Quivering

This is likely going to be a post with a lot of tangents. By likely, I mean, most certainly. Most certainly because I don't neccesarily have enough to talk about on any one particular topic to dedicate an entire post. But mostly because I'm in a random, can't quite connect the dots type of mood.

Here goes...

My sister-in-law, Ingrid, is in town. Have I mentioned that I love my sister-in-law??? Because I do. I talked to her every single day in 2010. I miss that about 2011. But, amazingly, she's here now.

Ingrid and I went to the outlets on Saturday, why??? Because Ingrid has this amazing ability to talk me into buying absolutely anything that I am debating purchasing. And I felt like I haven't really been shopping in over a year. Since the last time I was with Ingrid and not pregnant. The conversations generally go something like this:

Ingrid: You should definitely get that. It looks so cute.
Me: Yeah. But it's kind of expensive.
Ingrid: (insert one of following possibly applicable phrases)
Yeah, but it's on sale, so it's basically the best deal you're going to get
or
Yes, but it's the outlets, so it's basically already on sale.
or
Yeah, but it's a universal piece that would go well with a thousand different outfits. Especially if you belt it.
Me: Hmm. Well. I don't know.
Ingrid: (finishes the conversation with her signature final move): Think of it this way. It's insert appropriate monetary amount amount of dollars. If you where it 100 times (or some other plausible number) which you definitely will. That's only some certain cents per wear. I mean, isn't that worth it.
Me: Yeah.... I guess you're right. Ok. I'm getting it.

This weekend on our obligatory trip to the outlets, we took Aubrey. And a stroller. Which we I was honestly having a hard time figuring out how to work (different story, different day). As I was pushing my smiling child down the sidewalks and into stores, Ingrid was quick to point out how my adorable child was making every woman's ovaries quiver as we passed by.

Ingrid: See, right there. Quiver. There's another one. Quiver. The bathroom is the worst place. Everyone sees your baby and she's like man I really hope I don't have my period because my ovaries are quivering and I want to have a baby.

Ingrid was then relaying this conversation to our friend Jenny at dinner

Ingrid: ...........quiver
Jenny: Well. They have the exact opposite effect on me
Ingrid: Oh don't worry, me too! When I see a cute baby my ovaries actually suck back up inside of me. Slurp!

Dancing Queen

I tend to take a lot of space when I'm dancing. It's really not my fault. I just move with the music. And I tend to not care what I look like. This type of dancing repertoire has led me to be known as a crazy dancer or something of the sort. When were setting up for Katie and Mike's wedding the dance floor looked a little tiny in the huge tent before it was filled with tables and people and laughter and food and music and love and all the amazingness that makes a wedding a wedding.

Erica: This dance floor doesn't look like it will be big enough. Jenna will take up the whole thing.
Me: What?! I'll be fine. I think I can contain myself to four squares.
Erica: You really think so??
Me: Yeah. Definitely four squares.

Apparently I found space to bust a move.

Beauty

This isn't the best picture. I took it on my phone and the angle of the sun at the time of taking wasn't really working in my favor, but this. this is a tulip growing in a pile of rubble.  Somehow, in the pile of asphalt and concrete a tulip was able to reach for the sunlight like a beacon of hope. I realize beacon of hope makes me sound very preachy, like I'm getting on my high horse or something. But seriously??! a tulip grwoing in rubble. I would be impressed enough had I found a weed growing through that mess. But a tulip, profound is an  understatement

Cereal

Aubrey is eating cereal now..and applesauce and green beans, once a tiny spoonful of ice cream and pretty much anything else you put on a spoon.

While I'm overly proud of her for being such a good eater. And so not picky.

She does need to work on her cleanliness at mealtimes a little bit.

But....I guess we'll give her a few months to sort that out.

Taco Bell

I have a good friend from college who is from Mexico. Since college, though, he moved out to California, I stayed in New York and we really haven't kept in touch as well as we should. Luckily, he was at Katie and Mike's Wedding and I was able to catch up with him. Martin was also able to catch up with him and now wants to go to Mexico and tour his father's farm yesterday. Get a passport and I'll make it happen, lover.

On Saturday morning, the wedding didn't start until 4:30pm so there was a little time for idle chit chat in the morning. My parent's and Martin had driven down from NY with Aubrey that morning and when they arrived in Maryland, they stopped by the Mason farm so I could say hello to Aubrey. While they were standing and chatting with Mr. Mason, Antonio approached

Mr. Mason: There's Antonio. He probably went to Taco Bell.
Martin: Hmm. That seems a little stereotypical.

seconds later Antonio reaches us and we strike up a conversation.

...Martin: Yeah. Katie's dad said you probably went to Taco Bell for breakfast.
Antonio: pulling a burrito out of his sweatshirt pocket....Oh yes, I did.

Differences

It's funny how you can be married to a person living with a person  for three years and still not realize the stark differences in housing tastes you have. But, Martin and I, very different.  Now that we're actively looking for places to call home these differences suddenly seem like extremely big and important sentiments that are clearly worth fighting about.

We recently toured a house with a lot of carpeting. Our conversation on the way home went something like this:

Me: I think I would rip most of that carpet up
Martin: What?! No! I like a nice plush under my feet. Everything doesn't have to be a cold, hard ice rink.
Me: Have you ever seen yourself eat chips? (admittedly, a low blow)
Martin: Whoa! When did turn into hate on Martin hour.

Other emerging differences.

Me: I mean, the realtor acted like those are really nice cabinets. I just really don't like cabinets. I like shelves.
Martin: No. Shelves. That's cute if you have an apartment, not hey I'm a grownup, this is my house, please view every single piece of dishes and also some baking soda that I have.

I'll keep you posted if we ever decide to compromise on something and actually purchase a house.

Chillin

 

For the first time this year, the sun finally graced us with her presence yesterday and we were ready for it! Aubrey had a blast looking way too cool  in her sunglasses and sun hat.

Sister In Law

Can we just take a brief minute to talk about how absolutely amazing my sister-in-law, Jennifer, is? Yes, she is the godmother of my child. No, I could not have chosen a better godmother. She is amazing. Aubrey was baptized on a Sunday. By the following Sunday I had received a disk with 207 photos of the baptism and after party in the mail. 207! I would have posted them sooner, but my computer was on the fritz. Wouldn’t let me view them. The internet stopped working. It’s old. Blah blah blah. Anyway, I’m back now. I’ve poured over these pictures (there’s so many good ones!) and I just wanted to pop in to say Jen is amazing!

I Love Weddings

Over the weekend, my college roommate got married. It was lovely. I had a lovely time being a bridesmaid in her wedding. Doesn't she look so beautiful  and so happy. I am so happy for both Katie and Mike. They are going to have an amazing life together. They had the perfect day on Saturday.

I was so excited for their wedding, I decided at the very last minute (like as I was standing up to give it) that I would give a speech for them at their rehearsal dinner. Due to my lack of preparation and overflowing emotions for the event. I put together a fairly cohesive speech about our time together in college, the first meeting of Mike during our senior year and also - I said I love you and Mike together at least 15 times. I couldn't stop saying it! My friend and fellow bridesmaid, Michelle, pulled me aside later and said,

We should have made a drinking game out of your speech. Drink everytime Jenna says I love Katie and Mike!

So, yes. I love Katie and Mike and I am so happy for them.

PS. I did not take the above pictures. I don't even know who did. I stole them off facebook. But they are quite lovely if I do say so myself!

Maybe You Should Stick With 28

On Saturday night, we went out to dinner with friends Matt and Judy and then came back to our apartment for drinks. Mmm margarittas!

Since Judy hadn't been over since we moved back home, it was sort of like a grand tour of MTV cribs for her (or something like that)

Anyway...

I was more than excited when Judy said she thought our house was decorated so well it looks like a model home. I am way too obsessed with decorating and looking at decorating blogs and magazines so this comment made me ridiculously happy.

At some point over margarittas, we got on the topic of birthdays..

Judy: I'm going to be 24 this year. A few days ago I thought I was going to be 25 and I got really scared that I missed my entire 24th year.
Me: I'm going to be 25, but I already sort of consider myself 25. I for some reason am self conscious about being 24 and being married with a child and a job that I like. It seems like I shouldn't have all that now. So I sort of think of myself as 28.
Judy: That's weird.

...(some time passes)

Me: I'm obsessed with decorating magazines. I love reading the Better Homes and Gardens Magazine for some reason.
Judy: Maybe you should tell people you're 28.

Girly Moment

On Saturday evening, I was minding my own business in our kitchen, preparing food for the baptism party on Saturday. I had just finished cutting up a pineapple, cantaloupe and watermelon for a fruit salad and was putting the prepared salad back into the refrigerator. The garbage can, which is typically tucked under our sink was sitting on the middle of the kitchen floor filled with rinds and the doorway under the sink was wide open. As I glanced over from the refrierator to the sink I noticed a mouse. Yep. That's right. a mouse. And I totally freaked. Not in a started screaming type of way, but in an omg what do I do? I don't want to touch that thing type of way. Lucky for me, the mouse was busy nibbling away on some rat poison and was completely unaware and unconcerned for my paralysis in the situation.

I crept over to the recycling.
Retrieved an empty formula container.
Quickly placed it over the mouse.
Put a full bottle of drain cleaner on top of that (to ensure the mouse couldn't move the container).
And then called Martin.

Me: Ummm. Where are you?
Martin: I'm out at the bunk silo. Why?
Me: Well. There's a mouse in our house and I don't know what to do.
Martin: Where is it?
Me: In the kitchen. I have it trapped, but it's alive. I don't want to touch it.
Martin: Ha. Okay. Well I'll take care of it when I get in.
Me: Thank you.
Martin: I'm actually kind of impressed. I think this is the first girly moment I've ever witnessed from you.

Family Photos

On Mother's Day, after Aubrey's Baptism, the whole family came over to our apartment for lunch and we decided to take a few photos. I love everything about the photo above and think it's an absolutely amazing family photo. Oh, Kendyll. Oh, Leigha. You're so adorable. And Megan, you're a nice addition to the photo also!

A Mother's Day Baptism

Today Aubrey was baptized. Looking at these pictures, you can't even tell she was crying her face of the entire time we were up there. She was ready for a nap and not ready to cooperate.

That's my brother, Garrett, and my sister-in-law, Jen. They are going to be amazing Godparents. I don't think Aubrey quite realizes how lucky she is to have these two in her life.

But they'll be amazing. And love her unconditionally. And probably spoil her way too much.

But, that's what Godparents are for.


Happy Mother's Day!

Stale Bread

Wednesday night I asked Martin to do something in the kitchen. What that exact something was escapes me at the moment, but no worries, its not really important in the story.

Me: Are you going to do that, or what?
Martin: Yeah. It's just really important that I pack some party mix because now I have the bag open and I need to get it shut or it will go stale.
Me: Oh, don't try to pretend like you're worried about things going stale. Half the time when I get up in the morning you've left the English Muffin package wide open.
Martin: Well, maybe I'm just trying to help you out.
Me: Ha! I bet.

Thursday night. we're laying in bed.

Martin: Did you have an English Muffin for breakfast this morning.
Me: No? Why?
Martin: Oh shoot. I thought I was really going to get you because the package was wide open when I got home tonight. Like a perfect square open. But I guess that was me.
Me: Ha. yeah. I guess so.
Martin: Well, I at least always twist the bread shut.

And then I text this picture to Martin on Friday morning.
Me: So much for the I always close the bread theory. lol
Martin: Shit

My New Obsession

So..... I recently discovered this amazing website. It's called pinterest. Basically. It's a website full of beautiful pictures of beautiful things. And whenever you're perusing the internet and you stumble upon a picture of something you think is beautiful and want to remember you can easily pin it and there you'll find it, on your pinterest page, saved for your viewing and remembering convenience. To some most of you, this probably isn't that big of a deal. But if your like me and constantly dreaming about decorating the home you don't own this is amazing



Who doesn't love a gorgeous farm table with simple centerpieces?
via

I wish I was a kid again and could play with a map like this. I guess I'll have to settle for having a kid and playing with this map with her. 

via 

I'll just sum this kitchen up by saying I love  everything about it. A chalkboard refrigerator? Yes, please!

via

I have also decided that giant letters are a must in Aubrey's room

via

If I ever have a super cute extra room with no practical use, this is how I'm going to decorate it. Oh, and I'm going to put up a ballet bar and a giant mirror and start dancing again.
via



A Random List

 Last week when Aubrey stayed in the hotel with me she slept in my bed. I know that's not approved baby rearing behavior, but I really loved cuddling with her all night long.

Has anyone else realized that tomorrow is cinco de mayo?!?! Who's coming over for tacos and margarittas?

Aubrey's getting baptised on Sunday. She has the best godparents. She's going to be one lucky girl

Men vs. Women

Conversation held during our nightly toothbrushing ritual...

Martin: So anyways, I went into the bathroom at the Nice and Easy today cause I really had to go. I look under the first stall.....pair of shoes. I look under the second stall.....pair of boots. I was about ready to die. And they took their sweet time in there too.
Me: That's because when a girl decides she needs to use the bathroom, she goes into the stall, uses the bathroom, unfolds the appropriately amount of toilet paper while she is using the toilet, and then leaves shortly after arriving. When a boy goes to the bathroom it is because he thinks he might possibly be able to use the toilet. Then he goes in there. Grunts on the seat for 13 minutes. Realizes that nothing has happened yet, but at this point he's really convinced something will happen. So he grunts for another 32 minutes before finally he is done. It is only at this point 41 minutes after entering the bathroom that he realizes there is no toilet paper.
Martin: That's not even fair! That's because we have bigger things to push out. You think having a baby is hard? Pshht. Try doing that everyday!

Easter Dress

 Aubrey looks incredibly happy in these pictures. But really, who can blame her? If you looked like a princess and a fairy and an angel all at the same time you would probably be pretty happy too. Here's to a beautiful Easter dress on my gorgeous little girl!

In A Lot of Years

*Thomas, the five year old around the corner, to my mom*

So I was thinking. In a lot of years Aubrey can be my girlfriend and then I can work here (on the farm)

Gotta admire the go getting attitude!