So I'm Not Going To Win Any Awards...

Here's a little embarrassing drama that unfolded on Monday...

On Monday morning my smoke alarms went off (I have three) for no apparent reason. The first happened around 9am. It went off then shut down in 15 seconds. I thought it was strange since I didn't have anything cooking and couldn't smell any smoke. But just chalked it up to a weird fluke. It happened again around 10:30 with it coming on and shutting off in a very short time span. I was beginning to think maybe there was some electrical problem and would have to mention it to James when he arrived home. I did have the laundry going and tried to sniff around to see if there was any smoke or the smell of anything burning but didn't smell anything out of place. At 1:30 it went off again and this time it wouldn't stop. Now everyone knows how annoying smoke alarms are and to have all three going off is definitely ear-piercing. I went to the one in the laundry room first and tried to turn it off but couldn't figure out how to take the battery cover off. So I went upstairs to try the one closest to the bedroom (Blake was sleeping and the door was closed so he didn't hear it much) but still couldn't figure out how to take the cover off. I was afraid I would electrocute myself or something if I pried it off too hard. All the while the alarms are just wailing and my ears are starting to ring. I was becoming really frustrated and decided to call James to see what I could do. He tried to explain how to take the battery cover off and I decided to just try it again. I went back downstairs to the laundry room and was finally able to pull the battery out. One down, two more to go. I got the other two unplugged and called James back to explain what happened. He was really concerned and suggested that I call the non-emergency number to ask if they could send someone by to check the alarms. He asked me if the smoke alarms were also carbon monoxide alarms and I told him that I didn't know.

Blake is awake now and needing to nurse so I decide to nurse him first and then call the non-emergency line because I knew if I called first while still nursing then who knows how long (or short) it will take someone to arrive and no one wants to answer the door with a baby strapped to the boob or deal with a wailing hungry infant while they check things out! But here I am sitting and worried thoughts are going through my head..."I didn't smell any smoke so I know that's not the cause but what if they are carbon monoxide detectors and I have CM in my house? I do have the dryer running so maybe there is something wrong with that? That would totally stink if I couldn't use my dryer because I have a load in the wash and what would I do with it? Go to a laundomat? Go to my mom's? What if its carbon monoxide and Blake and I have been inhaling it all day today?? Oh, the windows have been opened all day so I don't think we would really be affected by it. But who knows? What if we have inhaled enough that they find us dead on the couch, right in the middle of nursing? A horrifying thought! I know CM is odorless and invisible, a deadly gas. Even if we inhaled a little would that have any adverse effects on us??"

To make matters worse, my house is A MESS!!! Every single room has junk cluttered up in it, dirty dishes pile the sink and countertops, the kitchen table is littered with papers and junk, my hardwood floors are disgusting and covered in dog hair since Guinness is going through a big shed now, and all my clothes are dirty so I am in my pajamas at the moment! I usually have something to wear on laundry day but my clothing selection is limited at the moment and I just planned on staying in my pajamas and was going to spend the day cleaning up the house anyway. All that is out the window since I need to call someone to come and figure out why my smoke alarms were going off. So I finish nursing and call the non-emergency number. I explain what happened and what I need to the woman who answers and she transfers me to dispatch. Then a man answers the line and says "9-1-1, How can I help you?" Oohkay, so I was transferred to 9-1-1... I tell him what was going on and that I would like someone to just come and check it out. He gets my info and says he is sending the fire department. I thank him and hang up. Crap that means they will be here in a couple minutes and I need to find something to wear and make myself look somewhat decent!

I quickly throw on a skirt and top and I can already hear the sirens in the distance thanks to my open windows. I put the dog in the garage, look at my dirty kitchen and sigh, grab the baby and open the door. Three firemen in full gear show up and I let them in, tell them they caught me on a bad day since the house is a mess and try to smile as they walk through my dirty house. I want to tell them that today was the day I was planning on cleaning, that my house really doesn't look like this all the time, and just give whatever answer I can so they aren't thinking "so this is what stay-at-home moms do all day". Ugh!! But I don't say anything and wait as they give me the verdict on what is causing the smoke alarms to go off. They find the culprit and come down to show me. "We must have caught you on a really bad day, ma'am", the fireman tells me as he shows me a smoke alarm that is chock full of cobwebs, dead bugs, and spiders. Ew! He explains that when the smoke alarms get dirty like that, that if a spider crawls across the sensor inside then the alarm transmits that as smoke and it sets off. He said it was too dirty and not worth saving so we should get a new one. Great, my house is dirty and so are my smoke alarms. I'm definitely not winning any "cleanest house" awards this year. I can just imagine the thoughts in thier heads "Caught her on a bad day? Right. Its probably always like this because she never cleans which is proven in her cobweb filled smoke alarm!" Honestly, I never even thought about taking my vaccuum hose and sucking the dirt out every once in a while. I had no idea bugs could even get in there!

I thanked the men for their time and am relieved that a crisis has been averted and that it was nothing serious. But I was pretty embarrassed that the reason it went off at all was because it was dirty. Way to go me. Bet they are all having a laugh about it back at the firehouse. Darn dirty smoke alarm!

Aunt Pam's Visit

I am really behind on posting but here is what happened when my sister-in-law Pam, came to visit from California back in March.

Pam arrived the day that my sister Sunny left to go back to California (Sunny is near Bakersfield and Pam lives near San Diego with her husband-James' brother). It was perfect timing to have one sister go and another arrive! She and my mother-in-law came over the next day to see little Blake. James got off of work early and we all went to Lynfred Winery to do a wine tasting. They have awesome wines that they make on site and it is housed in a beautiful renovated Bed and Breakfast.

Aunt Pam with Blake (at 5 1/2 weeks) in Lynfred



Blake was such a good baby while we were doing the wine tasting. He was passed back and forth between MIL and SIL as they tried to soak up every precious minute with him. Of course customers in the store commented on what a beautful and sweet baby he was. :)


Fast asleep in Pam's arms.





(My stupid camera loves to wash me out-I'm not that ghostly pale in real life!) James and I enjoying our wine.

After the wine tasting, my father-in-law met up with us and we all went out to Bahama Breeze for a nice relaxing dinner.

On Friday Pam, Jane (MIL), and Blake and I went downtown to the Art Museum. It was Blake's first trip to Chicago and my first time entering the Art Museum. I was surprised by how much I loved the museum and would enjoy going back again. We brought the stroller but Blake didn't spend much time in it as he had plenty of loving arms just waiting to scoop him up and carry him around. He did find some of the brightly colored pottery to be a fascination. Gotta start his cultural exposure early!

The rest of the weekend was spent hanging out with Pam and I for one loved having her around since she volunteered quite frequently to change diapers, even the stinky ones! :) But of course that is not the only reason I liked having her around. It was wonderful to see her with Blake and see how loving she is. She will make a wonderful mother someday and I look forward to when that day comes, Lord willing!




Pam getting some snuggle time in before she flies back to CA.

Grandma and Pam doting on the little guy.

We were sad to see Pam go and look forward to when we can see her and Mike again. Holla out to Cali!!

For Your Viewing Pleasure

Happy baby

My pride and joy

"Oh" face

Bad shot but adorable face

My buddy and me- chilling

He's got a hold on me

This is what I do a million times a day-mwah!

Prepster baby!

My chunky monkey




Holding his head up high

Tummy time

How Cute is This?

So my camera doesn't take great video (I dropped a hint for James to buy me a new one for Mother's Day) but this is what takes up my time all day long. At five o' clock in the evening I'll look around my house and see the dishes piled up in the sink, dirty clothes on the floor, and junk cluttering just about every room, and wonder what the heck did I do all day? Then I look at my smiling baby and know that the day wasn't wasted at all. This is love!!

A Zoo Story

One day Baby Blake decided to go to the zoo. It was a gorgeously warm day in March and he thought to himself "what better way to spend the day than outside with the animals?" So he invited his Mama, grandparents, and aunts along as well.

Baby Blake decided to take a snooze on the way to the zoo. He needed to save his energy for all the animal watching he was about to do and he knew his Mama would wear him out since she loooooves the zoo.



He arrives to his destination and thought it good to document exactly where he is.





The zoo was full of interesting animals to see but most surprising were a few strange things that happened while we were there...

...like Papa actually pushing the stroller!


...and his Mama and Aunts turning into animals!

...and his Aunt Sunny acting like a monkey swinging from a tree! Strange things indeed!

Little Blake decided it was time for a tasty treat and while he finished up his lunch, his aunts and Mama decided they wanted a tasty treat as well, Dipping Dots! It started out innocently enough with the three girls sharing the one bowl of ice cream (but is that the wisest idea?)

"Yummmm", the girls cried.

"We shall shove it in our mouths or lick it up like cats!", they said. Slurp, slurp.

Being at the zoo really did cause their animal instincts to come out and they stopped playing nice.
"Enough of the sharing... it's mine!", they shrieked.

"Whoa, girls!", Baby Blake said.

"There should be plenty of ice cream to go around!"

After the ice cream fight, Baby Blake decided he needed a break from the weird things that were happening and snuggled in for a nice nap on his Aunt Sunny's shoulder.

After his nap he decided to look at more animals and saw this magical-dwarfed-mountain-gazelle-thing that had glowing eyes. Ooh-wee-ooh. (spooky music)

Baby Blake was so scared of this glowing eyed creature that he thought the best thing to do was play dead.

After that strange event he went to see the rhinos but the rhinos were scary too. They were eating chunks of rock!

That freaked Baby Blake out so he hid his little face from the enormous spiked monster.

At least the elephants were nice.

His Mama was so giddy from the day at the zoo but he was pretty pooped.

"Ah, but it was a good day even if it was a little strange", he thought to himself as he drifted away once more with a contented smile on his face.

The End

Photo Op

Yay for Ethel's Chocolates!



Yummy assortment




Hanging at the chocolate lounge



Danielle found some friends




Sunny's shocked by what she read

Older sis and me

Sitting pretty

Aren't they lovely?

The girl in green isn't too bad either

Goofy heads

Say cheese!

Mama sisters

The brunettes

Smile!

Sunny's visit

Sunny's visit has come and gone. I was so happy she was able to come out and see us a couple of weeks ago. She was here for a week but its never enough. While she was here I was reminded of how much I love and miss her and wish she and her sweet family were close by so I don't have to see them only once or twice a year! Us three girls had some opportunity to have some sister time and I cherished every moment we spent together. My relationship to my sisters is so special and we always have a great time together recalling old memories that make us laugh until we cry (or wet our pants!), sharing inside jokes and stories that only we know, and also pushing those buttons that only siblings know how to do. :) Its strange how even though we are in new chapters in our lives (married, having kids) that we still feel like we are only sisters playing house. Its crazy to see Sunny as a wife and mom and I know she feels the same way about me. We haven't changed a bit just added more people to love and altered our roles a smidge.

While Sunny was here we went shopping, took a stroll down the riverwalk, indulged in chocolates, went to the zoo, and listened to old kid songs! Blake loves his Aunt Sunny and it made my heart melt just a bit to see my older sister holding my new son. How crazy it is when times change!

Blake loves his Aunt Sunny

3 Sisters and a baby

Smothered with kisses