Blogger's Guilt?

There is a lot of tragedy out there in blogland.  So much that I sometimes feel guilty posting about my mundane life.  In fact, I'm scared to comment on the normalcy of my life, for fear that I will somehow 'jinx' myself and find tragedy 24hrs from now. 

That can still happen.  Tomorrow isn't a given.  It happens to anyone at anytime, and a lot of bloggers out there are dealing with life cut short, or life altered in such a way that I can only imagine. 

The blogs that touch me the most are those that deal with children. Being a mom changes you and the protective "Mama Bear" instinct comes out, whether it's your child or not. Plus, being in that stage of my life, it's who I am and what I can relate to the most. It's easy to feel empathy for those that are suffering where children are concerned.

I don't go searching for these blogs.  They are friends. Or friend of friend of friends.  They are linked with net searches for everyday life questions.  For example, I was looking for a "how-to" on royal icing, and came upon a blog about two siblings needing organ transplants.  WTH?!?!  Of course I read it and was touched immensely by this family's on-going journey to save their little ones.  It's heartbreaking, and yes, I don't have to read them, but I do.  I think I owe it to the children, to their parents, to read it if I stumble upon it.  If my reading it makes the loss/illness of their child less in vain, perhaps by educating myself, than so be it.  If makes me hug my children a little tighter.  To appreciate my family that much more.  To offer my prayers.

Still, I can't help but feel like my blog isn't worthy of your time because I'm not suffering some tragic event.  I pray that I never have to blog about stuff like that.  I'm sure those same moms would rather blog about the mundane, so-so existence of their lives.  I'm sure they would trade their entries with mine (or anyone elses) anytime, to get back the child that they lost, or to cure their sick baby.  I mean, who wouldn't? 

Well, it's taken me forever to even post this.  Still worried about jinxing myself.

I guess life is all about risks.  So here goes nothing.  I love my family & friends.  That's all one can do, right?   



 

I'm Still Here

I've been a busy bee lately.  No excuse, just saying.  In my line of work, Spring is our "Christmas" so it's a happenin' time for us. 

I've also been getting a ton of orders for my Flower Clippies and I couldn't be happier!  I know M is too, because it means my supply of crafty shtuff is gradually leaving the premises!   I've decided I'm going to take my earnings and buy myself a new camera.  Some people spend their money on jewelry, Coach bags, Prada shoes, etc... I spend mine on cameras.  Currently, I have three.  I love taking pictures.  Always have, since I was a kid with my polaroid camera.  I would line up my Cabbage Patch Kids against different backdrops and take their pictures.  So that's what I'm working towards. It's good to have a goal. :)  Meanwhile, please become a fan of The Pampered Pea on Facebook and support my addiction! :) 

Happy Valentine's Day; What a weekend!

I hope everyone had a great day with their Sweethearts.  My day was almost like any other Sunday, but still nice to be with my sweeties.  All three of them! 

On Saturday, P1 made me breakfast in bed.  It was an interesting breakfast, to say the least!  The menu consisted of Gold Fish Crackers, Yogurt, applesauce, blueberries, pepperoni and a Sprite Zero!  All items she could find in the fridge/pantry that she could reach and that she could make.  She even made me a little card. :)  Love that little girl.

While she and I was munching on my breakfast, her sister started crying and she went to go get her for me.  When she brought P2 back, she was a mess.  There was a big dried pile of snot crusted to her nose, her hair looked like she had something in it, and I noticed she smelled really sour. It quickly became apparent to me that she had vomited on herself.  I took her from P1 and walked back to her room to change her and that's when I saw the mess.  All over her bed was semi-dried vomit which looked like Friday's lunch and dinner. :(  A lovely mix of blueberries, apples, broccoli, carrots, and cauliflower.  Yummmm Yum.    I'm SOOO thankful to God that she didn't choke in her sleep from this.  It upset me that she didn't cry enough to wake us up, if at all, and she ended up sleeping in it.  Poor baby.  I felt so bad for her.  She was running a slight fever and after she got a bath, she got some Tylenol and she slept for a good while in the morning.  I kept her meals light to repeat a second episode, but she's been doing fine ever since. 

Back tracking a bit, Thursday and Friday we had a major snow storm.  It broke all kinds of records here since it NEVER snows more than maybe an inch or two a year here.  I think when all was said and done, we got something like 11in. Insane!!  Needless to say, school was closed on Friday so it meant I got a three day weekend with my girls!  SWEET!!! As I type this, we still have snow outside.  On Thursday we all got to play in the snow for a bit.  M and P1 made a HUGE snowman, and P2 got to see & feel the snow falling on her and she just had this look like 'what is THIS?!'  It was fun, but so cold!

So now it's Sunday and most of the day was spent preparing for the week.  My wonderful husband & girls surprised me with two clips and a charm for my Pandora bracelet!  He also made us a scrumptious dinner of snow crab legs, shrimp, red potatoes, corn, and garlic cheese bread!! 

Melody, my cat

I know I blogged about when my beloved Melody vanished shortly after P2 was born, but I can't remember if I posted pics of her or not.  When I was looking through some photos here on my laptop, I ran across what I'm pretty sure are the last pics I ever took of her.  Keep in mind, she had always been an indoor cat and these photos were obviously taken outside.  The second to last time she ran away from home, I was in the back taking pics of P1 and around the corner came Simmy!  Since I had my camera handy, I couldn't resist.  I'm so thankful now that I have these last few pics of her.  I miss you, Sim Cat.

This is Groban, P1's Brat Cat.  You can tell by this pic that he's just rotten!

Just call me Martha

For as long as I can remember, I've always been into crafts and making unique, personalized gifts for people.  When I married and had my first daughter, that crafty gene grew more intense and I found myself living at Michaels and making anything I could get my hands on.

Besides my love of photography & scrapbooking, making custom invitations & holiday/greeting cards, I also make diaper cakes and more!  I have a fan page on FB!  Please become a fan of The Pampered Pea!

I've been asked here recently (shoutout, Kari!) where I get P2's bows/headbands.  Well, I make them.  The bows anyway. I buy the headbands and make the flowers seperately so you can mix & match.  The pics in my previous post show P2 wearing a purple flower and a pink flower.  I made both of them.  I haven't had a chance to get more supplies, but my next collection is going to be something special! Now with Spring approaching, there should be a plethora o' colors at my disposal!

Here are a few of my recent creations (PS, I do take orders!  They are $6 for the flower and the headband together and I ship for FREE!)

Picture Post!

Just because mommy loves her girls!

Busy weekend & Awesome news X 3!!!

The weekend started off GREAT!!!!  I came into work on Friday and found two long stem red roses on my desk!  That made my morning since I LOVE roses!  They were leftover from media kits that the Marketing Dept sent out, but still...free roses are free roses!  :)  Flowers always make me happy. 

Around 2pm that day, I got a call from my wonderful husband who informed me that
HE GOT THE PROMOTION!!!!!!!!!!!
A while back he interviewed for another position and oddly enough, we were hoping he WOULDN'T get that position (which he didn't) but it did set the ball rolling for the promotion that he DID get!!!  After 8yrs of service with this company, I know he feels a sense of recognition & praise for it. He FINALLY made it into management!!!!  Along with it, it comes with a personal use vehicle AND a 16% raise.  It's a blessing, let me tell you.  With the economy like it is and with another child in daycare, it's been pretty tight at our house.  Now I think we will have a little wiggle room.  Here's hoping anyway!  

We're all so proud of him and all that he's accomplished!  I'm going to host a little soiree for him soon!  Can't wait!! 

That was great news #1.  Now great news #2....
AMY and the Twinks (and J too) are COMING TO TEXAS!!!!!!!!!!
I've 'known' Amy online for two years now.  We were trying to conceive at the same time and had our share of disappoint month after month while waiting for our little miracles.  She helped me realize that I wasn't alone through it all and I knew I could always count on her to cheer me up and keep me positive for the next month.  It was only fitting that we found out we were pregnant exactly one month apart from each other. I was due in May '09 and she was due in June '09.  Amy, being the over-achiever that she is, had to out-baby me and get preggers with TWINS!!!   During my struggles with a complicated pregnancy, she also had some complications (requiring bedrest and hospital lockdown) and I think that brought us closer too.  Well last spring, in true Amy fashion, she had her twinkies early in April and I had P2 at the beginning of May.  It's funny that our girls are only 6 days apart.  Coming up next month, we will be able to finally meet and introduce our girls to each other!  I'm SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO excited!!!  

Yesterday we had my SIL's 30th Bday party.  I ended up making the invites and then here is my wild hair banner that I made for her the night before/day of the party!

Here are some more pics from the party!  It was a beautiful crisp February day!

The kiddos

a P & a J

P2 got to sit in a highchair for the first time at a restaurant!

The 3rd great news is that Pen is FINALLY crawling the RIGHT way now!!!  She's been army crawling for a few weeks now, but today she finally figured out how to get the legs and the arms working at the same time!!  I was fortunate to be able to catch it with my camera!  Yae Pen!!  I can't believe how quickly she is progressing.  Just one night and she's doing something she wasn't able to before.  Right now she's also showing an interest in trying to pull up on the couch.  She REALLY tries, but can't get her balance & confidence in sync!  At this rate I'll probably be publishing a post on her cruising by the end of next week.  EEK! 

Note to Myself

Why do you come up with these hair-brained ideas that only cause you stress?  You didn't commit to anyone to make S a happy birthday banner, or table decorations for her party, OR to make those cute little tissue paper puffs ala Martha Stewart (A, I'm going to blame Brea for this one!).  You only committed to making the invites, which you did already.  Nothing else.  So why, oh why do you insist on A) making stuff when you know darn well you really can't afford the extra expense, B) you don't have the extra time (ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU DECIDE TO DO ALL THIS THE DAY BEFORE THE PARTY!!  HELLO McFLY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) and C) trying to be supermom, superSIL, superwife, supercraftstar etc.....

AAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

Yes, I will post the pics when I'm done, dang-it.

9 Months (and 1 day)

I know, I know.  Horrible mom....my baby turns 9mo yesterday and I don't even acknowledge it anywhere.  Better late than never, right?

So HAPPY 9 MONTHS Pen-Pen.  I can't believe how fast the time has gone.  I know we all say this, but something just happens when it's your second child.  What seemed to take forever with your first child comes in an instant with the second.  I can't believe we're bearing down on her first birthday.  GASP. 1st birthday already?!  In three months?!?  HOW? WHAT?  WHY?!  Uggghhh, someone please slow down the clock.  I don't want my baby to grow up.

Well, here is a list of milestones and stats:

A week ago, she weighed 16lbs and 14oz.  The nurse at the hospital said she was 24in but I know that's not right.  I will have to take her length and get back to you!  Her hair is starting to come in and I keep waiting for it to get long enough to start flipping up like P1's did.  That will let me know if she's going to be a curly-head like her big sister!

She can:
Sit up
Roll
Army crawl/scoot
Get into the crab-crawl position and just stay there for a minute.
Pull up on low objects (she's isn't confident yet to try pulling up on the couch or other tall objects.  I'm sure that could change anyday now!)
Feed herself finger foods such as rice, peas, Mum-Mums and Rice Crispies.
Drink from a sippy cup and a regular cup (with help, of course!)
Say- Mamama, Dadadada, La-La-La-La, Bah bah bah
Give you '5' when you ask her to.
Play Wah-Wah (when you put your hand over her mouth while she's saying Ahhhhhhh)
Wave Bye Bye
Give mommy kisses!

Her faves:
Sweet Potatoes
Peas
Rice Crispies
Mum-Mums
Her Pal Violet (leapfrog puppy)
her stuffed little lamby
her mommy ;)
Groban, the cat

Her Personality:
Pen is quite the fiesty one.  She wants what she wants when she wants it!  More than likely, she wanted it five minutes ago and she will let you know it!!!  I'm not a huge believer in astrological signs, but she's a Taurus if I've ever met one.  She's strong-willed, not easily swayed, and has a little temper.  She's going to be able to hold her own with her big sister, I just know it.  P1 is going to think she can boss her baby sister around, and I have a feeling it's P2 whom I will be telling "leave your sister alone!" to.  She is VERY sweet though and very lovable.  She likes to cuddle and be close and she loves to play.  She's very quick to pick up on facial expressions and she's very animated with her own.  She's very curious and slightly cautious.  She does have fear, but I have yet to find too many things that she shows concern towards.  I hope that doesn't become a problem in the future.  She also likes to sing.  If I say "la la la", she will repeat after me and sometimes if will be actual notes and not just in a monotone!  :)

In a nutshell, she's a lot like me.  I'm in big trouble.  Right mom?!?  :)

Happy 9mo Penny!  We love you SOO much and are so blessed you joined our family.  It's only been 9 months, but I can't remember what life was like without you.  I love you, my sweet baby girl.