Birthday Weekend

Busy, busy, busy! And I don't see it slowing down any time soon. Lots of stuff on the horizon for both home and work.  I'm finally getting a chance to catch up on Evelyn's 3rd birthday.  With all that's been on the agenda lately there just wasn't time (or should I say I didn't make the time) to plan a birthday party for Evelyn this year.  The past 2 years have been pretty expensive when you add up the price of the venue, food, decorations and goodie bags. So I don't feel like I've lost any mommy points by not having an actual party with invitations.

Note to self and others: don't use Dollar General for helium for your balloons.

a) you first have to purchase a package of balloons

b) you have to pay $1 per balloon for helium

c) they don't give you string or weights for them. They just shove them in a Dollar G plastic bag

d) they will be on the ground the next morning when you go to decorate your doorway

These balloons are only "floating" because they are taped to each other and to the sign

Never again.

Let's be honest, she's three and the parties so far have been for my enjoyment because she isn't going to remember these when she is older.  But I will have a gazillion pictures to show her :)

We started the day at Chuck E. Cheese because she had been seeing the commercials for it for a few weeks.  I knew she wouldn't be all about Chuck E. when he made his appearance but all in all it was actually a really good time. I wasn't too excited about it at first.  Dirty facility? Dirty pizza?  But I was gonna do it for her.  Turns out, the pizza was pretty darn good and the only thing dirty about the place was the smell when you first walked in.  Ya know, that dirty kid feet smell.  After about 5 minutes you got used to it.

First trip to Chuck E. Cheese. 

After an hour or so there we headed to the mall to Build-A-Bear.  Not our finest visit there (okay, it was only our second) but we had a tired little girl who needed a nap but wasn't quite to crazy-kid level yet.  She picked out a dragon and all was going well until it was time to give the thing a "bath".  That burst of air was it for her.  She was over it.  Even though she was the one who picked out the dragon it took her a couple of days to come around and be friends with him.  We I named him Elliott and I thought he was the cutest thing.  I was actually starting to feel sorry for this little dragon.  Poor thing.  Had to sleep in the living room by himself for a couple of nights until he was upgraded to Evelyn's chair.  So glad that she has accepted him!

See how happy she is with Elliott! :-\

After Build-A-Bear we took a trip to Toys-R-Us to pick out some presents.  Yes, I wanted her to be able to rip open presents and of course take 100 photos of this happening but she's at an age where she knows what's going on in the stores now and I can longer just throw something in the cart.  No, I don't feel bad about it because it was fun to take her through the aisles and let her pick out stuff.  When we got home she couldn't wait to take everything out of it's package.  Hey, I saved on wrapping paper and tape.

One tired little 3 year old!

The next day we had a little cookout for the Fourth of July (that was not a birthday party) but she really wanted a Scooby-Doo cake so we bought  a cake and found some Scooby-Doo decorations and celebrated Evelyn's birthday again.  Why not?  Evelyn wasn't scared this year of the fireworks and it turned out to be  nice little evening with family.  The next day we were worn out!

The many faces of Evelyn!

Front yard party!

So, no big party this year but it was a wonderful weekend and I saw how much love this little girl has and it's pretty amazing.

-April

New Seasons All Around

Hi ya! Well, I guess it's been awhile since my last visit to the keyboard.  Lots of things going on in the Rowell house that I have been meaning to announce but I haven't felt the best lately and I have been just kind of a bum when I get home.

Why have I not felt the best lately?  It's because I'm growing another baby!  That's right, a new Rowell is on the way.  I am almost 15 weeks and I think I'm finally getting out of that first trimester sickness junk.  I'm thankful that I haven't been totally sick with the throwing up and everything but let me tell you my stomach has been all over the place.  This week was the first full week that I haven't been nauseous and hungry and sick of food all at the same time.  It's been coming in waves and I think those days might be behind me (I hope!)

This was our Facebook pregnancy announcement.

The one thing that's been taking me down the past 3 or so weeks is a headache that just doesn't want to go away.  (this week has been good, keep these good weeks coming!)  When you are pregnant the only thing you can take for headaches is Tylenol.  Okay.  I might as well just pop a couple of Skittles cause it has about the same results.  The headache remains.  I finally called my doctor to see what else I could take because normally I have prescription Ibuprofen that will knock my headaches out pretty fast.  The only thing they could prescribe me was Tylenol with codeine.  I was told it may not take the pain away any more than regular Tylenol but it might relax me and give me a good nights sleep.  Took 'em twice and was up until almost midnight both nights.  Lesson learned - codeine does not make me sleepy.

My baby bump has really popped out in the last couple of weeks and it's just weird to me that I am going through all this again.  Don't get me wrong, we are very excited and this was planned but I just don't think it's 100% hit me that we are having another baby.  It gets a little more real every time the bump grows a little more.

The beginning of maternity clothes.

Evelyn is really excited about the baby and asks me every day if the baby is punching me.  She keeps changing her mind on whether it's a boy or a girl.  I feel boy.  I guess we will find out in a little over a month.  If it's a girl, I'VE GOT CLOTHES.  If it's a boy, SHOPPING!!!  I don't have a preference on what to have.  I just want a healthy baby.  

My precious little flower girl.

What other change is coming up?  A new house. Oh goodness is the next several months going to be busy!  We are in the process of staging our house right now to get it ready to sell.  That's a big pain in the butt.  We signed the papers on the new house this week and building is planned to start in August.  My due date is December 21st and they are saying the house should be ready in late November/early December.  Please mother nature don't do anything that will slow this down!  Although it's going to be weird the next several months living in a bare home and baby planning and new house planning I'm really excited for it and I have prayed a lot about it and I feel at total peace with everything.  I hope we just get in the house in time to put up a Christmas tree :)

Another change that has come my way lately has been a change at work.  I've been in a supervisor role for over 2 years now and before that was in a leadership role for about 7 years or so.  The past year or so I have really struggled with this position.  Being in charge of people is not an easy job.  I'd like to say that I am an easy person to get along with and for the most part I really like people.  I've never been a negative person or mean spirited but over the past year I have found myself changing into a person I'm just not.  And a person I don't really like.  I won't go into too much of all my issues but let's just say it was seriously messing with my mental state.

A new position came open a couple of months ago and I have been very blessed to have been offered this position.  And let me tell ya, I already feel such a weight off my shoulders.  It came at such a perfect time because I don't need the extra stress during my pregnancy or after.  My family needs to be my priority and this new position will let me have that.  No more texts at 3 in the morning asking if someone can have the day off.  Yes, that is a true story.  Thank you Lord for your blessings!

Now that I'm feeling better I hope I can blog about this pregnancy they way I did with Evelyn.  It's fun to go back and read about those times :)  And speaking of Evelyn, I can't believe she will be 3 years old next week.  3!!!!  She is just about the best thing ever and I know she is going to be such a good big sister.  She's already made plans to feed and diaper the baby.  Momma's little helper!

Send good vibes for the sale of our house!! :)

-April

Easter 2015

Easter already? Man, I feel like this year is already zooming by.  Weren't we just experiencing all the holiday hype?  Seems to me that every Easter the weather isn't quite Easterly. It's either too cold or rainy I feel.  This year it was rainy and cold and not the weather for fancy spring time dresses.  

We made our annual visit to see the Easter bunny which was going well up until it was Evelyn's turn to see him.  She began to panic and kept saying "I don't want to see him, I don't want to see him."  Well, we didn't stand in line for nothing so like last year momma took a seat next to the bunny and hoped for the best.

The smile is definitely forced.....I told her if she smiled daddy was going to give her a surprise.  Don't worry, I'm not a momma who doesn't follow through, we went and saw the fish.  Not exactly the best surprise around but Evelyn seemed to go with it.

Easter morning we went to Claremore to see my mom for breakfast and hung out for a little bit.  After that we made our way back home, picked up Zach and then headed to his mom's house.  It was too wet and too cold to hunt easter eggs outside so we made the best of it and hunted eggs in the living room.  I wasn't the best hider, okay, I really didn't hide them at all.  I threw them on the couch and handed her a basket.  She was okay with it.

A little car nap between visits.

Another delivery from the Easter bunny?

Yum! Give me candy!!

A sweet apron and napkins made by our friend Debbie for when they have their tea parties.

Just so precious.

She found 'em!!

Anyone remember the plays Toy Maker and Son, Toy Maker's Dream or the Masterpiece?  I can remember as a kid making the journey to Tulsa every Easter to see these plays.  It was my favorite! I wanted to be one of the dancers so bad.  I used to fill paper grocery bags with toys, clothes, whatever I could find to put some weight in them and then flipped them around and throw them in the air as if they were people.  I danced in the back yard with those bags for hours it seems.  Wonder if my parents ever noticed and thought that was a little odd? Great imagination I say :)

I shared that experience with Evelyn this past weekend by watching the Masterpiece on DVD and she loved it.  It was a sweet little moment for me and I love introducing her to stories about Jesus.

Hoping to relax a little this weekend but as usual that probably won't happen :) Got early morning plans with a friend and Evelyn's friends then it's my nieces first school formal.  She's kind enough to let her mom and I tag along for dinner.....probably at a different table ;)  

Gearing up for next week because this lady right here is going to be thirty.....wait for it.....four years old.  I'll be officially in my mid 30's.  When did that happen? I'm okay with it though.  Age is just a number and I'm blessed to have another year to celebrate.  Bring it on 34, bring it on!

Have a wonderful weekend and enjoy the sunshine if you see it.

April

A New Season, A Night Out

Heellloooo Spring!! I am so very glad to see you. The winter here in Oklahoma wasn't that bad up until the beginning of February when old man winter decided to stop by for a reminder that he still exists.  I'm not a fan of the snow when I have to drive on it and I have to say I'm pretty proud of myself for not being too anxious about it.  No, it wasn't even that big of a snow fall but you gotta know I'm a pretty big wimp when it comes to driving period.

I realize I haven't blogged since the first of the year but I've kind of been in a weird slump lately.  Nothing too bad and nothing thats even a big deal.  Just a lot of soul searching and finding the right balance between work and home and time for myself.  Stress piles up faster than you think!  I'm hoping for a new season for me in this new season.

The husband and I did get to unwind a bit and went to see Little Big Town this past weekend.  We hadn't been to The Joint at the Hard Rock Casino before so it was nice to visit a new venue.  It was a nice change of pace from the BOK Center and Cain's Ballroom.  I've heard from friends that there isn't a bad seat in the house and I have to say I believe that's true.  And if you want a show that starts on time and doesn't keep you there super late then this is the place to go.  Opening act was on straight up at 8:00, played 5 songs (which should be the maximum on any opening act) and Little Big Town was on shortly after that.  In order to get the people out on those slot machines at a decent time the show was over at 10:00.  Now, that's my kind of show.  One of my favorite parts.....the pretzel was only $2.00.  Win! And my other favorite part.....the older ladies in the crowd breaking it down to Up Town Funk during the two acts.  It. Was. Awesome.  Get it girls!! 

My date for the evening.

Little Big Town

The gals in front of us.

I would have loved to have seen my 2 songs I had been waiting on but these rude ladies decided to stand up for it.  And were the only ones around us standing up.   Hello!!!! Rude!!! 

Concert rule: If no one else behind you is standing up to Pontoon and Boondocks, you don't stand up either.

Update on the potty business:

Evelyn is still rocking the potty.  We still have her in a pull up at night even though she has only woken up with a wet one about 5 or 6 times.  I really think we could do without them but I'm just not ready for the wet sheets in the morning or the screaming in the middle of the night because she realizes she's wet.  I've been holding off on the pull-ups at nap time and she woke up screaming when she had an accident a couple of weeks ago.  

We have made the transition from the little potty on the floor to the big potty with the potty seat.  Judge me if you want but I started bringing her potty seat with us when we went out to eat because I wasn't sure how we were going to take on the public restroom.  I knew her little butt was just going to fall right in so I needed something she could at least sit on.  Let me tell ya, that girl cried and screamed like I was in there beating her.  It did not go well on several occasions.  So a couple of weeks ago we decided just to be done with the little potty at home and transfer her little butt to the big potty.  It took a couple of tries and some pretty good crying but she finally let it happen and we haven't looked back.  Except when she tells us that "pottys don't go in the closet" when she found the hiding spot for it.

I'm not sure why I don't own one of these Easter eggs but I totally need one.

Helping Gigi decorate their Easter Egg tree.

Here's to saying this week is going to be way better than last.

So far, so good.

-April

Potty Like A Rockstar!!

Happy New Year!! Here we are again meeting the first of a new year.  Ready to let old things go and welcoming new things.  It's always bittersweet and takes me a couple of days to adjust. (Remember my Christmas blues?  I still kind of got 'em.)

New things have been welcomed in this house before 2015 and it's pretty exciting.  We officially have a potty trained little girl!!! Yay!!!  Oh, AND, she is sleeping in a "big girl bed".  Now, let me just say while these are very good changes this momma heart of mine had to make a big adjustment.  If there is anything you need to know about me it's that I am not the best with change.  Always hard on me. (Remember how I just said I need a couple of days to adjust to the new year?)

Potty training started on Sunday the 21st first thing in the morning.  We were prepared. As soon as she got up that diaper was in the trash can and big girl underpants were on.  (Note: we are calling them underpants because the word panties makes both Zach and I a little sick in the stomach.  Always has.  I don't know what it is about that word but, ugh!)  Back to the story, she got about 5 minutes into the training and whoops, there it was.  An accident.  

She got a little freaked out but we took her to the potty, the big potty with the little seat, and did the whole wait-it-out-for-a-chance-there-might-be-more-peepee-coming.  Nah.  We had nothing.  Took her off and waited around again.  Of course waiting around meant asking her every five minutes if she needed to potty.  "Do you need to potty? Where does pee pee go? We don't put pee pee in our pants.  Make sure you tell momma and daddy when you need to potty."  I was already sick of my own voice. (Is my voice really that annoying?)

That day Evelyn and I had a lot of together time.  We spent time looking at wet spots on the floor.  Spent time holding each other as she sat on the big potty and I sat on her little potty -as she was bawling her head off, wiping snot on my shoulder and so upset I couldn't understand her words.  (Was this going to go on all week???) See, I was off the whole week of Christmas and I was Determined to get this little gal potty trained.  

Day 2 - A good day.  Only ONE accident the whole day!! It was another day of me asking her about a 100 times if she needed to go and it was decided that she would rather go on the little potty.  Done.  If this was the ticket to an easy week then that's what was going to happen.  Success!

Day 3 rolls around and everything has gone perfect.  She still wasn't or isn't in regular underpants at night, we are using pull-ups but we still call them underpants.  We want to keep it consistent for her.  The only problem we were facing was we hadn't had a poop yet.  (Oh goodness, please oh please don't do it in your pants!)  We kind of backed off on asking so many times if she needed to potty because we wanted her to be able to tell us when she had to go.  When she said for the first time she had to poo poo I must admit, I panicked a little.  Everything was going good until I had to wipe her.  Ummmm, how am I going to do this in the cleanest way possible??  I guess the way I have since her birth #shouldershrug so I laid her on the ground and wiped her like a baby.  Next trip to the potty we mastered the "bend over wipe" and things have been good every since.  Step 2 of a poop - it has to go from the little potty to the big potty. This is the very reason we really wanted Evelyn to poop on the big potty but, that wasn't going to happen. One thing I will be picking up from the store this weekend- flushable wipes.  Fo Sho!

In the next days there were lots of false alarms and visits to relatives houses but we have not had one more accident since the one on Monday and I am thrilled!!!  She is rockin' this potty business. Next step will just be getting rid of the pull-ups.  She mostly wakes up from her naps and night time dry so maybe in the next couple of weeks they will be out of the house too.

Besides all the wonderful holiday fun, that pretty much consumed my vacation week and I am so glad it's done and out of the way.  Oh wait, did I mention that she is in a big girl bed now?  Yep!  Sleeping with a pillow and everything.  All it took were 4 screws to come off her crib and BAM she was in a toddler bed.  A friend of ours at the house said as I was freaking out, "did you ever think 4 screws could change your life?"  He was so right.  But I am getting used to it and it sure helps that I don't have to pick her up out of the bed every time.  She's getting a little heavy these days.  She's been good about not getting out of her bed in the middle of the night which I was concerned about.  What can I say?  This BIG girl is not a baby any more.  

So now I keep getting asked "When's the next one?"  Hhhmmm?

Our "let's do this" supplies.

She had 3 potty chairs to choose from and she picked this one over Minnie and the Disney Princesses.

Her very own hand towels and soap dispenser.

And the most favorite of all.....the M&M's machine.  Now when Zach or I use the restroom she makes sure to let us know that we can now have M&M's. :)

I hope everyone has an incredible 2015 and many many blessings to you and your family.

-April

Christmas Blues

First of all HAPPY BIRTHDAY to my sister today!!  Love you!  Secondly, I feel the blues coming on. I always get just a little bit sad this day every year because I know there are only 2 more days to soak up all the Christmas I can.  I can't help it, I AbSoLuTeLy love this time of year.  For me the kick off for the holidays are October 1st.  I get down my Halloween and fall decorations and then after the 31st Halloween disappears and I keep my fall decorations up (and add more if necessary) then the weekend before Thanksgiving all the Christmas stuff comes out.  I need it in my house for as long as possible.  I will be sad for a few hours after everything is put away and my house is back to normal.  

Now, throughout the year I get my Christmas fix by watching a Christmas movie or listening to my Pandora Christmas stations but the 2 things I can't get throughout the year are the Christmas commercials on T.V. and the overtake of Christmas songs on our local radio station.  Those things are something I look forward to every year.  

What gets me through?  The fact that I know a restart comes on January 1st! Even if I have nothing really that I'm waiting to start over on I like the idea of it and all the magazines with their new years ideas and all the storage items that replace the Christmas decorations on the shelves and calendars and planners.  Those things make me happy :) Really happy!

I know I didn't do the best at blogging this year and I hope to do a better job in 2015.  There were many many times that I had all the intentions to blog and had things to blog about but sleep always sounded so much better :) 

So here is a little catch up from our holidays this year. 

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Evelyn was Annie this year for Halloween.  I wasn't sure how she would handle the dress because she's known to have had a meltdown before over a play dress.  Full on freakout!  But she did excellent in her Annie dress and shoes.  She is still asking to wear her "Annie shoes". So even if they look completely ridiculous with what she is wearing sometimes we just go with it.  It makes her happy and that makes us happy :)

Ever since she was introduced to Jack on Halloween she asks about him often.  So even though it cost me more money than I would normally spend on a little toy for her we are now the proud owners of a Santa Jack we found at Hot Topic because the only Nightmare thing the Disney store had was a coffee cup.  That won't do. I was actually very surprised at all the Disney stuff Hot Topic had.  So if you are looking for something a little more unique than what the Disney store carries you might want to check them out.  Warning: It's loud and small and crowded in there.  

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And this little pumpkin patch was just the cutest thing ever.  We for sure will be going back next year.

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The past couple of years we have attended the pre-season Thunder game here in Tulsa at the BOK. This year we splurged a little as our birthday presents to each other and got court side seats.  Not right on the court as I would like but close enough ;)

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Made the trip to see Santa and we actually had a successful visit. No tears!

And yes, we saw Santa before Thanksgiving.

You gonna tell this face she can't see Santa??? :)

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Now it's Turkey Time!

My husband who is sweet enough to take selfies with me no matter how many I ask him to pose for because he knows I want to capture these moments :)

Never too old to be a little goofy!

There are several several versions of this picture. So I'm just gonna go with this one.  This is my grandma and her grandkids and great grandkids.  This isn't all of us but it's hard to get us all together when we cover 3 states.  I actually find these kind pictures better memories than us all posed and smiling as we should be. 

The kids have now become the adults.  Kind of weird.

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And finally I give you the Rhema Christmas lights.

This is the first time we have been to Rhema at all together and I hope we continue to go and make this a tradition.  The weather was about 50 degrees so it was just right. Maybe we'll get this lucky every year.

Don't want to overload you with my life in one sitting so I will save some for later.  I am off work all week and potty training started in this house on Sunday so it's been an eventful few days.  I'll update you on that later as well :) Let' just say that diaper poop is not the same as potty poop #sogross

Merry Christmas Eve Eve!

-April