Yeah, that's right, I went tanning.

And it felt amazing (well except that I spent the whole time praying to the skin cancer gods hoping they were not noticing what I was doing).

I felt like I was 20 again

First because I was fake baking all sorts of college-me like and secondly because of the ahhmazing way my face looked in the mirror above me. I mean, can I get a hell yeah to gravity actually working with me rather than against me?!

Then I got to thinking about that 20 something college girl. Oh my god. The work I put in...to look  like anything but myself.

There was the fake tanning, followed by the fake bronzer. Add in the blonde blonde so not natural hair and the fake nails. And I actually worked out...for like longer than 20 minutes at a time. Oh my. I'm tired just thinking about it. How did I even have time to get to class?

Yes, 30 does have its disadvantages, like my skin that I swear ages a bit more every night no matter how many layers of Philosophy hope this and hope that I slather on. But as cliche as it sounds, I'll gladly take those little wrinkles if they come with everything else I have.

And...when you're thirty you still get to act like you're 20 sometimes...like when you order totally not age appropriate shoes and giggle like a little kid when they arrive in their purdy green Piperlime box and then you prance around your office showing them to anyone that walks by.

Ah, shoes. The real fountain of youth.

Ah, the good ol' days

....like when I used to blog all the time. Man, I fell off that wagon hard, eh.

Once you fall it's hard to get back on.

Like, I really have nothing to blog about.

There was a trip to Bottineau, a trip to Red Pepper, and the little Miss having a grand old time with Grandma (as in Grandma had to wake her 3.5 hours into her nap), followed by another grand time with Matt and Alicia (where she didn't make it to 7pm before she crashed).

I don't think she even missed us. I sure missed her though. It's ridiculous actually. I just like to see her face and watch the funny things she does and listen to the weird new fake laugh she's created that is a little reminiscent of the devil.

And now, I pack.

Any suggestions, hints, the what I need, the what I don't need...let me have it!

Life.

On the way out of the house this morning, on one of those hustling bustling can't get to work on time to save my soul kind of mornings, I grabbed these photos and shoved them in my purse.

You see, Great Grandpa Howard was in the hospital this weekend but set to go home today and I thought some photos of the great grand kids would brighten his day.

Before I was able to put the card in the mail, Andy's grandpa passed away.

It was quite a shock and just another all too sad reminder of how short life is. Yes, Howard has lived a great, long life, but the end still came too quickly.

Say I love you now. Give extra hugs and kisses now. Because truly...you have today. That's the only guarantee.

energizer bunny

So is this climbing on everything in sight thing just a phase or will this be going on for a while?

In about 15 seconds the other night, Emmie went from sitting and playing nicely by one toy to using that toy to get on top of another toy. Omigod. Andy and I were both just sitting there watching her and you could see the exact moment that the light bulb went off in her head and the idea came to mind. And 15 seconds later, she was standing on top of the toy and mom and dad were crying in laughter.

We let her make the big climb a few more times, you know, to photograph the ordeal and then moved the toys.

But the concept was obviously well ingrained. Fast forward to the following day when she was in her room for one minute alone. By the time I got there she had tipped over her suitcase and used it to climb up onto her end table and I walked in to see her standing on the table pounding on her wall.

Oh man.

Everything's better...

in a bikini (well, when you're in a size three diaper anyways).

You see, we leave for Florida in less than a month and I have no idea how to pack for a week long trip with a wee one. I can barely pack for myself people, let alone swimwear, sleepwear, loungewear, toys, food and diapers times a million for Emmie.

Anywho...

Emmie was trying on her swimwear this morning to see what still fits, if the new suits fit etc. And omigod, if there is anything funnier than a baby belly in a bikini, I dare you to find it.

And apparently the little Miss found herself quite hilarious with this golf ball in hand....and out of hand...and repeat a million times...and laugh at oneself hysterically.

And why is there a laundry basket full of dirty clothes in the background of every video I have of this kid? I mean clean clothes, yeah, those are totally clean clothes that I was in the process of folding neatly and putting away in a timely fashion.

It still tastes like Christmas in my mouth.

Mmm...Russian Tea...ever had it? Seriously, it tastes like Christmas in your mouth and smells like heaven. There's just something about winter and a little Russian Tea to make you extra warm and cuddly on the inside....I mean if the record breaking high temps weren't doin' it for ya already that is.

1 lg jar Tang
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup lemon drink mix
1/2 cup instant tea (unsweetened)
1 tsp ground cloves

Mix it all together...add it to boiling water and enjoy. It makes a ton and I had nothing to put it in....so I improvised with a Puffs container.

follow up.

More often than not I will get your advice on random little things, which is so appreciated by the way...but then I never tell you how it turned out. That's not very nice of me. Here we go:

1. The vomies.

Not a single session of vomies since the tubes were put in. Who knew those little ears now fixed by those teeny tiny tubes were the root of all evil just a month ago? We're back to laying her down in her crib at night with paci and blanky in hand and it's lights out until we hear a thud in the morning...that thud is her seahorse hitting the floor after being launched from the crib...as in hey, come get me, I'm awake. And that thud, on a sleepinable morning this past weekend, was heard at 7:55am. Omigod! Almost 8am. Divine.

2. The bottle.

We are bottle free in the casa de Fellows. And it was...so easy! Like maybe a week long transition, and that was it. So weird! I honestly don't even know how it happened, it just did.

3. The new room.

Transitioning to the new room is going a bit better. There isn't too much crying in the morning and she's eating breakfast with the big kids. She is still hanging on to her blanky like it's her lifeline and I'm pretty sure she has her paci in all day while at school. (I think we'll give her another week and then try to cut that out. At home, it's naps and bedtime only....and we'll cut that out in February...not a chance we're letting that kid on a plane without a pacifier!) Oh, but the coolest thing about the new room? She naps for over two hours. Apparently she hops on her little cot, closes her eyes and sleeps until the lights come back on (one half hour nap a DAY was her norm in the infant room.)

Oh but I do have a question, on her little take home report card on Tuesday they said we should participate in their current theme week: winter wear. What the hell is that?? Like Uggs and puffy vests everyday or is this more pageanty like sequin snowflake onesies kind of stuff? I'm so clueless!

4. Her toofers.

Have we talked about her teeth? Or more importantly her frenulum? Whateverthehell that is. Okay, I know what it is after the pediatrician pointed it out and said it was okay (but not okay in the yes, it's normal kind of voice but more so in the yeah...that's okaaay for noooow kind of voice).  It's the little piece of skin above her front teeth that is not so much a big deal right now, but can potentially lead to speech impediments and a gap between her front teeth. Anywho...no worries now, she smashed her face on her favorite new toy (wicker box) and broke that bad boy last night. Ohmagaawd. There was so much blood. And not to make it about me, but I was wearing a white sweatshirt. Anyways, "they" say that if it's bad enough that frenulum needs to be clipped but sometimes the kid will break it on their own...so I guess, good job Emmie?

Um yeah, that's about all for now. I will be seeking advice on cutting the paci in the coming weeks. I'm pretty sure that will suck more than anything has sucked before, pun intended.

oh hello 2012

Hello there New Year. So nice to see you. I'm not going to lie, 2011 will be missed, but 2012 I can't wait to see what's in store. You've got some big shoes to fill.

There were engagements and weddings and pregnancies and babies, some heartbreak and sadness and a first birthday for the most amazing little person I know.  And 2012, I suspect there will be more of the same.

That engagement will turn into a marriage, that pregnancy will turn into a sweet baby, that new baby will turn into a smiling, laughing little girl, that heartbreak will turn into a long awaited pregnancy and that one year old will get even older this year and continue to amaze me with every little thing she does.

So yeah 2012, I hear this is the last year...so let's make it a good one eh.