Bracelet

Because I have watched lots of The Rachel Zoe Project lately and this appears to be a casual look

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  I now have this handcuff bracelet winging it's way to me.

Mid-year check in

In an effort to get back on track from my not-resolutions resolutions, I'm doing a little check in here for June.

1. Sophy was a complete success in the delivery dept and so far has been a super sweet baby. We're starting a new routine on Monday since Mommy starts a new job (more to come on that one) so that will be a little ify for a couple of weeks.

2. So far I've done pretty good with the friend connections. I think we can always do better but I've tried to reach out even if it's just a quick card in the mail. I try to refrain from including pictures of Sophy, except with family, but we'll see how I do as she gets cuter and cuter.

3. So on the housecleaning front we do pretty well. Again, I'd like to maintain a routine and schedule so it's just not an issue. Reminder to change sheets. :o  Also, I'm stealing the Menu Sunday idea from over here. It helps keep me accountable for more eating at home. The last few weeks have been a total fail and my tighter pants are proof.

4.I've done ok on the non-fiction but the reading has slowed down in general. I've got Wild and Too Big To Fail next up to bat.

5. We've done serious de-cluttering and donated about 10 bags of clothes, shoes, bags, bedding, etc and it's fantastic to have some room to breathe in the closet again.

6. Yeah, being healthier in eating and exercise has been a total fail and I'm getting back on the bandwagon ASAP.

7. Pretty good in being more optimistic but with serious cynical relapse.

8. Still working on the happiness gig which is tied to #10 and making more art. Gotta get more of both in.

9. Finances - uhm, yeah we've got to get on that one ASAP as well. I'm hoping the new job and new routine will help with a little bit of the target stress shopping.

11. Travel - the new job makes it a little tough but we've got plans for Vegas in July. Cabana rented and Love tickets purchased... woo hoo! We also want to get a weekend trip in to Austin, trip to Missouri in Oct~ish, and I'd like to do a couple more weekend trips. Maybe Marfa and Roswell. I think next Thanksgiving will be an international trip with a 1 3/4 baby. Christmas markets in Germany?

12. Gratitude I've actually been fairly fantastic. I know I have an amazing family and am thankful for Rolland, Sophy and the rest of my family every day. I have awesome friends and feel incredibly fortune to be starting a new job so quickly when so many people have struggled. I'm incredibly lucky and I know it.

Pretty good so far but the reminder was much needed for areas of improvement. Now off for menu planning and some cleaning!

Happy Saturday.

Sometimes I Feel Like This

Dallas Arboretum

Last weekend we had company and visited the Dallas Arboretum to see the Chihuly Exhibit which was fantastic. We got there early but it was still fairly steamy so I would recommend waiting for cooler weather. I can't wait to go back with cooler temps and a slightly older baby. The photo ops will be amazing.  They also have a few nights where they do an exhibit. I'm betting that is also awesome.

Heading out with the baby to stroll.

One of the first installations you see when entering the arboretum. It was incredible.

Granny and Daddy with baby Sophy who was not picking her nose as this photo may suggest

All the girls

Sophy and Daddy

Unbelievable glass sculpture 

Granny got in lots of snuggles

Lots of kisses from Aunt Anita

Here are a few of the installations. Seriously, I cannot convey how awesome the exhibit is and the grounds are gorgeous. The boat pieces were probably my favorite although some of the simple vignettes were beautiful.

Sophy played in the water feature with the older kids with a little Mommy help.

June Photos

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The last few weeks have been a little crazy but I've kept up, mostly, with the photo a day for May. I'm trying it in June as well and this summer offers a lot of photo op opportunities with the baby.

I promise a real post soon but not tonight. I'm off to watch mindless TV and scour the intranets.

I'm a lot more active over on the twitter and instagram @amyhuff

Stepping up the blogging is on the summer "to do" list which I should blog soon. Sigh.

First Day of School

It's been fairly busy as we get back into the work routine. I'm three weeks into work and it's crazy there right now. It was also hard to send the baby to baby school (I hate the term daycare)but her school is great and she seems to like it. We get notes everyday with her schedule and activities. Today was reading about space, Spanish and personal growth (tummy time and such).

Sophy and Daddy - First Day of School

Sophy and Mommy - First Day of School

I'm also hoping this means I'll get back to regular blogging but honestly if it means I do a post or I play with the baby, the baby's always winning. Our new routine is to play on the bed at night before bed and she seems to not even mind tummy time for a short period of time on the bed. She really is very advanced - the school said so. :)

Computer Baby

Somebody else in the house loves the computer!

Saturday the family loaded up and headed to Chestnut Square early for the Farmer's Market. We've been trying to go for a couple of weeks but it's been busy for some reason or another but yesterday was success! Sophy mostly enjoyed her first outing in the baby bjorn as long as Daddy kept it moving. Any slow down and she was pissed.

We picked up some asparagus and potatoes, croissants, various olive oils and tamales for the freezer. Aspargus is cooking tonight as a side dish with mushroom rice pilaf and flounder (healthy eating plan that was wheels off with last night's whopper). I loved these boxes of peaches but have no clue what to do with them yet.

Potatoes are getting cooked Tuesday night to support the Chicken with Mustard Sauce and green beans. I also want to try these French Onion Sliders one night this week. I'm hoping the blog sharing of week night meal planning will make it a little more of a reality. We're definitely working on being more health conscious and frugal in our approach to meal time. I've also been missing the kitchen. Hope you're having a tasty Sunday evening!

Royal Anniversary

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Scanning through the channels while feeding the baby, I realized it must be the anniversary of the royal wedding. Lots of recaps and highlights going on. I admit I watched the entire thing last year while getting over pneumonia and getting ready for our 2nd cycle of trying IVF (we never got to the egg retrieval stage with the 1st one because of said pneumonia and a cyst). A lot has changed in a year, see previous about feeding baby, and it's greatness. Tomorrow is my last official day of maternity leave. I go back to work on Tuesday and Sophy goes to baby school. I'm thinking it might be a half day at this point. I'm not sure either of us are ready for an entire day of separation. We've gotten our morning routine down with a bottle and a nap then playtime in the afternoon. She's amazing and it's incredible to watch her wonder over each new thing she discovers. I think her pediatrician was exactly right when he called her a "spitfire" and I love it.

Arnold Palmer

I love the Black Tea Lemonade at Starbucks but at nearly $5 each, it's not feasible for a daily treat. At least not feasible for us, $5 is almost a onesie and our little fashionista is growing at a rate that requires lots of clothing purchases. So... I've finally gotten around to figuring it out. Except the part where I measured anything. :( I made homemade simple syrup with 3 cups of water and 2 cups of sugar since I like my lemonade fairly tart. Normally it's equal parts of each. I juiced an entire bag of lemons from Sam's and would say it was about 1 1/2 cups of juice. Mixed both together. Next, I made a cup of tea with our Keurig (we're venturing out later to pick up Awake from Starbucks for the Keurig to taste compare)for this I just used Earl Grey and poured it over ice. The cup of tea mixed with a cup of lemonade of ice is yummy! Perfect summer drink.

Photo A Day

Since I don't have enough to do, I'm going to add this to my daily to do list. I've been admiring all the folks who've been doing it so I'm all on. Prepare for lots of baby pics that work themselves into the theme!

Test Run

This week is the test run for going back to work next week. We're getting up when Rolland leaves for work, getting ready and packing up to head out of the house to make sure we've got the timing and routine down.

This morning, this was my new view in the bathroom when getting ready. Normally she hangs out in her bassinett in our room but she got up early and was already to go before I had even showered.


She went to sleep in her room after her bottle so I put her in her crib and turned on the baby monitor. It's great that she likes her crib and doesn't seem to mind being in there, but it's hard that at 2 months she already seems to be growing up and becoming more independent. I know it's a huge leap from here to college but it's shocking how quickly she moved from a newborn who only wanted to sleep on me or Daddy to now being by herself in her room for a while.

I'm listening to her play in her pack n play now and can't imagine going an entire day without her. I may have to do some shorter days back to work to ease into it. After our morning run, I'm happy to think this is much more my issue than hers.

Brag Shopping

Last weekend we ventured out to IKEA to pick up some essentials like napkins (debating switching to cloth all the time to be more environmentally friendly but haven't committed yet) and candles when we saw this while browsing. It's now solidly put together and hanging out in my dining room while I figure out what the hell to do with it. I knew it had to come home with me and I'd figure it out later.

I hope you guys have a fantastic weekend planned. This is the 2nd to last one before I head back to work. I'm excited but trying really hard not to freak out about leaving Sophy with strangers fro 8 hours a day. Trying really really hard.

Also, when in the hell did blogger change the whole format. I'm not ready to embrace all this change.

Olive Bungalow

I found these gorgeous rings when I was searching for some good stackable ring options. I'm obsessed with the ring layering. I got this set and another band and they are fantastic. I love them! I've since ordered a band with Sophy's birthstone and plan to follow up with mine & Rolland's.

She's got some fantastic options for gifts - for yourself or loved ones. If you're a jewelry lover, check out Olive Bungalow.

Catch Up

I haven't forgotten about posting I just haven't had much time to get to it. The husband set up my laptop on the dining room table so now I'm able to run wild on the intranets with baby safely nearby in her pack 'n' play. For my last two weeks at home, this will be greatness and I have totally unrealistic expectations for getting back into the kitchen. Also, we've been fairly under the weather with complications from delivery to general illness but now I think we're over the hump.

On Easter we did the required baby in the bluebonnets pictures. Next year should be awesome with her ability to actually sit up/walk and pose. She'll be running wild!




Generic cute baby picture. She loves to play on Mommy & Daddy's bed so I can get some good picture time in.



Small kitchen side note: I made the basic meatballs from this book and they were fantastic. I used pork and beef in the mix since I had ground pork in the freezer. It also makes them a little lighter than all beef. I served them with the basic tomato sauce which wasn't as tasty and pretty bland so I'm continuing the tomato sauce search.