It's in the mail

Have you noticed how much the USPS has been in the news lately? Nope? Just Me?
Well, if it's not postage rate increases, it's budget shortfalls and potential shutdowns of local offices.
This makes me sad.
Remember when that was the only - I mean ONLY - way to communicate with friends, family, utility companies, catalogs, medical offices, etc etc etc?? {Ok, maybe we had phones to do SOME of that, but still...}
I. LOVE. MAIL.
I love opening cards. I love sending cards. I love checking the mailbox. I love the idea of a piece of mail traveling slowly across the interstates, highways, city streets, and cul-de-sacs to get to its final destination. And a stamp makes all that happen! Brilliant.
I got a beautiful wedding invitation in the mail a few weeks ago and could. not. wait. to return the RSVP!
I wish people sent cards for more than just Christmas, birthdays, and weddings. {And NO, Hallmark did NOT pay me to say such things.}
And I'm one of those nerds that enjoys looking at the latest stamp designs and trying to make up a reason to send something just so I can happily place stamp on an envelope.
I guess I'm old school or nostalgic or something, but paper, cards, stationery, invitations, are just so fun, unique, and personal in comparison to their electronic counterparts.
I wish I had more time to be able to send a card for every ocassion, big or small, in people's lives. That's the tricky part for me. Finding time.

And because who doesn't love football - less than ONE month until the Sooners take the field for their season opener! The suspense is killing me {kinda like the heat.} And, to go back to our previous topic, can't wait to see this year's ticket design. Boomer!
This one is for my sister, who loves feet... {and for those that wondered how blue nail polish would look on one's toes.} I like how it looks, but it's time for a change.

Weekends were made for make believe. 

The latelys

Yes, I think I just made up that word. I think it's kind of catchy. Since it's not a word, I'll go ahead and define it for you.

'latelys'
-adverb
plural; used to make up for lost time and list multiple items of late; see also 'lately' {and I like this spelling rather than latelies.}

Anyhow, we've been busy doing a little of this and a little of that. And I've been thinking - this blog has become nearly 100% about our child. Now granted she pretty much rules the roost, but the hubs and I try to maintain some sort of sanity and do things that might be interesting, too. So, I'm going to try and make things a bit more balanced and fascinating. Because that's how I roll.

For those that don't know, we're expecting our second child - due this December. Gender as of today is it's a boy! I'll try and give you some pregnancy updates, but spare some of the yucky details that I don't think anyone cares to read about. And maybe, just maybe, I'll post a belly pic {or two.} I only took a few with Miss M and I imagine it will be more of the same with Baby 2. And I may or may not have purchased this nail polish {only $3!} over a week ago in hopes/feelings/premonitions/etc. that I'll be polishing my nails this color soon. ;)

Miss M has an obsession these days. The rule in our house has always been one video when we get home from 'school' while mommy rests her feet for 10 minutes before making dinner. Well, she's in the princess phase, so I ordered this when it went on sale at Amazon. And...it is her FAVORITE! She knows it's real title, but still asks to watch 'Bay-el' (that's 'Belle' with a rather thick southern accent. {where did THAT come from?!}) We watch it every. single. day. Even hubs and I hear all of the songs in our head while showering, typing on the computer, pulling weeds, trying to fall asleep... I suppose we may need an intervention for her.

At home, our plants are famished. Due to local water rationing, we're down to watering one day per week with sprinklers. Eek!! So, that means hand watering. So far, I think the only victim has been one small azalea bush. I keep watering it in hopes that it will regenerate, but I see a trash can funeral in our future. I try to be a good gardener, but water rationing ain't helpin' me.

More to come soon. I've got a new organizational plan I'm going to try, so hopefully that will encourage more blogging. ;)

(little) Big Fish

Saturdays are swim class days. Madelyn has a major crush on her swim instructor. He's in the Core of Cadets at A & M!! Really nice and funny guy. By the end of this summer, she'll be swimming independently through the water. Hard to imagine, but Madelyn is determined, very brave and confident. She is the youngest in her class of 3 swimmers, but is already a show off! These are pictures from the first class.

I really thought she might be anxious about me and daddy not being in the water with her, but as usual, she proved me wrong. Such a fearless little girl.

Gearing up

Trying on her new princess swim ring. And yes, that's Leroy in the background. And no, he's not dead. Just a happy siesta from the horrid heat outside.

Coming Soon...

After a long hiatus, I think I'm ready for blogging again. Please stay tuned.