Cause I Wanna Hold My Blog In The Palm Of My Hand

Ever looked at your blog and thought,

"Gee, this is so amazing? I wish I could publish it into book form?"

Well, now you can! Ha!

I was so excited to find this software available online

--Go here and check it out--

it transforms your blog into a scrapbook/hard copy. I can't wait to try it!

Awkward Moments Define My Life: College & Love Edition

Have you ever desperately tried to impress someone and you end up leaving the opposite impression?

It happens to me all the time {but then I might be the only one}.

Back in my college days of yore, while I was dating my Mr. Wonderful, I vividly remember trying to impress his cool and newly married friends, *The B's*

Now, if you knew me back then I was a little more...um, abrasive, sarcastic, uncouth--you know, honest, direct--but in the scary way.

I so desperately wanted to fit in with his married friends and make a good impression on them (especially since our relationship was so new)

that I tried my best to be sweet and kind and good and funny--

unfortunately I wasn't all that great at doing that!

One night, the B's so graciously made us dinner and I engaged Mrs. B in small talk about food and what not and learned that she was making strawberry short cake for dinner--

I love strawberry shortcake and decided to share a "funny" story with her about something I'd experienced over Thanksgiving break---

"Yeah, so I was like totally at my Aunt's house and she was making whipped cream, like you are, and she did THE MOST DISGUSTING THING I HAVE EVER SEEN SOMEONE DO TO WHIPPED CREAM!!!"

Mrs. B sweetly asked, "Well, what was that?"

"WELL, she put powdered sugar instead of granulated sugar in the whipped cream and it was DISGUSTING! Have you ever heard of anything so ridiculous as powdered sugar in whipped cream!??!"

Mrs. B replied, "Why, yes--I just put some in mine."

Oy. I wanted to run right out the door and head for the hills--instead I tried to nonchalantly play it off as if I were joking.

Too bad I wasn't any good or convincing as a nonchalant "i take it all back and then some" joker.

Somehow she forgave me and we ended up as friends

-but I'll never forget the effects of trying too hard to entertain a new friend--

it just gets you into trouble.

And I'll never judge a whipped cream again.

Scouts honor.

Another Reason Why Obama (and abortionists) DISGUST Me

Click Here

What's the deal?

Do they sit around at night thinking up new and horrific ways to end a baby's (read: not a lump of tissue) life?

Awkward Moments Define My Life: Peg Leg

Ah--Picture this--mid 90s and wayyy too late for it to still be cool--

Little Shelly, 5 feet tall with short permed, teased, dyed hair, coke bottle glasses, shiny metal braces and some totally awesome high rolled pegged pants.

I have no idea what I was thinking but for some reason I was totally enamored of all these fashion faux pas years past their prime (if not a decade past).

I blame it on the homeschooling--I was sheltered people--
Livin' on a hill

Spinnin' in the fields Sound Of Music style

Spendin' all my time with books, grassy meadows and the radio

{Inheritin' all of my Aunt's 80s clothes}

It wasn't until highschool when a "caring" "friend" pointedly asked:

"What's the deal with your pants? Are you expecting a flood or something?"

that I changed my ways....

Thank goodness for the mean ones--sometimes they are the only ones who can smash those rose colored glasses and shine the brightly glaring beacon of honesty onto the travesty of my bad bad sad sad

taste.

The End.

Lo Hicimos!

We did it!

It must have been this past week of letting Maeve semi-cry-it-out that did it!

She slept through the night--waking only once and crying herself to sleep easily in 2 minutes.

Yay!

(and, she slept in until 8!)

Happy Sunday!

Never Say Never: The Never-Ending Story of Parenthood--No Rest For The Weary

Sometimes I feel as though parenthood is one never ending marathon with no cool prizes or sporty ensembles to help get you through it.

It is an endurance battle to the end with no pinch hitters or safety nets until your beloved(s) grow up and go feather their own nest elsewhere...

Let me explain where I'm going with all this:

Back in the day when Amelie was a baby she slept next to us in a pack and play and moved to her big girl crib at about 6 months. This arrangement worked well for us--she has always been a CHAMPION (long, sound, frequent, sleeper) her entire life--

*Praise God for small miracles*

Maeve started out the same way--sleeping soundly in her crib, sleeping through the night...etc...

Until, she started getting monstrous screaming all night long ear infections.
She had 5 of them in her first 6 months of life--and it was horrible!

She would literally, SCREAM all night in pain and wouldn't be able to sleep unless she was sleeping on my chest or on the bed next to me.

It got to the point where her ear infections were so frequent that I wasn't sure if she had one when she screamed as I laid her down (the first sure sign) or if she was starting to resist sleeping alone....

4 months later however....she is resisting BIG TIME!

This Mama who said, "I'd never sleep with my baby! It's dangerous! It's annoying! It doesn't foster proper sleep Independence!"

Is...eating....her.....words....

Hello, my name is Shelly and I am a co-sleeper.

I NEVER thought that day would come!

So now, as I am "trying" to break Maeve of the co-sleeping habit I find I'm at a loss.

She puts herself to sleep beautifully during the day for naps so I know that it can be done (esp. since she does it every single day two or three times!).

It's only at night when she screams bloody murder at being laid down.

I decided I was going to let her cry it out--but I am a wimp and after 30 minutes of hearing her SCREAM AT THE TOP OF HER PRECIOUS BABY LUNGS

I rescue her and her sweaty little head.

She sleeps beautifully in our arms or on our bed but pops to wakefulness the minute her head hits the crib.

I know technically with crying it out that you are supposed to let them cry for as long as it takes but I dont' have it in me!

My new idea is to lay her down and sit next to her crib until she falls asleep--at least that way she won't be suffering alone...

I'll let you know how it goes--Parenthood--it's an uphill battle baby!

It's Like *Clark Kent* and *Superman*--No One Ever Sees Them At The Same Place At The Same Time {Or Together In The Same Picture}

45 Week *Wonder*

I just received an email telling me that Maeve is 45 weeks old...seriously, don't we stop calculating weeks at like 6 months?

Martha Stewart, Meet *Mr. Wonderful*

My husband does such an excellent job cleaning up after dinner that he's even running the table scraps through the dishwasher.

Talk about thorough!

I needed a good laugh! Ha!

Let the record reflect...

...that I think whoever came up with the "terrible twos" had never met a three year old.

That is all.

Instant Gratification

The photographer from my brother's wedding emailed some of the pics over almost immediately for our perusal--I love fast turnaround!

Aw, a picture of my back for them to cherish always =)
love makes me happy!
my mom and i are REALLY excited here. i love my mom.
look at this angelic creature!
here--i was really worried b/c the photographer told us to kiss amy's cheeks--now, i love amy but i couldn't plant my lips on her, sorry amy, i hope you'll forgive me =)
ah, precious!!

It Must Be *Miracle* Monday A.K.A.:Maybe Someday She'll Be A Wean-ee {the countdown to the 12th month holdout has begun}

*There must be something about Monday*

Today Maeve ate for breakfast (insert drumroll):

*2/3 c of brown rice cereal with pears and raspberries

*4 ounces of yogurt

Aha and Tra-la-la! There is hope that someday she'll exist on solids.

My joy is now complete.

*Proof* That The LOVE Of Ice Cream {Or Frozen Yogurt) Is Genetic

A Formal Apology: Ode To The Children's Place

Dear Children's Place:
Please forgive me for the many times I slandered your name and cursed your ugly leopard print clothes. You have proven me wrong and finally designed adorable play clothes that I covet for my babies. And though your Christmas dresses have always been fab, I'm so pleased to see that you are now designing at least a few things that aren't merely bright orange, hot pink, hot blue and florescent green. Please accept my apology and send some of these cute outfits my way!
Sincerely,
Shelly

You know what I mean, Nectarine?

Yesterday, "on the farm," we discovered what Nectarines are--I'm not really into fruit so now I'm well versed in all things Nectarine after an exciting afternoon spent on Wikipedia trying to figure it all out. Here's a picture of a Nectarine tree, just because I wouldn't want to leave anyone in the dark about what exactly they look like =)

*Shock* And *Awe* {Thanksgiving And Joy}

We had a fun filled family morning at a local farm/petting zoo/orchard (pictures to come) and came home exhausted! Imagine our surprise upon waking from napping to find that Santa the very generous Granny of the East had gifted us with two HUGE bags of NEW fall clothes for the girls! Without going into details, let's just say that this was a HUGE answer to prayer and an awesome encouragement!!! The clothes are fabulous--there was even a set of Princess PJ's for Amelie girl that we had seen a few days ago and told her we couldn't afford to buy that Granny had found and bought for us! We're so thankful to be surrounded by such loving and supportive parents!

*He's* Home Today {And He's *All Mine*) MUAHH HA HA HA HA

I Love You Gangsta' W

Surrounded

Sometimes I feel a lot like the monkey in this picture--

*Surrounded*

{in a good way}

Even though I long to get the heck out of Dodge (or South Jersey as it's more widely known) I'm so thankful that God has surrounded us with a very loving and fun circle of friends.

We have a lot to be thankful for...so I'll try to accentuate the positive and pray for God's exact will for me life--even if that leaves me where it's sunny, warm and suburban.

Wordless Wednesday: My New Favorite NY Picture

The NJ Blues: A.K.A. I don't think I'll ever recover.

Meh. Everytime I leave NY it's harder than the time before.

I want to live where my closest neighbor can't been seen, where 3 cars going by a day is traffic, where the crickets are the loudest noises, where the grass is soft and perfect for laying on, where the sun doesn't glare and the breeze doesn't smell.

It was physically painful for me to leave NY this time around...I could barely push the gas pedal down, and believe me, I'm really really good at pressing that gas pedal!

I've been praying for the last 11 years that God might see fit to bring me "home"

So, far He hasn't brought me there, and He might never do so, but I'm thankful at least for a visit, a chance to breathe in the grass and soak in the views.

Home Sweet Home--I love you so much it hurts me....