What is up there?!

So precious!

Things that make me go GRRRRR....

Leaving the Doctor's office today, I drove down Diversey, excited about the lunch I was about to devour.  I had decided that I would be treating myself to Qdoba... one of my favorite fast food joints (mexican - of course!).  They had just opened a new location, just minutes from my house so I decided to stop there for a bite on my way home.  I pull into the lot (another thing that is rare for Chicago... 1- a parking lot and 2-it being free parking).  As I scan the lot I see one open space... that is being blocked because some idiot cannot park correctly and instead is parked diagonally, taking up 2 of the 10 spots.  I was so enraged that I honestly debated going inside to ask who's crappy car it was.  I mean, I could understand if it was a nice car... I seriously would empathize with that driver.  This guy however... terrible car...  Total-piece-of-crap-car.   I also debated leaving a nasty note on his nasty windshield but I didn't.  Instead, I went inside and scored a table by the window... with just enough room for Ava and I.  This way, I could sneer at that jerk when he got into his clunker to pull out of the 2 spots.


As I sat there, stuffing my face with that glorious mexican concoction, I began to think of all the things that really get on my nerves... and then wondered if they would bother other people.  Which leads me to this post... I've decided to list some (because I could never think of ALL of them) of the things that drive me batty.  Here goes:

1. Homewreckers
2. Gum smackers
3. Slow drivers
4. Static Cling
5. Dog poo on the sidewalk
6. Opening up a toy for Ava, so excited to use it and realizing it doesn't come with batteries
7. Meter maids
8. People that stare
9. Stubbing my toe
10. People that talk with their mouth full
11. Drivers that text
12. People that cough without covering their mouth
13. My dogs beginning to bark as soon as Ava goes down for a nap
14. Drivers that don't use signals
15. The smell inside of cabs
16. Car salesmen
17. Insomnia
18. Having an empty wine glass
19. People that steal my fries
20. Bums begging for change when I stop to get my daily coffee
21. Dogs begging for food while I eat
22. Car alarms
23. Sitting in front of a loud popcorn eater at the theatre (I think this is my BIGGEST grrrrr)
24. Girl next to me on a cell phone while I'm trying to enjoy my manicure/ pedicure
25. People driving while talking on the phone
26. people that dont use punctuation
27. People that talk about themselves in the 3rd person on Facebook (you know who you are)
28. Tuna salad
29. Kanye
30. When my water or tea comes and there's a lemon wedge on the glass 

Now, I'm not one that likes to dwell on the bad... so I thought I would list some of my favorite things.  

1. The way Ava smells when she wakes up from a nap
2. The love of my life, telling me I'm beautiful
3. Sunshine 
4. The way Ava smells after a bath
5. Date night
6. Ava's facial expression when trying a new food
7. Dogs keeping my feet warm with their heads
8. The way I feel after a good workout
9. The way I feel when I skip a workout
10. Christmas Eve
11. The way Ava's morning breath smells
12. The smell at midnight mass
13. Hitting all green lights
14. Hearing Ava giggle
15. Ellen
16. Ava sleeping in my arms
17. New Carmex
18. New socks
19. Back rubs
20. The smell of baby powder
21. My wedding dress
22. When I try on my jeans and they're loose
23. Napping with Ava
24. Maui
25. Champagne
26. I love that Ava smells like cherry fruit roll ups
27. Puppies
28. Puppy breath
29. Starbucks
30. Not wishing for anything more than what I already have

Did you learn anything new about me?  Are you still awake?  :)  

Stupid buzzer on our dryer

Dear Ava- I wonder... is there a switch somewhere so i can turn off that obnoxious buzzer on our dryer?! It ALWAYS wakes you up... and for once, you're taking a nap that is longer than 30 minutes. Yep... you usually only nap for about 30 minutes. I don't complain about it because you're sleeping through the night... usually for about 11 hours. It is nice though, when you go down for a nap that is more than 30 minutes because it gives me the chance to get stuff done around the house. You're in your bed now, snoozing soundly. :) I hear you dreaming and stirring though... Looks like you'll be up and at em soon, ready to play!


I've been doing lots of shopping for our trip to Florida to visit Nana & Papa Jim. We're going down there from April 5-13th. You're going to be so stylish... I have nearly 2 dresses for you to wear each day.... and 3 swimsuits from Gymboree... and about 12 hats (of course you have a cowboy hat, silly!)!  We're getting our pics taken by Beth Wild (a friend of a friend). She takes AMAZING pictures!! We're going to have some of you by yourself, in all kinds of different outfits... and we'll do some family shots too. I can't wait!! She is so amazing!!  Beth Wild Photography  Best of all, we'll be nice and tan for the pics because she's taking them near the end of our trip.  Well you won't be tan... but your Dad & I will be!!  Ahh... to look human again!  I haven't had color since 2008.  NOT KIDDING!!  Last year, I was too worried about getting my tummy in the sun, considering you were stretching the skin so much!!!   So we're going to drive to Sarasota on that last day to have her take our photos.  Nana wants to come!!  Did I mention that Steph and Dulaney will be in FL too?  They're coming during the time that we're down there.  We're going to have so much fun with you girls!!  

This past weekend we got rid of our Crate & Barrell coffee table.  We had to.  It weighed about 200 lbs and was a huge piece of slate stone with sharp corners.  Given the fact that you're semi-mobile now, we're beginning to baby proof the big stuff.  As your Dad was taking it down the 3 flights of stairs (so we could put it in storage), he dropped the slate top and it broke into a million pieces.  He was so bummed.  He LOVED that table.  We didn't dwell on it though... I tried to put a positive spin on it and said, "Well at least you don't have to lug that big honker to the storage unit!".  So we went shopping for a new coffee table/ ottoman.  We found a leather one that the top flips up.  It's great because I can put your toys in it.  I am now in search of the perfect tray to put on top of it so we have a place for our drinkies.  :)  


Since you were born I've been working on keeping a journal about your growth, development... all the cute little things you do.  I've even put pics alongside the stories so you can one day look at it and have it as a keepsake.  I have a lot of grammatical errors and some stories need some elaboration, but here is a rough draft  The Story of Ava Jean