Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh Jason Michael Carrolll.........................................

Wow, I'm so dragging today! Last night I went to see Jason Michael Carroll at the Rhythm House in Bridgeville. It was such an amazing show! I've been dying to see him for over a year now. Many of you might remember, Matthew was going to take me to see him in Youngstown Ohio for my birthday but about 3 days prior to the show, I discovered it was cancelled (and man was I bummed). But life goes on, he actually did play with Alan Jackson last summer being added to the bill after I bought lawn seats (Again, BUMMER!)... so I was pretty determined to see him.

A few months back, I found out he was opening for Martina so I rallied the cash together for myself to buy 4th row seats with my best friend, Leeanne. THEN three weeks ago, I find out he's playing a free Happy Hour Concert sponsored by Froggy last night.... Ok... MUCH BETTER THEN 4th row!

So now, here we are with me haulin my butt to Bridgeville knowing the place is going to be packed because he's such a huge freakin star! Thankfully, I was lucky enough to find a friend up close by the stage to hang and talk with and stay up front in the sea of madness that was the Rhythm House last night.

Ha ... ironic moment of the day. I'm listening to Froggy right now and "Livin' Our Love Song" just came on..... (His song). Ok back to my night though, seriously! So .... I've been up front at shows and I've been back stage... but for some reason that I can't explain... he's just so different. From the moment I heard "Alyssa Lies" the first time on the radio I was in love with his music. Matthew bought me his cd a short while later when it arrived in stores and for over a year now it's never left my car/cd player for very long. His music and voice is just addictive....

So, during these happy hour shows (Froggy has them about once a month), usually the artist goes on at 6 and is off around 7pm..... yea............ he went on at 6 and got off the stage at 7:45pm. Then stayed in the back room and signed autographs for everyone! (Yes I hauled my butt back there through the mob to wait for 40 minutes just to meet him..... and yes, it was soooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo worth it!

Last night was probably one of the best shows I've seen in a long time. You can tell Jason is a rocker deep inside, even before he played a few covers from Aerosmith and REO Speedwagon. He's just so full of energy and fun that the night just few by (I honestly didn't realize how late it was until after he was on for over an hour). I didn't care either because I was having a blast!

Meeting him was pure joy as well. I've met a lot of people in my life, but I don't think I've ever met someone who's just so sweet and nice. He stood around for well over an hour signing autographs and taking pictures and he actually took the time to talk to each person that was there. It wasn't a sign, smile and good bye set up (like so many autograph sessions are)... he seemed to really want to talk to his fans! I just wish I could have stayed longer because I bet he was hanging out afterward drinking in the bar with the rest of the guests! He just seems like that kind of person!

So I'm tired..... still in a fantastic mood and realizing now it's Thursday. This has seriously been one of the busiest weeks I've had in ages! Matthew and I have been somewhat of hermit like since I've been preganant. It's not even an issue of not having a lot of money or not having the time or a baby sitter... it's just a realization that we have someone to take care of and spending money frivilously isn't going to get us anywhere in life.

It's surprising how much I've changed my attitute toward a lot of things. Before, by now I would have spent well over $500 on concert tickets for the year.... and I think to this point I'm up to maybe $100 and that's for Martina and Toby. I also plan to go to Brooks and Dunn and Brad Paisly provided I can find a few friends to drag along with me.... I'm sure I will... I always do!

I can't believe it's pretty much August (And I haven't been to PGP once yet). Sunday is actually the first day I'll be going to PGP this summer..... it feels so weird too! It honestly feels as though I haven't been there in years.. when it's really only been about a year. Crazy! Toby Keith is Sunday. I'm so stoked to go too! My mom's going (Because I told her so) and my friends Dana and Melissa. It's going to be a riot!

As I was saying though, this has just been one busy week between doctor appointments, last nights concert, after work Matthew is hitting the meadows with money on his card for free play (I went the last two times so I figured I'd let him go this time), Saturday I'm getting a facial I bought months ago at a nice spa in Canonsburg.

So yes, life's a little nuts this week. I don't know why... it's always AUGUST that's nuts for me... Next weekend we've got our mini golf tournament, then the following weekend is my family reunion (still not sure if I'm going... but I might) and then Aug 20 we're leaving for Baltimore and then I come back to work for 3 days and I'm off on vacation until Sept 1 (Woo Hoo off for my birthday (Planned that on purpose)....

So yea... If I'm distant, forgetting to put things up on the website, or just confused.... now you know why!


FYI - Pictures from last night WILL be posted soon on the website (probably tonight or tomorrow).... :) :)

Yeah!!!! Cereal!!!!

Horray! Aerie's 4 month check up went well! She's growing and gaining weight just where she should be, which is what we want! Our littly lady weighed in at 11 lbs and 13 oz. Just under the 12 I was guessing! She also is over 23 inches long.... just under the 2 foot tall mark! I can't believe she's getting so big!

After Aerie's appointment, we took her home and I opened the box of cereal (that I bought over a week ago impatiently awaiting her check up and the go ahead for cereal. Well, what an experience! I took about 20 minutes to feed her about a tablespoon and a half of cereal... most of which went on the table, and her chair, and HER and eventually some into her mouth!

She did so well and caught on to the act very quickly. I was proud of her. She managed to keep most of the mess to her bib and me and the chair... and surprisingly nothing in her hair (I still gave her a bath afterward though.... cuz that stuff is STICKY!

I can see she wants to be independent because all she did was try to grab the spoon from me and feed herself! I eventually just gave it to her to let her feel the cereal and play with it. She even tried to put it in her mouth. It was so cute. Of course we video taped the whole event, but the file is 17 minutes long and will be much to large to upload to our website.... so you'll just have to enjoy the many pictures I posted on the site. ENJOY! I've included my favorite photo of her taking the spoon from me on here.

Who's sick of rain? I AM I AM!

Is anyone else out there sick of rain this summer? Have we really even had more then a few days of sunshine since like MAY? UGH! I bought a stroller to take Aerie for walks and I've barely used it. BUMMER! It's either raining or it's like 90+ degrees and humid as can be.... and although I wouldn't mind sweating off a few extra pounds, I'm sure it's not good weather for my beautiful little baby.

So this week, the high chair was built for Aerie! HORRAY! Next Monday she starts on cereal after her 4 month check up. I'm so excited! I've already bought the bowls, spoons, etc for her and have the cereal as well. We have some plain and some flavored (apple and banana) cuz I like variety and I'm sure she will too!

Aerie's already getting so big... yet she still has no rear end so NOTHING FITS HER! She hasn't so much filled out as she's gotten really, really looooooooooooong. I think she's going to be tall like her Daddy.

Her eyes are still changing color so we're not quite sure what they are going to be. They don't want to make up their mind between a hazel brown and a hazel green.. and then sometimes they are steel gray. Matthew's eyes change color a lot so perhaps she'll be like her daddy with randomly changing eye color .... his change depending on his moon.... I swear!

So life's been pretty good. Aerie's pretty well set on a schedule of eating and sleeping. She sleeps so well and will sleep through anything. Last night when we had some pretty crazy storms.. my little angel was fast asleep (now if only I was too... but nooooooooooooooo). Stupid Thunder!

Next month our whole family is going to Baltimore while I'm there on work business. I have a meeting and rather than leave Aerie at home which would be somewhat troublesome with the breastfeeding..... I opted to just bring her (and daddy) with me! I'm so glad my company is so amazingly wonderful.

Well time to jet.

Kindermusik Here We Come!

Saturday I took Aerie to the Early Learning Expo at Babies R Us. I knew they were going to have a kindermusik demo and I really wanted to check it out. She absolutly LOVED it. I was amazed at how enamoured she was with the kids, the motion and the event itself. I knew I just had to sign her up in the fall for the actual classes, which I did as of yesterday!

I enrolled her in Village which is a combo class of Dream Pillow and Zoom Buggy... The class is geared for Newborns-18 months. Here's the web description of the class:

Kindermusik VillageEach week you'll dance with your baby in your arms, share songs, and celebrate the marvelous transformations of the first 18 months.

Features include:
-Musical play that stimulates your baby's physical and mental development
-Establish soothing routines
-Social interaction with other Moms and babies
-Age-appropriate instrument & prop play
-Weekly Foundation of Learning tips for Parents

Zoom Buggy! - Swoosh, vroom, and clickety-clack your way through this delightful unit. Babies and adults will dance, sing, and play instruments to the theme of being on the go. Through a variety of songs, chants, and instrumental selections you and Baby will experience the rumbling of a baby buggy, the squeaky stroller, the bumpa bumpa bumpa of the wagon, the train chugging up the track and much more.(Weeks 1-7)

Dream Pillow - Baby is the star in Dream Pillow, with each activity carefully planned to stimulate his developing brain, thereby promoting physical, social, cognitive, emotional, and language development.

But it is the parent who is watching and guiding this little star on the rise, and Dream Pillow, like all Village units, is written with the parent very much in mind.(Weeks 8-15)

At Home Materials for each of the units: Home CD, Baby's Board Book, Featured Home Instrument for music-making at home, and two Art Banners.

I'm so excited for Septemember now. Both Aerie and I start school! I hope Aerie likes the class as much as she seemed to enjoy it at the store. It'll be a fun experience for the two of us! Not to mention its time that we get to spend together ever week doing something fun with other babies her age! Plus, I'll also meet some other moms with kids her age for possible future playdates!

I've been looking for a while for a mommy and me style group so I could meet other moms but unfortunatly most of what is in this area meets during the day while I'm at work (not helpful!) so I was thrilled when I learned Kindermusik had evening classes. Sadly, the evening one is in McMurray, but at least it's not that far away. They have classes in Washington starting up as a trial and hopefully in the spring they might have some evening classes. Either way, I'm sure it's going to be a very worthwhile experience for the two of us!

Sunday, Aerie and I went to a baby shower. She met some family she hasn't met yet, but that were at my shower. I was so proud of her for being such a good baby. She didn't really fuss or scream at all! I'm so lucky!!!

This week has been pretty enteretaining thus far as well. Monday was pure insanity with a major proposal due and I ran around like a nut! Then Tuesday was such a great day. It started with a phone call from Y108 saying I was chosen as mom of the week ... but the mystery is who in the world entered me! No one wants to own up to it! Thank you to the mystery person though! I am the proud receipient of dinner for two at Texas Roadhouse, a massage at the Health Pyramid, and tickets to the Improv at the Waterfront.

That started my morning off with a smile... then it continued when I found out my raise went through today (YEAH! MORE MONEY!) So overall, it was a pretty good day for me! Now if I could just hit the powerball tonight.... man would that top it off!

If you haven't done so, check out some of the new pictures I've posted of Aerie. There's a very amusing one where she's riding Artex (thanks to Matthew for picking on my poor little kitty). He didn't seem to mind though.

Well that's about all my time for today. Until who knows when....

Vacations are nice.....

So it's Sunday and unfortunatly it's back to work tomorrow... bummer. Matthew and I have been off for 4 days and we've really done NOTHING! And to be honest, I couldn't have been happier.

Friday was Matthew's birthday (yes the 4th of July). We went to a picnic and then came home. Other then the one trip out we've done nothing but hang around the house and play with Aerie. A vacation well spent! It was just nice not to have to be anywhere, go anywhere or do anything..... just relax.

Sadly, it rained for most of our vacation or we might have ventured out to a park or something with Aerie for a picnic but by the time Saturday and Sunday rolled around we just didn't want to do anything.

I just posted some new pictures (Yea ... I'm a bit slow this week) so check them out and enjoy! Nothing really new to report other then another beautiful Sunday. Perhaps Aerie and I will go for a walk this afternoon if it's not too hot. Currently she's passed out on her gym mat after playing for the last two hours.

July Already? Where is this year going?

Wow, It's already July. We're more then 1/2 the way through the year.... can you believe it? It seems like only yesterday Aerie was born.... but it's really over 3 months ago! What a trip! Life just seems to fly by and there just isn't enough time in the day.

So if you haven't heard the news, Arabella's on a roll.... literally... we just can't keep her in one direction anymore. Once she figured out how to roll over there's no stopping her she's on the go.... this kid wants to be mobile and fast! YIKES! Time to start really looking at baby proofing because I don't think it'll be long before she's crawling.. she already pushes herself up so well... it's only going to be a matter of time.

We had a busy weekend.... Saturday we went garage sale hopping and then Sunday Aerie spent the day with Grandma Nadine Beatrice so Matthew and I could go to a mini golf tournament. It was the first time we've been out alone since Arabella was born and I must say... it felt weird! Both of us did ok in the tournament but not good enough to win. After golf, we swung by the meadows to blow through some free play slots.... nothing like free money to gamble with... I lost and Matthew won (of course).

Matthew's birthday is Friday.... I finally got his present together (well mostly together).... I have to finish up one more part of it before Friday which is no biggie since we have Thursday off anyways. Ah... nice long weekend... I can't wait!

My company picnic is also coming up on July 18th... then next month starts the craziness... why is August always such a busy month for me? Weddings, parties, festivals, you name it... I've got it in August..... plus I scheduled another mini vacation for my birthday... figured I've earned it since I was pretty miserable on my birthday last year because of morning sickness. It also was great my birthday fell on Labor Day weekend so I get an extra day off with no used vacation days.

I've got some new pictures of Aerie. I'm going to try and post them this week... probably while I'm off. I've been so busy I haven't had the time to get them off my camera and uploaded to the website but they'll be there soon, I promise!

UGH! I could seriously use as nap right about now... I'm so tired and I don't know why... I slept pretty good last night (as good as you can with a young baby). Aerie is getting on an ok schedule for the most part.... as a breastfed baby though you can only do so much because it's just not going to sit heavy like formula. But I don't mind, she's worth the lack of sleep any time!