Dear Rylee...

Recently you have been enjoying looking at your baby book. You say "aww cute" at the pictures of yourself and scratch and poke at the glittery butterflies on the cover. I sit you on my lap and read little excerpts from our first year with you and you just look at me and smile. I'm sure it's the quality time spent alone with mommy that you enjoy the most but a baby book doesn't do your life justice. So I've come up with a little letter to you.

It'll be years before you read it but you need to know how amazing you are right now, in your year and a half self.

First things first, you're a big daddy's girl! You need mommy for the cuddles and stories but the fun begins when daddy walks through the door. When we drive around the ranch , daddy's lap is the only seat for you :).
Flowers are your current obsession. That's the first thing you look for when we step outside. Second is rocks and sometimes poop, yeah it's gross but you sure don't think so lol.
"I don't think so" is your answer to everything. Coming in at a close second is "I can't wait". You have the sweetest voice.
I'm sure this will change soon enough but at the moment you love bath time. You lay on your belly and say "I'm schwaeming I'm schwaeming!!". We'll definitely remind you of this later! You've gotten daring a few times and dipped your face in the water but quickly learned you didn't like it.
You like love. That's what you tell us anyway lol. "I like love" is what you said one night before bedtime and it almost brought your daddy and I to tears. You're wise beyond your years!
Sugars from you are the sweetest. You give them when we walk in the door and then run off like we don't exist lol you're a busy girl!
You have the sweetest gap between your two front teeth and I secretly wish it would stay there forever but I'll let you decide when you get older!
You have your own doctor kit and you love giving check ups. Mommy's are always good, sometimes Daddy's aren't, we know this by the "Oh no" or "Oh dear" reaction you give.
You have stinky, sweaty feet but Daddy and I kiss them every night :)
You love hiding in the cabinet next to the potatoes. It's your (not so) secret hideout.
You find beauty in absolutely everything and I hope that never changes.
You are so funny! We say you have Mommy and Daddy's sense of humor but you'll probably think we are weird and gross when you get older lol
We like to hide (pronounced hine according to you) from daddy when we hear his boots walking to the front door and whisper as loud as we possibly can.
You and Daddy like to play tricks on me and when the deed is done, you lean over and say "We got her!". You are full of fun!


You change every day and it is amazing to watch you grow! One day when you read this, I want you to know how much you are loved and how proud we are of every step you take :). But please, take them slowly...

Love forever and always,
Mommy

Cutting Some Slack

As almost every girl, every year on February 14th, I expect the works. Roses, candy, cards, gifts, the sappy and emotional declaration of love.. you know the usual. Why? Because it's Valentines Day and that's what you're supposed to do!! Right?

I have a confession to make.. It's taken me 26 years to realize that I'm wrong. Cole, if you're reading this... that is the only time I will say "I'm wrong" lol jk.

I began to think about the year before and of course my mind goes to "I wonder what he's doing or getting me this year!" Ladies admit it, you think this too. I played this ridiculously cheesy scenario in my  head of my name in neon lights and my living room floor covered with rose petals. While I was sitting there I thought "what IS Valentines day"? According to Google, this is the day we celebrate love. The day you show the people around you that you love and care for them. Easy enough.

Here's what came to my mind..

The day I came home from work exhausted and Cole said to me "Baby, lay down and take a nap.. I'll make dinner"
The night I woke up from a bad dream and was immediately upset with him for something he did IN MY DREAM and he apologized and hugged me till I fell back asleep. (Please let me know if you do the same thing so I know I'm not crazy AND alone lol)
The day he drove to the store at 2 a.m. to get me a pickle because I was craving one.
The nights he takes 2 inches of the bed so I can pin him between myself and the wall because I'm cold and doesn't ask me to move.
EVERY day he takes my shoes off and rubs my feet because he knows I had a hard day
When I'm sick and pale and he kisses my forehead and tells me "I'm the luckiest man in the world"
When I'm in the bathroom throwing up because of the tiny miracle inside my tummy and he's sitting on the floor next to me so I won't be alone.
The nights when our daughter was a newborn and she'd cry for a bottle and he's grab my hand and tell me "you've done enough.. let me take care of this"
When he tells me "Thank you for our life together"

Does this make every day Valentines Day? lol

Of course it's nice to get flowers or yummy chocolate but I'm proud to say "I don't need it". Not a day goes by without him reminding me that I'm special and loved. So, thank you, baby, for my Valentines Life!

Blogging with EXTRA cheese today,
Misty :)

Let's Get REAL

As many of you know, in December Cole and I were very surprised and excited to learn that we would be expecting another precious baby. :) I thought to myself "I can do this, I've done this once before so I know EXACTLY what to expect". Right? WRONG! lol  lol It seems like the minute I found out I was pregnant, in came the nausea and exaustion. I don't remember being like this with Rylee. But then again with Rylee, I didn't have a toddler running around exploring her surroundings and volume. I also didn't have 2 jobs, heaven help me!  Pregnancy was a breeze.. for the most part. So on to Amazon books I went.

Even though it's only been about 2 years since my last pregnancy, I don't remember a lot. I guess that's what they call "mom brain". As I was browsing through the books of "What to Expect" and "Your changing Body" I couldn't help but wonder why somebody hasn't written a book about pregnancy! No no, I mean REAL pregnancy. Not the beautiful glow, long luscious hair, tiny flutters, and overwhelming sense of joy stuff.. I'm talking about the stuff that almost every expectant mother goes through that they forget to mention in some books. Oh yeah, you know what I'm talking about. Sometimes the beautiful glow is more of an overproduction of oil, thanks progesterone. And the long luscious hair is more matted than silky. Tiny flutters? More like UFC jabs from the inside! I have no intention of writing a book and further embarrassing myself but if I did.. here are some of the more amusing yet truthful titles...


Yes, I peed again!
No Don't Touch Me
Goodbye Ankles, Hello Cankles
Rest? That's funny.
101 Explanations: Why I Just Passed Gas In Public
That's funny, I've never had hair there before!
It's Gonna Hurt!
Your Chest, from Pamela Anderson to Betty White
 The Protruding Belly Button Chronicles
Delicious Food Combos to Try While pregnant (and only while pregnant)

Talk about Best Sellers lol

Spreading some Pregnant Cheer,
Misty

You know you're a momma when...

As some of you may have noticed, I took a blogging break. No I didn't run out of things to say.. unfortunately lol. With the Holidays here we have been extremely busy enjoying our "firsts". If you are wondering what I'm talking about read this. Now that I've explained myself lets get on with the show.

A few weeks ago, after an exhausting day at work, I asked my husband "Did you poop in your diaper?" THAT is when you know you're a momma lol...

You know you're a momma when..
Rather than expensive Salon shampoos and conditioners your shower is infested with Dora and Johnson and Johnson products.
You say " I have to use the potty" when you are out to dinner with your husband
You turn the TV on during lunch time and it's on Nick Jr.. and you don't change the channel
You can sing along to every kid show theme song
You avoid showing cleavage so your infant won't ask for milk and embarrass you in the middle of the grocery store.. true story!
You eat your Snickers in the closet so you don't have to share
You have made the 10 inches of available sleep space on your bed comfortable
Your child brings you an unidentified object so you smell it
Instead of the sun floating into your room to gently wake you up, you get tiny sticky fingers prying your eyes open
Your Cosmo and People magazine subscriptions have turned into Parenting and BabyLife
Your Christmas tree is beautifully decorated.. except for the first 3 feet
You find yourself saying "Don't eat that it's yucky poopoo" to an adult at work
You have piles and piles of scribbled on paper because it's your baby's "art"
Your eye shadows have tiny fingerprints molded into them
You spell out bad words
You comb your hair and out falls princess stickers
You refer to things the way your baby does... for example: Will you please pass the "muck"? Muck is Rylee's word for anything edible.
Instead of zebra or fancy print undies.. you have Wal-Mart undies with pen marks from when Rylee "helped" with laundry
The last band you saw was Fresh  Beat Band

And last but not least.. you know you're a mom when...
You have a mommy blog! :)

Closet chocolate eater,
Misty

Letter to 16 Year Old Me

Dear 16 year old Misty,

I know, I know.. you know everything - or so you think. You are wise beyond your years - or so you think. But there's a few things that you need help with.

First of all, take a deep breath and relax! It's not the end of the world, I promise. No, he didn't ask you to prom but guess what.. you will live. Besides, wait till you meet your husband ;)! You got a B on your Physics test and it feels like it's the end of the world but it's not.. trust me. 10 years from now you will be surprised at how little you apply physics to your life lol.. Boys and bad grades are a walk in the park compared to bills and bills.

Speaking of boys, drop them! You don't need them. Not right now. The boy that you think is "the one" is actually "the heartbreak" and "the destroyer of friendships". You know who I'm talking about. Don't roll your eyes at me! Don't lose your lifelong friends over a temporary boyfriend. You will thank me later.

The time you spend locked up in your room day dreaming about being a grown up and counting down the days till you are 18 is time you are wasting! Right now it feels like your parents will always be around. They have to be, right? Wrong. Sit down and spend some time with "Pop". Ask for him to sing you another song or just listen to him speak. You will miss the sound of his voice soon, and you won't be able to get it back. It may be a little embarrassing when you are walking in the halls and he calls you his baby, but soak up those moments and cherish them with all your heart. Be his baby girl as long as you can.

Be yourself. That's the same advice Mom and Pop give you and guess what? They're right! It's ok that you're a little goofy and sometimes you stutter. That's who you are. Don't try to be somebody/something that you aren't. Don't let popularity go to your head. That's not you. A few years from now when you are comfortable in your own skin and are ready to be yourself, you'll be sorry you weren't you sooner. Be you, 16 year old, weird, shy, smart, easygoing, you.

Trust your judgement. If you feel like you shouldn't do something, you're right. Don't do it. Enough said.

Don't try to grow up too fast. Right now you wish you were 18, when you're 18 you'll wish you were 21, and when you're 26 you'll wish you were 16 again. It's a vicious cycle. Enjoy being a teenager!

Ok, so right now you're thinking "Um like, who do you like think you are"? I added grammar somewhere up there didn't I? lol Enough with all the parental advice.. here's what you have to look forward to once you're "grown up".

You still look like you're 16 which is good and bad lol. You have a sweet daughter who is quite a firecracker! She is more beautiful than you could have ever imagined. Your husband is you but in male form. He's your best friend and life with him is unbelievably easy. You wear fancy clothes everyday to your office job.. which sadly.. isn't the CIA lol. You aren't rich but you definitely don't lack. Your life is at it's prime :)


Grown up,
Misty

"Oh no he didn't!!"

*Disclaimer* The following blog post depicts real life events. None of the individuals mentioned were harmed.. too much ;)

I absolutely adore my husband. He's the sweetest, most caring, and hard working man I know. It doesn't hurt that he's quite the looker lol. I'm extremely lucky to have him. Having said all that, he still has his "oops" moments. What are oops moments? They are the kind of remarks that generate the "Oh no he didn't" response.

When heading to the hospital to deliver my little one, if you haven't read my birth story click here , I was on the verge of tears because of the contractions. Never had I ever felt this kind of pain in my life, all my momma friends know where I'm coming from. My husband's response was "It can't be that bad"... oh no he didn't.

While breathing and concentrating on not exploding (that's what it felt like anyway) Cole was watching Family Guy on TV.
Cole: hahahah Did you just see that?
Me: Baby please I'm in a lot of pain and I'm trying to concentrate. Turn the TV off!!!
Cole: Geez lighten up Debbie Downer.
You know my response lol

A few hours later...
Doctor: Ok it's time to start pushing. Are you ready?
Me: No I'm terrified.
Cole: You'll be fine, cows do it all the time.
Ladies, all together now "Oh no he didn't!"

I know what you're thinking "Misty, during labor everything is annoying and will get under your skin." Lets  skip ahead a few months...

While breastfeeding my newborn and feeling not so comfortable.
Me: Cole do you think you can give her a bottle? I'm sore and I need a break.
Cole: Sore? That can't hurt! I bet I could do it.
Mmhmm *lots of sassy neck and head movement*


We'll argue for a minute before I say "It's ok honey, I know you don't understand any of this.. after all... you're a man, you've got it made!" and then begins the "OH NO SHE DIDN'T" lol

What generates your "Oh no he/she didn't" response"??

Doing what men can't, <---Oh no she didn't!
Misty

In Rylee's eyes...

Have you ever had one of those days where you just don't feel up to par? It's ok to admit it, I have lots of those days. Days where I feel like I couldn't look any sloppier or my life couldn't be any more mundane. It happens.

This weekend when getting ready for my "date night" with my husband I had 15 minutes to get spiffy. 15 minutes?? I can't even tame my hair in 15 minutes! As I stood in front of the mirror judging my appearance "what a disaster! Looks like another pony tail. You will never have enough concealer to cover up those dark circles" my daughter walks in and says "peeeety"(pretty). In that moment all my negative thoughts evaporated. Poof! Just like that. I knelt down and gave her a big squeeze before she said "Noooo" and ran away to watch the never ending Dora show lol.

In that moment I realized something. I can have my hair in a big knot on top of my head and be covered with blemishes and I will still be the most beautiful woman in the world to my daughter. Who I see and who she sees are 2 different people.

I see a woman with under eye circles from lack of sleep and age. She sees the fun momma who stayed up way passed her bedtime to read fun stories with silly voices. I see frizzy hair that is beyond saving; pony tail it is. She sees a mommy who cuddled an extra 30 minutes this morning.

It doesn't matter what I see when I look in the mirror, it doesn't matter who I THINK I am because
in Rylee's eyes...

I'm the most beautiful woman in the world
I'm the safe place
I'm the kisser of ouchie's which magically stop hurting once kissed
I'm the comfy spot to watch TV from
I'm the bubble bath artist
I'm the one who makes hot chocolate juuuuust right
I'm the one who tells daddy when it's "too high"
I'm the last goodnight kiss and the first "Good Morning!"
I'm a super hero
I can do anything!

These things will probably change as Rylee gets older but for now I'm going to enjoy being her beautiful momma. Have you seen yourself in your child's eyes? Try it.. you won't be disappointed :)

World Renowned hot chocolate artist,
Misty