long weekends are for lovers

I am so ready for this weekend even though I don't technically have a long weekend.  I'm working tomorrow morning.  I had a 3 day weekend last weekend though and this will be my third Monday off in a row.  Mondays are awful terrible things and I'm really feeling like everyone should have Mondays off to stay at home in their pajamas.  Saturday and Sunday should be set aside for doing fun things or catching up on necessities, while Monday is simply a day to prepare your soul for the work week, all the while in your jams and most likely laying in bed or on the couch.

I spent yesterday preping for Memorial weekend.  Really good stuff.  Between pretending to work and watching a gaggle of geese waddle past my office window on three separate occasions, I did some googling to find something red, white and blue to make or bake.  I was hoping to find something outside of the strawberries-and-blueberries-arranged-to-make-a-flag idea or the jello-whipped-cream-layered-look.  This was a tall order if you can imagine.  I did find a few cute ideas though.  Pancakes that are super patriotic are most definitely getting made and eaten in a super american fashion.

In other news I got the iPhone 5 finally.  It's super sleek and sexy the way iPhones should be.

Isn't it the cutest the way Bella is all up in Hank's business.  I think he might start calling her "mama".

Happy weekending to you and be sure to remember those fallen heroes that gave their lives for us and our country.  We will be getting our bums to the zoo on Sunday.  Fingers crossed for good weather and a happy baby!

weekend inventory & a little video

This weekend was particularly boring.  Husband worked and played hockey the entire weekend which left Hank and I home alone.  An entire weekend alone with my little Henry bear means that my house has never been cleaner and we have enough pictures of ourselves to last an entire week of blogging.
I drank particularly large amounts of coffee and Henry devoured homemade baby applesauce.  That's right I said homemade.

That right there is a pile of Mr. Henry's clothes that he is too big for.  I may or may not have shed tears realizing that my son has grown so much.  There were clothes that he got at Christmas that I had packed away because I thought it would be soooo long before he would be wearing them.  Um no.  That little boy blew my mind this weekend.  He is so smart and aware.  It's incredible to see.  He rolls tummy to back, back to tummy with the greatest of ease.  As if he's been doing it forever, no big deal mom.   

Cute hate alert.  My friend Angie got this made for my boo boo and I want him to wear it morning, noon and night.  Once Henry passed out after our long day or organizing on Saturday I got real snuggly with my other son, the one with more hair, poured the biggest glass of red wine possible and watched a million documentaries about how awful fast food and processed food is.  I haven't eaten fast food in two months and DJ hadn't up until last week.  He ate taco hell bell and was sick for days.  It was a good reminder about how gross that crap is.  I don't even miss it.

Bella's favorite position.  Patiently waiting for a drop of food, even baby food to land in her vicinity. 

Puppy Bowl Sunday I planned on doing lots of girly things for myself.  Hank however decided he would rather take 2 ten minute naps instead of his regular 2 three hour naps.  He wanted to hang with his cool mama apparently.  He woke up mid-face mask and was super confused to see mom's blue face.

My nail painting party for one, was put on hold until Hank went to sleep and that was okay.  DJ came home later and I caught him up to speed on who won the puppy bowl and then showed him the results of the other game going on before and after the Beyonce concert. 

Can we talk about my revived love for Mrs. Jay Z?  Could she be any hotter?  I super love her music.  My next workout playlist that is currently in the making is aptly titled "Beyonce All Day All The Time".

just like martha stewart

I've said it before and I'll say it again, I fancy myself a tattooed Martha Stewart.  I LOVE a good art project and crafting.  Now that I have a kid, I know the crafting up in here is about to get heavy.  I'm slightly less of a perfectionist (ok way less) than Ms. Martha, but I still can eff up some puffy paint projects.

For Christmas my Aunt V sent Hank, DJ and I one of those awesome make-your-own baby print ornament.  I made one for DJ probably 4 years ago with Bella's paw print so I was very happy to now be able to make a Hank print ornament AND a Bowie print ornament!  However, Hank said he also wanted to make some for all his grandparents.  Shhhh, don't tell him I told.  Being the best mommy in the world that I am, I turned on some music and made some salt dough and here's how.

Somethings I would like to note; 1. You may have to add a little more water if your dough is too dry or more flour if your dough is too sticky.  2. I used foil with a little flour sprinkled on it to make it less likely for the ornaments to stick.  3. I had to bake mine for almost five hours, but I made six ornaments with this recipe and they were pretty thick.  4. Remember to poke a hole in the ornament somewhere to stick a ribbon into for hanging, before placing in the oven.  You don't want to forget and have to pull them out of the oven piping hot to try and do it, ahem.

Hank and I finished them off with some bronze glitter spray paint and signed the back with love, in green puffy paint.  Trial and error would tell me to recommend that you use something other than glitter spray paint on your own.  I'll show you the finished product after xmas.  Gotta keep a little mystery. ;)

Happy weekend to ya, first day of winter and first snow for us Michiganders! Only 4 days until Christmas!

henry and the dogs

One of the first questions I am asked lately is, "How are the dogs with Hank?".

As you can see Bella is clearly in love.  Hank is basically her baby.  She gets up with us for feedings, lays directly next to his bassinet at night, licks his hands, head or feet whenever she gets a chance, lays in the nursery when I'm changing him and lays her bones/balls on his play mat for him to play with apparently whenever I'm not looking.  It's ever so sweet.  She does however get a little too lovey dovey per usual Bella style.  If you give Bella an inch she will take a mile.  Pet her and the next thing you know she'll be in your lap licking your face, mouth, ears, eyes, whatever she can get her tongue on before you push her away.  Hank is no exception.  He gets slightly annoyed.  See photo above.

Bowie, for the most part, doesn't really care either way about Hank.  With the exception of a few brief moments here and there he pays him no attention.  As long as Bowie is getting some belly rubs through out the day he is satisfied and that's just fine by me too. 

Both the dogs had a rough time at first though.  Bella spent the entire first night that Hank was home letting on this bizarre moan that I had never heard her make, every time Hank cried.  She paced back and forth around our bed, super frantic.  Bowie acted like we were abusing him.  He coward and hid like he was scared.  It was stressful for a few days.  That's all it took though, just a few days and then it was all good in the hood.  All the babes are happy these days and that makes for a happy mommy.

dear turkey day, i miss you already & target holiday collection

I really do miss it.  No day is better spent then sitting around with your family eating yummy food and sharing what you're grateful for.

This year for Thanksgiving eve instead of heading out to the bar, like all the wild a crazy kids we hung out at home and little sister Natalie came over to stay the night before she was in the Thanksgiving Day Parade and hang out with her nephew.  DJ left for a little while to play hockey, Hank took a nap, so Natalie and I enjoyed a little girl time by watching The Vow, painting our nails and doing her hair.  I'm pretty sure she only watched The Vow for my sake though.  She's more of a horror movie fan, just like DJ.

hair done, nails done, everything did

On Thanksgiving DJ got up bright and early to drop Natalie off with her roller derby girls for the parade.  Did you watch the parade?  Natalie's group was sponsored by Lafayette Coney Island and was skating around as a hot dog!!  Haha, she was the cutest little weenie!

Once DJ got home Hank and I were awake and in full on turkey day mode.  Hank was a perfect little helper.  He sat in his rocker and looked on curiously as I described every move I made in an annoying sing song voice.  He LOVED it.  Later on family arrived and basically took over.  Hank was the main attraction and if someone wasn't holding him they were in the kitchen taking over.  I can't really complain.  We ate, we laughed and then we ate again.  Perfection.

turkey slayer

B-Rad

clearly it was nap time

my FAVORITE

I cannot believe these boys are so big!

my mama with Brad & Jake

cute is their name - begging is their game

'Til next year turkey day.  Gobble gobble!

OH and in case you forgot or weren't aware, Target and Neiman Marcus are releasing a holiday collection at both Target and Neiman Marcus stores TOMORROW, December 1st that includes fifty limited edition products from major designers like Diane Von Furstenberg, Marc Jacobs, Alice & Olivia and more.  Go get you some, but don't you dare go to the Canton Target unless you want to see me trampling you for these bad boys.

photo source

photo source

photo source

photo source

weekend inventory

Last week DJ worked late almost everyday and then worked on Saturday too.  It was such a bummer for Hank and I.  We can't wait until he is home with us everyday in just a few short weeks.  Hank lights up when he hears his daddy's voice in the evening and tries so hard to stay awake at night when DJ feeds him with a bottle before bedtime.  So on the weekends we soak up as much daddy time as possible. 

Bowie didn't want to miss out on daddy time either...

Hope your weekend was nice and relaxing.  Hank slept like an angel last night so now I'm off to take my happy boy to Buy Buy Baby and Target! 

sitting, waiting, wishing...

I am not a particularly patient person.  Not at all in fact.  When I want something, I get it.  I don't wait.  Waiting for baby Hank is certainly a lesson in patience for me.  The doctor said on Monday that I had progressed.  2 centimeters dilated and 100% effaced.  I was on cloud nine after that appointment.  I was sure that our next appointment scheduled for tomorrow, Thursday would never happen.  Considering I am having absolutely no contractions as of today though, would likely indicate that I will be making that bright and early doctors appointment tomorrow.  So, we wait, walk, wait, nap, wait and wish for the sweet boy inside of me to show himself...

Patient puppies...

Hoping this is the last dinner I make before baby Hank arrives...

Cookies to help pass the time...

zoomance

Last Thursday we went to Zoomance A.K.A. romance at the Detroit Zoo!  This was a really fun date you guys.  It was gorgeous out, there wasn't huge crowds of people and ALL of the animals were out.  Also this was a 21+ (although I would like to check some of these so called adults i.d.'s because I am certain there were some teeny boppers amongst the real adults.  Or maybe I'm just that old) event and I didn't have to allow a bunch of littles to stand in front of me because, well, they're kids and it's just rude to stand in front of a child even though I'm only 5'2" and a lot of the time the 9 year old standing in front of me is only about 1/2" shorter, effectively making it impossible for me to see anything, EVER.  End rant.

Back to how awesome Zoomance was.  There was a band playing good music and bars set up for those of whom are not with child.  I wish I would have known about this last year.

I did forget that A LOT of walking would be involved.  By the time I got to the back I was tempted to tell a zoo employee that I needed a ride back to the front on one of their motorized scooters.  I powered through though, like a champ.  Baby and I were still exhausted all day Friday though.  Baby Bloom usually wakes me up when he hears his daddy's alarm sound off around 4:30 or 5am with some super strong kicks, but Friday he was not having it.  He didn't get his groove on until about 10am!  I considered the fact that I may have been in such a deep sleep that I didn't even feel his jabs, but I think it seemed cuter that he was tired from all the zoomancing too ;)