Game Night with the Hacketts

All I can say about these cats is that they are stinkin' fun. Sore losers, maybe, but still fun. :-) There's nothing like a night of pizza, games, great friends, and delicious cupcakes - goo! Those were the best cupcakes I have ever had.

Besides baking the cupcakes, Carrie also brought me my first official 31st birthday present. Carrie works at an upscale department store, which means she gets a killer hookup on my favorite obsession, kate spade. A few years ago for Christmas, she got me kate spade slippers. This time, it was a tote bag.



Oh, but it wasn't just a kate spade tote bag. It was a kate spade tote bag filled with goodies, like a magazine, candle, chocolate, candy bars, and other simple pleasures. I about peed myself with delight. Carrie, you are the biggety bomb. You are always so thoughtful, and give the neatest gifts. You are my oldest best friend, and I love you. And your stinky husband. Please come over for game night again very soon.

Love, Miss.

p.s. - We are almost out of cupcakes. Just sayin'.



HOLLA -

What's Happening...

Here's an update on what's been happening...

We found a daycare! After months and months of searching, praying, phone calls, emails, inquiries, and visits, we have found the perfect fit for Amelia starting in August. She is a super-sweet lady who takes care of the son of some friends of ours, and we just knew as soon as we met her that she was meant to take care of our sweet baby. Praise the Lord! Now I can relax and enjoy the rest of my summer. :-)

Amelia is three months old! Her favorite activities right now are slobbering, making gurgling sounds with her throat, shrieking, smiling at her mommy and daddy, semi-rolling over, kicking the toys on her bouncy seat with her feet, and pretty much being the most adorable baby ever. She is large and in charge...emphasis on the large. :-) No, she does not have a future in horse jockeying or gymnastics, but we can pretty much count on some awesome volleyball/basketball/base cheerleading action at some point. She is a MARTENS girl!

The breast pump has officially been returned. No, that does not mean that I'm done breast feeding. It's just that our contract with the hospital was up on the rental, and when I go back to work she's getting formula during the day, so in the mean time I'm just going to hand pump if I need to. (This could be interesting.) I wasn't completely confident in the decision to return it, but we really don't know how much I'm going to need it in the next few weeks. This is one of those "new parent-learn as you go" things. I'll keep you posted.

I finally got to see the rest of Bridesmaids! Thanks to my friend Anne for helping me realize this dream! (Read this post for the background story.)

I am thinking of starting a side business! I know what you are thinking - "Girl, you are barely surviving motherhood! Are you $*#&ing NUTS?!?!" I know. Please say a prayer for me. :-)

I am turning 31 this week! WOOP WOOP! Actually, the thought of turning 31 is not all that exciting; however, I'm sure my birthday, and this year, are going to be stellar in ways that I cannot even imagine.

And...that's what's been happening.

HOLLA -

What People Think

I care too much what people think.
To tell the truth, it really stinks
to not feel good enough inside
to take their thinks and thoughts in stride -
feel confident and be myself
instead of pleasing someone else.
There's only one who should approve
of all my actions - every move
and He loves me no matter what
although I have a great big butt.
(That didn't really fit quite right -
I am a little tired tonight.)
I'm good enough, of this I know
Because the Bible tells me so!
I think of those who love me much
despite my faults, mistakes, and such.
They know my mind and know my heart
And sometimes think I'm fairly smart!
But mostly I don't feel them judge,
or shake their heads or hold a grudge.
And that's just who I want to be
to those who mean the most to me.
I'll try my best to overcome
this weakness that I'm running from.
Until then I'd be tickled pink
To seldom care what people think.

Freaky Dream

This morning, while Amelia and I were napping, I had the freakiest dream. Ben and I were all together with my family at the house I grew up in (does anyone else always dream about the house they grew up in?). Anyway, we were thinking of buying the house next door to my parents'. It was an abandoned house with a great big yard that had a big blow-up pool in it. It hadn't been abandoned by just anyone, though - it was Nadya Suleman's house. (I know - are you wondering what I had to eat last night? No, it wasn't chocolate, Papa Norman.) Ben and I went into the backyard to check it out, and we happened to look in the pool. There was still some water, and a ton of toys. And right in the middle of the toys was a BABY!!!! It was a little girl a few months older than Amelia, and she was okay - she wasn't even crying. We hurried in to grab her, and then my mom told me I should call 911.

I got on the phone and told the responder that we had found a baby in a pool. I didn't want to tell her that it was Nadya Suleman's pool, though, because I figured that would be too much for her to handle. She might try to contact the media, etc., etc. In the meantime, my family had taken the Suleman baby inside to feed her and put some clean clothes on her. I just kept thinking, "Are we going to keep this baby? We just had a baby! Maybe my sister-in-law would take her." She is always talking about how she doesn't want to have any more babies, but she would take any baby off the street that needed a good home.

The responder put me on hold for what seemed like forever. We put the baby in a swing, and I just kept looking at her, trying to decide if she looked like Nadya Suleman. I was also getting confused because she kind of looked like Amelia, who was also in the dream. So there was my whole family, including Amelia, and the Nadya Suleman pool baby, and my niece Jane who was on some sort of jungle gym thing and when she was moving fast kind of looked like Amelia and the pool baby, and I was all sorts of confused.

And then I woke up.

And then I went downstairs and made this delicious fruit smoothie with a piece of peanut butter toast.



HOLLA -

Not Too Much To Ask

Yes, Miss Amelia...I think we will.

HOLLA -

Wild Week

Last week was crazy at the Haskamp house. Ca-razy. Let me hear you say CRAZY!!! What what!!! Okay, sorry. It was nuts.

On Monday, the 4th, Ben had the day off (Hallelujah - thank you America!) and we went to my parents' house to celebrate. It was a blast. Ha! :-) It was Amelia's first 4th, obviously, and she didn't get to enjoy much because I was so freaked out about her losing her hearing to M-80's. And I spent a big chunk of the show feeding her. We still had a great time, though...





On Tuesday, my friend Abby came to the house to visit. She lives in Atlanta, and was in town because her husband is a member of the 2010 International Champion barbershop quartet, and the barbershop convention was in town. I can't say enough about what this girl sacrifices so her hubs can travel and tour and sing (and win championships). She is a-MAZING. And beautiful. And funny. And one of my best friends. :-) She also happens to be very handy with a camera, making quite a name for herself with her own photography business. While she was visiting, she showed me some cool features on my own camera, which I will display for you here:







Later that day, Maria, another best friend from college, came through town to stay with us for a few days. Maria lives in Denver, but grew up in Iowa, so she had been making the rounds to visit friends and family, and KC was her last stop before heading home. We had all sorts of fun while she was here, and I'm pretty sure Amelia got quite attached to her. (Or was it the other way around?)





The next day, my friend Lauren from school came over to see Amelia and to talk about selling our house. She teaches preschool, but is a realtor on the side. We are hoping to move within the year, but more on that later!

On Thursday, we went to my niece Jane's 3rd birthday party. Jane is an energetic, goofy, adorable, spunky kid who keeps us in stitches all the time. We had a great time at the pool, and I'm pretty sure Jane scored some fantastic loot.

It was also Amelia's first time in the pool. She may have screamed the whole time, but at least she looked cute in her swimsuit!!




On Friday, Maria and I met up with our friends Jeff and Jeannie (not a couple!), also from college. Jeff lives in Chicago, and Jeannie lives here. She just had her second baby right around the time Amelia was born, so we had PLENTY to talk about. We laughed until our stomachs hurt, which is what usually happens when we music friends get together. :-)



On Saturday, we went downtown to the Sprint Center to see Syd, Abby's husband and ANOTHER one of my best friends from college, perform with his award-winning quartet. We also got to see the group Rockapella perform. It was great to see Syd and the guys wow the crowd - I only wish we could have spent more time hanging out!




So that was our week last week. As you can imagine, it has taken us this whole week to recuperate (and for me to blog about it). This weekend, Ben's sister Jill and her kids are coming up to spend some time with us in the city. I'm also going to the New Kids on the Block concert with some girlfriends from work on Saturday, and on Sunday, it's our big performance for Vacation Bible School at church. Yikes! I hear my bed calling me for a nap.

With all of this craziness, the summer is flying by, and I am loving it! Before long, it will be time to go back to work, but until then, time with friends and family could not be more of a blessing!!

HOLLA -