The life of a Single Mom!

Let's go back to last weekend...

Grandma and Grandpa came over to watch Ella on Saturday while Josh and I went on a date...a date to the shooting range :) It was the outdoor shooting range by our house...we did some handgun shooting...and rifle shooting (300 yards). I have never shot a rifle before...so that was kind of fun. We were aiming at an 8 inch metal plate target...on the third try I hit the target! I was pretty excited! :) After shooting we went to Red Lobster for a nice dinner. We were home by 7:30...no late night partying for us!

Sunday we went to church....and Josh went back out to the shooting range. He went with a friend of his from the Police Academy (they went through it together). So while they were gone for a few hours..Ella and I cleaned...and she took a nap....once Josh was home...he went and put a coat of paint on the walls of the downstairs bathroom...we did a second coat around 8:00 as well...I get to say "we" as I helped with the second coat...I did the edging while Josh did the rolling :)

Monday - Josh left for the week...he went to Northern Virginia for training for work...and Ella and I toughed it out. It really wasn't too bad...it was definitely a little tiring though! I was glad to hear that he was going to be home Friday afternoon! He came and met me at work...he went and picked Ella up...and then we went out to dinner together. He got Ella a special present...a little baby doll and bottle...she carried it around all evening! As a matter of fact when she went to bed I had to take it away.

I'm going to try something new this week...a detox diet...I'm not really doing it for the diet part...which losing a few pounds would certainly be ok...but to cut processed foods out...I feel like I eat fairly healthy...but could certainly do better...so I am working on making a menu of foods that I will be allowed (certainly all fruits/veggies, hummus, wild rice, nuts, almond butter) - I found a few recipes to make banana bread using the "allowed foods"...which I think I am going to try. It will certainly be different...but good for me. The goal is to do it for 21 days...and then I can add back foods...which I of course am going to try to still avoid eating processed things. We'll see!

Here's a picture of Ella playing while I was making dinner one night...

 

She piled up all of her baby dolls and stuffed animals and gave them a ride around the house! :)

Tired!

Another week down...

I of course...caught Ella's cold! Started in on Sunday night...thankfully it was fairly short....only lasted until Thursday. I was taking extra Vitamin C and Sudafed every 12 hours! The first couple of nights I only ended up with about 5 hours of sleep each night...this was due to being stuffy....annnnd Ella's coughing! I was a tired Mama...and still am!

However, we are for the moment healthy!

There really hasn't been too much new this week. Last week when I was making the banana bread - Ella came right over and saw me with the banana's and immediately said, "banana." Which took me back a little...I haven't given her plain bananas since she turned her nose up at them months ago. So I asked her if she wanted some banana...to which she said yes. I cut up a few pieces and sure enough..she ate it right up!

Ella is very in tune to everything around her. I had the radio on one day this week on our way to the sitters house...and Ella was repeating words from the song! (It was a local Christian radio station!) When Ella gets out of the car now she immediately wants to get down. She turns herself into a rag doll and goes limp so I have to put her down. She is very good about holding my hand however....and we've only done this while walking up to the sitter's door in the morning.

Ella got a new cup this week..it's a bigger cup with a straw...well you would have thought she was just given a million dollars! She thinks that the cup is the best thing in the world. I filled it up with water last night...and she wouldn't put the cup down...I finally got it away from her and actually dumped some of the water out....her little tummy was filling up like a football!

She's getting very good at reading her books...she can point to things and say what they are...cup, tree, ball, snake, bug, truck, puppy, star...and if it's an animal she recognizes she will make the animal noise. She's a smart little cookie!

Ella also got some new shoes this week!!! And when I say she was excited...that's an understatement...she immediately sat down and tried to pull her shoes off and then took her socks off and wanted her new shoes on. She than ran around the house, stomped her feet, and squealed!

She may like shoes better than me!

Fun Saturday!

Well guess where Ella got to go this morning....to McDonalds!!! Josh always gets to sleep in on Saturday...so I usually get up around 6:45 (and that's because that is right around when Ella wakes up)...and sure enough...I walked up the stairs and I heard "MAMA!" I hadn't even gotten to take a shower yet...so Ella and I played, watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, read books, and read more books! Around 8:45 - Josh makes his way up the stairs...so I immediately say - I'm jumping in the shower! A few minutes later there is a knock at the bathroom door with Josh saying...there isn't anything for breakfast...do you want to go to McDonalds (which of course the answer is no) - so I say nah...you and Ella can go....so he bundled her up and off they went! After they came home I asked Josh if she ate anything there....nope didn't even want a bite! (That's my girl!) - Of course she had already had a cup of milk and her nutra-grain bar.

While I was getting ready - I got a phone call saying that a friend of mine (and co-worker) was in a pretty bad car accident the night before....I was already getting ready to go to the grocery store in Lynchburg...so I thought...well I'm going to go see if I can visit her at the hospital....so I stopped to visit with her for a few minutes...and off I went to Target and then the grocery store (what a fun Saturday morning!)

When I got home - (Josh and Ella stayed home) - we all had lunch....here is Ella with a messy yogurt face...

 

This was after I had wiped her face some...it was all over!

I had my oven on for 5 hours today...first was to put a frozen pizza in the oven for Josh for lunch. Then I baked sweet potatoes...which I then made into a sweet potato casserole that had to be baked...then I baked two loaves of banana bread (and I remembered to make sure I had baking soda!) and then I made sweet potato fries and chicken nuggets (for Josh and Ella for dinner). That's the busiest my oven has been in a long time! I did 4 loads of laundry, ran the dishwasher and vacuumed...all these things I have to do on the weekends now....just a few more things to do tomorrow and I will be caught up for the week!

While I was baking...Josh and Ella were busy...

 

After I took the picture....I joined in and helped color too! :)

Oh and one last picture....really I could take this same shot everyday...Ella LOVES to feed the puppies...

This was last Sunday.

2 weeks down...and a Cold.

We've made it two weeks now! Two weeks of me working full time! I'm ready to win the lottery and be a stay at home mom! :)

It hasn't been too bad...I'm not a fan of being up early every morning! I am up between 5:00-5:45...depends on the day....so of course by 8:30 at night...I am falling asleep on the couch!

Ella has another cold :( And has teeth coming in. So she's a mess right now! I felt bad sending her to the sitters today...she probably shouldn't have gone...but I couldn't call in and Josh had training today...so she went!

 

She is full of grins! She likes to say chhheeeese! This was last week right after lunch (as her face is still messy!)

She hasn't had too much new in the food department lately...I made myself a baked sweet potato for my dinner tonight...and the minute she spotted that she wanted it...so I had to share!

Valentines day was this week...so Ella had to have a special outfit (the picture is a little dark...this was at 6:15 in the morning...so it was still dark in our house!)

 

It was sweet...Josh stopped and got Ella a special Valentines Day book...it's a Minnie Mouse book...and they have it read it quite a bit.

Her favorite book right now is, "Wheels on the Bus"...it's a book that has the whole song in it....so Josh and I sing it in the morning and at night...I actually found myself humming it while I was making lunches this morning...and once I realized that I was actually humming it...I laughed at myself. It's just begun I am sure!

So I decided that Ella is growing up too fast. I picked her up on Wednesday and she always says "bye"...but she actually turned and said by to the other kids...and said "bye Piper"...that's one of the kids whose name she can say! I thought...oh man she sounds just like a little grown up girl saying that!

Oh I did make something new this week...I made spaghetti squash...I have never had it or made it before...so I decided to try it! After baking it and shredding it - I mixed it with a little sour cream, Parmesan cheese, and some herb and garlic pepper...I baked it for another 20 minutes...and thought it came out pretty good! Ella didn't like it...Josh never made a comment about it....ha ha...so I'm going with probably not a favorite!

Josh is downstairs putting primer on the walls of the bathroom...we are going to buy paint tomorrow. We bought the vanity top this past week...and the bottom of the vanity we bought last Fall. The tile guy comes on Monday to start tiling...it's all coming together! :)

Long Day!

Well I made it through the week!

The days fly by when I'm at work...which is good...I like to be busy!

Friday Josh was off....Ella still went to the sitters...but since he was off - he did pick her up!

Saturday - we were busy! We went into Lynchburg and first had to make a stop at a friends house...Josh was bringing him some re-loading stuff and picking up something....so we all went in for a little while. Then we went and got Josh's hair-cut. Then off to Michael's craft store to get frames for some posters that Josh wanted framed (to hang in his office)....then we went out to lunch. We went to Moe's...Mexican....I wasn't sure how Ella would do eating it...as she's so picky! However she did just fine...I got a vegetarian thing....basically a tortilla filled with veggies (mushrooms, olives, green peppers, onions) and black beans....and I shared with Ella....and she did great eating it...she ate a little bit of Josh's burrito also which was filled with some rice and hamburger...she had no problem chowing down on that. After lunch we went to TJ Maxx (I do love to shop!) and I got a shirt and a scarf. Then onto the grocery store. 5 hours laters....

 

Well...there's still a smile...she did lose her hair-bow....and her hair was full of static!

I tried to put her down for a nap around 3 when we got home....but she really wasn't going for it...she played quietly in her crib for a while...that was about it! So I just let her get up.

I made breakfast for the week....

 

Mini omelets - just eggs, green pepper, red pepper, a little bit of cheese and ham....and voila....easy breakfast that I can just pop in the microwave to warm up and go.

Sunday - I had nursery at church....it was just Ella and one other little boy in the "One year old room"....I guess lots of sick children today! So nursery was a breeze! After church, Josh was actually scheduled to work 12-8 today....so he went to work....Ella and I ran a few errands and then came home. Ella went down for a nap around 1:45 and actually took a really good nap....or so I thought. I'll spare you the details....let's just say there is a first time for everything....which included...a first for removing her own pants, and removing her diaper....it wasn't pretty! And it involved me having to do an extra load of laundry! So for bed tonight she is wearing a sleeper that zips and snaps at the top....I'm praying she can't get out of that! 

It may have been a bit of a long day today! I did do a little retail therapy online however....had a few gift cards that have been laying around for quite some time...so Ella has a new shirt, and two new outfits coming her way....along with a new shirt for me....and I have a lot of bids going on eBay right now!  

Ella has learned a few new things....there are 2 kids from the sitters house that she has learned their names....Kade (the baby) and Piper....she can say both of their names really well. She also can say bunny....she has a bunny book....and she eats "chocolate bunnies" - organic teddy grahams is what they are. 

Ella's now in bed....and I'm exhausted! Time to go do some picking up before Josh gets home!

 

Week 1.

I'm only 3 days in of working full-time...and I am exhausted! Hopefully after a few weeks I will be back in the swing of things...I am the type of employee that hates to leave things unfinished...it's very hard for me to leave a project...and I have so many projects that I am working on! So I have been a little on edge the past few days...and I am feeling it so bad in my neck/shoulders (right where I carry all my tension!)

Other than that...things are going good! Over the weekend we ran some errands...

Ella did great tagging along! We went to Home Depot to pick out tile as our downstairs bathroom is being finished this week! (well probably next week....but we're making progress!) We picked out everything we wanted...then we ran and I got my hair trimmed up...and then went to the grocery store....then grabbed some lunch and headed home.

On Sunday - we went to church...and then came home where Ella was supposed to have a nap...but she just wouldn't take one...and was crying...wouldn't go to sleep...so I just let her come back out into the living room...and she was just as whiny as could be....Josh was gone to the shooting range...lucky for him! So when he came home...he took over watching Ella to give me a minute of quiet time (I needed it!)....after a little while she got over her fussiness...and we went over to our friends house as they were having a little super bowl party....we stayed until Ella laid on the floor and was ready to go "na-night!" Which was about 8pm....she got to stay up an hour later than normal! We live about 5 minutes from their house....and Ella was fast asleep when we pulled into our driveway! They have a dog named Oakley (a terrier I think it is)....with very similar colorings to Bella...so Ella was calling the dog "Bella" the entire time...it was funny!

She LOVES to read....

Ella has done great with eating a few things this week....I made the baked penna pasta dish again...and she did really well with eating that...and eating sweet potatoes....she likes to reach in with her spoon and scoop it out herself....so it's a bit on the messy side....but good for her to learn.

I picked her up from the sitters the other day...and she had a small snack in her hand...and I found out it was a pop-tart....I wanted to be like Noooo don't feed her a pop-tart...but it was a small piece...and I can't protect her food choices forever :) I'm sure a small piece here and there won't hurt her! Plus, Ella is not going to understand why she can't have a piece of pop-tart when the other 3 kids are all eating it. :)

Ella is getting more and more talkative each day...I wouldn't say that she has new words...but she just jabbers more and more. She's good at answering questions...like if you ask her what an "animal" says...she always answers...and she can tell you yes or no...but is actually answering the question that you are asking...and not just saying yes or no.

Well it's 8:30...and this working all week has made me tired! Time to head downstairs to read!

Fun-Filled Wednesday!

Well it was our last day at Romp N' Roll :( At least for going during the week...they do have a Saturday class that I think I might put her in...she enjoys going and if it's on a Saturday Josh and I can both go. This was Ella's art project today:

Well it turned into more my project then Ella's...she did help some :)

After Romp N' Roll we met my mom and dad at Target...where we walked around and scoped it all out...I think Target is going to miss my weekly shopping trip! I picked Ella up an outfit for Valentines day...because she needs to be festive for the holiday! I also got her a pair of pajamas and a shirt....but those are to be put away until the fall/winter...as they are the next size up...but they were a good sale!

They got lunch and brought it over to our house...and we had lunch and then played with Ella...Ella was loving having Grandpa laying on the floor playing with her! They read lots of great stories, played with baby dolls, played with Mr. Potato Head....he tired her right out....after they left...Ella went down for a nap and slept for 2 hours! While I did laundry, read a magazine, and made chocolate chip cookies! When Ella got up from her nap she got to have a chocolate chip cookie...I should have taken a picture of her face after she was done devouring that cookie...she clearly enjoyed it!

I made my Chicken Dish tonight....I wasn't that impressed with it....it was just chicken, potatoes, and green beans all baked together with a mix of seasonings and a little butter...it was too bland we both thought (although Josh said it was ok because at least it was edible)....we both really liked the green beans at least....so that recipe won't be on my list again! I did make a fish dish last night (baked sole)...Josh said he didn't care for it...he ate it but didn't really like it....he's a red meat kind of guy...we definitely have different taste buds! I might have to start making two different meals! Although the guys at his office made a big venison steak meal for lunch...so he still got to eat something good!

That's been the highlights of our week so far!