Things I've Learned in the Last Two Weeks!!

1.) Connor can now open doors in the house. I learned this when one day I found him half-way down the garage stairs after being in the restroom for like 2 seconds! As with everything having to do with motherhood (and pregnancy, in fact), just when you think you get to an easy stage, they find new ways to screw with you!

2.) I am now 26 years old. There is really nothing special about this age at all. In fact, I think it's the first completely meaningless birthday I've had since turning 16. Nothing comes with being 26. Nothing accept being a step closer to 30 ... then 40 ... grrr. I know I'll never regret marrying someone 9 years older than me ... I make him feel younger and he makes me feel younger ... fun how that works out, huh?! Sorry Jamie! :)

3.) There are no white people on Sesame Street anymore. Seriously. Have you watched it lately? You would think it was international programing with all the different languages and skin colors!! I'm all for diversity and instilling it in our children (because God knows we don't get a lot of it around here!!) but I think PBS has gone a little overboard with the political correctness!

4.) Connor can now say "No". In fact, he does things he knows he's not supposed to do just so he can say "No". Also, when he trys to say "horse" it sounds like "ass". Hilarious! Other new words: airplane, bread, trash, and dunk.

5.) Sucking at basketball and almost losing in an NIT game is just as frustrating as sucking in the regular and post-seasons. As a Kentucky basketball fan, I seriously never thought I would HAVE to watch an NIT game... much less be cheering for my own team in one! However, as a non-fair-weather-fan, I donned my UK duds to the gym this morning and canceled walking in the neighborhood with a friend so I could watch tonight's game. It got my heart racing just like when UK is in the NCAA tourney... who knew?

6.) When you stay up past 11 pm every night, you start to memorize the "acne treatment" and "phone personals" (aka - phone sex I guess!?) ads. It's depressing. They know exactly how to rope-in lonely people who are watching TV late at night by themselves! These ads are second in patheticness only to the ambulance chaser ads that air during the daytime TV shows literally every 5 seconds!

7.) I saw a truck yesterday with a "Hillary Clinton" AND a "McCain/ Palin" bumper sticker on the back of it and I just wanted to puke! Not only because Obama is our prez, so the jig is up, take the crap off your car already! They both lost!! Also, because that just screams racism to me. In my opinion, keeping those stickers on your car simultaneously, no matter what point we are at in the election process, just screams: "Anyone but the black guy!". Sad.

8.) Nicole Ricci AND Elizabeth Hasselback are prego again... am I seriously the last person to know everything?

So, I leave you with that wisdom as I get off the computer to go pack in preparation for our sans-baby trip to Jamaica!!

Spring Is Coming!!

The recent warm weather has gotten me in the mood for Spring! It makes me think of all the great things I look forward to every Spring!

10.) It's sunny again! Thank God! I am so sick of dreary, sunless days... it's just depressing!

9.) It's warmer, which means lots of fun things like: going outside more on walks and with Connor to play, not having to spend hours bundling the family up before heading out the door, lower LG&E bill (for now... until it's hot :), getting out of bed is easier in the morning because it's not FREEZING in the house, etc etc... you get the picture! The up-side to warmness is pretty much never ending!!

8.) Clothing swap-out! This kind of goes with #9, but as the weather warms up, it's time to start moving those heavy sweaters and fall-hued cords upstairs and start bring down the tank tops and sundresses!! Yea! It's kind of like going shopping, but in my own house!

7.) House gets a clean-up and a clear-out! This actually piggy-backs on #8 because as all the clothing, shoes, winter garb is moved to different areas in the house, it gives me a chance to clear out old crap I don't want anymore and clean areas that don't get touched nearly often enough! I assume that's wear the term "Spring Cleaning" came from, huh?

6.) Keeneland!! Any excuse to get out of the house and dress up, right?! It's like Derby, but cooler because it only costs like $2 to get in, you can actually find your friends once inside, parking is free and close, and they let you tailgate in the parking lot! Sweet!

5.) The Kentucky Derby! Ok, I have to admit that I am not exactly a big betting, horse, or Derby kind of gal (yeah, I know... it's almost a sin to say that when you live here... it's like saying you don't like bourbon... which I don't ;) and I don't even do a hat when we go (for lots of reasons... mostly because they are annoying) but I love love love planning the outfits!! It's also fun to people watch and look at all the pretty dresses and crazy hats!!

4.) .... but much MORE fun is going to the track in the Spring on non-Derby and Oaks days to spot the classic "mullet", "dressed way to young for her age", "lives in a tanning bed bleach blond" or "drunkest" people. There are a lot, A LOT, of rednecks that come out in full-force to the racetrack. It's like moths to a light bulb ... hilarious!! I'm allowed to say this because I was born and raised here and I feel I have full authority to be brutally honest!! Always a fun time at the track in the Spring!!

3.) Derby Festival activities! The fam and I really love to do things outdoors when possible when the weather gets nice. I don't mean athletic things like biking and hiking (bluh... if you know me, you know I do not do these things!) but I mean things like the Chow Wagon, outdoor concerts, Balloon Glows, etc... This year should be even more fun now that Connor is older and can run around and play! Can't wait!

2.) Bat's baseball games! Usually these are fun and it's an excuse to eat bad food and drink beer! Plus, I have some seriously cute outfits and hats for Connor to wear to the games this spring/ summer ... so we'll be going to quite a few games!!

1.) The pool opens soon!! Yea!! I plan on spending every nice day there this summer, just like last summer, since it's in our neighborhood and it's free! On my list of "Reasons Why I Love Not Working", 'Going to the pool during the summer' is #2 on the list after 'Getting to stay at home with Connor!' I seriously can't wait!

This year, we're taking a sans-baby Spring vaca to Jamaica!! I wish I could put this on a list of things I look forward to every year ... but I doubt that's going to happen!!

Seriously??

I'm sure we've all heard someone (or ourselves) use the phrase "I could screw up a toaster waffle" to illustrate how bad we are at cooking. It's supposed to be a funny 'dig' on ourselves, but for the most part, I think we all know that it's nearly impossible to screw up a toaster product besides just burning it! NOT TRUE! My morning started out as any other ... Connor gets me up, I drink coffee and he drinks juice, he eats a banana and I have cereal, then he wants "mo" (which means 'more' for those of you who don't speak toddler) and I throw in an Eggo. SO, I grab the waffle from the box in the freezer and throw it in the toaster while simultaneously pushing the lever down. Big mistake! Somehow the waffle got lodged between the wall of the toaster and the little metal basket piece!! I tried to get it out with my fingers, but couldn't! Meanwhile, the waffle is smoking and charring onto the inside of the toaster!! I quickly unplugged the toaster and began trying to dig the waffle out of the toaster with no luck. I'm looking at the stupid thing right now and I'm not doing anything more with it. This is going to be Jamie's little project when he gets home tonight! You now officially know someone who screwed up making a toaster waffle. Wow. I guess I should have read the directions:

"1.)Place the waffle in the toaster. 2.) Press arm down. 3.) Wait for it to pop up. WARNING: Do not perform steps one and two simultaneously. Possible disaster could occur!"

On a different note, I am freezing and it's not even cold outside. After consistently getting HUGE LG&E bills this winter, I've decided that I am no longer going to have a warm home. It used to not be a big deal, but with the crappy economy and pressure to spend less, quick frankly, the LG&E bill is really cutting into my spending money. So, I turned both our thermostats down 3 degrees for the Morning, Afternoon, Evening, and Night settings! Even Jamie has been cold lately and I keep Connor in layers. Hopefully this will buy us at least a tank of gas! We'll see... I'll report back!

To stay out of the cold house more (and to get in swimsuit shape for Jamaica in a few weeks!) we've been going to the gym a lot! (well, a lot more than usual... which was once per week!) I even bought a heart rate monitor watch that calculates your calories burned and target heart rate during workouts! Awesome! It's really cute and pink (see picture... isn't she cute?) which is an added bonus! I've actually already noticed a difference in how I feel and how clothes fit from working out more... which is motivating on top of the fancy watch!

Well, I'm off to go walking OUTSIDE! That's right! The weather is finally shaping up! I wonder how long it will be until we can safely dry-clean and store all heavy sweaters and coats!! Vote on it at the top right side of the page!