Happies, Crappies, & Thanksgivingsies.

• Adele's "25" - holy moly. So great. I feel like her music is almost on the level that Dave Matthews Band is for me. I can listen to Dave any time in any setting and get something different from the same album each time I hear it. She is incredible and her voice... wow. Just wow. Moving. Lovely. Beautiful.
• I can't wait to go to Disney with the kids. I just can't wait to see their reactions and have so much fun all together! My Disney Addict level is at an all time high lately... I've been reading all I can stand about the parks and movies and just everything in the fandom. Not to mention, all the amazing Star Wars stuff happening recently. Such an exciting time to be a Disney fan!
• Molly is really communicating with us lately. While Molly still really doesn't have words yet - she has been surprising me lately. Just tonight she was fussing SO MUCH when I took her over to change her diaper. She kept trying to reach for something but everything I gave her was wrong... finally out of desperation I just said, "Molly what do you want?" and she stops crying and says, "Dow." So I said, "Down?!" and she said "Jes!" Which I can only take to mean "yes" and I was FLOORED and just plain shocked. Not to mention so happy!!! She can understand me AND formulate her answer! Big deal over here!!! She's also saying versions of thank you ("kank oo") and of course da-da. She can sign for food, more, and all done. She has also started saying "ew" which is HILARIOUS.

• I saw the last Hunger Games movie while in Nashville for Thanksgiving and WOW... it definitely does not disappoint. So now I'm rereading the books, again. I've lost count how many times. I hope Suzanne Collins is proud of herself - she sure ought to be. And I hope she decides to write more about Panem. I would read it in a heartbeat.
• Thanksgiving was great! And hilarious. The first night our air mattress wasn't sealed correctly and it was probably the worst night of "sleep" I have had in a long while. But it ended up leading to one of those delirious laughing episodes that hit me on and off the entire next day for no reason at all. Tony figured out what was wrong with it and fixed it the next day. So that first horrible night of sleep made sleeping on a regular air mattress the next night seem like a luxury!

Halfway through the night I switched to a blanket on the floor. Somehow that was better than a deflated air mattress. Both were awful, though!

This is Tony sandwiched in the middle of the air mattress. Each time I see this picture I laugh uncontrollably!

• Being around my sisters was just what I needed. It was so great. And it was awesome to spend time with my niece, nephew, and brother-in-law. The food was excellent - as always. John is such an awesome cook and thank goodness for that because the rest of us are kinda somewhere around mediocre at best! 

Molly, Matthew, Presley & Anne Marie

• We also got together with Tony's parents and Granny for Thanksgiving and that was great. When you're with people you love fun just comes effortlessly. I'm so incredibly grateful to be part of their family.

Mike, Selena, Presley, Granny, Tony, Me & Molly

• I got Tony and I some new throw blankets from Kohl's for "Christmas" while they were on super sale... and I can't ever keep secrets or surprises from him so we already have them on the bed. And they're so soft and awesome and I love them.
• I'm so happy to see my husband when he walks in the door at night. And so are my kids. I'm glad I get to see how happy they are to see each other at the end of the day!

• Money still does not grow on trees. Darn.
• Furthermore, time machines don't exist. Still.
• Also, how are showers not made easier at this point? Anyone remember the Jetsons? Where are we at with that technology?
• I live much too far from the people who get me the most. Why is it that is usually the case?
• The bad thing about blogging is most of the time you can't share the really bad stuff going on with you. And in most cases that's what you most want to share. That's something that really gets to me lately.
• Teething. Ohhhh, curse you teething. (Though we need and love and appreciate our teeth... we really do! But teething is not a fun process.)
• My husband still works too much. That's not going to change anytime soon but this is one spot I feel like I can vent about it. I hate that he's gone so much of the day. Eleven hours of work is so much in a day! If we didn't live so close to his place of work then we would have to contend with a commute as well. I can't help but think how short life can be and if we're working so much of our life - what quality of life are we living? It makes me feel sad.
• It gets much too dark much too early.
• Our favorite neighbors are moving. Not that we ever do neighborly things with them, but they are always nice and have been welcoming and have a kiddo around the same age as ours. Just nice people. Hate to see them go!
• Found out my insulin level is pretty darn high. Not great. Going back to the doctor on Monday to talk about what that'll mean from here on out. I had gestational diabetes with Molly so this isn't uncharted territory. I had a feeling I needed to get to the doctor and I'm glad I did. I'm sure I'll have more to share Monday.
• Another awful, awful shooting this week. So many beautiful lives lost. I wish obtaining a gun was checked and balanced as much as owning a vehicle or a drivers license... except even more rigorous. And why does anyone need such huge guns to begin with? If the issue is having the right to defend ourselves with firearms, won't a pistol be enough? It just makes me feel so incredibly dejected.

I changed up the layout for the blog... let me know if anyone has trouble reading it. Hope everyone had more happies than crappies this week! 

Top 5 Friday.

#5  SLAPSGIVING.

I'm so excited for Thanksgiving Slapsgiving this year.  I'll give you a few reasons:  Amanda, John, Jojo, Ashley, Sage, Sammy, Annie & Matthew!  Not to mention: KATNISS.  Yes... totally gonna geek out at the new Mockingjay movie with some Hunger Games shirts - I am so excited.  I love when we get together for the holidays! And I am bringing my favorite jug wine again!  Last time we got started on the wine, part of dinner got burnt by our tipsy chef (which was somehow hilarious) and we took pictures in the snow.  I know... wild and crazy.  Even crazier is that it's been almost FIVE YEARS since then.  No telling what kinda shenanigans will happen this time.  Did I mention how excited I am?!

just a couple kids back then. kidless kids.

back when we were all 3 still "myers" girls

So that was Christmas five years ago... where was I on Thanksgiving five years ago, you ask?  Florida with my Gramma Myers (and Amanda, Sammy and John).  I've been thinking of Gramma a bunch lately with Thanksgiving drawing near... I miss her and wish I could spend the holiday with her as well.

love this woman.

#4 SCANDAL.

Can we just take a moment to talk about my favorite show right now?  Okay, thanks.  So, I felt like the middle-to-end of Season 3 and the very beginning of Season 4 were not the Scandal I've come to know and love.  It was still awesome - but definitely lacking that something special.  It was to the point where I was so bored with the show and really didn't even care to catch it on time.  After the past few episodes and most notably last night's AMAZING episode - I am super happy it's back to where it was at it's best (which in my opinion was Season1/Season 2)!  With two more episodes left before they take a short hiatus until the end of January... I feel like things are going to get even more amazing!  And if you're a Scandal-addict and on Twitter, the live tweeting is so much fun.  Bellamy Young (aka, Smellie Mellie) tweeted back to me last night.  So basically we're best friends.

#3 SISTERS.

Man. I just love my two girls.  I love watching them grow up and also grow together!  It really is going to be so much fun as a family of four.

me & tony as ninja turtles, presley as tinker bell & molly the sunflower!

And just for fun... Presley on her first Halloween as a sunflower!

#2 SLACKING.

Ugh, I know.  I am so behind on posting monthly updates for Molly on here.  Or posting in general.  I have several posts I have been meaning to write and haven't gotten to it yet.  Several more I have begun writing and failed to finish so they're saved for a future date.  I have every intention of being more present when it comes to reflecting on my life yet fail to follow through and chronicle it.

#1 SINGING.

Any of you out there familiar with Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood on PBS?  It happens to be one of my favorite kiddo shows of Presley's and she just loves it too.  Something we both love?  The songs they sing in each episode!  Amanda had the good idea to tape Presley singing some of them and I'm here to share them with you.  (You're welcome.)

Currently x21 {link up}

Linking up with Harvesting Kale for another (few) week(s) of "Currently" prompts.
LAST week it was {appreciating, feeling, looking, regretting, playing}

APPRECIATING:  My new phone.  I know it's really not all that "new" considering I've had it for several weeks now... but it's just so NICE!  The screen is huge and the pictures turn out so crisp and clear... I just love it.  Not to mention it's got celebrity status.  Almost everywhere I go someone says, "Oh my goodness! Is that the 6+?"  Always a fun (and easy) conversation starter.

FEELING:  I've really been feeling good lately.  And I've been wanting to feel even better and maybe try to start jogging again (and put the double jogging stroller to good use) or take the plunge and join the YMCA that is just a few miles away (it's just such a sucky YMCA compared to the location in Moline that I worked at for so long... but hey, better than nothing).  For now though I've been doing a couple yoga poses everyday with Presley (or "noga" as she calls it - her favorite is the flamingo pose they do on Sesame Street) along with a couple sets of squats and fire hydrants.  I am going up to our attic to find my dumbbells one of these days...
Memphis/Midsouth folks:  Where is your favorite place to jog with your kiddos in tow?

This week it's {anticipating, contributing, discussing, listening, deciding}

ANTICIPATING:  Okay guys... less than a month until the first MOCKINGJAY movie hits theaters!  I.AM.SO.EXCITED!  I'm even more excited I get to see it with my sisters AND get together for Slapsgiving!  Not to mention, my BIRTHDAY is in a few weeks!  November is on the horizon and it is by far one of the best months of the year.  Followed up by December which is another amazing month and that will mean February is right around the corner... which is Presley's birthday month!!!!  Such an awesome time of the year.


CONTRIBUTING:  I've been wearing Molly in the Ergo carrier a lot lately and it is SO GREAT to be able to have my hands to do whatever I need to do.  Not to mention, she is so content on my chest and I am so much more comfortable with her there rather than in the stroller/car seat all the time.  This is contributing to my lower back aches at the end of the day (probably because I am also chasing a fun, energetic toddler around as well) but it's also responsible for some extra bonding time with my littlest one... which is 110% worth it.  I frequently carry her around the stores we visit (Kroger & Target, mostly) and the park and most recently the Memphis Zoo for several hours.

And I'm not the only one carrying babies around here...

LISTENING:  To so many great songs on repeat lately.  The kind of music that just speaks to your soul.  Good good stuff.

Alex & Sierra: Little Do You Know
Christina Perri: Human
Christina Perri: The Lonely
Lana Del Ray: Born to Die

Skylar Grey: Love the Way You Lie
Sara Ramirez: The Story
Greg Laswell: Your Ghost
Greg Laswell: Comes & Goes in Waves
Lana Del Rey: Blue Jeans
Andrew Belle: In My Veins
Ellie Goulding: Beating Heart

DECIDING:  Last night we got to go on a date night!  It was nice.  And if I'm being honest, almost a little weird without the kids.  Is there such a thing as it feeling too quiet?  Like I said, though, it was so so so nice.  I wanted Tony to decide where we went... sometimes I get tired of making decisions.  Almost went to Five Guys on a last minute whim but we ended up not doing that.  We went to get sushi + hibachi... and holy cow... it was DELICIOUS.  Our waitress and chef were both great - the chef had me come up to the grill and throw the egg in the air all fancy and it was so much fun!  He said, "C'mon up here! If you break the egg, it won't matter!"  It would've been easy to decline but I'm so glad he insisted because even just something small like that made me feel like a version of my former self... which was a good feeling.  (Which reminded me a lot of an interesting article I just read earlier this week.)  And it was funny because Tony referenced HIMYM when Barney gets up at the hibachi grill and does the same thing but completely kills it!  We went out for a drink afterward and don't you hate it when you order a drink and it tastes awful?  Me too!  I ordered a mojito and it was pretty bad.  But I loved the bar we went to and it felt really awesome sitting outside on the patio relaxing in the beautiful weather.  We walked around Midtown which was nice with a sweet, romantic vibe.  And I am so grateful to have Selena... I never have to worry about our kids well-being and know they're with someone who loves them just as much as mommy and daddy.  Not to mention, extremely lucky to have a partner I love and get to date!

That's what we've been up to.  Been meaning to write several times since the last time but life is just busy and days are both short and long, if that makes sense.  Hope to write more later!

Five on Friday.

Baker.
Proud owner of a breadmaker.  Now that I have one, I'm a little intimidated to get started.  I think I'll just have to find a simple recipe and start from there.  If you have any favorite bread recipes that are tried and true - make sure to share it!

Book Hangover.
When will I learn?!  I swear, this is the 3rd or 4th time I've read through the Hunger Games books and I am just an emotional mess.  I'm not ready to let go of those characters or the story and I think the worst of it is the ending of the series.  It just feels so unfinished.  Like I am waiting to hear the rest or have a better explanation of how the characters got from point A to point B.  I have been wanting to read the Divergent series ever since getting them for Christmas - but now I don't want to start it because I feel like I will resent the book and characters for not being the Hunger Games.  I almost just want to reread all the Twilight books because I had such a strong connection to that story/characters.  Or maybe the answer is reading a regular, stand-alone book before reading another series and getting so attached.  Maybe I should do that.  Anyways, I definitely didn't foresee finishing the books another time around having this much of an impact on me.  Again.  Only 210 more days until the first Mockingjay movie hits theaters!

Bad, iPhone!
Back up your iPhone before agreeing to any updates!  I made the mistake of not doing so and lost some of my photos, videos, and had to re-download all my apps, etc because it went into restore mode or something.  Also, take a screen shot of your home screen before updating, too.  Mine feels so disjointed because I'm getting used to where everything is now that I can't remember exactly how everything was situated before.  I know... not a very substantial problem to complain about - all I'm saying it be prepared in case it happens to you.

Barbacoa.
I made a Chipotle-inspiried dinner at home last night and it was a huge success!!!  Let me start by saying I got a big top round roast marked down from Target and I honestly had no idea what I was going to do with it.  First instinct in finding a recipe proved to be a good one (aka Pinterest) and I found this instantly drool-worthy recipe for the meat.  Thanks to this fantastic blog I also found a recipe for a Cilantro-Corn Salsa and also Cilantro-Lime Rice (both similar to what Chipotle offers).  It was super delicious!!!  I'm excited to heat up leftovers and see how they taste the second time around.  It all turned out something like this.  Amazing!

Bathetic.
I love our life - but I miss having more moments like this.

Granted, it's not everyday that you get to celebrate some of your best friends getting married, but I just look back to so many of our adventures pre-kids and wonder if our life will ever resemble that again... even slightly.  I think it would be easier if we lived near our friends with kids (my sisters, my cousin, friends back in Illinois with kids/nieces or nephews...), because then we would have common interests that would draw the families together more often... but I tell you, it gets lonely being a stay-at-home mom.  It's a great life, but I wish there were more opportunities to share with others.  Not to mention, I have a hard time branching out.  But I suppose that is necessary when moving.  I know I've said it so much lately... but I am really kicking myself for all the moments I took for granted living so close to the family and friends in the Quad Cities.  I haven't missed our old rental home or the weather since we moved - but I have severely missed living in Moline, being 5-10 minutes from anywhere I needed to go, living 4 miles away from the nearest relative, our old routines and the places we frequented, and just the community there in general.  It really was home.  I always felt stuck living in the Midwest (mostly because it was frigid half of the year) and knew I'd like to get back to Tennessee, so I feel somewhat ludicrous for having this reaction.  But it turns out, I am having a hard time letting go.

Currently x17 & positive affirmations {link ups}

So, today is somewhat of a link up dump!  I love both of these link ups & the hosts, so check them out. 
Currently: Harvesting Kale & Write Yourself Happy (Positive Affirmations): Smile & Write
First up, this week's prompts are {clearing, digging, mixing, reading, watching}

CURRENTLY:

CLEARING:  Our bank account.  Man.  It seems like all I'm doing lately is spending money on groceries or something we need for the house.  Tony even talked me into a $60 leaf blower!  And he was very convincing!!!  (And on his behalf, it is something that we needed.  But still!)  This was on top of the new mower.  And a $45 extension cord.  And new curtains and a rod.  And a million other things.  I will be excited when it all settles down and starts to pay off.  We will also need shoe molding for the entire house (ughhhhh.... stupid project), a few area rugs (I'm thinking eventually for the living room, dining area, & bedroom), to install a new disposal (which was "working" before we moved in & cleared the inspection.... somehow...), a weed eater... and that is just the short list.  It's all very exciting but I am going to feel much better when we are spending less!

DIGGING:  The fact that it is almost Thursday already.  The Scandal finale is tomorrow and I can hardly wait!  I'm several episodes behind with Grey's Anatomy... as usual, but thankfully we have a few more weeks before that season finale.  I'm also SUPER behind on Parenthood & How I Met Your Mother... which YES... means I have NOT seen the finale yet and NO I would not like any spoilers!  The speakers for our computer went out so I just need to catch up on my phone.  Eventually.

MIXING:  I am feeling EXTREMELY mixed on whether or not to transition Presley to a toddler bed before Molly comes.  So many pros/cons and informed opinions.  Ultimately, the decision is ours because every kid is different from the next and as her parents, we know her best.  The thing that is completely throwing me off is the fact that she is STILL UP as I type - an hour after she laid down in her crib!  It is SO DISHEARTENING going from a serious sleeper to someone who plays at bedtime now for so long.  Will this get better in a toddler bed, stay the same, or get worse?  I guess I'm just worried that she isn't ready for it.  I'm worried that she will backslide once Molly is here.  And I'm worried it will affect all of our sleep!  Tony's response?  "Well we can't keep her in a crib forever."  -_-  I wonder if switching to a video monitor for Presley would take some of that anxiety away.

READING:  I just got involved in giving myself a reading challenge with the Goodreads website/app.  I think once I have Molly I am going to regret setting such an ambitious challenge for myself - which is 24 books this year.  Especially considering I started the challenge in April.  Usually, this wouldn't be so bad, but with a newborn?  I am thinking it's just not gonna happen (I'm already 6 books behind schedule...) but we'll see.  Reading any amount of books is better than none at all.  I started the challenge re-reading the Hunger Games and I am still stuck there.  I have not been able to keep my eyes open at night to read!  The book, however, is just as awesome as I remember.

WATCHING:  We've been watching "Ultimate Car Build-off" on Netflix the past few nights (you can guess who chose this) and it is a really good show.  Cars and sports are two of Tony's favorite pastimes and hobbies and thank the good Lord that I've honestly come to love them both as well.  Of course, not as fervently as he does, but I do really enjoy them nonetheless.  Anyways, they have to do these crazy challenges on the show and these shop guys are pretty spectacular with what they can pull off with random vehicles in 40 hours!

Five affirmations for my life:

• A ship in port is safe but that's not what ships are built for.  Grace Murray Hopper
• You is kind.  You is smart.  You is important.  Aibileen Clark
• I am thankful for today.
• Never apologize for being sensitive or emotional.  It's a sign that you have a big heart, and that you aren't afraid to let others see it.  Showing your emotions is a sign of strength."  Brigitte Nicole
• Therefore, what God has joined together, let not man separate.  Matthew 19:6

I plan to incorporate a couple of these the more I begin decorating - the first two are absolutely going up somewhere in this home.  The first one on the list is very special to me and became ingrained in my heart during a TEC weekend a few years ago.  The second definitely speaks to my heart and is from the movie/book The Help at one of the most moving points of the story for me.  The last affirmation on the list is something that has always given me comfort in the struggles that come in our marriage.  The third and fourth on the list are such needed reminders for me - to just stop and be THANKFUL for today and to also stop apologizing when expressing genuine emotions... especially the ones that might make myself/others feel a little uncomfortable at first (such as crying).

I'd love to know what you guys have currently been up to and/or the five affirmations that resound for you.  You can link up through the bloggers listed above!  Thanks to both hosts for bringing bloggers together and giving us the chance to express ourselves further.

Currently {link up} x13

Joining Harvesting Kale for another week of Currently!

The prompts I'm using this week: {hoping, wondering, wearing, watching & waiting}

Today, right now, and for the next 11 days... I will be HOPING that everything continues to go smoothly with the home we are pursuing.  As most of you homeowners know, buying a home is such a process - there are so many steps you need to take before you can even reach the next hurdle.  Just when you think you've reached some real success you begin to realize it's really not over until the fat lady sings!  There are some potential problems that aren't an issue yet (and I hope they won't materialize!!!) but I can't help but prepare myself for all worse-case scenarios!  14 days until closing & I pray that timeline is still going to work!!!!

Also WONDERING when I will be tired of watching the new Hunger Games movie Catching Fire.  I watch it pretty much every day during Presley's nap time and any other evening after her bedtime if there is nothing worth watching on TV.  It makes me want to unpack the book series as soon as we move into our house and read the books all over again.  Which begs the question... when will I get tired of reading those books?!  Hopefully never.  And once it gets closer to the time Divergent is coming out in the theaters, I will start reading those books!

I've been WEARING nothing but my maternity compression pants from Old Navy... love love love them.  I would say this was easily the best buy from my first maternity clothing collection.  I pretty much love Old Navy for maternity wear because they've almost always got awesome online sales/coupons going on and free shipping if you purchase enough merchandise!  Thanks to some awesome hand-me-downs and second hand buys, I don't have to supplement my maternity wardrobe TOO much except for the fact that this is the first time I'll be super pregnant in the dead of summer... in the SOUTH!  Ahhhh... so needless to say, my most recent purchase from Old Navy included some maternity tanks!

Do you guys have Netflix?  If so, have you seen "Blackfish"?  WATCH IT IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY.  So worth your time.  In addition to that, I've been WATCHING documents lately.  (But not food-related ones.  They depress me so much and I'm not ready to make a huge lifestyle change... denial!  I know!  Maybe someday soon...)  The latest thing I watched and loved was "Aerial America" - the Tennessee episode.  So much awesome information and incredible aerial video of the beautiful state.  Also?  I just rewatched "Friends with Kids" last night for the first time since it was released on DVD and it was even funnier and more touching this time around.  We first watched it when Presley was only a few months old and now,  two years after becoming parents, the humor and characters were just that much more relateable.

Patiently WAITING for my sister and one of my best friends (my sister, Amanda, and my BFF Katie - who is becoming a first time mama!) to have their baby boys.  Both are due in early April (April 1st & 3rd) but I am so ready for them to have their healthy kids any day now!!!  And I'm hoping Matthew will come a little early and show up in March because we don't have many March birthdays in the family.  Matthew Alan will be my first nephew!  So excited to get into the boy world a little more.  Very excited that he and Molly will be so close in age - even closer than Presley and Annie!  It still hasn't REALLY dawned on me that we will have four kids running/crawling around during future get togethers rather than just the two girls.  Amanda... how are we gonna fit all 4 kids in the bathtub?! :)