This is Why I'm Fat

Have you ever seen the website, This is Why You're Fat? It's a hilarious, albeit, disgusting website to showcase all the most horrible food on the planet. Bacon and cheese abound. While viewing it I often wonder if people actually eat these things or it they are sitting in their kitchens concocting the most disgusting thing they can think of. Sadly, I feel our obesity epidemic answers that question. I must also admit, I sometimes look at it make myself feel better. I mean honestly, as long and I'm not eating that, I can't be doing too bad right?

The Scooby Snack: A hamburger patty topped with a lorne sausage, cheese, bacon, egg and a potato scone served on a square bun.

My point in all this is that I'm gaining weight. I have been for several months now. I am happy to report it has nothing to do with eating Deep Fried Twinkies (although I have had the very unlike-me cravings for bacon).

Instead, it has everything to do with the tiny human growing inside me. Yup, I'm preggo. 15 weeks in fact.

So next time you see me and think to yourself "Has she gained weight?" the answer is yes. Even though I'm at the horrible in-between stage where I look fat but not yet pregnant, rest assured there is a new life growing in there, not a beer belly.

Ignoring You

I have been ignoring my blog for a week now. It has been wonderful. No pressure to post, no stressing over a topic, no guilt for not having taken any pictures this summer.

Instead, we have been going on family walks in the evening and enjoying couple time after BG is in bed. This weekend we are taking a semi-sporadic romantic retreat. I'm beyond thrilled, giddy, ecstatic. It has been nearly 2 years since I've had a night away with my honey. BG is having a sleepover with Grandma. I'm not sure who is more excited.

So I will most likely continue to ignore you until next week. If I'm feeling really ambitious, I might check in on your blog. Or not.

(Linking up to Mama Kat for what is making me giddy: A break!)

Money to Burn

I had the following conversation with BG this morning as we were driving to work/school.

BG: Mommy, you want an airplane?
Me: No. I actually don't want an airplane. (I don't like flying.) But I know Daddy would really like an airplane.
BG: Gramma buy Daddy airplane?
Me: I think if Grandma was buying anyone an airplane, it would be for Papa.
BG:I buy airplane for Daddy.
Me: Airplanes cost a lot of money. Do you have a lot of money?
BG: My Daddy has a lot of money.
Me: (trying to stifle the laughter)
BG: I buy airplane for Daddy and Papa.
Me: Well, you are just buying airplanes for everyone.
BG: Not everyone. Just Daddy and Papa.

There you have it. Someday when she wonders why her parents can't afford college, I'll let her know it was due to her own generous gifts to others.

The Retreat

Does your husband do this? I will suggest something which he will shoot down. At some point in the future, he has the same idea but it is now brilliant. Why do men do that? Not that I'm really complaining too much. In this instance, I am beyond thrilled he has "come up" with this idea.

He has been working a lot lately. Even more than his usual work-aholic self. I've been feeling overwhelmed and need a break together with my honey. Last night he had the ingenious idea to go on a relaxing get away together. He even said he would be willing to do a couples massage. I was in heaven. I told him I was going to book it before he changed his mind.

So last night I spent most of the evening checking out romantic escapes. I'm looking for something nearby, romantic but not too much (cuz I'm cheap and I have a mortgage to pay too). I was originally looking at resorts with spas on site but those are kind of pricey. So now I'm thinking maybe a hotel and a local day spa instead. I need some recommendations people! I'd love to do a couple massage and facials but more likely we'll only pay for the massages. Where have you gone and liked? Any great romantic hidden hotel/B&B gems that aren't advertised? I'm so excited to have a break! I've already been talking up Grandma for a sleepover to cover childcare.

Blog Lunch is great!

On Saturday I met up with some great bloggers for a yummy lunch. I was in desperate need of a girls day out without the kiddo and this filled that need perfectly!

I met up with lots of bloggers and it was really fun to put faces with names. Since I didn't bring my own camera, go visit Erin for the photo of all in attendance.

In addition to yummy lunch and great company, I did a little shopping afterwards. That's right. I hit the Old Navy summer sale and picked up a few things just for me. It was so different to be shopping on my own and being able try on clothes without constantly looking to see where BG had run off to.

On another note, this morning I took in revised menus to school along with bags of food for substitutions. Can you believe that on the same day, the kids are eating chicken nuggets, french fries, and Oreos? Needless to say, most of those items got crossed off the list and BG will be eating carrots or strawberries instead. We're going to have to have a chat since I'm nervous she will feel left out at meal/snack time. But I do feel more in control about what she will be eating. Now I'm working on the other side of things and looking into what the regulations actually are.

Friday Fragments

I am on a mission! I talked to BG's daycare director about their menu. Apparently their menus are regulated by the state and they are required to serve things like Ding Dongs and Marshmallow Mateys. WHAT?! They can also be fined for having too many fresh fruits and veggies on hand, limiting the number they can serve. I was told the best I can do as a parent is bring in my own substitutions for the menu items I don't like. I was infuriated after leaving the meeting. I can do a lot more than that! I can, and will, start a crusade to get these absurd regulations changed.

Did you know the Bureau of Child Care Licensing has a public meeting every other month to discuss their guidelines? Guess where I will be on Sept 10? Fighting for the health of my child at that meeting. If any other concerned parents want to join me, here is their meeting schedule.

*****
Most days driving to work we pass para gliders. BG thinks they are pretty neat and told me she wants to jump off a mountain. I told her she would have to be a lot bigger before she could do that. I also told her it would scare mommy. She said "It not scare Mommy. I give you hug."

*****
The other day BG was sitting at the table when she wrinkled up her nose and said "I mell something." I asked her what it was at the same moment JM walked up the stairs into the room. She responded "I mell Daddy." (mell = smell)

*****
I can't spell the word "Bureau" to save my life. It took me three tries before spell check would even pick it up with the correct spelling. Do you have words like that?

Zoo Trip

On Friday we went to the Zoo. BG was really excited to go see the animals. We went up early and boy am I glad we did. The Zoo was packed and by the time we left at noon, it was starting to get hot. Hot and crowded is not where I want to be. Here are a bunch of pictures from our trip. I'm not even going to try and put them in order, because that is more trouble than it's worth at this point.

At the Ape House, is this fun display to see how you measure up to the size of a gorilla (I think). I have pictures of me standing next to this as a child so it was a must to take some pictures here.

BG liked all the statues of animals around the zoo. I convinced JM to get in a picture with BG. She really wanted to sit on the gorilla and that required the help of Daddy.

Another shot of Daddy and BG watching the camels.

We did take of pictures of the actual animals. The giraffes were outside, which was pretty cool. Most of my giraffe memories involve the really stinky giraffe house - not pleasant.

BG sitting on the rhino. Not sure why JM didn't include the statue in the picture. This shot was the most zoomed out of any of the shots. I guess the purpose of the shot was lost on him.

This is BG looking at the rhinos. She let us know which animals were stinky. I love the look on her face!

The elephants were out eating. BG loved them and wanted to stay there all day.

JM took this shot of BG and I watching the monkeys. I thought it was kind of cool, so I thought I would include it. I'm not great at taking the artsy shots, so I'm usually easily impressed by them.

We also saw the snakes - which BG kept asking about and went to the Madagascar exhibit. She loved seeing King Julian (lemurs) and the others animals. I thought she would be really excited to see the penguins but she was less than thrilled. I think because they were panting in the desert heat instead of concocting funny plans. The black bears were pretty active, but stinky.

This concludes our trip to the Zoo. We had lots of fun and I'm glad we went. We will definitely have to go back again another time.

I'm linking up to Works for Me Wednesday for summer tips. Go to the zoo early, and leave before the heat and crowds get too bad.

Finally, The Pictures

I finally found my camera cord thing so here are really late birthday pictures! With the camera battery fiasco, we didn't get many great pictures. We do however, have lots of pictures of BG using her new camera. She loves it.

This is the penguin cake my sister in law made for BG. She was really excited about it. The penguins are on the beach because it's the penguins of Madagascar, hence the beach theme.

And here is a cute shot of my princess. Isn't she adorable?! I admit I am biased, but how can you argue with a blond hair, blue-eyed beauty? (And I still maintain that she is not overweight, maybe her height just hasn't caught up to her weight.) What a sweet girl.

Everything you do is... annoying

Ever have one of those days? Today is one of those days. Everything JM has done is annoying. I came home all excited to make a yummy dinner out of ingredients I planned out and purchased last week. I sent him a text right before I left work asking him to fire up the grill (charcoal) so it would be ready by the time I got home.

I got home and he was sitting on the couch, grill cold.
"Didn't you get my text?"
Pulling his phone out of his pocket to read the text, "No. I don't feel like cooking. Besides, I already had a bowl of cereal. So let's just do something simple for dinner."

This single act causes me more annoyance than almost anything else. He gets home, maybe 30 minutes before me. 3 nights out of 5, he has already had a bowl of cereal and just wants to do something "simple" for dinner. I can't comprehend why he hasn't figured out that when I plan meals, buy ingredients, and make time to cook a nice meal, I don't want to just do something "simple" by eating cereal. Sure, I have those nights too. But it really annoys me and throws me off when I am planning a nice meal then have to improvise at the last minute.

BG wanted to go for a walk after dinner. I asked JM if he wanted to come with us on a walk around the neighborhood. He said he only wanted to go if we were walking 3 miles or more. I told him it was more about family time than exercise. He opted to stay and watch TV. Annoying.

After having a beverage, he left the container sitting on the side table. Why can't he throw it away when he is done? Annoying.

I really do have a wonderful husband but today is one of those days. One of those days where you scratch your head and wonder how in the world men and women ever get along. Tomorrow will be better. Thanks for letting me whine.

Birthday Pictures

I remembered the other reason posting pictures is difficult. Neither of the two grandmas remembered their cameras. I pulled out my video/still camera. After taking a few pictures, the battery on my camera died. BG opened half her presents before JM has the idea to go get our other camera while the battery for the video camera charged.

So now the first five pictures were taken on the SD card. I had an SD card slot in my laptop making it really easy to upload pictures. The card for the other camera is I-don't-know-what-it's-called kind of card. But it's bigger and doesn't have a slot in my laptop. In order to upload pictures I have to get out the little converter thingy with the cord and the hassle. Plus, that little converter thingy is missing. I don't want to ask JM where it might be because I"m pretty sure I'm the one to misplace it.

So here is the one and only semi-decent picture I got on the SD card. In all the others BG is either making a funny face or looking away. So with that lengthy explanation, here is the picture.


I know. Even this one is kind of blurry and not great. Do you see my dilemma?!