Does neon make me look fat?

November 2007.
Babymoon.

A chance to get away from it all and celebrate our last big vacation before the arrival of our bundle of joy.

Whose bright idea was it to go to Las Vegas?

A pregnant woman in Las Vegas fits in about as well as a small-town country girl without a penny to spend.

As my husband and I snaked our way through the crowded Vegas sidewalks, I felt enormous. Amidst all the young and pretty people, I was a whale. My feet were aching and my jacket barely zipped over my protruding belly. The guys handing out those little strip club cards? Took one look at me and quickly pulled in their outstretched arms. I could barely even entertain myself at the roulette wheel for fear of choking my baby with secondhand smoke.

There is a lot of walking to be done in Las Vegas...

A multitude of photo opportunities...

And way too many reasons to stay up late at night.

However, this pregnant mama found some comfort in the midst of sin city.

Large hotel rooms for naptime...

And buffets! Buffets with multiple dessert options. Nothing cures what ails a mommy-to-be like creme brulee. Like gelato. Oh, and cheesecake. Cookies? Yep, those too.

My child is addicted to sugary snacks. I think I blame Las Vegas.

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This week's writing prompt from Studio 30 Plus: LAS VEGAS

"Studio30 Plus, the brain child of Jerrod from The Yellow Factor and Jules from Mean Girl Garage, began one snowy, wintery day in January 2010. Looking for a place where bloggers over the age of 30 could meet up, exchange ideas, make some friends, and find new blogs to read, they put their minds together and formed this growing community."

Get outside!

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Pier 1. All opinions are 100% mine.

There is nothing like a cold and snowy winter to make me celebrate springtime. I am thankful for the sun, the flowers, and the playground fun. The stores replace blankets and fireplace accessories with outdoor furnishings, colorful floral decor, and dinnerware fit for joyous entertaining.
Amelia and I spend a lot of time outdoors in the spring. We take walks to the neighborhood duck pond and romp in the backyard. I have a dream to one day transform our small, plain backyard into a cozy place to relax while I watch her play. 
Have you seen the fabulous seasonal items at Pier 1? I have. This outdoor swing is my dream item. I can just see myself curling up with a book, swinging gently, while my girl giggles and plays on her slide.


Or perhaps this chair? It looks incredibly comfortable!



Or, I could go with colorful cheer. These chairs and outdoor stools make me grin:



I don't know if I will get a chance to realize my outdoor seating dreams this year, but I definitely want this lovely new doormat:
 
I might as well make our front door welcoming and colorful!
To all my readers, I wish you a happy and cheerful spring. Check out Pier 1 when you have a chance. You'll be glad you did! They have just about everything to spruce up your decor - inside and out.
You can also join the Pier 1 Tweetups:
Atlanta - April 5
NYC - April 20

The first time

The first time I tucked you in, wonder outweighed fatigue. I could not sleep because I couldn't take my eyes off you.


The first time you rode in a car, you slept through it. For me, the world became a frightening place to drive.


The first time Daddy danced with you, I melted.


The first time you walked, I cheered you on.


The first time you rode a horse, I held on tight.


The first time you walked far from my side, I was proud and a little bit sad.

In a few days, you become a three-year-old. Whatever firsts may come our way over the upcoming years, two things are certain:

(1) I will always be there because you are always in my heart

(2) I will always be your cheerleader because I am proud of you

Happy almost birthday, my princess! I love you always and  forever.

Springtime in the ATL

You may not immediately think of Atlanta as a great family vacation destination, but look closer! My city has so much to offer. Great restaurants, nightlife, and fantastic outdoor activities and museums for families.

I admit, I am a suburbanite at heart. I don't venture into the city very often, opting instead for the comforts of home and the convenient shopping in the 'burbs. But since having a small child to entertain, we've found ourselves in the city so much more often. Springtime in the ATL is gorgeous! We have mild, sunny days before the heat of summer kicks in.

Here are my Top 5 Family Activities in Atlanta:

• The Georgia Aquarium - Whale sharks, beluga whales, tropical fish in all colors of the rainbow, adorable sea otters, penguins, and more. The highlight of the GA Aquarium? No question, it's the massive viewing area the whale sharks, hammerheads, and giant groupers call home. I could sit for hours in front of that wall of fish; it has such a calming effect. Also not to miss? The brand new AT&T Dolphin Tales show! Opened to the public on April 2nd, this show includes drama, music, and high-flying dolphin stars. We were invited to a sneak preview of the show on April 1st. It was a lot of fun! Some elements are a little bit scary for small children, but my 3-year grasped my hand and did just fine. (Thinking of visiting the GA Aquarium? Here's a tip... go early! The aquarium can get very crowded in the afternoon, and there are several small windows for viewing throughout the facility. In large crowds, these areas can become more frustrating than fascinating. So get there early!)

 

• The Atlanta Botanical Garden - Definitely one of our favorite family outings. A trip to the Atlanta Botanical Garden offers a different experience each season. In the spring, the grounds are covered with tulips and blooming dogwoods. The orchid house and "jungle room" (as Amelia calls it), always feel like an adventure, no matter how many times you've been. The children's garden is an exciting area for the little ones to explore, climb, and slide.

 

• Zoo Atlanta - Lions and tigers and bears, oh my! Every kid loves the zoo. Parents too! You can fall in love with Atlanta's pandas and silverback gorilla families. Watch the lemurs climb, ooh and ahh over the adorable red pandas, and giggle at the naked mole rats as they scurry through their underground maze. (The only downside to Zoo Atlanta? Location. It is not as central to the city as other attractions we have to offer, but it is worth the drive.) 

• Local Parks & Playgrounds - even farms! Yes, Atlanta is a big city, but we have those small-town touches boasting comfort and nature.  In nice weather, we are at a park or playground nearly every weekend. There are so many, we can go to a different playground every weekend for months! (Birthday party tip! Most playground/park shelters can be reserved for parties - at no cost! If you have a kid with a spring birthday like I do, you will love the playground party.) If you are willing to drive just a little bit, the area also boasts several family-friendly farms where you can interact with cute & cuddly creatures (try Tanglewood Farm, just outside of Roswell, GA).

 

 

• The Fernbank Museum of Natural History - A museum? With kids? Yes! Fernbank is a lot of fun for all ages.  Permanent exhibits include dinosaur replicas, cultural artifacts, and interactive areas to explore weather phenomenon. I recently learned of the new permanent exhibit, Nature Quest. We cannot wait to see it! Nature Quest is a special museum experience "where children are engaged through over 100 interactive encounters on a journey to explore an immersive, nature-inspired environment. Everywhere you look, there is something to "do." Games, interactives and live animals are just the beginning!"  I have a feeling we'll be there soon.

                                     

My favorite mommy

Happy birthday to my mom!  If I am a good mommy to my little princess, it's because I learned from her.



The Voice

There are no mixed feelings about today's guest writer. Frankly, I don't like her. She bullied her way into my blog to spread the poison of negativity. So let's get this one over with. Without further adieu, I bring you The Voice Inside My Head.
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You all know me.

You let me into your life on a regular basis.

You feel the grasp of my fingers on your heart when times get tough.

I am the one who reminds you that you are not perfect. I weasel my way into your thoughts and try to break your spirit.

I am self-doubt.

Why are you working so much? How dare you turn on Ice Age for the 37th time so you don't have to play with Play-Doh. You don't have time for Facebook! Why do you have feelings for yourself?!? Only bad mothers raise their voices in anger. So-and-so doesn't do it that way. Her child is so much better behaved than yours! You used to be something. You used to have freedom.

I am gooood at what I do. I can feel you fighting against me. I can feel you trying to usurp my domain by pushing me out with confidence. Feeling proud of yourself today? It's only a matter of time before I slither back in.

Miss me today? Don't worry... I'll be back.

This week's Red Writing Hood assignment was to think of someone who gets under your skin, and write a piece from his or her perspective.

Fiction Friday: Hop

Happy Friday!

Today is April Fool's Day. I'm not feeling clever enough to come up with an exceptional practical joke, so I decided to dedicate today's post to the other exciting thing about today.


Today is April 1st - and the release of Universal's new movie, Hop! It's an adorable work of fiction, and fits in perfectly on this Fiction Friday.

Thanks to a local preview event, I was a super cool mom and took my family to see the movie two weeks ago. To be completely honest, I thought it was going to be cheesy. A movie only kids would find entertaining. But, luckily, I was wrong! Hop was quite cute and made me laugh out loud on several occasions.

I don't want to spoil any surprises, but here's a quick overview of the film:

The Story:

E.B. is the next bunny in line for the honorable position of Easter Bunny. But he doesn't want the job - E.B. has a dream to be a drummer. The current Easter Bunny, E.B.'s father, does not understand his son's reluctance to claim his birthright. On the eve of the coronation ceremony, E.B. runs away to Hollywood where he meets Fred, a jobless slacker (played by James Mardsen), who hits the Easter-Bunny-to-be with his car. E.B. convinces Fred to take him in, and wreaks havoc on Fred's already messed-up life. Meanwhile, back at Easter Island, a manipulative chick tries to stage a coup. 

My Favorites:

• The Easter Island factory -- I want one!!!
• Feeding the dogs
• The school play
• The dancing chick

(Don't worry... you'll know what I'm talking about once you see the movie!)

Go see this movie with your kids! You will have a great time. If they are anything like my child, they'll be talking about the "bunny movie" for a long time. One word of caution, however... you will most definitely have "I Want Candy" stuck in your head for hours. Maybe even days.

Visit the official Hop website, IWantCandy.com for videos, images, games, and more!

(Disclaimer: I was granted access to a free screening of the movie. There was no requirement to post or tweet about the film, and all opinions stated here are solely mine. Photo Credit: images from IWantCandy.com)