Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Tidbits


I haven't been blogging as much lately, did you notice? That's for 2 reasons that just so happened to occur at the exact same time. We got an upgrade to our computers at work and blogger isn't working anymore...not that I ever blog at work! And number 2, Steve has been hogging the computer at home every single night...playing some stupid computer game. Womp womp...So here are some tidbits and updates on what has been going on with me.
 
-Work has been sucking big time lately. Its so BORING!! Also some stupid drama has been happening that gets me down. Why can't life just be fair and things work out the way I want them to?? 
 
-We had Steve's family over one night last week when our niece, Willow, was in town. It was so fun! Steven and Willow are so cute together. It was really great to have everyone over. She's getting ridiculously big. She's going to be 4 this summer and I swear she's 4 going on 14. Ridic!
 
-This past weekend, Memorial Day weekend, Steve and I celebrated our 3 year wedding anniversary! I can't really believe its been 3 years since we got married! It seems like its gone by so fast, but at the same time it feels like we've been married forever. Crazy! 
 
-To celebrate our anniversary, we went to the Cardinal's game. Steve got us all inclusive tickets, which would have been awesome but this weather lately has been so HOT! It was almost 100 degrees the day of the game! We were pretty hot the entire time and our seats were in direct sunlight, so we just stayed in the shade mostly and left early. Oh well! It was fun to spend a day together.
 
-I've been doing actually pretty well on my trying to eat better/exercise/lose weight. I don't know if I've actually lost any lbs because I stopped weighing myself a few weeks ago. It was just depressing and upsetting to me everytime when I didn't lose so I stopped. I will probably weigh myself again at some point soon, but I can't give official numbers right now. I do, however, know this: I worked out like a beast last week, doing 5 days a week at the gym and 2 more times of home workouts. I did really well eating and tracked my food everyday. (This weekend at the Cardinals game, I didn't so so well.) I have more and more clothes every week that are too big for me. I tried on some clothes at a store I normally shop at (the LOFT) and found that my normal size Large tops were too big!! I actually purchased a few size Medium tops! And I haven't been a consistent size Medium top since probably high school. So I know I'm making some progress! Yay! My new strategy is to just keep on keeping on, trying to make good food decisions and try to work out as much as I can.
 
-I started playing on a new volleyball league last week. I put my name in as a sub at a league by my house and a team called me! I was beyond nervous, not having played in almost 2 years, but it was really fun! And I didn't suck any more than I used to ;)

-Steve starts his internship at Monsanto next week...Thank GOD! I am beyond excited about this opportunity for him and I hope for him and our family that it pans out!! He has been laid off for a majority of the last 3 years and it has not been easy! OMG...but seeing him going back to work full time is going to be awesome! I'm so excited! It can only mean good things for our future! :)
 
-This past weekend we celebrated Mother's day and my mom's birthday by having my parents over for a nice dinner. We were supposed to go to the winery but with highs near 100 degrees that wasn't happening. Even though our plans changed, it was so nice to have them over! I love spending time with them. I'm so lucky to have such a great mom and I'm thankful to have her in my life!
 
So that's a quick catch up of what I've been up to lately...sorry for the blog silence but like I said, I'm working with limited computer access here :) What have you been up to lately? PS A big photo dump to come and also a blog on Steven's birthday party...where's that been? Sigh, lots of catching up to do. Hope everyone has a great week!!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Screened In Porch Remodel

Steve and I have been in this house almost 2 years and we really haven't done much in the way of remodeling. Mostly due to him not working the entire time (sigh) and not being able to afford to do anything. But we decided to do a small home renovation on the cheap in preparation for little man's first birthday party at our house. We fixed up the screened in porch area and made a little patioish type place to hang out and for Steven to play. It was relatively cheap and easy. But we are still very excited about the results!

Its really just a screened in car port but hey, beggars can't be choosers. Luckily the people before us did the expensive part of screening it in and putting up walls, etc. However sadly in the house buying process we had to have the roof replaced over that area and (due to some bad contractors, don't get me started) it was left open for about a week and roofless. So of course it rained which ruined the existing roof and the carpet-type stuff they had installed. It also pretty much rotted out some of the dry wall so...good times.

Anyway stage one of the project was demo, tearing up the flooring they put down, the gross baseboards and the rotted drywall. Then we had to get up all the icky glue on the cement and wall. More good times.


This is the lovely paint they had on the walls as well as some drywall we ripped off...


 Here's a good before shot after we cleaned it out completely.


I didn't really take any "during" pictures but basically we cleaned everything really well after we got all the glue and gunk up. Then we painted the bottom walls a nice tealy color Steve picked out and repainted all the white. We had previously painted the ceiling right after we moved in and before Steve got laid off when we were going to work on this. ;)

Anywho, we weren't sure what to do with the cement floor. We didn't want to put down anything that could get ruined with water so we decided to just paint the concrete. I've read a couple tutorials online and it always seems like it works out ok. Plus my parents offered us their left over concrete paint, so..easy decision! My parents even helped paint it. Score! The floor really did turn out great. We had to do 2 coats and ran out at the end but oh well.  Free paint and free help! You can't beat that.

So after that we picked up some inexpensive patio furniture and a rug from Target, a few outdoor toys for Steven, yay for Craigslist and a shelf thing Steve's mom got off Freecycle. And viola! A new outdoor lounge and play area! Woot!

Here is the finished product:


         

 Oh and Steve's dad installed a ceiling fan for us. Won't that be nice on a hot evening?


Steven really likes his new play area! Yay!




So yay for our first small home renovation/upgrade or whatever you want to call it. Hopefully more to come!

Saturday, May 12, 2012

Baby Steven's First Year...12 Months

Can't believe my little bitty baby is a year old already!! It seems so surreal that you've been with us for a year, yet I can't imagine one day without you in it. This past month you've been growing like crazy, as usual. You are so smart, Mr. Man! You've started walking full time now. Before this month you would walk a few steps here and there and usually crash land into someone or something at the end. But now, you're walking for real. You can stop, turn around, get up and back down. Its crazy!


Now that you are mobile you are all over the place! When you do crawl instead of walk you are fast. We have had to improve our baby proofing in the house because you can get to everything! And you are so curious...you explore every nook and cranny.



You are also starting to assert your independence. I think with your increased mobility you really want to go and explore and sometimes we can't let you do that. You get very frustated and arch your back and cry. Sometimes you point to something and say blaa???? (like a question) over and over.  I think we are going to have a stubborn boy on our hands soon.


You also have started having a mischievous face. When you know you are going to do something naughty or silly. Its hard to tell you know when you make that silly face! I believe I caught it here when you were going for the camera.

You are so smart, baby boy. You will figure out how to get something out. If a toy's not working you'll look around and try to fix it. We have a toy that shoots balls and if balls aren't coming out you peer into the hole they come out of and then try to turn it over, push the button again, etc. You're so smart! You're also into puzzles right now and books that have flaps you can open. You also really love the play slinky you got for Easter. You got super attached to your blanket too this month. Its pretty cute to see you carrying it around.




You're really interested in everything we are doing now. You are definitely entering the "helpful" stage. You always want to help us when we are doing something. Your dad taught you to use the broom and say, "mop mop mop". I taught you to help dusting. So cute!



You still love the dogs. This month you started saying, "Zeus". I couldn't believe it but you say it all the time and very clear. You love to chase Zeus around and I think he's your favorite dog only because you can't catch him! You also call all dogs Zeus but hey! its something.


You've learned how to "answer your phone" this month. Its pretty cute. You'll put whatever you have in your hand up to your ear and say "hello?" or your version of hello. Adorable!


You love to play outside in our new screened in porch area. You just love to be outside in general too.




You love to play with your toys especially balls, trucks and toys that sing the ABCs. When the song comes on you will do a little dance that daddy taught you. SO cute. You will play with your trucks by yourself and say "Vrrrooom" while you do it. When you see a ball you say "ball ball". SO big.




Your talking has inreased a lot this month. You have a ton of words now. Some new ones this month, apple, fish, and you talk all the time. Which is great but also frustrating to you because we don't always understand what you mean right away. But we are getting better at speaking Stevenese. You've even put together some phrases like "bye bye dada" which is incredible to me. Sometimes I swear you are trying to say "love you".




Baby boy you are so big this month! Talking, walking, and being generally so cute. Your daddy and I love you so much. We are so lucky to be your parents. This has been easily the best year of both of our lives. We can't wait to spend a lot more with you and watch you grow!






Thursday, May 3, 2012

Weekly Wrap Up Catch Up

Due to some technical difficulties I haven't been able to get you these weekly wrap up in pics from my phone lately. Well here you go! Here's what we've been up to the past two weeks.

Pretty sure this is just a day you were looking particularly cute! Ha!


Playing outside in the backyard on a nice day. You weren't so sure about this slide at first but you warmed up to it!


 Looks like a green wonderland but its just our backyard ;)


Playing in your "ball pit".

Enjoying some cuddle time and nice weather with Grandma and Grandpa Riegerix.


 A crazy hailstorm we had! OMG so crazy! And all 3 cars are damaged...and the house. Awesome

Ok that's all the pics I took. I suck I know! Its been crazy busy around here preparing for someone's first birthday! Maybe a video will make up for it?



One Year Already?!

Its so hard to believe that just one year ago today I was very pregnant and very much in labor at St. Luke's hospital. I as admitted in the afternoon on May 3rd and settled in for a long night of sleeping and laboring comfortably. But baby boy had different ideas and at 12:46 am on Wednesday, May 4th Steven Joseph Riegerix III was born.

Its so incredible to think that only a year has passed since that day. But here we are on the evening of May 3rd one year later. I can't help but remember all the emotions I was feeling just 365 days ago. Although I was aware my life was about to change I really didn't have any concept of how it would change or how completely life altering the experience of becoming a mother would be. I've heard over and over that motherhood is like letting a piece of your heart walk around outside your body and for me that is so incredibly accurate. Its crazy when you think about it, but nothing can prepare you for motherhood and nothing can compare to it either.

So on this eve of the anniversary of your birth, here is a short letter to you, my son.

Steven (my boo),

Can't believe its already been a year! You have grown so much in the past year its incredible. We went to the grocery store tonight and you got out and walked next to me. You even pushed the cart! Not even a year ago you were a teeny, tiny baby and now you're so big! When your father and I count are blessings everyday we count you about 10 times. We are so lucky to have you in our lives. You are truly a joy to us everyday and it has been our complete pleasure watching you grow up the past year.

I'm so lucky to get to be your mommy and watch you grow. I hope you continue to grow (even though I wish you'd slow down a little) and learn and explore. I hope for your future that you continue to be a loving, playful, curious and happy boy! I know eventually you probably won't want mommy around but for now you give great hugs, kisses and giggles all the time. I cherish those moments and try my very hardest to remember them for the future.

Having you in my life has been the most amazing experience. I love you more than I could ever express. Although you've only been here a year, baby boy, I can't imagine a single minute without you in it. I love you with all my heart. Happy Birthday.

-Mom


Wednesday, May 2, 2012

Easter 2012

This is soooo late. But I never did an Easter post. Oops! So here you go, our Easter 2012, mostly in pictures :)

Steven's first Easter egg hunt at the Riegerix's. Very cute!

 I was pretty excited about these neat butterfly and bee eggs Grandma Riegerix made.

 Unfortunately, Steven was pretty not excited about the whole thing...poor guy!



He did have a good time with Grandpa though. And this cutie was there and pretty excited!


Some Easter baskets and gifts.

Family shot!


Me and my best boy on Easter Sunday morning. Don't we look good?

Family shot #2

So handsome!

So that was our Easter in mostly pictures. Sorry the post is so late! Hope everyone had a great Easter!