It's already Wednesday?

So, Monday was Jake's birthday... we got pretty rowdy, the cops came and now he's in jail. But, before that happened, the Hos came over (yes, we have other friends but we don't have to clean the house for these particular friends so they are automatically our first call), we enjoyed Arnie Palmers on the porch, the little girls swam to beat the heat, and we ate Thai food & DQ Blizzard Oreo cake. All before 7:30 since some chicas we know must get to bed on time!

Last night my Dad & MJ came over to see the babe and we once again hung out and ordered food. If I were not going through an emotional growth spurt/suffering from parental-induced exhaustion (PIE), I would cook but that concept is on hold. It took Pizza Hut 1 hour and 20 minutes to deliver a cold pepperoni pizza (a boy pizza nonetheless) so the girls played until it finally came. Mekensie is flying to Florida all by herself to see her other grandparents and Papa Bill is having fun getting a new roof and windows for free, courtesy of the hail storm last month.

Tonight Liz & Ellen arrive to stay with us as Ellen goes through Orientation at the U of M and then Friday-Sunday Jana and her boy toy, Dr. Tyler the chiro, are here for the Lifetime Fitness Triathlon/Seltz-Severson Summer Reunion. And on Sunday we head up to Rock Lake for a week at the cabin with the Seltz fam. Stay tuned for details on baby's first skeeter bite and other riveting stories...


p.s. If you are still reading this I'm sorry. But one other blog-worthy (very loose criteria for blog-worthiness) event is my Papa Michael fell in the garden and broke his left arm! I called him the One-Armed Bandit and since he already has hoop earrings like a pirate, he just needs an eye patch now.

Emotional growthspurt

Do you ever just want to stay home, bra-less, for days on end while you play mom? That's kinda me right now.

I was talking to my friend Chels the other day and she mentioned all these events she had been to recently (which I had also been invited to that I never made). Birthday parties, baby showers, wedding showers, etc. And this is just from one circle of friends... if she only knew all the other BBQ's, grad parties and Happy Hours I had to bail on. I say had to because being a new mom is taking a lot out of me, in a good way. I am really absorbed in the all special moments with Norelle: playing in the pool, the look on her face when she tries new baby foods, baths and books before bedtimes. Not to mention the fact that we have had company a plenty, I am still working 4 days a week, I am attempting to stay healthy & fit all while trying living in a semi-clean house that needs constant cleaning due to baby juices everywhere.

It's not just my time that I spend with her but it's also all my emotional energy and it is so wonderful! Sometimes I just cry thinking about her growing up into a big kid or loving how baby she is right now in this moment. My sentimental side is in full-gear and often very consuming. I expected to wash diapers and get-up way too ealry but I never realized the JOY that comes from having a little beautiful, hilarious baby girl at your side day & night. I highly recommend you go pick yourself up one...

Happy Birthday Grandma Liz!

Happy 31st Birthday Jake!

The original BFF. You're neat, you're cool, you totally rule!

Downer post

The news on my Grandma Audrey is not good. Her pancreatic cancer is advancing and her oncologist thinks she may only live another month, two at the very most. Needless to say she does not feel good and has a lot of pain but still has some good days. My Papa Michael is very devastated and scared, as we all are, so please keep my family in your prayers!

Happy 4th of July!

Recap

So, the adoption panel was Thursday and it was nice to meet some other birthmoms which just reminds us how special Tasha really is. We had a wonderful weekend with the adoption finalization a real highlight! It was awesome to have our parents, Jill & Abby and BFF Missy there to support us! Judge Curly did good job and we realized this process has brought us full-circle: first to jailhouse back in September for a match meeting and finally to a courthouse. Hopefully, I won't be frequenting government sites very often (although I would love to ride on Air Force One someday). Holly and Steve & Liz stayed with us this weekend so it was fun for Nori to get some grandparent time. Holly actually stayed through this morning because daycare called in sick so we had an unexpected day off.

Speaking of daycare, we got in at the new place! Hooray! She starts on July 21 after we squeeze in a vacay at the cabin. When I called her current provider to tell her, she actually started crying so that was really sad!! We brought her sunflowers today so we hope that cheered her up and Nori will certainly be back when the new place has sick days or vacation.

Nori got a pink swimming pool and has been "swimming" up a storm and playing with her friend Declyn (a BOY who is 7 months). We enjoyed Mojitos with the neighbors, walks and naps. I love summer...

Enough about me. How are YOU?