Busy Bee and my December Birchbox

Whew! It has been a busy day... I am in the middle of my pillow project after crying about cutting Ava's baby outfits.  I suddenly regretted cutting her coming home outfit, even though it was stained in the front.  Plus it made me think about how little she was, and how much she has grown this past year.  Oh how I adore her and everything about her!

I also started a pantry renovation project that I will share soon... but for the next few days, I have a little girl that deserves her mama's attention... right now her job is to be my baby, and my job is to be her mama.  Only a few more days till I go back to work, so I need to soak up all my Ava to last me until Spring Break!


In the meantime... here is my December Birchbox for the fellow product lovers out there.   I love to stalk in a non-creepy way follow the advice of Kate at The Small Things, so when she recommended that the product junkies out there try Birchbox... I was in like Flynn.  Whoever Flynn is.  So I got the November Birch Box, and enjoyed the concealer and the face wash (though it is a bit drying)... but then cancelled because I decided I didn't need a bunch of samples.

Then December rolled in, and Joe (aka my Jack, Mr. Sprat) and I decided no gifts to each other for Christmas.  So of course I re-enrolled.  Long story short, the shipment was delayed due to a snafu with Birchbox's suppliers, so I just got my December box...  here is what I got this month:

I now have this cute lip gloss from Jouer (it does not look that pink when on) which is a pretty little pop of color.  And I LOVE Oscar Blandi's dry shampoo.  I have the powder form, which works wonders for Day 2 hair... and am really excited for this spray form.

The next time I am in 'da clubs, I can use the Show Stoppers.  Just kidding, actually I think for us busty ladies, it would be great for button down shirts, to stop that peekaboo gap, or I have a dress with ruffles in the front that reveals a bit too much when I am sitting down.

I already drank the Boost, and it is sort of like Emergen-C... meh, I liked it but wouldn't need a box for $28 bucks when Emergen-C is $9.99.

The Ambre Nue is not my scent... and actually Joe and I were having trouble deciding if it was a men's fragrance since they call it cologne.  But no, it just is a stronger smell that is not quite my scent personality.

Finally, the bronze shimmery dry oil, for face OR hair.  Hmmm... I guess when I am clubbin' I could glisten.  But I forgot again I don't club anymore (uh, or ever?).  Because I am now a coug... or at least a panther. Rawr.  But really, I think I will give it a try and see if it makes my hair shiny, and then give it a whirl next time I go to the movies in case it looks scary.

Ok... time to stop messing around in blog-land, and go read an actual book!  I have to finish it by Saturday in order to accomplish my Goodreads goal of 52 books this year!  I better giddy-up! (I don't know what is with my awesome slang tonight... I think I am tired.)

I'm Thankful

I had ambitions for today... a mommy & baby trip to Starbucks, a little trip to the store, some playtime outside, a head start on the Thanksgiving cooking, and wrapping up the laundry and cleaning.  But we got to none of it because today was one of those days... one of those days where Ava needed a lot of extra snuggles, a lot of holding, a lot of answers to "That?", a lot of... well, Mommy.

But I have to say, that even though I didn't get anything done, I am so thankful for days like today.  I'm thankful that I have a beautiful daughter who is getting too big too fast, I'm thankful that she wants me and needs me to comfort her, I'm even thankful that she is getting into everything... I'm thankful that she empties out the cabinets, runs around with all of our plastic cups, throws our plastic silverware on the floor, and wants to know what "that" refrigerator is, "that" cookbook is, "that" gourd is, and so on.

I am so thankful that she marches her little chubby legs around in circles when she is "dancing", that she can't run yet, so when I say "I'm gonna get you!" she just shrieks with laughter and sticks her belly out farther while trying to get those little legs to move faster.  I'm thankful that when she is playing, she pauses to make sure I'm nearby, looks at me with those eyes that are so much like her Daddy's, smiles, and goes back to playing.  I'm thankful that she could spend hours diving into cushions and pillows, or rocking in the chair.  I'm thankful that she loves to look at books with me, and smirks at my funny voices.  I am thankful that she still fits in the sink for baths, especially when it is spaghetti night, and she wants to do it all herself.

I am so thankful for every precious moment with her, because I know that time is moving quickly.  Someday soon, she will no longer be my little babycakes... and I will be thankful for the little girl she has become.  But for now, I cherish all the things she does that make her "little" and thank God for the days that don't go as planned.

Proud Momma Minute

October 15th was Ava's first step... and now, a month later she is walking all over the place. She is just so much fun.... I cannot believe what I was missing out on before she came to us.  I thank God everyday for all of the joy she has brought into our lives!

Sometimes it socks you in the chest...

"It will get easier," "Pretty soon you won't even think about it anymore."
This is what everyone told me nine months ago when I started to go back to work after having Ava. I still remember walking into the babysitter's house, her taking a look at me and asking, "Are you ok?" and me taking a deep breath trying to calm myself and bursting into tears. I had a meeting that morning as soon as I got to work. Everyone was excited to see me... was happy that I was back, but my friend took one look at me and ran over to give me a hug as I stood there with tears streaming down my face, silently sobbing.

And everyone was right. It got easier, but everyday around lunch I start to miss my little girl. Too bad the workday can't be a half day everyday... the summer came, and I am lucky enough to have two months off before having to go back to work. But those two months mean that I have to go through that adjustment period all over again.

Most days I am fine. I know Ava loves going to daycare, she doesn't cry when I leave, and she really enjoys playing with her little friend. I feel fortunate that she is in a daycare where it is just her and another little girl just 4 months older than she.

But today, for the first time, after I set her down and she toddled away, she looked back at me and toddled right back for a little hug. It melted my heart and just sort of socked me in the chest, thinking about how big she is getting, and how much I still hate to leave her.

Bathtime Fun