It appears that a Michigan Mom who volunteers to watch her neighbors children for an hour before the bus picks them up for school in the morning is in violation of the law and the State wants her to STOP immediately...or apply for a daycare license.
Apparently, she's in violation of a "day care" law. The law states that, "no one may care for unrelated children in their home for more than four weeks each calendar year unless they are licensed day-care providers."
It's Sal's birthday today! Dear Sal, You're fun. You're sweet. You're kind. We just love you. We (Ferg, C., Lila and I) hope you have a wonderful day. We're glad you were born. -- With love, kb, cb, lb and fb
1. Who was your first prom date? My school didn't have, "prom". We had "Banquet" and my first Banquet date was... OMG. I don't remember.
2. Do you still talk to your first love? Nope.
3. What was your first alcoholic drink? I'm certain it was Boone's Farm. Snowcreek Berry.
4. What was your first job? First tax-reporting job: Bagger at Kroger's grocery store. I was also in the Food Workers' Union. They took the union dues out of my checks when I first started working there. I don't think I actually got PAID for a month because of that.
5. What was your first car? A 1986 multi-colored Toyota Corolla, the envy of all in town. :)
6. Who was the first person to text you today? My sister on blackberry messenger.
7. Who was the first person you thought of this morning? Lila. She started singing around 7:00 a.m.
8. Who was your first grade teacher? Miss Hoover. I loved her.
9. Where did you go on your first flight in a plane? Florida.
10. Who was your first best friend and do you still talk? Whitney, probably? We're facebook friends.
11. Where was your first sleepover? No idea. Probably my cousin's house.
12. Who was the first person you talked to today? Craig.
13. Whose wedding were you in for the first time? Hmmm... I think my friend Jen from college. I think... I really can't remember. (I need what? St. John's wort? For memory?)
14. What was the first thing you did this morning? Fed Lila.
15. What was the first concert you went to? Dave Matthews
Yep, as the website states, we're in the process of going from, "regular to ripped in [almost] 90 days".
For the first few weeks, we just did the workouts and didn't follow the actual system. Now, we're in it to win it.
(smile)
Here's why we're doing P90X:
1. It's too hot to work out outside. 2. It's become a lot harder to get out of the house with the 'ole ball and chain (Lila) these days. 3. Gym memberships in lovely Cabo are over $100 a month per person. (And let's just say the gyms are somewhat lacking...)
So, our family room transforms into the "gym" around 5:30 p.m. everyday. Yep, while Lila naps in her swing, Craig and I begin kicking butt. (Note: Craig follows the schedule exactly because he has far more self-control than I do.)
It's hard. I mean, really - it ain't easy.
Have I lost weight? Yep. I'm still about 3-5 pounds from my pre-pregnancy weight. But, I also could probably see better results if I didn't eat 2 cupcakes and a mini coke for lunch. (I'm serious. Yesterday for lunch I actually consumed 2 cupcakes (one chocolate, one vanilla) for lunch and chased them down with a mini can of coca-cola. I think I'm looking for absolution.)
Craig didn't need to lose any weight, but he's already "tightened" up and his cardio has hugely improved.
That said, I'm all for this workout. The DVD collection is $140.00 and you get 12 DVDs. So basically you're paying $11.66 for each DVD. (Most workout DVDs are at least $20.00) Yes, you need a chin up bar if you're anyone but me -- I don't do those -- and you do need free weights and/or resistance bands and a yoga mat.
Bottom line: This workout kicks your male OR female butt. And, the instructor doesn't annoy me at all. However, I have started to loathe his co-worker-outers. (Specifically the women. They have TERRIBLE hair and wear half-shirts. Craig says it's because they're ripped. I think half-shirts are tacky no matter if you're ripped or not.)
I say go for it. Let P90X help introduce you to a new sore muscle every single day.
The epitome of chillin'. I mean, her legs are even crossed.
So, I keep trying to limit the number of photos I include in these here updates, but I just can't. I apologize. I hope your finger doesn't tire from the scrolling.
Q. What's Lila up to this week? A. I am not kidding you, I love being Lila's mommy. She is changing every.single.day. This week she really upped the ante on her babbling. In fact, she's started to sing herself to sleep, and of course she babbles to her Daddy quite frequently.
Here's a sneak peek:
She's also started actually facing OUT in her Baby Bjorn (she can hold her head up better) and she's definitely giggling and developing her cute little personality.
So far, she's a keeper.
Q. What has Lila discovered this week? A. She likes to bite her lips. She just figured this out. And, of course - she LOVES to suck on her hands. I hope she grows out of that before kindergarten.
Alrighty, it's kind of a late night and I'm tired - so on to the pictures. :)
--
I can't lie. I really want her to love this monkey. I bought it for her before she was born and I sort of love it. And I named it Mel, short for Melvin. (The name of my first cabbage patch kid.)
It appears that she's starting to love him.
Three-month-old babies still sleep quite often.
They smile a lot, too.
I love this face. It's the... I'm...about...to...smile...REALLY BIG face.
Like I said: she sleeps a lot.
This face kind of cracked me up. I'd like to call it her, "What you talkin' about, Willis?" face.
Kinda weird coloring in the photo, but how cute. She looks like a little denim-wearing constable from Mary Poppins.
Here's Lila hanging out with her cousins Bella and Chloe on Sunday night. Awww...
And here's Bella saying, "honk" when she touches Lila's nose. (hee hee)
For the grand finale, Lila recived the CUTEST swimsuit from her Tia A. and Tio. T. here in Cabo. HOW.CUTE. IS. THIS?
Dear Een, I feel that you are wonderful. Not only do you have the finest hair I've ever seen, you're beautiful and quite possibly the funniest, most intelligent woman I've ever met. -- I am so glad you were born. You know that everyone in our house loves you. We're all glad you were born. -- Love, ky
Years and years ago when I first met C, I met today's birthday girl. :)
Her name is Mickey. She is married to Craig's cousin and that makes us cousins. More importantly, we're friends. I love her. • • • • • Mick - you are kind and wonderful. Truly. You are thoughtful and so sincere. I am so glad you were born. h a p p y b i r t h d a y! Love and hugs to you. ky
Any show that features a full-out song and performance in the last 15 minutes is a show I can get behind. It's on Wednesdays at 9 on Fox. I think it's just cheesy enough and just off-beat enough. Yesterday's episode featured Beyonce's Single Ladies. You know that video right?
When I was pregnant that song came out and I told Craig that I really wanted to learn that dance. Taking into account my then-condition and my propensity for falling, we both decided that it would be better if I learned the dance postpartum.
That said. Glee reminded me that I need to get on it.
Craig said I should first learn it in tennis shoes.
He's probably right.
--UPDATE-- Thank you Erika Jean! THIS is hilarious!
2. Yesterday was my first day back at the office and I felt like "me" again. It was great. 3. Yesterday when I got home from work and picked up my Cupcake I felt like the "new" me. It was great, too.
Yay for employment. Yay for my Cupcake. Yay for Nutella. - Life is good.
Whose birthday is today? -- I'll tell you... He's related to me... He's kind and generous... He's strong and lovable... He's a fantastic Dad... And he's got a heart of gold.
Yes. You guessed it! It's my brother's birthday today. -- Happy Birthday, Brotha. I think you're great and I am so glad you were born. I love you to the moon and back.
When we were applying for Lila's social security card in Ohio, we had the good fortune (?) of going downtown to the main social security office.
During our 45 minutes waiting in line, I perused the many booklets that were available for the taking.
I appreciated this one:
Yes. "What Every Woman Should Know" --
I believe it covered everything from wearing white after Labor Day to what to do when you "become a woman". (Kidding.)
But seriously, isn't that awesome?
The next booklet that caught my eye... (pun intended) was this one:
The booklet says, "If You Are Blind Or Have Low Vision -- How We Can Help." --
Oddly, out of all of the booklets in the pamphlet rack there seemed to be a larger inventory of this one... Hmmm... I don't know why... I'm sure it has nothing to do with blind folks not being able to SEE it. -- I heart the U.S. of A.
So, in one of my read-about-your-baby books it told me that now that my child is 3 months old, I don't need to continue referring to her age in weeks. So, I am reluctantly telling people that, "My cupcake is 3 months old."
Q. How IS the Cupcake this week? A. She's vaccinated. (Gasp! Yes, we believe in childhood immunizations. If you care to hear my spiel, email me. If not, thank me now. I could go on and on about the importance of them, but I shan't.) We took her into the pediatrician's office and she was cute and happy...
then, well... not so happy after.
Lila in her crib post-Dr.'s appointment thinking:"UGH. Out.of.my.face, Mommy. Out."
Let's just say that the ear-piercing was a piece.of.cake compared to the flippin' shots.
I was holding her when she endured the first of the two shots and she honestly looked at me like, "WHY ARE YOU LETTING HER TRY TO KILL ME???"
I felt terrible.
Moving on.
Q. Is the Cupcake growing? A. Well, yes. Everyone tells us how long she is. (She is.) She's 25 inches long. (Let me break that down for you: that's TWO FEET and ONE INCH.) Clearly, the height comes from C.'s side.
She also weighs 12.8 lbs. That's nearly 4 more pounds than Ferg, who weighs in at an every-so-slight 9 lbs.
Big girl!
Q. What's Lila up to? A. This week, I think she found her voice. Not her political voice, but more so just her actual voice. She babbles a lot. Mostly to her Daddy. She talks and talks and talks to him... then I walk in the room and she hushes. They're already keeping secrets from me. Great. They're forming a duo. Well, I have Ferg. I'll always have Ferg.
Q. How's the sleeping going? A. Um. Amazing. We found our groove. She goes to bed around 8 p.m. Craig wakes her up and gives her a bottle at 11 p.m., then she sleeps until about 8 a.m. (YES!) And she takes a couple of naps during the day. Her middle-of-the-day nap is usually 2 -2.5 hours long. It's amazing.
Here's Lila having a morning nap in her bouncy seat. Ferg is standing guard. Like always. Well, maybe "sitting" guard.
Q. How am I doing? A. MY HAIR IS FALLING OUT. Yes. It's true. Apparently this is normal postpartum? I hate it. It's gross. Everywhere I go I have clumps of hair on my shirt. How gross is that?
Q. Can you believe you're the mommy of a 3-month-old child? A. No! And I know we haven't crossed the parenting finish-line, but I sort of feel proud of us. Proud that we've made it thus far. Everyone told me that the first few months of a newborn's life were just HEINOUS. Just sleep-deprived, nasty months.
I couldn't disagree more.
Yeah, in the beginning you're tired. Well, so is the baby. And yes, in the beginning you don't really know what you're doing. You're learning your baby's personality.
I think the past 3 months have been golden. They've been a treasure. I have absolutely and unequivocally been cool with my induction into parenthood. I think Lila came at just the right time. If you ask me, time is going by too quickly.
C. said that last week she held her own bottle while he was feeding her. Gasp. "Um, we've got that under control for you, Lila. ThankYouVeryMuch. We are your parents. YOU are the baby. WE take care of YOU."
My priorities have changed. My idea of a good time has changed. My heart has swelled.
I'm a blessed gal. Indeedy, I am.
Ok, here are the pictures from the week.
Look! Lila's holding on to the purple hippo on her chair!
...and yes, it still counts if I put her hand in the ring.(But she left it there and shook the hippo for like 5 minutes.That's something.Right?)
More Dr.'s office shots. (Pun not intended.)Gazing into her Daddy's eyes. Like always.
Smiling as C. takes out her pacifier.
Great shoes she wore to the Dr.'s office.
Hanging out. I love that look.
I think that's my nose.
Lila looked particularly cute this week in her headband.
I only took a million pictures.
Posing with Ferg.
Actually petting Ferg.
Smiling.
She's cute.
Enough. No more pictures. Please.
All the photography is exhausting.
Ferg had placed her purse and her tennis ball repeatedly next to Lila so that Lila would throw it. Lila STILL won't throw it. Ferg STILL gets annoyed.
She's getting big.
Sleeping with her Care Bears blanket from Aunt Wrestling Kitties. (I know, how cool is that blanket?)
And... she's out.
So am I.
kb
P.S. Lila has some videos on her youtube channel. (Of course she does.) They're short and sweet. Here's her channel. Feel free to make it a favorite: http://www.youtube.com/user/TwoPretzels Or, subscribe to it (top left-hand corner) and they'll email you when a new video has been uploaded. I like this one of Lila and Ferg.
It appears that a Michigan Mom who volunteers to watch her neighbors children for an hour before the bus picks them up for school in the morning is in violation of the law and the State wants her to STOP immediately...or apply for a daycare license.
