Category: Me

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Cole Me Shopping

My Day at the Mall

All the stars must have aligned right yesterday, because it worked out where I was able to get out of the house, and do some much needed shopping.  I had Cole with me, and he is quite the shopper.

One reason I always wanted a girl, was I just assumed you had to have a girl to go shopping with.  Ryan is not a shopper- he is just like his dad in that area-go in, get what you need, get out as quick as you can.  Cole, on the other hand, takes after me.  He loves looking around at all the people, and he loves touching clothes, and just seeing what is going on in the stores.  I have to be in the right mood to shop, or else I hate it, and fortunately, both Cole and I were in a shopping mood today.

We started out at Old Navy, where they are having a huge baby sale- all baby/kids clothes were 40% off.  I stocked up on tee shirts and shorts mostly for Ryan for the summer, since Cole will have plenty of Ryan’s hand-me-downs.  They were all on sale for $3.90 each.  I did get both boys one matching outfit- a navy and gray shirt, with matching shorts.  Then I found a nice work / dressier occasion black short sleeved blouse for me on sale for $7.  It was triple that originally, so I scored there.  I looked for a birthday present for my niece, who will be one in April, but I just didn’t see anything that I liked.  I take that back- I saw this adorable onesie, which fits my niece to a T, but they only had newborn sizes.  However, I got my friend, who is expecting her first baby, a boy in March, a gift, (not sure if she reads my blog or not, so can’t say what it is, other than it is cute!) I had a coupon for an additional 10% of everything, so I saved quite a bit.

I was getting hungry, so I stopped at a bakery and got a chicken walnut salad sandwich.  Cole had eaten before we left, and didn’t want any of my food, except for the delicious oatmeal raisin cookie that came with it.  He sat on his chair like such a big boy and smiled at everyone who walked by.  While we were eating, I saw a new mother sitting a few tables down with a baby that looked about a month old.  They looked so happy and calm.  I wondered if I ever looked that happy, or if I just always looked as frazzled, and tired as I felt.

After we were done eating, it was off to Children’s Place, where I had another coupon for 15% off.  We went shopping there right before Christmas, so I figured I had seen most the merchandise, but I have another friend who is also due in March with her first baby, but she doesn’t know the gender.  I thought I would see if there were any cute outfits that would work.  Now I know what everyone went through with me- we didn’t find out the gender either time.  I really wanted to get her some things, but everything was so gender specific, I couldn’t.  I did find one nice little gift though, that will work for a boy or a girl.  I also found two long sleeved graphic shirts for Ryan for next fall, that were originally $14, marked down to $5.99, and then they were 50% off that.  With my coupon they ended up being $2.54. Not bad for two brand new cool shirts.  One had a snowmobiler on it, and one had a helicopter scenes.  Right up Ryan’s alley.

Cole was starting to get a bit tired, but I wanted to go to New York & Company to see what kind of jeans they had.  I debated on stopping at Pottery Barn Kids first to let Cole  play for a while, but it is so hard to get him out of there- he never wants to leave.  So I decided to go to NY&Co. first.  They were crazy busy!  It was my lucky day to need jeans, because they were having a sale on all their pants- buy one get one for 50% off.  And, yes you guessed it, I had a coupon for $30 off, if you spent $75.  I have never bought NY&Co. jeans before, but my sister has a few pairs that are really cute.  Plus, I can wear jeans to work if they are nicer, and it seems like the jeans there are a little dressier.  Plus they have tall lengths, which I usually need.  

Because of the sale and my coupon it really did make sense to get two pairs- two pairs would cost me $10 more than one pair.  But, I was out of luck.  The jeans were so picked over, I only found one pair that were my size, and they weren’t even the long length.  I tried them on anyway, and surprisingly they were long enough.  I even asked the sales person to see if they had anymore jeans in my size. 

The store was so cramped, and the aisles were very narrow, it was NOT fun trying to maneuver a stroller through all of it.  The sales person told me I must have the only pair in my size- she couldn’t find anymore.  I was still going to get the pair I liked, and found some great sweaters for work and a blouse, all marked down from $36 to $7.99.  Then I spotted a clearance rack by another dressing room that had some more jeans on it.  I looked through every pair, and the very last pair, was my size, in a long length, with a design on the back pockets that I really liked.  After trying them on, it seemed like they were a little too long.  I guess they don’t mess around- tall means tall!  Usually tall is like half an inch longer than the regular length.  Not at NY&Co.!  But they were so cute, I decided to get them anyway, and I know Joe’s mom could hem them up for me.

While I was standing in line, I noticed EVERY fashion conscious person in the store (you know what they look like- they aren’t mom’s who have dried chicken salad from lunch on their black shirts, and pushing a toddler in a beat up stroller) had on really long jeans- most had the hems to the floor, and were standing on them.  I guess these pants were the height of fashion.  Maybe I won’t have them hemmed- now if I could do something about the dried white mayonnaise spots on my black shirt. 

I was over the $75 mark with the sweaters, but after using my coupon, I got $30 knocked off.  I am really happy I found two nice pair of jeans I can wear to work if I want to.  Here is the first pair, and here is the second, long, pair. 

Cole was really getting fussy at this point, so we went to Pottery Barn Kids, and spent the next hour there.  He was having a blast playing with the toy kitchen, stove, washing machine, ironing board, and vacuum cleaner.  It also was not crowded at all, so he had the toys to himself.  Almost everyone who walked by and saw him playing told me how sweet he looked.  He would stop what he was doing, and wave at that the person.  Finally, he was getting so tired, I had to pick him up and carry him out of there.  He cried, but he stopped as soon as we started walking in the mall again.  He fell asleep on they way home.

Hopefully we are set on clothes now for a while.  It was a really nice, fun, and laid back day, and I really enjoyed spending that one-on-one time with Cole.  Oh, and if you are wondering how I got so many coupons- the last time I was at Old Navy, the reciept selected me to take a customer satisfaction survey for the 10% off.  So I did, and I got a code when I was done.  For the other two stores, I am on their mailing list, and they send coupons quite regularly.  You can sign up on-line at their websites,  if there are any shopping trips in your future to these stores.

Categories
Cole Health Me Ryan

Sore Teeth

I finally got the first aligner in a series of three today.  I had no idea what to expect- I guess I thought it was like a retainer.  The hygienist snapped it on, and Holy Crap!  I about came out of the chair!  It was so dang tight.  They wanted me to “practice” taking it out, and I couldn’t.  It is such a tight fit, I thought I was going to need pliers to take it off.  I finally managed to get it off, after I broke two nails, and had drool/slobber running down my wrists.  Good times. 

Anyway, I am supposed to wear this now for the next 4 weeks, 22 hours a day.  I can take it out when I eat, or drink “staining” drinks like coffee, tea, or wine.  In a month I go back, for a tighter one, repeat the process, and then go back for the final one, which I don’t even want to think about, how tight that one will be.  I barely remembered how much braces hurt- it has been almost 20 years, but it is coming back to me rapidly, wearing this aligner less than 24 hours so far.  Once I have it in, I get used to the soreness somewhat, but when I snap it out, my teeth really hurt. 

The good news is, is it is very thin, clear plastic and you can’t even tell it is in.  Joe didn’t even notice, until I pointed it out.  Since it is so thin, it isn’t rubbing against my gums, or making me gag or anything. They took before pictures, so I’ll be anxious to see how it all works out.

The boys did well at the office.  I worked this morning, picked them up, ran to the bank, and then we went to the orthodontist.  There is a really neat wooden school bus play station  in a nice playroom , at the office, which they love.  When I was called back, I was sitting there for a few minutes, while the hygienist was gathering everything, and I hear a loud whisper, “No Coley.  You can’t go back there.”  I turned my head around and saw my two little monkey’s standing at the entry, deciding if they should go any farther.  I brought them back with me.  They were thrilled.

The nurse gave Ryan the remote control to the TV, and turned on Mulan for him.  She put headphones on him, and the thought he was all that!  Cole sat in my lap for a few minutes, and then decided to play chair operator with the buttons on the bottom of the chair.  I didn’t know this until the orthodontist tried to move my chair back up, and it was locked.  He looked down to see what the problem was, and we saw Cole pressing all the buttons.  He had deprogrammed the chair!  Fortunately, the orthodontist said he had a little button pusher at home too, so he was very understanding. 

Now I just hope I don’t lose or as lately, misplace the aligner.  I have a really “cool” case for it.  Something a teenage girl would like to slip her retainer in during lunch hour- it’s all glittery and in rainbow colors.  🙂   

Categories
Activities Cole Current Events Family & Friends Me Ryan

Super Bowl Sunday

Today we had a Super Bowl Party in our living room, according to Ryan.  We had plans with the in-laws, but father-in-law was not feeling well, so we stayed home.  Ryan and I made some marble cheesecake squares, (recipe from Cooking Light) some salad, and my own special Italian grilled sandwiches.  Ryan was so excited to have a “party,” he had to call my dad, and invite him over.  Of course my dad couldn’t come, but it was cute.  We had fun watching the game, and eating our treats in the living room. 

 I was super excited, because I was rooting for the New York Giants.  I was really into the game the last quarter, and I was hooting and hollering, as they took the lead.  I think I was too loud, because Ryan told me to stop making all that noise.  🙂  Football is the sport I like to watch the most, and I think this year’s Super Bowl was one of the best!  It was a great game, with an amazing upset the Giants pulled off.  It made for an exciting afternoon and evening.

But the best part was watching the boys during the half time show.  Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers were playing (who I really like), and on the last song, Ryan and Cole decided they were going to be rock stars too- here they are rocking out during the half time show:

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Hope everyone had a fun Super Bowl.  Sorry if you were rooting for New England, but the game belonged to the Giants!!

Categories
Activities Cole Family & Friends Health Me Ryan

Another Busy/Sick Week

I haven’t been blogging much for the following reasons:

SICK- Both Ryan and Cole have been so sick with a viral infection.  It is just plain gross, how much congestion is coming out of their noses and eyes.  They have sore throats and fevers.  Ryan a stomach bug on top of that.    We took them to the doctor on Friday, who informed us since it is viral, antibiotics won’t help. She said if it lasts more than 10 days, or they get worse, they just have to wait it out. 

There is no way that I could be around all that gunk, and not pick it up myself.  So since last Thursday, I have had the same infection, minus the stomach bug (thank goodness).

WORK- I have been working like a madwoman trying to finish up my project from work that was due today.  I didn’t feel much like working on it over the weekend, and frankly couldn’t.  I had such a sinus headache, looking at myriads of numbers, and trying to compute and organize them into a budget, was the last thing on my mind.  I have put in about 17 hours since Monday, getting this done.  Ten of those hours were from home, while sick, while trying to take care of  two sick boys (and myself).  I don’t think I have ever been as happy to e-mail a document, as I was tonight when I was finally able to e-mail the draft of the budget to the client.  YAY!!  It ended up being so complicated, one of the accountants had to help me figure it out, but I learned a lot! The client will have a few minor changes, and then I’ll have to incorporate them in for a final draft, but compared to the two weeks of budget marathoning I have been doing, that will be a piece of cake!

SISTER IN TOWN- Unfortunately, I only saw my sister for a few hours on Monday- before she left for the airport.  We were all so sick, we didn’t want to get her sick, and I know she would have a lot better time hanging out with family and friends “in the big city,” then she would at our House of Sickness, watching us go through tissues like crazy.  I was so disappointed, but hopefully it will work out better next time.  She is hoping she can come back in March.  We’ll keep our fingers crossed.

After what has been two of the most stressful, sick, and disappointing weeks, Joe and I have a big night coming up this weekend.  We get to cash in his Christmas present, and go to a rock concert of a band we both like!  My dad and step-mom are going to watch the boys for us, and Ryan will probably spend the night, as long as he is feeling up to it.  We are really excited, and it will be a great date night, and a chance to have some fun.  We are ready- rock on!

Categories
Breastfeeding Cole Family & Friends Health Me Mothering Parenting Ryan

Happy Blog-Day

A year ago today, I started A Mama’s Blog. Here is my first-ever post. 

I can’t believe how much Cole has grown in a year, from that first picture.  Here is an updated picture of him- he has really changed fom a baby into a little boy (despite me wanting him to stay a baby 🙂  )

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I have really enjoyed blogging, and want to thank everyone who has left me comments and support over the last year.  It is so nice to know there are other mothers, friends, family, and people I have never met, who will contact me to share a similar experience to one that I have written about. 

As I wrote in the first post, I wanted a blog to preserve memories while my children are growing up.  During the last year, while writing, I realized that if Ryan and Cole read my posts someday, I also want them to have a sense of who I was as well, during their childhood. I want them to know what was important to me.  Sometimes I wonder how my mother raised four children, and I wonder- what were her high and low points?  I know she was passionate about nutrition and home-birth.  I want my sons to know while my first priority in life is being their mama, there are other aspects to me as well- some serious and some not-so-serious.

I wrote on a lot of different topics- some serious, and some not so.  It is interesting to see what kind of “traffic” certain posts get.  Over the last year, I am very happy that one of my highest traffic posts was on a subject that I feel passionate about-breastfeeding.  The post is Re-Using/Sharing Breastpumps.  I think this is an important topic, and there wasn’t a lot of information at the time all in one place about the possible health dangers of sharing breastpumps.  Based on the amount of people who have read this post in the last year, I like to think the post is helpful for people researching the subject.

Another one of my top posts was on a subject, obviously, a lot of people struggle with-in finding  birthday spots or ideas for Winter Birthday Parties.  I am amazed, because I only wrote that post about two months ago, but it is the third most read post on my blog. 

I never imagined the number one post on my blog would be the post I wrote about Car Family Stickers.  It was just one of those ideas that occurred to me that might make a funny-sarcastic post, on something that kind of bugged me.  Some of the comments I received, I ended up deleting, because they were rude and disrespectful! I never thought a post about bumper stickers would invoke such passionate feelings!  However, I did learn why some people like them. I really liked what Jim wrote in his comment, in that some people may just be proud to be part of a family-is that really so bad?  It made me think of them in a different perspective.  While I am still not a fan of car stickers, and would never put one on my car, I have to admit that I don’t dislike them as much for reasons people left comments about why they liked them.  The Ass Family, is still hilarious too!

I hope with posts like these, my boys will learn more about me- more than they could ever learn from just hearing me talk to them, or tell them what I am interested in. I know it will be many years, before I can even hope they will be at this level,  and even want to read anything I wrote, but a mother can dream can’t she? 

I hope everyone who reads my blog will continue to do so, and thank you to everyone who does.  If you have never left a comment, try coming out of the land of the lurking, and introduce yourself- I won’t bite.  🙂 

I am working on some exciting new changes for A Mama’s Blog, in the very near future, and some very special posts.  One of which I hope will help provide the information needed, and I’ll add, information that is not usually disclosed- before women make a life altering decision.  I have been working on this post for months, and hope to have it ready next week, so be sure to check in for that.

Once again, thanks to everyone who has made my first year of blogging so enjoyable- especially my two little boys- my life sure would be boring and incomplete without them.  🙂