Adventures in Shopping with Baby

Reese, playing with purses and modeling a new spring dress

I love to shop. It just puts me in a happy place. I feel like I'm really starting to enjoy that happy place again since before my pregnancy. It's just not the same when you're shopping for your pregnant body (or post-pregnant body for that matter).

Anyways, shopping for me is fun again. Of course when I venture out with Reese, it's not quite as leisurely as it used to be. Even when she was a tiny baby I could still browse at my own pace. Now it's more of a grab and try on over what I'm wearing or not at all. We work with what we have, right?

Reese and I went out the other day and had quite the successful trip. We managed to get a cute pair skinny jeans for me, 2 shirts for the hubby and lots of cute spring finds for her.

In order to get this done, it's key to stock the diaper bag with plenty of snacks to keep her occupied. Is it bad that I'm just shoving food at my baby so I can shop? A little mommy guilt here. At least I try and plan it around snack time.

We got all of that in about 30 minutes! I think I'm finally getting the hang of this shopping with baby.

Now, if only I could get the hubs on board. Fat chance.

Things I Don't Understand

Although there are plenty of reason why I love Europe and all the things that come along with living here, there are still some things I just don’t understand.

Why the dual water faucets, it just doesn't make sense. Believe me, I've racked my brain trying to come up with the answer to this one. If you ever need only hot water, just turn the faucet to hot, duh. On the other hand, there are plenty of times we need warm water. How do you achieve warm with two separate faucets?! Makes for fun times trying to wash your face.

Moving on to the washer/dryer combo. Not the space-saving dual unit washer/dryer combo. Oh no, I'm talking the all-in-one washer and dryer. I have yet to find a setting that actually cleans and dries the clothes in under 5 hours, still not really drying them. And we're talking small loads here people. With no language barrier to throw me off looking it up in the manual, I still can’t figure it out! Do you know how much laundry a toddler adds?!

Lastly but certainly not least, is the lack of outlets actually in the bathroom. Almost every apartment we’ve been in Europe doesn’t have outlets in the bathroom. Why, you ask? Good question. You’ve got me. My only answer is a trip to Ikea for a mirror to put up in some random spot above outlets. Not really the best 'look' for the place but a girl’s got to do her hair!

Chasing Pavements

I heart Adele.

“Should I give up or should I just keep chasing pavements, even if it leads nowhere”

I also heart running. I love what a good run can do for your mood. Even if I’m dreading it before hitting the pavement, I always feel good afterwards. For me, it’s a nice escape and one that doesn’t involve constantly thinking about what the girl could be getting into. Or how much laundry needs to be done. Or how badly the bathrooms need cleaning. The list could go on and on.

Although training for the half marathon I did last week was fun (mainly because I did it with a friend, thanks H), I still prefer runs with no pressure. Of course it’s a sense of accomplishment when you shave minutes off your previous time. And it satisfies your competitive side for sure. It’s just hard to enjoy those kinds of runs for too long. I don’t want to start hating running because it’s so many things for me. It’s an escape that makes me a better person. A better mommy. A better wife.

So even if it leads nowhere, I’ll still keep chasing pavements.

On a separate note, I still can't figure out why I can't comment (on my blog or others). We have family here now but when I have more time to sit down and look at things, hopefully I'll figure it out. Thanks for the support- things are coming along, maybe slowly, but at least they're moving!

New Project

My list of daily read blogs is growing by the day. It's one of my favorite things to do once I get the girl in bed and have some me time. Scott loves to tease me
about it but there really are so many great reads out there.

Many I've found through the 'hockey life' network and others just randomly. I can relate to so much of what others are writing about and it's given me comfort and a sense of understanding when I've been stressed or down. Sometimes that's exactly what I need especially since my family and friends are so far away. It's hard to just pick up the phone to chat or vent or catch up.

Which brings me to my new project, well not exactly new but hopefully improved. I've been inspired to blog. Not just about our bean (although there will still be plenty about her) but really have this as an outlet for me to share what's on my mind. From food to fashion and everything in between.

I haven't decided whether I will redesign our current blog or just start fresh but I wanted to get it out there. New look, new name, new posts.

In any case, it's going to be a slow process and a constant work in progress. I need Scott to help with the technical stuff and as you all know, he's so busy with school and hockey now that it won't happen for at least a couple months.

So, here's to new adventures in the life of a traveling wife... (maybe the new blog name?!). Stay tuned.

Everyday Life

It's hard to believe it's March already. Time sure is flying by this year! Scott only has 7 games left in the regular season. He has been keeping plenty busy, as usual, with school and hockey. Meanwhile, Reese and I are trying to stay equally busy, taking walks, playing 'ball' outside, going for coffee with the girls, etc.

We have lots to look forward to over the next couple of months. My Dad will be here Thursday which will be a nice treat for us all. The weather has been great here in Cardiff so I'm sure many walks to the park and playing outside are in our near future with Grandpa. Scott's last semester of school starts in April and with it brings much more 'free' time. I use that term loosely, as it won't exactly be free time for him but he will definitely be around a lot more! We've also just finalized our reservations for a family vacation to the French Riviera at the end of April. We found a great little apartment right in Nice which will be great for Reese. Can't wait for it!

As for Reese, she is changing more everyday. She loves to talk and practices all the time. Just not normally to anyone. She practices 'reading' books to her buddies, talking into the phone, or talking to her buddies. She is still as feisty as ever. I feel like I write that in every post but it's so true. She can be the sweetest little thing offering up kisses when you least expect them and in the next second will be having a meltdown of epic proportions. I guess she is a girl who knows EXACTLY what she wants. In all seriousness, she is so much fun these days. Watching her learn and grow is so amazing. Here are a few recent pics of our everyday life.

Animal sounds and eating like a big girl!

Here are a couple videos of Reese showing her animal sounds and eating her cereal like a big girl. She can do a snake now too which sounds more like a 'th' sound instead of 's' but it's still pretty cute!

Big girl!

Reese is such a big girl these days and seems to be growing up by the second! She is becoming more and more independent and wants to do everything herself. She will sit there forever 'playing' with her shoes. Trying and trying and trying to put them on and take them off. If you walk over to help her she just pushes you away, saying "na na na" (no, no, no!). She loves to play in her highchair if you let her after she eats. She wants her bib off and straps unbuckled but doesn't want to get out. She'll sit there and try and do up the buckle by herself. Sometimes she turns around toward the window and says, "bye, da da" over and over.

She is getting pretty good at feeding herself with a spoon too. I give her the bowl of cereal and a spoon on her tray and she eats it by herself for the most part. If my hand is anywhere near the tray, it gets pushed away. Almost all of the cereal ends up in her mouth too! I don't think she likes to get too messy yet (yay for the clean up on my part!). We have a little video of it and will post soon.

It seems early to even start thinking about potty training but she has been telling us when she poops. We thought it was just coincidence at first when she looked at us and said "poo poo" but sure enough she had indeed. Since then, she has been telling us right before she goes, pretty consistently. Maybe we should introduce a potty?!

Reese loves all of her buddies so much. She is constantly giving them hugs and kisses and loves to tuck Ruby in before she goes to bed. She also has an obsession with hats. Ruby has to have a hat on most of the time and so does Reese. Which is odd since she won't leave a headband or bow in her hair no matter what! She tries to share her water and snacks with her buddies too. So funny!

Here are some of the latest pictures.