Random Thoughts Thursday

- When I have my sunglasses on, I think I have a rather cute nose. Without my sunglasses, I am not such a fan of it.
- I think cookies and coffee are an appropriate breakfast for myself, but prefer to feed Lily something healthier.
- I think I might start scrapbooking.
- I haven't printed any pictures in well over a year. So while I do have a million images of Lily on the computer, I don't have many actual photos.
- I really need to lose weight. Like, really really.
- But I love food and loathe exercise, so...
- I need to renew our zoo membership.
- We are way behind on our DVR'd shows. I think we have about 5 hours of programming to watch from the past week. And we have watched a couple hours. And yes, I realize we watch too much TV.
- But in my defense, I read on average 3 books a week.
- I don't really have that much free time. I read fast and stay up too late.

A Post About Wind and Insomnia

I can't sleep so I am sitting here listening to the wind. Don't get me wrong, it is not the wind that is keeping me up, rather my chronic insomnia. I was lying in bed for a bit, listening to my husband snore, but thought rather than smother him with a pillow, I would get up and blog, out where it is quiet and I can hear the wind better. I jest...I would never hurt my husband. But those of you who share a bed with a snorer know the itch is there some nights! Anyway, insomnia sucks. There are a multitude of factors contributing to my insomnia. Motherhood comes to mind. Even though Chickie has slept through the night pretty much for the past 18 months, in the past two and a half years (on Saturday!) I have not slept as well as I did before becoming pregnant. Or in that first trimester when I slept like the dead. Oh bliss, to sleep like that again! The temperature is another factor. Even with the A/C totally jamming, I still find I don't sleep as well if the outdoor temp is above about 50. And I have my alarm set because I have Bible study in the morning. It is almost guaranteed that if I need a good night sleep, I won't get one. I need one tonight. I have a busy day, topped off with a concert tomorrow night. Sleep. At least I can listen to the wind as I wish for sleep.

I love the wind. Convenient since I live in The Windy City. Okay, I actually live in a suburb 40 miles away. Coincidentally, Chicago is not nicknamed The Windy City for its wind. At least not entirely. It's position on Lake Michigan does indeed make it a windy city. However the actual nickname is attributed to Chicago politicians and there propensity to "blow a lot of wind." There are a couple other theories on the origin of the nickname as well. Don't believe me? Google it! Betcha didn't actually think you would ever learn anything on this little blog, did ya! Anyway, I love the wind. I love listening to it, feeling it. I love the rustle of leaves and the jangling of wind chimes. I really should be more leery of the wind, considering I have an enormous 40 foot maple tree in my front yard. Of minor concern and annoyance is that fact that every time the wind blows it rains little sticks (and in the spring, helicopters) all over my lawn. Of more significance is that fact that the tree towers over my humble one story abode. If a limb were to come down, it would likely land right where I am sitting. Or on the van in the driveway. Or Matt's car in the street. Or on my neighbors garage. But nonetheless, I love the wind. It's magical to me.

Now if it could only blow some sleep my way!

Random Thoughts Thursday

- I bet those Halloween Spirit stores are getting a really good deal on short term leases this year, due to all the vacant store fronts they have to chose from.
- I really like the sound of the Rihanna/Eminem song, "Love the Way You Lie", but the actual lyrics are horrifying.
- If it is the ninth month, there is absolutely no way the temperature should start with a nine!
- I only have one pair of jeans. I think I need to invest in a good pair, maybe two, so at least I have a backup pair.
- I had a "break up" with my oldest, though not closest, friend about six months ago. It still hurts and has been on my mind and heart a lot lately. I should just get over it, but I have a hard time letting things go sometimes.
- Even though it is stupid hot out today, it is also very windy, which makes me happy!
- Tonight is the season premier of "Bones" and I am super excited.
- Tomorrow Matt and I are going to see Roger Waters perform The Wall all the way through. It is kinda like a date, though we are going with one of Matt's co-workers/friend and his girlfriend.
- I clean my mom's house every week (she pays me) but my house hasn't been touched by a dust rag in who knows how long.
- I have a freakish love for my blue enameled cast iron dutch oven. I use it whenever I can.

In Honor of the Autumnal Equinox

(image from some website that said free images, don't sue me if it is yours)

Autumn Movement
by Carl Sandburg

I cried over beautiful things knowing no beautiful thing lasts.

The field of cornflower yellow is a scarf at the neck of the

copper sunburned woman, the mother of the year, the taker of

seeds.

The northwest wind comes and the yellow is torn full of holes,

new beautiful things come in the first spit of snow, on the

northwest wind, and the old things go, not one lasts.

I Can't Think of a Creative Title

I can't think of a creative title so I won't even attempt to be witty or anything. My mind has gone a bit numb. I blame Lily's insistence on watching Go Potty Go! repeatedly. Normally I would make her go play or something, but she got her flu shot today and is feeling a little punky. Her leg hurts. Poor Chickie.

Yesterday we played outside after the Bears game. I took a million pictures of Lily. I haven't taken many lately, so it was nice to get reacquainted with my camera. Would you like to see a few? Of course you would...that's why most of you stop by, isn't it?











I realize Lily isn't really smiling in any of the pictures, but she almost never looks at the camera or lets me get all up in her face.

She sure is a cutie, isn't she?

{Untitled}

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window...it is cool and cloudy and I think I am hearing some rumbles of thunder. Sah-weet! I love thunderstorms!

I am thinking...how sometimes you want something so badly that you can almost convince yourself it is reality.

I am thankful for...my husband who I have hardly seen this past week. He is working today, again. He has pretty much been working every waking hour for the past week. He works so hard to provide so much for our little family. These crazy work weeks don't happen all the time, but I really appreciate the normal weeks after the crazy ones.

From the kitchen...since Matt has been working like crazy, I have a back up of meals to make in the fridge. I think I am going to make chili today, per my menu plan.

I am wearing...jammies still. It is quite possible I will be in jammies all day. Depends on if we decide to do anything.

I am creating...a plan for the day.

I am going...nowhere today, at least not as of now.

I am reading...Winter Garden by Kristin Hannah.

I am hoping...that I can convince Matt to go to church tomorrow. After the week he has had, I am hoping he doesn't hate me for making the suggestion.

I am hearing...Lily playing at her little desk.

Around the house...I should probably clean up a little. I really want to decorate for fall, but I can't get the decorations out of the attic by myself.

A few plans for the rest of the week...not much going on today. Hopefully church and the Bears game and some family time tomorrow.

From my picture journal...

My baby Labor Day weekend last year.

A Perfectly Stinky Afternoon

Lily was in quite a mood when she woke up from her nap today. She had been making noise for a bit, but every time I went in to check on her, she was still asleep. Finally, though, I decided she needed to get up. I have been trying to limit her naps in an attempt to get her in bed before 10 pm. We had a big morning today, she went down a half hour later than normal, and I was relaxing and reading a book, but at 4:30 I just needed to get her up. She wasn't all that happy about it. Her hair was all over her face, sweat gluing it to her forehead and cheeks. She was yelling at me to go away. I picked her up and she started punching and hitting at me. I don't blame her really, I don't like to be woken up either. I held her and rocked her and rubbed her back. I asked her if she wanted me to sing her some songs. She wasn't having it. I carried Lily into the other room and sat down in the rocking chair. I started rubbing her back while she laid with her head on my chest. She started calming down as I talked gently to her. It was quiet and there was a gentle breeze coming in. This was bliss! My baby isn't so much of a cuddler anymore. She is busy with little girl with toys to play with, dances to do, dogs to chase and books to read. Sitting on my lap, rocking with me while I sing her songs doesn't usually fit into her schedule.
And then, all of a sudden, she relaxed completely. Immediately my nose told me why. But you know what, my little stinker asked me to sing her a song. And then another. And another. All the while with her little head rested on my chest, me stroking her hair. I was happy to oblige her. I asked her if we could go change her diaper, and she said tomorrow. I decided to sing her "Tomorrow". I don't really know the words in the right order or anything, but she doesn't know that. When I finished she told me it was a beautiful song.
And that is why, for a half an hour this afternoon, with a stinky, sweaty little girl on my lap, I was in Heaven.

Random Thoughts Thursday...Friday Edition

Welcome to Random Thoughts Thursday...Friday Edition. Yesterday was one insane day in mi casa, so I didn't get a chance to blog. Such is life sometimes. Here we go!

- I love fall weather. I love cool, blustery days and crisp evenings. I like to wear jeans and sweaters and sweatshirts. I think I am trying to rush that kind of weather this year and mother nature is revolting. To make her point, every time I wear a sweatshirt, I inevitably end up sweating my butt off. It should be noted that if I am wearing a sweatshirt I will 100% of the time be wearing my holiest, most pit stained, nastiest or otherwise inappropriate t-shirt underneath, removing any option of taking off the sweatshirt.
- No matter what Lily tells me she wants for breakfast, when I put it in front of her she will refuse to eat it and ask for something else.
- My battles with Lily eating have nothing to do with her being a picky eater that doesn't like a certain food and everything to do with her asserting her stubbornness.
- I have no idea where she gets her stubbornness. Ha!
- I love the sound of geese flying overhead honking.
- I have dragged my butt out of bed before 8 every day this week. Sometimes I have even dragged my butt out of bed before Lily gets up. It is my new goal...to be out of bed by 8. I aim to be out of bed by 7:30, but I won't beat myself up about getting up at 7:59 as long as I am out of bed by 8.
- I must make my bed every day! There are months worth of dust on every surface in my house and my tub needs a scrubbing, but my bed will be made every.single.day.
- We have our first lost library book. I am devastated by this because I try so hard to keep track of all our library books and keep them separate from our other books. I am sure it will turn up, but for now it is really bugging me.
- I joined another mom's group, called Hannah Circle, at the church we sometimes attend. On our way there on Monday morning, Lily excitedly told me it was her first day of school. It was both adorable and heartbreaking because I don't want to think about my baby going to school yet.

Random Thoughts Thursday

- The weather is finally cooling off so Lily is now sporting her traditional half pony instead of a full ponytail. It makes her look a lot younger, which I am happy about.
- My dinner is baking away in the oven. I am so excited to try it, but unfortunately a bit spilled on the bottom of the oven, so I am smelling burnt food with a slight aroma of cabbage rolls.
- My one dog is snoring, my other dog is sprawled on the couch in the other room. I have very lazy dogs.
- The greys in my hair are taking over...I need to color it ASAP!
- Tonight is the first NFL game of the season. Also, Vampire Diaries starts tonight. I am insanely excited about fall TV. But I will still miss Lost.
- Lily is adorable, but also very 2 lately.
- I very much want to go to an apple orchard and pumpkin patch this year. We didn't make it last year :(
- My 2 year old is almost too tall for some 3T pants! She is a tall kid! Must get that from her daddy, because I am notsomuch on the tall side.
- Our computer desk, which I just cleaned off the other day, already looks like an office threw up on it.
- I love having the windows open on fallish evenings, even if I wake up in the morning cold. I love snuggling into my blankets!
- I sometimes think I am wittier than I really am.
- I almost always say what is on my mind, which makes me appear brash, crass and uncouth. But at least you never have to wonder what I am thinking.
- Freebird by Lynyrd Skynyrd is one of my favorite songs. I also really like Chasing Cars by Snow Patrol.
- I love to paint my fingernails, but I prefer my toes bare.
- I am really excited for my dinner.

{Untitled}

FOR TODAY…

Outside my window...it is cool and feels like fall! I am sure that it will warm up this afternoon, but this my perfect weather!

I am thinking...about all the things I have on my to do list. For starters, calling Com Ed...yuck!

I am thankful for...finally feeling better.

From the kitchen...tonight I am making one of my favorite blogger's, Notes from the Frugal Trenches "Poor Man/Lazy Man Cabbage Rolls". I am excited to try them out because I love cabbage rolls from my favorite German restaurant.

I am wearing...jeans and a sweatshirt! Yay sweatshirt weather!

I am creating...still working on a plan to simplify my life!

I am going...to the zoo tomorrow with Lily and our friends! The weather should be great, hopefully it won't be too crowded, and we need to get out!

I am reading...In theory, I am still reading The First American: The Life and Times of Benjamin Franklin. However I haven't picked it up in a while.

I am hoping...that a friend's critically ill son responds to treatment.

I am hearing...Lily singing and "tap dancing".

Around the house...not much going on. I have some laundry to put away.

A few plans for the rest of the week...errands today, zoo tomorrow, BBQ at my aunt's on Saturday, and the first Bears game on Sunday!

From my picture journal...

This was taken about 6 years ago on vacation for our first anniversary. It was taken with our first digital camera.

Where Has the Time Gone?

I was reading back through my blog while Lily was napping. All the way back. Back to the beginning, when I had a three month old and had just started cloth diapering. Back to when in each post I lamented the lack of sleep I was receiving each night because of my poor-sleeping-baby. She is a better sleeper now. She has slept through the night since she was about one. She naps. Getting her to bed is a whole different story. I was celebrating milestones such as rolling over, sitting up, her first tooth. Now I am anticipating potty training and a big girl bed. Instead of playing with her toes and jumping in her exersaucer, she is "reading" to the dogs and telling knock knock jokes*.

I can't believe how big my little Chickie is getting. Sure, everyone says they grow up so fast. I am well aware of this day in and day out. Reading back through the past two years really drives that point home. The little baby that slept in my bed every night for nearly six months has very little interest in taking a rest with momma. Yet at the same time we seem to have circled back in some respects. I once again wake up to my baby in my bed. Daddy gets her out of her crib most mornings and she comes in to see me. I lift her on to the bed and we read stories for a while. I no longer have a nursling snuggling up, but rather a little person eager for some Dr. Seuss. It is honestly the best way to start my day.

Some days I find myself wishing away the tantrums, the picky eating, the refusal to go to bed. I wish Lily would just potty train already, or take off her shoes when I ask her to (she has no problem doing it in the car!) instead of telling me she can't and asking me to do it. And then I get so mad at myself. She still accepts help more often then not. She still needs me now. I know a girl always needs her momma, but right now she still understands that she needs me. Before I can blink my eyes she will be a teenager and think she doesn't need me anymore.

When I have trying days with Lily (and today has been a bit of one!) I just need to remember, time goes too fast!

*Lily: Knock knock.
Me: Who's there?
Lily: Peach.
Me: Peach who?
Lily: Peach yogurt (falls on floor laughing)

Lunch

YUM!

Coffee With Grandma and LuLu

Last Thursday my mom and aunt, two of Lily's favorite people (and mine!), were coming out our way to have lunch with my Grandma's best friend and visit the outlet mall. Since the outlet mall is just a few short miles from us, they invited Lily and I to have coffee with them. We were happy to oblige! Lily loves having coffee (actually chocolate milk!) with the girls! And I love going out for coffee, especially since my husband is just now coming around to the coffee, so my dreams of sitting in a coffee shop with my honey have yet to become reality. Unfortunately we were just a few days too early for Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Lattes! But believe me, I did ask about them! The barista was holding out on me. He didn't tell me that they would be back in less than a week!

We enjoyed our coffee and then walked around the mall. It was a beautiful day to walk around outside (even though I was dying...I had a doctor's appointment later that day!). My mom and aunt are crazy addicted to Vera Bradley. They sell cute quilted bags and purses. Of course we had to go in. Heaven help me! Why oh why did I, an admitted purse and bag addict, go in?!? I know better! I loved all the styles of bags and cute patterns. I couldn't justify a new bag, but I really and truly did need a new wallet (honestly! There was a hole in the change part of my old one and I was losing change everywhere!). LuLu and Grandma decided Lily needed a little purse, so they were so sweet to buy her one. She looked adorable walking around with her little Vera Bradley shopping bag.


Of course we had to hit up the Eddie Bauer Outlet. It is probably my all time favorite store, and I had a $10 off coupon! Yippee! I bought two cardigan sweaters and an off white T-shirt to go under one of them. In true Kelly fashion, I am considering returning one. I will have to get Matt's opinion. My mom approved of both of them, so I know I don't look like a frumpy dork wearing them, but sometimes Matt thinks otherwise. Besides, I don't know that I need two sweaters. I mean, I love sweaters, but lets face it, I already have a couple and spend most of my fall and winter in fleeces and sweatshirts. Still mulling it over though...I am sure if I return one I will regret it later...

I ventured to the mailbox this morning (to gather two days worth of mail) and there was a lovely card for Lily from LuLu. Enclosed were the above photos. I love the pics, and Lily LOVES the card! She loves cards. She has all the cards she has received this year in her little desk and plays with them daily! Thanks LuLu! And thanks for coffee and shopping ladies! We are happy to meet up with you any time! We love you and love spending time with you!!!

Spending Fast

Finances.

Did the word send a shiver down your spine? It does mine. My husband makes a very nice salary and we live in a modest (read - small) house. Yet somehow it seems there is always more month than money. I will admit it - we have a tendency to live beyond our means and we aren't always good at self control. And while there are many, many people who are truly struggling, we feel the pinch every now and then. Oh sure, I do a budget. But that is it. I write out on a piece of paper where our money should go each month but then fail to make sure we only spend the allotted money on groceries, or entertainment, or whatever. We took a 13 week class - paid to take a class - on getting our finances in order, and while we have made some improvements, we definitely need to get back on track.

So I proposed something radical. A spending fast. For a month. September. September will hopefully be a low key month for the Groves household. Gas and groceries. That is it. That is all we will purchase. Of course, I will still pay all the monthly bills. And Heaven forbid we should need to dish out some moola for something medically related, we most definitely won't hesitate to. Obviously if some emergency crops up, like both cars break down, we won't just hitchhike for the month. But trips to the mall, or even worse, Target, will be on hold. Eating out - not gonna happen. We will have to say no. No to invites out with friends. No to being lazy and going out instead of cooking. This will probably be more of a challenge for Matt since pretty much every day someone pops their head in his office inquiring if he wants to get a burrito at lunch. And I fully appreciate the challenge for him. His job is stressful and getting out of the office for an hour at lunch is sometimes very necessary for his sanity. It won't be easy on me either. Starbucks just brought back their Pumpkin Spice Lattes. I have to go an entire month without one. I wait all year for Pumpkin Spice Lattes. And while I can try to mimic them at home, they just aren't the same.

So what will we be doing? Well, I don't know. This is going to be hard. We very often go out for lunch on the weekends. For some reason, lunches on the weekend are just better out. I am going to really need to be on my game as far as grocery shopping and menu planning. I usually plan about 5 dinners for the week and the rest is filled in with eating out, leftovers, or whatever.

Despite September coinciding with Pumpkin Spice Lattes, which gave me pause and made me reconsider the idea, it also lines up with the start of football season. Sundays are taken care of entertainment-wise. And we have memberships to the zoo and arboretum. We will just have to pack lunches (which is honestly better anyway since zoo food, while convenient and kinda a novelty, is overpriced and kinda crap!). Hopefully the dreadfully hot weather will abate and we can enjoy some parks and forest preserves again. We have a gym membership and Lily loves the childcare there. Matt and I can go work out on Saturday mornings. Really, there is so much to do that doesn't require spending money!

I will be upfront though. Matt and I are going to see Roger Waters perform The Wall at the end of the month. The {very, very pricey} tickets have already been paid for. However, there will be a few {extremely overpriced} beers bought by Matt. We may go out to dinner first. It is a long planned and very overdue date for us. And my husband is turning into a shaggy hippy, so I will give him a pass and let him get a haircut. He just couldn't find the time recently. Other than that, I can't foresee any expenses that can't hold off until October. And maybe by October, we will decide we don't need whatever it is any more!

Wish us luck!