Still Here

We're still here. Still mommying.

Miss K is phenomenal. Growing everyday. Blogging is hard when you love your job, your family, your life. Ha- that sounds funny. It should be easy because I have so much to blog about. I mean it's hard because I am so busy enjoying life, I forget to blog. Kudos to the moms that can do it all.

I'll leave you with a picture of my princess. Almost 18-months-old already!

Excuse me- WHAT day is it?

 So umm yeah- I'm sucking at this whole blogging thing huh?

Pardon me while I get my life back in order. And boy have I ever. The baby is in bed, the husband is at a work event, the house is "clean" and the dog is asleep on my legs. Finally, a moment to myself.

These last two months are gone, like, I blinked and there they went. I can't believe we are half way through March.

Sunday is a big day- sure many folks will get drunk and wear green and pinch folks who aren't. I may partake in a beer or two. But Sunday is much bigger for us. Sunday, K will be 11 months. Nope, my finger didn't slip and accidentally add an extra 1. Kennedy is for real going to be just one month shy of a year old. Holy Shit.

Excuse my language but I really can't get over where the time has gone. The new job is going great! I've spent more time with my family in the last two months than I had the previous four combined. And you can tell. Little Miss has more tricks, words, attitude (and at times, fits) than ever. We jumped from crawling to pulling up on EVERYTHING. Now, we can't figure out how to sit back down yet but hey, it's a start. Rome wasn't built in a day.

My funny Valentine 2/14/2013

The house is somewhat in order, last week I was even able to deep clean the bathrooms and let me tell you- it may be the most pathetic thing EVER to actually be excited about that but hey, it's the little things right?

I'm actually working out, like not just walking Boone up two streets, but heading into the gym multiple times a week and breaking a sweat. While I'm kicking major ass in the arm workouts, my abs have permanently left the building so we're still trying to find them...

We are spending more time with family, every Saturday morning we get up early and meet my parents and grandparents for breakfast. It's awesome. I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Breakfast with Great-Grandpa Hap

Spring is next week, SPRING. Can you believe it? We're knee deep in birthday party planning, but THAT'S for another day...

HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND!

Jumping Back Into the Swing of Things

Needed some help with the candles this year.

I mean is she a doll or what?

Hoy boy has it been awhile. That whole NY resolution of updating daily? HA yeah right. But at least I've had some good excuses. Since then Nana went back to the hospital with a nasty infection- she has since been out for almost a month and getting better and stronger everyday! Aunt Blair and I got to see Wicked at the fabulous Fox (ridiculously awesome) but then she had to head back north where the wind chill was 30 below (ouch) for one more semester. We finally put Christmas back in the attic and took control of our living room again (thank God) and oh yeah- I got a new job.

Ha, no big deal right?  It kind of happened so fast. I got a call from this amazing company. I went in for the interview and with Mom's surgery and the holidays, I kind of lost track of time. So when I got the call asking me to take the job I was stunned. Completely caught off guard. I had a lot to think about.

Remember that Super Mom post awhile back? Well it's been on my mind since I wrote it. I had so much support after I came clean and it's been so great. But all the support in the world wasn't getting me more time with Kennedy. This job was a more regular hour 8-5 kind of job. The company is famously known for being family friendly- not that my other job wasn't- it's just sometimes when you work with students you are working on their time. And that's ok. But Kennedy was getting the shaft and I couldn't take coming home one more night with her already in bed. I thought about it all weekend. I talked to friends at the company. I talked to family. Geoff and I had a night full of going back and forth. And I knew what I had to do.

It killed me to turn my two weeks in. It crushed me to tell my best friend. But I knew, after all the tears and sadness, I was making the right move. Of course I worked with awesome people who were nothing but supportive and happy for me which- of course- made it harder to walk out that last day.

BUT- that was a week ago and I've been at the new place for a few days and I am in love. Head over heels haven't felt this way since K was born in love. I love everything about it. I'm back in my roots of journalism somewhat. I'm doing Communications and PR and I can tell it's going to be amazing.

There will be a night or weekend here or there and there will be some travel with this (I'm headed to San Diego in Feb) but for the most part I'm going to be right here with Little Miss and Geoff. And I couldn't be happier.

January was just CRAZY. The end of the holidays, Mom's stuff, Blair leaving, the job switch and today- we celebrated what Mom calls my "first annual 29th Birthday". I can't believe it- 29. Where have the years gone?

I can't believe where my life has ended up but I'm so in love with it all. This next year is going to be my "bucket year". I have a list of things I want to accomplish before I hit the big 3-0.

A sneak peek- get off my butt and kick this baby weight, learn something new (craft, language, hobby, etc), introduce Kennedy to the wonders of an ocean, try new food. That's just to name a few.

These last few weeks have really shown me just how blessed I am and I don't want to just "roll through" life not taking in every moment and memory that I can.

Please hang in there- this blog is important to me and I want to keep up as much as possible. I've got a heck of a birthday party to plan here in the next few weeks (K is 9 months-WHAT?) so there's sure to be some posts on that.

Have an amazing week all- you deserve it!

Changes they are a comin'

Oh boy do we have some changes headed our way. 2013 is the year I get my life in order 100%.

Can't wait to share all the news, still putting some final touches on it but details to come!

Operation Mealtime Fun

I had so many GREAT comments and food ideas from Facebook- thank you for sharing!

I think since I had so many I will take them and make them one by one and let you know how they turned out. You'll all get a little shout out. :)


Just a typical Friday here, Nana Vicki got to come home from the hospital (finally) so we had dinner and Geoff's brother and sister-in-law came to visit. It was a fun night!

We have a PACKED weekend, with one last family Christmas, a basketball game and then on Sunday I'm taking my sister to Wicked! I can't wait.

So let's be honest- there isn't going to be any cooking going on in this household this weekend. We'll start Operation Mealtime Fun next week. Can't wait to share them all with you!

Happy weekend everyone, enjoy it! Wow, I used a ton of exclamation marks, sorry- I'm that annoyingly happy person tonight...

It's Taco Thursday y'all

So one thing I haven't quite gotten down is the whole dinner thing. I know, I know- K is almost 9 months old- how do I not have dinner down?

I have a bit of an unusual schedule. 3 out of 5 days a week I'm working late or something comes up and I don't get home before 7. My husband, though nice to look at, isn't much help in the kitchen. Like, at all. He makes a mean pancake but you can only eat those so much so our dinners tend to be frozen chicken nuggets and if I have some extra energy- some mac-n-cheese. Tonight it was Taco Thursday, last night it was spaghetti with meat sauce. That's only 2 days and I'm already exhausted from browning the meat, making the rest of the meal, washing the dishes...

I need help. I need some quick meals with few ingredients as possible. I got a crockpot for Christmas and I'm excited to use it but I still have those silly thoughts of burning my house down while at work.

I'm just a mess. How do you do it? Do you do a weekly meal planner, a monthly one? Do you do the same few meals over and over? Do you just not care and eat cereal at least twice a week? Shoot me some advice folks- I need all the help I can get! Thanks!!

To a year we'll never forget

It's hard to believe we are already starting a new year. It seems like yesterday I was finding out I was pregnant and now Little Miss will be 9 months old in 2 weeks! 

2012 was a year full of fun, challenges, happy and sad times. I guess that's really any year but this one was special for so many reasons. 

2012 started with a very sweet surprise shower from some of my favorite students.

My Mizzou Spirit students are some of the best kiddos you'll ever meet. They helped Little Miss arrive in style.

After a quick and painless and perfect maternity shoot with Evee Images-

It was time for my hands down AMAZING Wizard of Oz themed baby shower thrown by our awesome families and friends.

You can read all about it in This post

After that shower it was time to get serious about the nursery, we only had another few weeks after all. I LOVE it still!

This was a fun post!

It's a good thing too because on April 17 (10 days before she was due) Miss Kennedy August Karr graced us with her presence. 

I never knew you could fall in love so fast.

We've had so much fun since! 

First photo shoot

First Mizzou Football game!

Baptism 7-22-12

BEAUTIFUL 6-month-old

Happy Halloween!

First Mizzou Basketball game

Cookies for Santa 12-24-12

First Christmas! 12-25-12

The Karr family 2012

Wow- to look back at pictures just makes me smile. As I said, we were very blessed this year, it was amazing. But 2012 also brought some sad times as well including the one year anniversary since Grandpa Gary passed away and the scary news of Nana Vicki's breast cancer. 

BUT- looking back on the last 12 months, I don't think I could change much. We have a happy, healthy, beautiful baby girl. Our family is complete. I don't know what 2013 will hold but I can only hope it's as magical as 2012!

So long 2012 and hello 2013!

I can't even begin to describe what an amazing yet challenging year 2012 was. My goal this year is to blog everyday and I have a few backed up so get excited (or not) for Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's, Update on Nana Vicki and more posts here in the upcoming days.

For now let's leave it simple as this:

                                                                      Happy 2013!!

No snow photos for us

Miss K was fast asleep when Daddy brought her home last night. It was too dark to take her out once she woke up. Guess we'll have to wait for the next snow! 

Snow, snow, snow

It's Snowing here in our hometown! I can't wait to get home and hope there is still some on the ground for Miss K to see for the first time. Pictures to come! 

Family photos are fun

After 7 months we finally took an afternoon to get some family pictures taken.

Of course we went to Evee Images and they didn't disappoint. We only had one tiny spill that kept Miss K pretty sad for the last set of pictures but she still did great!

Such a big girl

Right before a little spill

Not a happy camper

My little lady

Daddy's girl

Santa Baby

The Karr family

Little lady

Happy again

Sweet baby

LOVE this little girl

Our first family picture

Nana Vicki is fine!

After a rough weekend of being sore in the hospital Nana Vicki is home and resting.

They got everything out and the doctors said she was a perfect patient. 

She is still VERY sore but is moving and able to chat. Thanks for all your positive thoughts, we are very blessed to have this part behind us and are looking forward to spending Christmas as a family at home!

Cancer can have second base- Nana Vicki will win the whole damn ballgame!

Nana Vicki has cancer. Let's just put it out there. There's no tiptoeing around the subject, there's no maybe about it. It's there, it's small, it's real, it's going to be gone tomorrow.

That's right. Nana Vicki doesn't mess around. She's not one to hold a pity party, she's not one to put it off- she's pissed and ready to kick it out. This is one resident of Casa Vicki that's getting evicted and evicted quick. No two weeks notice, no shape up or ship out- just plain old get the F out now. Seriously, it's been a week and a half since we met with the doctor to decide her options.

The month of November was interesting to say the least, lots of appointments, extra mammograms, an ultrasound or two, a biopsy and the final news- the big old C word. December is shaping up to be just as interesting. When I went with Mom to the doctor we thought they'd give her a month or two to prepare. We were both stunned when the doctor said "my calendar is open, let's get this done in a week." So tomorrow Nana Vicki will undergo a double mastectomy. I should say the cancer is small and caught VERY early and after tomorrow she will be FINE. She won't require any radiation or chemotherapy. I'm 100% on board with her decision to do it all at once and never have to worry about it again. Plus- here in a few months she'll have a better ahem- set- than most 20 somethings.  In all seriousness, we are very lucky and so happy this was the diagnosis.

So here we are- a week and a half later. Ready to go. Is she nervous? I'm sure. I know I am! This is my Mom. The woman I've looked up to my whole life. The woman I've hated at times (for stupid, adolescent reasons of course), the woman I've been embarrassed of (for actual REAL reasons- showing up to my 8th grade Halloween party in a hospital gown with a fake butt), the woman I've admired for not going to college but having more brains and knowledge of things like your basic English language than most graduate students and the woman I owe my family to (she was the one who took me to lunch the day I met Geoff). She's Mom. She's been here for me in the good times and bad. She's taught me what it means to be a strong, independent, sometimes bitchy woman. I'd be lost without her sarcasm and freak mind of knowing EVERYONE'S phone number and address. But now she is more important to me than ever. Because now she's not just Mom- she's Nana Vicki. Now she has one more person depending on her.

She has loved Kennedy longer than I have I think- long before we even knew Kennedy was coming. I remember the time we went to Disney World in 2010 when she was crocheting a baby blanket on the plane and a woman asked her who it was for. Without blinking she said- "my grandchild". For those of you that can't do math- Kennedy was born in April of 2012.  Once I was actually pregnant I couldn't wait to tell her the news. Geoff and I had her come over to "look at our computer". That computer happened to be in the junk room aka Miss K's room. We just needed a reason to get her in there. I'll never forget the moment when Geoff asked her what we should do with the room if we couldn't fix the computer. She thought it was a crazy question. But then she got it. Her back was to us but when she turned around you could see the excitement in her eyes. She was put on this earth to be a Nana.

She's been there every step of the way since. She kept the house clean while I was pregnant. She kept my husband fed when I was too tired to cook. She kept me sane the day I was in labor. After Geoff, she was the only other person I wanted to see once I became Kennedy's Mommy.  She loves that little girl and that little girl adores her. In fact, the first three months of her life I think Nana Vicki didn't see her a total of 4 days. Even if it's after work and late, she'll stop by just to get some snuggle time in. She literally can't go a week. I know the next few weeks will be hard for her not being able to hold Kennedy. But I think Kennedy will be good for her. I'm so glad she's here and I'm not still pregnant. It's just one more thing to help Mom get better faster.

Everyone keeps asking me if Mom is ok and I keep saying a firm "yes." Because she is. It may be happening fast but I'm glad. I don't want her to have a chance to be nervous or sad. I don't want her to sit and stare at a calendar for weeks at a time just counting it down. I want it to be over and done with and something we look back on that happened in 2012 instead of something we are dreading at the start of 2013. A new year is a chance to start over and look forward to what the year holds. Thanks to finding this sucker early- we are going to be able to do just that. So instead of starting the year off with a surgery, Mom will be celebrating a successful one in the happiest place on earth- DISNEY. She's taking Blair in January. I'm still trying to find a suitcase big enough to sneak Kennedy and myself.

Nana Vicki will be just fine thanks to a mammogram. So here's my tiny soap box moment. Get one. If you are of age get one. If you have a mom or aunt or grandma or sister or friend- tell them to get one. I hear they're scary, I hear they kind of suck. You know what sucks more? Cancer. They save lives. It's the reason Kennedy will have a Nana Vicki. And I know when she's older she will appreciate it. I know I do.

I'll make sure to check back in tomorrow to let you know how everything went. We're lucky because Kennedy has an angel up in Heaven watching over her Grandmas and Grandpa- we know her Grandpa Gary will be with us tomorrow!

Our very first Christmas Card

We finally did it- we finally made a Christmas card. Now- the real challenge will be if I actually label and mail these puppies... Enjoy a sneak peek!

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0EYs2TZu4YtXMA&cid=SFLYOCWIDGET

Santa? No thanks.

Every mom has their dreams. What their child will be when they grow up, what sport they'll play in high school, what their prom dress will look like (is that just me?) and so on. One dream I've been waiting for since last Christmas was Kennedy's first meeting with the big guy himself- Mr. Santa Claus.  I imagined what she'd wear (an adorable red dress with a sweet bow because she'd have SO much hair, little white tights and black shiny shoes). I imagined how she'd react to him once she saw him (she'd look up into his face and tug on his beard and just laugh). I imagined the first Santa photo (perfect lighting, perfect pose, perfect Santa, perfect picture). It was beautiful. I couldn't wait. My dream couldn't be any farther from the reality that was the nightmare of meeting old Kris Kringle.

Let's start with Miss K's day. I'd been so excited all day knowing we were going to meet Santa. The day was SO slow. When Geoff brought her home I knew we weren't starting off on the greatest foot. Her report card from "school" said she hadn't napped all day and the last time she ate was 12:30. Really? I pay what I pay for that place and they either A: hadn't feed her in 5 1/2 hours or B: forgot to write down the last time they fed her and since she can't tell me I had to go ahead a feed her before we left. So that was fun. By the time we finished eating Grandma and Grandpa were here so we had to rush getting changed.  It was COLD so bye bye dress- we settled for red pants and a cute Christmas tree sweater. No bow because Kennedy doesn't have enough hair yet so we used a headband and we tried shoes but she doesn't have her Momma's love for them and is constantly kicking them off (tear).

She cries the entire way there (yay) something she never does in the car and I just know- this is going to be awful. By the time we pull up she is sound asleep and we have to wake her up. We walk in the store and head to the magical land. I've heard nothing but great things about this Santa so I'm pretty excited. We reach the big guy and there is no line- awesome- so we head on up to him. The second Geoff put her in his arms all hell broke lose- I mean she lost it!

We took a couple photos but girlfriend was game over. At this point a good mom might've picked her up and left but no- I took a few more pictures and laughed. I'll be real honest in saying Santa wasn't a big help. He didn't talk to her or smile or laugh- he just kind of sat there poor old guy. After trying a second time I sadly picked up my screaming child and walked away moping more than she was. Her first time meeting Santa was nothing what I'd imagined. So I did what any mom would do- I picked the worst picture of her possible.  

It's not the end of the world I know- it's just the end of me believing I have the perfect child (but really I do). So she wasn't smiling like a perfect angel, oh well. We have a great story to tell her over and over and over. Plus- I have it on good authority that Santa Claus will still be making a grand stop at the Karr residence come Christmas Eve. And I did get one of my dreams right- Grandma happened to catch the only instant where Miss K wasn't crying but tugging on Santa's beard. So there's that.

Getting Ready for the Holidays

I can't tell you how excited I am for this time of year. The month between Thanksgiving and Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year. And this year I get to introduce it all to my daughter.

Last holiday season I was 6 months pregnant and starting to feel it. Decorating was a chore, finding cute clothes was not happing and I was so tired everyday after work that I think I maybe watched 3 holiday movies total. 

This year though- I don't care if I fall asleep in the homemade icing- I'm doing it all.

We are baking Great-Grandma Whitney's sugar cookies and decorating them.

 We are putting up the tree and decorating the house AND putting lights up.

We are watching "The Holiday", "Meet Me in St. Louis", "How the Grinch Stole Christmas", "The Night Before Christmas" and so many more!

We are playing Christmas carols everyday.

And this year-

We will suck it up and head to the mall and meet the big guy himself. Santa!  I hope Kennedy is as easy going with him as she is with any other stranger. 

I'm just so thrilled to introduce her to all the magic of the holidays. She is at such a fun age, hard to believe 7 months have already gone by. I can't wait to see her open her gifts, can't wait to watch her face as she tries mashed potatoes, can't wait to hear her laugh with her second cousins as they make funny faces at her.

I've never felt more whole as I do right now. I have a family of my own and I can't wait to begin some of our own traditions.

Have I mentioned how much I LOVE the holidays???

Happy Holidays to you all!

A very pink Halloween

Kennedy may only be 6 months old but she had a pretty full Halloween complete with cute Halloween outfits, a visit to the pumpkin patch, a college Halloween party and 3 days worth of wearing her costume. She loved it big head gear and all. Of course, once she's older she may hate me for making her wear it but I think she's the cutest pink elephant I've ever seen!

Daddy and Kennedy picking out her first pumpkin

Cheese!

Family day at the pumpkin patch

At Mommy's work

Pretty in pink

Our favorite elephant