MBSM - March 26th

Here is my best shot for today. Abhi just learned how to blow bubbles, and she had a blast.


For more "best shots" visit Tracey over at Picture This.

Things are crazy at work this week and Fiona is working on her second tooth, so my posting may be a bit sparse for a while. On the plus side, Abhi slept in her own bed ALL night last night, so we are keeping our fingers crossed that it will continue! Of course, I got up 5 times for Fiona, but it was still nice to come back to our bed and have a little room to stretch out. Jim said he slept better than he had in a long time. Both girls went to sleep tonight will minimal crying (on Fiona's part) and jumping around (on Abhi's part) so it is shaping up to be another good night.

Playgroup

The playgroup was a rousing sucess and I am sure everyone slept well, I know we did. Here's a little sample of what four 2 yr olds do when they get together. (The clicks on the video are where I took pictures).




More later, it is Fiona's nap time.

We have a tooth!

Fiona has her first tooth! I just noticed it while she was chewing on my finger. Last night I noticed it hurt a little when she was nursing, but I thought it was just the position she was in, but I think it was the tooth. This is a new experience for me, nursing a baby with teeth! Abhi stopped nursing before she got teeth. I am really hoping there will be no biting!!

In other news, we are having a playgroup at my apartment today. Including Abhi and Fiona, there will be four 2 year olds, 2 babies, and 4-6 adults (depending on if the husbands come). Jim conveniently had a flatland jam in Lake Charles today so he left early this morning and won't be back until tomorrow sometime. He always manages to miss these get-togethers. It should be lots of fun and Abhi is SO excited that all her friends are coming.

Abhi is having some sleep issues right now, but I will post more on that later. I need some good advice! Right now I need to get busy and clean the house then go to the grocery store for some snacks and drinks. I am hoping I can get both the girls to take a nap at the same time so I can get a nap too. Wish me luck!

MBSM

Well, happy Monday to everyone! Jim's computer crashed yesterday, so I stayed up until midnight last night re-installing everything, then Fiona woke up every 2 hours (she's either teething or about to start really crawling, or both), so I am one tired mommy this morning. Nothing a Red Bull and a couple cups of coffee can't fix.

I got my new camera on Friday, so I was pretty much taking pictures all weekend. Jim got pretty tired of it even though I only took like 2 pictures of him. Anyway, I had a lot of pictures to look through to pick one for the Best Shot. It was really tough, but I had to go with this one of my sleepy little girl. I love, love, love this picture.


I have to tell you that I don't use Photoshop (gasp! I know!) - I have no idea how to work that monster of a program. I use Google's Picassa to edit my photos and it does everything I need. I did a couple of things to this one. First I warmed up the colors and then I used the blur effect to soften it up. The picture was already a tad blurry since I wasn't using the flash, so I thought I would make it more blurry and warm up the colors to enhance that "sleepy" effect. I thought it turned out pretty good. To see more Best Shots, visit Tracey over at Picture This. She has a beautiful wedding photo of her sister and an adorable pouty faced daughter.

So, my camera also has this really cool super macro setting where you can focus on something that is literally touching the lens of the camera. I was playing around with it last night taking pictures of Abhi's toes and the pictures on the seat of Fiona's exersaucer. Jim thought I was nuts and even asked me in a very concerned voice if I was ok. Ok, ok! I probably don't need 10 pictures from different angles of Abhi's toes, but I LOVE photography and getting this camera was really exciting for me. I promise this will be the last time I will gush over the camera and I will wait until Jim is not here to take 50 pictures of the cat's whiskers so he won't think I am crazy.

Woo Hoo!

I got my camera today!! Stay tuned for some more pictures!!

So, I have a question for the internet. What do you do when a 2 year old won't eat anything but chicken nuggets and peanut butter sandwiches? Jim wants to be a hardass about it and not let her have anything but what we are eating and if she won't eat, then too bad. My view is that I would rather her eat something than nothing at all. He thinks that we are letting her control us too much and I somewhat agree, but what can we do about it? I think she is probably just going through a stage and will start eating more variety soon. I also think that the more we make a big deal out of it, the longer it will continue. I don't know, I am learning how to handle a 2 yr old as I go. Hopefully, I will have it all figured out by the time Fiona gets to this age (rrriiiiiggghhtt-she will probably find a way to throw some new spin on it and I will be at a loss again).

Raising kids has been the biggest challenge of my life, but it is so so rewarding.

Pillowfight!

MBSM

I thought I would shake things up a bit and post a picture with a video today. I bought Abhi some fingerpaints and she had a blast with them. I also did some fancy photo editing that turned out pretty cool.



Here is the video...please excuse Jim's noseblowing and the crappy video quality. We were having a very lively conversation about who the fingerpaints belonged to.



I have another clip from this time, but I am waiting for Google Videos to review it so I can get the link.

Funny Video of the Week - Ikea Clean Up

Ikea Clean Up

105 Facts About Me

Since I don't really have much to talk about today, I thought I would steal one of those MySpace surveys and post it here. So, here it goes....


1. EVER BEEN GIVEN AN ENGAGEMENT RING?
No. I proposed to Jim, and we were so broke that we just bought wedding bands.

2. LONGEST RELATIONSHIP?
I am currently in my longest relationship. We have been together almost 9 1/2 years and married for 6 1/2.

3. LAST GIFT YOU RECEIVED?
My mom just bought me a gift certificate for the Chicken Soup's Life Coaching for Parents six week online course.

4. EVER DROPPED A CELL PHONE?
All the time.

5. WHEN'S THE LAST TIME YOU WORKED OUT?
I really cannot remember....college maybe?

6. THING(S) YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY ON?
Bills, groceries, anything from Target

7. LAST FOOD YOU ATE?
Chocolate chip muffin and a cup of coffee

8. FIRST THING YOU NOTICE ABOUT THE OPPOSITE SEX?
Eyes

9. ONE FAVORITE SONG?
Crazy by Gnarls Barkley

10. WHERE DO YOU LIVE?
Austin, Texas

12. CELL PHONE SERVICE PROVIDER:
Sprint

13. FAVORITE MALL STORE:
Old Navy

14. LONGEST JOB YOU HAD:
My last job - 6 years

15. DO YOU OWN A PAIR OF DICE?
Yes

16. DO YOU PRANK CALL PEOPLE?:
No

17. LAST WEDDING YOU ATTENDED?
Hmmmm....I can think of 3, but I don't know which was the last.
Amanda & Jason (my niece)
Paul & Stephanie (in New Orleans - very fun)
Toby & Rick (in Bryan - was more like a big party and they got up on the stage where they were married, then back to the party. Everyone was wearing jeans and tshirts and most people camped out that night)

18. FIRST FRIEND YOU'D CALL IF YOU WON THE LOTTERY:
After my family, I would probably call my friend Julie

19. LAST TIME YOU SAW YOUR BEST FRIEND:
I don't really have a best friend now, but the last time I saw my bf from high school was probably over a year ago.

20. FAVORITE FAST FOOD RESTAURANT?
Whataburger

21. BIGGEST LIE YOU HAVE EVER TOLD:
The first thing that comes to mind happened when I was 16. My best friend was spending the night and we were planning to meet our boyfriends by the pond in our neighborhood. As we were walking out the door to "go for a walk" my mom asked me if we were meeting any boys and I told her no. We were gone too long and my mom came looking for us and caught us walking down the street with the boys. She took my friend home and was so pissed at me for lying to her.

23. WHERE'S YOUR FAVORITE PLACE TO EAT WITH FRIENDS?
Ruta Maya since there is a lot of room and toys for the kids to play with.

24. CAN YOU COOK?
I get food on the table and its not terrible, but I am not one of those people that can just throw something together and it be fabulous. I have to follow recipes to the letter.

25. WHAT CAR DO YOU DRIVE?:
2005 Nissan Sentra

26. BEST KISSER:
Jim :)

27. LAST TIME YOU CRIED?
Probably the last time the kids were tag-teaming me all night where one would go to sleep just as the other woke up and vise versa all.night.long

28. MOST DISLIKED FOODS:
Most seafood

29. THING YOU LIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF
I am organized,

30. THING YOU DISLIKE MOST ABOUT YOURSELF:
I try to take on too much at one time

32. LONGEST SHIFT YOU HAVE WORKED AT A JOB?:
Around 20 hours. I got to a site at 7:00 am and worked there until around 6:00 pm, came home to eat and take a nap, then went back to the site around 9:00 pm and worked until 5:00 am.

The next longest shift was around 15 hours. I got to the site around 7:00 am and left around 11:00 pm. I was working outside in the freezing cold, had my hands in water on and off all day, and when it got dark, I had no lights and was out in the middle of a field hauling equipment through the mud from one well to the next.

33. FAVORITE MOVIE?
LOTR series

34. CAN YOU SING?
So-so

35. LAST concert attended?
I took Abhi and Fiona to Ruta Maya one evening when several bands were playing. The last major concert I went to was probably when Beyonce was playing at the Houston Rodeo 3 years ago.

36. LAST KISS?
Anhi and Fiona when I dropped them off at the babysitter this morning

37. LAST MOVIE RENTED:
Lady in the Water

38. ONE THING YOU NEVER LEAVE THE HOUSE WITHOUT:
My purse

39. FAVORITE vacation spot:
Of all the places I have been, my favorite would have to be Alaska. It was really beautiful and we had lots of fun.

43. LAPTOP OR DESKTOP COMPUTER?:
Laptop

44. FAVORITE COMEDIAN?:
Ellen

45. DO YOU SMOKE?
Sometimes

46. SLEEP WITH OR WITHOUT CLOTHES?
With

47. WHO SLEEPS WITH YOU EVERY NIGHT?:
Jim, Abhi, & Fiona

48. DO LONG DISTANCE RELATIONSHIPS WORK?:
Sometimes. Jim and I had a long distance relationship when we first started dating. I have had others that didn't work at all.

49. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE YOU BEEN PULLED OVER BY THE POLICE?
A few.

50. PANCAKES OR FRENCH TOAST?
Pancakes

51. DO YOU LIKE COFFEE?:
Yes

52. HOW DO YOU LIKE YOUR EGGS?:
Scrambled

53. DO YOU BELIEVE IN ASTROLOGY?:
Yes

54. LAST PERSON YOU TALKED TO ON THE PHONE?:
One of my clients who used to be a co-worker.

55. LAST PERSON ON YOUR MISSED CALL LIST?:
My boss

56. WHAT WAS THE LAST TEXT MESSAGE YOU RECIEVED?:
From Kristen - "Yeah! I'm gonna call my boss...it's noon till 1. I have to ask to come in to work at 2 instead." 8:12 pm Fri, Jan 26

58. NUMBER OF PILLOWS?:
3

59. WHAT ARE YOU WEARING RIGHT NOW?
jeans and my alien t-shirt from Roswell, NM

60. PICK A LYRIC, ANY LYRIC:
"I'm CRAZY, yeah I'm CRAZY!"

61. WHAT KIND OF JELLY DO YOU LIKE ON YOUR PB & J?:
Blackberry

62. CAN YOU PLAY POOL?:
Yes

63. CAN YOU SWIM?
Yes

64. FAVORITE ICE CREAM?
Blue Bell Homemade Vanilla with Hershey's chocolate syrup on top

65. DO YOU LIKE MAPS?
Yes, they are very helpful. I print maps out anytime I am going somewhere new.

66. TELL ME A RANDOM FACT ABOUT YOURSELF:
I am highly allergic to hedgehogs

68. EVER ATTEND A THEME PARTY?
Not that I recall

69. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?
Spring

70. LAST TIME YOU LAUGHED AT SOMETHING STUPID?
Probably last night when Jim and I were watching American Idol.

71. WHAT TIME DID YOU WAKE UP THIS MORNING ?
At 6:00 when Jim's alarm went off. I usually go back to sleep, but Fiona woke up too. We still stayed in bed until 6:45 before we (me, Fiona, & Abhi) got up.

72. BEST THING ABOUT WINTER?:
The holidays

73. LAST TIME A COP GAVE YOU A TICKET?:
I got a speeding ticket a few years ago, but I can't remember when. The last time I got pulled over was for an expired inspection sticker and the cop let me off because I was pregnant (about 8 months with Abhi) and the cop and I had the same birthday, lol.

75. NAME OF YOUR FIRST PET?
The first pet that was mine was a cat I named Callie. We lived in WV at the time and we were feeding a feral mama cat and her kittens. We caught the mama and all the kittens and my dad said I could have my pick, meaning the kittens. I picked the mama cat and my dad said I would never be able to tame her. I had her tame in a week, but she would only let me touch her. She slept on my pillow every night. I was about 9 years old at the time.

76. DO YOU THINK PIRATES ARE COOL OR OVERRATED?:
Well, Johnny Depp makes a damn cool pirate.

77. WHAT ARE YOU DOING THIS WEEKEND??
Possibly going to the SXSW party to meet some of my favorite bloggers.

78. BIRTHDATE:
May 12, 1977

79. WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE:
What I already am - wife, mother, environmental scientist

85. ARE YOU ON A LAPTOP?:
Yes

89. DO YOU MISS SOMEONE RIGHT NOW?
Yes - my hubby and kidlets

90. IF YOU COULD GO ANYWHERE IN THE WORLD WHERE WOULD YOU GO?
Hawaii

92. ARE YOU IN HIGH SCHOOL?:
Nooooo....that is ancient history....like 12 years ago

93. DO YOU HAVE A CRUSH?:
Yes

94. WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE NAME?
I have lots of favorite names - Abigail, Raeyn, Fiona, Rose

95. WHAT COLOR IS YOUR BATHING SUIT?:
White

96. DOES YOUR SCHOOL START IN AUGUST?:
I don't go to school

97. DID YOU GO ON VACATION LAST MONTH?:
No

98. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN ON A CRUISE?:
No - My past experience on boats have not been good. I spend most of the time with my head in the trash can or toilet.

99. DO YOU HAVE A SISTER
I have 3

100. ARE YOU UPSTAIRS?:
No

101. ARE YOU IN LOVE?:
Yes

102. HAVE YOU EVER BEEN IN THE HOSPITAL?
Several times

103. DO YOU WISH YOU COULD SEE ANYONE PARTICULAR RIGHT NOW?
Yes

104. WHAT JEWELRY ARE YOU WEARING?
My grandmother's ring and my favorite amethyst pendant

105. WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO AFTER THIS SURVEY?
Start working

Ok! Well, if you made it though all of that, then congratulations! And, TAG you're it! If you are reading this and have a blog, you have been tagged!

6 months

Fiona is 6 months old today. It seems like just yesterday I was waddling around trying desperately to keep cool in the 100+ degree weather and hoping that that would be the day I would get to meet my little baby.

She is still working on crawling and getting her knees under her. She is definitely more mobile and can push herself around to get what she wants. She has officially exceeded the time that Abhi breastfed, so I am really happy about that. Abhi went on a nursing strike and despite all my pumping efforts, my milk dried up. Fiona is still going strong even though we have to supplement with formula while she is at the babysitter. She has officially given up the pacifier and prefers only her thumb. I am happy about that too since I don't have to search for a binky in the car or in the middle of the night (which I still have to do for Abhi).

Let's see, what else? She is sleeping pretty well, usually only waking up once or twice during the night to nurse. The magical teddy bear, has lost his magic and I usually carry her in the Mei Tai or lay down with her until she is about to fall asleep. I can still put her down when she's really sleepy and she will suck her thumb and fall asleep on her own.

She has had some stranger anxiety lately and will cry if she sees someone new or we go to a strange house. It really puzzles me though, because we can go to a crowded restaurant or store and she is fine, but as soon as we walk into someone's house, she loses it. It seems to be getting better. She didn't cry at all when we went to my parents house and was giving them big gummy grins from the moment we walked in.

Fiona is such a sweet baby and I look forward to every milestone and every gummy grin and giggle. I never knew that I could love anyone like I love my baby girls.

Belated My Best Shot Monday

Better late than never, right? I was so exhausted when I got home yesterday that we were all in bed at 8:00. The weekend and being gone all day Monday for work just did me in. Anyway, here is my best shot from the weekend. I got profile pictures of Abhi and Fiona over the weekend and Jim put them together for a really cute picture. So, what do you think? Do they look alike?


And, here's another one, just for fun....


Check out Picture This for others Best Shot.

Back again...

We went to visit my parents this weekend and had lots of fun. It was my mom's birthday so we went to the zoo and out to dinner on Saturday. The weekend was full of Abhi tantrums, but we had giggles, cuddles, and fun times too.

My dad has the same camera that I want to buy, so I got a chance to try it out this weekend and got some really nice shots. First, I played around with different settings and took a bunch of pictures of Fiona.



Here are a couple that I took at the zoo also. Jim and I both worked at this zoo (at different times) and we actually met while he was working there.

A young male tiger who was very playful.

A cute little monkey that Abhi loved.

Sleeping jaguar.

This little grey fox is named Bullet. He was there when I worked at the zoo during high school and when Jim worked there a few years later. He liked to ride around on your shoulders while you cleaned the exhibit.

Vampire bats. Yes, that is blood. Cow's blood. Nasty stuff.

Burmese python - very big.

I love this camera! The pictures came out really rich and sharp. I can't wait to order mine! Well, that's all for tonight. I am going out of town for work tomorrow for the day, so I will try to post my "Best Shot Monday" when I get back if I am not too tired. I saved a really sweet picture of Fiona and one of Abhi for that post. Night-night!