Dear Multi-Colored Gel Pen Maker...

I am willing to donate, or maybe even trash, every pen in my stash just for these pens:

Snagged this image from Google. 

Stay tuned to see if the gel pen fairy shows up at my desk overnight....

Is That the Sound of Angel's Singing?

I'm chillin' at home... while new cable and internet are installed at my house.  I scheduled them for the 12-4 time block so Ryan could take care of this.... because I need to work... they both called and said, "We're Here! Is that Ok?".... Sure party at my house. During work hours. Days before a major deadline. Who has the wine?

I'm reading magazines. Home alone. Checking e-mails. This alone is cause for angelic voices.

But then, what shows up in my inbox, but the most awesomest image ever, ever!

This image belongs to the Container Store, sent to my email as an add.  Does that cover the copyright stuff?

Remember last week's Friday Fill-in's? Where I had to list ways to annoy me? I can now prevent this from every happening again! Now... just to have excess funds to design such a fridge interior? {I AM an Interior Designer...}

530a? ..... Try 430a...

What do you mean, you ask? Bre had an early morning yesterday.... I can top that.... Somehow my sleepy frustration turns into humor... or perhaps we all just enjoy reveling in others pain....? Don't you worry, this is definitely worth the read. I thought I would do some work, perhaps fill in my time/billing sheets before Jeani finds out I'm 2 weeks behind.. NOPE. I think I'll blog.

My child had a GREAT day at Kellie's yesterday, he slept A LOT. Great for Kellie, bad for Mama.  When Ryan called yesterday afternoon and read me off the little note Kellie writes for me, I should have predicted what would follow....

For a self proclaimed sleep-aholic the following story is disgusting....

Let'd got back:
On the Way Home From Work....
Stop at grocery store. Buy more baby food, although Callen prefers his toes recently. Toe flavored pears? Buy greasy fried grease for dinner from the deli.  This definitely Stuck to My Ribs, but wasn't worthy of a true cook. We will revisit this later. Buy cute, small bundle of flowers, "to brighten my day".... HA! Drive home with thoughts of said toe eating baby, eating pears and smiling at Mama.

As I Walk in the Door....
Walk up the porch with grocery bags, work laptop, basket of finishes and drawings for Ft Polk job, purse, and bundle of flowers {I needed to do some work}. Toe eating baby, red in the face, screaming. Ryan, "What are those flowers for?" Day no longer 'brightened."

From the Door to the Kitchen...
Argument ensues over whether to attempt to feed with a spoon or shove a bottle. I want to go back to work. Argue while Callen is having a 'Milk Buddy'... I need not explain? Give up argument, agree its pointless and fueled by the screaming child.

The Evening...
Ryan eats greasy dinner, gratefully. I make Callen eat pears. I went to the store to buy them, dammit.  Wipe face. Burp. Clean Butt, {still no poops}. Swaddled {remember red faced screaming from earlier?}. Rock 'til droppy. Lay down. Apologize to one another for argument for no reason. Hug. Kiss. DVR. CSI Miami. Open up all the work stuff.  Wah... Waaah.... WAAAHHH! from the monitor. Sonofabitch. Ryan take care of irritating child. Rush to get work done. Email to furniture reps, who are also working at all hours.

Bed Time...
No funny business tonight. Sleep. Wait, what's that? Indigestion? Oh yeah... remember greasy, fried grease dinner? Awake 'til 945p {We go to bed at 830p... don't judge... Ryan goes to work at 3a.... and I, well, I have a baby}. Eat the last three rolaids. Wish there were 10 more. Ryan's talking in his sleep. Fall asleep, I guess, 'cause next thing I know. Cah... Cah... WAAAHHH! from the monitor. It's 1045p. WTF! Remember the great day at Kellie's? Child awake, no possibility of using the Pal trick. Milk Buddy. DVR. Kardashian's in New York. Back to bed for everyone.

Later...
3a. Ryan asks if Callen has woken up at all {he's immune to the sounds of the monitor, I guess}. I say, "Yes, I'm tired, Love you. Drive safe." In other words, "Why did you wake me up?" 345a. That damn monitor again! Stick in the Pal. Re-swaddle. His arms are out.... how, HOW? No luck. He's awake and ready for the day. I will be having a chat with Kellie about nap length today. Large Milk Buddy. DVR. Ruby on Style Network. Lay back down. It's 430a. I guess I'll just stay awake.

And Know the Fun Begins...
I guess I'll take a shower. First, I'll pluck my eye brows. Maybe look at the the weirdness childbirth has done to my womanly shape. I don't advise doing this. Shower. No mirrors. Remember this? What I didn't list were these soap scum eraser sponges. They are the real star of the show, I just didn't know it when I was posting that day. I have time, let's try these suckers out. Remember this? Well, brown water and white tile & grout don't mix. I could have made a commercial while I was in the shower! LOVE THEM! I should shower now. 515a. The lights go out. SONOFABITCH! I'm in the shower!! It hasn't rained her in ages. It IS now! Hey, I still have hot water. Lights come back on. Check on toe eater. Still sleeping. Thank Goodness. Use fancy products in wet hair. I have time. Use crusty heel cream on feet. I have time. Eat breakfast? NOPE. I think I'll blog.

Current Time:
630a. Blogging. Wishing I ate breakfast. Wondering if the child will wake up, just to spite me. Wait, what's that I hear coming from the monitor? Grunting... mute TV, local news is boring anyway. Yep, grunting... Poops!!! Yay!!  Good thing I took a shower, cause now I get to clean a butt that hasn't pooped in 5 days. He's quacking now. I better go clean his butt. That's what mom's do right? Then off to work, where I make things pretty. Is this my life? Good thing I'm in counseling now.

HAPPY TUESDAY FRIENDS!! <3

Poopin for Pears

There comes a time when your child jsut can't get enough to eat - if this falls outside pediatrician recommendations, oh well.

This week we started rice cereal by spoon, at the same consistency it would be in a bottle.

He also has a hard time pooping sometimes, so I decided to try some baby food pears.  He's still learning to eat from the spoon and gets a little frustrated from how slow the spoon is compared to the bottle, but he likes the pears!

Oh.. and he BLEW. UP. HIS. DIAPER.  Yea for poops!  Speaking of poops, there's a funny blog I've been reading... The Poop of Others.  There are so many other funny moms out there, it inspires me to work on getting my sense of humor back.

Check out Callen Poopin for Pears...

Friday Fill-In's

I'm following along with Bre - who snagged it from Chloe. Play along!

1. My most prized possession is my woobie - this is the quilt my mom made when I was a baby, nothing like it. 

2. If I could be one age for the rest of my life, I would want to be - honestly, I haven't hit an age I would want to be again yet. 

3. The best way to spend a weekend is I'm still adjusting to motherhood and working, anyone got any good ideas? I do enjoy a good long nap....

4. My outlook on life is "The will of God will not take you where the grace of God will not protect you."

5. If you want to annoy me, do any of the following:

• peanut butter in the jelly or jelly in the peanut butter, 
• crumbs in the butter, 
• dribble down the hand soap pump,
• gunk in the cap of any condiment {or toothpaste}
• put things out of place in my refrigerator

I am aware of the OCD implications of these...


6. I am completely defenseless when it comes to animals and cupcakes.

7. When dressing for the day one should put on a bra. I can't stand seeing someone out in public, very obviously without a bra of some kind. 

Ear Buds

I love my new ear buds....just sayin....

Why have I been so opposed to them all these years? Maybe because they remind me of an iPod and I am anti-apple.  {Bre, please don't friend divorce me over this}.

**UPDATE**
Breann did not friend divorce me, she sucker punched me with her evening out at my high school favorite restaurant.  I almost drove 7 hours to join them...

Soap Addiction = Germ Affliction?

It is well known around my office that if you want some germ-x, I've got it.  All kinds, all smells, all colors.  I also spray the phones and door handles with Lysol spray....  AND I wipe down all parts of the grocery cart that I may come in contact with.  Tiff and I were discussing how we are aware that we are addicted to soap.  I need to change smells for different seasons... hello!? And heaven forbid I ever run out of soap.  What else can I do when they smell so good and a certain smell good store puts them on sale so often?

Sometimes she asks certain boys in her life "What color was the soap in the bathroom" to check if they've washed....  {sorry I outed you Tiff} Why do boys resist washing {continue reading for more on this}.

I see nothing wrong with this soap addiction... Haven't you see those documentaries about what kind of germs are out there and how many surfaces have poo germs on them? {keep your toothbrushes in a drawer people!!}

If I weren't subject to further ridicule I would de-germ every surface at work... here's why....

We have a small office... Mine & Nick's area is strategically placed in the middle of everything.  Pretty much we are in a nook {or bump out} off the main hallway.  It used to be the sample library.  Mostly we are here because we are "the ones that don't belong" and we don't have a matching pair.  We are like Noah's Ark around here... I'm the only Interior Designer and Nick is the only Marketing person.  We also make the coffee...  but I bet thats because I get up at 4:30a because the spawn of my loin must feed, therefore I am the first to work every morning.

Back to the bathroom germ issue.  I can hear the activities of both the main bathrooms.  We don't have boys and girls... officially {I'll talk about that later}.  They are just single person water closets {as we professionals call them}.  I can hear the water flow...  I KNOW who washes hands and who DOES NOT.

Furthermore, there has been a monthly office wide game of paper toss.... where the central shooting and scoring location is Nick's trashcan.. i.e. Jessica's area.  In order to play, they must shoot at least 6x a day.  So 6x a day 3-6 of my coworkers stop by my area {touching my bookcase} after going to the bathroom, to make their shot. The losers take the winners to a lunch of their choosing. 

Yesterday I went to use the bathroom around the corner {usually designated the for the stinky boys}.  I realize that the soap dispenser was empty.  Not only was it empty, but it was dry and dusty.  I also know that the soap refill is in the middle bathroom {designated unisex for non-stinky business} and that no one remembers this, so they always ask me where it is.  No one has asked me where it is.

Here's my question:
Have they all been faking washing their hands? Then coming over to MY area with their poo germ hands?!?

{I'm pretty sure none of the boys from my office read my blog, so I am safe from their outrage of being foudn out}

Monday Morning Coffee Treat

I had another PPD breakdown this weekend.  I don't know what's wrong with me, I'm loosin' it I guess.
Don't worry I see my counselor this week...

I had a girl day Sunday with Tiff.  We went to Ulta, Target, and Kohl's.  It was either this or yet ANOTHER bottle of Wichita Blush...  You choose which vice it best?

I bought random things... but these are the most notable...

Sweater from Kohl's

Cheap cute shoes from Target

New headphones - Thank's Bre for the great idea...

A grout scrubber... like I have time for grout scrubbing....

Jumping Beans Monkey Plate from Kohl's

Jumping Beans Monkey Bowl from Kohl's

This was my BEST idea....

Starbucks Caramel Sauce... 

Callen's had a meltdown when I dropped him off at Kellie's this morning. I couldn't just walk away with him crying. so I stayed for 30 mins to rock, swing, hug, love him to quietness.  What worked in the end you asked? The big mirror over her sofa... he saw himself (or some other crying baby in his mama's arms) and shut right up... Whoda thunk it..

Monday morning just got better with a little bit {a lotta bit}of caramel...

Decisions.... Decisions

I keep trying on new blog outfits....  This one fits well... I'm going to wear it for a while before I decide if I need to return it...

Happy Saturday! The weather here is muy fabuloso...

We've done our bi-monthly grocery trip...I might go to Ulta later for a girly fix...

Ryan's playing Red Dead Redemption {hate video games},
Callen is napping,
and I'm... well... computerin'

I Need More Followers...

I'm starting to feel poorly about myself and my blog...

Who wouldn't want to follow this?

Go ahead, you know you want to... just click the button...
Tell your friends...

There's a Point in the Day When You Realize You Will Get Nothing Else Done at Work...

This was it for me...  I CANNOT WAIT until Callen can laugh....
BONUS - Allergy season.... We blow our noses a lot...
BTW - I know this kid looks like Charlie Brown also, but it's not my Callen Jax

My Pipes Are What?!?

My pipes are completely rotted through under my kitchen and my laundry room....

this has nothing to do with "Bryan's" water jug accident, this has to do with old house syndrome.... there aren't any pills to take for this syndrome.... the only option is to operate on each break as it occurs....

YAY!

Excuse the Mess While I Remodel...

Making changes around here...  I am a slow Interior Designer.  I like to move things, look at it, move it again, look at it more....

Keep an eye out for my new fabulousness....

Water, Water Everywhere....

As if I weren't having enough water problems....

Somehow...... Someone {who remains namless, but who's name sounds like.... Bryan)

Poured a glass of water from our water machine, went outside to work out and didn't flip the switch back...

AND

Emptied an entire 5 gal water jug into my kitchen....

{It needed a good mopping anyway, right?}

Thank you google for this image...  don't know who this kid is.

Still Waiting on the Plumber...

This is what I sent them...

After some dishwashing and a load of laundry....

After a second load of laundry.
AND
 I forgot I was monitoring the leak, so this was quite some time after....

Don't judge my rusty 'ole insinkerator....
OR
My particle board interior.

I have a tentative appointment for tomorrow.  I'm thinking it will take all day.  Brit says perhaps they will get a hotel and stay the night.  Old house... Old Plumbing.... Years of substandard repairs before we bought it... This could take a while.

OH.... AND....

My yahoo email account has been "disabled or discontinued," not by my doing.... My issue has been "escalated to the engineering department."  In my world that means there is some kind of structural or mechanical issue... Maybe my email account has an old foundation like my house....or maybe the systems are corrupt or insufficient for the size, like my house...

Maybe I need to forward my house to the engineering department...??

Plumbers go High Tech...

Got a call from the plumber..  they want me to email some pictures of the mess so that they can get prepared before they make this drive...

That's about 2 hours.

Why my home warranty company doesn't have a plumber closer to my area, I will never understand.  They've been to my house a few times now, I bet I'm in their GPS {they're high tech now, remember}.

When they receive my pictures, they will review with the technician and on Monday and have him call me for an appointment.  Again, I hope things don't fall apart this weekend, especially since Jane is going to be here... and Callen's living conditions must be safe.....

Coffee & Cupcakes

That's going to be the name of my new blog one day....  if any of you steal it... I will find you, will be blended, rimmed with salt and had for happy hour...

To the point, I am having Coffee and Cupcakes - Green Velvet to be exact (thanks to almost over due, preggo Nichole).

Great day yesterday, huh?  Callen was up all night... not screaming or crying, just AWAKE....
The only bonus to this?
Everytime I went into his room he smiled and silently giggled {he doesn't get a whole lot of sound out yet}
Not so bonus to last nite?
We are having some craptastic {this is my word for the day} allergy crap in Wichita Falls this week... so I drugged up last night, thinking that it would be alright.... since he sleeps a lot at night.... Just Kidding Mama...

Another NOT SO BONUS...
I intended on some crazy cleaning this afternoon while he was at Kellie's... since the in-law family is headed up here Sat morning.. maybe even a grocery shopping trip... also need to head out to the base to Aunti Brit's to salvage some furniture before she heads to her new home.... BUT I REALLY WANT TO SLEEP ALL AFTERNOON AND ALL NITE.....

Hence... the caffeine and sugar for breakfast...

Happy Friday! {said with a grumpy face}

Oh... and did I mention....

I have a leak in my kitchen... under the sink, coming from the garbage disposal.. probably a big 'ole rusty hole somewhere...

AND

"Water present on the exterior of the home."  That's the pull down option on the website for my Home Warranty.

WHO... BTW....

Sends a technician from a town far away to fix things at my house... subsequently, it takes forever for them to schedule me in... cause it takes their whole day....

I hope my kitchen floor and the foundation outside don't melt away from water damage over the weekend.

Today's Report Card

I don't have a fancy report card like Breann gets from her daycare, although I'm thinking about making one so Miss Kellie can fill it out for me {she gives me little post-it notes}.

BUT

Callen's report card for today was great!! He didn't cry or fuss all day {can you believe it?!}.  He took two 2-hour naps. He ate a normal amount of food {he's been eating SO much there since he started, maybe he's stress eating}.

AND

He didn't have a meltdown when Ryan got him home!

There is hope for the future!!!

Contractions

While I was pregnant and trying to get pregnant, I asked lots of people what contractions were like.  Rene {my fabulouso nurse} would also ask if I was having pains that were like my menstrual cramps or worse. People say, they are like menstrual cramps at first, then like 10x worse.  Tiffany's mom even told me that if I survived having my wisdom teeth out, I could have a kid.

So, flash back three months.  I was having contraction the night before we went to the hospital for induction.  They did kinda feel like cramps - the kind that make you {me} all whiny, bitchy, and grumpy.  They kept me awake all that night.  Come Tuesday, when my water broke, there were no words to describe the "10x" worse contractions.  I don't even think there is a multiplier that equates to "i think my insides are trying to die."

Flashback forward to postpartum.  I know understand the "contractions feel like cramps" comparison, because in a way, this is correct.  The first "warning" contractions do feel like that, now that I look back.

Why am I discussing this you ask?

Well.. now... every time I have cramps I get these anxiety attack flashbacks to labor.  You all know that I spoke of how quick and easy it was.  But i'm not denying the fact that I thought my body was dying while I lay there in the labor and delivery wing... it's just that my epidural came quick.

Week 2: I {heart} My Bed

Week one went by fairly well.  I was all hopped up on coffee for most of it, but I made it to Friday.  I was all full of energy Friday afternoon.. Ryan and I went to lunch and ran some errands while Callen was spending the afternoon with Miss Kellie.  We decided that Friday afternoons would be our date days. Well Friday evening came.. and I was a tired, grumpy mess.

We met with two potential in home babysitters for date nights and Mama's work trips.  One Kaitlin, One Liz.  We like them both - they are in college here - so given schedules - we'll probably use them both.  {Just in case you girls happen to catch this, we aren't cheating on you, we like flexibility for everyone.} They have more experience with babies than Ryan and I, so I wished I had found/contacted them while I was REALLY having a hard time...  totally would have been worth the price.

So.... I {heart} my bed....  Love me some sleep... Miss my sleep.  When I get in, and the sheets are all cold, and my blanket is all cozy, and my pillow mountains are surrounding me - I am in bliss.  Then sounds come from the baby monitor and I want to scream/cry {which ever suits me at the time}.

This morning Callen and I were ready  for work WAY too early, so I took a nap a 7 am... fabulous.

Day 2 - Round Two

Daddy and Callen just came by to see me at work. Gotta love a small-ish town and a 2 min commute between my work and home

Luv my boys!

Day 2

Ok, yesterday went well.  I got out the door on time, fully dressed...

It was nice to be at my desk again, talking to adults, hanging out with the girls.  Although, as I am coming in Nichole is headed out. She's 38 weeks preggo this week... time for her to go home an incubate.  Brittani is also leaving, in like 3 weeks... her hubby got his orders and they are off to New Mexico.  Just me and Tiff left... oh and Nicholas...

Kellie said that Callen was a good boy with her.  Then he turned into a fussy baby when Daddy picked him up.  When I got home I wanted him to run and say Mama!!!  A little to early for that I guess.

This morning didn't go as smoothly.  We've never had a routine, and now it's time to have one, so we are working it out together.  I am fully dressed though..

Breann starts work today.... thinking about her.  Check in with her HERE.