What a Whirlwind!

I know it's been a LONG time since I've posted. My sincerest apologies!! Life has been moving so much faster than my cute little pumps will take me! And let me tell you - I have some C.U.T.E. new pumps {thank you Santa Baby ;) }.

In the last few weeks I've been a Mommy, a Wife, a student to the fullest extent, Santa Clause, and a total Domestic Goddess - baking and cooking for everyone and every event! In fact, when I'm finished catching up my blog, I'm about to go dip some cheesecake balls in chocolate! (Sounds fun huh?)

I'd like to wish all of you an incredibly Happy New Year! I've been pondering my resolution. This year I would love to have a few that I can actually stick with!! First and foremost, I need to get my cholesterol under control - can you believe that at only (insert my young age here) I have outrageously high cholesterol. So much for the good genes! Next, I definitely want to take advantage of one of my Christmas presents and make a committment to read the Bible more by way of my new Apologetics Study Bible. I also need to reign in my cursing - for someone so prissy, I certainly have the mouth of a sailor.

Finally - I want to grow my NEW BUSINESS!! That's right - my friend Jamie and I have finally opened Tiny Tutus! Check us out!

We already have our first order rolling and I can't wait to get every little girl in her own, personal, totally girly TUTU!

I'm BACK! And this is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

The Death of His Curls

I'm not sure my heart could take any more. First my baby boy turns a WHOLE 1 YEAR OLD, and then my flippin husband takes him to the barber with him. This is typically not a big deal. He's done this plenty of times and Izaiah comes home with a trimmed up look. But this time, the trip was different.

My son came home looking just like his Pops.

They took the clippers to my little man's head and destroyed all his beautiful little baby curls!

My husband is quite amused at my disappointment. "He's not a baby anymore! He's a little man!" But do you see my baby's peanut head?

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels - in mourning!
*MUAH!*

HELP!

I need Bloggyland HELP!! I had the beautiful header made (the one you see above) over at IzziesGraphics and now I can't get it centered! What am I doing wrong? Anyone want to help out a novice? ;)

*MUAH!*

OH Bryanna...

Let me preface this post by telling you that here at the Thompson Home, we tend to have some good laughs daily! Brandon is such a booger and is always cracking on one of us. Bryanna is QUICKLY picking up.

Monday through Friday Brandon pops in from 11-12 for lunch. Until that time, Bryanna and Izaiah pretty much run the house. They watch cartoons all morning, eat their breakfast, chill in their jammies, etc. But when Daddy comes home - BIG POPPA rules the rooste! So after making himself something to eat, he plops down on the couch for a little afternoon convo and he grabs the remote and gives Bryanna a hard time, saying things like "It's Daddy's turn! No more cartoons for you!" Like I said, he's such a booger!

So this afternoon, the house rumbled as the garage door opened and closed and the kids stirred as they waited for Brandon to pop up. He rumbled a little as he talked about the weather and work, made himself some soup and plopped down on the couch and began scouring for the remote. Little did he know that he was about to get punked! No - Ashton Kutcher was not hiding around the corner.

Bryanna had already found the remote and was holding on for dear life as she quiety watched Brandon dig in the couch cushions. What follows is a conversation I'm not soon to forget.

Brandon: "Nana - where's the 'mote?"

Bryanna: (holding tight) "Right here."

Brandon: "Daddy's turn. Give me the 'mote punk!"

Bryanna: "Uh...no."

Brandon: "GIRL! Give me the 'mote! It's Daddy's turn! You know the rules!"

Bryanna: (holds her arm straight out at Brandon with her index finger up) "Uh...no. That's not nice! You can watch when my show is finished Daddy! Shhhh, Dora is on!"

hehe Brandon was SO stunned that he had no choice but to let her watch the rest of Dora before asking for the "'mote" again! We got a great laugh out of that for the rest of the day!

Oh I just love my daughter SO much! I won't have to miss Brandon while he's in Honduras for a year because I have his clone in short, girly form!

This is my HILLARIOUS life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

My Dumbo Complex

Ok...this is hard for me to talk about. I have an issue that I like to call my "Dumbo Complex." My friends know all about it, my husband provokes it (he thinks he's cute), my kids (at least Bryanna) think it's funny, but I live in fear. I beg you not to laugh, although I'm sure you will.

I have big ears. No, let me rephrase. My ears are not necessarily large - they're probably no bigger than yours - but they stick out like two antlers on a young buck. Drama Queen I am not!

I was completely oblivious to this extreme until somewhere around 2nd grade. We were watching a video during class and my little girl friend who was playing with my hair said "You're ears are huge!" The whole class giggled. Thus began my "Dumbo Complex."

From that day forward, I never once wore my hair up in a pony tail. Arguments ensued between my Mom and I as she tried to sneak in pig tails and braids and bows and clips. During Jr. High and High School, I didn't have the option of a bad hair day. I made sure to rise early every morning so that I could shower and blow dry my hair. As if my dumbo ears weren't enough, I was also blessed with thin, baby fine hair, forcing me to try every hair style under the sun to hide my ears by adding volume to my hair.

Since hitting my early 20's (I would say 23+) I've began to relax about it. I wear my hair up often while in the privacy of my home and occasionally I even step outside, into the grocery store or into a restaurant in a high pony tail with sweeping bangs. But I'm still severely conscious of stares and whispers - convinced without a doubt that they are all about me and my ears!

I like to think that I'm an attractive woman. I'm petite but curvy, baby blue eyes, hair so naturally blond I've had hair stylists refuse to dye it...but I still feel the need to compensate. I feel myself climb into a shell when I'm out with my husband, my ears are dragging the floor behind me. I actually feel bad that he has to be seen in public with me and my two appendages. So if I happen to leave home with my hair up, I usually wear full eyeliner, blush, glossy lips, etc. Nothing hooker-ish, but enough to make a good attempt at re-directing attention to my face, rather than my satellites!

Funny story (sort of): While I was pregnant with Bryanna, I was an hour from cesarean and the nurse came in with a portable ultra sound to make sure my baby girl was still breech. She scanned over Bryanna's butt nestled tightly under my pelvic bone and then up to her little peanut head jammed under my ribs. I heard my nurse giggle as she looked at the screen and then at me and proclaimed "Look, she's got some earns on her!"

*sigh* You've guessed it - my kiddos both inherited the ONE GENE I prayed would skip over them. Luckily, they are still much too young to be bothered by their ears. I'm sure it won't take long though. My hottie loves to grab Bryanna's ears and tell her to "Fly away!" If he only knew the insecurities it causes... I try to protect Bryanna, but I wonder if it will ever be enough!

Today was Izaiah's 1 year well baby check-up and my lack of sleep gave way to laziness this morning. So I threw my hair in a pony tail and made sure my face was as beautiful as I could make it before loading the "chirrens" in the car and heading to the Pediatrician. Oh the innocence of babies. While waiting to be called back, a mother and her son walked through the waiting area, headed toward immunizations. I heard the cutie whisper "Mommy, look at her ears." I felt his Mom grab his jacket and begin the 'how-embarrassing-I-don't-know-how-to-answer-him' drag.

It takes me a while to recover from these incidents. I keep telling myself not to give in to my temptations to hide, for my own children's sake. I want Bryanna and Izaiah to grow up confident - knowing that they are more than their ears, or a freckle, or a scar. I still think I'll be up early to fix my hair for the next few days, at least.

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels (and Dumbo ears)! *MUAH*

No Longer My Baby

Well, it's nearly 1am as I type this. My husband and two children are fast asleep and I'm contemplating scholastic suicide by heading to bed without finishing the accounting homework I must turn in tomorrow. I'm finding it incredibly difficult to concentrate on debits and credits and general ledges after celebrating my son's 1st birthday today.

Happy Birthday Izaiah!

I just can not believe that it was an entire year ago that I was begging my OB to cut me open and remove this squirmy little booger! Oh how miserable I was. Bryanna was my easy baby - fantastic pregnancy and easy c-section delivery. Izaiah, on the other hand, was not so simple. I gained considerably more weight, never dilated a single centimeter (by 40.5 weeks) and ended up with an excruciating rash called PUPPPS that left my belly and sides scabbed and scarred. But it was worth it.

It's hard to imagine that 365 days have passed since I was first looked into his eyes and said "Hey little man! Oh I love you so much!"

Big Sister Bryanna was less than thrilled to find out that he was actually this cute little pile of flesh instead of a permanent bump in Mommy's belly. He stole her thunder right out from under her cute little thumb and while she may have smiled for the camera, her wrath was fierce!



So here we are, December 14, 2008. A year has passed and our cute little family of four has survived. We stuffed our faces with homemade cake and helped our little man blow out his first candle and sang Happy Birthday in traditional off-key fashion. Izaiah must have known this morning that today was a special day. Instead of hanging out on his own to watch cartoons as usual, he ran to the couch and I picked him up and he snuggled with Mommy for over an hour. If my heart could melt and grow stronger simultaneously, I'm positive that's what happens when he stares at me with his big brown eyes. I can't wait to spend another year with my baby boy. Every day I thank God for my children and promise to do my best in raising them. I am blessed.

This is my incredible life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels. *MUAH*

Rough Night

(This is exactly why I try to keep her braided up...someone pray for me and my brush!)

GOOD MORNING from a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels...and her disheveled daughter!

What an Adventure!

Today has been quite an adventure - and it's only 5:48 in the evening! I was awakened this morning just like every other morning. I hear Izaiah screaming at me and roll over to see his tearful face staring at me over the rails of his crib. I stretched and said my usual "Good Morning little man! How's Mommy's handsome boy?" A little bottle, a new diaper, some Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, and a few kisses and it was time for my daily Internet rounds. I checked in on my blog (I guess I like to make sure no one stole it?), cruise through The Mommy Exchange (the site I own for Mommas), check Facebook and Cafe Mom along with my three emails and then SITS blog of the day and any updates from the blogs I follow. Dang I feel like a nerd now!

By now, Izaiah is getting quite restless, so I stick him in his high chair with a bowl of strawberry banana yogurt while I sprint through my morning shower. I knew I would be out and about most of the day, so I treated myself to a nice Mary Kay Microdermabrasion. Seriously, it makes me feel so beautiful and refreshed! Anyway, here I am nice and clean and smelling beautiful, wrapped in a towel, and I find Izaiah covered from head to toe, ear to ear in strawberry banana yogurt. What am I supposed to do with him??

Blah. I stuck him in the bath and got him dry and squared away so that I could dry my hair and put my face on. Oh how wrong was I!! This little boy tore up my house something serious! He found the kitchen and pulled everything he could reach out of drawers, including all the plastic baggies, measuring cups and spoons. Then he tottled into the living room and threw mail on the floor, bit the corner out of my Newsweek, opened the diaper door and tossed those out and moved on to the DVDs. By the time he found me in the bathroom he had a suspicious red liquid coming from the corners of his mouth. I dug the half eaten vibrant red crayon out of his mouth and wondered if FedEx had delivered my straight-jacket yet.

I took a deep breathe and poured another cup of coffee. It was going to be a long day! Brandon was nearly 20 minutes late getting home to watch the kids. Thankfully I know him TOO well and asked him to be home at 10 instead of 10:30, when I really needed to leave. ;) I drove through Burger King on my way off base for some nutrition (if you can call it that) and one of my favorites - a Mocha BK Joe! Oh it's like caffeinated chocolate milk in a plastic sippy cup!

My eye appointment went well! And it's always a bonus when your eye Dr. remembers how pregnant you were the last time he saw you and compliments you over and over on how great you look now! I left his office with new contacts and a smile! The dentist was not quite so pleasant, but then again, he's always played second fiddle to my eye Dr.

Now, I'm home with my family. I drank in some love from my Nana (that's what we call Bryanna), snuggled with my hottie for a while, hijacked some kisses from Izaiah before he shoved another noodle into his mouth and then snuck away to work on homework...or maybe just to post on my blog!

In closing, I would like to leave with a profound thought from Will Smith, written in an article for Newsweek Magazine. When asked about his religion and Jada's recent comments that the couple had been studying many different religions, he said "Fear of other religions means you're questioning your own understanding..." How true and wise I think he is. Showing respect for another's religion does not mean that you fall short of your own beliefs - it means that you're so rooted and confident in what you believe in that you're able to see that we're all just searching for God in one way or another.

What a Tuesday it has been for this Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

Tiny Tutus

I'm so excited to announce that after the start of the New Year, my friend and I will be starting our business, Tiny Tutus!! Keep your eyes open as I'll be posting updates from time to time...

I Should Be Doing Homework, BUT

This looked like too much fun to pass up! Thanks Kaycee!

RULES: There are 100 statements and you bold the ones you have done. Grab it and play for yourself!!

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity.
7. Been to Disneyland
8. Climbed a mountain.
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
12. Visited Paris
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France
20. Slept in an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight
22. Hitchhiked
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Run a marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse (solar)
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset
31. Hit a home run (does Wii baseball count?)
32. Been on a cruise
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Seen Michelangelo's David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight
46. Been transported in an ambulance
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Pari
s51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
55. Been in a movie
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching
63. Got flowers for no reason
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten cavier.
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been on a speeding motorcycle
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person
80. Published a book
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car (3 actually!)
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read the entire Bible
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
88. Had chicken pox
89. Saved someone's life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Lost a loved one
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a lawsuit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee
100. Read an entire book in one day

34 out of 100...not too bad!

Only in Alaska

Only in Alaska...

Are you violently jolted out of bed at 8am to the sound of your husband's voice saying "Baby!! Come look!!" I swear he sounds like a kid who's just entered the gates of Disney World!

Only in Alaska...

Do you actually take heed to your husband's desperate plea and fall out of bed to stumble downstairs with him.

Only in Alaska...

Do you look outside and then run for your life to find your camera (which thankfully was freshly charged) without cause or concern for the dog you've just stepped on, the cat you've just scared or the babies who are still blissfully slumbering (at 8am).

Only in Alaska...

Do you curse your camera for having a flash - because this means that you must open the front door and risk loosing a limb to a stampede or bite or just to the sheer cold.

Only in Alaska...

Do you wake up to these:

A third one joins the crew:

Yep - those are MOOSE, practically nibbling on my front porch! I'm sorry the pictures are such awful quality. My hottie husband (who was looking seriously delectable in his BDU's this am - oh how I love a man in uniform!) was too wimpy to stick HIS arm out the door...so there I was, in my pantie-draws and tank top, trying to take these without freezing to death or spooking Momma Moose.

(Please excuse the miserable pumpkins still displayed on our porch. This is my wake-up call to haul them to the dumps!)

I actually burnt my arm on the metal screen door trying to get these pictures this morning as it's -6* outside. I have a pretty welt on my arm. =( Boo!

Anyway, GOOD MORNING from A Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! <-*MOOSE CROSSING*->

Proof of My Recent Ramblings

Tonight I finally unloaded my camera from last week and my CRAZY busy weekend! I thought I'd share proof of all my shenanigans! Let's begin with my poor little man's smashed "pickle" fingers. They're finally starting to look better, but this is what they looked like minutes after they got smooshed. Oh how I kissed those little nubs!

Birthday Girl Carli opening up her presents. I bought her the CUTEST purse and filled it with mini-nail polish and lip smackers and hair bows! She's such a little girly girl JUST like my Bryanna! Oh, and notice her hair? Yep, that's my handiwork! I may have to start charging!

We left little Carli's birthday party to find this. We ended up with about 3.5 inches in a matter of hours!

And finally, the after party! We ended up staying until almost 1am, playing "Bones" (Dominoes) and eating and having a few drinks.
The men, getting a little competitive

Brandy, Myself and Marina. Somehow the women ALWAYS end up in the kitchen!

My Alaska Family. I'm going to miss these girls something crazy 7 months from now!
Brandy, Marissa and Marina

Happy Holidays from a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels!

Today is a Sprint

Today will be a challenge for me and my beautiful stilletos! I have so much crammed into my day today that I didn't fall asleep last night until nearly 2:15am and woke at 6am and sprang out of bed, almost in panic!

As we speak, the dishwasher is running (only after I emptied out the clean dishes and rummaged my house for dirty ones to reload). My coffee is cooling and I am about to make myself and Izaiah some breakfast (reheated sausage gravy and biscuits, YUM!). But first, Mt. McKinley has taken up residence in my hallway and it smells a lot like dirty laundry! Ok, so it really is just my dirty laundry that I hauled out of the room to sort so that my husband could sleep in peace.

I often ask myself how I got here - the place I SWORE I would never get to. My kitchen sink is NEVER empty, and neither is my laundry basket. I'm lucky to get the clean clothes folded and put away before I have enough for another load. My floors are never as clean as I want them to be and I am forever cleaning the bathroom sink because seriously, it's gross to spit your toothpaste while staring at cat hair. That's right, cat hair. Marley fits quite nicely in the bathroom sink and apparently, it suits her!

I digress.

After breakfast, it's time to hit the Commissary and pick up a few things to throw in the crock pot for an event later this evening, and then the BX to pick up a birthday present. From the Commissary and BX, I'll head straight to my friend's house with a comb and Coconut Oil in hand!! Today is her daughter's 6th birthday party (HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARLI!) and she has asked me to cornrow the front of her head. While I always welcome the opportunity to help out my friends and I love braiding...today it will be an adventure thanks to Mother Time!

After leaving their house I have to return home, put the Buffalo Chicken Dip in the crock pot, get myself and the rest of the family ready and out the door to Carli's birthday.

We'll rush off to a birthday party and get hopped up on sugary birthday cake and soda, Bryanna will run around and play on the playground, probably come close to getting sick from all the activity and sugary, we'll say our "Thank You for inviting us" and rush to another friend's house for a FIGHT PARTY!!

Woo Hoo! In case you don't know, we're huge boxing fans and tonight is possibly the greatest fight ever! Manny Pacquiao vs. The Golden Boy Oscar de la Hoya!! This is where we'll devour way too many appetizers and beverages and probably end the night with some very loud Wii playing!

So let's recap: I have not scheduled in lunch, but we'll have desert and appetizers, probably killing any chance for dinner. Fantastic right? Izaiah will be away from home, probably killing all chances for a decent nap.

Wish me luck! I've picked out a REALLY cute pair of heels to sprint in today! hehe

I do plan to savor every moment with my little ones and savor a whole lot of Buffalo Chicken Dip! I would never trade these busy days, the activities with my family and my friends. I would never neglect the opportunity to help my friends and take care of my family and my house. This is my amazing (fast-paced) life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels!


For those interested, Buffalo Chicken Dip:
2 blocks of Cream Cheese
1 large can of Tyson Chunk Chicken
a whole lot of ranch (or blue cheese) dressing
your favorite hot sauce

Throw all of this in the crock and when the cream cheese is melted, add more ranch and hot sauce to taste! Serve with tortilla chips!

Happy Birthday Hottie!!

To my amazing husband, Brandon, I wish you the biggest and best birthday today!!

I bet all those "OLD" jokes that I've been hearing for the last 9 months are loosing their luster as you hit the same number as me - the big 2-7! That's right baby - now YOU'RE old! It's ok, let's grow old together. I want to do sweet things for you when you're 80, like brush your teeth for you and put them back in the cup before you make it to the bathroom in the morning. ;)

You know what I always say handsome, I may not always like you, but I always love you.

<3 All my love, from a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels!

Many Tears Today

Today has been rather rough for this prissy Mommy! It started pretty great, actually! I skipped the gym because I had been up late spending some QT with my hottie husband and doing a some homework. My kiddos even got the hint and slept in until 9am! Holy Moly I was happy!!

We all had some breakfast, I got in a little bit of news before Bryanna started asking for cartoons, then I jumped online while my babies watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse "Mickey Saves Santa" for the 9millionth time.

I suppose it was somewhere around 10:15 that Izaiah snuck off and found an open door in the hallway, one the led straight to a mess of toys - Bryanna's room! He burst in and practically dove head first into heaven! Some days Bryanna begs me to let Izaiah play in her room with her and other days she doesn't even want him to peak inside. She was not having it today!!

Between her cries of rage I told her to get Izaiah out of her room and "close the door if you don't want him in there." My little skinny miss got behind Izaiah, picked him up under the arms and drug him into the hallway. Fighting back with all his might, Izaiah made a lunge for more toys just as Bryanna was slamming her bedroom door. What I heard was pure AGONY!

In the blink of an eye, Big Sister had closed Little Man's fingers in the door. He screamed a terrible yell as I ran him to the kitchen sink to run cool water over his smashed fingers. A million things race through your mind when home alone with two kiddos and something like this happens!! I didn't know if his fingers were broken or if I needed to get him checked out...either way, I wouldn't be able to because I looked outside and there was my husband's truck, covered in the snow that fell last night as we slumbered. Yep, he had taken the nice warm Nissan from the garage. Damn it. So I pulled myself together, dried Izaiah's (and Bryanna's) tears and just kept an eye on his little nubs. They swelled up like a couple of fat pickles and turned a painful shade of purple, along with some missing skin and a little blood, but I think he'll be alright!

With that drama in my rear view mirror, I went about my day thinking life would be honky dory! And sure enough, it was...until around 3pm. I was getting my daughter dressed to go into town with Daddy as soon as he got off work at 3:30 when my phone rang. It was Brandon (my hottie!). I couldn't form words to respond to what he was telling me. "I got my orders today. I'm going to Honduras." In my mind, I was staring at my heart that lay motionless on the floor in front of me; it had leapt from my chest in heartache. After hanging up the phone (because he was chatty with everyone in the office and paying no attention to his increasingly panicky wife) I jumped on-line and began to research.

My suspisions were quickly confirmed. Colonel Enrique Soto Cano Base in Honduras is a 1 yr remote, unaccompanied tour. Let me break it down for you: Bryanna, Izaiah and myself will not be allowed to move to Honduras with him. BRING ON THE WATER WORKS!

The base is incredibly small, 2x6 miles, owned by the Honduran government and employs a mere 550 US Air Force and Army soldiers combined. Troops live in either huts or barracks and most ride bicycles as the the AF will not ship a US vehicle to that base.

My biggest concern was being in Alaska, thousands of miles away from ANY family, alone in the cold and dark, with two babies. Panic took over and I called friends and family I knew I could lean on: my best friend Stacey, another very dear friend who is also a military wife, Jamie, and my Mommy! Through my sobs it took Stacey a minute to figure out that I was trying to say "Honduras", and as I told her all the bad news, she immediately started pointing out the positives in an effort to (at the very least) stop my tears. Jamie was also a great support, asking her husband (who is active duty AF) details that I had not gotten from Brandon. By the time I called my Mom I couldn't even speak through the tears. It must have taken me an entire minute to get out what was going on. Izaiah clung to my leg and Bryanna showered me with tissues as I fell apart.

It's now almost 8pm here in Alaska and the tears have dried (for tonight). Although I am still incredibly upset that I will have to spend 12 months without my husband, there are a few positives. To begin with, we'll be BANKIN money while he's gone. We get to add on family separation pay, along with a few other goodies! ;) I also get unlimited, uninterrupted use of the brand new Maxima, as he's not allowed to transfer a car with him! Finally, we've been informed that we can apply for our follow up base (the AF Base he will report to upon arrival home from Honduras) and that the kiddos and I can move and get settled there before he leaves in August for Central America. While there are no guarantees I am praying that this move is carried out because I truthfully don't know if I could make it another 1.5 years in Alaska!

So here is my plea for prayer!! We were certain that we would get a state-side duty next because of our sudden and unexpected transfer to Alaska (considered an over-seas tour to the military), but again, the military pulled rank and hit us with another big blow! I need something good to come from this, like a move to Langley or Tinker AFB - both near family!

From a teary-eyed priss, this is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

Big Hair and of Course...

When I got home from the gym this morning I did something very unusual...I stayed up! While I don't mind waking at 4:30 am to hit the gym, I usually crash for another hour after returning until the kids wake up. I'm not sure what motivated me this morning, but I cleaned the bathroom, put clean dishes away and did a little accounting homework.

The lack of natural sunlight here in Alaska has a pretty big effect on just about everyone! You would be in complete denial to say that it didn't make you crave a big fluffy blanket and loads of pillows 90% of the day. Today the sun rose at 10:21am and will set in a couple of hours at 2:55pm. That gives my family and I 4 hours and 34 minutes to soak in a few rays - through the windows of course. I'll skip an intimate outdoor roundevous with the sun in -8* temps. In an attempt to feel more like myself, and connect again with the south that I love so much, I put on one of my favorite tanks and broke out my blowdryer and GIANT round brush!

Oh yeah, that's right! I love a good southern style blow out that ends in big curls and lots of volume! Ah I feel so much better!! Here's my morning with my babies! Yep, I'm finally adding pics to my blog! (Too bad I had to ruin the great hair by slipping on my glasses - I blinked out one of the twins - my LAST pair of contacts!)

Momma in all my glory - big hair and all!

Izaiah was uncooperative!

My beautiful little lady and I!

And of course, my day and my big hair would not be complete without...

I'm so blessed to get to spend my days with these two kiddos! They're my world and the reason my heart beats! (Big hair and heels help!)

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

Christmas Dilemma

For quite some time now I've had an ongoing debate inside my head on whether I should put up a Christmas Tree or not. Although I can not imagine having Christmas without a tree, I also cannot imagine how many times I will be startled by cries of terror as Izaiah topples the tree down on top of himself. He's cute as a button and boy can he melt my heart with his smile, but my son is a terror on two legs!! Since learning to walk a month ago, he has developed an early arrogance, as well as a jet engine (which I'm convinced is hidden somewhere in his diaper, but I'll be damned if I can find it). Not only is he fast, he is also hard headed and more determined than any 11 month old I know! Our morning escapade is the perfect example:

This morning I turned on Mickey Mouse Clubhouse (Izaiah's favorite) and snuck out of the room, hoping to use the Ladies Room in peace! I sat down and sighed a quiet relief, but it was much too soon.

~slap~slap~slap~slap~

Here he comes...feet pounding fast on the linoleum, through the dining room and "Hello!" I see his big cheesy grin round the corner. "HAHA! I found you Mommy!" Running down the hall until he reaches the bathroom door (which I leave cracked so I can hear him), he barges in and heads for his favorite bathroom past time: the toilet paper. He immediately begins to slap the roll and giggle as the toilet paper falls like water! I pull his hands away again and again, smack his fingers, gently to begin and then as hard as my faint Mommy-heart will let me. He grins at me with all 6 teeth, shakes his head and repeats "No No!" Then continues on in his quest to waste as much toilet paper as he can. Succumbing to the battle, I re-roll the tissue and quickly remove the roll and turn it backwards. Boy, he is not happy that Mommy has outsmarted him!

Unfortunately, I have done nothing of the sort. After a few smacks at the roll with no gratification, he screams a Tarzan yell and grabs a fist full of the roll, tearing a huge chunk out of the side. Now, not only do I have a mad baby with a fist (and mouth) full of toilet paper, I'm left trying to strategically fold my toilet paper to avoid wiping through a hole in the tissue.

So back to the Christmas tree; I've toyed with the idea of setting up our tree on top of an old entertainment center. However, I already pick up picture frames strewn about the house, belonging to that table. I wouldn't want to make the tree toppling situation worse by adding a height factor! Seriously, bad idea!

I've also considered putting it in the corner behind my computer desk. Then I think that adding blaring lights, reflective bulbs and metallic anything to my surroundings may only add to my daily homework headache.

My husband and I live in a relatively modest little house on Eielson AFB, so although I would love to entertain a Christmas tree surrounded by a baby play yard, I would also love to be able to navigate through my living room.

*sigh* I have not yet come to a conclusion. This is definitely a conversation to be continued! I would love to hear your thoughts or suggestions!!

Until then...Happy Holidays from a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

A Little Bit of Magic

I was awakened this morning much like I'm awakened every morning - I roll over to see Izaiah standing in his crib, staring at me, yelling "AAHHHH". I've figured out that means "get up woman! I'm hungry!"

As I drug myself out of bed this morning and shuffled to the kitchen with Izaiah on my hip, I stopped off to turn on the coffee pot and then made my usual detour to the kitchen window. What I saw this morning was beautiful. It was like magic on my doorstep, all over my driveway and down the block. The street lamp cornered from my house was shining bright and surrounded by white glitter falling from the sky. It's nothing new. I've seen this a thousand times before. But this morning I appreciated the beauty of it.

I spend most of my days complaining about Alaska: how cold it is, how slippery the snow makes the roads, how dark it is, and so on (I'll spare you the rest). But this morning as I pointed out the window for Izaiah to look, I felt a since of warmth and purpose. I would never see the snow's beauty if it weren't for the darkness and street lamps, and the extra cold temperatures make the snow so fine that it sparkles like glitter, lining the streets and trees.

I doubt that I'll ever return to Alaska after we move from here in 8 months, but it's mornings like this I'll treasure...sharing a smile with my son at 7 in the morning as we find a little bit of magic, together.

Here's hoping that you all find a little magic somewhere in your day today! This is my magical life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

Babies, Boogers and Books

Babies and Boogers and Books - OH MY!!

So, let me just start out by saying that even though Bryanna is 4 and we're forever telling her that she's a big girl, she'll always be Momma's baby. So when I say "babies" I'm definitely referring to both Bryanna and Izaiah, who I should add, is way too quickly growing out of his baby-ness. The boy amazes me. Seriously.

So about my babies: Izaiah has not had a good night's sleep in three days now. When Momma's babies don't sleep, Momma doesn't sleep. This is not to be mistaken for Daddy's sleep - which is always on time and quite perfect! My poor 'Zaiah can't breathe through his nose and I can't even imagine how confusing that is for a baby! It's obviously frustrating because he wakes just about every 30 minutes crying and I can hear him trying to figure out which way to lay so that he can better receive air. I'm such a sucker for my little man, so I usually get up to tuck him back in. And I just can't resist getting in some kisses and snuggles first! ;)

Bryanna is...well, she's off her rocker! I know that she's so frustrated being trapped in the house so much during the winter but if she tells me "Don't say that to me" one more time I may dangle her from the ceiling fan by her toe nails!

So in an attempt to multi-task, I hauled the babies to the grocery store with me today! I brave this outting alone, regardless of the fact that that we practically need two carts - one for the baby, winter jackets, mittens, hats, re-useable grocery bags, list and coupons, purse, snacks and bottle, and all the jewelery that Bryanna piles on at home and then looses interest in half way through the Commissary, and one for my groceries. But we pile into one cart and take off down the produce isle.

We actually get off to a pretty good start, all things considered! But by isle 3, Bryanna has developed an attitude that warrants a "don't get snatched up in the middle of the store!" and I remember that Izaiah has now been up for 4 hours without a nap while being sick. Can you say "uh oh"? In my quest to run through the store as quickly, efficiently and effectively as possible, I accomplish none of the above. My normal cart-route is interrupted with "Mommy, can I have..." and bottle tossing and cookie dropping and "Don't do that!", which leaves me 1.5 hours out with $180 of I don't even know what, and missing essentials.

So we get to the register and the cashier is chatty and ranting about how gorgeous my babies are. (Thanks, I know!) All of a sudden I hear three big gasps and people rushing around and muffled voices; it was like scene out of a horror movie when you're drugged and horrible things are happening in slow motion. I come to and hear "Here's a tissue!"

Izaiah has a terrified look on his face and snot from his nose, over and through his mouth, hanging from his chin and resting pleasantly on his Phat Farm shirt. I don't think I've seen so much boog in one place, ever! We use approx 5 tissues from the cashier in the next lane while just about everyone in the store stares in amazement. What a site, huh?. A Mommy wiping her babies boogers. *sigh*

Since returning home, we've abandoned tissues and gone to receiving blankets. They hold much more snot at any given moment and can be washed and re-used. (No, this is not a joke!)

So I get home to find that Roxy (our rottie/pit mix who I think has separation anxiety) has pulled some of the dirty laundry through her crate and drooled all over it! Thanks babe! I put 'Zaiah down in his crib with a "milk baba", put Bryanna in front of Dora and carry 9 bags (of $180 worth) of groceries up the stairs from the garage...in my heels! =)

Did you really think I'd go to the grocery store in my kicks?

Now that we're settled in, fed, and rested, books are next on my agenda. School is getting the best of me, but "through God, all things are possible" - so PRAY FOR ME!!

Until next time - this is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels! *MUAH*

It's Been a HOT Minute!

So today I realized that it's been a hot minute since I've posted!

Seriously though - life has been hammering me something crazy. School, especially, has me downing mug after mug of coffee...hot, cold, sweet, bitter...it doesn't matter as long as it's caffeinated! Izaiah has caught whatever this illness is that I've been fighting, so sleep is a non-issue at the moment.

And I say non-issue because it doesn't exist!

With the Holidays nipping at my beautiful plaid heels, I'm forced to pick up the pace lately! Be Back Soon!

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels - FAST PACED!

Top 10 Reasons I Hate Being Sick

I'm not sure if it's the Alaska weather (which is seriously psycho) or my husband, but one of them has rendered me SICK! My head feels as though it may explode, which of course makes me totally on edge and wanting to hatchet anyone who speaks to me. So here they are; the top 10 reasons I hate being sick.

10. I get seriously whiney when I'm sick. SO whiney that I even annoy myself. I purposely seclude myself to spare those in earshot. How sweet of me! ;)
9. I hate dirty tissues. They really gross me out.
8. I would MUCH rather be drinking coffee than hot tea.
7. I appreciate the act of breathing through my nose, so when that's interrupted...it's not a good look.
6. My children seem to know that I'm only functioning at around 22%, so naturally they begin to require way more than their normal share of attention.
5. I like to sleep. When I don't sleep...again, it's not a good look!
4. Nothing tastes good anymore. Today, I sliced a piece of Amish Friendship Bread (which I really love) and honestly I could have thrown it away and never known the difference. How BLAH is that?
3. Tissues make my nose SO SORE! Even Puffs Plus with Lotion kill my delicate skin. Thank God for my Mary Kay TimeWise Moisturizer (you like that plug?)!
2. My house goes to hell. Dishes pile up, laundry starts walking itself all over the house, diapers end up near the trash, but never in it, mail starts to scatter, the vacuum takes a tropical vacation to "No Carpet Island" and the trash never takes itself out.

1. When I feel like booty, I look like booty. I'm rockin some broke down sweats, a nursing tank top (from months ago when I actually still nursing), some seriously crazy looking socks, no makeup and no high heels.

*AH CHOO*

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and High Heels...tomorrow hopefully!

Beauty Should NOT Be This Painful!

Let me just say that there will be NO high heels on this chic's feet today!

In my quest to be a Hot Momma I regularly hit the gym. Five days a week my alarm jolts me out of bed at 4:30am so that I can get in a good 75 minutes of blood pumping, muscle making, toning, training exercise before my kids put me through the wringer for the rest of the day. I've recently made it my personal mission to rebuild the booty that my normal routine has taken away from me. Isn't it messed up that I have to exercise to regain something that exercising made me loose? Those who had to listen to me whine and mourn the loss of my bootylicious backside advised me to try squats! So for a couple of weeks, I've added 40 or so squats to my agenda - but truthfully, I felt nothing and saw no results; and trust me, I look at my booty. A lot!

My poor husband gets the worst of my workout-woes! He's by no means a gym-god but I like to think he knows more than I do because he's had a little training in that area. It kills me to go to him for advice, so I usually just whine and bitch until he offers suggestions, then I bitch that I don't need his help! See how that works? Without a doubt, he knows that this is the game I run on him, but he continues to humor me. Either he really loves me and genuinely wants to help, or he really loves that most of his friends think I'm a milf.

Back on topic! While rolling around on the floor with the kiddos recently, I started complaining that I wasn't seeing results from my squats. Brandon (playing along as usual) said "are you using any weights?" I said "Weights!? I weigh 116lbs! I shouldn't need any darn weights!"

"Ok, I'm just trying to help you out" was his reply. Advice filed away - and I continue to rant that I don't need his freaking help!

Monday rolls around. Ah, another week of gym love! I have stars in my eyes just thinking about smelly yoga mats and gym wipes. I arrive with an I'll show him attitude. So I finish up my cardio, hit the weight machine room for about 15 minutes (too many creepy men staring) and then it's off to the abs room and time for my squats! On my way through the door I grab a mat and tuck it under my arm so I can grab a couple of weights.

Someone seriously should have warned me that adding weights really does make a difference! Ten pounds in each hand, and 40 squats later, I left the gym feeling pretty pumped! But the minute I stepped out the door into -4* weather and felt my muscles tighten up like a virgin on her wedding night...I had a feeling I was in trouble.

The pain today is unbearable; so is the laughter spewing from my husband's head. Sometimes I really want to stuff one of his socks in his mouth - right after he takes his military boots off! The very worst part of it is that I'm not talking about my butt. Apparently I'm not doing my squats properly because it's my THIGHS that are giving out from under me while trying to load the dishwasher! Son of a...

Needless to say, I threw my phone across the room this morning when the alarm sounded at 4:30 and I'll be making up some missed gym time this weekend. I'm walking around my happy home in house shoes like a drunk on 5th Avenue!

This is my life as a Mommy in Jeans and...house shoes.

My Introduction

You haven’t lived until you’ve been hit with a wad of cold macaroni and cheese right between your big toe and first toe. And as you look up to meet the gaze of your 10 month old - his big brown eyes amidst a cheddar-cheese-orange face - you feel a noodle slip between your toes, right into your brand new black pumps.

Hey y’all! I’m Amanda, and according to the above description of life, I’ve lived!! I like to consider myself a southern charmer, although to be quite honest I can only claim the south by way of six years in Charleston, SC. I’m a military wife. I love my husband and I honestly like the military life. I never expected that title to carry me all the way through mounds of snow and -40* weather into central Alaska, though. No worries, only seven more months in the frozen north. Then I’m sure to find some bitching to do about the southern heat and humidity!

My husband and I are blessed to have two bright and beautiful children: Izaiah, my macaroni and cheese monster, and Bryanna, who is 4. They’re wonderful kids who are destined to grow up to be neurosurgeons, super models or pro ball players. At least something comparable that will carry my husband and I to retirement and back, we’re hoping.

As a person, I’m probably the prissiest Mom I know. Most of my friends tease me about wearing high heels to the grocery store, slipping through the snow with a baby on my hip and dragging the other behind by her mittens. But I just can not help it! I eat pizza with a fork and knife because I hate for my fingers to get greasy and I can’t stand the feeling of pizza sauce on the corners of my mouth. I don’t leave the house without my hair and make-up done. (The exception to this rule is if I’m going to the gym, but that’s why I choose to go at 5am – while most normal people are still sleeping!) I have a serious weakness for a great pair of jeans from American Eagle and a fantastic pair of high heels. Nothing makes a woman feel more beautiful and powerful than heels*. My other weakness is definitely makeup. I wear it, I sell it, I paint as many faces as I can and I never leave home without my lip gloss!

I have a few pet peeves; lack of manners for example. I get a little worked up when someone completely ignores my warm hearted “God Bless You”. I don’t so much care if you don’t believe in God – ignore that part and at least thank me for the blessing bestowed upon you for loosing brain cells! And my attitude may surface when someone clearly sees me struggling with a stroller and the door, and continues about their business. I just don’t understand why manners are not cool anymore! Personally, I love them!

My other peeve is grown women who waste my time with childish games. Between housework, homework**, heels and macaroni and cheese, I just don’t have the time for it.
I’m Amanda and this is my life as a Mommy in jeans and high heels!

*This is actually only true if you know how to walk in them. If you clop like a horse, maybe you should try some cute ballet flats!

**Oh yeah, did I mention I’m also a full-time student?