The Jennifer Lawrence Guide to Being Awesome

Ok, so can we all just agree that Jennifer Lawrence is the cutest/most talented young starlet in recent years??? She is a refreshing break from all of the vain and talentless "actresses" out there who set women back decades if not centuries (I'm looking at you, KK). 

I came across this article on People.com this morning that only solidified that Jennifer Lawrence and I need to be besties. Anna Kendrick and Emma Stone can come too.

How to be as awesome as Jennifer Lawrence in 6 steps

1. Don't be afraid to get dirty

I mean, I'm a mom. If I don't have some kind of food particle/drool spot left on my clothing from Emerson's tiny hands at any given time, I'm not really doing my job am I?

2. Laugh off your falls

Let's just say no one has ever accused me of being graceful. I'm awkward. I trip all the time. But I really don't ever feel embarrassed about it... probably because it happens so often.

3. When in doubt, call mom

For being the youngest child, I consider myself pretty independent. I can make decisions, take charge, and do what needs to be done, when it needs to be done. But sometimes, you just need your mom or your BFF to give you the validation you need to more forward. Can I get an Amen?

4. Take fashion risks

Though I don't have J. Law's wardrobe budget, I'd like to think I'm a fashion risk-taker. In the sense that I look at my belly in the morning, then look at my closet and I think "Screw convention! I'm gonna wear this cardigan even if I can only button one button. Yeah!"

5. Lose the filter.

It's hard to lose the filter when you didn't have one to begin with. Sometimes things just need to be said. Life's too short.

6. Don't obsess over your body

This is a hard thing to do when you've been pregnant 3 times in 3 years. My body hasn't looked what I would consider "normal" for a long time, but the reasons behind that are well worth the temporary sacrifice. Still, it's wonderful to see a beautiful actress who looks great, looks "normal", and admits that she chows down on Cheetos like the best of us.

Now, 6 steps later, tell me you're not in love with this girl right???

So What! Wednesday

 Today is a great day for So What!ing. In the words of Pink, today I'm saying SO WHAT if....

• Our house hasn't sold yet. Crap on a cracker.
• The people who just HAD to get in to see our house at 8:00pm last night only stayed for 10 minutes. I am trying not to be bitter about interrupting Emerson's bedtime for people who are obviously not going to buy the house. Trying being the key word here.
• I feel fussier than a toddler about this whole home-selling process. I go from up to down in a matter of minutes. Dear future self: NEVER try this again whilst pregnant. Never.
• I ate my feelings for dinner (aka half a box of spaghetti and 7 Oreos. And french fries.)
• I accidentally microwaved my breakfast sandwich for 6 minutes, not 60 seconds. I realized it halfway through, but it was inedible. Guess that means I have to get a meatball sub for lunch.
• I just can't get into the 'Real Housewives' and the gaggle of terrifying teen shows on MTV. Everyone I know watches them, I just can't do it. I watch The Bachelor, isn't that enough torture?
• I am more than a little skeeved out about having an Open House on Sunday, because I just picture our nosy neighbors coming through and peeking at my underoo drawer. I'm telling you, it'll happen.
• I'm grumpy today. Can we tell? 

Toddler Meals

Happy Monday!

Our weekend was fun, despite the fact that no one bought our house. (Why are all homebuyers in our area being so selfish and slow I wonder?)

Yesterday we took Emerson to the mall. Naturally, we had to pop into the Disney Store because that's where dreams come true. Then we get to a display rack and see a Minnie Mouse lunch bag, and girlfriend went nuts! 

"Minnie! Minnie! MINNIE!"

I didn't even know that she understood the difference between Mickey and Minnie, but boy did she! She grabbed that thing right off the rack and held on for dear life. So of course we had to buy it for her. (I wonder how we'll respond some day when she goes "Mercedes!!" "Spring Break in Cabo!" Is that how the kids on Super Sweet 16 get away with it???)

But for the bargain price of $12.50, this little bag made her happy so there we go.

After bedtime, I decided a new lunch bag meant new lunch ideas. I try really hard to come up with creative, healthy foods to pack in her lunch every day, but I feel like I'm in a rut.

Here's what Emerson eats in a typical day:

Breakfast: Whole grain toast with butter, strawberries, milk (oh dear does she love her milk)

Snacks: Bananas, graham crackers, Cheerios, apples

Lunch: Cheese cubes, apple sauce, crackers, kiwi, pinwheels with vegetable cream cheese, green peppers, leftovers from our dinner the night before. Easy stuffed that can be packed for "school" and doesn't necessarily have to be heated up.

Dinner: Whole grain pasta, broccoli/peas/carrots/some kind of vegetable, cottage cheese

What do you feed your little munchkin?? Ideas welcome :)

Friday's Letters

Dear ice storm: Seriously? It's time to spring forward, Ohio. Dear McDonalds: Thank you for making my cup of decaf this morning. It was almost as good as the real thing. Almost. Dear Kate Middleton: You are also pregnant, and only 11 weeks or less behind me. Thank you, I feel like a blimp.  

 

Dear people coming for house showings tomorrow: Please buy my house. You know you want to. Dear doughnuts: I wish I could quit you. Dear Downton Abbey: I am hooked. I'm halfway through season 3. I bawled my eyes out last night. I won't spoil for others but... ugh.

 

Dear Train: Please stop singing. Please. Live off your royalties and enjoy your lives. Dear Mexican food: Where did this craving come from? I just know it's a quarter after 10, I'm all alone and I need you now. Dear baby girl #2:  I am so sorry we can't find a name for you. I feel like a bad mom. I keep waiting for the perfect one to come along, because I don't want you to hate me some day for my lame name choice. Dear spring 2013 clothing: Stop tempting me with your cuteness. I will NOT buy any clothes until after the baby comes. I will not.

Ma. Mama. Mum. Mom. Momma. Mommy.

Emerson is going through what can only be called a verbal explosion. She is like a parrot, and not only repeats everything we say, but remembers things too.

For example, I asked her what she thought about a particular baby name for her sister while rubbing my belly. I said the name a few times. She repeated it. And now she comes up to my belly and calls it "baby" and "That name." I'm not going to say the name because it's no longer in consideration so I don't want you to get attached to it. But now I know that you can't assign a name to something unless you want it to stick.

I also love her interpretation of certain words. She calls Aunt Mackenzie "Kiki." She calls broccoli "Bockley." Toodles is affectionately known as "Oh Too!"

But the best word ever??? She has gone from calling me "Mama" to "Mommy." I don't know why, but it makes me want to cry. I'm someone's Mommy. It's no longer just the easiest sounds that she can put together. No. She sees me and says "Hi mommy!"

I'm a mommy. Sigh. I love that girl more than she will ever know.

And I promise it sounds way cuter than this:

I'm the Kinda Girl Who...

Hi friends!! 

 One of my real-life besties, Holly at Running in Stilettos is hosting her very own link-up today! And what kind of friend would I be if I didn't participate? A silly one, that's who.

... loves like there's no tomorrow

... can't hold a grudge, but can hold onto a judgement

... thinks coffee is the greatest beverage invention of all time

... hates all type of stress and conflict

... can't just sit and watch TV. I have to be multi-tasking in some way. Makes me feel like a more productive human.

... falls asleep every single time I put in a DVD

... imagines how our furniture will fit into houses I am only seeing online

... can't take a compliment without wincing

... loves making people laugh, even at my own expense

... hates reality TV, but watches The Bachelor like it's my job.

... loves to help people, but hates when people don't help themselves

... uses butter instead of margarine

... thinks my daughter is the most perfect human specimen to walk the Earth

... forgets to reply to text messages and emails unless I do it immediately

What kind of girl are you?? Go visit Holly and share!

It's Ok Thursday

Haven't linked up in awhile, but I feel like I've been using this phrase A LOT lately so I thought it only fitting.

It's OK...

...that this sweet baby girl is due in 12 weeks and we have not purchased ONE THING for her except her crib. Not even the mattress. We don't want to buy furniture until we know if we're going to be in a new house, but the clock is ticking! (I'm sorry honey, you know momma loves you!)

... that our house has had 19 showings and no offers. It's only been 1.33 weeks. Not time to panic.

... that we count the number of brochures left on our counter after we have a showing, just to see if people took them.

... that if someone doesn't take a brochure, I very briefly wish a curse upon their families. 

... that I am pinning hundreds of home decor photos on Pinterest for a house we may not own. Sigh.

... that I spent $6.88 on an object from Amazon "guaranteed" to help you sell your house. I have faith.

... that I took the cost of my gym membership and flushed it down the toilet (metaphorically) because I have not been there in 30 days. 

... that my stomach has grown to gargantuan proportions and my wedding rings are getting snug. How is that happening already?!?

... that I ate 2 doughnuts yesterday, when I normally find them revolting. What my baby wants my baby gets. (See above for an "A-ha!" moment)

... that I lied to you just now. I actually had 2.5 doughnuts.

A yawn and a haircut

 Hey ya'll, hey.

What a weekend.

Another 6 showings (one with a 20 minute notice- whiskey tango foxtrot?!?) and 3 more scheduled for today and tomorrow. I'm tired.

Still no offers. Wah.

But we are getting really good at finding creative things to do with our time when we have to be out of the house for 1 hour increments. Antique shopping. Going to brunch. Driving around aimlessly while contemplating just setting the whole damn thing on fire.

If we're friends on Instagram, you may have noticed that I came to terms with my poor parenting on Friday night. 

 

Check out that mullet!!! In my quest to preserve any and all baby-ness, I have neglected to get Emerson a haircut. But I finally accepted that it was time, so off to Cookie Cutters we went!

The Before:

Bye bye, mullet/mowhawk

I was nervous that she would lose her mind, because I swear every single child in there was crying. But my angel was SUCH a trooper and did so good! They even had a spare comb for her to chew on, which definitely helped distract her long enough to get the job done. 

During:

 

 

And the after.... tada!!!

They gave her little clips for her hair because she was such a big girl! :) Didn't you know pixie cuts were all the range in baby fashion??

I hope you all had a great weekend - fingers crossed  that 18 is our lucky number!

Tee Gee Eye Eff

Hi there. I'm still for sale.

 

 Holy Moly.

Exhausted doesn't even begin to describe how I feel, from head to toe, internally and externally, mentally and physically.

Whose brilliant idea was it to try and sell a house at 6 months pregnant, with a 1 year old? Whose? I want to take a peek into that person's brain and examine it closely.

Oh wait....

Yeah, I'm pretty durn tired. This is a game that I don't particularly enjoy playing. Talk about anxiety! But I keep telling myself it'll all be worth it in the end. And the small sacrifices and inconveniences now will seem like nothing when we're sipping lemonade on the back patio of our new house. Life is all about perspective.

So here's an update for ya, because I know you're so curious:

House up for sale on February 5.

2/5: 2 showings

2/6: 1 showing

2/7: 3 showings

2/8: 2 showings scheduled
Update: 2/9: 2 more showings scheduled

So that's 10 showings in the first 5 days on the market. My first thought is: "Yay! That's awesome!" But then I try to be realistic and think that maybe there's a big group of people out there that are nosy and just want to see every house that goes on the market in our area. I dunno. 

We've gotten feedback from 4 of the 6 showings that have taken place already. 2 said they loved the house, layout, and decor, but overall the house was too small. It's hard not to be disappointed, but that's not something we can control so it is what it is.

The other two said they were very interested, and one of them said they'd be in touch with our realtor "soon." Which is like telling me you're taking me to Disney World "soon" but not giving me a specific date and time so I can pack my bags and plan out my itinerary. What does "soon" mean?!? You're killing me, smalls.

The showing notices usually come in the day before, so we haven't had more than 24 hours notice for any of these showings. Have I mentioned how difficult is to make sure that every single Cheerio is off the ground? That every light is turned on so that our house looks "bright and cheery?" That the house doesn't smell like a poopy diaper, my burnt Eggo waffle, or whatever I made for dinner last night?

I read online somewhere that statistically, you get one offer for every 7-8 showings your house has. Well, today marks showings 7 and 8, so I am praying to the house selling gods and to all angels of realtors past that we get an offer soon. It sounds too good to be true, but selling it soon would really give us a nice cushion to find a new house and move in before baby girl #2 comes. 

But again, having all kinds of perspective, I am just grateful that we're getting showings at all. And things will happen the way they're supposed to happen, because they always do right?? But who can blame me for wanting to move things along a little? Mama needs to rest her aching.... everything.

Since this post was alot of whine, I'll save myself by sharing a picture of Emerson during one of our "have to get out of the house for a showing moments yesterday." Yes, we were in a huge play area, but for a solid for 5 minutes, she wanted nothing more than to grab that gorilla's butt and take in her surroundings. Bless her heart.

BUY ME!!!!

Today is the day!!! 

 Our house is officially on the market!! And within 1 hour of the listing going live, I got a call that we have our first showing at 12:30 today!! Apparently that 'Coming Soon' sign worked it's magic! 

Wanna see a tour of our house? Well, you're gonna. 

 I've included some of the "Before" shots from the listing when we bought it for fun. I wish we had more, because you cannot fully fathom how much time and energy went into making this house a home. So without further ado....

Exterior

I wish that the dogwood tree to the left here was in bloom, because it's gorgeous in the spring, but when you decide to list in February, you take what you can get.

Foyer/Entry Before

Foyer/Entry Today

Kitchen Before

Kitchen Today

I wish we had more time to update this space and paint the cabinets white, but hopefully people can see past all that wood!

Living Room Before

Living Room Today

 

 

Dining Room Before

Dining Room Today

2nd Floor Hallway

Master Bedroom

I spy a beautiful baby on the armoire!! Our realtor actually discouraged us from taking it down because Emerson was so cute. So we listened to her advice ;-)

 

 

 Master Bedroom Closet

Master Bathroom

I want to hop in a DeLorean, go back to 2008, and punch myself for not taking a 'Before' Shot of this room. It was a DISASTER, and Jon did an amazing job renovating it.

Spare Bedroom

Nursery/3rd Bedroom

3rd Floor/Attic

This space has alot of potential, and we would probably would have finished it this summer if we decided not to move. But some lucky new owners will have that option! (I hope)

Soooooooo, what do we think??? Would you buy this house???