Before We Were Parents

This is a picture of Stephen and I before we were parents. I found it on his Mom's computer here in Tallahassee. How odd it is for me to see this picture. So much has changed. I honestly can't even remember the last picture that Stephen and I even took together, or the 3 of us took together. I am not sure what happened, or how it didn't work. All I know is that I tried, and I am sorry that it didn't work out. I have a lot of regrets, as I am sure he does as well. But the past is the past, and what's done, is done.



The picture was taken at a club in Downtown Orlando a few days after we got together.

Mommy Paparazzi

Sometimes I wonder what I must look like to the outside world, or people watching me. I am ALWAYS trying to get Giuliana to SIT still or STAND still. Key word of course being STILL, which obviously does NOT always happen. I do try though. I also need to invest in a DSLR, but everytime I get ready to, something comes up and I can't get one. I am VOWING to get one when I get my taxes back. It's time. I would be able to get the few good ones I post a WHOLE lot quicker than what it currently takes me. Sometimes she even fights me. I try to make a game out of it, or sing songs so that she smiles and stands still, but somedays she just doesn't want her photo taken. Today, well, it wasn't THAT bad. It did take a few trys to be able to get the few I am posting, but it could have been a lot worse! The top shes wearing is a Gretchen Ellie Halter from the Matilda Jane art fair in Michigan over the summer. I love the fabric on the bodice of the top ;) We have a few things that this fabric is in because it looks so great on her!

Here is an example of what I mean.. The first picture was taken in the house while she watched Jacks Big Music Show on Noggin. Notice how shes ignoring me.


This one was taken in the car, leaving, because she would not stand still for a picture before we left...


SUCESSSSSS! After we got home, before nap time, she sat still in garage and let me take a picture of her :)


But, I was greedy and wanted ANOTHER one, and she sat still in Clara's wheel chair long enough for me to take a picture of her :D

Quality Time

Giuliana and I have had LOTS of quality time together this week and I have really enjoyed it. I didnt realize how much I missed her, and how much of her I was missing till this week. I layed off last week, so she's stayed home with me this week. We haven't done that since I was on maternity leave a year and a half ago. My how the time has gone by, but thats a whole nother post..

I have had the time to dress her pretty a few days this week and It's been fun ;) I've been able to get a few pictures of her. The first ones are ones I took this morning... She's wearing Matilda Jane, of course. It's the Holiday Knot top and Celery Ruffles, underneath she has a onsie on.

I like this one, I put her in her car seat and she was soo excited that we were going somewhere.


I just LOVE her ;) Seriously, what's not to love ;)


She's trying to break into Grandma's house here lol


This one is funny, everytime she says "cheese" she crinkles her nose up and smiles so sweet :)


I have more pictures but I have not uploaded them yet. When I get them uploaded, I'll post them. Allison is also almost done with the Holiday pictures that she took, and I'll post them too when I get them!!

A Little Game Of TAG!

Tag. You're It.

Casey from Birdie and The Queen Bee tagged me for 8 things about me - here are mine.


8 Favorite TV Shows:
I actually don't watch a lot of television)


1. LOST
2. Greys Anatomy
3. House
4. One Tree Hill (When I can catch it)
5. Law and Order Reruns
6. Las Vegas reruns
7. Lipstick Jungle
8. CSI Miami


8 Things I Look Forward to:


1. Reading TWILIGHT again ;)
2. Giuliana waking up in the morning
3. Sleep
4. Not having to go to work that day
5. Beach Vacations
6. Birthdays
7. Summertime
8. Being Online


8 Things on my Wish List


1. More Money
2. A good and happy life for Giuliana
3. My Sisters to know how much I really do love them, despite what they were told
4. For Vance to still be here
5. To OWN MY OWN HOUSE
6. To own more books
7. To go to Australia and Greece SOONER than later
8. To have more children someday, and maybe get married.


8 Things I did yesterday


1. Laundry
2. Showered
3. Took Giuliana to school
4. Went by the bank
5. Work
6. Finished Twilight
7. Chatted online a little
8. Went to bed early


8 Favorite Restaurants


1. Chilis
2. Panera
3. Olive Garden
4. Cheesecake Factory
5. California Pizza Kitchen
6. Firehouse Subs
7. Melting Pot
8. Any Fish House on the BEACH


8 Blogs I Follow:


1. Casey
2. Denise
3. Dawn
4. Aubrey
5. Siena
6. Allison
7. Erin
8. Melinda

Manic Monday...?

I wish that were true. I am not expecting much excitement today actually.

I am home now, and don't have to be at work for a few hours.

I managed to read the 3rd Twilight book, called Eclipse, yesterday. It wasn't that busy at work, obviously. But I did have to spend some time last night reading as well. It was a little over 600 pages. I am not sure what I am going to do once I get the series all finished. People I know who have read them, say I will re-read them. I suppose it's possible, and likely true. But I am going to try to find some other books I would like to read. I used to read everything that Nicholas Sparks' wrote. He's a great writer, in my opinion. I know he's put out a few books in the past few years that I have not yet read, so perhaps that's where I will start. I realized in getting into "Twilight" I renewed my love of reading. Now, If I can only manage to keep up with it.

Giuliana and I had our Holiday pictures taken yesterday in a local park. I am excited to see how they come out. I had 3 different outfits for her to wear, all Matilda Jane, of course. I took a few with her each time I changed her, and I hope that some of them come out cute. I never have enough pictures taken of her and I together and it would be nice to have one that we both looked good in for our Holiday cards that I am trying to make myself send out.. You all know how much I LOVE to do that sort of thing *haha!*

I don't have much else to report on, but here's a picture of Giuliana before we left yesterday morning.

Catch Up Time!!

I have been kinda MIA since before Thanksgiving. Sorry about that. I do have some new picture to post, and some things to fill everyone in on, but I don't really know how much time I'll have... So, I'll do my best.

Mark, Carol and Siena were here the week of my Birthday, and left just a few days before Thanksgiving. Mark took tons of pictures, and we even managed to have a Family photo taken. I only have that one to post right now, I emailed Carol to ask for the rest of them :) Some of the ones that Mark got of the girls together are adorable! While they were here we also all went to Church together with Grandma, which I know she really loved. It was nice to see them, and I hope they come back soon!! Giuliana sure loves playing with Miss Siena

Mark, Carol and Siena on the left. Erin, Giuliana and I down below. My Mother, Granny and Lori on the right side.


For Thanksgiving we went to Tallahassee to see Lori and Dave, AKA Nana and PopPop. It was fun, it always is. I left at 4am, and drove up there. Ill never do that again. I was falling asleep most of the way and seriously considered pulling over. Once Giuliana woke up, it was easier to stay alert. We sang songs and played the word game the rest of the way there. Thanksgiving dinner/lunch was lovely. Grandma Carol, Dave's Mother, started a new tradition this year. We each had to tell everyone what we were thankful for. So, It started with her, people started crying. Then it moved down the line. It got to me, and I of course was thankful to be EMPLOYED when so many people are not, and thankful for Giuliana who wouldn't hold my hand like she was supposed to. Then it was Dave's turn to say what he was thankful for, and he couldn't. He was all "choked up", so Lori had to take over. Before Lori even spoke the words, I knew what she was going to say, what Dave couldn't say. They were thankful for Giuliana. She said, and I'll prob never forget this either "We are thankful for our beautiful Granddaughter, and her Mother for taking such good care of her." At that point, she was crying, as was I. Without having to SAY it, I knew what she meant. I am sure everyone else did too, but it felt more like a secret between the 3 of us. It didn't feel like there were 20 other people watching us. (I'll post pictures tonight, I don't have them at the moment)

We are getting geared up for Christmas around here. Darlene put her tree up, and we have all started wraping and buying Christmas gifts. It's always fun to sit and try to think of what to get each person. I am glad that this year we decided to draw names with the Ketzel side because I would have been sitting for days trying to figure out what to buy everyone.

Here are some recent photos of Giuliana, from the past few weeks :) The first one is some Matilda Jane, of course.


The second picture is an Etsy, Loves Me Not Boutique, set I got in the mail. It's a dress that ties in the back and some leggings to go under it. I'm going to have Allison from Von Groveland Photography take some more of Giuliana in this Etsy set. It's so sweet on her.


This last picture is a knot top that was made by Erin, another Etsy designer, her blog is at the bottom of my page. The ruffles Giuliana wore are Matilda Jane Art Fair.

Semi-Wordless Wednesday

This is Vance's memorial ribbon and it was displayed in October in front of the police station in Houlton, Maine.



Gone But Not Forgotten

Jamie

My girlfriend Jamie is probably one of the sweetest girls I know. She and I go way back, and I do mean WAY back. I am pretty sure we have been friends for 10 years now. We don't get to see each other often. I am busy with Giuliana and she's always jettin' off somewhere. But she did take time out of her day on Tuesday to come to dinner for my Birthday. Her idea, mind you. I would have more than likely, stayed home. But Jamie had other ideas and she saw too it that they happened!

Giuliana was quite a handful, and needless to say, no there were no photos of her and I from that night.


This photo would have been great, except for 2 things happening. 1) My finger was in the way & 2) she was preparing to JUMP OFF of the chair!



I forgot about Thankful Thursday.. whoops.. I guess this week I have been most thankful for her. She has no idea how thoughtful it was of her.

Wordless Wednesday

(August 2008)

Yummy Velour

We got this jacket a few weeks ago, and it has finally been cold enough to wear it! I love this jacket, and so does Giuliana. It's so soft and keeps her warm with out being to cumbersome on her when she is trying to get around.





Nothing really interesting to report today. It was my Birthday, 26 years old now. It seems like the years just keep passing by even quicker than they did the year before. What's up with that? I guess that means my Mother was right, and as soon as you have a child the years just go by faster and faster.

I did get some nice gifts today, 3 dresses, 1 necklace, and 1 bracelet from Brighton that has a cupcake on it :D I love that bracelet LOL, I don't know what it is. But I do love it. My girlfriend Jamie also got me the prettiest pink roses, once they open I'll take a picture and post it. The dresses are cute too, I wore one tonight to dinner, and Ill wear one of the other ones tomorrow, and then another one on Thursday, weather permitting. I am going to get some black tights and some knee high boots with a heel so that I can wear my dresses this fall/winter with out being so cold!

Attitude.. and LOTS of it!

For the past few days when I go to get Giuliana from school I find her wearing mini pig tails. Imagine my shock, because she doesn't often allow people to do things with her hair.

When I picked her up Friday night and took her over to Grammy's house for dinner I was able to try to snap a few pictures. She of course, was not a fan and was giving me SO much ATTITUDE about the whole thing. Little did she know, if she would have just let me get ONE nice picture, I would have stopped LOL.

This one was taken outside, it was dark, but I tried to make the best of it.


And this one was taken on the steps, she wanted in the house, and I wanted a picture.. So, this is what she let me have.. Like I said, ATTITUDE.



Last but not least, I had to bribe her with a cookie just so she would look at me!!!

Thankful Thursday

Today's post is easy. I just wanted a place to list the things I am thankful for, the people I appreciate and so often don't tell them.

I Am Thankful For:

1)Giuliana and all the love and laughter she has brought to my life because without her life would never be the same.

2) To be EMPLOYED when so many others out there are not.

3) To have a place to live, food to eat, and clothes to wear. They may be necessities, but there are so many who go with out. I am lucky to not have to.

4) For my Family. All of them, even the ones that aren't actually blood related. They are important to me too, and they have become MY FAMILY.

5) My friends, because as the saying goes "Your friends are the family your heart chooses for you " and it is so true.

6) For Stephen. Because with out him, I wouldn't have Giuliana.


There are many other things I should be thankful for, and am thankful for.. But I have to same some for next Thursday :)

Wordless Wednesday

(August 2008)

"Seeee Daddddy"

That's Giuliana's new word. She says it in the morning, at school, at dinner time. Everything is "See DADDDDDY!" sometimes with more "umph" than others. But none the less, I am guessing the child wanted to see her Daddy.. So that's what we did.



Stephen happens to live very close to a nice lake her in town that has had a major renovation. They have built all sorts of fountains around it, and even a path or walk way that goes around the lake and across it. We enjoy going there to walk at night with her in the stroller but this time we took her during the day and let her walk around.



Every few steps we would take she would stop and look through the bars, as if to check and make sure that it hadn't gone any where, or that the ducks were still there. It was cute. It took forever to get any where, but cute none the less.

I tried to get a nice picture of them sitting on the bench but it wasn't a successful thing. I'll have to try again. Lately, she's got this thing about NOT looking at the camera. She thinks it's funny, I obviously am not a fan...

Here are the photos anyway :)

Simply Bowdacious

Yep! Giuliana is Simply Bowdacious! (pun intended)

One of the girls I know through the Matilda Jane forums also makes bows on the side, and has her own website too of course. Any how, I was telling her how I wanted to branch out into the world of bows and how Giuliana had recieved a few for Christmas from her Aunt last year but that I needed some to match some the bright Matilda Jane colors that are in the new fall/winter lines.




So, she sent me this one. Its Brown, Pink & Lime. I love it. It will match ALMOST everything that we have, which is awesome.

If you would like one, shoot Melinda an email!!! I'm sure she could get you a bow that will make your daughter look just as BOWDACIOUS :D

Another Matilda Jane Day

Yep! That's right folks! It's another Matilda Jane day here on the home front!

This is the Tea Cup Halter which is UBER fancy and can be worn as a skirt as well (Imagine THAT!) and of course, the ever handy Pinkie Big Ruffles from the HomeGrown line (Spring '08)


This halter is by far one of my faves, and one of the hardest things I have had to track down.. But ohhh so worth the work! I just LOVE it on Giuliana.


This one was hilarious! I said "Smile" and she said "Cheeesssseee!"ever so sweetly!


FINALLY! She stood still long enough for me to snap a picture, right after she heard the camera make a noise, she was off again!

It's Giuliana's World..

I dated a guy a while back (okay, ages ago) who used to say "Mitra, baby, this is YOUR world! I'm just happy to be LIVIN'in it". Now, of course, it was said in fun. He would always try to get me going- and see what I would say next.

Any how, lately, it's been creeeeeeping into my head. But a little differently..and it makes me smile. It goes a little something like this :

Giuliana, Honey, this is YOUR world! I'm just THANKFUL to be 'LIVIN'in it

And I really do mean it. It sounds funny, sure. But it's true. This IS her world, because everything I do, day in and day out, it's done for her. Even my hobbies are a reflection of her. I hope some day when she grows up in to a head strong teenager she is still able to realize how much I really love her, even if she also thinks "I don't know anything".

Blog-Lift

Thanks to the talented Casey, I have managed to give this blog a face lift ;) I hope you all enjoy it. As I have more time to play around, I'll figure out how to change the background to something equally as cool as my new HEADER But until then...

Random Blogging

I am bored, So I figured I would catch up on my blog.. Let's see... This is going to be random thoughts, and details... key word, RANDOM.

Giuliana had "Picture Day" today at school. They do it every October. I will be interested to see the pictures next to each other, this years and lasts. I wonder how different she will look to me. I see her every day, so I don't see the changes everyone else does. Anyhow, I was trying to decide for the past few days what she should wear for her pictures today, and I couldn't decide. No matter what outfit I came up with, I decided against it. I ended up putting her in a solid brown dress (Brownie Lap) and a coral/peach colored long sleeved tee (Cora LS tee) and a pair of mushroom tights (Mushy Tights) under the dress. It was cute. I more than likely could have come up with some thing better, but that was all I could think of. I think they are doing retakes tomorrow, so maybe I can get a different outfit picked out and have them retake them tomorrow.



Have I ever told you how much I love that girl? Well, I do. I love her from here to the stars and back again. I don't know what I did in life before her, and I haven't a clue what I will do in life after I am done raising her. I'm not naive, she won't want to live with Mommy forever, but I do hope that the next 16 years and 4 months don't go by too quickly.

I went to a wedding over the weekend. My friend Jerry from high school got married to a lovely girl named Christina. Now, Jerry and I have been friends for 10 years, and he was never the "Marrying kind" if you know what I mean, he wasn't even good at relationships. But this one seems to stick, which is a good thing. Last year they had TWINS about 3 months after I had Giuliana. Christina looked beautiful, and cried all the way down the isle and through her vows. You could tell that she really loves him, which is wonderful. Jerry has always gotten a bad rap- his fault of course- but he deserves a girl that loves him from his head to his toes, and all that goes with him.




Hrmm... what else...I am sure that there is more I should update on, but I just can't seem to get my thoughts in order. Even now, as I type, random thoughts are in and out quicker than I can jot them down.

Ah well. I have some pictures to post from Jerry's wedding, and some more recent ones of Giuliana, but I don't have them with me. I'll work on that later.

"Prettttttty"

I got a knot in the mail the other night from a girlfriend of mine out in California, in the envelope was also a matching bow. Giuliana thinks they are called "Pretties" because thats what all the daycare teachers call them.

Anyhow, this morning after I got her dressed and I was brushing her hair she saw the bow sitting there and she began to tap her head and point to the bow.

I asked her if she wanted to wear it and she nodded yes and then signed "Please" while also saying " Eeeeassse".

I put it in her hair, but I really didnt figure she would leave it alone. I was SHOCKED when she didnt pull it right back out, so I took some pictures. She wore the bow off and on all day long.

She may turn out to be a bow girl after all!

Giuliana's FAMOUS!

Soooooo, Denise, owner of Matilda Jane and FABULOUS Designer, put Giuliana's picture up on her website!

I cant even tell you how PROUD I was of my baby!

I knew Allison from VonGrovelandPhotography would also be just as ecstatic, so I called her, at 11:45 the other night :D I guess It was kinda late, but I knew she would want to know, plus I would then have someone to share my excitement with!

Here is the link to the site where Giuliana's picture is displayed. Thank you Denise!

http://www.matildajanegirls.com/item_61/ONe-cute-chick.htm

Financial Diet '08

Looks pretty self explanatory I am sure. But here is a little background...

Some of the girls I am friends with were talking about going on a Financial Diet that would last until Dec 31st to see how much money they could save. They all said that they spent money every day on "stuff" that they didn't NEED or have to have, so why not SAVE IT. That's where the little ticker came into place.... I decided to jump on this wagon too. I don't spend money with out reason, typically anyway, but I thought I may as well try to save 200 dollars every pay period. It starts today and ends on Dec 31st. It should be interesting, I am hoping to have 800 dollars saved going into the new year. It would be nice if I could do it.

The other goal or point for me was to have all of my existing debt paid off by the end of the year as well. I want to be debt-free except for my monthly bills. It would be really nice to get my tax return check and NOT have to use it to pay off debt from the year before.

On a note about Diets... I'm also working on a Weight Loss Diet as well. I'll get a ticker for that too after I can decide what a reasonable weight loss goal is for me. I have already started to watch what I eat, and I have upped my water intake. I'm hoping that just by doing those two simple things I will start to see some small results. I won't have the extra money for a gym membership until the end of the month when we get paid, but it's on the list as well!!!

Root for me! I need all the positive support I can get ;)

We're Sick!

Yeah, Giuliana and I are both sick! It's not be fun needless to say! I was off yesterday so she and I spent the day together. That part was nice, but being stuck in the house because neither of us was feeling well was NOT so nice!

Im off on Friday, and working all weekend again. But Im off the next weekend'. A friend of mine is getting married on Saturday the 25th and I'm really excited to go. Giuliana was also invited to a birthday party on Sunday so we'll be going to that too!

My Matilda Jane Trunk Show is Friday night, I'm hoping that up back up to par by the time it comes around. Doing all of that will not be easy if my head is all fogged up, thats for sure.

Not much else to report today.. Kinda quiet on the homefront.




I took these 2 pictures of Giuliana last week, she was looking up at the airplane! Right after I snapped the 2ed one she said "Aerr Plann". I think her Nana taught her that ;)

Seat At An Empty Table

Every year in October the Battered Women's Project in Maine hosts several events in honor of those we have lost (in their state) due to Domestic Violence. One of the events that they do is something called "Seat At An Empty Table". The easiest way to explain that is: The set a table for 4 people, each place setting memorializes one specific/individual person who's life was lost as a result of domestic violence.

It's a very nice display and something I have taken on, as my "job" till Giuliana gets older and I can pass it on to her. I want her to take time out every day to remember Vance, in any way she can (She was born after he had passed) and doing these events with the BWP will be a good way for her to express herself as she gets older.

Last year I painted a picture frame to match the place setting I had decided to use. Vance loved Scooby Doo, so I wanted to use that as his "theme". I decided to send the photo and frame because through out all the newspaper coverage his story received, they never posted a picture of him. No one had ever seen his beautiful little face.



Well they have now. A newspaper called the Pioneer Times in Houlton ran a story after they interviewed Stephen by phone. They also ran this picture on their front page last year. Vance ceased to be just a name they read in the paper a few years ago. Hopefully, they will never forget his face or his tragic ending.

Here is the Memorial I typed up that was also displayed with his place setting

Stephen Vance Ketzel Fort Kent, Maine
Vance was only 2 years old when he died on September 8, 2004. Although such a short stay here on Earth, Vance was a bright and cheerful little boy who loved the beach and motorcyles and left behind so many loved ones that miss him every day. Since his death, Vance has also become a big brother to two very special little girls. Every girl needs a big brother, a protector, to watch out for them. Instead, these two little girls, will grow up knowing their protector is a very special Guardian Angel, their big brother Vance.


ETA: I sent the display again this year, and it's to be set up in Fort Kent where he lived for a short while and passed away. Vance's Mother and Sister (other) still live there.

Busy Busy Girls!

Sorry, Its been about 2 weeks since I last posted but I have been really busy working and chasing Giuliana every where she runs!!

I had my VERY FIRST Matilda Jane trunk show the other night with a TK that was here on vacation with her family. What a sweetie! Couldnt have asked for a better show or a better girl to do it with! Im having another one, October 1st. I'm also pretty sure that there will be a 3rd show, also in home, with everything from West Side on October 17th. Now, that one will be a bit different. West Side will actually be out, and we will all be able to see it, feel it, and order it! YAY! I did order quite a bit of WS from the show the other night, but there are still some things that were not orderable yet.. So, thats the purpose of the other catalog show on the 1st and the homeshow on the 17th. Gotta make sure I get all the WS I want, and I am pretty sure I will buy a few things to save for next year too. I really do love the line!

Giuliana is doing good. Shes been trying to talk a lot more lately, and she can really understand what we have been saying all along.. I found that out when this conversation took place

Me: Are you ready to go take a nap now?
Her " No " *shakes her head side to side*
Me: " Huh? " " No, honey, its time for a nap now "
Her: " Momma, No no" *shakes her head side to side*

Well, there you have it boys and girls.. Our very first fight. You can guess who won. I DID. Down for a nap she went, "No" and all. And here is the kicker, not even a whimper out of her when I layed her down, lol. What a goofy girl. I do love her though.

Here are a few pictures I have taken of her the past week or so :) All Matilda Jane , of course! Allison took the one of her on the steps! LOVE that picture!