You should see the other guy...

So...my naughty girl did not want to take a nap this afternoon despite almost falling asleep on the way to her crib. I let her cry for a really long time ( I will spare you the details...). This is what she looked like when I finally got her out of the crib. Someone should tell her to quit rubbing her face in anger. Blood is not her best look.

Also, if she decides not to follows in her mother's footsteps and become a teacher, she has been practicing her pole dancing.

End of an Era

I know, I know...I am a dork. I started working for the Gap in November 1998, but I have loved it far longer. I have so many memories of my time there. I made so many friends.

Today was our Gap's last day. It is being replaced by Barnes and Noble. Sad.

Nanny and the girl and I went to pay our last respects. Of all the years I worked there, they wait until I have a baby girl to dress to close. Dang it.

I don't think she realized that it was a time for mourning. Maybe she just hasn't perfected her sad face yet.

So long, old friend.

hey hey hey first date!

So Lee's little brother had his first date (yes I know he is 19.5 years old) two weeks ago. He had been to homecomings and proms and group things, but never a "do you want to go out and I will pick you up and it will be just the two of us all evening" type thing. He was a little nervous. He came to our house about an hour before he was supposed to pick her up with a couple outfit options and wanted some help. We got him all dressed and ready and did some planning/role playing/directions-giving (hand-holding? door-opening? cologne? end of the evening?). It was a hilarious hour.

I think he was ready (wearing one of Lee's shirts). Lulu was giving her boys the once over... they passed.

On a separate note, Lulu still likes to take naps with her dad. Only times have changed since this summer and their shirtless naps; now they have to wear clothing and a blanket to stay warm.

Who is the happier waker-upper?

Chunk Time!

Last week (aka the Deep Freeze), my best friend, Chunk, and her 3 boys came to Iowa to visit. It was the first time Lulu and I had gotten to meet her new little guy, Levi.

We think that they might get married some day. He is her third boy, so Lulu will get her pick.

Chunk and I do this pose every time we take a picture. I think we could do a whole montage of pictures like this.

I love you, Chunk. I wish we lived closer.

Brrr

It was a little chilly this morning when I let the dog out. My hand actually hurt touching the doorknob for 2 seconds to come back inside.

Hey Katie! Your -14 does not impress me.

Phewy

We made it out alive. The funniest part:

I made sure the girl took a good nap so she would be nice. I got her fed an hour in advance so she would be less likely to spit up. I got her dressed and myself dressed and then packed up her bag and we were off. As I got to the sidewalk on the other side of the street, I realized that I hadn't put on any make up.

So...standing there carrying a nearly 20 pound baby and freezing my butt off, what do I do? I can't turn around and go home and I can't stop there and put some on (it isn't like I wear a lot, but a little powder and lip gloss never hurt anybody). So, I just kept walking. Oh well. I guess the bad habit of applying make up while I drive finally caught up with me. Dang. God found a way to humble me before I even got there.

But it was fun and easy. Only an hour. Phew.

And I am not going to lie to you. I am currently enjoying a caffeine-free Coke with grenadine as a reward for my bravery and getting out of my comfort zone.

I have issues...

I just thought I would throw that out there in case anyone thought I was normal or had it all together.

I tend to be a hermit by nature. I always joke that really just have 2 friends and that is all I want or need; any more than that is just hoarding (which by the way is a topic for another post...). I know that I am a grown up and it is time to act like it.

I also have stalker tendencies. That is how I got the name blog stalker. I like to look at other peoples blog, but not comment so it is like I was never there. I also joined facebook. Yet another tool to stalk people. I like to look up people's criminal records. I like to look up how much people's homes cost. Why? I don't know. Like I said, I have issues.

All this to say, I have a "playdate" tomorrow and I am nervous. It may not seem like a big deal to you, but it is to me. I am perfectly content to hang out by myself (with the girl, of course), but I know I need to make friends with the neighbors. We have lived in our house 2.5 years and we know our neighbors enough to say hello, but nothing more than that. So... there are a lot of things I could tell you about the girl across the street (hey BJF, if you are reading this, shhhhh), but very few I have found out from her. I know it will be fine once we are there, but it is the anticipation that kills me.

So, anyway...tomorrow we are meeting at her house to let our kids play. I am nervous and it is definitely a stretch for me, but I will try my best. I will even act surprised if she tells me about her 3 speeding tickets (seriously, what is wrong with me?).

In Law Christmas

My firstborn and I on Christmas Eve. We were spending Christmas Eve with Lee's family and Christmas Day with mine.

Family picture before we began opening presents.

She got a Baby's first (rhyming) Bible.

She is a reader. It makes a dorky English-teaching mom proud.

I am not sure she is a fan of the headband.

She does like to be free of her tights and dress though. How could we resist taking a picture of those legs?

Ready for bed in her jammers.

Christmas morning opening stockings.

She loved her toothbrush. I doubt she will like it as much when it is out of the package and we are trying to stick it in her mouth.