Its about time...

I know its been WAYYYY too long since I shared the cuteness of JD. Or updated you on his life and social calendar. So here it goes people. Get excited.

Just call him Farmer JD because he would MUCH rather be "mowing" than doing ANYTHING else!

He met Sid the Science Kid...a current favorite.

Had his very first hayride that he LOVED because a tractor pulled us!

Went to the driving range for the first time with Daddy!

Had girls in our bed for the first time! Luckily it was just to wake him up from a nap because they were their for his birthday party and he was sleeping through it!

Went to the pumpkin patch and rode on the moo train. Again, pulled by a tractor so you really can't go wrong!

And he is still avoiding taking a nice picture with his momma! Pretty sure this is always going to be a struggle! :)

Happy Fall everyone!

Your So Vain...

(sing it with me)..."you probly think this song is about you...your so vain (your so VAIN) you probly think this song is about you, don't you, DON'T YOU!" :)

So apparently Mr. JD got a hold of my camera the other day and learned himself how to take pictures. I say this because I plugged in my SD card today and up pops what you shall see below. The funny thing is there were about 40 total of he, himself and him! These are just the ones that you could see his pretty face! Kind of a fun surprise for mommy!

Also fun that he didn't break the camera while it was in his little curious hands! And pretty great that he didn't lose said camera while it was in his possession. Never underestimate the power of his creepiness! :)

Happy Friday!

Oh and sorry about the boogies in his nose...we are fighting something and as much as we try to keep on top of them, they are coming back faster than we can grab him and wipe him up. And remember, he was apparently roaming the house and MIA during this "photo shoot." (insert mom of the year award HERE).

Tik Tok

Oh yeah, I got Ke$ha's song Tik Tok on my brain this morning. On that note, I really don’t get her…because with a name that has a dollar sign used instead of an “s” I was thinking straight GHETTO. Turns out, she kind of looks like a cross between Britney Spears and Lady Gaga. So not really ghetto at all. Hmmm…I love trendy music.

"Tik tok on the clock cause the party don’t stop no"…well that party isn’t stopping at this house because Mr. JD is POTTY TRAINED!!! Oh and he is so going to get me back at some point in his life for sharing this photo with the blog world too! :)

That is really, no REALLY the biggest news going on in my life. And no I don’t have any brilliant tips for mothers out there trying to attack the battle of the bathroom with their toddler. He was ready, we were ready…end of story.


In other news my job is going well. My new boss is awesome, and is one of those people that has “thank you” in his vocabulary which is always a bonus. I should probably dedicate a whole blog to this but that just sounds tiring. This company is fantastic, and is quite honestly exactly what I would have asked for had I been able to spell it out on paper. Oh and I have an ID badge. I feel so official with an ID badge. HA! The job I turned down in December was SOO not right and believe me when I say there were times that I regretted not taking it. Everything happens for a reason though, can I get an AMEN!


I have my first ever (in like 5 years) slumber party this weekend. All girls slumber party I mean…I guess you could count all the times lots of people crashed at our house as slumber parties too. But this one will be filled with pillow fights and…oh just kidding, wanted to see if you were paying attention. Will probably be filled with bottles of wine and lots of pizza and maybe even a Marlboro Ultra Light. You just never know. Whats the occasion you ask? Oh well one of my bestest friends in the whole wide world is moving in with her boyfriend and we are spending one of her last nights in her apartment together. Awww…I know, we are so cute.


Still haven’t worked out…just letting you know to hold myself accountable.


I miss the gym and all of the snobby stay-at-home mommies that I used to silently judge in my head as I was trying to take the focus off of how much I HATED the stairmaster. It worked, you should try it out sometime.


Oh and I don’t always love the random quotes to the left…but I really love today’s. Check it out…so true.


That is my randomness for today. Hope everyone has a fabulous HUMP DAY today!

Kick, Goo, Ma, Mom, Momma, Mommy

This year was (technically) my third mother’s day (totally counting the year I was cooking JD in my belly). Lets go back, shall we.

The first year, “the kick year” we shall call it, was interesting because I didn’t know if I was cooking a boy or a girl. But, really I did know I was having a boy. Well at least I had a hunch. At this point I thought I knew what it meant to be a mom, as I was already making sacrifices for my little one (insert me laughing at myself at this one). Turns out I had NO IDEA.

Year two, “The Goo” year, JD was 8 months old and was still not sleeping through the night on a regular basis. I was tired beyond belief and losing it a little I think. At this point I had given up my career, my bed, and lets be honest my sanity. I now knew what it meant to be a mom. At least a mom of an infant. :) That all sounds terrible, but if you are a mom and reading this you know it doesn’t at all feel terrible. It somehow is still amazing and rewarding, each and everyday. Trying, yes…but one little milestone that you know you had a hand in…even as little as a smile on their face…makes all the spit up and sleepless nights worth it. On this Mother’s Day JD also held his own bottle for the first time and we went to brunch as a family for the first time.

Last year, the “Ma, Mom, Momma” year where I was hearing those words from my little man on a regular basis had JD starting to become the little man he is today. That little man I grew in my belly who I found on THAT Mother’s Day walking around our yard, golf club in hand, swinging away at golf balls and bossing P-Daddy and I around. Although he couldn’t really talk…we were still bossed.

This year I am Mommy. When he says Mommy it makes him sound so grown up for some reason. Although I know eventually I will just be “Mom”…which is REALLY grown up…for now Mommy seems so mature-ha! This year as I reflected on JD’s life to date I am thankful. Yes, of his health and happiness. But more than that…I am thankful for the words he says (ahem the sentences he speaks), the confidence he possesses, his “dance like no ones watching” ways, the way he laughs at jokes that everyone else laughs at when he has no idea what the joke really was, and that when he walks into a room everyone notices. You know as a girl/teen/woman I always wanted to be that person that walked into a room and everyone noticed…I never knew that it would be SO.MUCH.BETTER to raise someone else to be that person.

We had a wonderful Mother’s Day twenty ten shared with all the Moms in our life! It was the first Mother’s Day where we all could be together and I have to say that I hope it is a tradition we keep forever. It was so nice to share that day with the ones we love. This year on Mother’s Day, JD said “Happy Mother’s Day” for the first time (insert-awwww).

Overall, becoming a Mother is soo not what I thought it was going to be. I used to be somewhat angry at women, mother’s for not preparing us with any advice other than “everything is gum drops and roses” but now I understand. I mean, to most people I am brutally honest when asked specific questions because I don’t want others to be as shocked as I was on certain things. But for the most part, the gum drops and roses really do sum it all up. It’s the silver lining for sure….and every day I feel blessed to have the title of JD’s Mommy.

Travel Club Members

I know, I know you miss me. I missed blogging too. But this girl has found herself to be quite the busy butterfly lately. I won't bore you with those details (for now)...I will get to the vacay as I know you all have been anxious to hear all about!

I wanted to title this "Travel Warriors" because I do feel like, with what P-Daddy and I encountered we are ready and able to handle any travel glitches that come our way from here on out (bring it on Disney World, BRING IT). Lets just say it was a bit rough getting to our location (thank you Iceland volcano) and even rougher getting home (thank you Miami Air).



But alas, we are now officially card carrying members of the FB Travel Club. I have to say, its where all the cool kids are. And we met some cool kids. No, we met some cool friends. Seriously, the group we were with throughout the entire week was great (and great doesn't describe it really). We laughed, we laughed more, we laughed until we cried. It was just a blessing to be with them. I miss all of them actually. And I find it weird to explain this vacation to anyone, even blogger world, because it is one of those experiences that is hard to relive with words. You just had to be there. It truly was a vacation of a lifetime.


Travel stats are

32 hours to get to our first destination (this stopping point was a slight detour to our final destination) which included sitting in Rome's airport for 5 hours waiting and a lovely 6 1/2 hour bus ride through Italy's countryside.
10 hours of rest (thankfully) in a lovely Sheraton hotel in Bari, Italy where I indulged (prior to slumber) in the best red wine I have ever tasted.
2 more hours of waiting
48 or so hours before we united with the FB Travel Club...and we weren't in the group that got the worst of it.
Sat in JFK airport for 11 hours waiting for airplane to come take us back home to Indiana.
Traveled for 32 hours before arriving home sweet home.
Total hours traveled via airports or buses: 80 (Don't.Be.Jealous)

Then there was vacation bliss...

The above pictures highlight the place I would like to now retire to, Santorini, Greece. My pictures do not do my dear Santorini justice as it is literally one of the most beautiful place I have ever seen.



The below pictures highlight our way "out" of Santorini. It involved (as you will see), what was supposed to be a "15 minute walk" down the side of a beautiful mountain, but instead was a over hour walk down a donkey (shit) slippery stone stepped mountain. It was an adventure for sure!

And then there was Athens...

Mykonos, Greece was next and was supposed to be a nightlife location but we couldn't find any. Instead we ate and had a beer and then departed. Was also a beautiful stop though...

The final stop was Dubrovnikkkk (you have to accentuate the k, its just how we do), Croatia. It involved a stop to a local farm where we drank some wine and saw a few local dancers (think men in skirts). We also walked around this city via an ancient wall-PDaddy doesn't like heights so we peaced out on this one as most of this said wall was rather high in the sky.

I said it once and I will say it again, it was a trip of a lifetime. I cannot say I would do it again, but mostly because I know it wouldn't be the same.

And now a few updates:
I rocked the 9 1/2 hour flight, both ways...
...didn't get grouchy once during our two legs of over 24 hours of travel (so proud, right?!...becoming a mom has made me such a grown up-ha!)
...did lose weight (it was not 20 pounds)
...amazed myself at how adventurous I was
...was amazed at how well JD took us being gone in stride
...cannot believe the bond we formed with people we hardly knew going into the week, and I love that

...now I gotta get back to work!

Branding

So we are deep into the Madness of March, highlighters in toe and have completely out-bracketed ourselves (if that all makes sense). If you aren't in the know, our Alma Mater played yesterday and are headed to the SWEET SIXTEEN BABY!! GO BULLDOGS!!

Side note: I don't think I have EVER done this poorly on my bracket picks. Thank you Kansas and Villanova. Although the Kansas game was unbelievable to watch. I do love upsets, I just wish I had picked them! :)

Yes, the Butler Men's Basketball squad (I like that word) has done a great job with branding themselves as a team to watch out for (Brad Stevens for President!) in the last decade...but that isn't where I am going to go with the whole branding bit.

Needless to say, JD shocked his momma the other day in the department of words...him saying words that is. He grabbed one of the (way too many) receipts out of my purse and said "Walmart mommy." And low and behold, it was a Walmart receipt. He can't read. He JUST started talking in 4 word sentences and even those sometimes don't make a whole lot of sense. I at that point hugged him and then looked at him as if he had 5 heads, and then told him he was brilliant. I mean I already thought the brilliant thing (don't all mothers?) but really? Logos?

So I tested him and put Target, Kroger, and Walmart receipts in front of him. He name them ALL! Just went one by one and named them. Again, he CAN'T READ! So hats off to these stores because I would have never thunk it. Apparently they brain washed me too (especially Target) with their mad branding skills because I don't think Walmart's is especially smart...but smart enough for a 2 year old to recognize it. So smarter than I thought. Due to my obsession with Target I am thinking that these three stores will probably have patron for life! :)

Traveling with a Toddler 101

Lake Tahoe Christmas was our destination and surviving it (and finding time to enjoy it somewhere in there too) was our plan.

Here are the trip details...the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Left via US Airways Christmas Eve. Had two flights that day and an hour drive to final destination once we landed in Reno. The first flight was the longest. I would highly recommend this if you are traveling with a toddler and have to do two flights. US Airways was not accommodating to senior citizens or people traveling with children. I would not recommend. JD cried (rather screamed), I cried, it was the definite UGLY part of our trip. Side note: who knew SO MANY PEOPLE traveled on Christmas Eve? Every flight was jam packed!

"Not amused by the length of this flight mom"

Arrived in Lake Tahoe where GranBeck and Tracey were waiting for us at the airport. This was the first highlight of JD's trip as he loves GranBeck. We also arrived to beautiful snow capped mountains and a clear crisp day.

Drove through the beautiful mountains (and very safe roads I might add, which I appreciated) to get to our home that GranBeck's rented for the week. We arrived to a whole new world for JD and a lot of new family for all of us (JD's favorite being 4 year old cousin Alex who he is still talking about daily). Everyone was excited to be together, that was clear. We were excited we survived the first leg of travel safe and sound. We also asked and received for a rather stiff cocktail and appreciated our new family even more when they gave it to us! :)

Christmas was filled with lots of eating, presents, stockings, family, laughs...and a new one for us...gambling. HA! After JD went to sleep on Christmas night...mama and P-Daddy (and Uncle VP) could be found at one of the local Casinos. It was weird but fun at the same time. I think what I found most odd was how many people were there. I don't know...I just kind of felt like we were the odd ones for going to a casino on Christmas. Apparently my logic was off because everyone in Nevada seemed to be joining us.

The entire crew at Christmas dinner

GranBeck and JD Christmas morning

In the remaining time there we shared more laughs, decorated sweatshirts (in true GranBeck fashion), relaxed, sledded and gambled a bit more. Oh and JD slept like a CHAMPION. Call it baby stress from all the traveling, call it being 6300 feet above sea level, or being worn out by his new cousin Alex...we aren't sure but it was AWESOME! People we are talking 3 hour naps and 14-15 hours of sleep every night!

Uncle VP and JD chillin in the snow

We flew home on Southwest Airlines. JD has a peanut allergy and they are one of the few airlines that still serve peanuts as their free snack so this was an obvious worry of mine going into it. BUT I have to tell you they could not have been more accommodating and nice to us. We filled out the appropriate paperwork online when we booked our flight and when we checked in reminded them of this and were treated like royalty... not like we were putting them out. Which is interesting because we kind of were a pain in their rear because once you fill out that information they are flagged to take all peanuts off that plane and ask all passengers to not open anything containing peanuts that they may have brought onto the plane. They never once made us feel like this was an inconvenience.

Our first leg of the flight was again the longest and this time we went scream free. WOOHOO! We made several trips to the airline bathroom (as JD decided right before we left that going potty in a real potty was super fun), ate lots and lots of snacks, and listened to lots and lots of songs on mommies ipod which as a combination all worked! It was no less stressful because I was on edge that he was going to scream but he didn't and that made it one successful 4 hour flight.

We arrived in Chicago, Midway wayyyy past JD's bed time and had a stupidly long layover. Note to parents: when traveling with a toddler DO NOT FLY THROUGH CHICAGO MIDWAY. It seriously is one of the worst airports I have ever flown through. Way too crowded and the gates are not large enough to accommodate the amount of people.

In general it was a wonderful trip filled with lots of firsts and great fun. But I don't think we will be traveling with OUR toddler on a plane anytime soon. :)

Here are a few other items we found helpful...just in case you decide to travel with yours...


1. Children's Benadryl (specifically the "perfect measures")=does not make our son drowsy AT ALL. But as a side note (and before I get baraded about giving my 2 year old benadryl) this was mostly due to JD's peanut allergy and we were taking precautions before getting on an airplane that sold snacks with peanuts in them. Oh and I do hear that OTHER parents use Children's Benadryl for the purposes of drowsiness when they fly and I would have been TOTALLY okay with this happening to us too but, alas JD loves to defy all odds and so awake he was! :)

2. Lots of favorite snacks. For us this includes cheez-its, fruit snacks and dried fruit. We threw in some snack sized oreo's which were a HUGE hit because JD doesn't get sugary snacks that often and he loves "cookies."

3. Antibacterial wipes. This is especially important if you are traveling with a baby/toddler with a peanut allergy because you can wipe down the seats, windows, etc just in case there was anyone sitting there before that had peanuts. We were given this advice before we left and were grateful for it! And really, in the Swine Flu world we live in, this isn't a bad thing to do anyway I guess.

4. While in an airport, anything that moves such as the "people movers" (shown below) can keep a toddlers attention for quite some time. Would highly recommend. Helps pass the time for parents and toddlers very well. :)

5. IPOD with non children music. Yep, thats right our son loves rap music (Timbaland is his favorite) and this held his attention for a good 45 minutes on one of the legs of the flight.

6. Once at destination, if car travel is required of any distance other than 15 minutes, must stop at the nearest fast food place and pick up fries for cranky toddler who has already been traveling for too many hours to mention. This will buy you some time before a meltdown.

7. After arriving be sure to have another toddler or child there available to play with at all times. This one is HUGE and highly important if you would like to also get to enjoy yourself on said vacation.

JD, P-Daddy and Alex on Christmas Day

A Big Thank you to GranBecks for organizing this special trip...one we will remember forever!

Decade

Ahhh New Years Eve...the worlds most over-rated holiday (if I do say so myself). Don't get me wrong...I have had myself a jolly great time on New Year's before, but lets be serious...its HARD work to actually get to have fun on this day. The best New Year's I have ever had were when all of our friends headed to the hills of Indiana and rented a cabin for the weekend. I cannot explain to you how easy this is to do, and HOW MUCH FUN IT IS!! And even though we chose not to have plans this year...I still would pay serious dollars if someone called me today and told me that they had it all planned for me (babysitter and all) and could go there tonight with everyone I love.

But this blog is dedicated to the last decade as I thought it would be fun to review where we were and where we are now.

In the Years 1999/2000...
we both were a sophomores in college
I was a fair queen
P-Daddy drove a 1991 Honda Accord
I drove a car named Tyrone

Our favorite party of the year was called "Derby Days" (and in general our parties had names)
Both smoked too many cigarettes to mention...daily
We were both young and "in love"...with other people
We were not 21 (although P-Daddy was closer than I was)
I had a millennium party at my dad's house that ended with china broken, carpet ruined, and police. Wasn't even at all a little bit fun. And my dads basement still has a hint of keg smell in it...
P-Daddy went to see Mellencamp in brand new Conseco Fieldhouse with his friends and had the time of his life.
We both lived on Hampton Drive

P-Daddy traveled to Scotland for a family golf trip
Our favorite place to go was called Broadripple

In the years 2001/2002...
9/11 happened as I was sleeping comfortably in my bed in Indiana
I lived in a house we called "The Front Door"
P-Daddy and I started dating
I planned my first major event as an intern
P-Daddy interned for the local NBC news station
We Graduated college
both had our first jobs...and I had my second squeezed in there too
first big kid apartments...then I had my second (it was a rough go for a while-ha!)
I was FINALLY 21
P-Daddy and I played match-maker and it worked!

I spent New Years Eve with two of my greatest friends in Times Square
We went on Spring Break to a place we like to call "South Party Island" because everything is bigger in Texass (and I took the road trip of a lifetime while P-Daddy took the high road and flew).

In the years 2003/2004...
We were engaged and married
We traveled to the Dominican Republic, went on our first cruise, Martha's Vineyard and Las Vegas
P-Daddy changed careers

We got our first (and probably only) dog and named him Charlie
We built our first home
My mom got re-married
We attended countless weddings of amazing friends
P-Daddy was a best man
We bought 2 cars
the tradition of Friendsgiving was born

In the years 2005/2006...
We watched some of our best friends get married on a beach in Florida
I was a maid of honor for the first time
I was promoted to a job I loved
We celebrated our first year anniversary in Las Vegas
We traveled to Florida, went on a cruise, Puerto Vallarta twice, southern California, and Kansas City
We became Colts season ticket holders
We discovered yagerbombs
We built our second home
I bought my first pair of spanx

In the years 2007/2008...
We found out I was prego in early 2007 (and coincidentally our best friends found out the same day they were prego too...and then a few months later some of our other best friends found out THEY were prego...2007 was the year of the baby!)
We had the most beautiful and healthy baby boy
I trained for a half marathon and didn't run it
We traveled to Wisconsin and Florida (all by car...with our baby...do not recommend)
The Colts won the Superbowl

I started this here blog

We lost a LOT of sleep and I became a wee bit crazy for a bit because of it
Uncle Badgeman met his future wife (Aunt Ricky)
I left the job I once loved to tackle staying at home with our little JD

10 year high school reunions happened. P-Daddy skipped his, we celebrated like high schoolers at mine

We gave our dog away to my Papa President

And finally in 2009...
We celebrated 5 years of marriage by traveling on a cruise to the Bahamas (and having our first long period away from our son)

JD started pre-school
P-Daddy won his work incentive trip (which means if all the stars align we will be traveling to Italy in 2010!)
Uncle Badgeman married Aunt Ricky

P-Daddy joined his first golf league
JD was in his first wedding

I interviewed for, and was offered a great job with a great company...and I turned it down for greener pastures
P-Daddy was a best man

JD went trick-or-treating for the first time dressed as Donald Trump
I was a maid of honor again to another best friend

P-Daddy turned the big 3-0
We spent an exciting Christmas in Lake Tahoe, which included JD's first airplane flight (a whole blog will be dedicated to this later)
ALL of our friends that we watched walk down the aisle (or celebrated with after) are still happily married!

JD said his first words
We gave up yagerbombs

But as fun as that was to remember and write down...there aren't words to describe how awesome these last 10 years have been. "To God be the glory great things he hath done!" I hadn't really thought about the fact that we are ending a decade until I signed onto the internets the other day and MSN's ad was about the drama of the last decade. Which, lets be honest, there has been a lot of that for the rich and famous and the not so famous too. While we are on the subject I should mention that I don't believe the most notable is the death of Michael Jackson or the "indiscretions" of Tiger Woods. I think I am going with the innocent lives that were lost on 9/11 and how that affected the way our country is and will be forever.

I don't believe in New Years Resolutions because if you want to change anything about yourself or your surroundings, you will. So raise whatever glass you have in front of you and lets cheers to this New Year, this past decade, and the many decades to come! Cheers!

Oh and LETS GO BULLDOGS!