Being a Mom...

When I was pregnant with my first child, I had this idea of what being a parent was like...I had NO idea.

* Unconditional Love * That First Baby Wiggle * Hearing their Heartbeat * Labor P A I N! * Never Sleeping Again * First Smile * First Step * Uncontrollable Crying (both mom and baby) * Colic * Giving Blood By Pricking Their Itty Bitty Little Heal (and squeezing the crap out of it while they wail and you want to cry with them) * Circumcision * Crawling * Getting Into EVERYTHING * Gazing Into Your Eyes Lovingly * Giggles * Putting Things Into Their Mouth * Constipation * First Colds * Riding a Bike for the First Time * Diarrhea * Getting Peed On * Saying Momma for the First Time * Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom Mom * Getting Into Your Makeup to Make Themselves Gorgeous * Dressing Up * Imagination * High Fevers * Trips to the ER * Driving in the Car to Get Them to Go to Sleep * Allergies * Growth Spurts * The Sigh of Relief When its Bedtime * Bubble Baths * Bad Dreams * Sleeping in Bed with You * Screaming * Hiding in Clothes Racks * Hide and Seek * Road Trips * Potty Training * Diaper Explosions * First Words * First Sleepover * Date Nights (few and far between) * Lack of Privacy * Never Going to the Bathroom Alone Again * Squeezy Hugs * Kisses * Playdates * Cartoons * Rolling Over * First Fall * Boo Boos * Band-Aids * That Feeling When they Fall on Their Heads (and you can't unhear that sound) * Panic * Broken Bones * Cheering them at Games * Soccer * Baseball * Swimming * No Life * Best Friends * Broken Hearts * Crushes * Homework * Minivans * Mom Taxi * Fear of Germs * Your Purse Containing only 5% of Your Own Items....the Other 95% are Kid Items * Diaper Bags * Wipes Wipes and more Wipes * Heartbreak * Frustration * Feeling of Doubt * Breastfeeding * Milk Coming In * Not Enough Milk Coming In * Breastfeeding in Public * Sitting in a Public Bathroom to Nurse * Swollen Breasts * Chapped Nipples * Clogged Milk ducts * Formula * Bottles Everywhere * Messy Baby Food * Finally Putting the High Chair Away * "I Love You" * "Hey Mom!" * Colorful Artwork * Report Cards * First Day of Kindergarten * Summer Vacation * "I'm Bored" * "I'm Hungry" * Science Projects * Craft Time * Messes * Dirty House * Laundry, Laundry and more Laundry * Tooth Fairy * Being Daredevils * Being a Hero * Mean Words * No More Crib * Big Kid Beds * Embarrass * First Dance * Singing * Never Quiet * Breaking Your Favorite Vase * First Dentist Appointment * Morning Snuggles * Playing Outside * Mean Kids * Saying No * Saying Yes * Hormones * Defiance * More Freedom * Creativity * Tummy Bugs * Vomit in the Car (or just away from home in general) * Stinky Feet * Parks * Watching them from Afar * Friends Moving Away * Making New Friends * You Just Don't Understand... * New Adventures * Listening to Random Thoughts of a 5 Year Old * Trying to Negotiate with a 2 Year Old * Trying to Clean (it was clean 5 seconds ago) * Seeing Other Adults * Having a Conversation with Other Adults (sigh...I miss those sometimes) * Watching a Favorite Movie for the 10,00th Time * Peeing on the Side of the Road * Seeing Their Wide Eyes to Something New & Exciting * Disneyland * Helping them get over a Fear * Stranger Danger * Birthday Parties * Christmas * Is Santa Real? * Family Traditions * Warm Hugs * Thank You's * Tears * Smiles * Hitting * Fighting * Time Outs * Sorry * Feeling Guilty * Talking About Your Kids on Date Nights * Babysitters * Shots * Doctor Appointments * Bug Collecting * Dirt Eating * Chalk Art on the Sidewalk * Hopscotch * Rainy Days * Movie Night * Up to No Good * Tantrums * To Spank or Not to Spank * Eating Out * Family Dinners * Stepping on Legos * Playing Quietly (rarely happens) * Nap Time! * Crying in the Car ALLLLL the Way Home * "I Love You"

I know there is tons more...but even through the good, the bad and the ugly, I wouldn't change being a mom for ANYTHING!

Jess Fabulous Designs Etsy

I know many of you know that I have a page on Facebook called Jess Fabulous Designs Etsy.  Here are some of the items that I have been working on lately.

To see more of my items...check out my FB page...link above or on my Etsy site by clicking here.

Vacation, Diaper Free and Two-Wheelers!!

The month of June was a busy time.  School got out.  That was busy all on itself.  Shortly thereafter Owen decided it was time to become diaper free (can't tell you how excited I was for that!!).   Only took a few days and some half naked nudity (plus a few puddles on my tile floor), but he got it done.  Then only about a week later we were off on our vacation to Utah.  13 hour car ride with a newly potty trained boy.  I was nervous, but he did really well.  No accidents, just a few extra potty breaks.  He started recognizing Rest Areas signs and wanted to stop at all of them.  After 12 years and 4 children, I am finally done with diapers and I can't tell you how great that is!  Now at a month potty trained, he is a pro!

Speaking of vacations, our trip to Utah was fun, yet not so fun (at least for me).  We got there on a Saturday evening, Sunday we tooled around and I had a lovely headache from the 7,000 ft altitude.  I've never done well with high altitude, always got a headache or nausea.  Whenever we head to Tahoe, I take a bunch of Tylenol before we head out, just so I know I will be ok.  Headache finally went away around 5pm Sunday and we all made way to the pool for some fun swimming.  Monday morning I got a nice run in and was feeling good.  We went and saw Bob's dad and later met up with his grandfather for dinner.  Tuesday we went to a Salt Lake Bee's game and then later went for another swim at the pool.  By the time we got back to the condo to make dinner I was feeling sick (nauseated) and soon there after I was down until late day Thursday with a stomach bug and a nasty headache that had my head in a vice and had just enough energy to go from the bed to the bathroom.  It was awful to say the least.  Sucks to be sick, but being sick while on vacation sucks triple.  Bob was great and took the kids out Wednesday and Thursday all on his own.  The quiet back at the condo was nice so I could just sleep off whatever sickness was invading me.  By the time I was feeling better Thursday evening, Bob and I were just hoping no one else got it, because it came on out of nowhere and knocks you out.  Unfortunately Ethan woke up Friday morning with an upset tummy (that thankfully only lasted the morning and then was done).  But we decided to better be safe than sorry and head home a day early.  I was bummed, because there was still so much that I wanted to see and do that I missed out on, but knew that making our way home was probably for the best.  We made it home after a long, long drive.  Luckily we were home, because Bob woke up Saturday morning feel highly crappy.  His energy was completely lost and was stuck in bed sleeping all day with the funk.  Luckily he was the last one to get the funk.

I was a little nervous for Abby because she was heading out Monday for Girl Scout Camp for 4 days and getting that illness while there would have been awful for her.  I was thankful it didn't get her.

Abby headed off for Girl Scout camp 2 days after we got back from Utah.  She went to Camp Menzies which is about 2 hours away near Angels Camp.  She went last year too and enjoyed herself.  By the time she made it home, she was a dirty stinky mess.  But we were all still happy to see her!  Then only 3 days after Girl Scout Camp, she headed off to Oregon with her Uncle Brian and Aunt Valerie for a week's adventure with them on their ranch.  She had a bunch of fun there with fishing, 4 wheeling, hiking and tubing down the river.

Aaron was a brave boy and by chance wanted to try riding Ethan's two-wheeler.  Took him just a few tries and he got it down!  As awkward as Aaron is...I was shocked he picked up on riding a two-wheeler so quickly.  He loved the fact that Ethan didn't learn how to ride a two-wheeler until he was 6...and Aaron JUST turned 5.  Made him smile real big...and tease Ethan with that knowledge.

July is bringing more adventures to the Weston clan.  We have a pending sale on our Natomas house.  After owning is for 11 years...it was just time to sell it.  It is scheduled to close escrow in August to a retiring military family, so we feel great on who our home is going to.

We have 2 birthdays coming up...Abby will be turning 12 on July 31st and Ethan will be 7 on August 6th.  So busy birthday parties coming soon! 

We also have a camping trip to Santa Cruz coming soon that I am truly looking forward to.  The cooler weather of the coast is calling my name after some 100+ degree days here in the valley.  

I just ran a 10k in a run in Davis over the past weekend.  I wanted to complete it in less than an hour (which honestly I didn't think I could accomplish).  It started at 7:30pm...and at that time it was still about 90 degrees outside.  So it was quite warmer than I am used to running in or like to run in.  It was a little bit of a struggle since it was so warm.  I always where chapstick because I can't stand running with dry lips...just reminds you that you are thirsty.  My chapstick didn't last and I was feeling thirsty and hot.  Kept the positive thoughts amping my brain to keep me going.  I made it through and noticed the time at the finish and was thrilled to see I was going to cross at just less than one hour.  My times were the fastest I had run (new personal record) and I did it all in the heat!  I can't tell you how thrilled I was.  My average min/mi was 9:38...and to think that just a few months ago I was at (10:50).  I've learned that you are your worst enemy and biggest cheerleader.  If I constantly chant myself during a hard run (yes, I will talk to myself while running) then I am less likely to give up.

More adventure stories to come soon!!