firetrucks, cookies and bonnets

This past week and next few days is full of lots of planning.  Planning for a firetruck birthday party, planning for making cookies,  planning to fix/get a new oven,  rush,  bunco at my house this month, etc.  It's been a little crazy, but I would be lying if I said I didn't enjoy chaos just a little.  It seems the more I have going on, the better I do.  I thrive on it, really. 

The birthday party is definitely the biggest time eater lately, that, and the Olympics.  My dining room looks like the colors red and teal threw up.  Seriously.  I even stole a teal lamp from the baby's room to complete the color combo make-over.  Ashamed?  Not really.  As long as he has his frog eyeball book in his crib he won't notice much of anything else.  So far I've got 12 fire hats for little kiddos, 12 die-cast fire trucks, a cardboard fire truck cut out to go on the mail box, a fire truck yarn wreath, fondant fire truck cupcake toppers I made from scratch, and just a whole bunch of other randomness.  Also I made a lot of tissue paper pom-poms and warm fuzzies.  Chances are, if you don't know what tissue paper pom-poms are, or warm fuzzies, you won't really care anyway.  It's probably not your thing.  I'll have a post next week showcasing his party overall, but until then, you'll have a few teaser photos to hold you over. 

 Enough with fire trucks though, I'm already a little sick of them and it hasn't even happened yet.  All this week begins the lovely world of sorority RUSH recruitment!  I was in a sorority while at State, and upon moving back, was "lucky" enough to be asked to be one of the advisers!  That's actually pretty hilarious to anyone who was in my sorority with me.  Don't get me wrong, I was crazy involved as a student, but by no means was I anyone who ever even wanted to be on Exec, yet here I am...haha, funny how things work out.  Any-who, this week is pre-rush recruitment so the house is preparing.  I offered to bring the girls some snacks during their breaks because for anyone who has done this before, you know it's slightly hellish to be locked in a house full of 200 girls for 10 hours a day, singing, chapping, and snapping fingers in unison.  My chocolate chip cookies (from scratch!!  I'm kind of a big deal...) are pretty gosh darn amazing so I figured I'd make a few batches of those.  Too bad my oven decided to be a 20 year old jerk and stop working. 

As bummed as I was about the oven not working, it got me excited, that maaaaybe the oven would not be able to be repaired, or be crazy expensive, ergo (there ya go George, I'm cool like you) Laura gets to pick out a new shiny beautiful oven from Lowes.  But, to my "disappointment" our amazing appliance guy came out at 8pm at night (he really is amazing) and fixed it for the low cost of $150.  That doesn't constitute a new oven for me.  So as happy as I was to have a fully functioning (almost antique) oven, I was bummed I wasn't forced to shell out a grand for a new one.  Crazy, I know. 

Back to the cookies.  So I now have an oven and cookies for girls.  I ruined an entire batch, but that's only because I was silly and rushed myself.  *note to anyone making cookies from scratch, never rush letting the butter cool down after you melt it.  It ruined my evening*  But I will say for the cookies that did turn out, they're friggin awesome as usual.  Like, yum-tastic.  But since it's only one batch maybe it'll start a fight at the house, might be funny enough to stick around and watch....

Oh, and in case you were wondering, our cat Gumbo is getting much better.  His lovely bandage was finally removed and they gave him a cone of shame.  He hates it, but is at least used to it now.  The worst part is he's still mostly quarantined to the master bed/bath as to not move around too much and re-injure his paw.  While I don't mind shelling out a grand for an oven, I do mind shelling out a grand for a careless cat, or my car AC, but that's another story for another day. 

Bad picture, I know.  But you get the idea of his general grumpy mood.  Grumpy needy cats aren't much fun.  But the cone is starting to look strangely cute now.  There's a little bow they have tied to keep in around his neck, and to me it looks kind of like a bonnet.  I don't have a little girl to put a bonnet on, and my husband would never let me subject my boys to that, so instead, I have gumbo.  Look at the cute little bonnet kitty cat....

Ok, enough rambling for me.  That's what's been going on this week so far.  This weekend is gonna be cray cray though.  Loads of family and friends coming over and lots of great food!  Get excited about that update.  It's gonna be aaaaaamazing. 

I'm bad at this

I win.  Worst blogger ever.  It’s been almost a year since my last blog.  Ridicerous, I know (no, that is not a typo, thanks Seinfeld) .  So let’s do a quick re-cap of the past year.  Since August 2011:  Got a cat.  Named him Gumbo.  Started traveling season.  Made a lot of taco soup and jambalaya.  Made cream cheese stuffed French bread for breakfast.  Gained some weight (I was pregnant, at least, that’s my excuse).  Broke the garage.  George fixed the garage.  Went to a conference.  Went to some football games.  Turned 26.  George took me to see Young Frankenstein.  Went to pumpkin-palooza.  Aidan was Yoda.  Re-finished a bed.  Had the entire family over to our house for Thanksgiving.  George starts his new job with Honors College.  Watched Aidan have a nervous breakdown at his Christmas performance.  Aidan goes to daycare.  Aidan gets sick at daycare.  The day Aidan gets sick at daycare I go into labor.  My family has bad timing.  I have a baby boy.  His name is Jude.  Jude looks like Mama C.  Merry Christmas.  Jude doesn’t sleep.  Jude doesn’t nap.  Jude is colicky.  At least Jude is cute and we love him.  Aidan loves being a big brother.  Gumbo likes Jude too.  I eat some sushi.  I eat a medium rare steak.  Mardi Gras.  Aidan is getting increasingly good at baseball.  Jude still doesn’t sleep.  Aidan hit the camera with a baseball.  Went to watch Thor.  Baseball season starts.  Dunn family loves baseball season.  Aidan gets a ball at every single game.  Aidan sings the fight song for the baseball team.  Aidan’s new best friend is Ronald.  Look to the cookie. I fit back into my skinny jeans.  Mother’s Day.  Parents bought a house in Ocean Springs.  Parents move to Ocean Springs.  Jude still doesn’t sleep.  Meeting the team after they got home from winning the SEC championship.  Stopped to say hi to Lightning and Mater.  Got into grad school.  Orientation.  Spent a lot of money on baby-sitting.  Went to Panama City Beach.  Went to see family for 4^th of July.  Aidan got to see cows.  Went to Perdido.  Got a new boss man.  Went to Chattanooga.  It rained a lot in Chattanooga.  Attended some send-off parties.  Gumbo got lost.  Gumbo is found.  Gumbo is costing us lots of money.   Planning a fire truck birthday party for Aidan’s third birthday.  

Whew!!  That wasn’t so bad.  Oh, p.s. Jude still isn’t sleeping.  7 months and counting.  I vow to get better about blogging.  But seriously, who has time?!  Must be that lack of sleep getting to me.  Here are some fun photos from the past year in case you missed it.  I am also trying to get better about taking those too, at least, with things other than my phone.  If I could just grow another arm my life would be much easier.  

Suuuunny Days!!

So a couple weeks ago my little man turned 2!  Wow, time flies fast!  To celebrate this momentous occasion we had a wonderful birthday party with a Sesame Street Theme.  Aidan loves Sesame Street (which is funny because he's never seen an episode) but what child doesn't like Elmo and his high pitched voice (which I do a rather convincing impression), a green monster that lives in a trash can (that just screams BOY!) and a blue monster that eats cookies all day long (lets not tell Aidan Cookie Monster is now diabetic). 

The Big Bird wreath was a major hit, maybe the easiest project I've ever done.

Don't forget the Big Bird foot prints leading up to the door.

 Oscar's Tattoo Parlor, he really added that "trash" factor quite well.  What a real hit with all the kids!

 Dorothy's Goldfish (a facebook vote vetoed my idea for REAL goldfish)

 Ernie's Rubber Duckies...

 C is for Cookie, my cupcakes were a little time consuming to say the least, but were very well enjoyed.  There were several very happy blue faced children running around. 

Overall, birthday party was a total success!!  Happy Birthday Aidan!!

We're out of bread

Wouldn't it be crazy if you went to a pizza place and they were out of pizza??  Or a burger place that was out of burgers??  Then why is it, that I have heard on 3 separate occasions, from the SAME subway, that they are out of bread.  It's not like I go when a natural disaster is about to hit and they're trying to get rid of everything...  I mean, isn't bread kind of a staple of a subway sandwich?  Who really goes to subway to order a salad anyway, not me...  This subway just astounds me.  It's not like I have a plethora of food options to pick from in Starkville in the first place.  For lunch I just wanted something that I can get "to-go" and relatively healthy in less than ten minutes.  Subway is now off of that list.  While I waited with roughly 12 other frustrated customers for the bread to bake, at least we had some entertainment.  I'm guessing the staff at subway is given the privilege to pick the radio station, as well as the volume.  Most similar dining establishments have an agreeable oldies station...not this subway...  It's hip-hop hour y'all, and not just any, nope, it was throw back hip-hop hour...  Master P "Make em say uhh", Jay Z "Can I get a", Dr. Dre & Snoop "Nothin but a G Thang"...the list goes on...  I wish you could have seen the faces on the some of the more "conservative" customers, hahaha...one older woman just walked out mumbling gibberish under her breath.  But in the end I did leave with my 6 inch turkey on wheat.  So was it worth it??  For entertainment value, yes, for food value, NO.   So next time you go to subway and they say "We're out of bread", don't even respond.  Just turn around and walk out.  In fact don't even attempt it, just got to Lenny's.

Kiss the baby!

Well it's been a WHILE since my last post and a lot has happened!  We finally moved into our new house (yay!!).  George painted the dining room, living room and is working on the bathroom.  We got new furniture in the living room as well as the dining room.  And oh yeah, I'm pregnant.  I'm due December 27!  Can we say Christmas baby?!  I was reading a babycenter blog yesterday and women were posting about the importance of their due dates, ie: my due date is my grandfather's birthday, my anniversary, my brother's birthday...I had to respond with, well my kid is likely to be due on Jesus' birthday, top THAT!  We've been told by friends "If it's due on Christmas you have to name it Jesus, or Santa" ... yeah, I'll keep that in mind (not).  We've decided part of the baby's name will come from my family.  George was up the other night and was wondering, should it come from your mom's side....or your dad's?  Then it hit him, I saw the light bulb go off and I could tell he was sooo proud of what he had just thought of.  "I've got it Laura....we can use BOTH sides.  First name, Richard, like your dad's brother, middle name, Robert, like your brother, your uncle and grandfather.  Richard Robert, aka RICKY BOBBY!!  If you aint first you're last!!" .... thank you for that George... I will also keep that in mind (not).

I'm only about 13.5 weeks right now but I already have a little belly.  We've been teaching Aidan that there is a baby in momma's belly and he is absolutely enthralled with the idea!  "Aidan!  What's in momma's belly?!" "BABIES!!!"  He always makes the baby plural, I've only seen one so far, but hey, maybe my kid is psychic, twins do run in the family! He loves to "hug" the baby (the shirt must be pulled up to do so though).  He also enjoys kissing the baby.  He mostly enjoys this while I'm standing, so it requires me to squat VERY awkwardly to accommodate his 22 month height.  Last night Aidan decided he didn't want to eat his stir fry (can't blame him, the veggies did get kinda mushy).  We tried to coax him over and over, "we'll give you an ice pop if you take 5 bites" "we'll give you crackers if you eat" "we'll let you go outside if you eat"....it went on forever.  Finally George got an idea, "I've got it!  Aidan....the baby in momma's belly wants you to eat.  Can you eat for the baby??"  "BABIES?!?!" and he chomped away at the food.  I did not know that unborn babies in momma's belly can be bargaining tools, but now you know. 

Before leaving for work this morning Aidan gave me a hug and a kiss as usual, and now he wants to kiss the baby, the NEW daily norm.  This will be a fun summer and fall! 

I Have a Dream

In case you aren't aware, we closed on our New Orleans house and our Starkville house 4 days apart a little over a week ago.  Fun fun fun.....haha.  BUT, we aren't moving into the new place for another 7 days.  These 7 days can not come quick enough!  As WONDERFUL as it has been to live in a very nice, not to mention, FREE condo, it still remains to be a 1 bedroom condo.  That 1 bedroom is also owned by our enchanting little boy Aidan.  We have been sleeping on an air mattress since February and it's really beginning to get to me.  Aidan's newest and most favorite word is "ousiiiiii" this translates to "OUTSIDE".  He stands at the door and screams to go outside, when we quietly tell him "no" he melts down into a puddle of tears (is it bad that we laugh?? ha).  I would LOVE for my child to run free outside, but we don't have outside at the condo.  There is a parking lot!!  And all he wants to do is throw rocks and run in the parking lot!! 

The one bedroom he owns is also a bit of a problem.  See...he goes to bed around 7:45 every night.  So that means that anything in the bedroom (ie: my clothes, shoes, existence...) is out of bounds after baby is in bed.  An example of how this is a problem:  Yesterday I was wearing a shirt that required a strapless bra.  Aidan wanted to roll around on the bed and be tickled.  Well strapless bras and rolling around just don't mix, so I took off my bra and put it in the drawer (don't worry, I still had a shirt on and it was only George, baby and myself...).  Well after Aidan goes to bed I need to run an errand, and then realize, wait....my bra....it's in the bedroom.  I then proceed to layer on 4 of my husbands t shirts, 2 of which I literally stole off of his back.  Something of this nature happens on a daily basis.  The lovely air mattress I mentioned earlier.  Well those suckers have to be inflated every week....except who thinks about it until you actually get into bed.  And by the time that happens, there is no way you can blow it up.  It's like a rocket ship taking off in the living room and it would surely wake the baby, and that's not a pretty site. 

I have a dream..... in 7 days, we will be in the new house.  Instead of 1 bedroom.....we have 4, and his is on the other side of the house....ahhh....what a lovely sigh of relief.  I can changed my clothes 75 times a night if I want to without waking the kid.  I can take a bath or a shower without waking the kid.  "OUSIIII" he may scream....well if you say "PLEASE OUSIIII" I will be more than obliged to open the back door and let you roam free in our huge backyard.  Get some grass stains kiddo, I know you wanna.  I could care less.

The Terrible Twos Begin....

Ok, so it's no secret that I'm not totally stoked about being a single Mom right now.  It's just plain hard and frustrating beyond belief.  I'm not the world's most patient person, so when Aidan begins to be a handful I usually have my trusty and VERY patient husband to jump in....not the case anymore.   This is even more difficult now that Aidan is getting older, more independent and completely in the terrible twos.  He climbs everything possible.  I go to put clothes in the washing machine, turn around and he's on top of a chair, and then on top of the dining room table, and he's thinking of jumping to his death onto the kitchen floor, because I guess that just sounds like loads of fun to a 19 month year old.  I wanted a baby, not a MONKEY!  Yesterday morning I was lucky enough to actually have my husband at home with me in Starkville.  Sadly it was Sunday and he had to leave around 10:00am, but that gave me about two hours of happy family time, right??  WRONG.  Aidan was just angry, no clue why, just angry at the world.  He screamed when he was on the ground, he screamed when you picked him up, no cookie, cracker, cup or Elmo would make him happy (all things that usually invoke immense delight).  I may have had a bit of a breakdown on the couch realizing my husband was about to leave me, all alone, with the possessed angry screaming little boy ALL day, ALL WEEK!!  It just hit me, and I could not control the tears!!  What have I turned into?!?!  Laura does not CRY!  There's no CRYING in Mommy World (ha, BET).  Don't worry though, it only lasted for a few minutes and then I pulled myself together and kissed George goodbye. 

Once George left I put Aidan down for a very early nap (due to his retched attitude).  He slept for a little over an hour.  When he woke up, I could hear him playing in his crib, so happy, talking to his toys and blanket, but I don't go in until he actually calls me.  "Mommy!", ok, that's my cue...here I come to take you out of the crib so we can go outside and blow bubbles.  I open the door, and there he is... sitting on the floor... NOT IN HIS CRIB, yep, I didn't get a baby, I totally got a monkey...