Three Years Ago Today

It's now been three years ago today that I found out I was pregnant. It's hard to believe it's been that long, since in a way it seems like it was only yesterday. I've written about that day before, and it's one I will never forget. Finding out that you have a life growing inside of you is an amazing feeling, and in our case, it was also a big surprise!

It's amazing how much our lives have changed since we became parents. I don't think anyone can truly fathom the changes ahead when they're expecting. While Nick and I have always had a good relationship, I can honestly say things have only gotten better since Bailey came into our lives. It's the like the love you have for another just multiplies once you have this little baby that is part of each of you. You have this little person that you're responsible for and you know that each of you are going to have to work together, even when you don't want to, to make sure that you're doing a good job.

It's hard to even think about what we did before we were parents. I know it involved being able to stay up later than 10:00 and being able to sleep in past 7:30, but other than that, it seems like it was a different life altogether.

Being a parent is the hardest, most challenging job I've ever had; but it's also the most rewarding and fulfilling.

I love you Bailey Grace!

The Writing is on the Wall

Only in this case, it wasn't writing that I found on the wall.

Sunday afternoon when Bailey woke from her nap, I went into her room and asked her if she wanted mommy to snuggle in bed with her for a little bit before she got up. She quickly said yes and scooted over to try and make room for me in her tiny bed. While I was trying to fit myself in beside her, I saw something on the wall behind her bed. I was looking through the slats of the bed trying to figure out what it was. Then, I figured it out.

"Bailey Grace Maxwell. What is that on your wall?"

She turns around and looks, as if she didn't already know what I was talking about.

"Those are my boogas mommy." She said it like it was no big deal, like, Duh! mom, what else would it be?!

"Why are there boogers on your wall?"

"Because I had boogas in my nose, I picked them and I had to wipe them somewhere."

Well, at least it was logical to her why she would choose to wipe her nose excrements on the wall. I guess at least she didn't do this again!

Nick and I later asked her if we were to put tissues in her room, would she get up to wipe them on there, instead of the wall. After taking a while to process the idea of that, she reluctantly said yes...we'll see if it works.

Geesh, I feel like I talk about boogers a lot on here. But so goes the life of a mom with a toddler I suppose.

Teach Every Child About Food

We all have things that we're passionate about. Things that we love doing. My husband and I both love to cook. Most of the meals we make aren't fancy schmancy, they don't use exotic ingredients and you won't be seeing either of us on any cooking magazines, but we still have a great time. I love food. Food is a necessity of life. We need it to nourish our bodies, but food is so much more. If I think back to some of my best memories, there's almost always a meal involved. Such as Thanksgiving dinners with my whole family gathered around a table, or some instances, many different tables. Food has a way of bringing people together.

There used to be a general respect for food. We respected the land it was grown in, we respected the animals our meat came from and we respected those that grew and harvested our food. Now, more than ever, there's nothing but disrespect. Think about it. On the news we always hear about the growing numbers of obesity in America. People are just eating whatever and whenever. They're not respecting good, quality food; instead, they're choosing to live off of fast food restaurants (click here to read a disturbing article about what's really in those "all white nuggets" and other fast food favorites) and highly processed foods. We've all heard horror stories about slaughter houses and how we're wiping out entire species because there's no respect for the animals. Don't get me wrong, I love meat and I could never be a vegetarian, but I do feel we owe it to the animals to at least respect them.

Why I am writing all of this? I recently watched a video of Jamie Oliver giving a speech about a campaign he is working on here in America. The video is below, and in it, Oliver talks about the obesity problem and how the leading causes of deaths in the United States are almost all diet related and preventable. The video is a little long, but it really has some good information.

I just love this video. I think he makes some great points. We have to teach our children the importance of healthy food. This is something Nick and I still struggle with. We are trying to eat healthier and teach Bailey about foods. Even if we splurge at home and have a starch filled dinner, I can guarantee you it's healthier than going to your local fast food chain and having dinner. We do go out to eat about once a week to some sit down dinner in town. We have occassionally given Bailey fast food to eat, but honestly, I could count on one hand the number that it's been.

You don't have to be a great cook in order to eat healthier. All it takes is a little time and practice and you can create easy, healthy meals for your family. Don't we owe it to our kids to teach them how to properly take care of their bodies? And besides, eating around a dinner table together is better than eating from a paper bag any night of the week.

If you managed to make it through this long post, sorry, this video really spoke to me and I so believe in what he is saying. We can all make sure our children grow up healthy and with a knowledge of good food.

Fort Maxwell

When I was younger I used to love building forts. My step sister and I would grab every available blanket, sheet and sometimes even towel in the house to build them. We would transform our room into what appeared to be, one giant tent. I'm not sure what it was that made this so much fun. We didn't do anything particularly fun under there, but we both loved it.

While playing with Bailey the other night, I asked her if she wanted to build a fort. She excitedly said yes, even though she had no idea what that meant. I grabbed a few blankets and pulled some kitchen chairs into the living room and started constructing a fort.

When it was finished Bailey was so excited. She still didn't really know what to do with this fort, so I went underneath it and she followed. Once she was in the fort, she was hooked.

"Mommy, it's dark in here, there's no light. Let's make scary sounds."

So we did our best ghost impressions. She thought this was really funny. Occassionally she would let her daddy come in and join us, but she really preferred it to be a girl's only fort. (Or fork, as Bailey sometimes calls it)

She loved the fort so much that she requested we build another one last night. She is the most content kid once we get the fort up. We pretty much do the same things over and over again, but she thinks it's great. Our fort time usually consists of the following:

"Mommy, let's be big gorillas."  We beat our cheasts and make "ooh, ooh, aah, aah" sounds in a deep voice. Then she goes to the "grocery store" (which is usually her kitchen) and gets us bananas to eat.

"Mommy, let's be little gorillas."  We say "ooh, ooh, aah, aah" in a little voice and do the customary hands under armpits monkey move. Then we pretend to pick bugs off of one another and eat them.

Then we usually tell stories. Here's an excerpt of the one Bailey told me the other night.

"Once a time mommy was a princess. She had brown hair and lots of puppies. The end."

We make up songs together and just act silly. I love our fort Maxwell time and I'm glad she does too.

Snow Days

Snow days, snow days and more snow days. We have seen our fair share this winter. Nick and Bailey have had lots of days at home together because of all this winter weather we've been having, and they've been having quite a fun time.

Yesterday, I was uploading photos (of some delish homemade bread, check it out!) from my camera when I stumbled across these.

(Please overlook the "its a snow day so it's ok if I hav crazy hair" look that both my husband and Bailey were sporting)

Apparently Nick and Bailey had been making cheesecakes yesterday. She's such a good little helper in the kitchen! And to brag a little bit, my husband makes killer cheesecakes. The ones he made yesterday were white chocolate cheesecakes, my personal favorite.

Today they went to the library and he sent me this photo of my munchkin enjoying some music.

I love knowing that she has a daddy who does fun things with her!

What Makes a Good Company - The Finale

Well, if you read this regulary, you probably remember a post in which I talked about the problems we were having with our front bedroom. I'm happy to report that the problem has been fixed!!!

Now, this wasn't an easy process. Company S, which is Stivers Heating and Air, didn't really want to cooperate at first. However, I wouldn't back down. I kept calling and calling. They would try to offer an excuse, and I wouldn't take it. Then they tried to offer a solution that obviously wouldn't correct the problem and I refused.

Yesterday they finally sent a technician out, and while he made sure to mention that it wasn't something they normally did, he installed a vent in the closet of the bedroom. You wouldn't believe the difference it has already made!!! This morning I went to that room, said a little prayer and slowly opened the door. When I did, I was greeted by a warm room. Seriously, that has never happened! Then, to make sure things were really good I went to the closet door, said another little prayer, and after opening it found it to be warm too! Before, as soon as you would open the door a burst of cold air would shoot out. You could feel the walls and they were very cold to the touch. No longer! I can't believe all it took was adding a vent and our problem is fixed!

I feel certain this will help our heating bill, since the furnace won't be fighting a losing battle of trying to warm that space anymore. But more importantly, this puts us one step closer to being able to start to expand our family! This room will either become Bailey's new big girl room or it will house Maxwell baby #2. Before, we knew we couldn't have either Bailey or a baby in that cold place, but now, it's suitable for either!!

Thank you, Stivers, for correcting an obvious flaw in your design. I wish it had been an easier process, but I am thankful that it was completed.

Chastity Belt

Chastity belt. Must get chastity belt.

This is what I was thinking when I saw my daughter putting on my boots last night.

Chastity belt. Where do you even find a chastity belt?

Maybe I'll just lock her in her room when she turns 13 instead.

Middle of the Night Conversations

One of my favorite things to do in the mornings is to listen to the monitor as Bailey talks to herself when she wakes up. Seriously, the kid never stops talking. At night when we lay her down, she's usually awake for at least 30 minutes, and sometimes it's an hour! before she finally stops talking and goes to sleep. And as soon as she wakes up in the morning her mouth starts going. She talks about all sorts of things. She talks to her Dora and Teddy that she sleeps with. Sometimes she even sings. It's very sweet. Well, it's usually sweet. Until it happens at 3:00 in the morning!

For whatever reason, my child decided to wake up at 3:00 this morning and started having a conversation with Dora and Teddy. Of course, my sound sleeping, log sawing snorer of a husband didn't hear this, well, until I woke him up. She seemed to be repeating everything conversation we had had with her last night to her bedtime companions.

"We'll have ice-cream, I want blue ice-cream, and hamburgers and fish, and...I don't know what else. We'll build castles and, and, and swim under the water!" This was the conversation we had about what we would do at the beach this summer.

"I'm sick and gots a boo-boo in my ear. The doctor had to look at my boo-boo and I gots a popsicle!" Telling them about her doctor's appointment from Monday...she has an ear infection :(

"What's my daddy's name? His name is Nick (really pronounced more like Nack). What's my mommy's name? Her name is Nicole ('Cole). What's my name? My name is Bailey Grace Maxwell. Your name is Teddy and your name is Dora."  I guess this was just to set everybody straight on who was who.

Nick had to end up going in there twice to tell her she needed to stop talking and go back to sleep. After the first time she told him, "But daddy, I needs to talk to Teddy and Dora."

At some point she finally went back to sleep and soon after, so did I. So yes, I love to hear Bailey talk to herself, but not so much at 3:00 in the morning!!

Would You Like Them Here of There?

I am Sam

I am Sam

Sam I am

That Sam-I-am!

That Sam-I-am!

I do not like

that Sam-I-am!

Do you like

green eggs and ham?

I do not like them,

Sam-I-am.

I do not like

green eggs and ham.

Green Eggs and Ham is currently one of Bailey's favorite books to read at bedtime. Every time we read this book, I always make sure to point out why it's so important to try new things because you never know when you might like something. While she is typically a good eater I want to continue to enforce the idea of always trying new things. Especially now because she is getting to the age where she will simply say, "I don't like it"  before she has even tasted it. Although, that phrase doesn't work. We have the one bite rule. She has to at least take one bite of something new if offered to her. If she doesn't like it after that one bite, then she can decide not to eat the rest.

One thing she never wants to eat at home is eggs. Apparently she eats them at my mom's with no complaints...although I'm pretty sure that's because my nephew eats them and she can't stand the thought of him having something that she's not! So, I thought maybe if we had our own version of green eggs and ham it would make her a little more interested in eating them at home.

She loved the process of making them. Whisking eggs is one of her favorite tasks to help with anyways, she loves to watch the yolks bust up! And adding the green food coloring? "That's crazy, mommy!"  We didn't have any ham (and I don't like ham), so we had bacon as the accompaniment to our green eggs. Hey, they're basically the same thing.

The verdict? Having green eggs didn't make her any more interested in eating them. Oh well, at least we had fun!

Close Call

Now, I'm no car expert in the least, but I'm pretty sure you should never wait until your car is this empty before you fill up!! I think I could actually hear my poor car gasping for fuel as I pulled into the gas station.

What kind I say, I like to live on the dangerous side. I'm a rebel. I'm always pushing the line.

Okay, okay. I really just hate getting gas and always put it off until the last minute.

One Happy Kiddo

 Tonight Bailey and I were just a couple of single ladies fending for ourselves. I had planned on making this fabulous new recipe I found the other night. Then I started fighting with the company that I mentioned in an earlier post and by the time that was over I just didn't have any energy left. I decided to call up a friend and her and her son met us for dinner. 

We went to Cracker Barrel and as we were waiting to be seated Bailey was in awe of all the candy surrounding her. It was so funny to watch as she just seemed to be drawn to each different piece of candy. Every one she walked by she decided she wanted. Since we're such sugar nazis, I decided to be a "cool mom" tonight. I told her as long as she was good and ate her dinner she could have some candy when we left.

As usual, she was really good while we ate and finished all of her dinner. When it came to leave she had not forgotten my promise. She rushed once again to the candy and poured over her options like a...well, like a kid in a candy store surrounded by confectionary delights. After playing with all the candy filled containers with battery operated toys attached, she wound up in front of the suckers.

Of course, if you've been to Cracker Barrel, you know their suckers are monsterous slabs of sugar. Not wanting to go back on my word though, I let her get one, with the disclaimer that she could only have a little bit of it tonight. She seemed ok with that, so we headed home so she could unwrap her treat.

My friend told me I was brave. I don't know. Crazy might be a better description. All I know is, Bailey was one happy kiddo!

I Love a Man

who isn't afraid of lighting up the grill in less than ideal weather!

That's my husband. He seems to have his own postmanesque creed.

Neither ran, nor snow, nor dark of night shall keep me from grillin' up some tasty food for my family.

Why he thought it would be a good idea to wear shorts while doing so...I don't have the answer to that one!

Not Me! Monday

Today, I decided I would devote this post to my darling husband. He does so many things on a daily basis that crack me up and this weekend was no different.

My husband did not decide to wear his snow goggles while driving Saturday morning because his sunglasses are broke.

He then did not call me from the car exclaiming he was brilliant and had figured out a way to talk on his cell phone hands free due to his rockin' goggles.

My husband did not willingly model these looks for me so I could share them with you.

Sorry folks, he's taken!

Head on over to MckMama's blog to see what everyone else was not up to this past week.