Challenge Day 4

My Parents...

I think of my parents as the "All American" couple, they met in high school...My Mom was a cheerleader and my Dad was a star football player...and together they were prom king and queen... After graduation they broke up and went there separate ways but they loved each other too much and after 6 months of being separated they got engaged....They got married and are still together after 38 years.

My Mom and I have a close but turbulent relationship. Our family jokes that when we are together we have and expiration date, once that date is reached out come the claws and its a battle of the wills. The problem is we are a LOT a like and we both want to be in control but that doesn't change the fact that we love each other and enjoy each other most of the time! My Mom is wonderful at being a Mom she sacrifices for her family and protects her children to no end.

As for my Dad, well there is no question... I am a Daddy's girl.... and I don't mind being a Daddy's girl either! See my Dad is the embodiment of the Marlboro Man. Rough and Rugged and not one to mess with. Lucky for me, he has a soft spot and I am in it!

Challenge Day 3

My First Love...

That was so long ago... It was love at first sight. I had never seen anything so cute, I just wanted to cuddle her up. Her name was Lilly.

She was a 6 week old black and white kitten. My parents were kind enough to give her to me and it was the first pet I got to name that I can recall. One of the things I loved most about her was how she woud suckle my shirt. You read it right... She was weaned from her Momma too young so she would snuggle up in my arms and suck on my tshirt while I loved on her.

My time with her didn't last nearly as long as it should have. We lived in the country next to a highway so I lost many a loved pet by coyote or car. But I still feel warmth in my heart when I think about her. I will have to look and see if I have a picture of her to scan in.

Challenge Day 2

The meaning behind our blog name....

We wanted to journal becoming parents and now being parents along with everything else going on in our life.

I'm putting the FAT in this Tuesday!

That's right it is FAT TUESDAY! Seana and I aren't Catholic but every year Seana chooses to take part in Lent... She gives up sweets... not just candy but Soda ... Hot Chocolate all those sugar filled items. Well this year I am going to give it up with her. Ever since I became pregnant I have developed quite the sweet tooth and its time to reign it all in.

Seana told me to figure out my rules to go by... and here we go.

For my lent, I will be giving up all sweets, all sodas and sweetened beverages. I am allowed to enjoy items that are naturally sweetened like fruit or fruit juice. I can use honey to sweeten food or drink items and the only sugar exception is a tablespoon of brown sugar with my oatmeal in the morning. My birthday falls during lent, so on the day I celebrate my birthday I am allowed to partake in dessert.

So that brings me to the events of today... I have made chocolate mint pudding to go with my grasshopper cookies and bag of twix, milkyway, 3 musketeers and snickers! I am going to top it off with a tasty Pepsi and a hot chocolate!

Mmmmm Mmmmm. My breastmilk will be extra sweet today!

Challenge Day 1

So Introduction.... my name is Melissa but I also go by Missy or MJ. I was born in California, grew up in New Mexico, am currently living in Indiana but have lived in Colorado, Florida and Michigan as well. I love to travel and learn new things.


15 Interesting Facts...

1. I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up... I need to answer this question by the time Maggie goes to school but for now I am really enjoying being home with my daughter taking care of her is more rewarding than any job I have ever had!
2. I feel the most accomplished if I start my day with a list and end it with every item scratched off.
3. I day dream about winning the lottery... what I would buy, where we would travel.... but I almost never buy a ticket.
4. I have a thing about using (...) in almost all my writing... it is what I use to string one thought to the next... see a period just won't do because Im not done with my thought so why should the sentence end... see I used it a lot just writing about the dot dot dot...
5. Speaking of Dot Dot Dot... Mamma Mia, I love it, I love most musicals which goes well with Seana's recent obsession with broadway musical music... she keeps apologizing but I am enjoying it as much as she is... of course I hear her renditions of the musicals as she hums or sings them as she goes about her day... Which just don't compare to our made up songs that we sing to Maggie.... Titles like "I love Maggie and her Poo" are topping the Thornton-Hurd Charts.
6. Every time I move somewhere I pick up a hobby that goes with living in that place... most times I end up not sticking with the hobby.... examples... I moved to Florida, I picked up surfing... I was just learning to stand up when they had all those shark attacks at the beach I had been learning to surf at... yup... New Smyrna... I even managed to get my own Close Call Shark Story... and I have steered clear of the Ocean shoreline ever since...then there was Colorado... I decided to pick up snowboarding... I even got all the gear and a season pass... I was starting to get it down but realized I spent most of the time freaked out about falling and then the rest of the time falling... I never really had a good time on the slopes... but I looked AWESOME with all the gear!
   
7. I haven't smoked a cigarette since February of 2008! I am happy to be a non-smoker after smoking for 11 years! That was by far the HARDEST thing to quit... even now I still miss it sometimes even though the smell of it makes me gag.
8. I want to be the next Karen Corr of Billiards minus the mullet and glasses.
9. I love classical music... one of my favorites is the Moldau by Smetana..so beautiful... every time I hear it I can see the river winding through the country.
10. I have an obvious soft spot for puppies!
11. I love projects...especially art or craft projects. I am also great at starting projects...but not so great at finishing them.
12. I feel the need... the need for speed! I grew up riding dirt bikes, four wheelers, snowmobiles and jet skis...and ooohweee I love to make them go and it has been far too long since I have had the pleasure!!
    
13. I also feel the need to quote movies.
14. I love to cook new things... and really love being in the kitchen.
    
15. I love being a mom to Maggie, to me she is the most beautiful, intelligent, and talented baby around.
    

Books and babies

This week I am taking an in residence for my MBA. Which means I am in school while MJ and Maggie are at home. Many of my cohort members are parents. People have been kindly asking me how Maggie is doing, how we are balancing my school and work and a baby .. plus this week Maggie is again under the weather. So I can't help but reflect on this school journey we are undertaking.

I say we because without MJ's support, I wouldn't be here. She has been amazing.I used to dream about how my life could be. I would imagine what it would be like to have a child and an amazing supportive wife - I can't believe that I have that in my life. And there are days that I still can't believe all MJ does for me and our family. For this trip, she helped me pack and made me a snack for the road. She takes the baby when I have to study. She keeps me going when I want to throw in the towel ... I really couldn't ask for more.

So with all MJ does for us, I wanted to remind myself why I am getting my MBA. There are really two main reasons.
1. I do enjoy learning. It is one of the things I feel I am good at - learning. I would probably be a professional student if I could be. It is a priviledge to have this opportunity to learn.
2. I want to continue to progress in my career so I can provide financially for my family. I want MJ to be able to continure to be a stay at home mom if she wants to. I want to be able to travel and give Maggie experiences. I want to be able to afford things like college for Maggie and retirement.

So I just wanted to say to my girls - thank you for making this process possible.

Taking the Challenge

Shaylynn a fellow blogger I follow is doing this challenge and it seems fun... Thought I would try it out... One more way for Maggie to get to know her Mommy.

Here is the Challenge:

Day 1-Introduce, recent picture, 15 interesting facts
Day 2-Meaning behind your blog name
Day 3-Your first love
Day 4-Your parents
Day 5-Your siblings
Day 6-A picture of something that makes you happy
Day 7-Favorite movies
Day 8-A place you've traveled to
Day 9-A picture of your friends
Day 10-Something you're afraid of
Day 11-Favorite TV shows
Day 12-What you believe
Day 13-Goals
Day 14-A picture you love
Day 15-Bible verse
Day 16-Dream house
Day 17-Something you're looking forward to
Day 18-Something you regret
Day 19-Something you miss
Day 20-Nicknames
Day 21-Picture of yourself
Day 22-Favorite city
Day 23-Favorite vacation
Day 24-Something you've learned
Day 25-Favorite memory
Day 26-Picture of your family
Day 27-Pets
Day 28-Something that stresses you out
Day 29-3 Wishes
Day 30-a picture

Wish me luck!