Music Monday

Good Morning, Monday Soldiers! Another Monday at hand and what have you got to say about it? Well, I made banana pancakes and looked at my dirty dishes. How's that for accomplished?

Sophia and I listen to music every morning before we have breakfast. It's a nice little routine that gets us awake and ready for the day. We listen to Sirius Top 40 Hits, because it's mostly pop and she likes to dance to it.


We were listening to the radio this morning and they said that in Miley Cyrus' new song "Party in the USA" she says "And the Jay-Z song was on". Apparently, she stated that she has never even heard a Jay-Z song and that she didn't write it but needed a fresh pop song to go with her clothing line. I was kind of shocked at first, but then quickly realized I didn't care. Ha.

Call me sell out, not hard core, but truthfully, I don't care where they get their lyrics from; if they write them or not. If someone else wrote their song then good for them, they probably can't sing so that's why they write instead. Everybody has to get paid. If a song has a good beat and great lyrics then I'm sold. I say good for her to know a good song when she sees it and kudos to the writer.

Now, if you did write your own song then I know it's coming from your heart and it does mean a lot more especially if I can apply it to my life. I'm not, though, going to write someone off and diss them if they didn't write their own music.

Needless to say I can't get that song out of my head.

Game Day Sunday!

Here it is again, folks, Game day Sunday has arrived! My Steelers had a nice bye week last week and hopefully are ready for their game with the Broncos tomorrow night. The Broncos are ahead by one game, so they need to buckle down and keep their minds in the game and their feet grounded.

The Broncos are coming in off from a severe loss of 7-30 from the Baltimore Ravens last week. Although, they are still in first place in the AFC West, I can't wait to see the game tomorrow.

News in the Steelers world is that the famous Hall of Famer and four-time Super Bowl Champion "Mean Joe" Greene is going to receive the Clio Award for his famous Coke commercial. Remember the one where he tosses his jersey to the little boy? The original commercial aired 30 years ago! The ceremony will be held before the game on November 15 where the Steelers go against the Bengals.



The Steelers are currently in second place below the Bengals in the AFC North. The Bengals have more touchdowns, but the Steelers are riding in on a 4 straight winning streak. Can't wait to see that game next week!

For now though, I will have to sit through a boring game of the Dolphins vs. The Patriots. It will be fun though to antagonize my father in law of his love of the Patriots the whole time. I am somewhat looking forward to catching the Bolts and the Giants since I'm sure the Saints are going to cream the Panthers.

Week 1 Day 1

This morning I was going to wake up at six am go for a run, take a shower and then wake the baby up at seven. Well, I heard the alarm go off and went back to sleep. I woke up when the baby did.I think I kept putting off my first run all morning, loading up my time with other things that had to be accomplished. Going to the grocery store, dishes, cleaning et cetera.

Finally I decided to buckle down and just got my butt outside. I stretched a bit and set my iPod up to start the first PodRunner for C25K.

I started walking down the driveway and up the road to the right and was thinking that I would never make it back in one piece, let alone breathing. When I got to the top of the hill, though everything just looked amazing. All of the fall leaves are of brilliant colors and the sun was shining. The wind was blowing the leaves in little tornadoes all across the road. It was wonderful.

Then it hit me, the notification sound when off on the song to let me know it was time to start running. I couldn't feel my legs, I prayed to God for it to be over so I could catch my breath. My chest was burning like I was chugging a hot drink and it felt like cement was forming around my calves. Then the sweet sound of relief came with the cue for me to walk again.

At one point when I was supposed to be jogging, I broke out it a full run. I was on the flat part of the road and no houses could see me. I was just so in love with the world at that moment. I thought "I could do this, I could be a runner". I just felt free. No one to judge me for what I look like. Just me, by myself, loving life and enjoying the world.

It continued like this for the better half of an hour. I made it back to the base of the driveway when the bell went off again for the finally run. I chickened out and decided to carry the three huge garbage bins up the hill instead of running. I could have done it, I know I could have. I am somewhat disappointed because I tried to tell myself I was still working out even though I skipped the last run.I'll just have to remember that feeling come Wednesday when I start out again.

It was actually easy, once it was over. I made it out alive. I didn't die from running. And to me, that is profound.

Well, I got to make it official, I suppose, to hold myself accountable. I am starting the Couch to 5k program on Monday, October 12, 2009. It is a nine week program designed to get you in shape for a 5k which is a little over 3 miles.

I am scared and excited. I want to get into shape real bad. I've never really started anything and stuck with it for very long. But I really want this. I want this for myself and for my family.

Ernie is going to do it with me, but because of school and Sophia we have to do it on separate days. The program says to run 3 days a week with one day in between. We are going to alternate days in the week and then on Saturday we will run together. I think it's a great idea. Gives us something to do alone and together.

Wish me luck!

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Update!

I won!! Yes, I won something! I am so excited. I chose the pink and yellow Ooga Booga print pocket diaper. I am so thrilled!

Check out Mich's shop here and this is the print I got.

My Tiny Love

My daughter brings so much joy into my life on a daily basis.

When I went to get her this morning from her crib she grabbed her bunny and her lamb, shut off her rain forest soother and held her arms out wide for me! When I picked her up I gave her a big kiss that she didn't flinch from. And then, on the way to the living room, she gave me a kiss! This is a rare thing, so I relished in it. I tried to get another kiss from her, but I was approached by her turning her head and pushing away from me to get down. It was worth it.

She talked with Sassy Auntie Caroline on the internet today. She wanted to understand why I was wearing headphones so I let her try them on. She listened intently to what Caroline was saying and she waved to her! She didn't want to get off and was very mad when I took it away.



Then this afternoon as Ernie was mowing the lawn, I decided that we needed some fresh air too. So, I got some bug spray on us and we went down to the garden. I looked around for some fresh veggies to pluck while Sophie crawled around. I usually don't let her crawl around in the grass/dirt for fear she will eat dirt or something containing protein and 6 legs.

Low and behold I turn my head and see her spitting out dirt. All I could do was laugh because it was so funny and cute to see ehr discover something new. Even though it was unpleasant for her (and me) she moved onto discovering more weeds and clumps of dirt.

And even though she gets mad at me for keeping her out of the garbage, taking away the pizza sauce packet she found in the cupboard, and not letting her hold the phone the whole time I'm on it, I wouldn't change her for the world. Every little precious thing she does, no matter how tiny, makes my heart melt.

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Outside Life

Today, Ernie took apart an old desk and made a sewing table for me. Yay! I will finally be able to make something without worrying that the card table will collapse at any moment.

It's so nice out today! Soap and I walked around the yard until my lower back started to crumble. Then Ernie set up her new swing and I pushed her in that while she ate her lunch. What a life she leads.



I picked some green beans, lettuce, broccoli sprouts, and tomatoes from our garden. Our tomatoes are finally turning red! And they are so yummy! I'm so excited to be finally getting something besides beans. Some beetles have been eating our stuff so about a quarter of our stuff is almost gone. I try to kill them every time I see them now.

Soap has been taking a few steps here and there. I've been trying to get it on tape. But no luck as of yet. She is so adorable when she tries. She will laugh and squeal. I love it!

After I was done in the garden Ernie yelled to me and said that he found the hugest caterpillar in existence. It is so big! We decided it was a Lunar Moth larva. Sounds nasty but they are actually cool looking. They are so fat, and have pink dots on them. =]

We've been trying to get Sophia to fall asleep in her crib alone. And ever since we started we've had sleepless nights. We've tried the Crying it out thing. Doesn't work for my kid. The pick up put down method has the same result. The both end in tears from both of us. About three hours of straight crying until exhaustion pulls us both down into a night full of tossing and turning.

So, now we've gone back to letting her fall asleep in my arms and transferring her to her crib. We started that back up last night and she didn't wake up until morning! She got a full ten hours of sleep. But I didn't trust that she would stay asleep so I didn't go to bed until midnight.

For the first time ever I cut up and boiled a whole chicken. It was nasty and more disgusting than I thought it ever would be. I decided to do it to save money. I might do it again. I'm not really sure I ever want to see all that fat, skin, blood, bones and miscellaneous parts though. If I wasn't so grossed out by chicken germs being everywhere it might become routine. I'm so afraid I will touch something and forget to wipe it down and infect my family with salmonella poisoning.

Ernie got me a webcam for Easter. I've been wanting one so my Mom can see Sophia. She gets really sad thinking about her growing up and not being able to be here to see it. Considering everything my Mom has on her shoulders currently, I wanted to lighten her spirits. Plus all my online friends and Sassy sisters will be able to see my little chunker! Add me on MSN. I'm on all the time.

We're trying to get Sophia to be more mobile. When she is on her tummy she can roll onto her back, move around in circles, and slide backwards. Although, I'm sure the later is not on purpose.

My friend from high school that I haven't talked to in ages just had her baby girl. We are going to meet up, hopefully, on Wednesday. I can't wait to see her and her little bundle!

I've been trying really hard to eat well and exercise everyday. I have the treadmill in the living room now so I have no excuse not to use it. Sophia has been coming with my on my walks. She likes to fall asleep as I am sweating my ass off trying to climb up all the hills. It's really fun actually. I wish I had a work out buddy.

Now I am not so patiently waiting for my husband to get home. I miss him and can't wait to snuggle him and talk about our day. Plus piggy has had only one real nap today, so I won't mind the break he will bring.

I will leave you with new pics of my love:

Week in Review

Alright, I know I'm behind a week, but better late than never right?

This past week has pretty much been a blur. We, as a family, left the house once to get groceries. Sophia had a real bad cold that she is finally getting over and I didn't want to submit her to the harsh winter weather more than necessary. So, needless to say, I have been dealing with cabin fever.

I finished reading Janet Evanovich's "Plum Lucky" and "Visions of Sugar Plums". I love all of her Stephanie Plum novels. I haven't read the last few "numbered" books and the latest in between the numbers, "Plum Spooky". I am waiting for the latter to come to paper back. But, anyway, they are pretty cool.

The main character is a Jersey native half way decent Bounty Hunter, by the name of Stephanie Plum. She is accompanied by a reformed 'ho named Lula who adds serious comedy. I really recommend reading any of the novels. The in between the numbers books are about a 3 hour read. Amidst the main character trying to shoot a taser gun and eating donuts, these books are a great escape.

I also started reading the second book in the Twilight series "New Moon". I am only 12 pages in. We'll see how this goes. The first book was good but a slow starter in the beginning.

My mom surprised us with NFL jersey's this week! We both love football. I was so excited. She sent me an AFC championship LS t-shirt of the Steeler's and a Troy Polamalu #43 home team jersey. And she gave Ernie a Buffalo Bills Trent Edwards jersey. I wore both of my shirts for Super Bowl! I figured I would give the Steeler's as much "good luck" as they could handle.




Sophia's second tooth started to emerge on the 31st!! It is her lower right central incisor. She already has her lower left one. And because it is painful she has been quite fussy, but has been taking better naps. So I think it's a good trade off! We've had her chewing on a wet baby wash cloth and that seems to make her happy. Anything for my little piglet.

She has also been sort of enjoying her rice cereal experience. Some days she can't get enough and others she wants nothing to do with it. But we keep trying a little bit everyday. Oh and she also has started noticing the cats and has made a friend in Mr. Bo Jangles.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

She's finally down. Hold on a minute, let me take a deep breath. I swear my sweet angel baby girl drives me nuts sometimes. She is so inconsistent with her sleep patterns. As soon as we get into a routine she changes it. I think she thinks it's hilarious.

She was on the boob from about 2 hours until she went to bed at 10pm. I think she may be going through a growth spurt. I hope bedtime will get easier as we introduce solids next month. When I'm feeding her at night I feel like I am being held down and can't move. I love her, obviously, but having to sit down for that long drives me nuts. I feel a slight panic attack coming on sometimes.

On the other hand, I am not ready to have her on cereal. I mean I can't wait to see her with the food all over her face. And all the weird little expressions she will make when she's trying new things out. But it's a huge step into not being my infant anymore. And I'm just not comfortable enough with that. Before I know it, she will be leaving for college and never looking back.

I guess for now I will soak in as much of her as possible and be severely thankful to have her in my life. And that I get to see her grow into a smart, strong and self knowing woman.

Just thinking about her makes me want to pick her up out of bed and snuggle her. I must be nuts to put myself through trying to get her back to sleep again tonight!