Ten on Tuesday

1. I had a spectacular mother's day. I know last year was my "first" one but this year was my other first one since Rylee Rose was here to celebrate with us. We had everyone over for a spectacular potluck brunch that was SO delicious. Then my mom and I went to the casino where we both left with more money than we came in with!! YAY! Then I headed home to hang out with Rylee and Paul and then had Arby's for dinner.

2. I have officially cheated four times on my no eating out month. Olive Garden, Pedro's, Barro's Pizza and Arby's. Not too bad I don't think! I have also been trying not to double meals that I have already eaten this month as well. That's going good so far...although it's only been 12 days :o) I am going to list them all at the end of the month so if something sounds good, let me know so I can type up the recipe for you! I think we should do a Food Frenzy Friday or something like that where we type up a recipe of a favorite for everyone to see. We could all get new ideas every week. So fun I think! I think I might try it and see if it catches on! Wouldn't everyone like a little variety from their 5 go to meals that they always make?!? I know Paul wouldn't object! HA!

3. If any of you readers out there get the Sunday paper and still have it and have my address, there is a coupon for Similac formula in there for $2.00 off. Would you please send me this if you have a stamp lying around? I am trying Rylee on a new formula and this formula is more expensive than the other special one she is on so anything will help! (Thanks!)

4. I really do feel bad that I didn't breastfeed Rylee but I seriously did try! (A lady even came and manhandled my boobs a few times!) Now I am feeling bad that I am not making her solid foods from scratch! Am I just sending chemicals into her body that aren't good? Or am I just smart and preparing her for all the McDonald's and Peter Piper Pizza she is going to eat in the future?! Because we all know that those places ingredients are "peas and water, squash and water, etc, etc. :0) (By NO means am I saying these two places serve BAD food for kids, they were just my example because I KNOW Rylee is going to be eating plenty of it!)

5. I LOVE that you can go into Old Navy with receipts from the prior 14 days and they will give you money BACK if the prices on the items have gone down! AWESOME. Oh wait there is a catch....you have to go INTO the store to do this. Here is my downfall. The cashier gives me $16.00 in CASH back for all my price adjustments so I turn around and go back into the store to do MORE shopping. DUH! Of course they are going to give you money back while you are in the store....suckers like me are just going to turn around and spend more than that while they are in there!! Ugh....Old Navy and I have a Love/Hate relationship!

6. 12 days and 2 hours left of school for the year! Wahoo. Now my dilemma is how do I get Little Miss Smiley Rylee to sleep past 5 a.m. now that I don't need her to wake up at 5 a.m.? She is always in there half unswaddled with a big happy smile ready to go! I am betting that she is not going to want to be re-swaddled and rocked back to sleep.....NOPE! She is ready to P-A-R-T-Y!

7. Yesterday, Rylee had a different babysitter/nanny (still haven't come to a conclusion on this debate yet). Although she did so well and Amy just had a WONDERFUL time with her, I was still nervous all day. This had NOTHING to do with the fact that WHO she was with, it was all about Rylee. Will Amy know her schedule? Will she know what her cry means? Will she know how she likes to be fed? Amy would definitely be my second choice if Inez ever couldn't watch her and I am now glad I have a back-up, but I just sat and worried all day. I wonder if Rylee is really SO good for all these people too or if they just don't want to tell me? Paul and I think she is the greatest thing since sliced bread but is it really to good to be true that all these other people think so too?

8. It makes me so happy that SO many people are willing to watch Rylee for me. I LOVE that she is so flexible and will be good for ANYONE(so i am told)! She is just SO loved!

9. I entered a FABULOUS contest and find out Friday if I am a finalist! I would be SO, SO, SO happy if I won!! I will keep you updated but for now, say a little prayer that I am one of the five finalists!!

10. As much as we have to complain about, I love to just sit back and realize that I am completely happy with my life! Yes I might not love my house, but at least I have a house to live in! Yes, I might not like the location, but at least it's where we are literally surrounded by our families. Yes, co-pays and doctors might be expensive but at least we have jobs that provide insurance to help! (Could you imagine what it would be withOUT it?!?) Yes, Rylee might have a scar on her head, but at least she is here to play, laugh and giggle with us! (And give her a few years and I predict some long, curly, strawberry blond locks to flow right over that scar! Yup...you heard right...I am going with RED and CURLY!) :o)

I guess some days it just hits you and you realize that the little things don't really matter! You always have home and families to come back to!