Hormel Christmas Party

Last night was the Hormel Christmas Party. It was fun had by all. I think I had more fun this year than I did the previous year. I knew more people at the party and felt more relaxed knowing that Savannah was in good hands. My dress of course was something that I had imagined wearing to such a party. Last year I felt that I had little choices for dresses to wear because I was sporting the baby bump. It was purple this year instead of the typical black dress that I pull out of my closet. I could go on and on about why this year was better but I think the best part was my date. Jeff and I's relationship has really grown over the past year. Seeing him as a dad is very attractive on him. ;) Plus this new found sense of happiness on him for getting this job into sales. Renovating a house together has really helped to also build our relationship together. You learn how to solve/work problems out together. I can't imagine loving my husband more than I do right now but I know that the best is yet to come.

Crib or bed?

Every night I put Savannah to sleep in her crib. By the time she wakes up for the first time which is usually around midnight I feel guilty for putting her in her crib because I go to pick her up and she's cold to the touch. Our house is pretty drafty in the bedrooms due to old windows. We wanted to replace them but with all the renovations, that one just didn't make it on the list of completion before the house went on the market. She does sleep in footy pajamas too so its not that I don't dress her with the appropriate bedtime attire. Our bed has a heated blanket and its a king size so I figure why not just crawl into bed with us. Half way through the night she's kicking me or I'm sweating so much from her laying next to me that back in the crib she goes. I overcome my guilt feeling with the desperation to get sleep. By the time Jeff goes to work Savannah is back up and yes back in bed with me since there is one less person in the bed. There is just something so special about being able to cuddle with your baby in the early morning and waking up to see them smiling at you.

It is official. We have signed a lease for our house in Massachusetts. Its just the type of place that I had pictured us living in. My stomach does cartwheels when I think about the backyard and how much fun Savannah and I will have playing back there this summer. I'm almost tempted to buy a kiddie pool that Target just happened to put out on their shelves now. How dare them!

Jeff and I are ready for this new adventure in our lives. For the most part every t is crossed and every i is dotted. Due to our house being sold we were able to pay off most of our debt which has made Jeff and I both bearable people to be around especially to each other. It's weird how much debt weighs on your shoulders.

Hormel Christmas party tonight. Can't wait to wear my dress, drink some wine, and interact with people.

Planes, houses, and changes

I wish that I could be posting about the fact that we found a place to live but so far that is not the case. Jeff is flying back out there this weekend to do some additionally looking. Due to the snowstorm on Wednesday changing flight plans and the realtor rescheduling the day we looked at places it just didn't work out. We had the chance to look at about 9 places on Friday. Thursday was spent getting our bearings around Franklin. We got a bank account there and did some grocery store price shopping. I never realized how hard it would be to choose a place in such a short amount of time. I thought that I would be able to walk into a place and know that it was the right place. I loved the log cabin place but just too many cons and things that I would have to give up. I watched Savannah take a bath in the hotel after we had looked at places and my heart sank knowing that I would not be able to sit in the bathroom and give her a bath if we were to get the log cabin. The log cabin has a tight tank so any water that you use goes into the tank and you have to get it pumped out every so many weeks. It would change your whole mindset on how you view water. The location was ideal and the house was gorgeous. It was truly one of the hardest places to walk away from. We of course had to look at some places that I had to think "people actually live here." There was dead bugs in the window sills and it was just really really dirty.
Savannah did really well on the trip. She loved the plane ride. I smiled every time someone would say  "she's such a happy baby." I feel that with her colic for the first 4 months that I have in a way earned a happy baby. She also was teething the whole time. Tylenol and teething tabs quickly became our best friends. She learned a few things while we were gone too. She learned how to blow raspberries and pull her legs back when shes on her back to suck on her toes. I have been waiting for her to do that. It's just so adorable. She also now holds her legs up for me when I change her diaper. I don't know if she does that because she knows I need assistance with her diaper changes or because she thinks it's fun to hold her legs up. Either way I am loving the help. She absolutely loved the pool. I think I will be spending a lot of time this summer taking her swimming. Can hardly wait for that!!!
All in all it was a great trip and I think that it will be a great move. It was a beautiful state to drive around and there was a Dunkin Donuts literally on every corner. I may have to give up my pop addiction and switch to coffee.

ZZZZZZZZ's

I have been fighting with Savannah for the past hour trying to get her to nap. I finally gave up because I had packing to get to and decided to put Baby Einstein on to entertain her for 20 mins. Baby Einstein was over so I figured I would feed her lunch quick then try to put her down for a nap again. She took about 3 bites of her food and this is what I found...

I reclined her chair once she started falling asleep because she was leaning over the high chair. It's safe to say that I think she was a little tired :)

Sleepless in Austin

Today I was humbled. A friend called me out on something that should have been called out a long time ago. I appreciate this person's honesty so much. You are never too old to stop learning and growing as a better person. I have a million excuses in my head and could blame people in my past for this event but I don't want to bring myself to that level. Here's to 2011 hopefully being a better year filled with an abundance of meeting new people and developing lasting friendships. Friends mold you more than anyone can on earth. They can either make you a better person or worse person. I am so glad that this friend could be honest with me and that in turn it makes for an ongoing friendship.

Stay at home mom?

If you had asked me when I was in college what I would be doing in the next five years. Marriage and a stay at home mom lifestyle would have been at the bottom of my list. It's those special things in life that take you by surprise and makes you life just that much better. Jeff and I were talking the other night about how I life would have been different if we would have never met each other. The dreams that we each had envisioned post college. I had planned on moving to the cities and spending time in a downtown loft that I couldn't possibly afford but it was just too darn cute no to pinch every penny to make it work. I would go out on weekends with all my friends and pretty much have no strings attached. I would have landed this amazing job (probably not so realistic in this job market). Jeff was going to get a job (not Hormel) and live this amazing life too. He had similar outlooks to what I had in mind. Neither one of us envisioned ourselves "settling down".

I never would have realized how much enjoyment I had found now that I am a stay at home mom. I appreciate my husband so much for working so hard for not only me but to provide for his daughter and whatever future children we may have. It has taught me the true value in life. There is something so precious about being able to watch something you created discover new things. I feel that I would have missed out on a lot if I would have been career driven. I wait all day for nap time to come or for bedtime to come so that Savannah can go down for a little bit and I can get things done. I can't help but just sit and rock her now when she falls asleep. I know that this moment will not last and I want to soak up every ounce of it. The house can wait to be picked up from the days chaos. But those blissful moments of silence where life is so peaceful is such an opportunity for one to reflect on how great life is. I am truly one blessed person.

Salt and Pepper

Great part in the movie Fireproof. Best part is that we got a salt and pepper shaker card for our anniversary. Makes you look at salt and pepper completely different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prIWM_zSVJw&playnext=1&list=PL2C0FCA3F2362BA81&index=20

SOLD!!

It has been a little while since I updated the blog. It's just so hard to find time to sit down between the holidays and getting the house on the market. Then keeping the house clean while it was on the market. So glad that it sold within a week. Made my life just a little less stressful at the moment. I had to tell Jeff yesterday to stop throwing a new thing at me every time he comes home. Paperwork to be filled out. Another item to "keep in mind." I could barely remember my name. We had the pleasure of going out for a night of fun in Rochester tonight. It was so nice to just have another night to relax. I feel those are farther and fewer between.

On Monday we celebrated our 2 year anniversary. It really is still hard to believe that it's been 2 years. As a little girl, I dreamed of my wedding day. It seems like it came and went within a blink of an eye. Now I have the memories and an amazing husband by my side. I had to joke with him of course on our anniversary and say "we've been married for 2 years and we still like each other." Considering everything we have been through in the past 2 years. We moved to Austin, I got laid off from my job, bought a house, remodeled a house, had a baby, and some other little bumps along the way. A LOT happens in 2 years. Lets hope the next 2 years are a little less eventful. But I'm guessing that the ride has just started.

Savannah is still being a little stinker at night. She chooses when she wants to sleep through the night. Just in case I forgot she was the boss. :) Well off to give her a bath. The job never ends but I don't mind the overtime one bit. It's the best job ever!!!