Proud Mama

Katelyn really is my love. She looked so sweet in her Easter dress. I loved watching her hunt for her Easter treats. The Easter bunny brought her this sweet duck, which was hidden in an Easter egg with his feet sticking out. He also brought her Disney's Enchanted, a Book called "Little Quack's New Friend," her first set of markers (pip squeaks), and two beanie babies 2.0 (which are TY's version of Webkins). She got a little candy, but not too much. Unfortunately we went to a friends house and I left her there when I drove her dad back to the airport for him to drive home. When I got back, I found out she had been fed a ton of candy AND chips AND Cheetos and God knows what else. When I awoke in the morning, I opened the door and smelled ... vomit. Oh yes, she had thrown up all over her bed... and slept in it. Poor baby! I felt so bad.

I just love this sweet face!

I am so proud of her today because ...SHE WENT PEE PEE ON THE POTTY!!! A total of NINE times today. She has sat on it a ton, but never done anything except wipe her bottom. But today, she did it. The baby sitter had "naked booty camp" in her kitchen. Hilarious to pick up your child and see three naked hynies walking around. Anyways, I am so proud.

What makes you proud?

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I read my friend Angi's blog and feel bad that I am not so creative. But, I am Irish. My child did wear green today to the baby-sitter's house. But there was no green breakfast and due to the small size of our family these days, no corned beef and cabbage. I wish I lived closer to the beach to go to the Irish Pub. I am not a big drinker, but I do love a good Irish Pub.

I feel like I am not so good at Holidays this year. Probably b/c to me Holidays are all about family, and while my daughter is the best thing to ever happen to me, two people just doesn't feel like a family. The holidays, no matter how small, seem to magnify the fact that I am "single" these days. Sorry, I didn't mean to sound like a pity party.

I will leave you with a few Irish Blessings:

(1)
May you have warm words on a cold evening,
A full moon on a dark night,
And the road downhill all the way to your door.

(2)
As he brought new faith to Ireland so may he bring to you, a touch of Irish happiness in everything you do - and like the good Saint Patrick may your home and life be blessed with all God's special favors that make you happiest.

Good night and God Bless!

Happy St. Patrick

Taxes = A Good Thing For Once

Yes, I did my taxes and I am getting a very nice refund. Too bad it will all go to pay off one of my credit cards, but every bit helps.

We have been busy working (not fun) and playing (way fun!!) Katelyn loves playing at the playground. It is just about her favorite thing. She especially loves to go to the park with her cousins in Orlando. We went to visit her Titi(s) and Cousins a few weekends ago. We were sorry that we couldn't see all of them -- her Titi Edmali had to work at Disney, so she didn't get to see her or her family. She did get to play a ton with her cousins Paola and Dylan and she had a blast. It is so funny to see a just barely 2 year old try to keep up with a 5 and 7 year old. This is a cute pic from that day. The cousins were playing tag, so Katelyn decided to just climb. Funny thing was, they were using her as base :)

And another one. I love the pigtails. I wish that I had figured out how to put these pics up so that you can click on them to enlarge them. Someone will have to fill me in sometime.

I have been on call every other weekend, and with flu season it seems every time we leave the house, my pager goes off. Oh well. This past weekend we went out and bought a trailer so that she can come with me on bike rides. We didn't get a chance to try it out because it was SOOOOO WINDY (Like Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day).

Today we went for a long walk and then played at the "ducky playground" in our neighborhood. We ran into one my friends and her son (Katelyn's friend Luca). Then Katelyn decided that it would be fun to move dirt from one area to another and then she attempted to taste said dirt. So, we decided it was time to go. We ate dinner and took a bubble bath in "mommy's big tub." We ended the night with a snuggle and now she is in dreamland.

Hope your evening was as fun as ours.

A little down

I have not been as good at posting as I would like to be. I have been super busy trying to balance work and single motherhood. I never thought I would be in this position. I wanted to get married, have babies, work part time. I realize that there were multiple issues with my marriage. Some mine, some his. I thought we would work it out. But he quit. And when someone tells me they quit, I know in my heart I will never trust them again. And since that time I have forgiven him. I have continued to say only positive things about him to our daughter. But he often disappoints me. He doesn't visit her as often as he should. When he does visit, he often goes out with his friends too (and gets drunk), which makes me crazy when I am paying for half of his ticket to visit. And it is not that I didn't want him to move on and be happy. But I am really concerned that in finding someone who is YOUNG and still doing the wild nights of partying, he will never grow up and be the father that I hoped he would be. At least not for Katelyn. It makes me sad. I want to believe that if I move back to Cincinnati so that she can see him more regularly, he will be responsible. But I am scared to death of what could happen if he doesn't. And I don't want him to disappoint her. That would break my heart. I want whomever becomes her step-mother to care about her, but not try to be her mother. I want to find someone to be my life-long partner, someone who will be another father figure, but not someone to be her father. I am surprised (and a little embarrassed) that I am so affected by his having a girlfriend. I guess in part it is how I found out. And when he does things like give Katelyn a birthday present from his GF and not tell her (or me) who it is from, and take a picture by the Christmas tree of the three of them like they are a family. I feel guilty, b/c I know so many others have a much bigger reason to be sad. I suppose you could even say I did this to myself, b/c I had my doubts from the beginning (there were signs). And for the first year I was doing fine. Why a year later is it really hitting me?

Sorry for the negative post. Guess that is why I haven't posted some days. I will try to be more uplifting in the future and to update more frequently.

Happy Valentine's Day

Katelyn and I have been busy this month with her 2nd birthday (on 2/2), Nana's Birthday (2/11)and now St. Valentine's Day.

First, for her birthday we had a party at the "Hands on Children's Museum." We invited two of her little friends, Luca and Raegan (and their parents), as well as her Titi Lee, Titi Edmali, Titi Iby, Tio Picu, (Tio Bill had to work), her cousins, Paola, Stephanie, Michael, Alex and Dylan, Nana and her "uncle" Juan. She had so much fun playing and eating pizza and cupcakes. Cupcakes were the theme. She loved her gift from mommy and daddy (a brand new PB kitchen set. She is so happy cooking up a storm. I can't believe that my baby is two years old.

We celebrated Nana's birthday last weekend by going out to dinner at Dave and Busters on Saturday night. Then we went to Dr. O'Reilly's (our good friend and Katelyn's pediatrician) on Sunday night to have dinner and cake. Katelyn was a little upset at first because it was not her birthday, but she was better when she realized that it didn't matter, she still got to eat the cake. Silly bug. Then, on her really birthday, Katelyn and Nana had pancakes and then we let nana have the day off (Katelyn went to the babysitter's house).

Today, I had to go to work. It is kind of a bah-humbug kind of day. I can't help it. I don't want to be with someone for the wrong reasons for sure, but I am tired of being alone on every holiday that passes. My only great valentine's day was my first one as a mother. Katelyn was 12 days old and I was already head over heels in love with her. I still am, and she is the love of my life, but I know it isn't healthy for her to be my one and only. And I have needs, too. I did have fun with Katelyn. We played and then took a bubble bath, then snuggled in bed reading "Pooh" and "Elmo" books. Now it is time for me to go to sleep... my pillows are calling.

Busy Getting Better

Since my last post we have gone through another sinus infection, a stomach virus and surgery. Katelyn got her myringotomy tubes and her adenoids out last week on Wednesday (Jan 16) and she is finally back to her old sweet self. She is loving having her Nana back with us (for 2 whole months, yay!!) and playing with all of her new toys. Her big birthday present arrived last week and she asks regularly to "opey it." She is going to LOVE it (a play kitchen).

I can't believe that in just over a week my baby will be two years old. I never really understood when people told me to enjoy every minute b/c time flies. Now I understand completely. And I must say that I often choose spending time with my daughter over other things. I don't clean as much as I probably should. But when the time comes to look back on my life I know that I would never say, " I wish I had cleaned more."

Just look at that sweet face in her Minnie Mouse nightgown. My mom got it for her, and she got one for me and one for herself as well. I wish we had gotten a picture, but Katelyn was in no mood to cooperate earlier. Maybe another day.

Well, I had better get going to bed. TGIF tomorrow... just wish I wasn't on call ... AGAIN. Remind me not to take a job in the future where I am on call every other week. What was I thinking?