Learning Fast

Dear Dominic,

You are learning so fast these days! People tell me you can tell something is about to change at your house, with the arrival of your brother, Im not sure i believe it. You can't possibly know there is a person in mommys tummy, i think! Sometimes i have a hard time comprehending how that miracle works. You say baby when you pull up my shirt, and sometimes even daddy's, yours and your cousins shirts :) You throw things in the garbage for us, put your clothes in the hamper, grab your diapers and shoes when asked. Lately you love to put shoes on, mine, dads and yours. It is so wonderful watching the things you learn. You copy me with my makeup, eyelash curler and hair brush. Today we are looking at our new stroller and you point to the car seat and say baby, while trying to do the buckles. I know you will be an amazing big brother, and such a big help. I can't wait to see you teach your brother the things you learn, hopefully only the good things.

I love you,

Mom.

Not my idea

Dear Sons,

I have to tell you that this Journal was not my idea. I ran across it from a former co-worker, that i have much respect for, and knew i had to have one for my kids too. I had already had a blog, but wasn't good at keeping up on it, and it wasn't just letters to you, it was about our life-which became to busy for me to write about. Anyway, as i struggle sometimes on what to write to you, i think that i need to go to this co workers blog to see how she writes to her kids. Then i get mad that i can't do this myself and don't look at her blog and dont end up writing to you. Well there is a big difference between me and this co-worker, therefore there will be a difference between what we write our children. I wanted you to know that it is ok to do things the way you want to, the way that things come to you and are executed by you, are who you are. I spend so much time analyzing how to do things perfect or better, that it takes up to much time and i don't end up doing them at all. I hope that you don't struggle with that, and are able to just do things. A lot of times, your first instinct is the right one. I love you boys,

Love your Mother.

Changes

I have been wanting to do this for so long, gosh.....20 months to be exact. I thought I would document every diaper change, feeding, outing, movement, and accomplishment of you. Boy was i wrong. I underestimated the job i had just hired myself for, for the rest of my life. Oh, Dominic you have kept me so busy i get exhausted just watching you. And im still in my roaring 20's!! I will make it my passion to give you and your brother the memories of your childhood. Today you are 1 day away from being 20 months old. I had no idea what happiness you would bring me, and sometimes pain. I want this journal to be a way for you to look back and hopefully see how much you mean to your dad and I. You are growing so fast. You learn a new word almost everyday, but no word can compare to your favorite "No". You say no, to EVERYTHING you are asked, even while nodding your head up and down. You love mickey mouse clubhouse, you will smile,sing and dance when you hear it on the TV. You dance the second you hear any kind of music. Right now you love Katy Perry, Bruno Mars and Anything else on the radio for that matter. I have to go put you down for a nap now, you love to take naps with dad or I. I love you!

Eggplant

Im the first to admit cooking is not my fortay. But, in our house there are just some things i cook, and some things aaron cooks. We both love FOOD, especially anything fried ( lucky for my butt, we don't fry things often ) So while at cheesecake factory a few years ago, we discovered best of both worlds, healthy and fried!! The incredible edible eggplant sandwich!!! Our other favorite food is fried green tomatoes, and fried zucchini, you see a trend. Anyway, i cooked eggplant parmasean the other day, and oh my gosh it was good!! So i thought what else can i do with eggplant. Well, why not make a sandwich! So here it is, one of the most yummiest things ever, and I made it!!! It's sooo easy. On a muli-grain ciabatta roll, toasted with garlic butter. Fry- or im sure you could bake, which i will actually try next time-, in grape seed oil thinly cut rounds of eggplant. I use panko bread crumbs that i season with garlic powder, onion salt, oregano and some parsley. While those are drying i saute red pepper and red onion. Then i attempted to make a garlic aioli, but didn't have lemon juice, so just used mayo. I put slices of eggplant on the ciabatta, then topped with fresh mozzarella, toasted to melt the cheese, then topped with tomato and pepper/onion mix and was in HEAVEN!!

Mothers day

Not only was my son physically here this mothers day, as opposed to being in my tummy. But so was my mother! It was great. I have to be honest and say this holiday has never meant so much. I was always a mom to my dolls, and pets, but come on-as much as i treated them like humans, they let me sleep through the night, didn't teeth, pull my hair, throw up on me, need to be taken in and out of a car seat several thousand times a day, have as many cute clothes that i had to make a very hard decision buying, continue crying when i consoled them, hurt when i got them, or keep me from working. Of course, those are my favorite things about being a mom. Aaron was deathly sick this mothers day, so we will be celebrating next weekend. Me and my mom had a great time. She cooked me an awesome breakfast, we went on a great walk with dominic and he went on his first swing (pics to come) and we went to springdale which is the closest thing to home here in So Ut! I love my mom, and every day i see things in myself that remind me of her, to the way i talk and sound, to how i clean and decorate. She is so generous, and i know now how much she loves me and why she called all my friends house's to make sure i was really there, and only wanted the best for me.

Dominics room

Im finally posting! I feel kinda funny saying that because im not sure anyone reads this. But oh well.
I finally have D's room done,well, with what i can do on our budget and the fact that were renting and i can't paint any walls. The biggest thing i was working on was his bookcase, i bought it before he was born and it was BRIGHT red. I knew i would paint it, i just never knew what color. so alone in the closet it sat until recently. I was blog surfing and came across a blog where this girl painted a dresser and nightstand YELLOW! I would never think to paint anything yellow, but it turned out great and now i am inlove with yellow! The primary colors in his room are blue, cream and brown so i was planning on painting it brown. Boy im glad id didn't. Painting and sanding sucked more than i thought it would, but all in all, im glad i got the experience and now know what i have to look forward to when i buy something and plan on changing the color. I also recently got 4 new dining chairs that need painting, so we will see how that turns out. Besides the bookcase, i bought some boat shaped hooks for the wall that i was also going to paint, and good heavens was that a disaster. Long story short, i finally spray painted them, thanks to my sis in law kendall, and it was a done deal. I do love his room, and am so in love with him.

The before: The after:


The before: The after:



Curtains for his closet


I found really cheap floating shelves, which i love floating shelves. I am debating on painting these as well.I love my antique rocking chair i found for $50 at a consignment shop. And the chandelier above it is a little feminine, but it really doesn't go anywhere else in my house.






this art desk i got for 50% off, and i figured one day he will use it.


I found these darling canvas prints for super cheap online! I hope they aren't too babyish, and can grow with his room.



I got three of these huge toy bins at big lots, one is red. I have that in his closet for now.

Iron Man

No, im not going to be in the iron man competition that is coming to St. George next month. But it has found a way to become an inspiration to me. Lately in my spin classes, I have been getting emotional while im spinning away as fast as i can. The awesome lady who teaches this class is also the one who teaches the kickbox class i go to once a week and she is competing. I also wonder if she is a motivational speaker, the power of her words during my workout have made me push harder than i ever have before and are the reason for my feelings. I have always been active, i can't remember a year in school i didn't play volleyball, soccer or basketball. All i said was "play" I didn't say i was good. Even while attending a HUGE university i had the guts to play inter-mural soccer (what i was thinking-i have no idea), But i never gave it my all. In any sport i played. Since becoming an adult and working out, it is completely different experience than playing sports as a teenager. I actually care what im doing! I love love love the feeling after a workout, when your sore, sweaty and just pushed yourself to feel stronger. I have never done spin before, just the past month, but it's so much more than just a workout. It's an hour to myself to just think. I have no desire to ride bikes....i like the atmosphere of my class a lot. The lights are turned off, the music is loud and Nicole, the instructor, is telling you how hard you have to work to get what you want. And what i want is to feel good about myself, in a bikini! Most the people in the class are avid bike riders, they have those special shoes, do all the marathons and have really cool workout clothes. Even though i can say i will probably never be as great as athletes as them, being there knowing im part of their workout is a great feeling. Working out has become something that makes me feel better about myself, i have total control over it and after every class or home work out i do; is an accomplishment i am proud of. So here's to the iron man competitors, i look up to you and you must be crazy to do what you do!