Clean Up

It's time to clean up my life!!  And I'm not talking about that part of my life that people usually talk about figuratively...like going to church, cleaning up my language, getting closer to God, ect.  I am happy with my life in all those areas.  I am talking about LITERALLY cleaning up my life.  I am so sick of my car being messy....all the time.  My house being messy....all the time.  My house is not dirty, just messy.  Toys and clothes usually everywhere.  And Clutter....wow.  I don't like clutter and it most definitely don't like me.  I was talking about this with a friend and her response was, "so your house looks like a toddler lives in it." Which is true but I am also very sick of that excuse!  It is really starting to get to me so I have to do something about it before I lose my mind.  Admit it--how good would it feel to have your house completely clutter free and know exactly where everything is?  And to be able to actually see the floor in closets. 

How to fix this?

1.) Nick and I went to the Home Improvement Store in town and looked at storage buildings.  We were shocked at how much they were.  We guessed about 1000 cheaper...(or maybe that was just wishful thinking).  So Nick is going to ask his uncles to help him build one.  We need one in a baaaad way!  We have a king size mattress and box springs just chillin in our game room along with so many baby stuff---bouncers, rockers, car seat.  Carter's closets are full to the max with tubs full of clothes he has grown out of that needs another place.  A crib and matress that needs a place to go besides in the back of Carter's closet.  There is countless toys that he has grown out of as well that needs to go into storage as well.

2.) I have done a lot of research on how to get and keep a house organized.  There is lots of good advice out there but there are two rules that I think will be most effective.  The first is buy one, get rid of one.  For example if I buy a new shirt, go pick out one that I have not worn in a couple of years and sell it or donate it.  That seems pretty reasonable.  The second thing is that everything needs a home.  Find a place and know exactly where each object in your house goes.  This is a very big problem for me, because I just have way too much stuff.

3.)  Have a garage sale.  That is my ultimate goal.  I mean, I have clothes in my closets that I still have from junior high.  Come on, Catherine!!  That was 11 years ago!  It't time to let them go.  Even though some of them may still fit, they are no longer in style.  Accept it and move on.  There is a 14-16 year old out there that would love to have my name brand clothes, surely.

4.)  Get a trash bag and go through all the "junk drawers" and just start throwing stuff away.  I found lotion and face washing creams that I got 5 years ago at Christmas that I have never even opened.  Toss it!!  Flip flops that are old and stained...toss it!  Socks that I can't find the matches for that I keep just in case the other match magically appears....yes, toss it!   And do I really need 40 pajama bottoms?  I think not.

Then when I finally get my house all organized just like I like I will master #2.  While I was doing research, it also said to just take one room at a time or even one drawer at a time.  If I look at my house as a whole then more than likely I will give up.  But since I am about to lose it, I really want to stick with it.

It will also help once I get my routine down.  I will probably drop Carter off at Lisa's around 8:30, come home and clean my house for a couple of hours, then go to motel and check rooms and all that good stuff, work out, pick up Carter around 4:30 and play with him for the rest of the evening.  So this whole house renewing thing will probably take a couple of months I suppose.

So please everyone give me some encouraging words and if you want, we can have a clean up party at my house.  Everyone is invited!!!!!  I'll even supply the supplies...ya know...because I'm generous like that.

Anyway.

Carter had a great, fantastic, fabulous day.  Lisa said that after I left him this morning he never cried again.  He did whine to go outside but I expect that to never change.  She told him it was time for a nap and he laid down on his little pallet and went to sleep, by himself, and slept for 2 and a half hours.  WHOA THERE!!  She is the baby whisperer.  He hate a good lunch--fish sticks, mac n cheese, and green beans.  And then when we went to pick him up he really didnt act like he wanted to leave.  For it to be his second day without family...I would say that is pretty darn good.  I am so proud of my boy!! And it feels great to know he is in good hands.

Tomorrow I am going to put old clothes on and work til I drop at the hotel.  Looking forward to it!

Party!!

My family threw my mom a surprise party for her 50th!! She was utterly shocked and at a complete loss for words. We had planned it for about a month. When Saturday came we had to tell one lie after another. She is the hardest person to keep something from!! Stressed me out!!! I can't keep anything from her!! She has always thrown parties and other celebrations for everyone else so she deserved the best party ever and I tried to give her just that. We had a great turn out and I think that everyone had a pretty good time. Great food, music and people! It's great to know that so many people love her!!

I can honestly say that she don't like near 50 years old! And if I am ever half the woman and mother she is I will be greatly blessed!  She is without a doubt my best friend and I just dont know what in the world I would do without her!!  There is not a day that we dont laugh out of control about something we have done. It's fun being her daughter!! I have always said she would be a millionaire if someone just followed her around filming her. It would be something worth watching!!

Carter started the babysitter today and Lisa said he had on okay day. He cried when I left and when he had to come inside. And he didn't eat that great. He did go to bed by himself which is very rare!! But she is getting him on a regular schedule and routine which he has never been on since different people have always kept him. I got a lot done at work today so I still think this was a great decision on my part and I think he will get used to it!! Praying he will!!

He walked a mile today. Literally. We were shocked but he just kept on trucking. I'm sure he will sleep great tonight. He has had a huge day today and I'm proud of him!!

We brought his 4 wheeler outside for the first time today and he is a wild man on it. Full speed ahead....in a straight line because he won't turn it! Lol! We also took a ranger ride all evening which his his favorite part of the day.

All on all it was a good day. Looking forward to tomorrow!!

MRI

Today is the day. MRI day on my knee. Really dreading it but just ready to know. It has really been giving  me fits lately!!   It's really hard to chase around a little active toddler when your knee swells and hurts every time you get up and do something on it.  Nick and I are going early to meet Bret for lunch then may do a little shopping afterwards. Neither one of us like shopping too much so maybe not. We usually go into sports authority wishing we were younger and could still use half the stuff in there.  But we are both full of pens and scars from all our surgeries from sports so arthritis and a toddler reminds us real quick that we are too old.

Carter will be staying with my mom today while we go. Bless her!! She will have her hands full. He is sooooo active here recently. More than usual.  Only one nap that only lasts for an hour a day.  Tough little guy!

He is doing good though. Gaining weight like a champ, talking more and more everyday but still not as social as I would like for him to be. Hopefully that will come as he gets older.  He starts a babysitter Monday and that will completely turn his little world upside down.   But she only watches three kids, one being Ava, so I think this will be really good for him. More interaction with other kids and having to be social with someone besides family.  Plus it will give me time to do my job at work without him on my hip. I'm excited about it.  He will go there everyday during the week but Thursday. Mom will still keep him that day. She would never forgive me if not ;)

Well, I'm on my iPhone and this whole typing on midget letters are getti old. I'll update the result of MRI when I know something.

Catching Up

You miss me?  You know you did.  I have been training someone at work for 2 weeks so I really have not had time to slack off and get on here. 

I don't even know where to start. 

Friday night was my dad's birthday and mine was Saturday.  So we always just celebrate ours together.  We decided to go to Poblanos tomorrow and just as I expected....

Yeah....that's what I thought too.

Then on our way out Carter decided to run a high fever.  So like every time before he didn't want to eat, very grouchy.  This time though his eyes were very red and swollen.  It went on for about two days and then he started breaking out in a rash.  So....come to find out he had Rosiola.

So Saturday I was supposed to play softball and our first game was to be at 9:00.  Since Carter was sick, I had to wait on Nick to get done with what he was doing that morning and then head to Hope to play.  I missed my first two games but was able to play 4.  The first game that I played that day I twisted my knee wrong and I have hurt it pretty badly.  It swelled up three times it's regular size and hurting like all get out.  I went to the doctor yesterday and he said that it was very loose and would probably have to be repaired again.  So I go to Little Rock next Thursday for an MRI.  If it is as bad as I think it is it will be my third ACL knee surgery.  So, I retire from all competitive sports.  I will just take up golf full time.  I so thought I would be the 40 year old still trying to play softball.

Carter is all back to normal....eating like a horse and being very verbal.  He is getting to where he can communicate very very well!!  He may not say words that actually exists but I know what he is saying.  He understands so much that we say to him and he is getting to where he can tell us what he wants.  It's awesome and I love watching him learn new stuff.  We are getting to where we are taking ranger rides every evening after it cools off some.  Carter loves it and he really learns a lot as we go.  We talk about the cows, the cars that go by, the dogs that run beside us, the grass, the trees.  He loves every second!!

He is all boy!!  Still loves playing with trucks and riding his 4-wheeler.  The kid is awesome!!

That's all!





Happy Birthday BR!

Today is my dad's 52nd birthday.  Happy birthday to the best dad, role model, husband, grandpa, mayor, and boss that ever was!  He has taught me so much about business and just life in general.  He was the kind of dad that still picked me up out of bed when I was 11, carried me to the breakfast table, and let me sleep for an extra 30 minutes on him until the food was ready.  Very, very fond and precious memories that I will never forget.  And all those hours on the ball field or basketball court.....wow!  I definitely could not picture looking up to and wanting to be like any one else.  I sure hope (and I know he will) that Nick will be the kind of dad that my dad is.  He has so much faith in me that I probably don't even deserve.  Carter loves his BR and is lucky to have him to teach him so many great things and to spoil him rotten.  BR is crazy about his grandson!



And tomorrow is my 25th birthday....blah!  Getting older is for the birds.  But since I will be playing softball all day tomorrow we are celebrating mine and dad's birthdays together tonight at good ol' Papa Poblanos.  Then we can act surprised/happy when they slip the sombreros on our head and sing the birthday song in front of the whole restaurant.  But hey, a girl will go through just about anything for some free birthday dessert!  True?

So, we finally did it.  Nick and I took down Carter's crib.  And every night that he has slept in his big boy bed he has slept all night.  The crib, on the other hand, he was not a fan of.  Maybe slept all night 10 times.  Carter is over 15 months old and Nick and I are finally sleeping through the night on a regular basis.  It's a pretty great feeling.  In case you didn't see my picture on facebook....



One small problem though.....yesterday morning at 6:00 Nick rolled over to look at his video monitor to see what time it was and Carter was not in his bed.  We found big boy in the living room.  So yeah, can't be having a little toddler roaming the house freely without us knowing!!  So I'm thinking we will have to put a little baby gate at his door until we get up.

Also, I think it's time for a new room.  Something that's not so babyish.  How awesome did Andi do on his newborn room though?!?  I have just looked at it for hours admiring her work.  I thought about leaving that room just the way it is for the next baby but then I thought I will want to do something totally different and special for the next one just like I did for Carter.  And since we made one of the other bedrooms into a playroom we would not have a spare bedroom for other guests and we have company over way too often not to have one.  I don't think I am going to go with a theme.  Just probably blue and brown.  Themes always get old quickly.  I have not gotten too emotional on most stuff that Carter has grown out of, but I can tell you that I am 100% positive that I will cry when we get rid of Carter's baby-looking room.  I have looked at that giraffe on the wall during 3:00 a.m. feedings, sick nights, rocking him to sleep, reading him books, holding him tightly, praying with/over him, singing to him, playing with him....just comforting him.  It won't be easy.  And new furniture for him is in the near future because he is using the dresser that I used when I was 8 and the drawers don't open and close real smooth.

Carter's one year pictures are ready for me to look at and purchase!  I get to see them Tuesday and I can't wait!!  I know they are going to be so good!  Jenna gave me a sneak peak and I already like what I see!



Precious, right?

Bad Luck

We have not been able to catch a break in our house here lately.  I believe it started Wednesday when Carter decided to get really cranky and run a very high fever.  Long story short it lasted for about 3 days.  He was okay during the day and just miserable at night.  And when baby is not happy, no body's happy.  Monday at his check up his right ear was very red but not infected  yet.  So when he was tugging at his ear and running fever I knew he had an ear infection....which turned into a double ear infection.  So the good ol' doc called in some antibiotics which in turn gave Carter the runs and stomach problems.  Plus he didn't want to eat or drink anything.  But he is back to his normal ol' self pushing his truck, eating, and sleeping great.



Then.....

Our air conditioner started acting funny Thursday night.  For some reason it would never shut off and it never really got our house cool.  I can't imagine what our bill is going to be.  So we called the air conditioner man and he came and did something to it.  Carter went and spent the afternoon at Nick's parents house yesterday, thank God, because while I was cleaning up his room a little I discovered that his whole closet (which is right beside the air conditioner) was flooded with water.  Mom brought her carpet cleaner out to the house to suck up the water, and it helped, but it didn't get the job done.  So Nick had to rip up the carpet and put a fan blowing on it.  I am thinking we are going to have to rip up the whole thing and put new carpet down because this has happened in this house before and that room has had one too many floods that it can handle.  So, Carter may have a new room before too long.  Nick brought home a fan that didn't have a cover on it so Carter had to sleep in our bed for the sake of him not amputating a finger.

.....But who's complaining?

Carter is doing new stuff every day and  he is getting to where we only have to show him something one time.  He can now drive his 4-wheeler all around the house.  I have not gotten brave enough to take him outside with it and let him roam but I'm thinking it's time.  He has not quite got down the whole turning and going around stuff but he loves to go full speed ahead in a straight line.  I'm thinking he is going to be your average country boy that loves to do stuff outside all day, which is great in my opinion.

Since we have gotten rid of the crib, I think Carter has decided to get rid of the high chair too.  He just don't want in it and eats so much better when he's not.  I think it's the fact that he does not like to be made to do anything.  When it's his choice to sit there and eat, he does it just fine.  When he has the choice to get in and out of bed as he pleases, he sleeps all night.  I love my stubborn child.

I am starting to loosen up a little bit on things that he eats.  I am starting to give him red meat now....something to put a little meat on his bones.  So I made him meatballs yesterday and today he is eating a hamburger patty with cheese and ketchup.  He loved the meatballs and I'm really not sure how he will like the hamburger.  I won't give him that stuff just too often but every now and then won't kill him....maybe once or twice a week or so.



Introducing New Things

We have not been up to much.  I have been working at the hotel and working out.  Nick has picked up golf....and he says he is terrible.  He has bought me a couple of golf clubs so that I can pick up on this little hobby too.  I have tried and my swing just looks like a terrible terrible softball swing.  Like...I even feel ugly when I attempt to hit the little bitty ball.  It's bad.  But we both enjoy the challenge so it just may be fun.  We have both been okay athletes in our prime so it's just weird being terrible at a sport.  I'm glad that our competitiveness side has eased up and that we can actually laugh at ourselves.  But I can tell ya, it's so ugly is not funny.

Carter is becoming quite the little chatterbox.  I mean, it's not actual words most of the time but he is starting to babble a lot, which he has never really done that.  He does throw juice (duce), daddy, truck (tuck), fish (fiss), and dog (do) in there every once in a while.  I love hearing his voice even it it's not actual words.  While we were at the hotel yesterday, Carter was watching the cars and trucks go by and he was saying truck over and over again.  We have been working on this for a long time.

We got Carter's potty out yesterday while he was taking a nap.  Right when he woke up and came into the living room he saw it and went right over to it and sat down.  He noticed it right off the bat....something new.  He actually loves the thing.  So if he never gets potty training down, at least we will have a seat for him to watch tv on!



I decided to go with the unisex one.  There will hopefully be another child I have to potty train one day and that other child just might be a little girl and I only want to buy one of these in my lifetime.  They had some really cute little boy ones though.  This one sings and praises the child when something hits the bottom of the bowl.  It's really funny!!  Can't wait to see his face when it starts singing while he is sitting on it.  I have a feeling that this is going to be a very long process for Carter.  He could care less whether or not his diaper if full or dry.  I know we are probably really early starting this, but we just want to get him familiar.

I put a new pair of Nike tennis shoes on Carter yesterday and he absolutely loved them.  After I put them on he stood up and looked down at his feet and smiled from ear to ear.  Then he started walking in circles while looking down at his new shoes and still smiling.  I'm not sure if it was because they were new or if he was proud of himself for walking really well in them.  Either way, it made my day.  We have always just put his Nike flip flops on that's very flexible or we have had his walking training shoes on with the very soft sole.  I knew it was time to give him some thick and heavier big boy shoes and was not sure how he would walk in them.  But he did really well.

Carter slept all night in his big bed again last night.  I'm thinking it may be time to take down and store the crib for the next one.