A dream bedroom for my baby girl...

I can dream right?

New Moon Craziness

I love this picture. I want one of me and Ben like this.

Anyway....

Yes I love Twilight. Yes I'm 28. Yes I am seriously counting down the days till New Moon arrives in theaters. Yes I have an unhealthy obsession with the series and search the web almost daily for new info. This is what I found today.
Oh and this 15 second crap clip of the trailer that we all get to see on SUNDAY!!!

http://www.busybeeblogger.com/2009/05/29/twilight-new-moon-trailer-sneak-peek/

1st Year Vow Renewal

Ben and I said at our wedding that we were going to renew our vows every year. Not a big public thing just something private and held just for us. We are going to alternate who plans it, I apparently have the odd years and he has the evens. This year for our first wedding anniversary we are going to New York City. I have already contacted a celebrant that will oversee our vow renewal and present us a certificate from the city of New York stating our re-commitment to each other and our marriage. I am so excited and happy that Ben is going to give New York City a try :)

Here is what I have planned so far;
Our hotel is the Best Western President Hotel, 234 W 48th Street in the theatre district of course. They just redid their rooms to be more mod and I LOVE THEM!
We haven't decided on where exactly to do the vow renewal yet, I am still researching places that would work for November in the cold but I am seriously considering Top of the Rock. "Top Of The Rock is an experience in history and scenery that culminates with unparalleled views of New York City from the newly renovated Observation Deck on the 70th floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, in the heart of midtown Manhattan at Rockefeller Center." We did decided we want to be true to the dorks that we are and we are going to go to Medieval Times for dinner and bottomless wine and beer on one of the nights lol. That's all for now. I AM SO EXCITED!!!

Art-tastic

So lately I have noticed that my walls are starting to really fill up with some amazing art. I am starting to have an addiction to my mother-in-laws super talent as an artist. As I start to put together rooms in our new home I just started to realize just how much of her art I own. I thought I would post the art I have in case anyone likes her work and is interested in purchasing some. Here is her website http://artbymukkekawoman.com and her art is also featured at the Village Artisans Studio in North Attleboro, MA.

The painting with the little boy and the dog flying a kite was a special piece she painted for my son. The little boy is my three year old and the dog is her dog Theo, they are best buds. :)

The Kitchen

Finished the kitchen today. So relieved to have one room done...Although I still need ONE more curtain for over the sink. Still all the oven mits, glasses, silverware, kitchen towels, curtains, curtain rods, place mats, napkin holders, dish rack, and household cleaning supplies (I store under the sink) have been replaced plus one new kitchen chair (I need to get the other three replaced eventually too). Total investment for new kitchen; $102. Here are some pictures of our before aka old apartment kitchen and our after aka new apartment kitchen.


We were super congested and cluttered in our old kitchen, there wasn't enough room to move in there and the kitchen table had to go in the open space when you first walked into our apartment...which ended up being a "catch all" for all kinds of junk.




Our new place is much more spacious, bright and airy I LOVE IT! These pictures do not do it justice!!!

Then

Every time I hear this song I think of my husband.
I am so loved and so very lucky to have him in my life.

Then by Brad Paisley

I remember, trying not to stare the night that I first met you
You had me memorized
And three weeks later, in the front porch light
taking forty-five minutes to kiss goodnight
I hadn't told you yet
but I thought I loved you then

Chorus:
And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

And I remember, taking you back to
right where I first met you,
You were so surprised
There were people around, but I didn't care
Got down on one knee right there once again,
I thought I loved you then

Chorus:
And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
Like a river meets the sea,
stronger than it's ever been.
We've come so far since that day
And I thought I loved you then

I could just see you, with a baby on the way
And I could just see you, when your hair is turning gray
What I can't see is how I'm ever gonna love you more
But I've said that before

And now you're my whole life
now you're my whole world
I just can't believe the way I feel about you, girl
We'll look back someday, at this moment that we're in
And I'll look at you and say
And I thought I loved you then
And I thought I loved you then

In other news...

We finally moved out of that shit hole in Warren and into our new beautiful and amazing apartment in Cumberland. With the help of Colleen, Mark II, Mark, Denise, Jennise, Gram, Grampa, My Dad and Mom, Mum and Dad Norman, Sarah, Donnie and Jay. It is just amazing how quiet and peaceful it is here. I feel like I am part of a neighborhood it is so nice.

Mable, our 92, year old neighbor hangs out on her porch all day and although she can't hear a single thing she waves and smiles when she sees us. Holly our neighbor downstairs has a six year old boy for Aidan to play with, so far we haven't had any interaction with her since the move really but the day we came to visit the apartment she was very nice so we'll see now that we're here. Kim, David and their six year old daughter Lily live down the street and she rides her bike by almost daily from what I can see from my kitchen and she said hi to Aidan yesterday which totally made his day. The internet, phone and cable were hooked up today and the gas will be all set on Friday. Which feels like forever away since I can't cook or take a hot shower but we're surviving.

The Cake Biz is really up and running now booking two more jobs this week, one for my best friend Megan's step daughter's birthday party and one for a 25 year anniversary party in June. Speaking of parties Mum and Gram told me today that my shower is going to be July 25th!!!! (So that Dad Norman can make it. He doesn't have racing that day). I already emailed the family members that I think it will be toughest to schedule, including my mom, step dad, Kris, and Colleen but I think there is enough notice that it should be OK. I was also informed today that apparently I get no say in my shower, they are planning it and that is the end of it. Oh well, I will pick my battles and as long as I can make my cake I don't care.

Finally got to try The Melting Pot in Providence last Saturday and oh my I could live off their dessert platter I can't wait to bring Megan there for dessert! It was a really fun night out with my husband and Curt and Kristen. I will never forget the marshmallow episode or the "show me angry. BE ANGRY" laugh as we tried to get Curtis to stop eating cheesecake so that the waitress would understand our issue with our dessert (which I won't mention here but the four of us know what happened). Other than that school is killing me the course work is getting harder and much more demanding as I assumed it would be, just not yet. Speaking of which I should go study.

EKG madness

So today at my primary care doctor's office she decided I needed another round of EKGs apparently the ones they took at Women & Infants AND Rhode Island Hospital on May 9th were not good enough for her. I rolled my eyes when she left the room but I am actually so thankful that she did the EKG. Today they discovered that the left side of my heart, which pumps blood throughout my entire body, is enlarged. This is what she believes is giving me the loss of breath episodes and dizziness. She said it is not pregnancy or hormone related she tested my electrolytes, sugar level, iron level and thyroid since these have all been slight issues in the past but all those tests came back normal. Now I have to go to a cardiologist next week, get fitted for a halter monitor that I have to wear for 24-48 hours to keep track of my heart, and get an ultrasound of my heart to find out if there is any other abnormalities in there and what/where exactly the problem is coming from. The highlight of all of this...Savannah is completely unaffected and perfectly healthy. It's just mommy.

I've been instructed to "take it easy" no lifting, no carrying laundry up stairs, no picking up Aidan, nothing strenuous. I was told to take daily walks, but to make sure someone is always with me, to try and strengthen my heart and blood pressure slowly. After a few weeks and once all my test results are back I can start slowly swimming at the YMCA, this way all the weight pressure is off my body and I can just concentrate on slow cardio with first aid present. Wonderful huh?

I feel bad for Ben most of all. If I have to look at that sad, worried look in his eyes any more I am just going to lose it myself. I am not in any pain, I just have trouble breathing a lot. Since I am only 25 weeks pregnant they also know it is not Savannah pushing on my lungs.

Here's hoping for a speedy recovery or better yet a clean bill of health! Being pregnant is more than enough to handle!

I know I just ordered some but...

Can this be my new business card?

Ouch

I miss my husband so much when he is not home I ache.

Mother's Day 2009

So, after a veeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry long day and night at Women and Infants hospital followed by Rhode Island Hopsital I am home, pulmonary embolism free but sick as a dog. (I will save my hell of a mother's day eve for another post).

I was woken up this morning by my little man, Mr. Aidan David saying "happy mothers day mommy" with a giant smile and a bouquet of my favorite flowers, lilacs, lavender and daisies (ok no lavender but I got lavender soap so that counts lol). I then went on my annual shopping day with my mom this year we hit the Christmas Tree Shop which was severely cut short by me not being able to breath or be at all comfortable so we high tailed it home and I took a much needed nap when Aidan took his.

With Ben working today Aidan had to put up with a sick mommy so I got Lady and the Tramp and we snuggled in my bed and watched that while we ate pasta dinner and then he headed off to bed while I stuck my head in super hot water trying to clear my sinuses out. After a call to Women and Infants hospital they said it would be ok to take a cold medicine made by Tylenol as long as it wasn't maximum strength. While I wait for my loving husband to come home from work with some meds I willed myself to do my homework so that I don't fall behind and took my exam for this week, shockingly scoring a 90 dispite not being able to concentrate.

I took the kids for what I think is going to be annual pictures this year. Meg took them last Mother's day time so I thought I would treat this time. Here are some of the proofs. Can not wait to pick them up on Thursday.

Happy mother's day mommies!!! We survived another year!!!

My 101 List

I just realized this list is not posted in this blog. Since it is an ongoing project and important to me to complete I thought I would put it in here.

Original Date Januarty 13, 2008

This idea was borrowed from my sister-in-law Kristen, it was too good to NOT do!
Thanks girl!

The Mission: Complete 101 preset goals or tasks in a period of 1001 days.

The Criteria: Tasks must be specific (i.e. no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined. Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e. represent some amount of work on my part).

Why 1001 Days? Many people have created lists in the past - frequently simple goals such as New Year's resolutions. The key to beating procrastination is to set a deadline that is realistic. 1001 Days (about 2.75 years) is a better period of time than a year, because it allows you several seasons to complete the tasks, which is better for organizing and timing some tasks such as overseas trips or outdoor activities.

Some common goal setting tips.

1. Be decisive. Know exactly what you want, why you want it, and how you plan to achieve it.

2. Stay focused. Any goal requires sustained focus from beginning to end. Constantly evaluate your progress.

3. Welcome failure. Frequently, very little is learned from a venture that did not experience failure in some form. Failure presents the opportunity to learn and makes the success more worthy.

4. Write down your goals. It clarifies your thinking and reinforces your commitment.

5. Keep your goals in sight. Review them frequently, and ensure that they are always at the forefront of your thinking.


My start date: January 13, 2008
My end date: October 10, 2010

Not yet completed.
In progress.
Completed

1. Gain 15 pounds (Pregnancy does not count) [15/15] COMPLETED 7-15-08
2. Take vitamins daily for at least six months. [5/6]
3. See four broadway shows. [1/4] STOMP
4. Skydive.
5. Return to my first love, dancing.
6. Learn French.
7. Go to bed before midnight 5 nights a week for 6 months straight [0/6]
8. Bachelors Degree
9. Write letters each month to anyone I've lost touch with in my address book until I reach 100 snail mailed [35/100]
10. 3 times in one day ;) *good one kaycee* COMPLETED July 2008
11. Try real sushi COMPELTED 7-26-08
12. Visit the spa six times [3/6]
13. Boston Children's Museum/Cheers
14. Don't drink coffee for 5 weeks [5/5]COMPLETED 4-8-08
15. Don't eat Fast Food for three months [3/3] COMPLETED 6-8-08
16. Get straight A's

17. Attempt to give church another try and keep an open mind.

18. Create & Finish a wedding scrapbook.
19. Go to one dance weekend.
20. Play in a Texas Holdem Tournament at Foxwoods
21. Audition for a musical.
22. Complete tattoo on my arm COMPLETED 2-23-08.
23. Buy a house
24. Adopt a cat COMPLETED 4-10-08
25. Buy a dog
26. Save $1000 and invest it [$0/$1000]
27. Knit an entire wardrobe for our new baby of at least 10 pieces [0/10]
28. Buy a pair of designer heels COMPLETED 6-10-08 and one designer bag COMPLETED2-22-08.
29. Print all the pictures on my computer and make albums.
30. Send 10 surprise packages to friends [10/10] COMPLETED 7-23-08
31. Quit Smoking COMPLETED 9-16-08
32. Find my signature drink. COMPLETED 3-30-08 (Pinot Grigio or TUGD)
33. Hangout with my sister Marissa 20 times for longer than 3 hours without getting into an arguement [9/20]
34. *get the secret gift* COMPLETED 8-7-08
35. Do one charity walk/run Registerd for this http://cfsri.org/events-walk.html
36. Get my picture in my wedding gown in front of Cinderella's Castle
37. Learn how to make wedding cakes CLASS COMPLETED 5-1-08
38. See fifteen movies in the theater. [15/15] COMPLETED 6-25-09
39. Get credit score above 700

Teach Aidan how to play baseball COMPLETED 4-17-09
41. Open my own business COMPLETED 12-7-08
42. Volunteer for 3 non-profit causes and donate 20 hours of time
Families First of RI[20/20][0/20][0/20]
43. Learn how to sew/quilt
44. Get Ben, Me and Aidan annual passes to Disney
45. Buy a one scratch ticket everytime I go into a gas station until I have 50, THEN scratch them all [50/50] COMPLETED 3-4-08 I won $41 back
46. Try Yoga COMPLETED 7-26-08
47. Get a karaoke machine
48. Go on 5 weekend trips. [4/5]Orlando, Orlando, Vernon CT, Albany NY
49. Grow my hair down to the middle of my back
50. See the Grand Canyon at Sunset
51. Go to a dude ranch
52. Confront my Dad on our issues 9-03-08
53. Learn how to make the perfect girlie drink COMPLETED 3-8-08
54. Limit internet time, outside of schoolwork, to 1 hour a day for 6 months [0/6]
55. Get Cable COMPLETED 7-16-08
56. Make and organize a housewife schedule and follow through, can say completed after 3 months and its a habit [0/3]
57. Make scrapbook for mom that I always said I would
58. Teach Ben to lindy hop COMPLETED 7-26-08
59. Get membership to YMCA
60. Throw away everything in the apartment that is not coming to future home COMPLETED 12-22-08
61. Go to NYC with Ben
62. Go on the Disney cruise
63. Bring my own shopping bags to the grocery store until its a habit. COMPETED 4-30-08
64. Read ten books, based on true stories or events [1/10]E.D.
65. Stay in a cabin in Vermont and come home with maple syrup

66. Take an American History/Government class (that is not needed for my degree) COMPLETED 12-9-09

67. Send Christmas cards in 2008. COMPLETED 12-23-08
68. Vote for president COMPLETED 11-4-08
69. GimmeYourStuff.com swap COMPLETED 5-16-08 (FRANCE!!!)
70. Take a class with Aidan COMPLETED 3-12-09 ZOO CLASS
71. Go to Bloomingdales with Jessica and make our first purchase COMPLETED 11-19-08
72. Take a voice lesson
73. Go to at least one Red Sox game. COMPLETED 4/19/08
74. Own the complete FRIENDS DVD collection. COMPLETED 2/8/08
75. To the the top of the Empire State Building or Rockefeller Center.
76. Actually wear my sexy lingerie for Ben at least once. (lol Kaycee we are so alike sometimes)COMPLETED 3/2008
77. Have all christmas shopping done by October COMPETED 10/18/08
78. Open a life savings account at a credit union. COMPLETED 4/22/08
79. Run a mile in under 10 minutes
80. Get a medical dictionary COMPLETED 2-14-08
81. Go to an Amusement Park that is not owned by Disney or Universal COMPLETED 8/24/08.
82. Have at least five 'Girls Night Outs.' [4/5] COMPLETED 11-19-08
83. Learn how to prepare 10 new meals [1/10].
84. Drink boost or ensure everyday for three months [3/3] COMPLETED 9-22-08
85. Beat the Normans at Scrabble. COMPLETED 4-12-09
86. Buy the perfect LBD (Little Black Dress) COMPLETED 8/18/08.
87. Learn the roads in Providence. COMPLETED 1-21-09
88. Visit every place to eat or drink on Federal Hill.
89. Play paintball.
90. Go ice skating at Kennedy plaza.
91. Take my cousin Sherry out for a day/night she'll never forget COMPLETED 11-22-08
92. Stretch everyday for three months [0/3]
93. Whiten my teeth
94. Learn 5 new dinner dishes [0/5]
95. Write my life story
96. Learn sign language
97. Redneck Yacht Club for day
98. Visit a brewery and discover a new favorite beer COMPLETED 4/19/08 Buckeye Oatmeal Stout from Boston Beer Works
99. Plant a garden 4/25/09 and keep it alive
100. Document as many of these 101 tasks as possible and make a scrapbook.
101. Make a new 101 list before this one ends.

Updates

Is it May 15th yet? Can I move into my new place and start nesting for our new baby and home. I can not wait to get there. I HATE packing. I love to unpack and decorate but the packing stuff really really really sucks. Today I tackled our closet and threw away about 3/4 of it. Ben is no longer in size small and once this baby is born 6 months later I will be done with school and needing to build a professional wardrobe so I am tossing out a lot of my clothes too. Not to worry, most of our clothes are in awesome condition so we are going to donate them to the salvation army down the street. I go there just about once a month to see if they have any maternity clothes so this Wednesday I am just going to drop off some bags to them too.

Aidan helped me purge through his toys this afternoon as well limiting what we will be taking on the move. He is such a good little helper.

We are at pregnancy week number 23 and my back is killing me and I have a feeling I will be unable to move by this evening. The other day when I packed all day that is what happened and since I've been packing nonstop for 4 hours now I am pretty sure I am going to end with the same result tonight. I have currently put on twenty pounds with Savannah, which is still WAY better than I did with Aidan. I am sure I will plateau now especially with our family membership to the YMCA coming so I can swim and do laps while they watch Aidan.

Last Wednesday I participated in RI Idol at a really nice place in Cranston, I had to leave before they gave the results because I had to go get Ben at work and apparently this cost me a spot because me and two other people scored the same score and they needed us to have an additional round of singing and I wasn't there to participate for that. I was contacted by them and told to please come back this Wednesday for the semi-finals and they will decided then if I go on for the finals and the $500 prize but I can not find a sitter. Of course, this is always the way. If they weren't having it on a friggin Wednesday it wouldn't be that big of an issue but no one is ever free when we need them. $500 would allow us to furnish the nursery...but I can't think about it cause I'll cry. I just love how everyone tells me to try for Idol and blah blah blah and then when I do it locally no one can watch Aidan. Ben can not take a night off work because he already has Monday and Thursday nights off for his class so as usual I get to sit home when there is something I want to go to. ok ending that vent.

Tom is going to get de-clawed tomorrow at 8am, I am so nervous for him. I feel so bad but it was that or get rid of him and I absolutely love my cat, he is part of our family and I am not getting letting him go that easy!

I finished my fourth class at Ashford University and received another A bringing my GPA wonderfully high so that I can attempt to get a scholarship for my Masters after this in March 2010. I started the fifth class this past Tuesday and I think this professor is the most insane yet, and has no regard for my life outside of school. The most work assigned yet with a one week deadline.



Oh what I wouldn't give for the Summer off...or a family vacation to Disney. I still can't beleive we aren't going this year...the first time I've missed Mickey in 28 years.

Lets get excited!!

The Cake Biz has officially launched its website tonight! Along with ordering new business cards and all that jazz. It only took 5 months to have steady jobs, about one a week for right now. And purely on word of mouth since my other business cards ran out quick.

WOO HOO!

Here it is: http://thecakebiz.vpweb.com/default.html


(Right now it has /default.html at the end but after 30 days that drops off.)

So excited and proud of me!!

Tornado hits Rhode Island

I love both of these children more than I can express or they would be dead right now. I know it was a tornado because it took all of five minutes. I love being a mom, sometimes you just have to laugh.

Poor Tactical Decision Land

Is where we no longer live!

Ben and I made a goal for ourselves in 2009 to not make anymore "poor tactical decisions". With our expanding family we have made new private goals for our family and ourselves and work on a daily basis to meet them. Today is a momentous event in the Norman household, we are about to pay off the debt we developed over the past year. Not all of our debt but such a sufficient amount that for the first time in almost a year we can breath again. This is mostly in thanks to my amazingly dedicated husband and he relentless mission to set us up for a better future by the end of this year. I took over managing the money again in late February and he feverishly works 7 days a week to cover ground I can not by staying home with Aidan. I just wanted to remember this day. The day when all our sweat, tears, misery, lonely nights, despair, hope, fears and dreams were worth it. The day we completed something we set out to do together.

The day we can look at our bank account and know without doubt, it can only get better from here.

I love you baby, and I am so proud to be your wife.