Sorry for the laps of blogs

Since the week before Christmas my little family has been on the go and I feel like finally this week we finally have time to breath again.

With all the holiday parties, then New Years and this past weekend was followed up by my sister's first baby shower, we have been nothing but running and doing and seeing and crashing at night.

So now we have a good 4 or 5 weeks until Valentine's Day and the greatest Husband's birthday in February to recuperate.

Unfortunately I don't actually get that long of a break since I stay at home with C, my job is never ending and with the semester almost starting next week I have a lot of things that I would like to accomplish before that begins.

So here is a little list that I'm going to try to hold my self accountable for to finish before school starts next Tuesday.

1. Get the house totally clean (includes: dusting, windows,)

2. Get books for classes and start reviewing

3. Go through our dressers and closets and get rid of things we don't wear or that are ruined

4. Clean car out and wash it

5. Make a meal list for the following few weeks

6. Decide on an invitation for my sister's family shower

So hopefully I will be able to cross all of those things off my next Monday.

However, here is some of the cool images I captured on my new camera from the past weekends.

We truly live in a beautiful area, even when it's freezing and covered in ice and snow.

I will hopefully get back to a regular blogging schedule now that things have calmed down.

Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays and are looking forward to a joyful and blessed 2011.

Would love to cut off my left arm right about now...

I could just kick myself for what I did yesterday, which included me running my left shoulder into our built-in that has the sharpest corner EVER on it and instead of stretching it out I let it stay still for awhile. BAD IDEA! After I put C to bed last night I all of a sudden realize my shoulder was throbbing and I couldn't figure out what the hell was wrong with it. I'm pretty sure I have internal bruising because it hurts so bad. Last night I think I got a total of 3 hours of sleep because it just would stop hurting.

I wanted to chop it off!

Well I've been stretching it and moving it more today and it has been helping, well what do I do but run my right shoulder into the damn thing again. I could have spit nails I was so mad at myself for not learning the first time to walk as far away from those darn things.

So now I'm trying to watch my 2 year old with 2 throbbing shoulders and no Tylenol what so ever in our house!

Okay rant over.

What a wonderful Christmas...

I know I left you all hanging but I was just so excited about my major Christmas gift and I will get to that later but, this was taken on Christmas Eve and it's one of my favorite pictures.

Oh this just makes me melt.

I'm also really loving my trim painting white it's looks so crisp and clean.

Doesn't she look adorable, I figured I would get some wear out of this shirt dress before it wouldn't fit anymore and I think it looks great.

This was C's "Santa" gift and even though it took several hours to put together it looks great and she loved it. In fact she has been playing with it everyday since Christmas and we have yet to move it into her room yet.

She also was a little surprised when she realized that Santa had come and ate the cookies she left out for him.

She just kept saying "Santa ate my cookies, did he like them?"

No for my fantastic Christmas gift from my loving hubby.

Oh yeah one of the best cameras ever! He kept it a secret and everything until the day before Christmas Eve when he just wanted me to open it. I'm glad I did since I got some great pictures during Christmas Eve. I'm so thankful for him, I never would have bought this for myself and never dreamed in a million years that he would get such an elaborate gift.

I love that man.

Hope you all had a terrific Christmas, I think 2011 is going to be a great with lots of new things happening.

How good was your day?

Mine was fantastic!

And for right now that is all I have to say.

Wont be posting until after Christmas so hoping all you have wonderful holiday with friends and family.

L-

Tory

What we are up to today...

To say we have a busy week ahead is a complete understatement.

However, C and I have stayed in our pajamas the entire day so far and it's looking like we will be rocking this look for the rest of the day.

No worries though we will be showering and putting on our big girl clothes bright and early tomorrow since we have some last minute shopping and groceries to pick up before the snow storm hits our little part of the world.

So on the to do list:

1. Last minute food items for several Christmas parties

2. Groceries for our home in general

3. Pick up Mr. Stanley something for his stocking

4. 1 more gift card for a gift exchange

5. Black tights for C's Christmas Eve outfit

This is just what I could think of at this point but I'm sure our list will grow by the time we leave tomorrow.

Also laundry needs to be finished, sheets need to be changed, presents needs to be wrapped and meals need to be cooked.

However for today there will be play-doh playing, coloring, cookie eating, nap taking and snuggle fests ensuing.

So let the craziness begin...tomorrow!

Some things that are on my mind today

1. This cycle seems to be taking a million years and unfortunately we did not have excellent timing so I feel like I'm waiting to start this whole darn thing over again arggg.

2. Christmas has totally snuck up on me and I'm completely unprepared and don't really care either

3. I'm hosting a little get together with some other Mamas from our little town and to say my house is prepared is a complete understatement

4. If one more person asks me when we will be having more kids I mostly likely will scream at the top of my lungs and than smile politely and pretend like it never happened

5. I still have 2 more things to do for school before the semester is over by the end of the night and I have no motivation to even do them

6. I keep making lists of things that need to be getting done and yet nothing is getting crossed off

7. Can you tell this is kind of a down day?

8. I found the cutest room idea for C today on another blog and can't seem to relocate it

9. No matter how much I vacuum my home as soon as a put the vacuum away I feel like I need to pull it right back out, I need area rugs

10. I wish these stupid cramps would leave my body and soon.

Okay so those are just a few things that are on my mind and some I don't feel like you would want me to share with you.



So Pleased...

So this year for Christmas my sister and I decided instead of exchanging gifts with each other we would get gifts for our girls. She is due with a baby girl in March. Of course that is a whole other topic in itself. Anyway, knowing my sister she has very high standards for everything and this is no exception for her daughter.

Since she already has the big ticket items already planned out and gets tons of clothes from our Mom I wanted to get her something special and different but with same high quality standards that she loves.

So after scavenging etsy and other blogs I found this great etsy shop with the cutest knit booties I have ever seen.

However, anytime you order something online you can never be fully sure what you will be receiving.

I'm so pleased with the product that I received from Pleasantly Plump.

I picked out the booties from her shop and she hand knit the specific size I wanted to get our first niece.

She did such a great job and with such personalization I felt so happy with the packaging and how it was shipped.

Including the awesome hand written note thanking me for my business. Meghan from Pleasantly Plump will definitely be getting more business from me in the future.

The packaging was to die for.

How cute are these going to be on a sweet baby doll!

The quality was beyond my expectations and I know my sister will be so happy with them too.

Aren't the adorable bows on the toes so cute?

Okay enough of the gaga over the baby booties, but I just had to share how cute they are with all you.

And the only reason why I put them up on here is because no one I know reads this blog( which is done on purpose,that's a whole other post) so I felt confident posting my nieces Christmas gift on here.

So if you are needing a cute, inexpensive, personal and different baby gift visit Pleasantly Plump on etsy.



(little) Fashion Friday (a little late)

Goodness things have been so crazy around our house I've been slacking on some of my posts lately.

So Friday we had a beautiful day here in the Midwest, the temperatures were in the low 50s!

However, the next day we had blizzard warnings and are now experiencing Arctic weather.

Typical Midwest weather.

So Friday we had some errands to run per usual, and since C didn't need her super heavy coat her little pea coat was perfect.

(I really need to stop taking pictures in our kitchen)

Once the storm hit on Saturday we spent most of the weekend in our small town and helped our good friends bake cookies and C got to play with her best friend Henry.

As usually they had a pretty good time.

Last night after C went to bed I figured it was about time that I got to wrapping some gifts. However, since we have a very curious toddler presents are not safe under the tree so I found a much better replacement site for them until she is a little bit better behaved.

I think they look so cute up there.

Hope everyone has had a great weekend.

It's about darn time...

Well finally on cd 21 I got my positive ovulation test after testing for some 11 days now!

Lucky for us Nate was home so when the smiley face popped up I was really excited to show him what a positive result looks like.

The look on his face was priceless for several reasons; first, he had no idea what "kind" of test it was he was staring at (opk, hpt) I think it's all starting to run together now.

He just stared confused at it and said " Ummm is this good? What is this for?"

The second reason was after I told him which test it was he got excited since this means some much needed time spent in our bedroom.

I have a feeling that even though this can be a trying process sometimes, that he will miss the days that I shove a pee stick that has a smiley face on it in his face, meaning lets go get it on dear.

This cycle has been excruciatingly long but I'm glad my body is doing everything correctly, even if it's not on a more quick timeline.

Here is hoping that December is our month, it's the month we conceived and found out we were pregnant with Cecelia exactly 3 years ago, no pressure right? If it doesn't work out I think an October due date would be just fine, hell at this point any due date would be fantastic.

The only thing that could be a downfall is if it doesn't work out I should be expecting AF on Christmas but on the other hand if it does work out we will be celebrating a growing baby.

Like I said no pressure...

The newest member to our crazy world...

One of my dearest friends had her second baby the other day and she is absolutly adorable.

And the sweetest baby of the year.

Look at those arms.



Yeah for Green Tea!

Of course I mean that in extract form not liquid form...yuck!

However they seem to be doing their job and really that's all that matters.

In not ttc new, my dearest friend is going to have her baby girl soon and unlike many woman ttc babies are the kindest on my heart in this journey and I love myself a newborn!

Plus it's been over a year since we got to snuggle with a newborn, and then of course my sister's baby girl will be here in a few months as well so I will be getting lots of newborn love in to tide me over till we one day get to love on our own newborn again.

Until then we always have this sweet babe.

Nate was making her wave to all the cars driving under the skywalk.

Hope everyone is having a good start to their week.

(little) Fashion Fridays

Sorry that we missed last weeks fashion post but it wouldn't have been a good day for pictures because it would have consisted from one pucked on pair of pajamas to another pair. So lucky for us we are healthy and full of happiness on this Friday and of course like most Fridays we were off to run our weekly errands.

Nate joined us today and by request these boots were dragged out of the closet.

It's not that I don't think they're cute but it's that she is only 2 and wearing these boots? Maybe it's just my mother instincts to keep my child looking like a child but they were cute and she got a TON of compliments on them so I guess they will make another trip out of the closet before Springs hows up next year.

Everything from babygap.

We got a lot accomplished today including; stamps for our Christmas cards (which I will post once everyone gets theirs), folders for some last minute projects for school, picked up my favorite ice cream, ran to the mall, and the biggest steal of the day...Hobby Lobby.

They had all their Christmas stuff 50% off! It was crazy busy so Nate sat in the car with C while I ran in and grabbed my must haves for gift wrapping. I love their ribbon it's always great prices and they always have sales so it's a win-win.

It was a productive day and now C is tucked away in bed, the Mister is off being manly before hunting starts tomorrow, and I have my favorite ice cream chilling in the freezer and a movie waiting to be watched on the television.

Awww what my Friday nights have come too, wouldn't change them for a thing.

Who doesn't love a good plan?

With an arrival hopefully in the near future of new baby (side note: not pregnant), Nate and I have had conflicting issues about what to do with the arrangement of our bedrooms.

We live in two bedroom craftsmen home with a solarium.

Our plans are for us to move into the solarium (off the family room) have C move into our room and keep her room a nursery.

Nate thinks that they can just share a room, but who wants to share a room with a newborn who has the potential of waking up multiple times during the night?  Plus C is the loudest snorer ever! This actually gave me comfort when she was newborn because I could hear that she was still breathing even in the next room.

However to a baby they might not think it's as cool.

So once we get the good news we are expecting a sprout we will be making lots of transitions.

But being the planner that I am I have C's room already picked out and if by chance we have another girl, when they get big enough we can just get another twin bed and bedding and that leaves the nursery open for fingers crossed a boy :).

So being bored while C was napping here is a little sneak peek of what will be C's room within the next year (hopefully).

Lots of greens, pinks and touches of yellow and the walls will be a pretty blue, to contrast with everything. Her room now as it shows in the link is very bright and girly, this is just a different version of that only a bit turned down. This is something that she can grow into and by the time it's time for a new room we will hopefully be moving into a bigger home.

A few reasons why I choose the things I did...1. All the furniture is classic and we will always be able to either replace or add to the room from the same collection. 2. The color scheme is girly but not baby with pops of color not all one big bright room. 3. I love the idea of the lanterns for fun, but we will have the orange and green ones. 4. The storage suitcases are to die for adorable and I know C will love to actually use them to pack stuff in.

So there is a little inspiration for you...now I'm making one for what will be our master one day...

Letters C

 Dear Cecelia-
 I was only going these pictures of our weekend and I couldn't help but be blown away by your beauty. Not just your physical beauty but by the love you show your father and I on a daily basis. You share with us your love that is never ending and full of affection. I honestly, couldn't imagine how life would be without you by our sides.
You have given us more hope and joy than anything we have ever had in our lives. There is so much going on in our lives and sometimes we have our days when we are short tempered and forgetful of your needs but you still run around with a smile on your face and love in your heart that sometimes puts me on my knees with astonishment and overcomes my heart with love.
For a little over 2 years now you have been physically apart of our lives but it's been longer  that you have been loved by us before you were even born, before you were even created. You have given us so much to be grateful for and you blew our expectations out of the water when you joined our family.

 Everyday you grow and learn something and it brings the brightest smile to my face. You father is amazed at how smart you are and how much you remind him of himself when he was younger. You have brought out some of the best parts of your father. I have watched him grow from a new husband to a provider to a father with the most protective soul.
We love you sweet babe! Even though sometime down the road our family dynamic is going to change and maybe new members will be added, you will always be our C, our first born, our answer to so many prayers.
Love-
Mama



A Thanksgiving Feast!

I think this was our best Thanksgiving yet!

It seemed to go really smoothly and that is hard to come by since we had C.

Starting with my view of Thanksgiving morning.

I was up early baking and preparing for the days events, while my loves were sound asleep.

It actually was one of my favorite parts of the day simply because they were tucked in bed, the house was quiet, yummy smells were floating through the house and it gave me that little bit of peace I needed before the busy day.

Once C and Nate woke up we were off to his Mom and Dad's for a Thanksgiving breakfast and to watch the parade. It was C's first time even noticing the parade and she especially loved the Snoopy, Dora, Spongebob floats and the musical numbers.

We spent the entire morning hanging out in our pajamas chatting and watching the television, and some of us had some pretty cute pj's on.

By the time C's nap rolled around she was out for a good 2 hours, before we had to fully wake her up to get ready to head out the door.

However, that nap gave this Mama some time to finish up her baking and enjoy some pandora and solitaire, while Mr.Stanley played video games.

I think I had a pretty sweet set up in kitchen.

A little office nook is a must in our next house.

And the cookies were a big hit!

We had a big Thanksgiving dinner at my Aunt's house and enjoyed some delicious food, as always.

C with Aunt Kassie and baby Kadence in her belly!

I can't believe next year we will have a little baby to snuggle with during the holidays!

(the spread)

(my Dad working some magic on the ham)

It was pretty darn good!

After dinner and dessert we enjoyed some Wii bowling and the boys played about a million games of pool and finished off a bottle of whiskey.

I think everyone had a fabulous time and we didn't head home until well after 10:30pm.

There is a lot that we are thankful for this year, but we are definitely looking forward to the upcoming Christmas plans and what 2011 has in store for us.

As far as Black Friday went, Emina picked me up at midnight and we headed to the mall. When we got there is was like a madhouse full of crazies. It was Emina's first time going shopping on Black Friday and she mentioned several times it would be her last. It's not my cup of tea either, I was simply there for moral support.

So we took a few trips to the hot spots and watched all the people standing outside in the 19 degree weather to save $10.00. Needless to say we went, we saw, we went home and crawled into bed.

However the next day I hopped online and finished up C's "Santa" gifts and bought some for my soon to be here niece some little presents too.

Switching it up a bit...

YUMMY!

So since we decided that we were going to continue on this track we did our research and checked out what we could do to "up" our chances a bit.

So we both started taking Pomegranate supplements and I am also taking green tea extract since I can't stand the taste of actual green tea.

Nathan's been great he takes his little pills every morning without so much as a grumble and encourages me to do the same.

Now we both know this may have absolutely no baring on getting pregnant or not but hell it's worth a shot.

This Mama is a basket case...yuck.

Thanksgiving was a lot of fun, however I wont be posting anything about it anytime soon because as of this afternoon just a few short hours after waking up after Thanksgiving our darling daughter has come down with the flu.

I'm completely lost as to how to take care of a toddler who is throwing up and trying to tell me through throwing up that she "doesn't like it, Mommy." It's awful to hear your baby in pain and uncomfortable, in fact it's so awful I cried. Each time she threw up I cried. My husband is a champ and completely aware that his wife is a totally basket case when it comes to throwing up.

So we are cuddled up on the couch with a small bucket for the little one to throw up in and a little sippy cup of 7up and water for some sipping.

She has finally gone an hour with out throwing up, so I think we are on the downside of it.

Let's up so because Mr.Stanley is leaving all day tomorrow to go hunting and I'm sure I will not be able to hold back the tears if she got sick again.

So I will be back with a good post about how we spent our Thanksgiving, until then I will be snuggling with C until she no longer lets me (the only advantage of this situation).

Hope everyone is having a great holiday weekend with their loved ones.



Thanksgiving

Since we have a billion and one things to do in the next couple days, not to mention the late night shopping I'm taking part in on Friday, I'm jumping the gun and posting my Happy Thanksgiving message a few days early.

I hope everyone has a very thankful and blessed Thanksgiving.

Enjoy the food and hopefully you all get to see you family and friends this holiday weekend.

C's Daddy

Last year for Christmas C and I made this video for Nate as a little stocking stuffer.
It basically documents his first year of being a dad to the sweetest little girl.
I finally figured out how to upload it to my blogs.
Now I have to make sure we top this one for his video this year.
Enjoy!
L-
Tory

(little) Fashion Fridays

I'm aware that is now Saturday but if I were to post what C hung around in yesterday it would look a little something like this.

Thanks to Daddy for changing C out of her pajamas and putting her in...um...this "outfit".

(please ignore the trick or treat bowl)

Let me make it clear the only reason why Mr.Stanley changed C in the first place as so that he could run up to the store in town. Literally only 2 blocks away from our home, and to be honest they have seen C in her pj's several times and still always say how cute she is. Apparently, my husband thinks that going out in your pajamas is weird.

However, since we had some fun plans in store for Saturday, this will be C's outfit post.

C loves this shirt because of the camera. She loves to have her picture taken, except she wont ever look at the camera.

This plum sweater has been a favorite this fall, it pretty much goes with everything in her closet these days.

We had a great afternoon walking through the winter farmers market and grabbing lunch with some of Mommy's friends that C had wrapped around her little finger before lunch was even served.

Thanks so much Anna for letting C get greasy little finger prints all over your iphone so she could be entertained.

Then she got her first look at a little piece of family history.

We had to make a run to the store to get some meats for our Thanksgiving with my Graziano side family. I showed her the board with her great great great grandfather (I'm not sure if I have enough greats in there?) It was neat to be in there with my child after going so many times with my Dad.

Now we are off to have dinner with the Grandma and Grandpa Stanley and then some girl time for Mama and a Emina with some wine and a good movie.

It's looking like a great weekend.

Hope everyone is enjoying theirs.