blessedmommy08's Momaroo

New Blog

Sat, 18 Oct 2008 02:20:40 GMT

Ok, I have been trying for a while to start a new blog...I need something that is more friendly for those who don't have momaroo and can leave comments no matter where their blog is located.

So here is my new blog: http://drewdeniparker.blogspot.com/

I will probably be deleting my momaroo in the next couple of days, so make sure you remember this site so you can read me anytime you want!

Thanks

Fun Foods Friday!!!!

Fri, 17 Oct 2008 15:49:32 GMT

Stromboli

1 10 oz tube refrigerated pizza dough
1/3 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese
Use what ever pizza toppings you like (I use pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, onions)

1. Preheat oven to 375, line a baking sheet with foil and spray with nonstick cooking spray
2. On a lightly floured surface, turn out the dough; press into an 8 x 12 inch rectangle. On half the pizza dough put cheese and then toppings. Fold other half on top and crimp edges. (I make two stomboli's)
3. Place the stromboli, seam side down, on the baking sheet. Bake until golden brown and crusty, about 20-25 minutes. Cut and serve with traditional spaghetti sauce for dipping!

- I love that you can mix and match whatever toppings you like. And if you only like cheese, then pile the cheese on. The actual recipe I got from this calls for artichoke hearts (that I hate those) and so I decided to just play around with the toppings. It also is more of a hero style sandwich roll type, but I tried it the way I typed above and I like it better, I think it's a bit easier!

Enjoy!!!!

A little bit o' this, A little bit o' that

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:13:30 GMT

First of all, thank you all so much for keeping Parker in your thoughts and prayers. He already is sounding a bit better...oh what saline, humidifiers and water can do for congestion. It's going to be a long few days, but he is sleeping comfortably on daddy right now and his cough is a little less severe. No, we aren't completely out of the woods, but we are headed towards the exit for sure! Just keep on praying. Oh and we are postponing Indiana until two weeks from tomorrow. We were going to go to NY that weekend, but since Drew's parents have seen parker several times, we are heading to Indiana, since not all my family has seen him.

So this is going to be a bit of a random post. I figured I would try to make an actual attempt at something fun or something of that nature. However, right now I am seem to be coming up blank all of a sudden.

First of all, anyone else watch Eli Stone or Pushing Daisies? These are my two newest addictions on tv. Both are very different than other shows. I really liked Eli Stone last night...very sweet show, I enjoyed it. And tonight is Pushing Daisies. It's such a twist on a crime-esque drama. And then of course there is ER - ok so it's not a new additions, but I love it all the same! I am so sad it is ending...but it's been on, what, a million years?

I am so over my cold/laryngitis. I swear if I have to blow my nose one more time...oh wait...I need to...ok better. I don't know where all this junk in my nose is coming from...I think I have a pool of it in my head. I am able to talk almost normally again, but I still sound like a frog.

So my life group is planning a mission opportunity. Sounds like we are going to do a blanket drive and then work with an organization to pass them out for homeless in downtown Columbus. I have to admit, I am normally am not into it, it's way out of my comfort zone, but I have to say, I feel a change in me recently. I think I am learning to step out of the comfort zone and push through my fears. It's already made a difference in several areas. I feel like God is really working in me. I am really looking forward to it. And it also sounds like the meet-up group I am in, young moms of columbus, is planning on working with an organization called Patches of Light this holiday season too.

Well, there I said my piece! Later gators!

Oh Lord, Help Protect my Child...

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:12:16 GMT

I am about at my wits end here. Poor Parker is sick and sounds terrible. He has had a cold the past couple weeks. Well, within the past couple of days, his cough from the congestion has gotten worse and worse and finally this morning I couldn't take it, I called my pediatrician and asked to be seen. I just am so worried about Parker. I think mainly because he as at a higher risk of getting RSV (click HERE for an explanation of what it is.) For a preemie, this can be a very serious sickness, he could end up back in the hospital and yah...it's just bad. That's why he is supposed to be starting Synagis Shots at the end of this month.

Anyways, we are supposed to be going to Indiana this weekend. Not sure if that will happen now or not. Mainly because his cough could turn into wheezing and I don't want to be in Indiana if that happens. But I have also had this planned for several months now and I don't think I can take being yelled at by my mother for not having been able to see Parker since a week after he was born. She has been on me about visiting, but I am trying to avoid it because I can't stand her husband and I don't think she will help my PPD much if she brought him and I couldn't kick them out...I digress.

Anyways, I just ask that you pray for Parker, for swift healing of his poor cough and congestion and that things will work out how they must work out. I am very stressed and worried and on top of being sick myself, I want to curl up in a ball and cry.

What a Weekend!!!

Sun, 12 Oct 2008 21:52:57 GMT

Hello there everybody! So sorry that this is the first chance to update really since letting you know I made it to Cincinnati on Friday! I am looking forward to relaxing at home this week and then heading to Indiana on Thursday to see my family! Here is a recap to this weekend...

Friday we left and headed down. Parker slept the entire way...he was such a good boy this weekend! I mean, I was expecting a lot of crying, but no, barely any actually. Just normal baby fussiness! Lindsey was sweet enough to let us stay with her and she also watched him for me during both rehearsal and the ceremony. The rehearsal went as most do...short and too the point and we then headed to Bucca Di Beppos for dinner. OH MY WORD...where has this place been all my life??? if you have never been, I command you to go :) It was so much fun. Sarah gave my birthday present and she got me Sex in the City, the movie...I was a happy camper!

Saturday was wedding day and it was FAR from smooth...got there and had my make up done by Mary Kay...for those who don't know me, I hate make up...I hate it with a burning passion! Seriously...I hate the application, I hate it...she asked me if I could do eye liner....I looked at here and said, um, where does it go? Mascara, blush, foundation...yah, I know how to do it...then came lips...."here's the lip liner"....my response: "ummmmm..." yup, thats how often I wear make up. Hair was super easy..just left it down and curly! Then the bride loses her shoes...I run to her apartment, in my dress in slippers and look for it in her car, nope not there...not in the apartment...(we later found out she left them in the hotel room on top of the ironing board holder.) She freaks out, but we find shoes. I get back about 10 minutes into pictures, which she was upset about. I think the shoe incident just started her on a downward spiral and she just acted so blah during the wedding. Reception was fun, I thought, great food. I think I was just glad it was over because her attitude was just so sad and I was emotional and sore and exhausted. I went back and hung out with Lindsey and then we ate dinner with her family and I went to bed (at 10).

This morning I got up and headed to my friend, Brandee's house. She was my roommate in college and I haven't seen her since before Parker was born, so she and her husband and our friend Hillary (M.O.B!!!!) went to Brandee's and had lunch and hung out. Then Parker and I headed home....it went fast, but it was super annoying, below is why...

Dearest "Speed Racer Person"

I am so sorry that my speed today was not near fastest enough for you. I didn't realize that going 10 over the speed limit was too slow?! Apparently 80 is the new 65? But no one seemed to tell me this. The fact that I was even going 75 bothers me, I generally care to be in the 5 over range as I feel that is acceptable, but you felt the need to TALE GATE ME as I drove. I don't know, maybe I am not in a hurry...were you? I didn't see anyone giving birth in your car, and I am pretty sure there was no fire, so explain to me the reason for your speed today? Is everything too slow for you? And is there anything wrong with wanting to be careful and not drive fast with such beautiful precious cargo in the back of my car? Well...I hope some day you can slow down and realize what you are missing with your speed demon ways! And next time you see me on the road, I ask you to just pass me and not tale gate, especially when you didn't even need to!

Love,
Me

Yup, I think you get it don't you? I mean, I just don't get why everyone needs to fly down the road ways. I was going 75 to keep up with traffic, and I never go that fast. The fact that some one tale gated me as I went that speed bothers me. I mean, I just don't get the need to speed, drive erratically...it just makes me sad!

I am glad to be home. I am ready to catch up on sleep and enjoy tv and get over this nasty cold I have seemed to develop!

Welp....I am going to eat! Later my friends!

Friday, October 10, 2008

Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:26:39 GMT

**edit**

Made it, this is the first chance I have to update! The drive went awesome...Parker slept the entire time. Has been a complete angel for Lindsey all day...seriously, I have no idea what happened to mister fussy pants. Continue to pray he stays that way and that we have a safe, wonderful trip home like we did today!

Went to Bucca Di Beppos tonight....seriously, some of the best freaking food I have EVER tasted!

Should be in bed...but too jazzed!

Later!

**end edit**

Can you all pray for me today/this weekend? Parker and I are heading down to Cincinnati for my friend, Sarah's wedding and I am a little nervous. While I have driven this a million times before, now I have another little life in tow. Parker, I think, should do well and just sleep (I hope) the entire way down. It's only about a 1.5 hour drive, so he won't need to eat (I hope) until we get to Lindsey's house! Just pray for safe travel and a great time with everyone this weekend and that Parker isn't too fussy when Lindsey watches him.

On another note....I am so over this election, I am sick of the political ad's...I wish it were time to vote now so I don't have to hear this anymore.

On another other note...I was watching Hoosiers this morning and I have a super cool random fact about the movie. My former dentist, Dr. Hollar, is in the movie, he plays Rade....

Ok, I am off to finish getting things around and take a shower, feed the kiddo and then head to Cincy!

Thursday, October 09, 2008

Thu, 09 Oct 2008 22:25:34 GMT

Well it's been a very eventful couple of days! Yesterday I went to the doctor for my PPD appointment. She said is proud of how well I am doing and I don't have to see her again until Jan. for my annual girl appointment. After that, we came home for a bit and then headed up to Delaware to Amber's so she could dye and cut my hair before I go away this weekend. I had a blast, her kids loved all over Parker (not a lot) and I even snapped a precious picture of her son holding Parker (this is parker's first real interaction with other children.) I got home and made dinner and put Parker down for sleep and he slept until 11, woke up and I fed him and he slept through the night until 5:30!

This morning we got up and headed to Polaris for my first play date with the mommies and the meet up group I am. The older kids played at "The Zoo" while those of us with younger ones talked...got to meet some amazing ladies! I look forward to going to the zoo next week with them. We then moved to the food court and ate some food and chatted. Parker and I headed home and he napped and I went in did laundry.

Tonight I have to pack for the trip this weekend and then tomorrow we leave for cincinnati. I am really really anxious because this is Parker's first big road trip and Drew works all weekend, so it's just me and Parker going down. I hate driving in cincinnati as it is, now I have to do it with a baby! So pray that everything goes well and pray for our saftey.

Tomorrow I will be hanging at my friend lindsey's house and then heading to the wedding rehearsal and then saturday is wedding day and sunday I am meeting up with a couple of friends from college!

So, I may not be on much...just depends...

Insecurities

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:10:35 GMT

EDIT AT BOTTOM!!!!

This may be a hard post for me to write because I don't want anyone to think I am writing it for pity or reassurance. I am simply wanting to open up and share with you all some of the daily challenges in my life.

I think I have been insecure forever. Most of it started in 7th - 8th grade (because that seems to be where all these friendships change, break up, come together. And from there it became an everyday, up hill battle. I have done my best to work though each different area of insecurity, but the truth is, as much as I work on it I still can spot the same areas of issues. There are several areas in which I struggle with insecurity:

1) Body Image
I feel like I am constantly battling with so many negative thoughts in my head about my body. I don't feel pretty enough or good enough or skinny enough and I feel like people judge me based on that. I will be honest, I do actually do my best to eat well and keep myself active, but there are times I really really really struggle with doing both. I think my biggest issue is the size of my breasts. I hate them...I have always wanted a reduction because of back issues and I just feel they are so oversized for my body. Yes, I have rolls and fat and such, but I am not horribly overweight, I think a lot of it comes from the chest area. I was hoping they would shrink once I had a baby and breast fed - ha, that didn't happen. I digress...I just feel like I am not good enough to be friends with people and that the world sees me with judgement and think I am too fat and not pretty enough

This leads in to my ...

2) Friend Issues
I have also struggled a lot with believing my friends are my friends and that they are not pretending. I have gone through this a lot since high school. I feel like I went through friends like one might go through say, toothbrushes. Sure, there are some friends I have had my entire life, but especially in high school, I felt like I had a new group of friends every few months and this lead to me feeling like I wasn't good enough to have real friends or that they would all just pretend to like me because they felt bad for me. I think most of the high school friend issues were due to typical high school drama. But even recently, I still sometimes sit here and think people are pretending for my benefit. In the back of my mind I know it's not true at all and that people genuinely do like me and love me, but of course, I think I will always still have a doubt. I also think my insecurity with friends comes back to body image. I feel like I am not pretty/skinny enough to be friends with these people I am friends with.

3) Mom issues
Now that I am a mom, I have even more insecurities. I am afraid other mom's won't like me and that they won't want to be friends with me and my preemie son. I am afraid I won't do a good enough job of taking care of Parker and that therefore I will be judged and told I am not a good mom. And again, I feel like I am not pretty enough or skinny enough to be a good mommy. I don't want Parker to be ashamed of me.

These insecurities are a constant struggle for me. Don't get me wrong, I love my friends, to death, I mean, they really know me and get me and make me feel special and I love my son. I have tried for so many years to accept my body and enjoy what God has given me, but I really struggle to. These insecurities lead me to really struggle with putting myself out there. For example: there are a lot of young moms and families in our new complex and I want so bad to introduce myself, but I am scared of rejection or judgement and kind of don't want to put myself out there. I do better when there is a good reason, like a apartment community craft night or something. Where I can meet these people, but not be the only face they see. I am afraid we won't have anything in common and that I will sound silly or stupid or something. And also, not being in the best of shape, I am afraid of competition.

I don't want to be rejected or have to compete. I want to be my normal, silly, goofy, nerdy self and make new friends and connect with other mom's. I want to be able to call up my friends I do have and ask for a play date or to go to the zoo (of which I want a membership too so bad!) or get friends to come hang out with us. I want to see myself as God sees me and know that I am a big girl and I am a good person and do have real friends and do have people who really love me and don't judge me. I want to have confidence to go out and meet new friends and people and to become a little social butterfly, but I don't know how to move past the struggles and allow myself to do that.

I have faith that this is a step towards me getting to where I want to be. I have faith that I will learn to be myself and love myself and show that to others!

So take that, insecurities, take that and go away you meany face!

***edit****

First of all...God is amazing...why, well because about two hours after I wrote this I was out on my front balcony playing with Parker and my neighbor below me came home and introduced himself and his family and said they hope to have us over for dinner! They have young kiddos too! Also, our neighbor to the left of us introduced herself today! Also, tonight at choir practice, God completely renewed my spirit through one of the songs and I realized just how much Satan is attacking me...to me, that is awesome and totally God. He is my refuge!

Little Annoyances , Sick Boys, Mommy Group

Mon, 06 Oct 2008 13:38:54 GMT

We just moved a week ago and I love almost everything about except the horribly annoying office staff. Office hours are listed as 9-6. But for whatever reason, recently, they haven't been open very much. They are there and the close the office say from like 12-3 or like this morning I was coming home from picking up my bridesmaid dress for a wedding I am in this weekend. It's 9:45, cars are parked out front of the office, I go up to the door...locked, I see people inside...I knock..ignored. I was so mad. I get home, wait, thinking maybe they were having a meeting...at 10:15 I call, no one answers. All I want is my key for the laundry room, is that too much to ask??? I had called last thursday - left a message, called friday - left a message. I mean really, is it that hard to return a call. Heck, they could have even said, "We won't have it until next week." Great, at least I would know something. Gah....

Ok, moving on....Critter is still struggling with his cold. Last night he was super fussy, only fell asleep for me. Slept well, woke up at 2am wanting fed, who am I to argue with that? He took all his food and then slept till 7, woke up again...decided it would be much more fun to smile and be all cute and cuddly. Now he is sleeping, sounding a little less congested. Drew called off work today, he is sick. I am making him go to the doctor because I want to know what's going on and make sure to be careful with little dude! So yay, I get to take care of a sick Drew and a sick-ish baby!

I am in a group now on Meetup.Com for young mom's in Columbus. I am so sick of being at home all the time and not putting myself out there to meet new friends. So I decided to join the group. There are a lot of fun things they have planned and are going to and I am really looking forward to it. I think it will be nice to get out, most activities are free, or cheap and I am just thrilled to meet other mom's. Don't get me wrong, I love my church friends and others, but I, for some reason I can't figure out, am too scared to call them up and be like, "Playdate?" I have a horrible fear of rejection. This is the same reason I am too scared to go out and meet the other mom's in my apartment complex. Feel free to join the group, the main leader is awesome.

That's all I have for today. I may talk more about my mom-insecurity tomorrow.

:)

ITS FRIDAY!!!!!!

Fri, 03 Oct 2008 19:21:22 GMT

Fun Food Fridays!

Today I am going to tell you about one of my FAVORITE places to eat! It's called Skyline Chili. Well actually the name of the place is called Skyline! It was started in Cincinnati, Ohio in a restaurant on Glenway Ave. (The original is not there anymore....)

"A storied past. A bright future.
In 1949, on a hilltop overlooking Cincinnati, Ohio, Nicholas Lambrinides and his sons opened a small restaurant and began serving what would soon become a Cincinnati icon—Skyline Chili. The name came from the impressive view of the city's outline against the sky and has since become synonymous with a unique dish known as Cincinnati-style chili. Today, there are more than 130 Skyline Chili restaurants in four states, a credit to the vision of Nicholas Lambrinides and his sons—men who had the determination to perfect a truly new dining experience way back in 1949."

It's a family secret recipe meat sauce that is VERY distinctive in taste!

"The quality of our secret recipe chili is no mystery.
Skyline's secret-recipe chili is cooked daily at our commissary to maintain a high level of quality. The commissary, which is centrally located just outside Cincinnati, produces the chili and packages it so that it only needs to be reheated at each restaurant unit. This "heat and serve" method helps our restaurants achieve consistent quality and keeps food preparation simple. We constantly strive to find ways to keep our restaurant operation streamlined"

My favorite thing to get is the 4 - way with onions and a cheese coney (with mustard, of course!) But of course there are other things to order to, just a 3-way (meat, cheese, spaghetti) or you can go all out and get the 5-way (meat, cheese, spaghetti, onion, beans). You can also get coney's and they have a variety of other things, salads, burritos, potatoes!

The only thing is, these restaurants are mainly in Ohio, KY and Indiana!

But it's so good...for some people, it may be a bit weird at first, but it grows on ya!