Pack, Move, Unpack, Repeat

Crazy for Costco

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 03 Nov 2014 19:15:00 +0000

A few months ago, Living Social ran a deal for a Costco membership. I was hesitant at first because I had never been in a Costco, but figured it was worth a try for the price. I am beyond happy about this purchase!

I would say we eat about 90% organic at our house. Of course, I wish it was 100%, but some stuff we just can't afford and I am very selective in our non-organic purchases. The majority of our shopping is done at Kroger, while Whole Foods come in a close second. Target and Meijer are also on that list, especially when they are having a great sale. But now, a good amount of the stuff I used to get at the other stores, I can get at Costco for much a cheaper price.

I am very surprised and impressed by the organic selection at Costco...from fruits to meats to lip gloss to eggs. And they sell Carter's pajamas! Throw in the free samples (3 out of 4 today were organic) and Costco is like a little heaven on earth.

On our first trip, we got a few things on special...16oz bags of Pirate's Booty ($3.89 each) and a 24 pack of GoGo Squeeze ($7.99). That is way cheaper than what you are paying at any grocery store. The organic items I picked up were 5lbs frozen green beans ($6.69), 8 frozen burritos ($9.89), 24 pack of string cheese ($9.99), 4lbs raisins ($8.49), and a block of sharp cheddar ($5.99/lb). The non-organic items were 2 1/2lbs Almonds ($13.45) and 20oz dried cherries ($7.99)

I was impressed with the selection after our first trip.

The greeter drew us a picture of Alessia. I'm pretty sure she looks like a dog.

The main reason I made the trip to Costco today was that we were out of eggs and string cheese. I ended up picking up a few extra things, but some of those things were on special so that is how I justified it. The things on special were 12 bottles Naked Juice ($10.49) and 12 bottles San Pellegrino sparkling water ($11.29). Also, Carter's fleece pajamas were on special for $5.99 and I actually just bought a pair the other day from JcPenney for $9.99 (and I thought that was a good deal). I was really surprised to see Ezekiel Bread today and since it is the only bread we eat, I picked up a two loaf pack for $6.89...I usually pay $4.19 for one loaf at Kroger (which is the cheapest place). The organic eggs (2 dozen for $6.49) and no-nitrate bacon ($12.99 for 3 12oz packages) are staples in our house and will last us a few weeks. As for the 2 pack of organic salsa ($7.69) and 5 pack of certified organic lip gloss ($10.99), they were impulse purchases, but I don't regret them. String cheese, sharp cheddar, GoGo squeezes, and cherries also made their way into my cart.


Today's trip was even better than the first!

I'm already looking forward to my next trip and for next month's specials.

Exhaustion

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 16:40:00 +0000

I never knew was exhaustion felt like until I had Alessia. The first few months of her life I walked around like a zombie. She would wake up every few hours to feed and once I fell back to sleep, she was usually ready to get up again.

The last few weeks have felt a lot like those first few months. She takes forever to fall asleep, wakes up in the middle of the night, and even refuses naps. I know a lot of it has to do with the cooler weather. We aren't getting out in the morning on most days so she isn't able to tire herself out. But she runs around the house back and forth...goes up and down the stairs countless times...climbs everything! I'm exhausted from chasing after her. I am astonish at how little sleep Alessia requires especially coming from two people who NEED and LOVE their sleep.

Having Kevin here helps a great deal. Even though he is at work during the day, he lets me sleep in on most mornings and then entertains her at night for a few hours before bed. Sometimes I get lucky and he gets home early enough to give her a bath.

But with the hockey season, come road trips. Usually they are only a few days, but every few months we get a long one...and that long one starts this week. Ten day of Alessia and Mommy time! And hopefully ten days of ten hour sleeps and two hour naps.

Afternoon Lesson

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 19:00:00 +0000

My friend Carol just left my house after a chat. And when I say 'my friend Carol', I really mean 'the Jehovah Witness that stops by occasionally'. And when I say 'a chat', I really mean 'a lesson'.

I knew when I heard that knock on my door today that it was most likely her. I was in the middle of doing dishes, with a load of laundry drying, and all I wanted to do was have a cup of tea and watch my DVRed episode of Guy's Grocery Games while Alessia napped. I thought about not answering and then I felt guilty.

How many times does Carol get turned away in a day? Would it really kill me to answer the door and let her give me her spiel for a few minutes? I should note that she is such a nice lady...kind of reminds me of my Grandma Mounce. So, I answered. She told me how lovely my home is, told the 'new girl, Jeanette' about how cute Alessia is, and she even took off her shoes without me asking. Who doesn't love compliments and proper etiquette?

Her and Jeanette wanted to give me a lesson and I agreed. I will admit that I only half listened because The Steve Wilkos Shows was on in the background and I really needed to see if the husband cheated. But it didn't kill me and I even learned a little something. Carol asked if she could come back and I told her 'of course'. I just can't say 'no' to sweet Carol.

Do I regret answering the door? Nope. Did her lesson make me want to be a Jehovah Witness? No. Will I read up to prepare for my next lesson? Definitely not. Will I answer the door next week when I hear that light knock? Most likely.

Purging

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 18:06:00 +0000

I find it very hard to believe that it has been ten years since I graduated college and seven years since I taught special education. Those three years of teaching were a great learning experience for me and I met some lifelong friends. But when I decided to move with Kevin and end the "long distance," I knew it meant I would have to give up teaching. I wasn't 100% sure how long I would be giving it up though...~~weeks~~, ~~months~~, years.

Since there was always that uncertainty of whether or not I would be teaching again, I held onto my stuff. For years, its home was in my parents' garage. And for the last year, it has sat in our basement collecting dust. Honestly, I had no idea what was in there. I used a few things when I was nannying, but most of it sat untouched for years.

A few weeks ago, I decided to take on the daunting task of going through it. Initially, I just wanted to see what I had kept. There were books, binders, worksheets, crayons, games, stickers...all things you would expect teachers to have. I realized some of the items could be used at the house (stapler, hole punch, tape, markers), some things Kevin would use (magnets, binders, tabs), and a majority of the items Alessia could use either now or one day. It took about a week (here and there) to go through the six bins. And after it was all said and done, I still had six bins...they were just organized a bit better.

This weekend I headed back downstairs. What was I holding onto all this for? I'm not a collector, I hate clutter, and I have always honored my motto 'if it doesn't serve me a purpose right now, then I have no need for it.' So, this morning, I purged. I now have one bin of decorations, one bin of games, and one bin of 'teacher stuff' that can be used with Alessia down the road.

The profession of teaching is changing every year. Those math and reading manuals from 2006 are out of date. The name plates that have bends in them aren't ever getting used. And I'm pretty sure no one needs documentation of my clocked minutes from seven years ago.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to be a teacher. And ten years ago, I was a teacher. Now, I don't know if I'll ever be a teacher again. My place in life might not be in the classroom. And six bins of teaching supplies have no place in my basement.

Summer Family Fun

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 01 Oct 2014 19:02:00 +0000

It is hard to believe that summer is over and that fall is officially here. We couldn't have asked for a better summer though. The weather was perfect, we got some traveling in, and we took care of some things around the house.

We started things off by tagging along with Kevin to Columbus in May. We discovered downtown, enjoyed some delicious barbeque, and hit up the farmer's market.

Next up, but only for Kevin and me, was Mexico. A few days of friends, relaxing, drinking, and eating was exactly what we needed. Add a wedding to the mix and it was an vacation that we'll always remember.

For me, no summer is complete without a visit to Chicago...and this summer was no different. This visit was a little more tame than the usual visits though. We met up with friends, visited Shedd Aquarium, took pictures at the Bean, and ate our weight in pizza.

Since Kevin spent almost a month working in Buffalo, we met him for the 4th of July up at his family's cottages. The weather was great, Alessia got to play with her cousins, and we took our first family quad ride.

While Detroit isn't far, we haven't been able to take advantage of all it has to offer. We were able to fit in a Tiger's game this summer. It was SO hot....like the hottest day of the year. Alessia lasted about 4 innings, which was a lot longer than I ever imagined she would last.

Our visit to Springfield was cut a bit short due to Alessia getting a summer cold, but we were still able to enjoy ourselves for a few days. And we got to go to the Illinois State Fair.

Vegas was up next. Our trip involved no gambling or drinking. Rather, it involved catching up with great friends and watching our kids play together. Kevin also had the amazing opportunity to present at the National Hockey Coaches Symposium alongside some pretty impressive coaches.

We wrapped up the summer with a weekend trip to Minneapolis with my mom. Kevin worked and us girls shopped, shopped, and shopped some more. There was also some eating, a trip to the hotel pool, and a few rides at Nickelodeon Universe...but mostly shopping.

My Baby Must Haves

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 14 Jul 2014 01:07:00 +0000

This summer my mailbox has been filling up with invites...birthdays, bridal showers, weddings, and baby showers. And while I haven't been able to make most of them, I have been sending plenty of gifts...just ask my bank account. For weddings and bridal showers, I typically give money because it is easy and I'm pretty sure all newlyweds like money. For baby showers, I LOVE to give gifts though, but sometimes I have a really hard time sticking to the registry. In my head, I have what I think are the essential, must have items. And here they are.

1. White short sleeve onesies- You can honestly never have too many. They are perfect under pajamas or outfits and by themselves. In Alessia's first few months of life, she pretty much lived in a white onesie...and mostly because she pooped up her back constantly.

What baby doesn't look cute in a white onesie?

2. Nosefrida- Nothing clears a baby's nose like a Nosefrida. Bulb aspirators are the worst and the battery operated ones aren't much better. With the Nosefrida, you do the sucking, but don't worry, there is no way for it to get in your mouth.

3. Cloud b Gentle Giraffe- This travel white noise maker is AMAZING! It comes in a few different animals (sheep, monkey, bunny, fox), but we think the giraffe is the cutest. Ours stays attached to Alessia's car seat most of the time and we turn it on whenever she falls asleep or when we are trying to get her to sleep. It is battery operated and we have had the same batteries in it for over a year and we use it a lot.

Alessia is even willing to share Mr. Giraffe.

4. Zipper footed pajamas- Whoever invented the button up ones did not have children because those things suck. I remember trying to match up the buttons at 4am in the dark when Alessia was a newborn. Then as she got older and started rolling, I had to fight her to get them all buttoned. DO NOT BUY THEM for yourself or for anyone else...no matter how cute they are.

5. Muslin blankets- I was lucky enough to get some hand me downs and some new ones. My favorite are the classic muslin swaddles by aden + anais. They are so soft and breathable. Alessia was never swaddled so I can't comment on how effective they perform as swaddles, but they make amazing blankets. The aden + anais classic issie blankets are great too. They are small security blankets that are perfect for throwing in the diaper bag or stroller. Whenever we going out of town, I always pack one.

6. Trumpette socks- I cannot tell you how much money I wasted buy socks that would not stay on. Luckily, a friend of mine recommended trumpette socks and that is all Alessia wore from about 6-12 months.

Socks that look like shoes are adorable.

Packing, Packing, and More Packing

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 27 Jun 2014 17:57:00 +0000

When we decided to actually get a 'home' and stay in the States, I thought my packing days were over. But it seems like all I've done lately is pack, unpack, and repeat. In the last month I have done the following...
-packed for Cancun
-unpacked from Cancun
-packed Kevin to go to Colorado
-unpacked Kevin from Colorado
-packed Kevin to go to Colorado...AGAIN
-unpacked Kevin from Colorado
-packed to go to Chicago
-unpacked from Chicago
-packed Kevin to go to Buffalo...for 25 days
-and now I'm in the process of packing up for Alessia and I to go to Kevin's family's cottage next week.

And besides packing and unpacking suitcases, there is also the matter of unpacking the totes that we still haven't tackled since moving in this past September. After sitting in our garage for the last 9 months, I was really hoping they would unpack themselves...not likely.

Before Kevin left this past week, I asked him to move the totes downstairs and my goal is to have them sorted through before Kevin gets home in a few weeks. The big question is what to keep and what to throw away. As sad as it is to think about throwing away the paddles from my sorority, what am I going to do with them? And I am pretty sure we don't need to keep all the cheesy things Kevin and I made for each other over the years.

Truth be told, I should be in the basement now instead of blogging...so here I go.

Back to Reality

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 12 Jun 2014 17:56:00 +0000

It's been a little over a week since we got back from Mexico...a whole 10 days since I drank mojitos all day, ate and slept when I wanted, and got pretty every night. I'm back to my reality of changing poop diapers, eating in record time, and drinking cold coffee (and I'm not talking about iced coffee). It is also safe to say that I haven't done my hair or put on makeup since we got back. I'm okay with all of this though because I love my reality.

Our vacation was definitely much needed. Kevin needed some time away from the constant hustle and bustle at work, I needed some 'me' time, and Alessia needed some time away from me to learn that I can't always be with her. Spending time with our amazing friends and meeting new people only made the vacation better.

The memories we made on the trip will forever be with us and, of course, the pictures. Those will always be there too, even the questionable ones. I'll remember the crazy rain storm we tried to wait out, but instead got stuck running through. And those raindrops felt like bullets when they hit you. I'll cherish the memory of helping Jana get ready for her wedding and watching her and Rob say 'I do". I'll unfortunately remember doing the Wobble dance more times than I can count...apparently the music in Mexico is a few years dated.

It is amazing how refreshed five days away can make you feel. I'm pretty sure it is the only way I have been able to deal with my ultra clingy girl (who obviously had a little separation anxiety while I was gone).

I'd love to make our 'vacation with friends' a trend. So, friends, start saving. And, until then, I'll have these to look at.


Even though we don't get to see each other that often, I am so lucky to call these two ladies my best friends.


The love of my life

Five days of paradise

My Shows

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 11 Apr 2014 01:49:00 +0000

Kevin is gone for three weeks so I have an hour or two of 'me' time every night. When he is home, he refuses to watch my shows...which is completely understandable. But the last two nights, I have been catching up on Teen Moms 2, Basketball Wives LA, and Preachers' Daughters. While my addiction to bad TV continues, I have branched out to bigger and better things.

I've watched a few episodes of The Mindy Project in the past, but never really got into it. It is HILARIOUS! I am so mad that I haven't been watching it the past few years. All the character are great and I seriously laugh until I cry every time I watch it.

My newest addiction that I cannot wait to watch every week is Chicago PD. I love anything Law and Orderish...which I think this is. I loved Sophia Bush on One Tree Hill way back when and I apparently love her still. Plus, there is a little bit of eye candy to look at every week. Thank goodness for hot cops.

When all else fails, I usually turn on the Food Network. I've been obsessed with Chopped for years, but now there is Chopped Canada and damn, if I'm not hooked on that too. Also add Cutthroat Kitchen and Guy's Grocery Games to the list. I always pretend I am on the show and try to think of what I would make. Let's me honest...I would definitely get cut first.

Is One Enough?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 02 Apr 2014 17:19:00 +0000

When Kevin and I were dating, which was a long time, everyone constantly questioned us about when we were going to get engaged. Then, we got engaged and people wanted to know immediately when the wedding was going to happen. The wedding took place and you would think people would be content with that, but 'no' because they wanted to know when we were going to start having children. One year after getting married, I got pregnant, and nine months later Alessia entered the world. So, now everyone is happy...right? Absolutely not! For months now people have been asking us when we are going to have another kid. I give up. I have determined that people are just never going to be content.

To be honest, some days I think one child is enough for us. I never wanted to have an only child, but I would be perfectly content if that was all we ever had. In the same respect, I am not saying that we won't have more kids.

Being a mother is hard work and I will admit that it is a lot harder than I expected. Alessia hasn't been a difficult child, but I wouldn't say she is an easy one. She has never been much of a crier...AMEN to that. She adjusted well to our hectic lifestyle (especially at the beginning of her life), she is an amazing eater, and she has never had attachment issues with anything (no pacifier, blankie, toy, bottle). On the other hand, she won't take a bottle, didn't sleep well until she was about 11 months old, doesn't like to nap, and still dislikes the car. Wonder if our second child has colic, never sleeps through the night, loves his/her pacifier, refuses to nurse, or is a picky eater?

While Kevin is a HUGE help when he is around, he works a lot and travels a great deal for his job (but because of that job, I am able to stay at home with her). Taking care of Alessia is left solely up to me when he is gone. We don't have family around for assistance and she doesn't go to daycare or a babysitters. We seriously spend every waking moment together...even when I'm using the bathroom or taking a shower. We have this unbelievable bond and I seriously am scared that I might not ever be able to have that with another child.

There are night when I go to bed thinking one may be enough. But then there are times when I think maybe it's time for #2. Only time will tell, but for now, I will laugh (and roll my eyes) every time someone asks when #2 is coming.

One Year

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 18 Mar 2014 17:25:00 +0000

I made it...one year of breastfeeding is under my belt. I feel like I should get some type of award for that. Seriously! This post is strictly going to be about my experience breastfeeding so if you don't want to hear about it, STOP HERE.

I knew from the beginning that I wanted to try to breastfeed. I told myself that my goal was six months. And if things were going well, I would go until one year. I swore to myself that I would wean her as soon as she turned one, yet here I am still nursing her everyday and not supplementing with any milk. I know the end is near though and the thought of that makes me a little sad.

Without a doubt, breastfeeding is one of the hardest things I have ever done. It wasn't something that came naturally to me and there were days in the beginning when I felt like throwing in the towel and heading to the store for some formula. My first few days of nursing were extremely difficult. Alessia had a horrible latch, my nipples felt like someone was sticking needles into them, and every feeding started with me in tears.

I tried every trick and gadget out there. I slathered on the lanolin, I used shells, and I walked around the majority of the day without a shirt on to speed up the healing process. Another mom on my floor at the hospital recommended these silver cups to help with the pain and I immediately sent Kevin out to get me some. They helped, but I was still in so much pain. Since I wasn't ready to give up yet, I ordered some nipple shields and my parents brought them over when Alessia was about 2 weeks old. AMAZING! The healing started immediately, Alessia was eating like a champ, and I could finally put a shirt on.

So many people had mentioned what a bonding experience nursing was with their children and how they really enjoyed it. At the beginning, I cursed every time Alessia needed fed and counted down the days until I could stop. Being at her beck and call was exhausting and I was so sleep deprived. Once we got to the US, I started pumping and thought about exclusively pumping, but then I realized that sucked too. Then one day, everything changed. Alessia got on a schedule, she no longer needed the shield (she became attached to it), and ate so much quicker. I found myself looking forward to our nursing sessions. It was the only time I could get her to slow down and snuggle up to me.

In a year, we went from 15 sessions to 4 sessions a day and I know in the next month or two we will go down to no sessions. The decision to stop now isn't due to the fact that she has hit one year old. In honesty, I would probably continue a little longer because she likes it and it is what's best for her. I am quitting because in May, Kevin and I are going on a trip to Mexico for 6 days and I will not be bringing a pump. In addition to that, my little snob will not drink expressed breastmilk anyways (she stopped doing that at about 9 months old).

Without a doubt, I think the majority of my success with breastfeeding came from my strong desire to WANT to do it. I fought through the tears, pain, and sleepless night. I drank countless cups of mother's milk tea and had to take Fenugreek for months. I planned my life around Alessia's feeding schedule for over a year, especially the last three months since she has refused a bottle. My journey wasn't easy and I can't help but toot my own horn for the fact that I made it.

With all that said, I am looking forward to real bras and not having to wear clothes that offer easy access for nursing. I can't wait to enjoy more than one glass of wine (because I was never one to pump and dump). But mostly, I am ready for my boobs to be mine!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Birthday!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 11 Mar 2014 15:23:00 +0000

It's been a few weeks, but with Alessia's party and birthday, there just wasn't any time for blogging. But the party has ended, everyone has gone home (a week ago), and now we have a one year old.

Despite a winter storm being in the forecast, everyone made it to the party safely and celebrated in style with Alessia. Our "Very Hungry Caterpillar" theme came across in both the decorations and the food. We dined on everything the caterpillar ate (for the most part) and had an amazing caterpillar banner (courtesy of Alessia's Godmother, Stephanie).

Our food table with labels. Labels were downloaded for free from Polkadots and Puppies.

This cake was AMAZING and didn't last long. And a plus was it was all organic! The recipe can be found by clicking here. You won't be disappointed.

For our meal I made had Italian beef and balsamic beef. It was my first time making the balsamic beef, but it was really good. In case you are interested in trying it out, the recipe is here.

I am in love with the banner.

Alessia had a blast and got some amazing gifts. I cannot wait for her to wear all her super cute clothes and she is already busy playing with her toys and books. Then once the weather gets warm, we can break out her water table and swing.

The birthday girl!

You think she is excited?

Alessia loves cards. We are still reading her cards to her everyday...numerous times.

Mommy made a wish that Alessia would figure out her nap schedule.

Our chalkboard with Alessia's stats.

Gluten free carrot cake cupcakes. Alessia loved them even though I forgot to put the heavy cream in the icing. The recipe can be found here.

Thanks to everyone who celebrated with us and sent birthday wishes and gifts!

Figure It Out Weather!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 20 Feb 2014 17:51:00 +0000

Yesterday it was GORGEOUS! And to top that off, Kevin got home early. Woohoo for being home by 4 o'clock! Since we needed to take advantage of these two things, we took a nice family walk, hung up some pictures, and actually ate dinner at a decent time.

Today, Mother Nature is being a complete spaze! We have had snow, a thundersnow, a thunderstorm, rain, and now sleet. I'm sure the roads are going to be a lovely disaster by the day's end. I wanted to do some running around tonight to pick up stuff for Alessia's birthday party, but I might be postponing that until tomorrow or this weekend.

The party is fast approaching. I definitely don't want to go overboard, but you only get one first birthday. Obviously, I'm not planning for Alessia's sake...it's all for the guests. Plus, I can't expect to win the "Mom of the Year" award if I don't throw an amazing birthday party. Besides planning the party, I decided to FINALLY start putting together Alessia's first year scrapbook a few weeks ago. I have spent every free minute I get putting the book together. When she naps, when she goes to bed, when Kevin in home, I am scrapping. And when she gets older, she better appreciate it!

So, with that said, I cut this short because the scrapbook is not finished and the party is in 9 days. Ciao for now!

Check out our super cute invite I purchased through etsy!

What Should I Be Doing?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 09 Feb 2014 01:36:00 +0000

In a perfect world, I should be drinking a beer and eating pizza. But, it just so happens, that I don't have any pizza and it's too late to make any and the beer that we have in our fridge expired in December (that just shows you how often we drink).

What I actually should be doing is planning Alessia's first birthday party, doing her one year scrapbook, cleaning something, unloading the dishwasher, or starting our taxes. And that's just the beginning. I am exhausted though. Kevin's been in Russia for a week now so it's been just Alessia and myself. Luckily, she has been an AMAZING sleeper lately (but I probably just jinxed myself). We've gone down to one nap, but she's been sleeping 11-12 hours straight every night. Most nights, I'm not too far behind her either. I can barely keep my eyes open past nine-o'clock

Tonight, instead of doing what I should be doing, I'm going to just sit on the couch with my cup of tea, watch DVRed episodes of Chopped, and then go to bed early. The other stuff can wait.

Bathing Suits and Dessert...Not a Good Combo

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Jan 2014 02:43:00 +0000

The countdown is on! We have less than four months until sun, sand, alcoholic beverages...and bathing suits. The first three I can handle; the last one, I'm not too confident about.

In preparation for our trip, Kevin and I have made it a priority to start getting fit. The food part is easy because we really don't eat unhealthy. We don't eat out, we use mostly organic ingredients, we don't eat prepackaged foods, and we eat a very balanced diet. The only problem we have is that we LOVE dessert.

I was never a sweets person until we lived in Europe. In England, we always had our "pudding" (shout out to the Delany's who usually supplied us with this) and it was usually ice cream or a crumble. And nine times out of ten it was covered in custard. In Italy, we usually had dessert twice a day...once in the afternoon with our tea and coffee and then again after dinner. Unfortunately, we brought this bad habit back to the States with us.

Now after dinner, I immediately look for something sweet...chocolate, ice cream, cookies. This is something I know I can't do if I want to be in a bikini in May. So since the first of the year, I haven't bought any sweets. But I still find myself looking for some after dinner like they are magically going to appear out of nowhere. At the grocery store, I always look at the sweets, but I don't buy. I know if I get them, there will be no turning back.

For now and for the next four months, I will just dream of cakes, gelato, pie, and cookies. And look at pictures...

Trip For Two

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 17 Jan 2014 02:12:00 +0000

When I found out my best friend was getting married in Cancun, I was so excited. I knew, without a doubt, that we would be going. Then the realization that I was going to have to leave my girl set in and I started freaking out. Kevin travels away from home a lot so he is used to being away from her. I, on the other hand, have never been away from her for longer than 12 hours...and that was only once. And when I do step out for a few hours, I check in to make sure she is okay because I obviously feel like she can't live without me. It would be safe to say that Alessia and I have some attachment issues.

Well, we booked our trip to Cancun this week...6 days/5 nights without our girl. I know this will be ten times harder on me than it will be on her. Luckily for us, my amazing parents are coming to stay with Alessia at our place while we are away. And I know that they will follow my crazy rules. I don't jive with the whole "eat what you want and do what you want with the grandparents." Plus, Paula P will probably clean my house better than I ever do and my dad will take Alessia on more walks than she can count.

For now, I will mentally prepare myself for the separation. And look forward to a trip for two.

Mommy's Night Out

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 12 Jan 2014 02:12:00 +0000

Back in college, my Friday nights were spent trying on numerous outfits until I found the perfect one, finding someone to put eyeliner on me (since I still can't do it correctly), pre-gaming, and then hitting the party scene at 10-11pm. My hockey Friday's were spent trying on numerous outfits until I found the one that was both warm and stylish, sharing pitchers of Coors Light with my ladies, and devouring Applebee's appetizers at 11pm. My how the times have changed.

This Friday, I ventured out...by myself...to Target. And to top it off, I even put on jeans. Because, let's be honest, I spend 99% of my time now in either sweatpants or yoga pants. I walked down the aisles, actually looking at things that weren't on my list. I didn't have to worry about whether or not my child was about to have a mental breakdown or not. And the best part...I didn't have to shop with an extra 17 pounds hanging onto me (because my child gets tired of sitting in a cart quickly).

But that was all the excitement I could handle for one night. After an hour and a half of filling my cart with items I really didn't need, I went home so I could put Alessia to bed and make dinner (which I burnt). Note to self: setting a timer only works if you actually check the item after the timer goes off.

With all that said, I could definitely use a night out on the town. The last time I had more than one serving of alcohol in a night was in June 2012...sad, I know. But, for now, I will pass because feeling like hell while having to care for another living person isn't something I want to do. Instead, I will savor my late night solo trips to Target.

I'm Back!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 08 Jan 2014 20:30:00 +0000

I've been going back and forth recently as to whether or not to keep the blog going. When I started, it was a way for me to keep all our family and friends posted on our happenings. I used it to document our travels and life in the hockey world. Since getting pregnant and with the birth of Alessia, it has turned into a log of motherhood. While I love my life, I can only write so much about making baby food, chasing around a crawling fool, and sleep deprivation.

But with all of that said, I really want to get back to the number one reason why I blog. It is an outlet for me...it was in Italy and should still be now. I want to keep it up and I don't want it to be stale and boring. Maybe we won't be packing up and moving as often as we used to, but that isn't to say we aren't packing. In fact, Kevin is more of a suitcase now than he ever was. And while we aren't living the hockey life that we used to, I'm still the same hockey wife that I've always been.

So, the blog is back up...and it will be running. 2014 is going to be an AMAZING year and we have so much to look forward to...Alessia's first birthday, a trip to Cancun for my best friend's wedding, a family trip to Las Vegas to catch up with friends, and lots of home improvement. Stay tuned.

Anti-Shower Doors

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 16 Oct 2013 19:53:00 +0000

Home improvements have been taking place since the day we moved in. Usually, they are little things like hanging a shelf or putting a piece of furniture together. With me taking care of Alessia and Kevin at work 9-10 hours a day (or on the road), our home is no where near where I wish it was though.

I've been trying to do little things around the house when she naps, but sometimes she wakes up and interrupts what I am doing. So, I have a little helper...or distraction.

This past weekend, Kevin was in Minneapolis and I decided that I wanted to take the shower doors off and put up a curtain. I had planned on doing it when my mom was here in a week, but I couldn't take it anymore. I despise shower doors. They are a breeding ground for mold, mildew, and all kinds of yucky stuff. And honestly, no matter what I do, I cannot keep them clean.

I started the project while Alessia was asleep, but didn't get far before I heard her high-pitched chatter coming from the other room. The remainder of the job was completed with her help. A few hours later and with only one trip to Lowe's, we had a curtain up.

Before

A huge improvement already.

My helper was as grossed out as I was by what was hiding under the doors.

Alessia did not want to give up the shower curtain.


After

Our project isn't entirely complete because we still need to scrape off some glue that was left on the shower walls and we need to fill the holes where the screws were. But I am so much happier with the curtain and I vow to never put shower doors up.

Luckily, this weekend Kevin is around and I have a serious list of things I want to get done. I'll be sure to take more pictures of our projects and hopefully some of you can come see them in person soon.

Walking Until Winter

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Oct 2013 00:30:00 +0000

I love our neighborhood. It is quiet, yet full of kids. Our neighbor to the left, to the right, and across the street all have children. And their neighbors have kids and their neighbors have kids...and so on and so on. Right now, with Alessia being so young, she obviously doesn't go out and play with them, but I look forward to them "hanging out" in the years to come.

For now, my favorite thing about our neighborhood is the amazing walking/biking trails. It goes through and around the neighborhood. It takes you to the playground and pool and around the ponds. Both Alessia and I look forward to our daily walk...sometimes walks. The weather lately has been gorgeous so I've been taking full advantage of it. We've been walking 45 minutes to an hour everyday. It's a win-win situation. Alessia gets some fresh air, we both get out of the house, and I burn some calories (I say that as I'm downing a Coke).

We love to feed the ducks and geese!

She's gone from hating the stroller to loving it.

All bundled up for a chilly walk.

Sometimes our walk puts Alessia to sleep.

I'm starting to get nervous though. The weather isn't going to stay gorgeous for long and I obviously can't take her out once winter gets here. What are we going to do? I got the idea of swim lessons. Maybe go once or twice a week. Perfect...right? Wrong! Swim lessons are almost $80 a month. That's C-R-A-Z-Y! She's 7 months old. All we're going to do is float around in the pool while she pees in it.

I'm not trying to be cheap, but doesn't that seem unreasonable? I thought maybe $50, at the most. So, for now, we will walk until winter. Don't worry...I'll bundle her up.

It's Been a Little While

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 05 Oct 2013 14:53:00 +0000

The other night as I was laying in bed, I remembered I had a blog and it occurred to me that maybe I should use some of ~~my free time~~ the time when Alessia is asleep and Kevin is gone to start writing again. Considering I pretty much spend every waking moment with a 7 month old, it would be nice to "talk" to an audience that actually comprehends what I am saying.

Basically, the last month has been C-R-A-Z-Y! We packed and moved...again. But hopefully we are here for awhile. We've unpacked...almost. The totes in the garage don't count since they technically are not in the house. We need about a thousand things, but hopefully we'll get those purchased in the next year or two. I've learned to manage without a colander and a can opener for now.

Alessia has her own room, which makes both of us happy. I really do think she likes it since she loves to play with her toys in there. However, since moving she hasn't started sleeping any better. It varies day to day. Before we moved, I was doing so well with the sleep training, but somehow we got away from it. I no longer nurse her to sleep, but instead we picked up a new habit of patting her bottom and back whenever she wouldn't fall asleep or if she woke up in the middle of the night. I don't know why it started, who started it, or how it started, but now she wants it. And I want it to stop because now she can't put herself back to sleep when she wakes up.

So, we started the sleep training again yesterday and it is miserable listening to her cry. I check on her and try to reassure her that I'm still here, but I feel like the worst person in the world. I just can't keep getting up two, three times a night. And sometimes staying up for two to three hours at a time.

Luckily for us, our horrible sleeper is a great eater. She LOVES food. Everything is puréed for now, except for her bananas. I've tried to give her some chunky stuff, but that really gets her gag reflex going. The only thing she isn't a fan of is apples, which I thought most babies loved.

Unfortunately, we haven't really had a chance to venture out and explore our new surroundings. Since hockey season is in full swing, Kevin is beyond busy. An adventure for us is hitting up Kroger with a 7 month old or trying to find a stud in the wall to hang a shelf (which we are horrible at). We are planning a trip to the pumpkin patch soon so I'm super excited for that.

Sleep Training

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 26 Aug 2013 23:13:00 +0000

After my post last week, I decided something had to be done with Alessia not sleeping. During my late night feeding sessions I got a lot of Googling done and saw an article that said there were three types of sleepers: good sleepers, bad sleepers, and good sleepers with bad habits. I immediately knew that Alessia was a good sleeper with bad habits. She had been a good sleeper for almost two months, but then we got into horrible habits to put her to bed and, in turn, created a monster.

Between me nursing her to sleep, my mom bouncing her to sleep, and Kevin walking/patting her to sleep, she would NEVER go down on her own. We didn't mean to create these bad habits, but with everything going on with getting ready for the move, it happened. And I was the one who paying for it. I knew things needed to change so I decided to start sleep training.

I used to nanny for a family that had seven month old twins and in addition to me, they had another nanny. The other nanny would always go and get the babies if they started crying in their crib. I, on the other hand, would let them cry, at least for awhile. I always told her to just let them cry it out and never understood why she had to go and comfort them after only a few seconds of crying. Now I get it...but it took me having my own child to figure it out.

I didn't want to go full steam ahead with just letting her "cry it out" so I went with the progressive waiting approach (kind of). I always wait for her to show signs that she is tired: gets fussy, rubs her eyes, yawns, or melts into me when I hold her. Then I tell her what I am doing: It's time for a nap; Mommy will be here when you wake up; I love you...something along those lines. I turn on her white noise machine, put the fan on, and leave the room.

As soon as I lay her down, she immediately cries...every time. I usually let her cry for about ten minutes before going in and reassuring her that I haven't gone anywhere and that it is time for nap. I usually straighten her out at this time and give her back a rub. I only stay for about thirty seconds though. If she continues crying another ten minutes, I go back and do the exact same thing....and so on and so on.

I've gotten really lucky though. The longest she has cried is nineteen minutes. And thank goodness because after that long I was starting to make excuses up: Maybe she isn't tired; Maybe she is still hungry; Maybe she has a wet diaper; Maybe her teeth hurt. I have stuck to my guns though and that is saying a lot.

Do I want to run in there and grab her sometimes? Absolutely. Is this one of the hardest things I've ever had to do? You betcha. But I am able to get through it because I know she is crying because she is tired. And when she wakes up, she is so happy to see me so I know that there are no hard feelings between us.

Overall, I think it has been successful, especially at night. Since we started sleep training, she has slept 7 1/2 twice (one night she woke up for about 10 minutes but I let her put herself back to sleep) and 8 1/2. She is no longer taking the 20 min naps too. The naps still aren't where I'd like them to be, but anything is an improvement. For now, I am not going to worry about a schedule because we still have people coming in and out for visits and are going to have a time change once we move. But as soon as we are in our home, I have vowed to get on a schedule that works for both of us.

Someone is a much happier baby when they sleep at night.

My Baby Hate Me

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Aug 2013 15:10:00 +0000

It is official...my baby hates me. OK, maybe not, but sometimes I feel like it. Alessia went from sleeping 8-11 hours straight ~~every night~~ almost every night for two months to getting up 2-4 times a night.

Up until this Monday, I was able to cope because Kevin and my mom would watch her for an hour or two so I could nap. Now that Kevin has moved to Ann Arbor and my mom is back at work, I am exhausted.

Of course everyone offers their tips.
1. Let her put herself back to sleep when she wakes up...I tried that at about 4 o'clock this morning and instead she rolled around for 20 minutes and then wouldn't go back down.
2. Let her cry it out...tried that too, but after five minutes of listening to her gag and scream, I can't take it.
3. Fill her up before bed...I switched to giving her bottles so I know exactly how much she is eating...she still wakes up.
4. Put her to bed earlier...we cut out her suppertime nap and now she goes down at 7:30-8:00. She wakes up after being asleep for about an hour and I have to put her back down.
5. Don't let her take long daytime naps...she never has and if she does, I never let her sleep over two hours.

I am hoping and praying that once we get into our house, things change for the better. She'll have her own room, she'll be in a crib, and we'll be able to get into a better routine. If not, I'm going to have to do some serious reading up on sleep training because I can't live like this, especially when Kevin will be traveling so much.

And, as we speak, I am watching Alessia on the monitor eat her blanket after taking a 20 minute nap. I seriously hope she takes a longer second nap because I'm planning on laying down for that one too.

News Flash: I'm Still Alive

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 20 Aug 2013 01:40:00 +0000

As you all know, my blog has taken a back seat since we got home from Italy. Things have just been way too busy and hectic. I always vow that I'm going to quit slacking and make time to blog at least once a week and then something else comes up or I find something else to do. But I'm going to make that vow again and seriously try to stick to it.

For now, I'll catch you up to speed on what is going on in our lives in as few words as possible. We are not going back to Europe, Kevin got a job as the goalie coach for the USA Hockey's National Team Development Program, we bought a house ~~in Ann Arbor~~ outside of Ann Arbor, and we move in on Sept 6. If you haven't already seen the release of Kevin's hiring, please check it out: Reiter Tabbed as Goalie Coach for NTDP.

In Alessia news, she is now rolling and doing the army crawl. She loves to scream and talk, especially when we are watching movies. And she started solids last week...right now she is only having sweet potatoes (not a big fan) and bananas.

Sweet potatoes are not a favorite of Alessia's.

In Tricia news, I'm just trying to stay sane until we move in. I've learned to function on practically no sleep again since Alessia is waking up multiple times at night and boycotting naps and I'm probably going to leave my parents' house ten pounds heavier than when I came because my Dad won't quit buying candy bars (and I have no willpower). In all seriousness though, I am SO EXCITED to finally have a place to call home. I'm already decorating the place in my head and cannot wait to reopen all our wedding gifts to see what we got.

I'll leave you for now with the promise of being back in a few days. And if I break my promise, which is quite possible, then I'll be back in a few months.

Catch Us If You Can

noreply@blogger.com (Kevin Reiter) — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 20:40:00 +0000

I've pretty much been working on this same post for the last 10 days. It seems like every time I get started Alessia wakes up, wants to eat, or has a poop diaper. Basically, my life revolves around whatever Alessia wants to do and that is usually be held or eat. By boobs and back are paying dearly...just saying.

Since we are pretty hard to keep track of I will start by telling you that we are back in Pittsburgh. Before heading here, we made an overnight stop in Rockford to see my best friends Jana and Barrie. And then a quick stop in Chicago to see Gabs...and to eat deep dish pizza. We hadn't seen Gabs since our wedding so our reunion, even though it was short, was amazing. Alessia was a trooper, like usual and it looks like her sleep schedule hasn't been effected with the traveling. Knock on wood.

Love all these people and wish we saw them more often.

We only had a quick stop in Chicago, but it was great to see Gabs and meet Martin.

Alessia doesn't seem to like deep dish pizza nearly as much as her parents.

Traveling back and forth isn't as easy as it used to be though. Kevin and I used to be able to pack our bags, jump in the car, and go. Now we have to make sure we have extra clothes, diapers, milk, the breast pump, hot water, blankets, a white noise maker, and toys. We stop a lot more often due to diaper changes and feedings. And unlike most babies that fall asleep as soon as they get put in a car, Alessia isn't really a fan. Honestly, I think she hates the car seat. But I would too...those things look so freaking uncomfortable.

Other things Alessia seems to hate are pacifiers, strollers, and naps. She will take a pacifier once out of about every one hundred tries. She won't keep it in for long though and she has to be almost completely content to even let you put it in her mouth. As for the stroller, Kevin and I are those people who push the stroller and carry the baby. Naps are a tough one since she needs them. She does nap, but usually they are only cat naps...around 30-40 minutes long. Occasionally, we get lucky about once a week and she'll lay down for a few hours. That time is like heaven. The past few days I've been laying her on her belly for naps and the result has been positive with over 2 hour naps each time. But I am constantly checking on her to make sure she is still breathing so it isn't a very relaxing time for me. Fingers crossed that this all changes soon. I can live without her taking a pacifier, but the other two we have got to work on.