On Sabbatical...

Wow - are my calculations correct? Has it been that long since I've posted something?

So aside from - working full time, raising my baby and trying (oh how I try) to be a good wife and mother, getting in a rollover car accident on the way to Lake Powell in August and being admitted to the hospital, being the sole person in charge of the world's biggest promotion for a chain of 40 stores where no one (okay so one person and my husband - Oh How I LOVE YOU Both!) came to my aid - even though I asked and asked, going to the ER for a kidney stone the size of a lima bean (and as dense as my bones) and eventually getting it blasted (I passed peppercorn size stones btw), getting the music ready and performing the Primary Program for Sacrament Meeting and jumping right into getting ready and performing two (yes - you read right) Primary Christmas Programs, singing in the stake and ward choirs with extra rehersals every time I turn around and taking on 5 gazillion crafty projects for Christmas Presents - I've been kind of lazy.

I'm sorry to the two of you who check this blog for not being there for you...I'll be back soon I promise. In the mean time this face might cheer you up!

You know You Love It

...but I totally don't.

I've decided to come out of the closet and let a few things off my chest. I've tried to conform and just go with the flow, but I can't live a lie any longer. No I'm not a lesbian, there are just a few things I can't stand that the rest of the world loves. I gotta be me, I just gotta be me...

Thanks Busy Bee for the idea!

1. Dr. Pepper - What is it with Dr. Pepper. Ugh - this stuff is DIS-GUST-ING!

2. Phantom of the Opera - Do you remember when "Phantom" was all the rage? Yeah - I hated it back then too.

3. Scrapbooking - I know y'all are going to hate me for this, but I can't stand scrapbooking. I think it would be cool if I had the patience to sit down and cut out cute little pieces of paper and arrange them on a page with a photo or two. But, what I don't get is why you would want to put like one photo on a page that could hold like six. Even now - I'm just baffled.

4. Twilight - Okay,to be fair, I haven't cracked the book, but I have seen the movie and I don't get the hype. It was an extremely UN-remarkable movie and I have no desire to read the books. Yeah - don't hate me.

5. "I'm saying a prayer for you and you should send this to 10 people or you'll have bad luck for 7 years" e-mails - I know I'm not the only one who hates "those" kinds of forwards. But my question is this, why do you still send them?

6. Blog Music - Can I just say that I hate, hate, hate music on blogs? No? Well I just did. It just gets in the way when I'm listening to my own music, I click on a blog and someone's blog music interferes with - well - everything! I'm so glad you like your music, but I don't want to have to listen to George Straight or the Jonas Brothers every time I click on your blog. Sorry - I just don't.

7. And last but not least - FACEBOOK - All I have to say is this...Stop inviting me to join - it's never going to happen.

Now it's your turn...What is it that you can't stand that the rest of the world loves?

Time Keeps on Ticking...Kinda Like Turrets

I wish I took the time to WRITE more. I can't seem to find the time to do much of anything these days. Motherhood and a full time job seem to utterly consume me as of late. I'm really trying not to feel overwhelmed...you know...take one bite of my elephant at a time. I find, however, that stress and EmCat aren't compatible bedfellows. We two go together like chocolate ice cream and asparagus OR OJ's hand and a bloodstained glove (the glove don't fit, you must acquit).

The funny thing is that I was completely BORED on bed rest and maternity leave. The minute I was able to go back to work, I was so blissfully HAPPY. I didn't even mind lugging my then 12 lb bundle of joy with me everywhere I went. He was (and is) a super cute diversion to the daily grind of things and has been able to break through barriers that even I, the queen of friend-making and chit-chat, couldn't seem to disassemble on my own. The PROBLEM is NOT that he is now close to 17 lbs and cuter than ever. The problem IS my kid is learning from the master...he has found his lungs and has decided to use them. For some reason he's decided that he needs to make himself known to the world...at the TOP of his lungs. Those of you who grew up with me and went to junior high with me and...okay...high school...oh yeah and college...um...and served a mission with me and...uh...knew me at any other time in my life, know that this girl LOVES a good chat with anyone who will listen or even a nice little song at the top of her LUNGS.

The little DAWG-man has recently decided that his DIAPHRAGM is his new best friend and that he needs to exercise it with so much INTENSITY that one can't help but laugh or be distracted by or not listen to their vitamin rep while she's trying with much passion and heart to sell you some DHA powder because she knows deep down in her SOUL that the DHA powder will stop all wars and create world peace. HOWEVER , you aren't thinking of WORLD-PEACE-DHA-POWDER because the cute baby in the stroller is yelling to get your attention and you'd much rather make funny faces and encourage him in this destructive behavior because he's such a cute little bugger AND who needs World-Peace-DHA-Powder anyhow!?!?!?! So SEE YA AROUND vitamin-girl-with-the-very-cute-extremely-loud-baby.


Oi...I'm tired.

Here's a little taste of his cuteness...this doesn't even begin to illustrate how loud he truly is!

Living With My Addiction

As the work day winds down, my phone buzzes with a text message from Robbie saying..."3 more stops" or "1 stop then I'm getting gas. Be there in 45" or "2 more stops. I can't wait to see you." Every time I get a message like this my heart leaps and the butterflies begin. I truly am excited to see the man I had lunch with just a few short hours earlier. Those few hours without him were utter agony.

When Robbie is home I tell him I love him 147 times in a normal day and 376 times on days I'm feeling extra sentimental. While he sits at the computer typing his e-mails I put my arm around him, kiss his neck and inhale a little bit of his scent. When he's laying in bed fast asleep I snuggle up to him until he gently asks me to give him a little space so he can sleep.

What can I say...Robbie is my heroine.

It's hard to say when this addiction started, but I could probably pinpoint it to the time he walked straight over to me and introduced himself. I'd like to think that I caught his eye while standing in a sea of cute, single, Mormon girls. But I was the only girl in a group of Lord-of-the-Rings-Loving Nerds. He had no choice but to think I was cute. He had to ask me out that night. If he hadn't, he would have had to admit that he was like the rest of the guys in the group - so preoccupied with Star Wars that they wouldn't really notice a girl unless she was wearing a long white robe and a braided doughnut on each side of her head.

Since that time I was able to brainwash him into thinking it was a good idea to kiss me. After that - he had no choice but to marry me...I am, after all, the best kisser this side of the Mississippi.

For some reason, he's been able to live with my addiction for the last two years. He doesn't always understand why I am the way I am, but he loves me anyway. I'm in awe of this man who loves me despite all my crazy little idiosyncratic ways. He is patient, kind and above all an amazing husband and father. J-dawg lights up every time he walks into a room.

Happy (First) Father's Day Robbie. Here's to many more years of you having to live with my addiction.

Mommy

Tonight as I lay on my couch, cuddling close to my beloved Robbie, I uttered something that resonated deep in my soul..."I was born to be a mother." To which Robbie replied..."and to sing." There are so many uncertainties in my life right now - so many things I don't know. I don't know why J cries at certain times. I don't know what the future will hold. I worry about being a good mother, a good example, a good teacher but this I know:

I was born to be a mother.

I was born to sing.

At this point in my life, those two things go hand in hand. Each night as I rock my precious little baby to sleep - I sing. This poor kid won't know the standards like "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" or "Itsy, Bitsy Spider," but he'll certainly know "Don't Rain on My Parade," "Golden Slumbers" and "Come Rain or Come Shine." He's become my captive audience. Gone are the days of wishing and dreaming that I would someday make it big on Broadway. I prefer singing at the top of my lungs to a beautiful baby boy who looks into his mommy's eyes and sees the world.

As I reflect on the journey that has brought me to this point, I think about my beautiful friends and sisters who have yet to find that special one and have yet to be able to have the family they've been dreaming of their entire lives. To you I say that you were all born to be mothers. You were all born to sing.

I believe that we as women were all born with the characteristics of motherhood. We are special and beloved and blessed by God. He loves us and gives us the opportunities we so desired before we came to this earth. I know that if we look to Him and live our lives to our fullest potential, ours will be a joyful journey no matter the heartache - the pain, no matter the happiness -the laughter.

This Mother's Day I'd like to say to all women: May your day be full of joy and rejoicing no matter what your social status may or may not be, no matter how many children you may or may not have.


I love you friends. Have a special day.

More RandEM-CaTS - BabyStyle (with a little U2 sprinkled here and there)

"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." *sigh* Beginning Monday morning, I'm going to be considered a "Working Mom." Thankfully J-Dawg will be joining me and learning the tricks of the trade of selling Supplements. He's such a fast learner that I'm sure sometime soon he'll be out-selling me.

There are so many things I feel like I didn't accomplish while on Maternity Leave:

• I definitely didn't master the art of having a clean home. Oi, you should see the mess the kitchen is in at this moment.
• The baby book is sitting on my table STILL waiting to be written in.
• Don't even talk to me about scrapbooking.
• I haven't lost 40 pounds and, lets face it, I still look pregnant. Just the other day a lady almost asked me how far along I was. She saved herself by segueing into asking how old the baby is. Oh - and just before that my niece pointed to my stomach and asked me when the baby was coming out...everyone in the room snickered like they secretly agreed with her but would never say it to my face.
• I haven't visited all the friends I've wanted to see and others I've wanted to be more acquainted with.

While I'm making lists here are the things I HAVE accomplished while on maternity leave:

• I have managed to kiss my little baby-cakes AT LEAST 2,573 times per day.
• J-Dawg and I have taken to walking the neighborhood and can successfully accomplish a 1.5 mile walk in one half hour...don't laugh - that's saying something after 3 months of bedrest.
  
• I've been able to sing approximately 17.8 different songs to my kiddo each day. This kid is going to be a proficient in showtunes and lullabies.
• I've been able to solicit AT LEAST 3,183 smiles from my baby per day.
• I've gotten my baby to LOVE patty-cake.
• Tummy time is a work in progress, but he's getting better.
• I've successfully found a few traits and looks that are definitely Em-Cat even though this kid is my husband's mini-me.
  
• I've managed to love this little bundle of joyful cuteness so much that it hurts.
• I've actually become my mother. I can now successfully call myself an irrational worrier.
• My son has begun singing along with me each time I belt out my rendition of "Close to You." Because let's face it...the angels really did get together and sprinkle golden starlight in his eyes of blue...

Oh you better believe I have my tickets...

...GA tickets too. Those are EXTREMELY difficult to come by. I plan on being right there, front and center, with my boys (Robbie and the rest of them - though little J-Dawg will have to be there in spirit).

Yesterday was a day of POO and Spit-up...
How can something this small and cute be so completely and utterly gross?

After a long day of this kid spitting up all over my clothes (I had to change outfits various times), I was sitting on the couch watching The Office with my incredibly handsome husband. All of a sudden I hear a rumbling in my little boy's pants. I decided to wait to change him when I smelled the poo-smell stronger than usual. Robbie looked over and declared, "Gross! He POOED all over you!"
@^%#&*@(!!!!!!
I guess I shouldn't complain. My husband had it worse when J-Dawg was a newborn. Robbie was holding his nekked little body for a photo-shoot. Right after the photo was taken poo shot out into Robbie's unsuspecting hand (it (his hand) still hasn't gotten over it). I just thank the stars in heaven above that it wasn't me. I can totally see into the future and I'm definitely getting a vibe that I will be pooed on many times to come...Oh the joys of motherhood!

...off I go into the wild blue yonder of juggling work, a baby, a husband and LIFE. Wish me luck! It's going to be quite a ride and I've taken to throwing up on roller coasters.

Happy (late) Easter

This was sent to us by our Relief Society teacher. I hope you all had a nice Easter and may we remember the Savior's sacrifice more fully each day.

Love,
Em

April Fools

At about 4pm on April 1st I realized I hadn't done anything to FOOL Robbie. I come from a long line of April Foolers so I knew I had to do something. I was 97 1/2% sure I wasn't preggers, but in a pinch it was all I had to work with. I had a pregnancy exam and decided to take it into the bathroom and pee on it, you know, to make it LOOK real. The test of course came out negative. I put the most distraught look on my face that I could muster and walked into the living room where Robbie was sitting. Here's how it went:

Me: "Robbie..."

Robbie looks up from what he's doing and his eyes get super wide when he sees what I'm holding.

Me: "...um...I thought I'd be funny and take this test and...um..."

Robbie: His eyes get even wider and says..."NO WAY!"

Me: (Jumping up and down) "HA HA HA APRIL FOOLS!!!"

I knew I should have drawn it out a little more, but I can't keep a straight face for that long. The look on his face was absolutely priceless.

I called my parents and tried it on them, but they know me WAY too well and it took about a nanosecond for my mom to figure it out.

Of course I had to post it on my blog, because if my husband was naive enough to believe me, I just KNEW I could fool all of you...Whatev...the first two responses were:

Rach: "I'm on to you girl. APRIL FOOLS!!!"

K8: "nice try"

I find it UN-surprising that the first two who WEREN'T fooled had small children. I think April Fools Day is definitely for small children and parents who have said children are always playing and being played on April Fools Day.

It was quite funny to get a call the next day from my friend Stephanie who figured it out just before I said "hello." I thought it even more funny that my brother was fooled, because he grew up in the same household I did.

Okay - now put this out of your mind while I think of a way to get you next year...MMMMMMWWWWWWAHAHAHAHAHAHA

I Think I'm going to CRY!

I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!! A mere 10 weeks after our little J-Dawg came into our lives, this is what I found out today...

I really think I'm going to cry.

Kreativ Awesomeness

Never in 1 million years (1 MILLION I tell you!) did I think I'd ever get an award. Thanks to my friend Evaly for giving it to me. I hope she doesn't think I'm a huge slacker since she gave it to me way back in January and I'm just now getting around to acknowledging it. I feel honored that she thinks this blog is "Kreativ" since she's really one of the most Kreativ people I know and ESPECIALLY since lately I've been putting ZERO effort into this blog-o-mine. All my time and effort have been going to this cute baby-cakes:

Rules:

1. Copy the award to your site.

2. Link to the person from whom you received the award.

3. Nominate 7 other bloggers.

4. Link to those on your blog.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you nominate.

Here are my picks for "Kreativ"-ness:

Chloe, Stella, Fred - Oh if only I were as cool as K8 The River.

And Then There Were Three - Sabrina's blog is always so cute and I love her cute little baby cakes.

My Chaos, My Bliss - Like Cecily needs more awards, but she really is fascinating to read.

Bee-Lissa's Shooting 40 - She hasn't updated in LIKE FOREVER, but hey she has ADD...most Kreativ people do you know.

Live, Laugh, Love - I love reading all of Patty's cool stories. She's a flight attendant - coolest job in the world - and has some pretty cool things to tell!

Dooleys4 - Rach's husband just came home from Afghanistan. It's been a very interesting (to say the least right Rach?) year to read about the goings on of a military wife.

Larson's Life Musings - The format of this blog alone is a reason to keep coming back to Rebecca's blog. Plus - it's delightful to read about her cute family.

What? Did I already choose SEVEN? I could go on and on, but I guess I'd better stop myself.

Congratulations to all who won!