Busy, Stressed... Aaaah!!!

So, I will apologize in advance for the negative tone of this blog entry... I have been very stressed this week with work and other life issues.  I know I should think "I'm blessed to be stressed", but (unfortunately)  right now, I just wish I wasn't.  Not to go into too much detail, but work has been insanely BUSY since I started back from maternity leave, which has been hard.  Not sure how all "working" moms balance it ALL, but I'm open to any advice... ;-)  I am resolving to have a better attitude and to try not to worry so much, especially about things that are out of my control... but it's hard.  I have so much to be thankful for and my blessings far outweigh my stressors right now, so I'm trying to focus on that! :)  Enough with the negativity...

Moving on to Rosie... she has had a BIG week this past week!  First of all, she has now tried her first solid foods - sweet potatoes and bananas.  I have a video of her eating sweet potatoes for the first time, which is absolutely hilarious... I'll post it in another post if I can ever figure out how :P  She wasn't a big fan of the sweet potatoes, pretty much spit them right out!  However, bananas were another story... she couldn't get enough of them and I couldn't feed her fast enough!  She was whining and reaching for the bowl and spoon between bites - it was sooo funny :)  I only gave her a few bites because I don't want the food to upset her tummy (or make her constipated - yikes!).  It's SO fun to watch her do and try new things... everyone has told me that each stage a baby/child goes through is so much fun and I believe it.  I get so much joy out of watching her grow :)

On a bittersweet note, this was Rosie's last week staying at Mimi's (my Mom's) during the day.  She has done so well with my mom this summer and I know my mom has really enjoyed keeping her, even though it was a lot of work for her ;)  Although I am sad for her to leave my mom's, I have been so blessed to find Kathy, a sitter in Frankfort who I have known for many years, to keep Rosie.  Rosie has gone there several times already (a day or two each week for the month of July) and she has done GREAT there... she's so happy and loves watching the other kids play (Kathy keeps 3 other kids).  I feel really good about sending her to Kathy's - we were so lucky she had a spot for Rosie!

This post is getting a bit lengthy, but I guess that's what happens when you try to fit a week into one post :)  Tomorrow, I will be posting about my sweet furbaby's birthday - Ollie is 3 years old tomorrow!!!!  Love him SOOO much :)))

After that, I probably won't post again until next weekend after my mom and I get back from Destin... we're going to the beach for a few days!  I am SO excited :)))  Nick will be keeping Rosie here - I'll miss her terribly, but I am too afraid to take her to the beach this year.  I worry about everything... burning, sand, water...  you get the idea ;)  We're planning on taking a family trip next year when she is a little bit older.

Now for the fun part - Rosie pics!  Here are a few from the past week...

Sweet Rosie hanging out with Mommy after work... forget all my worries when I see her sweet face :)

Petey the British Parrot (don't ask - ha!) is her FAVE right now :)

Maybe she'll be a gymnast?!?!  Look at that toe-touch!

Cute new outfit from Aunt Madonna and Kristen :)

Can't believe my baby will be 6 MONTHS OLD on Tuesday!!!  Where has the time gone?!?!

That's all for now!!!!  Thanks, friends, for being my sounding board!!!  Love to all :)))

Chandra

My Little Church Mouse...

Hello friends!!! :)

Since Rosie was around 8 weeks old, we have been taking her to our church, Forks of Elkhorn Baptist Church, in Midway, KY.  Nick and I have been members of this church for several years now and, at times, we have been pretty involved in activities there.  We have served on church committees, taught a Sunday School class, helped out with the high school youth, and last year, Nick received the honor of being ordained as a deacon.  Needless to say, we LOVE our church, our pastor, and our church family.

Nick & I in front of our church on our wedding day <3 4-12-08 <3

As I mentioned before, we have been taking Rosie to church since she was around 8 weeks old.  This has definitely been a challenge at times, as going somewhere with a newborn/infant is NOT easy, but we wanted to get back into church as soon as possible after we felt it was "safe" for us to take her.  As you can imagine, I was completely terrified of germs, the flu, RSV, and anything else that might make my precious angel sick!  However, we have been SO fortunate and blessed that Rosie has been healthy, despite taking her to church and other outings.  In this post, I'm going to include some of our favorite church memories (so far!) and of course show you some of her CUTE outfits... ha ha!!!  Sundays are dress-up days for Rosie - pretty much the only day of the week she wears a dress AND a headband!!!!


Hope you enjoy the pics!!! :)

Rosie's 1st trip to church... 8ish weeks old!

Rosie's 1st Easter!  10ish weeks old

Posing with Mommy on Easter Sunday!  Looks so cute in her bunny smocking!!! :)

Rosie's Baby Dedication - Mother's Day 2011 (3 months old)

Little Pink Sailor!!! :)  July 2011

My little buttercup!  July 2011

Sweet face :)

5 1/2 Months Old!!!  July 2011

Mommy's Sweet Rosie

Just had to show off some of those cute dresses! Have you ever seen anything cuter?!?!  I know I haven't... so in love with Rosie Grace!!!! <3

Love to all,
Chandra

It's been a WHILE!!!! :-/

Hello friends!  I apologize that it's been so long since I have blogged... almost 3 weeks!  My goal was to blog at least once a week and, so far, I am failing miserably :-(  I promise I will try to do better!!!

Lots of things have happened since I last blogged on June 27... just to name a few...
* Rosie turned 5 months old!
* 1st 4th of July for Rosie!
* Visited the sitter for 2 days!
* Rosie's 1st diaper rash! :(((
* Mommy's Birthday!  1st "official" birthday with my baby girl :)

I will TRY to be brief, but that's a LOT to cover in one blog post!  This one might be kind of long... here goes!!!!

1) Rosie is 5 months old!  See LOTS of pics below...  Some fun facts about Rosie at 5 months:
     * Weight: 17 lbs 10 oz... BIG GIRL!!! :)
     * Has 2 bottom teeth coming in... can feel and see white little nubs!  (07-16-2011)
     * Smiles ALL the time!
     * Starting to "reach" for Mommy... love it!
     * Talking/Gurgling up a storm ;-)
     * Almost sitting up... bet she will be in a few weeks!
     * Napping WITHOUT a swaddle!!!  Has been interesting at times... ;-)
She's getting SO big and her personality is emerging more everyday... I love her more all the time... if that is even possible!  Here are few of my faves from her 5 month photo shoot...

5 Month Photo Shoot! Taken 2 days late on 4th of July ;-)   Look at that little leg kicked out! :P

Smiley Rosie!

Posing in my pretty dress!

2) Rosie's 1st 4th of July!  Nick, Rosie, and I went over to Mimi & Pappy's (my parents) for a cookout.  Fun was had by all!  Ollie wasn't able to attend the cookout (poor boy!), but looked very handsome in his patriotic bandana... see below :)  I personally was NOT very excited about all of the LOUD firework activity this year, especially since Rosie goes to be at 8:00!  Grrrr!!!  All in all, it was a great 4th!

Precious Ollie Boy <3

3) Rosie Visits the Sitter - Rosie has spent 2 whole days with her babysitter, Kathy.  She has done wonderful so far and I couldn't be more pleased with how she has adjusted to her.  She loves playing there like a "big girl" and even naps well there, which I was worried about, since she is in a "different" place.  She will start going to Kathy's full-time in August.  Even though I LOVE her being at Mimi's, I have a good feeling about her being at Kathy's, too.  I'm sure I'll post more when she starts going full-time... stay tuned!

4)  Rosie's 1st Diaper Rash - This was not too fun for any of us, although Rosie didn't act like it bothered her at all!  We went through TONS of diapers and ointments and even let her bottom air out nakey one evening (see pic below!)... glad all of that is over and crossing my fingers that she doesn't get any more of those for a LONG time!

Airing her tooshie out during nakey time!!! ;-)

5) Mommy's Birthday - Mommy turned 29 on July 14!  I joked that 29 was my last official birthday, since I will be 30 next year ;-)  However, the thought of turning 30 at this point doesn't really bother me... I am truly thankful for everything in my life right now and all that God has blessed me with!  I hope to have MANY, MANY more birthdays!!!  Just to think that only last year I was pregnant with Rosie and having morning sickness - ha!  Life has changed so much, but all for the better!  I had to attend a dinner for work on my actual birthday, but celebrated with my family the next night at Garcia's (a mexican restaurant in Frankfort).  I also celebrated this evening with Nick by going to Bonefish in Lexington... it was our first time eating there and we thought it was really good!  Right now, I'm very stuffed and ready for bed... ha, ha!  I had a truly wonderful birthday and got to spend time with the people I love the most... <3 <3 <3

Love looking at my girl!

Rosie gets lots of love! <3

Our sweet little family (minus Ollie!!!)

Well, that should catch everyone up on a few important things that have been going on... stay tuned for more... I am resolving not to be such a delinquent blogger!  Hope everyone enjoys all of the pics! :)

Love,
Chandra