What's New??

 

"What's New With You?""

I feel like I've been posting nothing but gratitude posts. I've had to rethink the decision to do a post on what I'm grateful for... sometimes it's just really hard to think of something new to be grateful for. That sounds really bad doesn't it?  :-(

We had our MOMS Club playdate here at our house this morning and it was so wonderful. All the moms came and it was a flurry of activity in the basement! The kids all had fun on Gus's roller coaster and loved the activity center and slide. I'm so glad that we have a basement (hold that thought... that's tomorrow's gratitude)!

Here are some pictures from this morning:

 

Riggs (one of Gus's friends)

 

Fun on the activity center and slide

 

Gus and Riggs

 

King Gustafer

 

Aubree and little Ryan

 

Logan and Gus

 

Gus with Logan's shoes

 

Riggs

This past Friday we had a tornado come through the area... it touched down in Marietta and then the path brought it right through Johns Creek. Thankfully we were safe, but we did have to take cover. We had to get Gus up and bring him downstairs and he was a bit confused, but happy to be with us. Thankfully he went back to bed without a problem.

 

Gus and Daddy watching the news in the guest bedroom

 

This was from my phone

 

Seeing Johns Creek on the news was scary!

 

A little scared but okay

 

He felt safe and that's all that mattered!

This weekend I went and got my nails done and decided to also get a pedicure. It's been getting warmer and I've been wearing flip-flops more, but without a pedicure, I've been embarrassed to show my feet. Now they're cute and I loved the foot massage that I got.  :-)

We went to dinner Saturday night (Outback) with the gift card that Michelle and Josh gave me for taking pictures of June. We had an excellent experience and Gus was so well behaved. He ate a TON of food and was happy to be out with us. We even received a compliment from an older lady sitting near us... she said he was such a well-behaved little boy and she was surprised to see someone so young behaving so well.

I love getting compliments on Gus. When we go to Wal-Mart (usually Monday or Tuesday), I often get compliments on his behavior and on how well he sits in the cart and doesn't cause a fuss. It's not always the case... sometimes he's a beast, but usually he's pretty good and I'm proud of him.

Yesterday I framed the dinosaur picture that I made for Gus's dinosaur room. I'm starting to get it planned and hopefully it'll be ready for him to move into on his 2nd birthday. We'll see. If he's not ready to be out of the crib, he'll stay in the nursery for as long as it takes.

 

I think it's so cute!

I also made my goal list... I saw this on Pinterest and was inspired to make one just like it. I added color to mine... but I think it's great!

Hopefully I'll be able to blog more about day-to-day things and not get so far behind on the gratitude posts!!!

See you later!!

:-)

A Year of Gratitude #58

 

A Year of Gratitude #58: Playdates

I'm not going to write much about this, but I'm so thankful to have playdates to attend. Not only do they get me out of the house, but it's great to see Gus playing with other kids his age, and watching him learn things that I can't teach him.

I'm thankful to have met the moms that I've met in MOMS Club. What a wonderful group of women. They're so warm, welcoming, and friendly and I'm truly grateful to have their support. 

It's never fun to move to a new place and not know a soul... but I was hopeful that I'd be able to find my niche and settle into a routine. I never thought it'd happen so soon. We've been here almost three months and I feel more at home here than I ever did in NC. 

Don't get me wrong, I miss my friends from NC, but I feel like this is where I am meant to be.

It's a comforting thought and I'm grateful that I feel this way and that I have met people that I can call friends.

"A Case of the Mondays..."

This morning Gus and I went to our playgroup and had a great time. There were only four of us today, since everyone else had something else going on. It was fun though, and the conversation was interesting. I like these women. I find them easy to talk with, and I'm so thankful that they're so open and willing to share their friendship with me.

While at the playgroup, I decided that we're going to go to Catch Air tomorrow at 10am. I invited everyone at the playgroup, and I think one of the moms might come (her name is Kathryn). I also invited Dina, and hopefully she can come with Becca, and at least meet Kathryn.

We got home, had lunch, and it was nap time. Gus slept until 3:00 and then when he got up we headed downstairs to play.

While he was napping, his puzzles from Amazon arrived! I was so eager to have him play with them. Our BOB Books also came and so did his new book "Gus Gets Scared."

We went down and he had no interest in the books (SHOCKER) but was very interested in the shapes puzzle. So we played with that for a while, then his cars, his trains, and then the ball popper.

Steve came home while we were downstairs, and so we were pleasantly surprised when we came upstairs and he was here. He had brought in the mail, and there was a package from Wendy. Inside was some candy, a cute framed piece, a frog magnet, some punch-balloons, and a duck calling sound thingy.

We decided to head to Long John Silvers for some dinner... it's a RARE event that we eat there... but it sounded really good to both of us. So we took the HOUR to get there.

However... before we left, Steve asked if I wanted to exchange Valentine's tonight or tomorrow. I said whatever he wanted to do, and he said tonight.  :-)

He gave me a cute (very dirty) card, some Sour Patch Kids, some Lindt chocolates, some sea salt soiree chocolates (my favorite), and this:

Apparently my heart is in Mt. Pleasant... (LOL). I love it. Michigan is where my heart is... (not Mt. Pleasant) and it meant a lot that he would get me something to remind me of home. My husband is so thoughtful. <3

Speaking of home... today I got a LivingSocial deal for a place called Motor City Coney Island... in Stone Mountain (about 40 minutes away). They sell coney dogs, Faygo and get this... Better Made chips!!! I was SHOCKED and so excited!!! I got two vouchers and can't wait for us to go and use them!!! I am so seriously excited about this!!

Anyway-- see you tomorrow!! Happy early Valentine's Day!

Playdate and Computer Problems (AGAIN)

 

Good Morning!

Gus got up around 7:00 this morning and I was exhausted. I tossed and turned all night and as a result, I'm going to bed early tonight. Combined with (I'm guessing) too much sleep yesterday (I didn't get up until noon remember???), it was a bad night. I've had a headache all day as a result.

So... anyway, he got up and we played and had breakfast and then it was time to head out for our Monday MOMS Club playdate. We had a great time today. The ladies in the playgroup are so friendly, welcoming, warm, and inviting. They all make me feel apart of the group and they're very sweet with Gus.

Here are some pictures from our morning:

 

The boys were playing with beaded necklaces, rings, and bracelets!

 

Gus donning his rainbow necklace

 

Gus and a new friend... watch out Grace!!!

We headed home at noon and I decided to stop for Chick-Fil-A. We have not had CFA in MONTHS... so it was a nice treat. We had our lunch and then it was definitely time for a nap.

While Gus was napping, I was on Facebook and suddenly, my computer crashed and I got the blue screen of death. Keep in mind, I JUST had computer issues and have been scanning for Malware every Sunday. I just did a scan last night and it found nothing, so to have my computer crash was odd.

I got it started in safe mode, but this is the thing that kept popping up. If you can't read what it says, it basically says I was missing something called Secur32.dll. So what did I do? Yes... I texted my dad.

He said it wasn't a good thing and he'd have to call me after he was home from work. I texted Steve and he was trying to help remotely, but said to leave my computer alone and he'd mess with it when he got home.

He was able to get it fixed... but I'm definitely looking for something different. I asked my dad how much it'd be for him to build me something new. Hopefully it's not too much... I know he can make me something great and this POS needs to go.

 

Reading his new board book (came in the CFA kids meal)

Tomorrow we have the cleaners coming and I'm eager for them to get this house back in shape. It's in desperate need of vacuuming and dusting!! I'm going to head to Wal-Mart after they leave in the morning... then we'll be home for the rest of the day.

See you tomorrow-- I'm off to bed! I can't wait to watch The Bachelor tomorrow and see what happens with Courtney-- I'm hoping he sends her home tonight!! I LOATHE her!!!

A GREAT Playdate!

This morning was wonderful!!! I was able to sleep in a bit AND get in the shower before Gus was up! I am feeling better and think I'm over my cold (yay)! Gus has a runny nose, but he seems to be on the upside of the cold as well. Steve, well, he's another story. He came home today at 2:00 because he wasn't feeling well.

We had a 10:00 playdate at Heather's (AAM) this morning. I was not nervous about it being like the bad playdate last week, mainly because I've met Heather and liked her a lot, and Meg (met her at the Zoo back in November) and Dina were also going. It was just the four of us moms and the kids and it was GREAT. 

Gus and Becca are both almost 21 months, Meg's daughter Charlee is 2, Heather's son Adam is 2.5, and Meg's son Carter is 3.5. So while the kids were not all the same age, they were all close enough to each other that they played really well together. Gus really enjoyed playing on Adam's train table.

Don't get me wrong, I love deal I got on the one that Gus has (it was $20 on Craig's List), but the new tables are SO NICE. Maybe I can buy the table top (not a whole new table)... the one we have is marked up and has stickers on it from the previous owner. We'll see... I don't know if you can buy just the table top and not the actual table.

We stayed at Heather's for about two hours and just had a really nice time. We got home and had lunch and then I put Gus down for his nap at 1:15. While he was napping (he's still napping), I got an email from my new friend Christie from MOMS Club and she invited Gus to her son Ryan's second birthday party! It'll be his first birthday party to attend!!! It's on the 11th at Gymboree... they'll have pizza and cake and I think Gus will have so much fun!! :-)

A week from today we'll be seeing Grace and Kristen and I can't wait! It's been two months since Gus last saw Grace and I'm eager to see how he reacts to seeing her again. I've missed Kristen too, so it'll be great to spend the whole day catching up with her and meeting her parents.

See you tomorrow!!

:-)

A Bad Playdate :-(

It was bound to happen eventually, but I didn't think it would be as awful as it was. We went to a playdate this morning with my AAM group and I totally went into it with my guard down. I wasn't nervous, thought it was going to be fun. It was the opposite.

We got there at 10:30 and there were three other moms there including the mom who was hosting. She was very friendly and welcoming, and when we went in, I thought to myself, "This is going to be fun." 

Dina had texted me to tell me that she wasn't going and then I saw that Heather (the only other mom that I had already met) took her name off the list. I decided to still go and meet some new moms. I wish I had stayed home.

When we walked into the play area, there were two moms there talking... I had to introduce myself to them as they didn't stop their conversation to introduce themselves to me. No big deal... but then they kept talking and neither talked to me.

Weird.

Then another mom showed up, and the two that were in the conversation knew her, exchanged hugs, and then the three of them started talking. The one that came in just after me never introduced herself to me and didn't ask who I was. It was almost as if she didn't see me... I was invisible.

Then ANOTHER mom came... and she didn't really talk to anyone either, but she sat on the floor and eventually started talking to the other three... then the hostess came in and she asked me a few questions and tried to include me on the conversation that she was having with one of the other moms, but I still wasn't "in" on the convo. 

It was horrible. Being new and not knowing anyone, I naturally was more on the shy side and more of an observer, but it was really painful. I wanted to just get up and leave after just 15 minutes. Gus was Gus... walking around and playing with all the new toys and oblivious to what the adults were doing. There were quite a few older kids there (ages 3-4) and it was weird to see the bigger kids... while I'm sure they're great, I totally prefer playdates with kids Gus's age. 

There was a little boy named Ian (he's the hostess's son) and he was 17 months. He was very little and I was surprised that he was only three months younger than Gus... he acted much younger. IDK... then there was a 15 month old and he was cute and the three little little ones played on one side of the room while the bigger kids played on the other. It was sorta funny.

Anyway, while I wasn't ignored the ENTIRE time, I was left out and felt really stupid sitting there watching these strangers have their conversation. They talked about other moms that I don't know, and preschools, and stuff that I have no clue about. It was just like being invited into a world that I clearly don't fit into or belong in.

I think the fact that no one asked me who I was, who was Gus... it just was really odd. The one was the area co-moderator and while I'd never met her, I have talked to her on the forum... so I "knew" her without knowing her. She was the only one that talked to me and like I said, it was for a minute.

When it was 11:45, some of the moms started to get lunches out for their kids and I decided it was time to leave. The hostess said, "Are you sure you're going to leave? We are about to have lunch." I told her that I was going to take Gus home for lunch and then put him down for a nap. She said, "You can have lunch here..." and I said, "No... I don't think so." I felt bad saying it like that, but my God... I needed to get the hell outta there.

I got Gus and I told him to say his goodbyes... he waved goodbye and I thanked the hostess for having us... she said it was nice to meet me and then I walked out. 

NO
ONE
ELSE
SAID
ANYTHING

Not one other person said goodbye to us. Not one other person said it was nice to meet me. Not one other person thanked me for joining them today.

It was so horrible. 

So now I'm torn... I thought I was really going to love AAM... all my interactions have been so good... they planned a trip to the zoo for me for Pete's sake!! I've really liked everyone that I've met so far... and our area group is very small... I thought I was going to "gel" with everyone.

Now I'm not so sure. The people that I do know and like, (I've actually met them) weren't there... so maybe I just go to things that they're at? I don't know...

On another note... one of the moms from MOMS Club emailed me and invited me to go to a women's Bible study with her. I explained that I'm Catholic and not looking for a new religion (except for maybe becoming an Orthodox Quaker- LMAO) and she said that there's no "selling" of religion. It's a mom's group and they talk about parenting and how the Bible comes into it.

It sounds really interesting to me so I said I'd go. I honestly believe that God presents us with opportunities for a reason. So it's every other week... and I told her I couldn't go today because of my playdate (BAD MOVE)... so in two weeks I'll join her.

I have been added to my MOMS Club playdate rotation schedule... and I have addresses for where the upcoming events will take place. I'm eager to go to the next one (they're every Monday) and see how it goes. I had fun this past Monday and so did Gus. Maybe my MOMS Club will be the right thing for me. I saw on their newsletter that they only have 18 moms... and I met seven already. LOL

We'll see... but for now I'm thankful to be home and in my happy place away from awkwardness and an uncomfortable position. I texted Dina on the way home and told her to be glad she wasn't there. She said the next one should be better (next Thursday). We'll see... if it isn't, I might be done with AAM.

Later!

Terrific Thursday!

 

The World's Cutest Boy

Have you ever met someone and just "clicked" with them instantly? Immediate chemistry and it felt like you'd known them forever and yet it was your first time meeting? That happened today when I met Kelli and her daughter Scarlett for our morning playdate.

Before I go into that, let me start at 7am when Gus got up. I was SOOOOOO tired and didn't want to get up!! It was still dark outside, the sun had not come up yet and there we were having breakfast in the livingroom. I was worried that when 10am got here, he'd be too tired to have fun with his new friend. Fortunately, I was wrong!

 

Playing in his kitchen this morning

 

Driving around

Kelli and Scarlett arrived at 10 and the kids instantly hit it off! Gus was very excited to play with his new friend and was all about showing her his toys. We went to the basement and the kids had so much fun playing while Kelli and I talked. Gus shared his snack with Scarlett and played so well with her. It was a really nice visit!!

After they left, we had lunch...

I put Gus down for his nap and he slept from 1:00-5:15!!! Talk about a nice long nap! When he got up he was in the best mood and so happy! His diaper was hardly wet (such a great sign) too!

While Gus was sleeping, his Melissa & Doug stuff arrived. He got some dough and tools and then a string-a-bead set. He and I played with the beads and he did a great job stringing them! It's great for fine-motor control!! Then Steve and Gus played with the dough while I ordered pizza.

Yes my friends, we had Jets Pizza for dinner!! I couldn't believe that there are some here in Georgia! It's a Michigan company and while it was never my absolute favorite in Michigan, I did like it. It was like a little taste of home tonight!! 

After dinner we watched Modern Family from last night and the new Chelsea Handler show... it was okay. Not horrible. Modern Family was hilarious as always.

I'm off to bed. We don't have anything planned tomorrow and then I've got Michelle's baby shower on Saturday (I can't wait)!! Then next Tuesday, Gus and I are going to a place called Catch Air for a playdate with some moms... it should be fun!!

See ya tomorrow!