"Vacation" Recap

(I seriously need to spend more time thinking of creative post titles. Oh well)

I had a week off from work recently! Woohoo! You know how people always come back from vacation saying they need a vacation from their vacation? Well, I had that vacation after a vacation since I didn't go anywhere to begin with. I didn't have to spend time packing, making different arrangements, travel with a toddler, etc. Although getting to a tropical destination would have been nice.

I had originally planned to head to Texas during my week off. Definitely not the tropical paradise I would have preferred but visiting my best friend comes in a close second. But my Texas travel plans were nixed when my bestie told me she would be flying in ON MY BIRTHDAY! (That's another post) So we decided I could cancel my August plan to come out there and wait for her birthday in October.

So with the little one off with her grandparents at the river and no work, I began my week with no responsibilities! (Warning: This may very well be my most boring post)

Monday: Ok I lied..my vacation didn't start until after Monday because I had to go into work. But I did get to sleep in since I didn't have to get up and take the peanut anywhere. I also went to the gym after work. Again, nothing exciting or unusual, but it was weird not getting the little one from kid's club. I definitely felt like I was missing something all week.

Tuesday: Slept in, went to a new gym (hey, I'm single. I thought maybe I'd meet someone if I changed up the scenery). Laid out by the pool and read a book. I thoroughly enjoyed that. Later, had dinner with friends then a late night gym sesh with K-Rod (at another new gym). My goal for the week was to go to the gym everyday but two-a-day kicked my butt.

Wednesday: Repeat of Tuesday, but change dinner with friends for Wine Night with K-Rod after the gym. After going to the gym 5 times in 3 days, I was ready for a glass of wine and girl talk. K-Rod said she wasn't planning on closing the place down and reminded me she had work in the morning. I told her she forgot who she was talking to...the lightweight who is in bed by 10pm everynight. But clearly I forgot who I was going with. Miss Party herself. Of course we didn't have just one glass and we damn near closed the place down. I didn't mind because I didn't have work the next day. The whole night I was amazed at how many people were out. I kept thinking "Don't these people work?" I thought that same thing when I was at the gym and its crowded at 10am. Crowded bar or not, we had fun. Some guy told me I looked like I was married. Um...is that a compliment or not? Definitely not a pick up line.

Thursday: Definitely slept in and skipped the gym due to the previous night. I met up with K-Rod on her lunch break. She was hurting that day. hee hee. After lunch I got a call that my baby girl missed me and wanted me to come pick her up. I gladly obliged. There went my "no responsibilities" but I didn't care. I still had no work! We went home for a nap then over to Grandma's to visit since Grandma missed her too.

Friday: Back to reality (somewhat). Woke up on Carlee's time, did our normal Friday routine. Then Friday night her and I had a little date night. We headed to Brea Fest to check out the festivities. There was food, drinks, live music, and "kidsville". We spent time in the kid's area getting a balloon animal, decorating a cookie, standing in a loooong line for face painting only for nature to call when we get near the front. So no face painting for us. We called it a night shortly after that. There was only so much food we could eat and people watching to do. 

The rest of the weekend consisted of normal weekend activities...gym, stop by grandma's, birthday party, naps. Oh and I did get to sneak off to the movies too!


Monday came all too quick. Back to reality.


(I tried to upload a few pictures b/c blog posts are always 100% better with pictures, but I was having problems. So I decided to post without the pictures. I don't have the patience today. See, I told you it would be a boring post. Hopefully I'll have more excitement in my life soon!)

Weekend Getaway

This past weekend we packed our bags and headed to Grandma's house. We had the responsibility of house sitting and dog sitting. Ok so it wasn't the kind of weekend getaway I would prefer but we got to make a mess of grandma's house and she wasn't there to witness it. haha

We had a great weekend, just the two of us, that was actually tantrum free. Let's hope this is a breakthrough and the lovable, sweet girl that was present this weekend stays. I kind of liked her.

On a serious note though, it was great to have quality time with my daughter where we weren't dealing with tantrums. It's much easier on both of us when there is no screaming or crying. Maybe she knew she was going to be gone for a week, so she wanted to take it easy on me.

Over the weekend, we checked on Carlee's pumpkins. Yes, we're growing pumpkins. Carlee gets so excited when she checks on them and sees that they're growing. Can you tell by her smile?

We also had lunch at the park which Carlee always enjoys. I enjoy the nap she takes after playing so hard. She didn't even make it home before passing out. I don't know why she was biting her blanket but I did remove it right after I took the picture.

We also went to our friends' house to watch UFC fights. We always have fun because Carlee gets to play with her friends and Mommy gets to talk with her friends. Win win.

Carlee with her buddy... (her signature pose is now this hand on her hip)

When we weren't bugging Uncle or the dog, or dancing to Yo Gabba Gabba, we made funny faces...

Phew... dog sitting and house sitting is exhausting!

So true...

I like reading other blogs, especially blogs on parenting or rather the (mis)adventures from parents. I came across Message With A Bottle from another mommy friend and I had to laugh. This is one picture from this stay-at-home dad's blog:

All too often, I've felt like having a nice big glass of wine after a long day and after the kid's in bed. I'm sure other parents can relate. Or at least I hope so...please tell me I'm not the only one!

What am I going to do?

I have a week off of work coming up. The kid will be on vacation with her grandparents, cousins, etc. So what am I possibly going to do? Going on a vacation somewhere would have been my first thought but I lack somewhere to go and someone to go with.

So I've decided to do things I normally don't or can't do, like...

*Go to the gym every morning to start my day off right. (Sounds like a good idea, right? But "gym" and "vacation" don't usually go hand in hand. We shall see on that one)

*Go to the beach by myself, relax and read. I won't have to worry about getting home in time for a nap (unless its a nap for me).

*Go get a massage and maybe spend the day at a day spa! What doesn't sound great about that?

*Get a haircut. Its been a long time and I finally have the time to make an appointment.

*Meet my friends for Wine night one night. Actually this could be every night if I wanted (but that would affect my gym-every-morning goal).

*Maybe go to a museum!?

What else can I do? Here I'm worried about keeping myself busy especially with the little one gone (for the longest amount of time we've ever been away from each other too), when in fact I never have time where I don't have any responsibilities or nothing planned. I guess I should enjoy it! A vacation should be just that...a vacation!

Here's to planning it by ear and hoping I survive the week without the peanut!

Her Mother's Daughter

I took the following pictures of Carlee recently. She's such a ham and doesn't mind posing for the camera (most of the time). These pictures reminded me of a picture of myself when I was about the same age.

This sent me on a mission to find the picture in some old photo albums. This isn't the picture I had in mind but it will have to do. Apparently I have a few pictures of myself in my mom's heels. Just as I'm sure this won't be Carlee's only picture in my heels.

Going through old photos is one of my favorite things. Its great to have all those times in your life documented. Looking through all those old photos had me thinking about how much Carlee looks like me. Lately she's been reminding me of my brother (not sure if its the facial expressions, the attitude, or both). But after seeing old photos of me, she can definitely be my mini me.

Yep, she's her mother's daughter!

Recent Carlee-isms

Carlee is growing up too fast. Way.too.fast. I don't even have enough time to write down the cute (and not so cute) things she does. I need to make a point to write in the journal I've kept since she was born. I do once a month now. Any parent of a toddler knows how much they learn, do, and say in a month. I know I'm missing so many memories that I'd love to look back on and laugh at. So I figure if I document them here, my chances of remembering these times will be greater.


When Carlee isn't in her terrible two's and throwing tantrums, she is quite the character. She constantly cracks me up. I think I've told her that she's too much a few times because if I'm laughing at what she did, she'll say "I'm too much mom, huh?" Yes, Carlee. Yes you are.


Some of her recent things that made me chuckle:


*Yesterday my mom and I were talking about tattoos. My mom asked Carlee if Mommy should get a tattoo. Carlee said no. We asked if Grandma should get a tattoo. No. Then Carlee said "I want a pink tattoo." Of course she does.


*About 30 minutes after her pink tattoo comment, she pointed to her belly button and said "My belly button. I want a belly ring like Teta." What!? My not-yet-3-year-old is talking about tattoos and piercings. I swear she's 2 going on 13.


*Carlee's responses to my questions include "Absolutely," "Probably not," and "Sure can't." Where does she learn this stuff?


*Carlee has a fetish for sunglasses. Any store we go into, she wants to buy sunglasses. This kid needs a job.


* She also notices clothes on other people or in catalogs. She'll say "That's cute. I want that." I can't believe that starts at such a young age. But I guess she was doomed to be a girly girl and notice clothes between her mom and both grandmas.


*Carlee recently learned about green, yellow and red lights. As I'm approaching a red light, Carlee says "Mom stop. Mom. Stop. Stop. Mom." I have to explain that I need to get to the light before I can stop. Then when the light turns green, she says "Now go." Thanks Carlee, my little back seat driver.


*Carlee is all about her birthday. She knows the date. When she wants a toy, she says she wants it for her birthday. She even talks about other people's ages and birthdays. She knows her cousin Sydney will be "two in July!" She knows she will be 3 in October. But then she asks "How old will Sydney be in October?" That always makes me laugh.


Here are some random pictures from my phone that usually don't get uploaded or printed...

laying out by the pool

Carlee bugging the dog as always

Carlee and her buddy playing in the toybox

On the swing at Grandma's

Researching for birthday presents

Just woke up from a nap and all smiles

Last but not least...Carlee and mommy playing with the camera settings on the phone

It's not good bye...

...it's "See you later!"

At least that's what I've been telling my best friend (and myself). My best friend of 13 or so years was planning to move to Texas. She has talked about it and plans were in the making, but even when the plans were confirmed it didn't seem real.

It was going to be an adjustment for everyone. My friend and I talk and text daily, see each other several times a week, and of course Carlee will miss her Teta! So as her moving day approached, we refused to get sad. Instead we celebrated her and this new chapter in her life.

Tet, myself, and J at Lucky Strike for the "friends" going away party...

Some pictures with the bestie...

Carlee loves her Teta!

Carlee "talks" to her Teta almost every day on her play phone. When I ask her about her "conversation". She tells me Teta is in Texas and that Teta is getting her a toy from Texas. (So T, you better bring her something when you visit or you'll have one upset kid). =)

T, we wish you the best! We miss you already and we'll see you later!!