Something I just realized...

The older we get, the more people complain.

For as long as I can remember, I've been bothered by people who complain {especially people who complain about things that can't be changed}. It is just not my style. I like talking about what people do during free time on the weekends, how their kiddos and pets are doing, and chit-chats about friends, boys, purses, and shopping.

This past year has been one full of changes, and I've realized SO many things.

1. I love my life. I've made this life -- I truly believe you can do whatever you set your mind to.

2. Money will never buy me happiness. I don't know why I am blessed to have this character trait, but it really doesn't make me happy. Things that do make me happy: Eric, Jack, Maggie, friends, family, chocolate, and kids.

3. It does not matter what car you drive, how big your house is, or what name brand clothes you wear. The "new" feeling always wears off, and you're left with what truly matters --- friends and family.

4. The grass really is greener on the other side --- of town :)

5. Eric is one amazing daddy. We make such a great team. We spend just the right amount of time with Jack -- to the point where sometimes we argue who gets to hang out with him. We take turns with baths, feedings, poopy diapers and more! I truly believe we can love him more, because we never feel overwhelmed.

6. I picked the right profession. I never glance at the clock and think "oh man, seven more hours". I look at the clock and think "seventh hour is next...here we go"!

Here's to staying positive -- no matter how old I get! My students tell me that I'm always in a good mood, my friends know that if they call I probably will be excited about some new adventure {rather than complaining about some defeat}, and I am a genuinely happy person.

Starting Him Out Young!

I have to admit, I'm excited to become a "soccer mom" someday. It makes me thankful for having a little boy! So, we're starting Jackson out on sports early.

For starters, he begins his morning with a daily dose of Sportscenter. He's to the point where if Eric puts anything on but that, he'll fuss until it's changed...no joke. SCARY!

Now, we're teaching him all about the ins and outs of basketball. Next sport: football!

All the small things...

Things I love:

1. Eric. Enough said. He makes my life meaningful, exciting, and easy.

2. My new flip-of-a-switch fireplace -- where I can open the windows during the day, and snuggle by the fire at night.

3. Friday. I wear jeans and t-shirts to work, usually have a little more fun with my 8th graders, and I look forward to the weekend with my little family.

4. Tiny little baby pajamas that make Jack look like a big boy.

4. The "fizzzzzz" sound I hear when I'm cracking open a new pop. It's always the best in the afternoon after a long morning of teaching.

5. Blake Shelton's "Who are you when I'm not looking" song...especially the line about sinking your nose in a bubble bath. That's my reality at about 10 o'clock pm each night. Ahhhh....bubbles await.

6. Genuine friends. The ones who know you inside and out. The ones who can tell you just like it is with no fluff. The friends that have slowly over the years become my family.

7. Text messaging. There are only a small select few that I like to talk on the phone to...otherwise its texting all the way. The only downfall? I like to have the last word.

8. Waukee. It already feels like home.

9. Cetaphil face wash. You've solved my sensitive skin dilemma.

10. Pampers, Gerber, and our little bunny swing.

11. 8th graders. They say the darndest things! They are so much like those sour patch kids commercials...sour, then sweet.

12. Perfect Glass, Perfect Granite, and Perfect Stainless cleaners from Bed, Bath and Beyond. ...too much black granite...

13. Babies 'r' us.

13. Friendly neighbors who wave and go out of their way to say hi.

14. Kum 'n' Go's $.59 fountain pops.

15. Jackson Charles Krieger.

Thankful...

Not often do I feel stressed, overworked, or maxed-out. I don't easily exhaust or complain about anything...

Tonight, however, I'm definitely overwhelmed. As I sit here covered in transcripts, FAFSA info {which takes me WAY back to good ol' Fin Aid Office at UNI!}, and a detailed grad. school application --- an old song played on my Pandora.

Rascal Flatts - When the Sand Runs Out:

"I'm gonna stop lookin' back and start movin' on
And learn how to face my fears
Love with all of my heart, make my mark
I wanna leave something here"

Finally it all made sense. I've always wanted to be a principal. Yes, I'm busy. Yes, I'm a mommy now. Yes, I'm going to start grad school and say goodbye to any kind of life for the next two years...

The next song to play?

Brad Paisley - She's Everything

She's the giver I wish I could be
And the stealer of the covers
She's a picture in my wallet
and my unborn children's mother
She's the hand that I'm holding
When I'm on my knees and praying
She's the answer to my prayer
And she's the song that I'm playing

This song was my song according to Eric a LONG time ago. I love that it says 'unborn children's mother'...he always loved that song for me. And, it's all coming true. Just then I'm reminded of the amazing and supportive husband and daddy who's willing to help pitch in for these next few years as I begin a new journey...

Thanks, Pandora, for the pick-me-up just when I needed it. Thanks, Jack, for sharing your momma with grad. school. Thanks, Eric for everything. Today I am thankful.

Wish me luck...

Happy 5 Months, Big Man!

I know I always say this -- but I can't believe Jack's already 5 months old. We're so close to half a year already...time is just flying. I don't know what it is, but this age has got to be the best. We get his little quirks and squirms, he's full of smiles and babbles, and he's doing something new everyday! I so look forward to waking up, picking him up from daycare, and weekends!

Milestones: Rolling, talking, walking with help, and we're onto more food!

Weight: 14 pounds -- he's thinning out! He's at about the 70th percentile for height and 30th percentile for weight.

Diaper size: Still size 2 {we have a couple boxes of them yet}. However, the last couple of nights we've found him covered in pee...so we may have to jump up to the threes, baby!

Clothes size: His winter wardrobe is all 3-6 month stuff, so if it's cold, that's what he's wearing. All of his summer gear is 6-12 months and 12-18 months. The 6-12 month stuff will probably fit through June I'm guessing? He's VERY long. It's crazy how fast he grows through clothes! I've slowly realized this and have been spending much less on baby gear. I have so many boxes of little boy clothes packed away in the basement. Before now, he would wear a new outfit once, maybe twice! So, now I'm buying about ten essential outfits for each size...and it's working out well. He always has clean clothes, but he actually wears an outfit more than once.

Sleep: He's still a trooper. Right now, he puts himself to bed around 8 (fusses until we feed him like mad!) and wakes up around 6:30 --- sometimes later. I'm so thankful for my little sleeper! He's also still into naps. He takes a good hour our so nap in the am, a three hour nap in the afternoon, and sometimes a little "Jack nap" after dinner. There was a week in there where he had RSV and couldn't breathe well...one night he was up every hour.

Favorite activities/things:

Eating: Jack's really getting the hang of this whole food/eating thing. He drools while he watches us get his food ready, and then opens wide when we make it over to his highchair! His favorite? Applesauce with a splash of cinnamon! He devours it like he's never eaten before (another thing he gets from his daddy!) The best part? If you remember, I craved apples like none other when I was pregnant! I never eat apples, drink apple juice, or anything like that now. But when I was pregnant I couldn't get enough. TOO FUNNY!

I also bought some apple juice -- now that he can sit up, he's ready for juice! I haven't tried it yet, but I'm sure he'll love it.

Nicknames: BOOGS {He got this one because he's always full of boogers. Eric claims he's going to grow up thinking his name is boogs, since it's what I call him most of the time}! Baby Jack, big man, stinky man, and many more! His nicknames all deal with poo and boogers....great.

Talking: Babbles all the time. He says "wh" and "guh" and "duh" for now...I'm trying to get him to say "muh", but each time I'm unsuccessful. He's also quite the giggler...too cute.

New adventures: RSV! Ahhh! Jack has now had pink eye and RSV. Last week we spent a lot of time with a nebulizer, albuterol, and one sick baby! He's feeling much better now. We're hoping that the sicknesses will end this summer when he's at home with me.

Here are just a few pictures of the many times with Jackson Charles:

{Jumperoo -- he's just big enough to reach the ground}

{His newest thing: sticking his tongue out?}

{He always tries to help me feed him...}

{Trying to get the camera!}

Jack's Newest Feat...

It's been almost a month now since Jack can 'sit up'. He's really just learning how to master this skill. It's adorable to see what poses he ends up in, and where he lands when he falls!

It's been a nice little milestone for Jack, as he gets really bored with just laying underneath something or on his tummy. This whole sitting up thing has opened a whole new world of reading and actually playing with some of his musical and colorful toys.


For now, Jack sits up for about ten minutes or so. Then, he's falling like the London Bridge! Once he falls he rolls and rolls until he gets where he wants. It's so adorable to watch him attempt to be mobile. I have a feeling it won't be too much longer and he'll be in to everything...


I just love his face here. He starts sinking...and sinking...

And he ends up on his back {long enough for Maggie to give him a few kisses}!

Then he's off to rolling 'round and sticking everything he can find in his mouth! I just love this picture. Don't you see the determination in his eyes?

Soon I'll be writing about scoots, crawls, and walking! Jack will be 5 months old in just a few days. I already love looking back at old pictures from his delivery day and his first weeks as our little man. We were {and still are} so proud of our little guy. Love you, big man!

My Newest Obsession...

...other than my adorable almost-5-month-old of course. FiEsTa WaRe! =)

It's amazing that a simple switch from chipped and worn out dishes to these bright and cheery new dishes can inspire me to cook at home more often.

I've always been practical when it came to 'things in the kitchen cupboards'. For one, the cupboards are always shut. For two, if it ain't broke, don't fix it...right? WRONG! I decided to go through a lot of my old stuff (while I still had a dumpster at my fingertips). One of the "to buy" items on my wishlist: Fiesta dishes. I remember seeing a cupboard full in my friend's kitchen...and as always I decided someday I'd be able to have them, too.

If you don't know anything about Fiesta dishes...they come in about every color you could ever imagine. Leaving me -- mrs. not-good-at-making-decisions -- to have to decide on which ones I want in my kitchen. Paprika (or burnt orangish) was the first choice, as it's my kitchen paint color. Next came chocolate, ivory, and on an on. I'm up to six sets, which makes for a colorful cupboard!

I'm enjoying showing off my new stash of china. I can't wait to stock up on bigger serving bowls for future parties. Oh, the little things in life...

Fiestaware Website

Big bed...

...little baby!

Lately my life has been filled with uncrossed off to-do lists that are seemingly never-ending. Today I vowed to skip the gym {gasp!}, throw on my sweats, and soak in my not-so-little man.

It was just what I needed.

I grabbed a soft blankie, a new book about a sheep, and Jack. We giggled together, snuggled together, and soaked in the fresh new cardboard smell of Jack's book (which has quickly been replaced by drool). I snapped about a hundred pictures, gave about a million kisses, and we soaked up the moments together.
As I look at the newest pictures of Jack, I am amazed at how fast time has flown. We've kissed goodbye to the days of 10 naps, silent snuggles, and size 1 diapers. Jack's grown too big for his once-loved bouncy chair; a gigantic jumparoo has become our newest addition to our living room. Our tiny little munchkin is now a towering, babbling, real food eating little person.


I'm so thankful for my little Jack...

Bubble Bath Jack!

Throughout my entire pregnancy -- and still to this day -- I took at least one bubble bath each night. My hopes: Jack would be a water baby and I could spend all summer long relaxing at the pool with my little man. My reality: just that. Jack indefinitely LOVES the water.

The doc gave us the 'ok' to give him baths in the BIG BOY tub since he is able to prop himself up to sit. So, we gave it a try -- and he absolutely loved it. We've yet to get his adorable splashing and laughter on our video camera {first we couldn't find our camera, now we can't find our charger -- good ol' moving will do that to ya!}. But, I can't wait to catch it on film and laugh about it years from now with Jack.




He splashes like crazy and slams his hands down in excitement. He rolls over and realizes it wasn't a smart move. Jack loves to squish onto things, so tonight I gave him a washcloth in the tub. He cuddled it and then shoved it in his mouth -- his new favorite spot for anything and everything. It's so much fun to watch him grow!

I can't Jack is almost five months old.

I can't believe he's taking big boy baths in the bath tub!

I can't wait for more splishes and splashes this summer at the pool...

Adventures in Baby Food...

As a kid, I remember renting Adventures in Babysitting books from the public library. I was obsessed with babies and stories that went along with them. Now, I'm enjoying my own adventures in baby raising. The newest feat: homemade baby food!

During Jack's four month well-baby appointment, the doctor told us Jack's very much so ready for real food (months before he technically should =). She said we could try whatever we'd like, we just had to stick with one thing for a few days to check for any allergies. So far, so good (which is a huge deal - I'm allergic to everything from peanuts to artificial sugar). He's finally figured out that food isn't something to spit out, and is actually helping by grabbing the spoon and shoving it into his mouth. It's his newest, most adorable little milestone ever.

I experimented with homemade peas and carrots before we moved, but I had a gigantic food processor. The job seemed overwhelming and annoying. So, I stepped up my baby food making game and bought this handy dandy gadget:

My new knock-off Magic Bullet! Works like a charm...

We bought bunches of bananas and a huge bag of mini carrots for $4.00 total! (Thanks, Jill, for the great, healthful ideas for making homemade baby food. I love my expert mommies who give me all kinds of advice!) It's actually much cheaper and better for Jack to have homemade baby food, who knew? Now, of course my cupboards are stacked with Gerber packaged baby food for the days when we're on the go or in a hurry. I refuse to be one of those crazy, obsessive health-nut moms -- but I will try my best when I can!

Jack loves bananas mixed with his cereal.

All frozen and ready to go for months!

I'm sure all of you mommies out there can relate to this, but I love what life is after baby. I feel like we've figured out Jack...and how to be parents. We balance everything out (including having a social life, we just have one at home while Jack's sound asleep in his crib)! I love our adventures -- from rolling, to cooing, to standing, to eating. I love that every trip to the store lands us one more thing for Jack, which usually means one less thing for me - and I'm totally okay with it. It's funny how I'm exactly where I thought I'd be as a grown up. And, I'm still growing up. I love my life. I love my stacked freezer with homemade baby food. I love Jack. And, most of all, I love Eric for helping me reach my dreams.

"You have brains in your head,
you have feet in your shoes.
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose." - Dr. Seuss