This and that....

A few random thoughts this Thursday morning.....

1. Ok, so I'm reallllllllly late to the party, but I'm in love with Mad Men. Thank you Netflix! Not sure why I waited so long, but I'm on Season Two and man, I'm hooked!! What a GREAT show. Tyler and I both agree, we were so born in the wrong era.... LOVE the sixties. Well minus all the adultery and belittling of women..... which arguably might be all that Mad Men focuses on, but still just the same it's a good show.

2. Ford has gotten all snuggly lately and I'm totally in love all over again. He's always cuddled, but almost accidentally. Now he crawls over to me, climbs in my lap and then nuzzles his sweet little head into my chest-- my heart melts. Love my little. 

3. Despite the fact that I'm loving all my cozy time with Senor Ford, I'm not loving the mini tantrums he's starting to throw when he doesn't get his way... He's got this little repetitive cry/whimper, you know like an "I'm not getting what I want, so I'm going to cry until you give it to me" kinda cry that he does, over and over, and over again..... it's kinda driving me up a wall.

4. I'm really lacking in blog content lately. Some jerk posted some not so nice things anonymously (or not so anonymously since I know EXACTLY who it is) and it's kinda made me second guess what I post. Sad.

5. Ford's first birthday is less than two months away and I cannot decide if I want to throw THE first birthday party of all first birthday parties, or if I just want something low key..... I've been going back and fourth, back and fourth, back and fourth. Darn Mommy guilt.

6. My girlfriends and I are supposed to start planning our second annual girls trip, I just REAAALLY don't want to plan it this year.... So, who's going to take over???? (That's a hint ladies!)

7. We finally planned our beach trip! YAY! I'd be lying if I told you that my motivation to get skinny, skinny (healthfully obviously) has nothing to do with the two hot Mama's who are coming too! JK, sorta :)

8. Also, I'm pretty excited that the other two fam's were vacationing with each have a baby boy, one is two months older than Ford, and the other is one month older than Ford. Not only that, but the men are Tyler's old KA brothers from Florida State. Hopefully this beach trip becomes a tradition because of course NO brainwashing of which University or which fraternity the boys should be in will happen AT ALL :) So fun!

9. Montana's hair and her general "doggy neediness" pretty much drive me up a wall on a daily basis. However, I couldn't ask for a better companion for my monkey of a child, just look at this.... so sweet. She's just so patient. Love.

10. And finally, Ford has decided that whenever he eats, he really likes to "wear" his food. In fact, his new thing is rubbing it all over his head? Any tricks to make him cut it out Mama's out there? The gooey spikes are cute and all but it kinda smells  after awhile. Help? :)

Hope your all having a great day!

Splish splash Ford was taking a bath......

Brain Dump Thursday!

1. Tyler made me an amazing Valentine's Dinner Tuesday night. I may, or may not have eaten the leftovers off the bone for lunch.... Seriously people, I couldn't inhale fast enough....I heart lamb chops.

2.I am co-hosting a baby shower for one of my girlfriends back home in March. I had every intention of hand addressing the Baby Shower invitations BUT it takes me forever and since it's right around the corner and I just figured out how to download cool fonts, I caved. They still turned out super cute but I feel like a cheat.

3. For Valentines Day, Tyler surprised me and got a babysitter all day Saturday so we could go to Fredericksburg and hang out (for those of you that don't live in TX- that's Texas Wine Country!); unfortunately the rain chance is 40%, so we're probably going to reschedule. Secretly (hah, or not so secretly) I'm kind of relieved. Although I'm "jonesing" to check this place out, I'm REALLY ready for a-- do absolutely nothing kinda weekend. We've been slammed lately!

4. Tyler's going out of town next week and I'm thinking of hosting a Crafts and Cocktails get together for some of my lady friends, let's see if I can get organized enough..... Here's to hoping.....

5.  I ran three miles yesterday morning and NEVER stopped. I know for all you marathoners out there, thats like nothing, but for me, that's HUGE! Here's the nerdy part.... after that, I walked to the ladies locker room with a little extra pep to my step... I felt buff :).

6. It only took nine and a half months, but I finally swiped my car mirror on the side of the garage. All my neighbors told me it would happen (we all have realllllly narrow garages).... and it finally did, ARGH!

7. Sign up for my first choice of school's for Ford is next week--it's a MDO/Pre-school at a local Church. Starting in September, Ford will go two days a week for a few hours. That is, if I can get him in! Being an only child AND a boy I think it's important to provide him with some time to socialize with a large group of kiddos! But geesh,  people in TX are crazy about their MDO/Pre-school programs, supposedly they camp out to claim a coveted spot in this program.....

8. Speaking of Ford, he's like five seconds away from walking... This Mama is SO not ready! Any last minute tips??? Also, outdoor activities--- besides a swing, any other suggestions for cool outdoor toys for a ten month old? I want to get this creeper outside more!

Have a great Thursday, thanks for stopping by! 

How do you know?

So, this blog post has been floating around in my head for quite awhile; but even as I begin, I'm struggling to find the right words, but here goes, for better or worse, I'm going to try....

Motherhood is a weird job. But even more so, for me, this SAHM thing is even weirder...

When I was working, I was a hard worker; someone who obtained measurable goals frequently. I would even go as far as to say that I went above and beyond the expectations of my employers and peers. How do I know this?  Well, just like, I'm sure, most of you, when I did well, I received praise and compliments for the work I performed. Outside of work, I volunteered for various non-profits, and even helped start a Young Professionals Group in my hometown, which also did very well and still exists today. I was a go getter, super social, super busy, super organized etc. etc. I knew I was doing well.

Fast forward to today and for the most part, I feel like I'm all over the place. I'm still super busy; but put together? No. Organized? Not the way I want to be. Super Social? Egh, sorta? It's just weird: it's a work in progress. My drive to do well is still there and in my head I know I'm working my tail off.....but..... I don't feel that sense of accomplishment? That sense of "Wow, I knocked that one outta the park."

I think what drives me the most crazy with this whole SAHM gig is that I don't really have any tangible evidence to measure my job performance..... I no longer have bosses telling me I did well, or an event that goes off without a hitch (for those of you that don't know- I was an Event Planner in my former life) or a bonus, to say your kicking a*@! Being a SAHM is sort of weird like that? And really, do I need my husband to come home and say, "Gee honey, you've got mad vacuuming skills, way to go"!? Not really.

Obviously, my husband tells me when I make a good meal or when the house looks clean. And sure,  Ford's smiles and giggles tell me that he knows he's loved. And of course, when he does something on schedule like crawling or standing it tells me we're doing all the right things as parents. But should these things be a cue to me that I'm, "knocking it outta the park?" I'm not so sure. So, if I don't want the affirmations from my husband and the typical cues aren't enough.... How am I supposed to know I'm doing a great job it right?

I guess my newest struggle as a SAHM is finding ways to measure the job I'm doing? Am I being a good mother? Am I being a good wife? Did I spend enough time with each of my boys? Did I make each of them feel special and loved? Does my husband still think I'm as awesome as he used to? Does my son think I'm the best Mommy ever? Etc. Etc. Etc.

I mean really.... HOW DO YOU KNOW!!?!?!?!?

So the point of this long, drawn out, probably makes no sense blog posting..... IS.... 

All you Mommies out there, how do you know, that what you do, matters???

Midweek Confessions....

Linking to E, Myself and I today to participate in her weekly Link Up Party- Midweek Confessions.....

So here are a few brutally honest "truths," floating around my head this week....

1. There are three bodies in my bed at night..... And by that I mean, I'm still sleeping with a maternity pillow. Is that bad? I just can't quit it! I love it! It's sooooo comfy and snuggly and it never complains that I'm too hot or that I'm smothering it. I figure it's a win, win.... right?

2. I've got the Victoria Secret Swim Catalogue on my nightstand because I feel like I'm too old to cut out a picture of a chick in a bikini and post it to my fridge for weight loss motivation..... Therefore, it's sitting on my nightstand, probably laughing at me.....

3. My child has started this whiney cry thing, it appears that it may be the beginning of a temper tantrum. He doesn't do it with his Dad, just me.... So today on our way home from Baby Boot Camp, I turned the radio up.... Yep, bad Mom over here.

4. I am having a really hard time learning to say "No." We've got so much going on and it's hard to pick and chose what I want to be involved in and what I don't. I need to learn to "date" new friends, new projects etc. before jumping in and adding something else to my to do list. If I'm being really honest, I'm kinda overwhelmed lately.

5. I'm kinda "Jones-ing" for some of my Florida friends to come and visit us! Hubby and I have made a gazillion trips back home but now we're absolutely dying for some of our friends to make a point to COME AND VISIT US....... just a very small, small, small hint people!!!!

So, those are my midweek confessions.

What about you? How are you fairing this week?

Seriously.....

Weren't you eating rice cereal for the first time like, yesterday??? 

SERIOUSLY stop growing up so fast! 

Recovering.....

Note to self: Don't wait five years after the dentist tells you to get your wisdom teeth

 out to actually do it, chances are they'll be impacted and well... it just hurts more!

Snuggled in bed with the Little

I'm back.......

From the best girls trip evvvvvvvvvverrrrrrr!

We toured the city

Went to yummy restaraunts

"Attempted" to be on the today show, hence the Lilly scarves in the dead of winter.
Not warm at all, but super cute!

Went to a secret bar inside of a Pawn Shop (thanks Rach and Lauren)

Tasted yummy cocktails 

Ate yummy food from Food Trucks! 

And just enjoyed each other

All and all, I'd say this trip was perfect! Just the right amount of time and the right amount of fun! Just what this Mommy needed!

But now, it's time to get cracking, I've got gifts to make/buy, luggage to pack, and last minute errands to run! Because the Deneault clan is headed to Florida in exactly one week!

busy.busy.busy

I'm in a New York State of Mind.....

It's a little nuts here in the Deneault household! We've been busy busy bees! We hosted Thanksgiving, Ford started crawling, Tyler left to go hunting, I'm trying to pack for Florida AND on top of all that.....

In exactly THREE days I am going on my first official, "big girl" Girls Trip. Meaning, it's not for a shower, a bachelorette or a birthday..... it's just because we want to!!!! (And our hubbies are sweet). Not to be dramatic, but I can't even find the words to describe how excited I am! First it's with three of my besties who are so much fun! 

I'm super preggo in this pic!

 And second it's in my favorite place of all time--- New York City!!!!! I am super excited to eat, drink, see a show, shop and just take in all the Christmas Delight that NYC has to offer!!!

I'm a little anxious to leave Senor Ford BUT I know he'll be in good hands. This will be Daddy's first time "alone" with Ford for an extenuated period, hopefully (cross your fingers!) it goes well :).  

Happy Monday!

Mommy's Wish List......

Dear Santa,

I'm pretty sure you know about all the small stuff I would like this Christmas, like pjs, L.L bean tote bags, automatic wine opener, coffee table books, workout clothes, a new robe, and maybe a new collar for Tana, but in case you were wondering what would throw me over the moon in excitement here are a few ideas. Of course, I don't want everything on my list, but wanted to give you a bunch of ideas.... just in case you were wondering...... 

I really want to finish my collection of barware from William Sonoma,

 in case they ever decide to discontinue it. I still need the following:

here, here, or here

I'm trying really hard to eat healthy and work out six days a week! As you may know, my 2012 goal is to run the San Antonio Rock N' Roll Marathon, this heart rate monitor would be greeeeaaaaat!

via


I'd really like this frame, but in a key lime color, in the largest frame they have (30x40) for above our mantel. I think it would be absolutely adorbs. Please disregard the price tag. Santa, this could be an heirloom...... (heeheee) 

via

I am in love with this beautiful monogram necklace; however, my husband thinks it'll make me look like Puff Daddy ( you know- the rapper), but I don't care. I think it's cute!

via

I'd really like this Silhouette Machine. Why? Because then I could label everything, not to mention make cute cards, etc. And let's be honest I'm a crafting freak.

via

And this North Face, well, I've wanted one since I can remember and now that I'm a Mom and in and out of the house as much as I am, this would be a great jacket to throw on as I race out the door- just saying :)

via

And finally, Light Brown Revas..... why do I need this expensive of a shoe.... honestly...... well honestly, no reason at all, other than I realllllllyyyyyy like them.....did I mention I've been REALLY good this year?????!?!?!?! 

via

And just because....

via

Like I said Santa, you've always been reallllyyy good to me, but I just wanted 

to give you a few ideas, in case you found yourself stumped :)

Making a list and checking it twice......

Yep, we're off to do the big Thanksgiving "run," today! Crossing my fingers I don't forget anything because going to the grocery store any day after today sounds like a NIGHTMARE!!! We've got eight adults and six kiddos this year! Mama's going to be cooking her little heart out! But quite honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way- CAN'T WAIT!!!!

T- 2 days until family starts arriving!