Mommy Brain: Daily Mishaps and Nonsense

Over the past few weeks (well, more like months) I have been racking up plenty of life lessons, daily observations, and more than my fair share of "blonde moments." Everyone throws around the term "mommy brain" and I often use it to describe my less than astute moments. Before giving birth I took pride in having the memory of an elephant....now I have the memory of a gnat. I did a quick google search on "mommy brain" and what I found confirmed my suspicion: my brain has in fact shrunk. Ok, maybe not, but it feels like it has. Turns out some research shows that parts of your brain may actually grow during pregnancy. That clearly didn't happen to me. I find myself daydreaming at inappropriate times, pausing for what seems like an entire minute during a conversation just to come up with a certain word, and doing just plain stupid things. The thought of having to study for a graduate school exam at this point in time makes me shiver and following a recipe sometimes seems too challenging to even attempt. I used to have a mental plan for days in advance....now I plan for the next five minutes ahead of me. So for now, "mommy moments" are the new blonde moments..........

• Grocery shopping is no fun. If there is anyone out there that enjoys grocery shopping I have a big ol' pie in the face for you. Walmart makes the process that much more taxing....long lines, crappy carts, and plenty of oblivious people standing in the aisles catching up on the last five years of their lives blocking my access to the sun-dried tomatoes. Today as I was enroute to the cereal aisle while pushing a rickety cart I had a big "mommy moment." The front of my cart spontaneously veered toward a Cracker Jack display. And you can just picture what happened next. Thankfully I had the help of a lovely lady coming toward me who witnessed my screw up. She and I picked up box after box of treats and "piled" them back up on the shelf. I left Walmart with a bit more humility than when I walked through the doors. :)
• Who needs salon brand hair products when you can just use Johhson & Johnson baby shampoo. While rushing through a shower the other morning (mostly due to a child who so badly wanted to lift the toilet seat lid) I grabbed for my Hallie's shampoo and lathered up my hair. Only after I rinsed it out and could smell the familiar baby smell did I realize what I'd used. It did the job and I smelled that baby smell all day long. :)
• If I'm not at home or at work chances are you can find me in the drive-thru at Sonic. I take at least two trips a day there to wet my whistle. If I added up all of the money I'd save in a year if I just cut up my own lemon and put it in water from home, I could probably buy a small island. And with the way Sonic has gone all Nazi lately I may just have to cut down on  my trips. They stopped selling salads...one of the only healthy things on their menu. But that topic is for another day. My real story is how I like to pay for my drinks. I handed over my card through the window, sat and waited....the lady behind the window quickly handed it back to me and gave me a strange look. It turns out they don't take Academy gift cards as a form of payment at Sonic. :)
• You know that feeling when you are about to pee your pants and the last thing you want to hear is the sound of running water out of a faucet. Oddly enough, the same thing goes for babies as well. Hallie has now peed on the bathroom rug (and my leg) a total of four times while watching me run the water. Diaper removal is a last minute thing nowadays. Lesson learned. :)
• Note to others: do not carry your laptop under your chin while you are sweaty. Or how about just don't every carry your laptop under your chin. I am a "one trip" kinda girl. What I mean by that is if I have a car load of stuff to carry in the house I will do everything in my power to bring everything in at once. Even when it's 113 degrees outside. I didn't drop my computer but it was way too close. :)
• Fill 'er up. I had a moment last week at the gas station. A very, very embarrassing moment that involved a gas tank and one dumb momma driving off without removing the nozzle from her tank. Oh sheesh!! SO. STUPID. I have always wondered what would happen if I accidentally drove off without "disconnecting." Luckily what I had always imagined did not happen. The place is still standing and no fires were started. Though my pride was severely injured in the process. As I heard a "clunk, clunk" as I drove away it took me less than a second to realize what I had done. I stepped out of the car and made the walk of shame back to the gas pump and put my gas cap back in place while having holes burned through my skin from the fifteen plus oil field workers staring while filling up their work trucks with fuel. I drove away wondering why on earth God entrusted a child to me. :)
• When your husband has the nerve to say "babe, you look tired", then odds are you look pretty horrible. And the funny part is I wasn't offended in the least....because I knew just how horrible I looked. This morning was one of those where it took every last ounce of energy just to lift the sheet before crawling out of bed....let alone having to hit my snooze button three times. This could explain a jaw-dropping moment from the other day: while furniture shopping with my dad and sister I was asked by a salesperson if Hallie was my granddaughter. I suppose she thought that I was married to my dad and Bailey was our daughter with a baby. Oh geez!
• After my humbling moment at Walmart this morning I headed over to the carwash. Simple enough task...how could I mess this up? Pull up to the drive thru, select my wash, slide my card, forget my receipt, back up to grab it....and get stuck with the gait closed. I figured an attendant was nearby and would able to hear me honk. So I honked....and waited....and then honked....and waited. And then I double honked hoping they would sense my urgency. I was in no hurry but was expecting someone to pull up behind me soon and wonder what the heck I was doing. Finally a nice man came to my rescue. It turns out he couldn't open the gate for me so I had to back up and go all the way around and come in the side entrance....also known as the "entrance for people with mommy brains."

There you have it folks....be my friend at your own risk. You just might catch it from me......

We're gone to see Mrs. Kyser-McGee!

Kyser-McGee is the name I lovingly call one of my dearest friend....I have called her by her last name for as long as we've been friends (because we share the same first name it's easier that way) so it was a bit difficult to change that once she got hitched....so I just tacked on her new name to the old one and voila! That being said, she came to visit her family this weekend and we loved every second of it (well, all of the seconds that Hallie was not screaming her head off, lol).

I was thrilled to have an incredibly light schedule on Friday because there was a lot of work to be done before Hallie and I left for Enid. After seeing a couple patients I packed up our temporary home #2 and took all of our stuff back to our other temporary home #1. I'm going to miss the scenery out the window every morning at temporary home #2...

We packed up the car and were off to Enid. Does anyone else feel like you have to pack ten bags for your child just for an overnight stay? I need to find a better way to organize and fast!! Hallie loved hated every second of our roadtrip...thank goodness for Baby Einstein and the ability to stretch my arm to reach for various items dropped in the backseat. But we did have our fair share of stops along the side of the road to pick up things my arm length couldn't handle. Once my feet hit the ground in Enid I swore not to get back in the car for awhile...except that Aunt B wanted some help at the furniture store picking out furniture so we were glad to join her. Well some tiny person I know really was glad she came....this big pink sheep may have had something to do with it.....

"Can I please take him home?!"

The sweltering heat was getting to us so we stopped for some cold drinks and then went back to the house and stripped down...well, just the baby did that part.....

"Now this is the best way to cool off"

She couldn't stay nakey for long because Aunt B was itching to try on Hallie's new tutu that she got for her....

I almost couldn't stand the cuteness!

We made sure to wait for Gman to get home so Hallie could share some smiles...and she did just that! I just love seeing her make him smile. After some Gman time we were getting anxious for some girl time! We had a whole two blocks to drive to get to Ashley's parent's house. Hallie made herself right at home.....

The last time Ashley saw Hallie was ten months ago....the babe's changed a bit since then. :) Here's a flashback to August 2010....

Best friends meeting 4 week old Hallie

Hallie was pleased to see a familiar face in Aunt Heather....

Ashley and Hallie hit it off from the get go....and so did Ashley's five-year-old nephew Hayden....

He was so fascinated with her and wanted to be a part of her every move....even nap time.....

"I'll give you a drink if you can sneak me out of here"

We had a great time catching up....Ashley's husband Jeff came with her for the weekend, Heather's husband Alex joined her for the cookout, Ashley's sister and her husband were there with Hallie's new BFF Hayden, and Ashley's parents treated us to some delicious steaks. I love me some Heather-Ashley-Kyser time!!

Sweet girls

I think everyone must've been exhausted after a very long and hot week because we all made our way home around 9:30. Nobody was home when I got to Gman's so I took advantage of the quiet and rocked my girl to sleep way past her bedtime. Hallie was up bright and early (6:15 ) the next morning. I have to laugh when I stop and think about the lengths I went to while attempting to put her back to sleep. None of them worked but it was a valliant effort. I lay there with my arms and legged stretched out half-asleep trying to form a barricade so that I would feel her if she decided to take off. She saw right through my plan and used my arms and legs as a jungle gym. There was no denying, she was up and ready for her breakfast date.....

Breakfast date #1

Heather came over early and fed my hungry monster while I got ready for breakfast. Hallie taught Heather a thing or two about the rules of feeding....#1, if you leave the food within reach she will stick her hand in it and rub it on her face, #2 feeding is difficult when not confined in a highchair and you may have to chase her down to give her a spoonful of food. Heather is now a pro at feeding my wiggle worm.

Breakfast date #2

We met Ashley and her family at Wee-Too for some yummy breakfast. Hayden and Hallie sat at the end of the table while she munched on graham crackers and peaches and he was on "binky partol." He even ignored his Mickey Mouse pancakes to help me keep her occupied. Could I please take him home with me? He was all about trying to entertain her! Talk about adorable....these two were turning heads as the three of us "walked" Hallie through the restaurant to get some of her pent up energy out. Not only did I have the pleasure of starting the day off with breakfast with my very best friends but I got to hug another good friend whom I did not expect to run into there. My friend Kristen from PT school and her husband Dustin have recently moved to Enid and I was so excited to get to introduce Hallie to them and catch up on life for a few minutes. After feeding my face with way too many calories it was time for a walk. We thought we would beat the heat but that was not the case. Yowza, we were roasting!!!

Ashley with her babies

....and me with mine

"Hey, dogs get hot too!"

I thanked my lucky stars for Heather because I had ran out of patience a long time ago before Hallie started making the walk a less than fun experience. Heather pushed my screaming daughter, talked and reasoned with her all the while having a conversation with Ashley and I....

Heather giving the signal that she was finally asleep...kinda

What better way to cool off after a nice, long, hot, loud, and draining walk.....

Heather, Ashley, Whitney, and I went for a dip in the pool while Hallie took a little snooze. But not before she got some water time too....

"I'm a water baby through and through"

"Surfing" baby style

It was nap time for a certain little person I rocked her to sleep in the shade while she sipped on some water....love my cuddle time she lets me have every now and again. It was the perfect way to relax with the girls Saturday afternoon! Bailey joined us toward the end of our baking session and spent the rest of the afternoon with us. We followed up swimming with some lunch, gelato and a trip out to Heather's house to see what had changed since our last visit out there. We checked out all of her new additions and let Hallie roam around a bit. She also decided to show her two honorary aunts how she could walk. But not until after she got an energy burst from this lemon.....

I was finally able to get some pics and video of her walking since there were three of us in a quiet area....Hallie seems to prefer quiet, small crowds for waddling. She made our day!!!

One happy momma

Go, girl, go!!!!

Bailey and Gman needed some extra help finalizing their furniture decisions. I wish I had a videotape of the four of us (Hal included) testing out couches and telling dad why we didn't like the ones he picked out. We tried our darndest to talk him into a cozy sectional but to no avail. Hallie was tired of all the discussion and was thrilled to move on to mattress shopping. And you just thought that lying on your back was the best way to test out a mattress. Well Hallie showed us that it's just a myth. She lunged and bounced on her belly over and over and over again...and giggled all the while. After we had returned to the front of the store Hallie started to squirm so I let her down. She crab crawled all the way to the back of the store to that very same bed where the big pink Serta sheep was waiting for her...she wasn't done faceplanting yet. As I picked her up to see the pink sheep she flashed a beaming smile. That girl! How are they so smart at such a young age??

Hallie ended her time at Gman's the same way she started it....nakey.

"Ha ha ha ha, you can't get me!!"

Girl's weekend was a success!! We spent some time daydreaming about how great it would be if we all lived in the same town. We don't get to see eachother near enough but we make the most of the time we have. I sure love those girls!!!! Our next trip will be to visit Kyser-McGee at her new home in Bentonville, AR and a trip back to market in August....it can't get here fast enough!!!

E is for Eleven

Dear ladybug,

You are the busiest little bug I ever did see my Cheerio eatin', wall climbin', danger seekin', early mornin' screamin', mess makin', hug givin', drawer openin', crab crawlin', food stealin', Einstein watchin', head shakin', shoulder bitin', smile flashin', water splashin', dog pettin', love spreadin' munchkin. Every month when I sit here in front of the computer to relfect on the past four weeks it all seems like a whirlwind of activity....but one theme comes to mind this month.....MESS. You are like an F5 tornado ripping through the house leaving behind little piles of debris. I wish I could call FEMA to come clean up but unfortunately it's all me. You, my lady, are an F5 mess (and I mean that in the most loving way possible :)) Month 10 to 11 has brought about the most drastic changes....you are now walking, talking (kinda), and becoming more I-N-D-E-P-E-N-D-E-N-T everyday. Let it be known...you are growing up! It's happening too fast!!! We've now reached the warp speed zone. I can just imagine you reading this as a teenager...15 years old, sitting in your room doing normal teenagerish things....well my sweetheart if you're reading this, I love you, I love you, I love you. Love, Mom. P.S.- do your homework and oh yeah, boys have cooties. ;)

See what I mean: MESS ;)

Let's see, what to start with......how about food? You would crawl to the ends of the earth and back again for a "nana" or a cup of Cheerios. You associate great aunt Lisa's house with "nanas" and you just have to have one while you are there. While I went to a therapy course last week you spent the day in Enid with Lisa and her friend. I hear you got all of the "nanas" you desired. So I can imagine your surprise when you requested a "nana" yesterday and she was fresh out of your favorite yellow fruit. You didnt' seem too disappointed when offered a tube of banana puffs. You have mastered the removal of the lid using your teeth and are a pro at shoving your chubby arm down the tube to grab a more than large handful of puffs. We don't go anywhere without your cup of cereal....as a result you are now sitting on a hefty pile of Cheerios in your carseat....we oughta clean that out soon, huh? You have started meats regularly now...but in a jar though. I'm not brave enough to attempt homemade meats. Gross. You have tasted about every table food imaginable....still haven't met a food your didn't like.

"The least they could do it make baby friendly packaging..."

Popsicles are one of your new favorites as well....

You don't discriminate when it comes to trying new things....you love to explore nature by tasting it.....

Ants are a good source of nutrition, right?

Ya can't enjoy all that food (and nature) without a good set of chompers. You are the proud owner of six pearly whites. The top four have been making their entrance for awhile now....they have recently began to torment you during their slow descent. Hurry up fellas...leave my baby alone!! The bottom two are little teeny tiny and your top four look pretty big. You still chew on just about anything....even human beings. My shoulder was the lucky recipient of a love bite from you the other day....dada was pleased to have you test out your chompers on his nose. Oh what fun! The dog's tail, coffee tables, cribs, toys, and lots of kitchen utensils have also fallen victim to your bite. My question is....are you a vampire... or a cannibal?

Summer is here and you are loving every second of it. You love going outside when it's warm...in fact you gravitate toward the door at all times....maybe it's because you aren't used to sunlight in our little cave. Hehe. Sunshine, water, popsicles, Limeaides, bathing suits, and pools...you love it all. Well except for your hat and sunglasses...you rip those off within seconds. Your Irish skin does very well in the sun to my surprise...you have spent half of the summer slathered in sunscreen but it works like a charm and you don't mind at all. Unless it gets in your eyes....then we have a different situation. A stage 5 meltdown ensues. You love cruisin' around in your pool patrol boat....

We have a love-hate relationship with sleep. I love it, and you hate it. Well maybe you just dislike the act of falling asleep...once you get there you stay asleep all night long. You hit the hay around 8:00 and wake up around 7:00 (sometimes you bless us with a 7:30 wake up time). You are very "night and day" when it comes to sleep....sometimes naps are the best thing since sliced bread, other times it seems as though your crib is a torture chamber. Oy! You are taking two naps each day still....although there are those days when you are just too excited to sleep. I love to find you snoozing away with your little booty stuck up in the air.

Princess Baby Hallie, as you are so lovingly referred to by Miss Jennifer and her kiddos. You have been spending some extra fun time with Miss Jennifer over the past couple weeks. It is safe to say that you have had a ball with the Mudd family. Her youngest son Nicholas is appalled that little princesses do in fact poop. Lol. Although he somehow still enjoys being around you.....

Princesses should always know how to cook

Jennifer is all about filling the day with lots of fun...swimming, craft projects, trips to the library, taking walks, and lots of reading and playtime. What a special family we have found...they adore their "Princess Baby Hallie"....especially when you are napping.....

ZZzzzzzZZZZzz

zzZZzzzzzzZZzzz

zzzzzZZZzzzzzz

You have bonded with her daughter Cass as well....

Soakin up the sun

There you are the background supervising (aka feeding your face)

While spending time with Miss Jennifer in the church nursery over the past five months, you have become friends with a sweet little nursery pal named Harper. She has claimed you are "her baby." Her momma tells me that she goes home talking about you and looks forward to the next time she will get to see you. She likes to help take care of you, feed you and give you kisses. You two girls are just too much preciousness in one room.....

This picture makes me smile :)

"Here's your binky baby Hallie"

This week you return back to your normal schedule with Miss Linda and Nanny. Nanny has the pool and popsicles all ready to go for ya girl! I think it's safe to say she has missed her Hallie Grace while they have been away. Nanny, Papa, and Kylie returned tonight from their trip around the world and we went over so they could get some Hallie time. You were full of smiles as they ran out the front door to come grab you! And right inside the door you had a pile of the best souvenirs a baby could ask for.....a furry pink backpack from New Zealand, a pair of sheep skin shoes, a Hawaiian outfit and hair flower, and a Hard Rock Fiji shirt. Mom and dad got some pretty cool gear too! Although it was way past your bedtime you managed to wow everyone with your walking and piano playing skills. You never cease to amaze me. :)
One month away from the BIG ONE and you decided it was time to say "bye bye" to your "ba ba." This is you holding on for dear life on the last night you drank from a bottle.....

"Maybe I'm not ready to let go..."

Sippy cup trials were a little more challenging than I had anticipated. You started "trying" to use a sippy a couple months ago. It was a lot of biting and no sucking. The day came and we had four different cups to test out. Surprise!!.....you didn't like any of them. Lol. One cup drenched you while another one was like trying to suck blood from a turnip...the others just wouldn't do either. Miss Jennifer sent a "special" cup home with you a couple weeks ago and it seems as if you and this cup were destined for eachother. ;) No spillage, no drippage...all drinkage. You are now able to use all of your cups but some still result in an outfit change. Wanna know the best part about tossing out the bottles? Duh, no more washing with bottle brushes and having bulky drying racks on the counter! You are a BIG GIRL!!! Pretty soon we will be putting real milk in those cups sissy!!

"Are you sure I'm old enough to throw my bottles away?"

Vices, vices. You just can't beat that darned binky. That whole nonsense about getting rid of the bink awhile back was just a bunch of hocus pocus. You are not letting it go....and honestly we haven't tried that much because I'm a lil afraid of the repercussions. Bedtime wouldn't be nearly as pleasant. Your beloved bink is a must for now I guess. Although you do share with mama from time to time. You offer up your bink and let me bite at it....this obviously hits your funny spot because you let out the biggest giggle. Maybe we will know it's time to hide the binks once we run out of them once and for all....after all, we lose on average about one bink per day to binky heaven. The odds are good that binks could be extinct very soon (cue the ominous music).

You took your first steps two weeks ago during playtime. Ever since that day we have been practicing though you still prefer your crab crawl for the fastest form of locomotion...this sparks plenty of laughter from others watching because you hike your bottom up high in the air and take off. I finally got a video of you doing your cute waddling this past weekend....it does in fact take three people to get a video of a walking baby...two to entice and one to film. Thanks Heather and Ashley for helping me get some prime walking footage ;).......

You fill any room with your smile and your silly cackle. I love the way your blonde (slightly red) hair glimmers in the sun. I just shake my head as I watch you bang your head against windows for fun. I love the way you look at an object and point so seriously while babbling as if you know exactly what it is called. I usually response with a "wow, how did you know that?" If a person got paid for opening and closing things, you would be rich and already have your career set in stone. This includes menus, books, newspapers, drawers, cabinets, shower curtains and doors. Just yesterday you were splish splashin' away in the bathtub when dada came home. He hollered your name and you got so excited as you reached for the edge of the door from inside the tub to pull it back so you could see him coming around the corner....yes, you ended up slipping because the door was out of your reach...but you knew what you wanted and how to get it. Your goal in life is to escape out the front or back door. The refrigerator is one of your favorite objects...it's like a beacon calling your name. Obstacles schmobstacles....nothing stands in your way of demolishing a kitchen....not even an 80 pound Golden Retriever. You crawled over Lucy like she was a big pillow. She didnt' seem to mind much....

Who needs instruments when you can use your own arm to make good music? Your arm has become your new obsession at times...you blow and make silly noises and can hit your hand over your mouth to make the indian noise. But let's not write off all instruments because you LOVE the piano. During our stay at Nanny and Papa's house I have found you banging on the keys often as you stand on your tippy toes to reach.

There are three universal truths in your life:

1. Dada is the coolest
2. Mama is the sweetest
3. You love your family just as much as they all love you

...........Dada is fun for games, silly noises, and bath time. He brings out your biggest smiles that's for sure. Mama is your favorite hip to ride on and your favorite cuddle partner. You have started going through separation anxiety this past week....you cry when I start to walk out of a room or leave you at the babysitter's house.

We are in birthday party mode and you have caught the planning bug from mama. Dada has been watching from afar as I've been shopping online nightly for party supplies, invitations, and other essential items....as always he thinks I'm a little crazy when it comes to planning. And he's right!!! There is nothing more fun than planning something special for someone as special as you are my sweetpea!!! I've got you to jump aboard the party train so you have been busy preparing your birthday invitations....

"maybe I need to narrow my list down a bit...this is a lot of work"

"I hear carpal tunnel is common in infants mom...can you do these for me?"

"Ok, I'll address a few I guess"

There's something you should know. When you are tired, smelling yummy after your bath, and all jammied up, I feel like the luckiest person in the whole wide world while I sit with you on my lap in the chair (this also applies to when you are covered in sunscreen and have blades of grass sticking to your juice-covered belly). You have always fit so perfectly in my arms even as you grow....you were made for me. I can take one look in the mirror and say that I'm not the same person I was before I became your mommy. I dare say that I looked a bit younger (hence someone asking me if I was your grandmother the other day), a bit more put together, and a lot more well rested. But guess what girl? For every new wrinkle that I have or every sleepless night, I now have a hundred memories and smiles to go with each one. Can I ask you a favor? Will you always be my BFF???

I love you Hallie Grace Fanning

Pounding the Ivories with Daddy

Not tickling, but pounding. Hallie has awhile until she will learn the gentleness of piano playing. Riley got a hankering to relive his piano lesson days as a wee little lad and give his old piano book some attention. Some parts were music to our ears.......other parts, not so much. He had me laughing big belly laughs as he bragged about his "Good Job" stickers and stamps in his music book. It took Hallie approximately two milliseconds to decide she wanted in on the music action.....

"Making beautiful music ma"

"Can you believe I've never had any formal training?"

After a rousing number of "Cruella Deville", the Fannings celebrated the holidays a bit early with a sing-a-long to "Joy to the World"....per Riley we had to "sing it from the beginning until we get it right." Hallie wasn't complaining any.....

I know it may seem as if I document and ramble about each and every little tiny thing that Hallie does....and it may seem like it doesn't amount to much...but it's daddy/ daughter moments like these that I don't want to forget.

P.S. - Riley actually sat and "played" for a good 45 minutes....even exclaimed that he wanted to start taking lessons again. I wanted to ask "who are you and what have you done with my husband?"