Wonderful Phrases

These are some of my favorite words to throw into conversations.

"Left and Right" I stole this beauty from my husband. Anytime I want to refer to "every time" or "every where" or "everything" I say "Left and Right." For example, I could say "I got crazy clients left and right." or "I've got appointments left and right." or "During the snowstorm there were cars in the ditch left and right" Note that when I refer to the cars in the ditch left and right, it does not mean that the cars were in the ditch on both the left and the right side. It would be appropriate to use this phrase even if the cars were only on the right side.

"Perhaps" I love using perhaps. Nothing can make a regular sentence more condescending then my adding this word. Because it can become so condescending, you must be sure to use it only at appropriate times. For example, I did not use it the other day to my husband because of the sensitive nature of the situation, but had I choose to use it I would have said "Perhaps you should have checked to see if the light bulb was burnt out prior to calling my dad over with his tools to repair the fixture."

"Totally" Totally is also a good word to use because it keeps people on their toes when you use it. Use totally to exaggerate how you feel about a situation. It will make others think you are totally in to whatever they are asking you to when you really feel quite average about it. Make sure your keep a dull tone when you say it. Example:
LP: "Do you want to become a partner of this law firm?"
Me: "Totally."

And now for my least favorite word ever. "Whatever." I hate it.

10 Things...

1. Since I posted the blog about buying the last formula. I have bought 4 additional containers.

2. I tried really hard this month not to spend any money. I cut my credit card bill by 80%! That makes me feel really bad about my spending habits.

3. The other day I mentioned Joseph and his technicolor dreamcoat while at work. My boss proceeded to tell my coworkers that it was only in the movies and did not originate from the Bible. And I think they believed him.

4. I recently received an unexpected cash gift from somebody. I was instructed to do something fun with it. I plan to do just that. My 30th birthday is right around the corner, and I'm going to put that gift in my vacation fund for a birthday trip!

5. Mom, can you babysit? See item no. 4 above.

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7. Item number 6 (above) is Emi's first blog post. I thought she'd never stop with the 2s.

8. Today I went to Younkers and saw these gorgeous dress pants that fit more like sweat pants. I thought "I'm only 30. I'm too young for these." I proceeded to the next section which happened to display Jessica Simpson's clothing line. I thought "I'm 30. I'm too old for this."

9. Can you believe Emi turns 1 in one week?!? Yikes!

10. Today is my dad's birthday! Happy birthday, Dad!

On Iowa

I don't dislike Iowa, but I also don't love Iowa that much. That is until I leave it.

You'd think visiting a State that is mostly Republican and crazy enough to elect somebody like Rick Perry would fill me with enough joy to last the 12 days we were in Texas. But it didn't. I was ready to go home...

I was ready to be where gas is about thirty cents less a gallon.

I was ready to be around less traffic. I'm so over traffic jams.

I was ready to be in my cozy home which isn't more than 20 minutes away from anything that I could possible need- Work- Movies- Shopping- Airport- Lake- Family- Friends- Zoo- Hospital- I mean, seriously anything.

I know you must be thinking "But you must have enjoyed the nice weather, right?" The answer is no- It sucked. It was nice one day while we were there. And I did enjoy that day. But the rest of the days its been in the 40s and it has been raining.

It's funny the perception that people have when you live in Iowa. Tommy's Mom didn't run the furnace when we were there. The house was a good 8- 10 degrees cooler than I keep my house. Which means I was cold. And much colder than I would be at home.

And quite frankly, I'd choose to be in 20 degree weather with snow over 40 degree weather with rain. Nothing beats a fresh white blanket of snow.

Maybe I do love Iowa. a lot.

Baptism!

Happy Baptism to my baby girl! And to Samuel Rodney too!

Emi looked stunning in her Marchesa Dress. (No judging- I bought it at Target!)

Tommy and Pastor Mike wore matching jeans!

Apparently my mom couldn't find the zoom button on the camera.

And now my favorite pictures....

G.G. (Great Grandma) made it to the event.

I forgot to tell the lady at Costco that Sam was a boy name. So we got purple frosting!

Looks like I forgot to get a picture of my Uncle Joe and Aunt Nita! Imagine their surprise when they showed up and both Sam and Emi were getting baptized. You know, since my dad had told them only Sam was getting baptized. 

January Blues...

If you are a reader of the blog then you know I hate January. Ever since I can remember I hated January- all 31 days. I used to also hate February, but Emi's birthday is in February so now I just kind of hate February.

I hate how you have to pack up Christmas decorations. I hate how it is cold and there is no sign of it getting warmer anytime soon. I hate how there are no PTO days in January at my office. Do you get it? I hate it.

So I'm trying to spend this January doing things I love. So, I've been having dim sum on Sundays with Tommy (chinese food is only good when its cold outside). I've been burning my winter scented candles. I've been cooking my favorite French Onion soup (also only good in winter). I've baked a few things and spent some time cuddling up on the couch under lots of blankets with my two favorite people.

And that has all been very great.

But I still hate January.

Life with the Takekawas

Here are some conversations you hear in this house:

Tommy: "While you are out of town, I am going to clean the entire house for you!"
(I return home a day later and see the house may be messier than when I left. I go and put some items upstairs and Tommy and I leave to go get dinner. As we are driving away from the house Tommy sees I left some lights on upstairs.)
Tommy: "Honey, you left all the lights on upstairs!"
Me: "I know. I was trying to find where you cleaned!"

Tommy: "Emi doesn't want to sleep. I don't think she needs a nap today."
Me: "Of course she needs a nap. Sleep is so important for baby's brain development."
(Emi proceeds to take a three hour nap)
Me: : "Wow! Emi had a great nap!"
Tommy: "I know. I bet she learned a lot during that nap!"

My dad while at my house for dinner: "I overheard somebody praying for an extension of their unemployment benefits."
Me: "That's weird. Shouldn't they be praying for a job?"
Dad: "I know. That's like praying for your wife to die so you can marry somebody else."

Eleven Months!

I'm not sure how it happened, and I'm not sure where the time went, but my baby is 11 months! I think the crazy thing about Emi being 11 months is that I go to different stores and see Valentine or Easter outfits for babies. I then realize that Emi already had her first Valentine and Easter, which makes me feel that she is very old.

Let me tell you about my little doll.

First the bad. Sleeping. Some of your parents may be secretly delighted to hear that my girl doesn't sleep quite as well as she used to. I think it is part to do with our little trip to Houston and part to do with more teeth coming in. Regardless, bedtime has become a time of tears (Emi and I) and yelling (Emi and Tommy). Tommy never wants me to put her to bed because she starts to cry. He wants to keep things peaceful by keeping her up. I reminded him that is how we got to this in the first place. At first when we got back from Houston it was taking over an hour to get her to bed, now the routine is down to about 20-30 minutes. This is nothing like the 10 minutes it took before Houston, but this is what being a parent is all about (as my friend kindly reminded me when I complained to her about this!)

Now the good. Emi is almost walking. Yes, I feel quite confident my girl will take some real legitimate steps prior to the twelve month mark. She has taken a few steps here and there on her own, but nothing I can call the real deal. She does hang on to all the furniture and her grocery cart and walks around quite well.

Emi has four teeth on top, two on bottom, and some more she is getting in the back. She is not willing to let us inspect that situation, so I can't say for certain.

Her hair has grown so much lately, and I love tucking it behind her ears.

Emi will repeat her name after you say it. I'm fairly certain she knows Tommy is "dada" and she also appears to know "mama" but mostly just at night when she screams it from her bed. You can tell she is working hard to try to say more words. Every once in a while she will give a waive good bye as well.

She is totally into doing anything and everything that I am doing. Yes, she has become a little mama. She helps me with laundry. She loves being in the kitchen when I am. And she loves taking care of her dolly. My parents got her a mini kitchen for Christmas, and it is fun watching her play with it! As our sitter says, she is always so busy playing.

I also love watching Emi interact with other kids. She holds her own quite well against the older kids. I hope she keeps her carefree and fun loving ways.

Above is Emi dancing to La Bamba. Always a hit in this house!

10 Things...

1. I realized today after Emi smacked me in the face (an accident) that in the last month I had been smacked more in the face (by accident) then I had in my entire life. A moment later she kicked me in the face (an accident) and I decided that was the first time I had been smacked and kicked in the face in the same day.

2. Think of how more glorious Sundays would be if they were not followed by Mondays.

3. I turn 30 in just a few short months (hard to believe, right?) I'm hoping to celebrate by going somewhere fun! Any ideas!?!

4. I learned the game "Left Center Right" the other day! It was a lot of fun! Especially so because we played with dollar bills rather than plastic chips!

5. Because of my whole internet drama, I haven't spent much time on Pinterest in the last few months. I may be totally over it.

6. My mom got Emi a new play kitchen for Christmas. Today Tony and Emi were playing in the play kitchen. Suddenly Tony picked her up and carried her to me and returned back to the play kitchen. I said "what's wrong?" Tony said "I just turned the stove on, and I don't want Emi to get hurt!" How do you reply to that?!

7. Emi took three steps yesterday without hanging on to anything! Tommy went to grab the video camera, and we spent 45 minutes trying to convince her to walk again. No success.

8. Right now Tommy, Emi and I are watching football/napping on couch. I heart Sunday afternoons.

9. I am concerned about the three hours of Bravo tv I may have to watch yet tonight. It sounds totally unreasonable to watch that much of the same network! But if I "work" at the same time then it is okay, right?

10. While Tony was at my house today he said while looking out the window at the pool "I'm so sad Auntie Dawn that it is freezing outside, and I can't go jump in the pool. I'm so sad." I said "I'm sad too!"

Hello Internet

Last August we got rid of our Medicaom internet. It was only working part of the time, and the only thing worse than not having internet is having sporadic internet.

Then Tommy and I had this genius idea to get a Verizon Hotspot. While the Hotspot provided internet, it stated we were using internet at about twenty times the amount as we had previously which was causing our bill to be out of control. On aside, once upon a time I had Verizon. It was the worst experience of my life until I had it this time. I happily paid the $150 termination fee. I had planned on terminating our service, but when my Hotspot was stolen from my purse in November, it was the perfect ending to that experience.

Then we didn't have internet for what I thought was about six months. As it turns out, it was only about six weeks. Now we have CenturyLink. We are happy. Very happy.

A Memorable Trip to Target

We took a memorable trip to Target yesterday. It was memorable for two reasons.

For one, I saw a 12 pack of soda for $5.19. It was so shocking I stopped to take a photo.

 The second reason it was so memorable was that I the last tub of formula for Emi. (Ok- I've said the last four times I have bought it that it was the last one, but I think it is for real this time!). I paid $26.99 because I had no coupons on me (which is so unlike me for formula. I generally pay less than $20). To make myself feel better I looked at this special formula that comes in a can half the size of what I was buying. This is the special stuff my BHSFF, Laura, has to buy for her son. It was $27.69. I instantly felt better about my purchase.

On a completely unrelated note- how sweet is this little girl?!?!

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am extremely thankful for just one thing. Yes, my friends, I am thankful to be home!

Happy Thursday!