Respect...

what is your stance?  Do you think you have to show respect to earn respect?  Do you respect someone from the start?  How about people who have views different from yours, does it change your respect for them?

I'm not one to make a person "earn" respect so to say, but I do make you show it to keep it.  I mean, I don't just come around instantly disrespecting someone & being rude, classless, and foul-mouthed just because I don't know them and they haven't had the time to show respect.  I don't understand that whole "give to get" aspect of respect, I mean, to an extent I do, but how do you demand respect from someone you've just met?  What about if you go around being "yourself" and acting like an ass, how are they supposed to respect you then?  I also feel like people lack self-respect, which is truly a shame.  How can you demand respect from someone when you don't even respect yourself?  Better yet, how can you properly "hand out" respect if you don't respect yourself?  I am fully aware that there are going to be people in the world who don't have the same views as I do, and thats ok and I respect that.  I've have seen countless people "lose" respect for someone because their views on something differs or because their lifestyle is different.  I can see where an irresponsible lifestyle when you have people/pets/etc depending on you will lose your respect but I think you know what I'm saying.  If your lifestyle doesn't match mine, or your stance on controversial topics, or what-have-you are different, you're not going to lose my respect... those are your choices, you have to live with them & I have to live with mine.  I guess I just keep it in my head that what works for me, doesn't mean it will work for everyone, or events in my life that have shaped the way I see things may not have occurred for someone else.  I can say that I do knock respect points if you're a "follow the crowd, don't do my own research type", that bugs the crap out of me.  IT IS NOT COOL TO FOLLOW OR HAVE SOMEONE MAKE YOUR MIND UP FOR YOU.

Anywho, what are your thoughts?

after 3 months...

Well, actually a bit longer than 3 months if you count the pregnancy, I'm fitting into my aeropostale jeans!  Now, I "fit" them almost right after having Saige, but I couldn't button or zip them (& not for lack of trying).  My hips had yet to come back to the size they were before I got knocked up, and they weren't small to begin with.  I put them in my closet with a quick "see you later", and pulled them out about 1.5 months PP & I could "fit" them, zip & button; however, one wrong move & my button was going to shoot of & knock someones eye out and my zipper would turn into shrapnel.  Could you imagine the horror that experience would bring?  I'm not talking about the victim either, I'm talking about how embarrassed I would be.  So again, they went back into the closet & there were many days between then & now I went reaching for them.  Today, though is the day I can claim victory over those jeans!  I put them on "just joking" and they pulled up, zipped & buttoned without hesitation!  Now, because they sit higher on my waist than my other jeans it will take a little bit to get comfy with again, but I don't care, THEY FIT!!!

Who knew it would take so long for your hips to decide they wanted to be closer to the center of your body?  I mean, its not like mine aren't wide enough.

Funnel cake Fail!

I had to run through my trusty friend google to make sure funnel cake wasn't one word instead of 2.  Now that the dilemma is out of the way I shall blog my fail.  Cam got a deep fryer for Christmas, (& a waffle maker too, hence Martha Stewart), since he used this contraption for the first time he's mentioned making a funnel cake.  The man is NEVER SATISFIED!  His mentioning of said cake became more frequently once he used his waffle maker, so last night we attempted the carnival goodness.  We used pancake batter, because lets face it, the only difference is the granulated sugar you add.  So I made Cam the batter & had him start heating the oil and we put the batter in a little squeeze bottle.  Once the oil was ready we dropped the batter in there only to discover, it didn't stay together in a string fashion.  The batter would break apart into little clumps & so we had  bubble cake!  I didn't take pictures, it was a disgrace.  Cam did still eat it though.  So, we've come to 2 different conclusions, we had too much oil or the oil was too hot.  However, I think there's a 3rd uh-oh and Cam doesn't want to believe it, there's too much air in the squeeze tube.  We are going to go at this funnel cake experience again the next time I go to the grocery store.  For now he'll have to resist the urge, and settle for making french fries, & whatever else he can in that deep fryer.

Moby wrap

I have fallen victim to the moby wrap, yes its true.  I needed something to carry Saige around in that let my hands be free & her feel secure so I could get stuff done around the house when she's feeling clingy.  We went to target & there it was, so I purchased.  Let me tell you, I knew it was long because of the idea behind it, it had to be.  However, I didn't know it was that long!  Good grief, I feel like I'm wrapping 100yards of fabric around myself.  The first time I wrapped myself & went to insert Saige I didn't like it, it felt too loose.  I had to recruit my very own Martha Stewart to come help me out.  So Cam wrapped me in this football field length of goodness & we put Saige in.  She was hesitant at first, but I think she was reading off of my reaction & hesitation.  So yesterday, we practiced with it more at home & we have success!  She slept in it for about 30-45 minutes while I did a few things around the house.  I will be practicing with it everyday to get the hang of it & try different holds.  Yesterday we did the kangaroo for a little bit, then we went into the hug hold (this is where she fell asleep).

I refuse to let this be the only carrier I have.  I mean, could you see someone trying to wrap that much fabric around themselves in a parking lot?  You would probably die of laughter or give the stink eye.  So now, I'm looking to invest in an Infantino carrier for store trips & such, lugging that car seat around is a PITA.  I'm also going to be stalking babysteal.com for the next time an ergo carrier goes on sale!  Those things are wonderful, but they're pricey!

Crafty? Me?

Thats right blog followers, I'm going to be crafty damnit!  I've started before Saige was born here and there.  I've "made" her headbands, and by made I mean bought all the materials & glued the bows/flowers/ribbon onto alligator clips and then mix & match them with their bought crocheted headbands.  When the baby's head is more "firm" and she has hair I'll start converting over to the hard plastic headbands.  I did, however, make her headband holder the other night... it turned out fabulous if I do say so myself.  What do you think?

The beginning

The End

You see that clump of flowers & bows on the bottom right hand side?  Those are more flowers/bows/ribbons that have to be glued to clips.  Cam is slacking on his hot gluing duties!  No, really I hate the hot glue gun because I always burn myself and get glue everywhere... Martha Stewart, Cam does it just perfectly.

There are a ton of other things I would love to indulge in, and I will one day.  In order not to wipe out our checking & savings, I have to go slow... Hobby Lobby & Michaels will break the bank!  My next project is making a calendar for Saige's room.  I need to find bird magnets/buttons & some cute flower ones to glue around the edges.  Now to decide, chalkboard calendar or dry erase?

Saturday, usually I love you

but today, not so much!  This morning, you started sort of rough, and you brought it early!  By 930am I was pulling into the parking lot of the emergency vet for Reese.  Earlier (yes, that is possible) in the morning I noticed there was blood around Reese's butt, so Cam & I went outside to search for the poop that sure enough, was bloody too.  Anywho, $320.00 & 3 different medicines later, I am told they couldn't really find anything other than a liver/bone/heart/GI tract enzyme that was elevated 3x higher than normal range.  In a week I am supposed to take her back to the vet to have more blood work drawn up to check that enzyme.  What sort of pisses me off a few months ago, we had blood work done to rule out everything except allergies in Reese.  They told me a liver enzyme was a little raised but nothing to be concerned about... never told me the level number or the enzyme's name.  I will be calling the vet on Monday to get this straightened out.  Thank goodness for pet insurance, as I'm sure (& I hate to say this) that I'll be using it this year.

The plan for the day was to get up early, get myself & Saige all packed up and dressed while Cam took Reese to the kennel/daycare for us to go to Myrtle Beach to see his parents.  Mission: partially accomplished.  I stayed to deal with Reese (by myself, seems to be the story of my life), while Cam went on to MB.  After the ERVet visit, I took Reese over to the daycare so she could have some time out of the house & get some playing out.  Thank goodness for that because Saige was a crabby baby today, I would've pulled my hair out dealing with them both.

I've discovered my selectively used character trait today, I should've discovered it long ago.  Maybe I knew but was in denial?  Anywho, patience... I am selectively patient, it can be the person/task/time of day/store/object/etc.  I was in the drive thru line for Wendys today for lunch and ended up coming home with Taco Bell.  All because I didn't want to wait in line, and its not even like the line was long maybe 3 cars & 1 was already ordering.  Maybe it was/is my mood & thats how I decide my patience?  I can honestly say the only 2 that are constantly on the receiving end of my good patience is Reese & Saige.  I guess because I realize that they can't do for themselves?

What is your selective character trait?

I need to get better.

Seriously, I've been horrible at this blogging thing & I'm sure the few people who follow/read my "works" are bored out of their minds.  I'm pretty uneventful for the most part lately.  Its exhausting going out lately because I have to lug this huge car seat around, I'm in the market for a baby carrier.  Moby, infantino, Baby Bjorn, which will I choose?  I'm leaning towards a Moby wrap & an Infantino... best of both worlds.  You really never realize just how daunting grocery shopping, clothes shopping, housework can be without a carrier of some sort.  I've also been looking into different crafts to do, you know to keep myself busy after I do things around the house & play with Saige.  A fellow blogger Carissa always inspires me to look into different crafts, this time its quilling!  Now if only I could convince my husband to go vegetarian I would look further into her recipes!  I can't wait for Saige to get older, all the little fun projects she does with her daughter look like tons of fun!  Also, Chelle gives some crafty ideas too... and her blogs are so fun to read!

Speaking of Saige, she's 3 months old now... time flies, seriously.  I've packed away all of her newborn clothes, theres no hope in sight to ever wear another outfit that size again.  She's fitting in her 0-3month outfits well, there are some that are still too big, but thats ok.  She's been a huge drool monster lately, teething maybe?  The last month she has become a very smiley, giggly, & talkative baby... it melts my heart every time I hear it.  She is nosey, however, and loves to sit up and look around.  She tries to pick her head up when in her carseat or laying on her back.  Definite mover, her legs and arms are constantly on the go, in fact to get her to sleep well I have to swaddle her or else she wakes herself up flailing those arms around.

So I think I'm going to pick 2 days out of the week & dedicate them to some sort of theme.  One day maybe a photography blog entry & the other, who knows.  Maybe I'll have a Saige update as well?  That would make since to do on Saturdays since those are her "week" birthday lol... but Saturdays are usually busy.  What do you think?

the snow pictures

I promised these a while ago... here they are!