Channing 3 months old

Channing is 3 months old today. Can you believe it? Time flies when you are getting no sleep! Even though this little sweetie wakes us up once (sometimes twice) a night, we wouldn't trade her for anything in the world. She's loud & demanding, just like her mother! She's got personality & we wouldn't want it any other way. Last week we got a package in the mail. My good friend Michelle sent us this pretty sign for Channing's room. I hung it up immediately. It matches the decor in her room perfectly. Thanks Michelle, Jeremy, Zach, Sam & Sydney!

I love it!
We also recently received another special something for her room. Hubs' co-workers made us these 3 quilted/stitched lovelies. I know, I don't have three shown--the third is in Channing's bathroom. I didn't have enough room on the wall for 3.

I had to move Channing's "C" to another spot.

I think her room is finally complete--good thing, because I'm out of wall space.

I'm so happy we were blessed with a little girl!

Can't wait to show off her baptism dress (not exactly the traditional white)...family is coming this weekend for the big event! I'm sure I'll have lots-o-photos!

This & That

Friday Channing finally had her 2 month check up....well, more like 2 1/2 month check. She handled her shots like a champ. She screamed while the nurse held her legs down, but as soon as the shots were over, Channing was fine. I'm used to seeing her mad, so it didn't phase me at all. (I still shed a tear when Griff gets shots).

About 2 weeks ago Channing got her first nasty cold. Lots of snot & lots of coughing. Good times. We tried a few nebulizer treatments, but they didn't do much for her except agitate her. With all the RSV going around, we're thrilled she just had a bad cold & NO ear infection!

Channing has been much better on the Prevacid & we ended up going back to soy formula. She hated that Nutramigen. It smelled like dog food....I won't even tell you what it smelled like coming back up. YUCK! She was a puke machine with that stuff. So, back to soy. Much cheaper & it smells better. She's been eating more & seems more content after bottles.

She's getting plenty to eat. Her weight was 12lb 5.8oz (70th percentile). Height was 23 3/4 inches (80th percentile), and her head circumference was 15 3/4 (75th percentile).

Very well proportioned.
The little stinker still wakes up once a night to eat. She still has to be swaddled at night (super tight), thankfully she still likes her swing, & now she loves sitting in her jumperoo. Saturday night we got away & spent the night with my family. Nana & Papa B. watched the kids (THANKS!). We met my family in Des Moines & surprised my Dad.
He turned the big 6-0 last week.
It was great to spend some time with my sisters, brother-in-law & parents.

What was even better was that Hubs & I got to sleep through the night & sleep in!
We needed it.

We had such a good time.

I'm just mad mom wasn't in this picture!

Love ya family!

Happy birthday old man!

We were happy to get home & see the twerps. Channing gave Nana & Papa B. a hard time....thought maybe she'd start sleeping through the night while we were gone. Nope, no such luck. Griff was a good boy though. He slept in his bed (almost) all night long.

Before coming home we stopped at Homemakers in Des Moines. Sometime in the near future we are going to replace our basement furniture. I didn't decide on the basement furniture, but I did see this little desk that fits perfectly here in the kitchen. Actually it caught Hubs' eye first & he pointed it out to me. Very impressive dear.

We still need to get a little stool for it & it needs a little loving decor, but I think it looks great there.
I also FINALLY finished my cork board. My MIL spotted this frame at her mom's house & thought I could do something with it. I painted the frame black, distressed it a bit, stapled some cardboard to the back & hot glued corks to it. That thing took A LOT of corks. I would like to thank all my friends & family for so kindly drinking all that wine so I could make my masterpiece.

Not only am I jacked that it is March & Spring is just around the corner, I'm also pretty excited that Girl Scout cookies are here!
I love me some thin mints!
P.S. I quit The Bachelor.

Dumbest season by far.

Really, I'm done this time.

A Look Of Determination

I see a Nike endorsement

in his future.

Friday Facelift..er Face Off..whatever

So, Nicky at Momma Gets Real started this Friday Face Off thing where she tags people and they spill their guts about their beauty regimen. Nicky tagged Casey at Our Wetjen Moments & Casey tagged me. So, I guess I'm "it". I'm pretty sure this was one big ploy to get me to tell the world how I leave my house everyday looking like this:Well, I suppose I will play along & reveal my secrets. Take notes people. It's not easy being this beautiful. I first start washing this 31 year old mug with some Clean & Clear daily pore cleanser. Love this stuff. Works like a charm.

Then I slather the pits with some Secret deodorant (scent: shower fresh).

Good stuff my friends. I have some serious dry skin in the winter. Peeling, scaly, pasty white skin.

VERY SEXY.

I need some Vasoline intensive rescue all over the bod.

All Over.

Then the face gets a little treat with Olay Complete sensitive lotion.

Here's a fact folks: I don't know makeup, nor do I pretend to. I don't particularly like it, and I refuse to pay an arm and a leg for it. I use this Cover Girl foundation as a concealer under my eyes & wherever I may have an unwelcome zit. My color of choice is Buff Beige.

I did however splurge on some eye shadow from Estee Lauder. I think it stays on my eyelids better than other shadow. Maybe not. Maybe I just bought the stuff because it came with some free Estee Lauder bag. Who knows. I've had it for some time now. Does this stuff expire?

I throw on a little Cover Girl mascara....waterproof these days. Lack of sleep makes this girl melt down a little too often.

A little bronzer to give the face some color. I like Estee Lauder. Again, probably was purchased because of a pretty freebie.

I literally spend 30 seconds on my hair. People ask me if I'll ever grow my hair out. I simply reply "Hell NO." 4 out of 5 days a week I am late to work, so if I had to spend anymore time on this head, I would obviously be late 5 out of 5. That kind of tardiness can get a girl fired. I can't afford for that to happen, so I'll leave the locks short. I can always buy extensions if I feel the need for a french braid. Pretty sure I'd look smokin' if I were sporting a french braid.

I run some of this control paste from Aveda through the hair....once I did a poor job of working it through my hair & had a big glob of it in the back of my head. Hubs honestly thought someone sneezed in my hair & it was a big snot ball. Nope, just my hair product babe.

HAWT.

Then I give it a quick spray with Aveda's Brilliant Medium Hold Spray.

And that be it in the hair department. I can honestly say I've never owned a crimper, a straightener, or a hair brush. Once, many moons ago, I had a pick & a very small curling iron. My mom also used to give me perms.

It is a miracle boys ever talked to me.

If I'm feeling crazy I give the lips a coat of Aveda Lip Tint (color apricot)

Spray on a little Victoria's Secret VERY SEXY DARE & I'm out the door.

During the day I rely on this faithful product. I love me some Chapstick. At night I make sure I put some on before going to bed.

I also wash the face again with my trusty Clean & Clear before hitting the pillow.

And there you have it.

All my beauty secrets revealed.

The morning process takes about 10 minutes. I think I can get ready faster than Hubs. But to be honest, in the last 10 (almost 11) weeks I've probably skipped a few of those steps. Some days it's the mascara, other days it's the deodorant. (gross, I know). Lack of sleep has turned me into the smelly ugly kid at work. So, if you ever see me with the bag on my head, just assume we had a rough night & I didn't have time to beautify.

Well, we have to keep the fun alive, so I'm going to tag my good friend Megan at The Grier Family & I'm hoping my blogger friend Heather at Our Family will play along!

Vday recap

We caved...he got a puppy....

Well not a real one.

Do you think I'm crazy?

With a 2 1/2 year old & a 10 week old....I've got my hands full!

No animals of any kind for a VERY VERY long time.

Griff got a stuffed puppy at Build-A-Bear today. He took his time perusing the display of possibilities. He paused at the frog, but ultimately he settled on the Jack Russell Terrier.

He was mesmerized by the lady stuffing the dog. It freaked me out a little. Anyone ever see that Nip Tuck episode where the lady stuffed people with stuffing?

Creepy.
Griff loved every minute of it.
When puppy was stuffed, Griff had to give it a bath & brush it's beautiful coat.

After picking out a stylish Chicago Cubs ensemble, it came time to name the pup. Griff choose Tex. Tex?? Little Papa always puts on a cowboy hat & Griff says "Hey Tex". It's their weird thing...anyway, Tex the Jack Russell was born.

A very happy boy.
He also got this cool car rug for his cars & trucks.

Now you may be thinking, poor neglected Channing....she never gets any presents. Oh, don't you worry. We dropped some serious dough on this little sweetie today. We're trying the "liquid gold" Nutramigen formula out. She's been really good since starting Prevacid, but still spits up a lot & is quite agitated during feedings. I don't think she was fond of the Soy taste....not sure if she has a milk protein allergy or a soy allergy. Maybe she just has an aversion to both. I was going to discuss this with my pediatrician on Friday at Channing's 2 month check, but Dr. had a fever & didn't think it would be a good idea to see Channing. Good call doc. So, we're trialing the Nutramigen with hopes that this will satisfy her.

I don't want to talk about this too much, because I'm afraid of jinxing things, but Channing has slept in her crib 3 nights in a row. We have to swaddle her like crazy, but she's slept pretty well in there. She still gets up once a night to eat, but I don't mind it. At least she's out of our room & out of the swing!

Hubs & I hit the movie theater last night & saw AVATAR in 3D. SO COOL. Initially I wasn't even interested in seeing the movie. Then after all the hype, I decided to check it out. It was hard because it is almost a 3 hour movie. Even though my butt was aching at the end of the movie, Hubs & I were so glad we went. It is AMAZING & we highly recommend seeing it in 3D. It was a nice little Valentine's weekend.

Happy Love Day Everyone!

Valentine's Wish List

I'm not expecting anything for V-day.

Really, I'm not.

With two kids in diapers, two kids in daycare, 1 kid eating us out of house & home, and another kid sucking down pricey formula....I'd be happy with a heartfelt Hallmark card. No sense in spending oodles and oodles of money on flowers & candy. Flowers die, candy makes you fat. But if you're gonna drop some cash on V-day, get a gift that's sure to last. Here are just a few of my picks. Hubs, if you're reading, no pressure. Please don't feel obligated to spoil the very deserving lady that puts up with tax season year after year. Really, I promise I'm not expecting you to use any money from our tax return on a small token of appreciation for me cleaning your house, doing your laundry, fixing the meals, & taking care of the kids.

I don't need anything but your love.

Really.

Seriously.

I'm just throwing out some ideas in case you get a wild hair & decide the wonderful mother of your two children deserves a special treat this year.

Hello pretty Nikon camera. Oh, the gorgeous pictures I could take with you.

Lovely floral bedding from Pottery Barn. How you would brighten up my bedroom!

Elegant Anthropologie bracelet. I'm really into the flowers this year (but just the fake kind).

Nifty little clutch from J.Crew. Pair that with a LBD. What a bold accessory.

Lovin' this statement necklace from Ann Taylor Loft.

Also diggin' the ruffles. What a feminine little cami from J.Crew.

I want a big comfy couch full of these pillows from Pier 1. All different colors!

And if you REALLY want to brighten my day, I'd love to have this light fixture from Pottery Barn hanging above my dining room table. (might be a little much for a V-day present!)

To be honest, what I truly want cannot be purchased. What I would like more than anything in the world is a night of uninterrupted sleep. Haven't had one of them in a VERY long time. Cupid, could you please send me some zzzzs?