...on the wedding of the century

Ok Kate and Wills, you guys had a pretty good wedding and I can't say that I blame you for planning your big day on the five year anniversary of MY wedding, but this post is not about you guys.  Today Adam and I celebrate five years of wedded bliss.  Right, my dear?  Instead of gushing about how great the past five years have been and blah, blah, blah...I have decided to let these pictures speak for themselves.

the engagement

the engagement photos

the bride

the groom

the happy couple

the cake

the exit

More on this later...I am experiencing some technical difficulties and by technical difficulties I mean user error.  Here is what you have to look forward to..  1) our wedding slideshow  2) how we celebrated 5 years  3) my gift to adam  

Baca-town...I just love you and look forward to many more adventures with you in the years to come.  Cheers to five years of marriage!

...on a splendid little article

While I was at the Doctor's office this morning I picked up an old Parent's magazine and landed on this hilarious article!  I was able to find it online and pasted it here.  Seriously, I nearly peed my pants laughing while reading this.  It is called, "Regrets, I Have a Few" by Merrin Dungey.  I hope you guys enjoy this as much as I did.  




Since I had my first child three months ago I've dealt with an endless string of sleepless nights, the relentless cycle of feeding and pumping and changing and comforting, and the slow realization that my life will never be the same again. Now that I've emerged from the fog of being a new mommy, I have a few things I need to say.
I want to start by apologizing to my vagina. I just... I just didn't know what was going to happen. I thought it would be easy. All my life I'd been told I have "child-birthing hips." That turned out to be a dirty lie. I pushed for three hours, and I put you, dear vagina, through hell. I did my best to protect you, and I apologize. I can only hope that the bad feelings between us can be healed. This relationship has gotten really painful, and it's been weeks now. Please let the healing begin.
I'd also like to say I'm sorry to my husband for all my inappropriate name-calling in the delivery room and the resentment I felt because I had to carry our child for nine months and you didn't.I will have sex with you again someday, don't hold your breath or anything, but we'll get there. I'll wear attractive lingerie again as well. These grandma underpants aren't forever!
And honey... about my boobs. While I appreciate your attempts to touch them, try to understand that they are not for you at this time. These are working breasts, they are under construction at the moment, and we appreciate your patience. It's funny: I can see a mixture of fear and delight in your eyes at the size of them. And trust me, they are something to fear. I never thought a boob could dwarf the size of my baby's head, but it is true. Little Emma's bravery in attacking them day after day is impressive. I must apologize to her as well. I had no idea they would operate in a sprinkler fashion, and I have sprayed her in the face many, many times. But the way she fights through it is quite something.
I apologize to every woman whose baby shower I attended before I became a mom. All those useless stuffed animals and baby booties I bought... well, I'm sure they might have come in handy at some point, but I should have stuck to the registry and gotten things you truly needed.
I apologize once again to my husband, this time for criticizing you about the way you dress our daughter. I know she's my very own personal doll come to life, and I like to play dress-up. But you make such weird choices. Why would you put her in a sweater when it is 85 degrees outside? It's the middle of the day-a night-gown really? It's bedtime, sweetheart, why is she wearing a hat? I recognize this is not America's Next Top Model, but I do ask you to think about what makes sense sometimes. That's all.
I must apologize to every new mom ever bumped into before I had a baby for judging your appearance. I mentally criticized your old sweatpants, your over sized T-shirts, and your haphazard ponytails. I figured you just hadn't taken the time to get ready before you went out or were in dire need of a makeover. Now I understand those precious minutes you savor when the baby goes down for a nap- the desperation to make the most of them. I could shower! I could eat! I could sleep! Check my e-mail! Work-out! Do laundry! Have sex! (Well, maybe not just yet, but...) I could do so much if she would just sleep a little longer. Then, inevitably, there's that sound through the baby monitor. (Stop.Wait.Listen.) Was it for real?... That was just a sneeze, right? ... She's not up,right?... Oh, please, I'm almost done eating, the coffee's finally ready, I thought I could shower. Just five more minutes please. Just... nope. She's up. She's hungry. She's wet. She's something. And once you've got her fed and changed and played with her, you're on the clock to get that errand done before it all unravels again. I get it now: There is absolutely no time for a blowout or blusher, I was a complete jerk, and I am sorry.
I see how people look at me- with that mixture of pity and disgust- in my old nursing tank covered in spit-up and the same maternity shorts I wear every day. I'm like the Elephant Man. I put my daughter in fancy clothes to compensate for the monster pushing her around. I see the stares. I know what you're saying. Well to heck with you, you small-pants wearing Miley Cyrus fan. I just had a baby. I am not always this fat!
I guess I should apologize for my anger but in solidarity with new moms everywhere, I'm not going to.
But I would definitely like to apologize to my former self, I always thought I had a few pounds to lose and could look better. I never knew how great I had it. What I wouldn't give to fit into my old clothes again! I look at them longingly day after day. Hi, jeans. Hello, Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress. You were all so good to me. (sniff)
I should have slowed down and enjoyed my freedom more when I had the chance. I used to beat myself up if I slept past eight or stayed out too late. I was a fool. A fool. What did I know? Oh, to do anything at all at a leisurely pace- shop, eat, read a newspaper- and anything without having to wear a monitor. Waiting. Listening. For her.
While I'm sending regrets I should apologize to my pre-baby boobs for not appreciating them enough. They were a great pair of boobs- not to big, just enough decolletage. And now... sigh... who knows what will be left of them once I stop nursing? I'm sorry, former boobs. I truly am.
I'll never be sorry about deciding to become a mother, though. There may be no going back to my old body or my old lifestyle, but having Emma is worth everything I've had to give up and then some. But you already know that. 

While I can relate to most of these things, I just need to end this post by saying that I love having Jack around and would not trade him for anything!  

...on birth announcements

I just got to thinking, what is the etiquette on sending out birth announcements for a child who is 5 1/2 months old?  Too late?  All you prim and proper Texas ladies, I want to know what you think.  I had a really cute one picked out and everything but we just never quite got around to getting them printed.  What to do?

...on spring cleaning

I just got home and was looking around my house thinking, "man, I wish I was more organized."  I seriously did not get the organization bone or the good decorator bone.  I have gotten much better over the years at keeping things neat and tidy as well as getting things organized but it is not one of my strengths.  I think it's safe to say that I am still in my nesting mode.  I have spent the last hour cleaning up my kitchen and trying to make it all look more organized.  If anyone has any tips for me I would truly appreciate it!  Also, if anyone wants to come over and help me decorate my house...that would be awesome!

Crossfit update:  I have officially started the process of joining the crossfit gym.  Yikes!  I'm extremely nervous but also excited about getting stronger...which leads me to this...

Can you read it?  It says, "my mom has a 6 pack"  I'll save you the mystery....I don't.  This is a 6 month onesie which doesn't give me much time to put this on Jack and not make a liar out of him.  My plan...Crossfit, Hot Yoga, and Jogging.  My weakness....anything chocolate.  

...on sweet saturdays with Dad

I am looking forward to many more saturdays like this in the weeks and months to come.  So long busy season...

...on bargain hunting

One of the last times I was in Phoenix I saw and article in the paper on scoping out good finds at thrift stores.  Ever since then I have had this urge to go down to goodwill and see what treasures I could find.  This morning, after taking chloe to the vet, I drove myself down to goodwill.  I had all these ideas in my mind that I would come out with hundreds of treasures from clothes to purses to books.  After all, I consider bargain shopping to be one of my best talents!  Well, turns out I couldn't bring myself to really dig around in the clothes and things.  Marshalls is one thing but apparently I don't have what it takes to shop goodwill.  I did come out with a book, Les Miserables.  I have been wanting to read this for a while so I was glad to find a copy for cheap.  Funny thing is, it was a library book from APS!  The guy said that they get a lot of "donations" from APS and the public library.  Very generous of them, huh?

...on Jess, the artist?

I don't think I'd go that far.  I suppose you could put me in the category of I want to have my house decorated but I don't want to pay a million dollars to do it.  I have this really bad habit of seeing something at a store and then thinking, "I could totally make that!"  Sometimes I could, most of the time there is no way.  This painting came out of me seeing a few different things that I liked and trying to copy them in this abstract-y piece of art, I guess.  For all of you true artist out there, kudos to you for your real talent!

The white stripey part on the right is actually lyrics to a song that I LOVE.  I wrote them out and slapped them on the side then painted over with some different colors.  There are some things I would change about this but over all I am pretty pleased.  Plus...the whole project only cost me about $25.  Not too shabby.  

So...thoughts?  I'm almost afraid to ask.  

One last thing.  Remember several posts ago when I asked for opinions on toms shoes?  Well I went out and bought me a pair and it turns out I love them!  They are seriously the most comfy shoe I have ever put on my feet!  I want to get another pair in red.  Trendy, hipster-y, or not, I love 'em!  You should go out and get you some.