend on top of making extra efforts to clean.  our 4 projects:  1.  dig out backyard jungle weeds for future garden.  2.  fold and hang 6 weeks months of laundry that we i had lying around.  3.  clean out from under our bed (how did that stuff even get there?!).  4.  organize, try on and pull clothes & list them on smashion.
• finish something else on the 30/30 ---while i was unable to mark anything off the list, i did print more  pictures (#9) and started getting serious about date nights (#11).  ok, wait.  we did FINALLY pay off the hospital bills from having Ian (#14), but now we have hospital bills from the er visit.  i'm conflicted about whether or not this can be crossed off the list. 
• read 2 books --- yes!  (although i just finished the 2nd last night).  i finished butterfield 8 and another book having to do w\ my 30/30.  it's a secret.
• have 2 "date" nights with husband.  one where we stay at home and the other where we actually pretend like we have lives and we leave our house without our child (we will leave our child with someone, not alone if you were wondering).  --- we did have our at home date night.  we made a special dinner together and snuggled together for a movie.  we never got a chance to go out b\c dave's parents were on vacation during our free weekends.  we did have more than one at home date night. 
• see to it that the first day of spring arrives in the midwest.  i curse you snow, i curse you with 1000 curses. --- even i can't make the seasons change and that groundhog is a filthy liar.  it snowed at least twice this month.  40 degrees is not spring.
• win march madness (or my husband can win... what's yours is mine...) --- talk about the fail of the century.  i don't watch college bb, but i love march madness- this year's tournament was totally whack.  dave & i finished in a tie for 2nd to last place out of 24 brackets.  the pool was decided before we even got to the final four b\c everyone's teams were eliminated except for the winner who had 1 final four team.  sad.  i don't wanna talk about it.

and now for april!

• finish 2 more books
• finish 2 more 30/30 items.  
• don't spend any extra money on crap this month.  approved items are:  tv with tax money (planned ahead), lunch this weekend w\ friends we haven't seen since october.  easter basket goodies for ian.  out of the house date.  trip to milwaukee to see the braves (tickets are $0.75).  all of this total (not including the tv should cost less than $100).  
• 2 date nights.  1 at home.  1 out.
• lose 2 lbs.  i didn't bother with this in march, but i'm coming back to it.  it's been 8 weeks now- the weight has got to start coming off.  i'm busting my butt.  
• figure out how to spend/save the remaining tax money.  we could pay off ian's hospital bills in full, but would like to save some money as well.
• cash in my bonds.  they're earning about $0.25 a year.  ridiculous.

we'll check back to see how i did in a few weeks!!

disaster zone

so i got my house clean as per my resolutions for March, only to wreck it in order to complete another march resolution.  BUT...  all my clothes (almost) are up on Smashion!!  Only 70+ listings right now (yes, i still have clothes to wear, amazingly)...

Please, check them out.  Buy them.  Tell your friends to buy them.  I really don't want this stuff listed long- if i don't sell it in the next couple months, it's probably going to goodwill.  It's really taking up a lot of room in our house, and we're trying to really be proactive about de-cluttering our lives!  more on my resolutions later.

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