AOG Daily

3/7/12

some pictures from what's been going on...

Sorry, this post is Belle overload. Most of what's been keeping me busy has to do with her, so I thought I'd share. Don't worry grandparents, all of these pictures and more will pop up on Belle's blog within the next week or so.

My ~~baby~~ big girl turned three! Can you believe it? Me either. Here are some pictures from her birthday celebration(s).

Oakland Zoo

Birthday Party

Dora cake made by Abby's mom, Sarah.

Birthday shirt made by Jenn. (Thanks Jenn!)

Actual birth-day: February 27

These girls make every day busy. Good thing they are so cute!

Exploring with Belle on our beautiful weekend mornings while Justin was working. And yes, she accessorized herself.

Toy Story on Ice. So creepy, but they loved it!

3/6/12

What's been going on...

I took last week off of blogging with intentions to have blog posts ready to go for the entire week this week. Well, life has been a little busy, so let me fill you in on what's been going on...

The weekend before last was Belle's birthday extravaganza! We woke up early Saturday morning and headed out to the Oakland Zoo to have a little quality family time. We spent half the day there and Belle had a blast. We came back for lunch and Belle's nap and then Justin took Belle out for the afternoon (to a train ride up at Tilden Park) while I spent the rest of the day - and well into the night - cleaning the house for Belle's party the next day. I finished cleaning at 11 PM and was pooped. No baseboard was left undusted!

Sunday was the day of Belle's party so I got up with her and had a little mommy/daughter time picking up cookies and balloons and having breakfast together. During her lunch/nap we set up for the party and at 2:30, everyone started showing up! Belle had so much fun with her friends and family. We tried to keep the party small inviting only immediate family and a few of her friends, but it ended up busy, but really fun! Belle had the best time and was giddy all afternoon with excitement. After the party, some of Justin's family stayed for dinner and we spent the rest of the evening cleaning up.

Monday came before I knew it and life was back to normal. A couple of weeks ago I had a doctor's appointment to check up on little Leo (and a birthdate has been set! for privacy reasons, I won't be announcing it but it will be in April). My doctor told me she wasn't too concerned about my anemia so I stopped taking my extra iron supplements but unfortunately it's left me pretty tired. So between that, our busy weekend and everything else, I was really exhausted. So from Monday - Wednesday I napped every afternoon when the girls napped. Between their regular activities and keeping the house up, I had no time last week to even open my computer let alone blog. Any spare time I had was used to do our taxes, yuck.

Before I knew it it was the weekend again. This past weekend Justin had a side job the kept him out of the house most of the day Saturday and Sunday but the weather was so beautiful that Belle and I stayed outdoors exploring for most of both mornings. One of Belle's friends had a birthday party late Saturday afternoon that lasted until dinner. Then on Sunday as soon as Justin got home, we took Belle and Abby to see Toy Story on ice (which they loved!). After that, I dropped Belle and Justin off at home and headed to a sorority meeting (I'm an adviser for my old chapter) that lasted well into the night - that was last night.

Between all of that, the few hours each night that Justin and I did have free, we spent catching up on TV shows and watching Downton Abby (more on that later). So other than checking email and Twitter I've been pretty technology free and it felt good! Although I do miss updating the blog, it was nice to take a week off.

Unfortunately things won't be slowing down anytime soon. This upcoming weekend I have two showers to attend (one of them being a baby shower for Leo) and the following weekend we are having a (month late) birthday barbecue for my brother-in-law at our place. I think things will start to settle down sometime in April... just in time for the baby to arrive!

Phew... what have you all been up to? I promise to have a couple more updates this week, and pictures!

2/24/12

#febphotoaday

See part 1 HERE
and part 2 HERE

And here's day 15 - 24

Day 15: phone

Day 16: something new

Belle's birthday shirt and matching hair pin made by my friend and sorority sister Jenn!
Day 17: time

Our February calendar (so far).
Day 18: drink

I know Jamba Juice is terrible for you but if you get one and split it between three people, it's not so bad, right?
Day 19: something you hate to do

Dishes! Especially since we have to dishwasher.
Day 20: handwriting

Our grocery list for the week.
Day 21: a fave photo of myself

I love this preschool photo of me because Belle thinks it's a picture of her and that makes me smile.
Day 22: where I work

I have the best job.
Day 23: your shoes

Day 24: inside my bathroom cabinet

2/23/12

Movies: Mildred Pierce & Drive

Mildred Pierce

We watched the original movie (1945) and really enjoyed it, so we decided to watch the five part mini-series that HBO did last year featuring Kate Winslet. It was pretty good! The production value was pretty spectacular and the acting was excellent. I think after watching a two hour movie and then having the same story dragged on for five episodes made it feel a little drawn out, so I wouldn't recommend seeing the movie first. Also, the endings are way different. The story is about a mother who goes through a divorce and is left to care for her two daughters. Wanting to provide them with everything she ends up spoiling the older one and losing the younger one. The spoiled older daughter ends up to be a nightmare of a child and while the mother works hard to buy her everything she wants, the girl spirals out of control to the point where she ends up ruining her mother's life.
Drive

We wanted to see this in the theaters but never had a chance. Everyone I know that saw this thought it was terrible so I had very low expectations. I thought it was pretty good. It was melodramatic and gory, but the acting was decent. I thought the music was annoying after a while but Justin loved it. It's definitely an action-y type movie, so if you're not into blood, guts and car chases, then I wouldn't recommend it.

2/22/12

Haircut

Sooo... I had a nail polish color I was really excited to post as a Nail Polish of the Week but then I went back and realized I already posted it - over a year ago - (Cuckoo for this Color if you're interested). So I had no post for today. So instead I leave you with this super exciting before and after shot of my two inch hair cut that I got on Saturday. I know this will be a highlight of your day for sure...

Before & After

2/21/12

Valentine's Day recap

Valentine's Day was pretty relaxing for us. Since the weather was so nice, I setup some art projects for the girls to do outside.

Aren't they sweet?

Then we made cookies!

Art projects and cookies!

That evening, we went to P.F. Chang's and I forgot my camera, so I had to take these horrible cell phone shots (what is with the flash on this thing?)...

Someone loves her chow-mein just as much as mommy does.

2/20/12

30 weeks

How far along: 30 weeks
Size of baby: The size of a head of cabbage (almost 16 inches long and three pounds!)
Maternity clothes: Maternity pants, regular shirts just in a size L.
Gender: Boy!
Movement: Still pretty mellow, but I feel him much higher now and he's much stronger.
Sleep: After being diagnosed with anemia, I've been taking a lot of iron supplements which have helped my fatigue. I still get a regular 7-8 hours/night but I'm not as tired during the day.
Cravings: My appetite has actually decreased (probably because my stomach is running out of space with all that baby in my womb), but I'm still eating lots of tacos, chow-mein and pasta, yum.
Symptoms: Heartburn and some cramping. I'm getting so big that it's harder to move around and, you know, breathe and stuff. But mostly, it's been pretty good!
What I'm looking forward to: At my doctor's appointment this Thursday they'll schedule my c-section so we'll know what day little Leo will be born! Unless I go into labor early.

2/17/12

random photo Friday

I take soooo many pictures on my phone it's ridiculous. I need to remember that I have an actual camera sometimes. I won't post them all, but I thought I'd share a few that I've taken over the past week...

1. Belle being a ham at the dinner table. / 2. Bay Bridge at 6:30 on a Wednesday. Yuck!

3. Belle thinking these makeup brushes are for painting. So cute. / 4. My big lopsided belly. He only hangs out on the right side!

5. Belle creating her own balance beam / 6. My crazy-long pregnancy hair. Prenatal vitamins make it grow like a weed. I don't think it's been this long since I was four years old.

7. Belle's puzzles. She is such a puzzle whiz, she did these all by herself! / 8. Working out with daddy. This made me laugh so hard I wish I could share video but Justin would kill me.

9. These two girls make my heart melt. / 10. Valentine's Day breakfast (strawberry cream cheese - yum!)

11. The crazy amount of grapes and strawberries it takes to make people in this house happy. I think we should move to some sort of farm/orchard. / 12. Baby boy clothes! Thanks Michelle :) (and no Justin, this doesn't mean less shopping, hehe)

13. I love finding them like this. So calm and sweet. / 14. Our Valentine's Day projects: art and cookies.

2/16/12

Book: Official Book Club Selection

I finished this book last week. This was the most different from the other comedienne books I've read this month. It's not a satire or a funny take on things going on right now, it really is a memoir. She starts with her family and growing up as the youngest of five children. Her parents seemed to be a big (and hysterical) influence on her. She eventually moves with her parents to Los Angeles to try and make it as an actor/comedian. She struggles for years as a stand up comedian before making it big as a guest star on TV shows. She also talks about dealing with fame and having money, her failed marriage and botched plastic surgery. There are a lot of funny anecdotes and stories in there about celebrities that are pretty funny as well. Perhaps the funniest line is when she is describing her parents marriage and their ability to make each other - and everyone else - laugh. Her mother was complaining that she felt old and didn't feel pretty any more and her father goes, "well Maggie, you gave it a good run." I laughed so hard when I read that. With parents like that, it's no wonder she came out so funny. I'd say if you're a Kathy Griffin fan you should definitely read this, otherwise skip it for something more broadly funny like Mindy Kaling's book.