Bach To Reality

So, in case you haven't heard - I'm pregnant.  And in case you didn't know, the last time I was pregnant was 6 years ago! Holy cow - 6 years ago!! So, while it's great that I have a tub of maternity clothes and I didn't need to start from the beginning...some of my clothes are a little, well, outdated.    Take these nice flared, boot cut jeans.  Perfect for 2008.  2014 - er, not so much!   Don't mind the nosey dog or the spotty mirror...not sure why it photographed like that?   So, I did a little searching and - Ta Da! Pants fit for 2014!  Literally, all I did was take a pair of pants that currently fit me well (which is a challenge for my ever growing belly) and trace them.  Then I flipped the pants over, traced the back side, pinned the chalk lines, sewed, cut and done!  I'll admit - they aren't perfect.  The calves are great...but the thighs are still pretty loose and baggy.  I think th...

What a weekend! Friday we found out... That this little bean I have been incubating for the last 5 months is a little BOY! I still can not believe that we are having a boy.  My entire life has been girls. My sister and I. Which morphed into My Eleanor and I.  A Boy?  A Boy!   Eleanor's reaction was just heartbreaking.  She literally got tears in her eyes. She wanted a little sister so bad.  And I really wanted a sister for her.  I have an amazing relationship with my sister and I wanted that for Eleanor.    But the reality is, Eleanor is going to be a amazing big sister no matter who her sibling is.  And if anyone questions how strong the relationship can be between a brother and a sister, look to the two amazing men in my life that have both grown up with 2 older sisters.  Yup.  I think Big Sisters love their little brothers a lot!  And they can be as equally good friends.    I'm s...

Did you hear the news? Maybe you did... But did you hear how we told Eleanor?

I'm not really sure how it happened.  Or how it's possible. But somehow...this little peanut is going to Kindergarten in the fall!  She's all registered and ready to go! Look at her...doesn't she look too little to be going to Kindergarten? I don't blame you if you want to keep staring at that picture...because she is pretty darn cute!  And I get it. She grew up. And I'm so proud of the little person she is and that she is becoming. And she's SO ready for this next adventure. She's SO ready for Kindergarten. She's SO excited for Kindergarten. And now...now we just have to keep telling her that she doesn't get to GO to kindergarten until September! And now...well...eventually, E and I will get to go back to school clothes shopping! We'll go to Target and pick out her school supplies. And this year.  On day 1.  Andy and I will drop her off at SCHOOL (Yes, I'm sure we both will go...we are kind of helic...

Well.  I think it's safe to say that March has come in like a lion. It's freezing cold and we've shoveled at least 3 new inches of fresh snow off our driveway.  But it didn't stop us from having a great weekend! I got up on Saturday morning and ran.  For the first time in a long time, I ran and it felt AWESOME. Yes, I was on the treadmill.  Yes, I only did 2 miles.  But it was great and that's all that matters.  By 9:30 we were out the door and on our way to the movie theater.  Eleanor has been talking about the Lego Movie all week.  I think it's all about "peer pressure" in this case.  I don't think she really cared to see the movie, but all her friends have been talking about it at school, so, of course, she wanted to go see it.  Believe it or not, Eleanor doesn't really ask to go do a lot of things or ask for a lot of things, so this was something we could easily oblige.  And I mean, seriously!...

Usually, by this time of the month, I'm ready for the month to be over. I felt that way in 2011.  3 years ago. And I feel that way now.  Each day, leading up to this week is just another anniversary.  Another day for me to say, 3 years ago...X, Y, or Z happened. 3 years ago, my life ended. On February 22, 2011, my life ended. And the next day, I woke up. Eleanor.  Eleanor came running into the house. I had to be strong. And my life started up again. And I got through those next few days, sometimes sleep walking, sometimes not knowing what was going on, because of her.  Each day. Week. Month. Year. Because of.... for.... Her. 3 years ago today. The day I buried my husband. I got through because of her. And my dad.  My dad who held me during that service. And my mom.  My mom that can hug me like only a mom can hug me. And my sister. And my brother-in-law. And my nephews. Oh my nephews.  How they adore their uncle ...

Just in case you haven't heard - my mom retired on Thursday.  She's been working at the same company for the last 25 years and on Thursday, she finally joined my dad in retirement.    And I am BEYOND thrilled for her!  I'm just SO excited for my parents right now!  They've worked SO hard to get where they are and they deserve every single moment of greatness that comes their way.  They have been inspirational to me.    My mom's retirement has been the talk of the family for some time now.  So it got my sister and I to thinking and talking...what were we going to do for my mom for her retirement?    There are two things my mom really loves - her family and having them at her house.  (which is probably why my mom is always trying to get us to move back to Cedarburg!) So it just made sense to us to plan a sleep over at my parents.  Now, anyone can plan a sleep over - we wanted to plan a SURPRISE sleep over....