Thursday, March 24, 2011

Happy Bean

So we found out today that Annabelle will have to wear a DOC Band for the next few months.  Our pediatrician warned us this would likely be happening, and it's a simple process aimed to improve the cosmetic shape of her head. It doesn't mean we did anything wrong, nor does it mean there's anything wrong with her.  We just need to round out her noggin.  Still, to be completely honest, I don't like it.  I'm trying to stay positive and keep an "eh, whatev" sort of attitude, but I don't like that my baby needs some sort of....device to help her develop properly.  She's perfect, dammit.  And I know, considering the issues we *could* be dealing with, this is so minor and unimportant.  I'll get over it.  I promise.

To help myself look on the bright side today, I created a little layout.  I took the day off for her appointment, and to meet with a social worker to help find a care home for my mom (which was hugely successful!), so I had a little time this afternoon while Annie B. napped to play in the craft room.  Celebrating how perfect our baby girl truly is.

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Friday, March 18, 2011

Rude much?

We have these flaky friends/neighbors.  They are the nicest people, and we usually enjoy spending time with them, but they make odd decisions and aren't the best planners.  Anyway, long story as short as possible... they asked me, repeatedly, to set up one of their friends with one of my friends.  Truthfully, I don't know the girl I invited very well, but I know she's a single mom, he's a single dad, they're both cute so why not?  I awkwardly invited this girl I semi-know to haul her cookies across town for a big group playdate; we'd all bring our kids and meet at a neighborhood park and just spend some time together.  Surprisingly, she said yes. It was meant to be casual, easy, fun.

Well after an hour of playing, my neighbors suddenly announce they have to go.  They have invited people over for dinner and those guests are one their way.  Say what?  Invited people for dinner?? You pestered me to organize this get together a week ago and you're bailing after an HOUR?!  Not to mention, they never even told their male friend that he was being set up, so he was shy and socially awkward and did nothing to get to know my friend!! AND I stayed an extra hour at the park keeping this poor girl company trying to at least make sure her children had a good time, then had to walk the almost-a-mile home alone with my baby in a stroller at dusk.  Really crappy, really rude.

I was embarrassed and angry clear up til bedtime, so after my turn with the 2:00am feeding, I retreated into my craft room and made this.  It's a little art/idea journal where I can jot and sketch all the crazy ideas that pop into my head while I'm not sleeping because I'm fuming over the crummy things people do.  Knowing me, I'll still be upset today because I'll spend it awaiting an apology.  So rude.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Love You

So I'm in the midst of my Spring Break, a full week and just Mama and the Bean together.  We're trying to accomplish a little something each day - like business phone calls, taxes, cleaning silk plants, killing weeds, etc.  But I'm also taking advantage of naptimes and late nights to scrap my face off, and I'm loving it!  Last night, after my sweet family went to bed, I made this project.  I tell ya what, I could TOTALLY get used to this stay at home mom thing.... except that a paycheck wouldn't magically appear in my bank account every other Friday.  Damn. Foiled again.

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Blog Make-over

As much as I love love love the internet, my techno-blogger skills are sooooooo minimal.  Basically, I know how to log in, type, and post.  I am completely intimidated by the formatting and design, and forget about that "edit html" tab.  So, I just spend my time oogling other blogs and thinking, "How'd they do that??"  For example, my blog header.  It was just some borrowed art from a free blog design website that I somehow managed to make fit and put a title on. It was never really what I wanted. 

Then today I found this post on A Foothill Home Campanion.  Her simple directions were so easy to follow, written in layman's terms, and, while I did have to click the dreaded "edit html" button, I didn't really have to edit a dang thing.  Just scroll down and check a number. Easy peasy.  And now my blog header looks like ^that^!  It's just want I wanted.  Thanks Molly!

Sunday, March 6, 2011

We were warned

When Shannon became pregnant, my best friend Rose and I spent a lot of time talking about this journey that is parenthood.  She has raised two wonderful children who had to endure some really awful, unfair things early in their life because of their father. She warned me that, while I adore my brother's children completely who have also endured some awful, unfair crap early in their lives because of their miserable excuse for a mother, when I have my own child, "love" won't even be enough of a word to encompass the range of emotion I would feel for her.  I argued, but Rose insisted.  Trust me, she said.  You'll see.

And here we are, Annabelle is nine and a half weeks old, and I am so overwhelmed by the depth of what I feel for her.  It's love, and more.  It is possessive, protective adoration.  It is soft, sweet need.  It is awesome wonder and patient tenderness. It is spontaneous bouts of weeping because there isn't room inside of me to contain it all. It is so, so much.  What was life before our sweet girl?

I created this today, using Studio Calico's Sunday Sketch and lots of their new product.  I just can't stop showcasing our Annabelle.



Saturday, March 5, 2011

I Became a Mama

Our girl just passed the 2 month mark, and I fall more in love with her everyday.  If that's even possible, because I already love her with everything in me. So, so grateful for the day she joined our family.

All patterned paper is October Afternoon, all cardstock Bazzill. Stickers OA  & Sass. Bird stamps from Studio Calico.