Life in the fast lane. Woah... catch up!

Someone somewhere is hitting the fast forward button and laughing their butts off at us trying to keep up with it. No joke, its like things just changed over night. Don't get me wrong, I like busy but lately its been crazy busy. Every morning monday-Thursday I wake up at 7 with Leah. Go to the gym at 8-830 til 9-930. Then matt goes from about 10-11. And at 1115-1130 I leave for work til 5. Most days I come home and dinner is ready, which is amazing. Some days, M will have to go in for overtime so he'll work 6pm-230am. So... yeah. Not much of a love life. Not much of a social life either actually. As you can tell I've been seriously lacking in the blogging department, and my poor twitter friends have been neglected. Although I try my hardest to check up on them and keep in touch, its just impossible sometimes. Sadly, I can't say that our families are seeing anymore of us that you are. You know, crazy work schedules and all. Also, unfortunately I have been able to take Leah to play group in probably over a month now. I feel absolutely terrible!

Speaking of Leah. She's doing amazing. Growing-wise. Learning-wise. Potty-wise. Honestly, potty training has been such a long and difficult, but exhilerating roller coaster ride. And I promise, one day real soon I'll write a post specifically dedicated to our complete potty training journey. I'll get to it eventually. :-) 
She's speaking more and has the worlds largest 2 year old imagination that I have ever heard of. And at the moment she's a glamorously comical, ecentric and a whiny little diva princess. Seriously. The biggest mommy's girl on the planet. (A love/hate thing for me.)
Something completely and utterly heart melting she just recently started? She reads with me. I will read a page (its a rhyming book, as most kids books are) and the last word I will let her say. She's right every time. The last page of her favorite book is "Mommy, I love you" I will say the mommy part and then she says "I love you" then she looks up at me and puckers up her lips for a kiss. Tell me that's not the sweetest thing you've heard in a LONG time!
Last weekend while we were at my moms for the day I stepped out to grab something at the store. When I came back, my mom had trimmed her bangs!!!!! First hair cut EVER and I missed it!!! I was so devestated. My mom doesn't consider it a real hair cut, but still. I do. Kinda. Well, I was hoping to give her a little stylish side-bang. And when I stepped out I actually picked her up some new "hair cips". Well, looks like she doesn't need them now.

As for matt and I, surprisingly things are good. Great actually. Stressful, obviously. But we are managing and we're doing it together. He is my rock and I love him with all of my heart. 

In case you're wondering, yes my house is a mess. As always. Because cleaning with a child present is like trying to shovel while its still snowing outside. Pointless. And when she's sleeping? I relax and read, catch up on twitter, or go to bed. Its as simple as that. And in all honesty? My bed time lately has been 9:30-10pm. Child much? Mmhhmm.

Pretty sure that's all I have for news. Not really eventful but thought I'd fill ya in a bit anyways!
:-) 

Book Review - Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks

Woah. I LOVED this book. Like, read it another one hundred times kinda love. Definetly not your typical 'Nicholas Sparks' story. And in my opinion, its up there with The Notebook. So good.
Anyways. This story was *full* of twists and turns, mystery, romance (obviously), and a HUGE suspense factor! Sparks takes you a on a dark path with this book and I kinda love the way he wrote this.

The story is slowly but amazingly and intensely unravelled. You are able to really get into the characters heads and understand them. And therefore fall in love with them. The bad guy in the story was just crazy. And I mean that in every way possible. Lol He's the kind of character that you love to hate. But Sparks does an amazing job at allowing you to see inside his head as he slowly falls apart.
The protagonist in this story is an all around trooper that you're gunning for from the very beginning. An amazingly strong and inspiring character.
This book has it all; love, loss, death, mystery. You won't be able to put it down. Such a smooth read.
Highly recommended. :-)

A Letter For Leah

Hey sweetness,

Today the world seemed to be turning a little faster than normal. Everything happened so quickly... you, i mean, happened so quickly. This beautiful little GIRL with opinions and requests, questions and an ever-expanding vocabulary. Independance. Imagination. Everyday you litterally make me say "wow!".

This last week has been...different. To say the least. I find myself thinking about you every free moment that my mind gets a chance to wander. You're the last thing i think about everynight and the first thing i think about when i wake up. (Maybe part of the reason for that is YOU are the one waking me. haha) But i also find myself feeling sad, and afraid. Sad because i'll never have this time with you again, ever. I can take pictures, videos, write journals, but it can only do so much to bring that time back. Afraid...that i will miss an important moment or important memory, or that time will speed up somehow and i'll wake up to the morning of your wedding.

All i can do is keep taking pictures, videos, and savor every moment. Hug you and kiss you as much as i can (and i know, i already do this a lot!). Tell you i love you, cuddle with you and sneak into your room to hold you or watch you sleep (i know that sounds creepy now but you'll understand one day). As long as i know you've smiled and laughed and loved everyday as much as you did today, i will feel accomplished.

I will be brave. I will love. I will not let anything take away what's standing in front of me.

I have loved you for a thousand years, and i will love you for a thousand more.

Big Girl Changes. And Stuff.

Just a bunch of things comingled together today. Random thoughts, big events, big changes and new things! I'll save the best for last ;)

First things first. Tim Hortans' Roll up The Rim thing. I never <i>ever </i>win. Not even a flippin' donut. So yeah, good thing their french vanilla capaccinos w/ a shot of espresso are so darn good.

Second. I forgot how much i enjoy a good love story. Started reading 'Safe Haven' by Nicholas Sparks, last week. Seriously. So. Good. Im not even halfway done yet, but i find when i do have time to read the pages just fly by. I was reading it just during my breaks at work but i quickly realized i needed more. Now. So, expect a book review on that one soon.

Leah is eating! No your eyes are <i>not </i>decieving you. Not a whole lot more but definetly more than she was. Shes so short a petite. She's 26 months and weighs 26lbs. On a&nbsp;good day. But she's eating, and thats what matters. I'm not allowing her to be picky anymore, especially with foods that i know she likes. We have to put our foot down. I don't want to have to make a completely different meal for her than what we're having. And i won't.

So! Last week she slept through the night twice. Not consecutively, but still. This week? Three nights. In a row! First two nights she had a nap during the day so she didn't go to ed until 9-10. She woke up at 7-30. Last night however, i was certain that being the third night, plus her NOT having a nap would definitely break this flukey streak of good nights. That wasn't the case. She was sleeping by 730pm and woke up at 7-720. Pretty awesome, right? Just hoping Im not jinxing it.

AND!!!?
Yesterday we started down the potty training path. Again. I was getting pretty down on myself in the beginning, but then after about 1pm she had her first pee in the potty. After that she had one accident. Today, she has peed in the potty all day. She started to pee on the couch but caught herself and continued on he potty. And boy, was it a LOT! We also went for a walk and she came back dry! This is good. I have to stick with it and keep up the reinforcements. Stay positive and not let her get bored with it. At least not for a while anyways. We can do this!!