Wonderful weekend!

We decided to have some people over on Sunday night to hang out and enjoy the nice weather. It's always good for us to invite people over, then we feel like we have to clean! ha! We did some cleaning and Steve power-washed our deck. Look at the difference! UGH!

Today, we weighed ourselves! Yikes! (After the food and beer we had yesterday, we were hesitant to get on that scale!) I lost the pound I gained last week, and Steve lost 1 pound too.
My total weight loss : 3.4 pounds
Steve's total weight loss : 1.1 pounds..........only 1 month to go, so we need to kick it into high gear over the next few weeks!
We went out to Jordan Creek mall today, and walked around the pond out there. The weather was perfect and Presley just loves being outside!

We saw fish, birds and ducks (well, they were geese actually but Presley called them ducks. Dad, dog and duck all sound the same coming from her so maybe she was calling them dogs...who knows! But we'll stick with ducks.)

We had a nice lunch on the patio at Champps and then went home and P took at nice 3 hour nap. Steve was able to get some stuff done around the yard and I read my book on the deck. It was wonderful! Why can't every weekend but like this?

After Presley's nap we decided to put on her swimsuit and see how she liked her pool.

Basically, she loved it!

Afraid....

so afraid to weigh myself in the morning! UGH!

Problem

I have a problem with the show Toddlers and Tiaras. Those little girs (and the teenagers they will eventually be) drive me freakin insane!

A woman I work with was talking about how she does everything for her (teenage) boys so they will focus on school and get good jobs so they can one day have a wife who will stay at home. She said the women of the 70's ruined being a stay-at-home mom for the rest of us. I tried sooo hard to keep my mouth shut. In my head, I'm thinking those are the boys that are going to grow up and expect their wife's to do everything for them! I'm a total feminist so I just wanted this whole conversation to end before I said something to make it uncomfortable.

It's that time of year when everyone talks about tanning. For the most part, I try to keep my mouth shut and my opinions to myself. However, another girl at work uses a tanning bed weekly. She said that her and another girl were going to get a tanning package together b/c it was cheaper that way. I said "yeah you wouldn't want to pay too much to get skin cancer" of course I say it jokingly and she took it with a grain of salt but I never know when I should speak up.

Keeping busy and having fun!

It was one of those weeks where everything at work was chaotic and messy...and the last thing I wanted to do was sit inside our messy house! I can't be surrounded by 'mess' 24 hours a day!
Steve has been working up a sweat outside and has been extremely tired this week and with my overtime, the cleaning and laundry was put on hold.
We took Thursday night and headed out to the Valley Junction farmers market. We met Holly out there and the weather was great! We bought some local goodies and went to watch the band play. We tried to get Presley to dance, but mostly she stands there....with a smile on her face!

Friday night we went to Urbandale Friday Fest, a great place for families to go on a Friday night! Live music, food, beer, playgrounds and much more. It's entertaining for all ages and another great excuse to be outside and enjoy the weather!

Saturday morning we decided to get up and enjoy the downtown farmers market! So busy!!!!! But it is great, I wish I had more time and patience to look at half the vendors down there! We again, bought some local produce and walked around. Presley loves watching the people and all the dogs!

Afterwards I wanted to go up to the cemetery where my Grandma and Grandpa Moeller are buried (since it is Memorial Day weekend after all!). I had a pretty good idea where their headstones were, but it has been over 15 years since I've been there so I was just hoping I could find it! It was right where I remembered! I was so happy we found it!!

Presley helped me clean it off. We should've taken flowers, but like I said, I wasn't sure I was going to find it.

After her afternoon nap we headed out to Chris and Colleen's for dinner! Their daughter Bridget, who is 3 and Presley played so good together! Wish them good luck, they go in on Wednesday to have baby #2!!! We are so excited to meet him/her and Bridget is going to make a great big sister!

Sleepy Sunday

The last day of my 4 day weekend and it started off with 4 hours of work, then a quick trip to the mall, the grocery store, a visit from our long lost friend Brandon and a trip to Earlham for a graduation open house...then it was all over and back to the grindstone. Boo.

Week 3 weightloss? Don't ask. I gained 1 pound, so I'm only down 2.4 pounds now and Steve didn't even weigh himself. Bad week, taking this one more seriously. No blizzard or cheese fries this week! ha!

I turned on the air conditioner on. Didn't want to do it. After our crappy winter I don't want to complain or not enjoy the heat! Presley's little cheeks were so red, I didn't know if she was sunburn or super hot so I caved.

I love garage sales. There is nothing like getting a good bargain! We got her an ugly Christmas sweater for $2! It's so fun to get 10 items for $6, and if she doesn't wear something we're only out 50 cents or a buck. I love being cheap!

Super Saturday

We went out to Living History Farms to meet Todd and Cari to see some more of the corvettes. This was the official judging to get your corvette cerfitied or something. The judges look at EVERYTHING on these cars. If there is a one bolt or nut that is different from the original, they get docked points. They drive the car, look under the hood, check the tires (they can't be too new or too worn!) and even listen to the horn to make sure everything is authentic and perfect! These people are slightly obsessed with their cars.

Then we went to breakfast/lunch at the Machine Shed! Yummy breakfast buffet!!! It was so good and fattening. Waffles, hashbrowns and bacon...oh my!
Miss Presley had a little bed head when she got up from her nap. The humidity had it's way with her curls by Saturday afternoon! I hope we can control some of this, or she really will have Steve's hair!

Finally, a really warm day and we could break out her summer clothes! We even bought her some sunglasses, thinking she would more than likely play with them and break them! Surprisingly, she worn them on our walk and then left them on her head!

Tomorrow I get to go into work for a couple hours. It will be good to use that time to get caught up and get ready for the work week ahead of me. Then we get to attend a graduation open house for cousin Jordan! Congrats Jordan!!

TGIF

Here are some pics from the park earlier in the week.

Friday Presley was nice enough to wake up bright and early at 6:30! Boo. We got ready to go, Presley threw a fit on the bathroom floor...not a good start to the day. She quickly got over it once she realized that I had left the room and didn't care about her fit. We headed to the doctor to have my stitches removed, we were there for all of 5 minutes and Presley cried the entire time we were in the room....the doctor never touched her, I guess she had sympathy pains for me?!

Since we were out in WDSM, I decided to quick take her into work to say hi to everyone. After that, I wanted to hit up a couple garage sales or run to the mall, but Presley was cranky so we headed home.

Steve got an awesome invitation to attend the National Corvette Restoration Association event courtesy of Todd Stalker and Stalker Chevrolet. He was able to go to Dennis Albaugh's home (I think he is the richest guy in Iowa!) to see his Chevy car collection. Albaugh has, what is considered the best Chevy collection in the world! He has a convertible from every year and has many cars that are one of a kind! This is a private collection that very few people get to see! http://www.thealbaughclassic.com/
Here are some pics of his night!

He bought this one at the Barrett-Jackson auction.

This is a one of a kind race car!

Lots o Corvettes!!!

1969 Camaro that was the GoodGuys Muscle Car of the Year!

1912 Little, the only one known to exist with two-toned paint!

I'm not a big car person, but the pictures and the stories behind all of these are crazy to me! So much money and time these people put into their cars! Steve had a great time! So Presley and I decided to invite Samantha to go to Prairie Meadows with us, she had never been. Presley was very good and happy. We didn't win any money but that's ok, we still had a good time!

Thursday of my 4 day weekend....(minus Sunday morning when I go to work)

So Grandma, Grandpa and Holly went to Colorado which means I took 2 days off work to spend some time with Presley. We stayed busy and didn't do a lot of things I wanted to, but whatever. Thursday morning I took Presley over to a highschool friend of mines house. She stays home with her kids and watches a couple other kids, so we'll be taking Presley there 1 (maybe 2) days a week (depending on how she does). This will give Grandma a break in her week and more importantly give Presley some time with other kids and adults, so she will hopefully become friendly and more social! :)
Presley warmed up (after an hour) and I think she'll like it there. They are such good people and I completely trust her to watch Presley!
My friend Cindy and her baby, Breanna came over about noon and hung out for a while also. Presley mostly ignores the baby, I guess that is better than wanting to hit her or something.

That afternoon Steve's employer had a family grill out. We were all invited over to their new office to hang out. He's lucky enough to work for a construction company that is doing well and keeping busy in this economy! Presley once again, ignores everyone and will not let us put her down or leave her side. Eventually she warmed up and actually smiled at a couple people!....shocking huh?

Week 2

Weightloss challenge week 2:
I struggled, with the stitches and how I wasn't supposed to lift anything or workout, I just figured it was going to be a bad week. I didn't do too bad considering....
Me total loss : 3.4 pounds
Steve total loss : 1/2 pound.....obviously Steve struggled too.

I have a feeling next week isn't going to be so good. I get my stitches out on Friday, so no elliptical or running before then. At least the weather is supposed to be nice so Presley and I can walk around the neighborhood for a little exercise.


Update, my moles came back a-okay...no more tests or stitches needed (this year!)

Don't get any ideas!

Steve : You know what is sad?
Me : What?
Steve : Our baby is big enough to sit in a booster chair!

It is sad, I just want to bottle her up and keep her just the way she is forever! But don't go thinking we are going to have another baby anytime soon. We are enjoying all of our time with just Presley!

#1 in our hearts

Miss Presley, being entertaining....
so happy.....

and cute!

So we thought we'd try to buy her a pair of jeans with the adjustable waist.....yeah, not so much.

They were loose on her waist....but too tight on her diaper butt and thighs! Gangsta baby!!

Friday night we decided to go over to Praire Meadows and watch the horse races! We had a diaper malfunction.....and she ended up wearing polka dotted pants with a brown striped shirt.....don't judge.

Presley loved the horses! She was very good and loved watching them!

Saturday morning we had the Cystic Fibrosis charity walk! There was wonderful weather and a great turn out! Presley was again, very good. She actually feel asleep in her stroller on the 3 mile walk! (first time for everything!) She wore her own Andrea's Angels T-shirt, it's a little big but that way she can wear it is for the next couple years! Presley loved the swings and all the dogs that were there!

Aunt Samantha looking cute and pregnant with doggy Scout!

We wnt to Texas Roadhouse for dinner that night. There was a 35 minute wait, but daddy knows one of the waiters and he got us right into his section once he had an open table! It was so nice! So ask for Joe's section if you go there! :) Presley also sat in a booster seat for the first time. We have been thinking about getting her one, mainly b/c her highchair is getting too tight around her tummy!

Aren't they cute! Presley was too occupied watching the Preakness horse races on the TV behind me....do we need to call 1-800-BETSOFF?

Tomorrow mommy gets to go to work for a couple hours and then daddy is going to Lazerfest? Who gets the better end of that deal??................but mommy has Thursday and Friday off!!! Grandma is going to Colorado for my cousin Andrew's graduation! Congrats Andrew, sorry we can't be there!

Overwhelmed with a prescription of Vicodin.

Do you ever have those days or weeks where you just feel like you are drowning? There are too many things to do, too many things to think about and you are up at night trying to remember and organize everything that needs to be done? I'm there!
I think a majority of it is work....trying to fit 10 hours of overtime into a week when I already feel I hardly see my baby as it is, is difficult! And the work is exploding all over my desk, too many loans to close and not enough time and people yelling and borrowers upset....it just won't stop. I'm also trying to lose the last of my 'baby weight' before vacation (hence the family weight loss challenge!) I've been trying to work out after Presley goes to bed but even that is hard with everything else I need to get done after she goes to bed. I hate coming home to a messy house, after leaving a messy, stressful cubical but somethin's gotta give!
The weekends seem to keep filling up with more and more stuff, but then I'm still trying to find times to work on the weekends! But there are the family things we want to do on the weekends too.
Then I go have my abnormal skin cells removed and 6 stitches and a prescription of Vicodin later, I've been told I can't lift anything (including Presley) for 3 days! Tell me how that is going to work? I have to lift her to get her in and out of the carseat! I can't pick her up to hug her or put her to bed? and I was told that I can't workout for 10-14 days! I'm going to try to still walk on the treadmill (unless the weather decides to get nice sometime soon?), I think I'll be ok doing that, but geez!
I know my stresses really aren't all that important in the grand scheme of things, but it's all making my head spin. I've needed a hair cut for about 2 months, but even finding time for that is a challenge....hell finding time to go to the bathroom at work is difficult! It's not healthy to work and live like that!
Deep breath, calm down, eat a Kit-Kat and everything will be ok! Good-night!

Another weekend gone by....

Saturday morning I got up and went to work early, to get a head start on the 10 hours of mandatory overtime that is starting for us.....of course they don't want to say 'mandatory', they tell us they want us to work a 'minimum' of 10 hours of overtime....it's all the same to me.

Presley and daddy went garage saleing, so jealous I couldn't join them!

We had a busy afternoon getting ready for our Mothers Day lunch at my parents house for Sunday and that evening we had to travel over to ole Earlham for cousin Ava's 1st birthday party! It was so nice to see the Goodrich side of the family and expose Presley to all of her cousins. She isn't used to having that many kids around and she seems to get a little overwhelmed, but is is good for her. Overall she was pretty good, especially considering she didn't go to bed until 9 pm!
However, she did sleep until 8:30 Sunday morning! Man, that was a nice Mothers Day surprise! Then we all went to my parents house for a nice lunch, we can home and Presley napped, Steve did yard work and I watched 3 hours of Intervention! It was a good day. I was a bad mommy though, I didn't get my camera out all weekend! I'm super sad about it now!

My family started a weight loss challenge last Monday. Me, Steve, mom, dad and Holly, for 2 months. The winner (determined by % lost) gets a gift card to somewhere and the loser has to mow the others' yards! I'm going to post our weight loss on here, so I feel that I have someone to answer to if we don't lose anything. I don't want the blogging readers to think we aren't trying!
Week One weight loss: Jessica 1.8 pounds and Steve 1.3 pounds........so far, so good!

Happy Mothers Day to all!

Dear Presley,
How much has changed in this last year! Last year at this time, I was wondering what they heck we got ourselves into since deciding to have a child! You worn us out, you pushed our patience and you made us realize how hard being a parent really is (and you were only 3 months old!). This year, we finally realize how lucky we are to have such a healthy and happy baby! You have us tied around your little finger and you are completely aware of it. You don't say much, but your smile melts our hearts so it doesn't matter. I have a feeling if you start talking, you'll probably just talk back! :)
I am lucky enough to get to spend this Mothers Day with 2 of my favorite girls, you and Grandma. We are both lucky that you have such a wonderful Grandma, she takes such good care of you even though she spoils you rotton! She goes out of her way to make all of us so happy and I hope that we are all making her proud and happy too. Girls don't realize how much the love and need their mom's until they become mothers themselves!
Presley, thank you for making me feel like such a lucky mommy.
Mom, thank you for being such a great role model of what a mother should be. We love you! Happy Mothers Day!

15 months!

Presley Pie is 15 months old today! Gosh, where has the time gone??
She had her check up today and is about the 80th percentile for weight at 24.5 pounds and is 62nd percentile for height at 31 inches tall. We got the ok to change her to 2% milk and overall the doctor said she is growing and learning perfectly!
Our baby:

• had her 4th ear infection last week, not too shabby for 15 months!
• sleeps like a champ, usually close to 12 hours a night!
• loves Baby MacDonald....which is the only thing she'll sit down and watch. But is really beginning to like Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny and Imagination Movers.
• still only has 6 teeth, eventually she'll have to get more!
• still doesn't say much...every once in a while we'll get dog, bye-bye, hi, mama, dada...but nothing consistent....except nah (no), that one she knows all too well!
• wears size 18-24 month clothes, her top half needs a size larger than her bottom half!
• still loves to eat, she can eat a meal in 15 minutes easily. At daycare, Amelia eats her food piece by piece and Presley stuffs it all in her mouth as fast as her little fists will go....and then she'll want to grab the food from Amelia's tray!
• is becoming a total Daddy's girl! I'm not taking it too personal, yet.
• loves books, baths, animals and being outside!
• is slowly getting the nickname 'Tank' b/c she walks over or on everything in her way, pushes other kids out of the way, take whatever toys she wants from them. In other words, she gets what she wants when she wants it! :)
• thinks she winks, but really she just squints up her face similar to her cheesy face.

Presley, you are the apple of our eyes. Our world revolves around you, and we wouldn't have it any other way. We love watching you grow and learn! You are a challenge and a joy to our lives. I'm excited and nervous to watch you grow into the little girl that you are becoming. You are stubborn and active and funny and freakin adorable! We love you Presley Grace!

Lions and tigers and bears....oh my!

So we decided to take the day and head over to the Omaha Zoo. My parents and Samantha were able to join us, so it was nice to have them along! It was the perfect day to go to the zoo! Presley did not nap on the way there like we had hoped she would, so we thought we were in for a very grumpy baby. However, she was wonderful! She was tired, but she never whined or cried. She enjoyed all the animals and just laid back in her stroller and took it all in. This child will never just fall asleep in her stroller, no matter how tired she is. She can't miss out on anything!
Here is Grandpa, all ready for his safari!
We got some great pictures of the animals, most of them were active and entertaining. We could've spent all day watching them!

This orangutan was making kissy faces and smiling at us!

We did get Presley out of her stroller near the end of the day (we knew if we got her out, she would never want to get back in!) We rode the merry-go-round (which she wasn't too fond of), tried to pet the animals at the petting zoo (which she was afraid of) but she loved this water display.....probably her favorite thing at the zoo........figures it isn't an actual animal! ha!

We left the zoo about 4 pm, she hadn't slept all day.

It took her less than 10 minutes to fall asleep once we left. Poor thing. She was a trooper though!