I'm a new woman!

I joined a gym this week!! Well, our Jewish Community Center, actually. But there is an awesome gym there, plus mommy and me classes for Miss Lil and me, an indoor pool, tons of art, theatre, dance classes, etc. The Center is right down the street from us, and I'm very embarassed to say this, but I thought we couldn't join because we're not Jewish. But, it's not that way at all! :) It is so family oriented - a really warm, awesome place. We've been wanting to join for quite some time, but it was tough for us to justify spending the money on it right now - even though it's not super expensive. Staying home was a real adjustment for us financially, but because I am at home so much with Lily, in the end I felt like it was something really important for me to do. It's crucial, I think, for moms to take good care of themselves. It's so easy to give your kids 1,000,000% of what you have because you love them so much, but it's very easy to get burned out and tired and in turn (for me anyway) eat foods that are very bad for you. Now, I'm not saying I'm giving up chocolate. Let's not be crazy!! :) But, I've worked out three times this week, which is three times more than I did last week, so I'm feeling good. PLUS, the childcare there is fantastic and very cheap (only $4 an hour!), so Lily can make some new little friends. She doesn't get any time really with kids other than the nursery at church, but she LOVES little ones, so I know she'll have a great time.

Plus (and I won't lie - this was a huge bonus for me) the Center has THREE outdoor pools for the summer. I can just see myself this summer with my new hot body in a teeny tiny bikini (let me dream, okay! In my dream, I have the body of Heidi Klum, okay?) next to the pool. Okay, reality is I'll be in my very modest tankini playing with a chubby little girl in floaties:) But, I can't wait.

So, my question today is: What do you do that is nice for yourself? Whether you're a new mom or have older kids or are expecting a baby or are dealing with infertility or whatever - we all need to give ourselves little pampering moments - so what do you do? :)

My teething dream *updates about blog template

I had a dream last night that Lily's two top front teeth came in and they were huge. I'm not kidding by huge. They looked like two white chicklets attached to her little gums. Like that scene in Dennis the Menace (the newer movie, not the old show) where he puts two white chicklets in Mr. Wilson's dentures. I love that movie:) I'm not kidding - they were HUGE. And I was horrified by them.

Isn't that terrible? I can't stop giggling about it. And then I feel like a bad mom for having a dream that she had gigantic front teeth. I bet psychologically it's because they've been such a pain for her. Or maybe it's just because I love the movie Dennis the Menace. :)

It was hard for me to decide on a post to follow the tribute to Steve and Mary Ellen. It felt a bit silly to post something so lighthearted following it, but maybe that's what's needed. So, take a minute and picture Miss Lil with her chicklet teeth and have a little chuckle. :)

**I also have to RAVE about the site where I found my template. It's:
http://cutestblogontheblock.blogspot.com/

I'm going to link them from my blog, too. It was the first site I found with simple, easy to follow instructions that didn't require losing your links. I can't say enough about the site! Thanks for all the compliments on my new template! :)

Sylvia, Claire, and Lucy

Mary Ellen and Steve:
I am so very sorry for your loss. You are in my thoughts and prayers.

Please visit them and offer your support.

Ahhh...that's more like it

Thank you so much for all of your suggestions for blog templates. I'm sitting here looking out the window at freezing rain, so I decided to go with something a bit tropical to get me through the winter. Remember how I said Mexico was my "run-away" spot? Well, I changed my mind. These over-water bungalows in Tahiti look pretty darn good. Anyone with me? :)

Don't forget - those of you in Super Tues. states (oh how I wish I was one!), get out there and VOTE!!! :)

New Templates

I need help from you blog-savvy girls. I am so bored with Blogger's templates, and I want a new one! Are there good sites for these that won't get rid of my links? Any recs are greatly appreciated!! :)

Post Placement Letters...yet again

**Update - I appreciate so much every single comment of support, but I want to say a special thank you to Linda for her perspective as a birth mom. It means so much to me to get that point of view. Thanks! :)

I agonize over every single aspect of the post placement packets we sent Autumn. They kill me. I choose each picture so carefully - do I include pictures of us with Lily? What about pictures of her with Santa? Would that make Autumn sad or glad to see that we took her to see Santa? What about pictures of her with other family members?
And then there is the letter. Do I say she's the happiest baby I've ever seen? Would she be glad to know that or sad that she can't experience it? Do I just stick to the basics? She's 25 pounds, 30 inches and loves applesauce and oatmeal? I got tears in my eyes just now typing that. How can I sum up in a few lines what this child is all about? It hurts me a little bit that I know more about her than the woman does who carried her for nine months and gave her the awesome gift of life. I wonder if that bothers Autumn, too. Does she resent that I'm the one telling her about Lily? But then, I am her mother. I do know her better than anyone else. I don't feel bad about that, but I do feel a little guilty writing a light-hearted letter than runs down her vital statistics and closes with a "take care" or "hope you guys are well." I have no idea what she's going through - if she's happy or if these letters even get read. They might get put in a drawer or a closet somewhere for a later date. This is something I never thought I would crave so badly - I want to know that she's okay. I wish I could see her face when she sees the gorgeous, happy, drooly girl that I love so much. It makes me want an open adoption so much - but I know it's her decision. She needs to do what is best for her and her family. All I can do is honor her by being the best mom I can be to our girl and keep praying for Autumn and her family.

Lily's in Time Out

Our silly Lily is all over the place! She doesn't crawl, really - it's more of an inch-worm-ish scoot on her tummy. But, let me tell you, it gets her where she needs to go. Last night, she sat for almost an hour just like this against the living room wall:

It's like she's in time out or something. I laughed so hard at her that she kept looking back at me (as seen above) and giving me looks like, "Mom, leave me alone. I'm very busy." What a silly girl.
In other Lily news, I am still wracking my brain for first birthday party ideas. Anyone been to a great little birthday party and like to share what made it so great? I may just do a princess theme. Yes, I said theme. I know I'm going overboard, but I can't help myself. :)

Hangin' Tough

All you children of the 80's/early 90's....get ready:

From People :

New Kids On The Block Stage Comeback

After months of speculation and rumor, the Kids are coming back. A well-placed source tells PEOPLE exclusively that New Kids On The Block are indeed getting back together. The band's Web site, www.nkotb.com, which had been dormant, is now back up and running in anticipation of the official announcement, which the source says will be made in the next few weeks. The site currently features a television graphic with a fuzzy, flickering photos of NKOTB in their heyday, and a link inviting fans to sign up for info.The boy band, which made legions of tweens swoon in the early '90s, selling more than 50 million albums, became a worldwide phenomenon before calling it quits in 1994. Eighteen years later, they're still "Hangin' Tough." The oldest "Kid," Jonathan Knight, now a real estate developer, will turn 40 later this year. Since the band's demise, former members Donnie Wahlberg, 38, and Joey McIntyre, 35, have seen acting success, while Danny Wood, 38, has worked as a music producer and Knight's brother, Jordan, 37, has continued to record.


I told my husband this morning that he's crazy if he thinks if they tour anywhere near us that I'm not going. Takes me right back to the days plastering pictures of Joey and Jordan on my Trapper Keeper. Tonight, I'm singing Lily to sleep with "Please Don't Go Girl." :)

I need parenting help ASAP. :)

Lily, who up until now has been a world-class napper, is all of the sudden skipping naps. She's just learned to sit up in her crib, so she'll sit back there for an hour or more and not nap. She gets SO tired, which lets me know for sure it's not that she's ready to give up a nap. She yawns and rubs her face and sucks her thumb, but she sits back there and won't lay down. It got to the point yesterday where she fell ASLEEP sitting up. It was the cutest thing ever - she had the crib bumper flower pattern on her forehead because she had slumped forward onto the bumpers. But, it was also the most frustrating thing because she needed to sleep and wouldn't lay down. Is there anything I can do in this situation? Will it just take her a few days to figure out how to lay back down? Isn't it funny how once you get one thing down to a science, something else pops up? :) Literally for us in this case!
I'm not sure if this matters, either, but I think she may be getting her top front teeth in. I really don't want to start any bad habits as far as going in when I need to leave her alone, so any advice would be fantastic!! I've googled it and can't find anything at all about it, so I'm taking that to mean it's not a long-term problem:)

Mommy's Little "Helper"

It seems like it's been awhile since I've posted new Lily pictures. I can't believe she's almost 10 months old already. The time has truly flown by. I'm starting to plan her first birthday party (sniffle, sniffle), and I just may go a bit overboard. But hey, you only turn one once, right? :)

As you can see from the pictures, Miss Lil is a big laundry fan. She also loves it when I run the vacuum. I'm hoping that bodes well for me as far as her doing chores someday. :)