Here Fishy, Fishy, Fishy

Michael LOVES to swim. Every time we go to a hotel, he makes sure to pack his swim trunks, just in case. Every summer (and winter too) he talks about how great it would be to have a pool the proceeds to plan where he wold to put it. When we found out that we were going to have a baby, he talked about taking swim classes with our little Peanut and just how much fun that was going to be.

Well, that day has come! Today, Daddy and Abby's took their first swim class together! So off the the high school we went. We got there a little early and had to wait for the previous class to finish before they could get in. Abby was VERY interested in what was happening in the pool. She seemed to be watching every kid in the pool, not sure what to think.

Here she is in her cozy robe checking things out:

Abby waiting and wondering:

Then it was time for them to get in. They started by sitting on the edge and Daddy poured small cups full of water onto her legs. Daddy said the water was rather cold. This wasn't going to be as warm and cozy as the tub! Abby didn't seem to mind the water from the cup; she was still pretty busy checking out the other kids. Next, Daddy got in with Abby...

I wish I could say that she had a blast at her first swim class, but this photo pretty much sums it up:

We have devised a new plan for the next class: Dip Abby in up to her neck for 30 seconds as soon as they get in. We are hoping that this will get her used to the water temp and that way she can enjoy her time splashing around instead of working at keeping her arms out of the water. Wish us luck! Hopefully, by the end of the summer we can call Abby our Little Fishy :)

Ain"t Taking This Lying Down

Well, when I went in to get Abby from her morning nap she wasn't in her normal position: on her belly, pushing up on her hands. This time she was chilling in a sitting position. It was a bit surprising, but not the first time she managed to get into this position. I grinned and scooped her up, enjoying this moment because I know moments like this will be gone much too soon.

Then came the end of her afternoon nap. I let her hangout in her crib for a few minutes before I went in to get her (I had to get the laundry switched and a few items put away before play time could begin). She was talking up a storm...I guess her conversation with her Glow Worm was a good one because I was able to get the entire load folded with out an insistent grunt, cry or scream. Then she got quite...hummm. I walked in and found her STANDING and smiling as to say "look what I can do Mom!". All I could think was "Wow, two first in one day. I wonder what the rest of the week will bring!". With Abby pushing up to all fours and rocking back and forth, I'm sure crawling is on its way sooner than later!

Spanx a Lot!

For the love of Spanx!!!

Like most of you, I have been wearing Spanx for years now (I wore them while pregnant...no worries--they make maternity Spanx --and refuse to wear dress clothes with out them post baby and I assure you that they were worth EVERY PENNY--check it for yourself!!), but today Spanx took me to another dimension...QVC!! Yes, I have placed my fist (and only) order on QVC because of Spanx....YIKES--does that make me old???

QVC debuted a ruched, lace trimmed cami today (and is only avalibe via QVC til October) and I just had to have it along with another pair of my must have item-Higher Power--which I seemed to have lost since Easter....hummmm! Now that I think of it, Spanx Higher Power is defiantly a Product I Can't Live Without!!! I will let you know if the new cami is worth ordering on QVC ;)

Drop It...

I did not realize that this day would come so soon...but just yesterday I put Abby in her crib while I opened a few window around the house only to come back into the room to see her with both hand on the crib side and her butt in the air! Scary! So when Michael got home today we dropped her crib to the lowest setting. I guess I was living in my own little world in thinking (or not thinking I guess) that her crib wouldn't have to be lowered until her first b-day or so...First time motherhood is funny like that!

Bed Time

For me!

I am headed off to bed this very moment because I deserve more than 4 consecutive hours of sleep for a change!!! Abby is fighting yet another cold and a case of the snarphs (if you are keeping count this is number, um, 4 or 5--I've lost count myself!!) which means she is coughing like a banshee and not sleeping well. Last night we were up from 1 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. at first due to the cough, then she decided that it was time to eat and play--not cool.



Anyway, I put Abby down at 7:30 and now I am headed to bed...lets hope she sleeps till at least 4!!!!!

Play Ball!

It's opening day for the Tigers! Abby and I will be supporting our team from the warmth of our home while Daddy braves the April weather and goes to the game :) Here is a quick pic. from this morning:

Thanks to Uncle Tom for getting Abby her official gear!!

SafeMama

Once upon a time, I was a Nalgene toting girl. I thought I was doing the right thing by avoiding the typical 20 ounce bottles of water and using my large, colorful, reusable bottle instead...

Then the news of BPA exploded and I freaked out! I started reading all about BPA and shortly realized that it is a scary, chemical-filled world out there and BPA is not the only chemical we should be worried about. The list of endocrine disrupting chemicals is oh-so-long and the issues they cause are even more scary (in short, they mimic hormones and may cause major problems over time). I did a lot of searching on the Internet for information on what products help limit my exposure to such chemicals, but had a hard time finding a site that compared products side by side. Then one day, Emily pointed me to SafeMama.com and I have been hooked ever since!!

Then I became pregnant and the worry launched into overdrive! Not only am I responsible for keeping myself healthy but now everything I rub on my body will in some way make it to my baby (chemicals in lotion soaks in to the skin...shower gel on body winds up in the mouth of a nursing baby) AND I'm also responsible for the products I put on her once she is born...I decided that I can not eliminate our exposure but I can do my best to limit our exposure by being an informed consumer.

I do have to give this warning: Once you start reading labels you may freak out as well. You are not a bad person. You may have a few decisions to make (what are you willing to give up, what are you able to spend, what do you think is something you should avoid, etc.).

My everyday favorite "Cheat Sheet" is the Safer Skin Care:

And because Lake Keliann is growing with each April Shower (which means 'Sketer season is almost upon us) I found this one tonight:

Be sure to visit SafeMama for Sunscreen and kiddie pool info too!

Easter Time

Our Easter fun started on Friday with a visit to The Village of Rochester Hills for a little visit with the Easter Bunny. Abby wasn't too sure what to think of him (neither did MJ or I--I think the Easter Bunny was not felling well, or perhaps he is getting a little old and needs to appoint an heir, because he did not look so good....) and really did not want to smile for the camera. Oh well, at least she did not cry! That is 2 for 2 if your keeping track!

Abby and the Easter Bunny

On Saturday night, MJ and I colored some eggs! I had a blast! It has been years, 8 in fact, since I colored eggs, which is hard to believe since it is one of my favorite things to do! Next year I am buying a kit for each of us along with a dozen eggs each so that I won't have to share...only problem is I don't think I could eat all of them by myself :(

Easter morning came a little too early...I got up at 6 a.m. to get ready for 9:30 mass and the rest of our day. It is amazing how long it takes to get the three of us ready to get out the door for the day! Abby did pretty well at mass. She loves when it is time to sing! She gets to "singing" and then doesn't want to stop when the song is done...you would think it is cute, but I hate being "that" family. This week wasn't too bad because there were a lot of kids at Mass so Abby wasn't the only one chatting from time to time. We did have to leave a few times in order to give Abby a chance to "let loose".

Our Family after Easter Mass

Then it was on to the Johnson's for a little Easter Brunch-yummy! We spent a few hours hanging out with Connor and Brendan and the rest of the family...Connor is getting ready for his little sister and played house with me! He was the Daddy, I was Mommy and we had lots of kids! I wish I would have taken a few pics...

Next we headed home for a little visit from Grandma D and Gramps. Abby had lots of fun playing with her Easter basket (as well as the wrapping it came in). Here are a few pics:

Abby stared in her new book as the face of the animals and loves it!

Every little girl needs a Glow Worm:

Abby also hunted for her basket from the Easter Bunny. Silly bunny hid it behind the T.V.!

Abby's First Easter Basket:

She was excited to get her hands on all the goodies:

She loved to shake her eggs filled with Jelly Beans:

Then it was time for bed! We love experiencing all these first with our little girl!

This Just In...

Just this very minute Abby rolled from her back to her front for the very first time! Well the first time that either Mommy or Daddy saw it happen...she did it with such ease I would have to guess that she has done this more than once in her crib or on the floor while I unload the dishwasher or fold a load of laundry upstairs.

Oh, there she goes again! Since starting this post she has managed to roll herself over to the T.V. stand and is playing with the doors...funny, I have been wanting her to roll from back to front for MONTHS now, but I'm not quite sure why not that our days of immobility are over!

Looks like it is time to start thinking about baby proofing the house as crawling is next!

Here is a little video of her third official roll from her back to her belly, enjoy!

Spring!!!

At last, spring is here! I realize the official start of spring was last Saturday, but I think I was to sick to notice and never get my hopes up for the good weather to last (hey, I live in MI where it seems to change more often than some people change their underwear)...

Here are 6 reasons I know that spring is in the air:

The calendar tells me so...

Mom2Mom sales are in full swing...

I have the urge to clean and purge...

My child goes to bed before the sun does....

My two duck friends are back to swim in Lake Keliann...

I woke to the sound of birds...


So, I ask: When is the next snow storm?





P.s. I realize that I am WAY behind on the blog...I am working hard to get caught up a.s.a.p. Keep checking back!