Friday, May 30, 2008

Our other "family member" and oranges.....

This morning has been full of surprises. What morning isn't?!?! My two kids decided it was training day for mom and each in their own special way have left a path of destruction....
Here are their stories:
So if you know our family, you know we have another member that is not often mentioned in this blog.......If you were to rewind to just a mere two years ago it seemed that this little creature is all we could talk about, weighing in at 8 pounds of fury.....our dog Maci is the one I am referring to. ....and yes, I am aware that we became the crazy dog people. About 3 weeks after we got married Maci found a way into our home and hearts and left a mark there.....oh and also all over the carpet in our apartment but that's a story for another day! We brought her up to our apartment the first night, she crawled up on Ryan's shoulders and fell asleep and that was it for all of us, she was home. We felt like we had a new baby. We brought her everywhere, talked about her all the time, and missed her when we left (this does sound slightly crazy as I am typing, but hey we love our dog!) Needless to say she was totally spoiled and doted over by us and you can about imagine the hit she has taken since another little angel entered the picture:)! I have been feeling rather guilty over this....she gets shoved to the side more often than not (but honestly who licks a dirty diaper....it's hard enough to change a kid who is squirming like he's on fire without having someone in there for a taste test) From her cage she stares me down as if to say #1. you chose the kid again and stuck me in this cage and #2. I missed out on a delicious snacking opportunity......I really don't like you anymore......and for the past year we've exchanged these looks.
In the wake of my guilt I passed over Oprah last night while channel surfing. She had a dog on, and as an animal lover, I stopped. Never should of done that. It was a show to raise awareness about puppy mills. I cried the rest of the show....and a little into the night. Why do I watch that stuff.....seriously, I cry when I pass a trailer of cows or pigs on the interstate.....Ryan tells me they are going to camp, but I know where they are going. Anyways, back to the point....this morning I was geared up to go to a puppy mill, break in and save millions of puppies and bring them back to the house and we could all live together, like 101 dalmatians.....when I felt a strange wet sensation across my face.......I knew what this was about but I pretended to sleep a little longer.
Then I heard Ryan yell.....Ab, she needs to go outside and I need to finish getting ready.
Ok, fine I drag myself out the warm and cozy bed and head downstairs.....I don't want my dog to feel anything even close to puppy mill. She runs around the yard....does her thing....and flies back in the door and up to bed.
On my way back to bed my nostrils are flooded with something that could be considered a mix of BO and rotting eggs. I scream just a little, because this smell has brought me even more out of my sleep walking state. Ryan comes over and has a sniff....but neither of us can figure out the source of that rancid smell and we both have things to do. Ry needs to fix his hair, I have 15 more minutes until the boy is UP so we both move on. I lay down, arrange all the pillows around me, snuggle my head into my blanket and call Maci over to snuggle. She trots over and curls up right in front of my face. I wrap my arms around her and think about all the puppies at the mill who never get snuggled......and OH MY GOSH, something poisonous floods my face. I force my eyes open but only because I think I am crying from the stench and there it is. My dog (yes, the one I am snuggling with) is covered in poo.....most likely rabbit. SICK....ok that doesn't cover the grossness...but SICK!
Ryan looks at me and says, sorry you are going to have to take care of that, I am all ready for work....I figured. Off to the shower we go........and to update you, she still smells like dirty socks. Ryan is picking up a "stronger" shampoo on his way home.


Maci....exhausted after enduring a bath



Here, just looking irritated that I not only took away her glorious scent but also am now taking a picture with flash of her.


So, I guess today I am putting the puppy mill off. Although I am still passionate about it I have lost my zeal for the morning, try me again this afternoon.

To add insult to injury my other baby smashed up and threw his oranges all over the floor and when I told him NO in my sternest voice, he laughed at me. Then he tried to stand up in his high chair and cannonball out....REALLY Griff? Future career??? OJ maker!


Griff after 1st clean looking very innocent

After I got them both cleaned up, counted to 10, and breathed deep(semi clean air.....let's get out some air freshener) I looked down at them, both sitting at my feet.....and realized that it's not yet 8:30....a.m.! No, no....realized that I love them despite the mess....that is the lesson learned here today....although I can't help thinking how much day is left....and does anyone know a cleaning lady who minored in doggie daycare? I am definitely postponing the trip to the puppy mill....that's a problem for a whole other day......

Wednesday, May 14, 2008

Oh the places we'll go!

Happy Graduation Al!
A Super Couple SURPRISE reunion
the fam
Griff & Lyla sharing a bottle of baby wash!
Two adorable rays of sunshine!

There has been lots going on here in the last month, and looking at the calendar it doesn't seem to lighten up anytime soon....but that's fine with us! We're ready for a summer full of crazy travel....Griff, we hope you like your new car seat, because it will be very well broken in by August! We were in Nebraska last weekend and will be there again this weekend. Griff and I were able to stay extra to get in some time with Ry's fam and we got to see some friends along the way too! We went for my sister, Ali's, graduation from college.....can you believe she is done....and newly employed, I still feel like she is in high school! Next weekend we will be back for Ryan's sister, Sara's, graduation from High school. When I first met her she had just started Jr. High....unbelievable! She is going to college at UNL.....Ryan and I are so proud to have another Husker in the fam! CONGRATS to the sisters!

At Ali's grad we saw our best friends from college....at random. Casey's brother graduated too and she saw my aunt in the bathroom, which lead them to us....so that was our favorite surprise of the weekend. I also got to see some old friends from where I taught school in Ashland.....and Griff's favorite stop....his friend Lyla's house. We were able to pop in and see our friends Linds and Lyla! Lyla is the beautiful babe pictured above born just a little before Griff. Her mom and I traded the kids this fall when we worked so it was a blast for me to see them together when they actually realized each other was there.....they are so funny! Lyla is waving and dancing and absolutely adorable. She even gave Griff a goodbye kiss on the head....now you don't get much sweeter than that!

More travels and pics to come!

the MR to my MRS


....at 19




...at 23


This Wednesday is the 3rd year of Mr. & Mrs. Eccleston.....SO WEIRD! In my head I am still the girl in the first picture.....19 and loving sitting in my boyfriend's dorm room until 3 a.m. talking about nothing......when in fact those days are so long gone......how? In the last 3.5 years we have....
*both graduated from college
*got married
*got jobs
*got a dog
*moved 3 times
*found out and survived our first pregnancy
*quit our first jobs
*had a beautiful baby boy
Can't believe that this is already all behind us, so blessed that it's part of us, but it's behind us.....I just can't believe it!
Now instead of dressing up for theme parties, blowing money on football tickets and running to the stadium on game days, and ordering pizza at 1:30 we are out weeding the yard of dandelions(ok, Ry I know we haven't actually done it yet, but I promise I will help you do it....ehhhhh), spending our life savings to fence in our yard, and mixing up another bottle. It does seem like quite a jump, but I would like to think that we have made it as gracefully as can be expected. It didn't happen overnight, but somehow in all the mess of life we have made it here.....and the ride hasn't been just a smooth Sunday drive, but I am pretty sure that that kind of ride would be super boring. We could count for hours all the mistakes and stupid things we've done, but we're learning to not sweat that stuff....just keep building history and learning in the process.
...at 26 (parents to a (almost) 1 year old!)

The most important thing to me is that after 3 years of marriage, 3 places lived in, a dog, a kid, and lots of obstacles inbetween we can still smile at each other and not take life too seriously. Lots of things have changed, but not that...and the fact that you are still carrying my giant camera around but it's not to take pictures at A-phi parties but of our son. Love you baby.....let's take a pic like this when were 80.....I probably won't know who you are but I think I will look just as cute in these shades!

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Mommyhood




This morning it was raining and we had the window open just a little bit. I had just gotten back from rearranging the pillows in our bed from Ryan & Abbi sleeping to Griffin & mommy because I heard him start to wake up. I quickly grabbed him from his crib and we both laid down and fell right back into bliss. I was listening to the rain and soaking in the sweet snuggle time with my little man (which I calculated would last no longer than about 15-20minutes at the most) and thinking, this is what I love most about being a mom.....when the phone rang. AH, are you serious...it's 7a.m.! Of coarse you know who snapped right to...and the day had begun!
I stumbled downstairs and grabbed the morning "must haves"! A bottle, bowl of oatmeal, and coffee and headed back up. As soon as I walked back through the door, I see a little smile, little teeth, a little piece of heaven, and even though I am so tired and the coffee is not working fast enough, I think that getting the morning "must haves" and eating oatmeal with Griff must be the best.....

And we go through the rest of the day with all the ups......
the curly fly away hair
the high pitched sounds he makes as he struts along patting things
the clicking sound he just figured out how to make
the way he keeps sticking out his tongue
picking him up after a fall and wiping away the tears
holding hands
hugs
snuggles
story time (not that he pays attention, another one of those things for me)!
the toothy grins
getting him when he wakes up
showing him something for the first time
singing to him

.....and the downs.....

the stinky diaper changes that he hates

the dog dish he loves to pour out all over himself and the floor
the food that's crusted all over him after he eats

BUT, each moment of frustration is trumped by 3 moments of BLISSFUL baby!

I am still in awe that God let me borrow this little one for a bit. How lucky am I to have been able to experience all that I have with him. From feeling kicks in my belly from the inside to feeling them on the outside now....and he's got a hard kick either way, let me tell you!

It's my first mother's day with Griff....and I know it's a Hallmark holiday, but it's nice to celebrate moms regardless of who made up the holiday. Ryan & I both adore ours and realize so much now that we are rowing in the parents boat too about what it takes to be a good one. I just feel blessed to be a part of it, even the diapers, because the smelly parts of life make the snuggles even sweeter.
Happy Mother's Day all you moms!

...and give the mom in your life a smooch, because like my dad told me, nobody loves you like your mom....and you know what, I think it's true!




Friday, May 2, 2008

my tiny beautiful mess


Yesterday......1 year ago....... May 1, 2007 I was in complete misery! I had a GIANT baby in my belly, swollen ogre feet, no clothes that fit, and the ability to only sleep from about 3am to 6am....and there are others symptoms, but I won't go into details! Yesterday, May 1, 2008 my beautiful son took his first steps....two actually....for me, getting to be there was like getting to be present as the first man walked on the moon! What a difference 1year makes!

I thought I would put up this post "I just walked" pic of Griff, it truly does speak a thousand words....if you know Griffin, it captures him just about perfect.... he always brings his smile (bearing 2 bottom teeth), his curly fly aways(sorry hunny, those are from me), and some drool down his shirt...along with other mystery stains! The most beautiful mess I have ever seen. Happy first steps on the road to thousands of others!