Walking, Talking(trying to), Toddler

A lot has changed in the Citti Household lately. Now that Hartley is walking everywhere, every second of the day, I can say I'm one beat mom. It's kind of funny because I kept saying, "I just can't wait until she walks!!!!" --but boy that just made things much more tiring for this momma. Not to mention--Hartley has always been pretty good in restaurants, but that changed the second she started walking because now she doesn't want to sit. I'm learning that being a mom can make you feel pretty awkward and embarrassed sometimes....(or maybe that's just me) following your child around as they walk up to random strangers and stare at them for five minutes. Anyways, she is growing up so fast and I feel like my life has been on fast forward since she was born. It seems like yesterday when I had her and now she is walking, trying to say words, and already showing me a glimpse of the "terrible two's". She is so smart, too! She loves to read books and look at pictures. Everywhere we go, all day long- she wants to point to things and know what they are. She understands most everything I say and loves when I ask her to do things. Although it is tiring and frustrating at times, (this toddler phase), I still can't believe that she is my little girl. She's my whole world and when she smiles and laughs, my heart just leaps with joy. I had no idea I would love her as much as I do and love her more every day. It's kind of crazy, having a baby....you get to relive childhood in a completely different and whole new way. It's incredible!

On another note, I've been really into cooking lately. I have always loved cooking, but now that I'm staying at home, I've been having so much fun trying recipes and using my crock pot. I'm not sure why I love the crock pot so much--maybe it's just because you can dump everything in one big pot and turn a knob, i'm not sure. haha!  I am surprisingly proud of myself though, for trying recipes and being brave enough to make them my own and spice them up a bit. Here is a list of my favorite recipes so far:

1) Slow Cooker Pot Roast
Five Stars*****

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-beef-pot-roast/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=crockpot%20pot%20roast&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

This is by far the best pot roast I have had. I have tried several in the past month or two and decided that this recipe was the best. The only thing that I thought was missing was the delicious flavor that I had loved from Paula Dean's Pot Roast recipe....so, I added to this recipe: a tablespoon of Worcestershire, 1 cup of red wine, a dash or two of Garlic salt, and lots of salt and pepper. It is DELISH!!!

2) Slow Cooker Chicken with Mushroom Wine Sauce


http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-chicken-with-mushroom-wine-sauce/

This Recipe was absolutely delicious too! The only thing I changed was the amount of wine in the sauce. I'm pretty sure I added a whole cup instead of just a quarter. YUM YUM!!!

3) Easy French Onion Soup


http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/french-onion-soup-recipe2/index.html

This was by far the most delicious French Onion Soup I have ever had. Not only was it super tasty, it was very easy to make! The only thing I added to the recipe was using my own choice of cheese as well as sandwich rolls to open and pour the soup in and over the top. It's to die for!


Happy Thursday!

<3 SaRaH

In the blink of an eye.....my baby turned one!

It still shocks me when I realize that I now have a one year old. I know that this blog entry is belated, but oh the life of being a stay at home mom! whew! I wanted to write this weeks ago. Anywho, I wanted to do a year in pictures, showing how much Hartley has changed and grown into this beautiful little toddling girl. She seriously has my whole heart and is my whole world. I didn't think it was possible to love her so much or what the kind of love you feel for your own child would feel like. Let me just say- it's incredible, amazing, unbelievable.....I don't think there is anything better than being a mom. So here's to Hartley's first year!!!

                                        

Sam Comes to Visit and Hartley's First Easter

Well hello to my wonderful readers! A lot has been going on lately, and as you can see, I've gotten no better at keeping my blog updated. Eeek. Sorry about that! We have had many different special occasions and events that have kept me busy- although, that should give me a lot to tell you, of course. =) Let's see....so, in March, we celebrated my mom's birthday and shortly after that, it was my dad's 60th birthday. Not only has April been by far the busiest month, it has been the most exciting and I'm still looking forward to many wonderful things!

My best friend, Sam, flew in from California to visit and was able to partake in the festivities of my dad's 60th birthday celebration and Easter. It was so amazing to have her spend time with Hartley and just enjoy that much needed quality BFF time. It's really, really hard having her live more than two thousand miles away. She seriously is the most amazing girl I know and I admire her immeasurably. It meant so much to have her be a part of these special occasions that I celebrate with my family, even more. Each year we do an Easter Egg Hunt for the nieces and nephews, which is always a blast. This year's-  by far was the most special to me because it was Hartley's first. It was so incredible to help her go out with a basket and search for eggs, especially with her "almost" walking. I still can't get over the feeling I had--helping my own little girl carry her first Easter basket. It was also very special because we were able to get some wonderful pictures of us as a family.

Hartley's first birthday is in nine days and I just can't believe that it's already been a whole year. Is that really how fast they grow up? I still feel like it was just yesterday that I felt her kicking me in the ribs from inside my belly. As for the newborn stage, I feel like it was gone in the blink of an eye. And now- my BABY is almost WALKING! It just seems crazy. I'm really excited though because Joey's dad and brother Ryan are flying from California to come visit us, as well as Joey's best friend, Joel. They'll be here to celebrate both Hartley and Joey's birthdays with us. How cool is that!?

Well....H just woke up from her nap! Gotta run.

Living My Dream...

Wow. It's been soooo long since I've last written. So much has gone on in the past seven plus months, I don't even know where to begin. Since the last seven months of my life have revolved around me being a working mom with a broken heart....Fast forward to today...I've been meaning to write a new entry now that I'm staying at home with Hartley. I'm a Stay at Home Mom now!!!AHHH!!!! =) :::Biggest smile ever:::: Most of you already knew that, but I still just can't get over it. I haven't gotten use to it, even after a whole month. God has truly answered my number one prayer, and that was being able to live the dream I've had since I was a little girl.

The thought of having to go back to work after having my first child never crossed my mind. I also never realized even when it happened, just how hard it would be. I don't know what I would have done without the amazing help from my wonderful mom and her looking after Hartley for me. I think I would have just been so miserable if I had had to put Hartley in day care. I'm so grateful and I feel like I am counting my blessings every day now. I seem to usually only focus on the bad things, as I'm a very pessimistic person who worries 24/7. I really just feel like God had my back...he knew that it wasn't what I wanted, to be working instead of staying at home with my baby, so he made sure that the next best person to mommy was my mommy-- looking after her. Anyways, I just feel like I, now more than ever, know how good I had/have it. After only 7 months of going back to work, God gave me my dream.

It has been complete heaven staying at home. No more work, no more worries about work, just pure 100% mommy all day long and focusing on my little Hart. I love being able to decide what my day is going to look like. I love that I can choose when I want to feed her, where, how, and what. It's the best feeling in the world! Going to the park, playing outside, going on walks, playing with toys and singing songs, I just love every minute of it. I love that I'm with my Hart and not having to be away from her anymore. I just can't believe that it's flown by so fast- the whole first year of her life. She's almost one!!!

Now that I'm at home, I feel like I have no concept of time....I'm so happy and doing what I've always wanted to do that the time just flies by in the blink of an eye! It's weird!!! It's kind of scary though too. Do they really grow up this fast? One minute I have a precious bundle that needs to bed fed through the night and now I have a pretodder, tantrum throwing, almost walking, eight teeth baby girl!? Wow. My life has changed drastically in the past couple years and I just can't wait to see what's in store for the future. I have an amazing little family and we are so blessed. Don't get me wrong, I still have worries and frustrations, and it's definitely not easy---this dream of mine, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. Ever.

To sum things up, life is good...great I should say. I'm so thankful that I have a hardworking husband who is so happy I can finally live my dream. He's definitely an answer to a lifelong prayer and I don't know what I'd do without him. In the meantime, when I do have a little more time on my hands if I can get H to get a good nap in, I've really been getting back into my love of cooking/baking...and painting (the house haha). I definitely want to get back into my artistic interests and love of sketching/painting things as well....but usually I'm so beat after a few hours with H, all I want to do is rest. Ohhhh the life of a mom. =) Thank you, Jesus!

Until next time....

Hartley Has My Whole Heart

I never thought about how hard it would be to go back to work once Hartley was born. I've been lucky enough to enjoy two and a half months with her at home and now the thought of leaving her just kills me. I know I may sound spoiled, but I just don't know how any mom can do it. I mean, I know when you have to earn money, you do what you have to do....but the thoughts hitting me now, literally bring me to tears and make my chest hurt. When your mom tells you "you'll never know how much I love you until you have your own baby," she's right. You don't know the love a mother has for her child until she feels that first kick, holds them for the first time and looks into somewhat familiar and angelic eyes.

Hartley has brought me more joy in these past two months than I've ever experienced (other than marrying the love of my life, of course), and I don't want to miss out on any of what's to come. She has grown and changed so much and I cannot wait to see her continue to grow. She has taught me so much, to be a mother, to learn to have more patience, to be happy about the little things, to see beauty in the unnoticed, simple things, to always show love, and to always smile for no reason. Right now I'm just praying for God to provide a way for me to continue to stay at home with her. My biggest dream has always been to be a stay at home mom and it's an amazing feeling to experience it, but a horrible one to have it come to an end. I never thought it would be this hard, but I guess all I can do is pray. I want her to have the best childhood imaginable....to have a mother that's always there. I'll be praying. Thank you to my sweet angel for bringing me so much joy!

-Mommy

Hartley's Here!

Here she is folks! The little bundle of joy that I've already fallen head over heels in love with, is here. Now, I may sound a tad bit crazy in this entry, and I will blame it on the baby blues or post partum whatever you call it. This week has been the most overwhelming, emotional, but amazing week of my life. I never thought that it would actually come or that I would see a little human that Joey and I created together, but she's here...finally....and she's doing fantastic! Hartley is already on somewhat of a schedule, only waking up two times a night! She is the most calm and alert baby I have ever seen. Now, the only way to get on her bad side is to change her clothes or diaper or let her be hungry for a split second....that's all. Well, actually, today Aunt Stephanie did her Newborn photo shoot and Hartley didn't like being moved around and forced to pose much. It was heartbreaking but kind of funny because I ended up having to hold her in a blanket and put it over my face so I wouldn't be in the pictures. lol. We definitely got some adorable ones though and I can't wait to see them!

So as for this huge, life-changing event, the one I have been wanting and waiting for my whole life has finally come and gone....wow. I never thought it possible to love someone so much that you just met, or to feel the power of love between your husband and your baby as a family. I'm not going to lie, it has been tough and I need some prayers so I don't drive Joey off the deep end.....I've been so emotional...crying mostly every day for no reason- no reason at all.....waking up from a nap, having a spoon left out of a place, you name it.....it's ridiculous. At least I'm aware that the way I'm acting is ridiculous. I hate it....this baby blues thing is not fun....I feel extremely overwhelmed with happiness and sadness at the same time. Talk about major hormonal imbalance, and I'm already way too sensitive! Imagine me normal-sensitive times a billion- not cool. Anywho, things are getting easier and Joey is amazing with her, and I mean amazing. I'm almost jealous at how calm and collected he is when handling her and her tears, especially bath time. He just has a way that is so natural and I love it. As the days go by, things seem more normal and I'm freaking out a little less. I guess it's just so hard having all these new thoughts, like "wow....I'm now responsible for caring for someone other than me, 24/7" or "This child is going to rely on me for everything" and "I'm going to have a teenager some day".....the thoughts go on and on. It's quite scary.

Despite the million different feelings, I couldn't be more amazed, or in awe of what God has given to us. Hartley is the most precious baby I have ever laid eyes on and to have her stare at me with wonder is better than anything I have ever felt. It's crazy to feel pain when she feels pain and to worry every five seconds that she's still breathing.....she's already got my whole heart wrapped around her tiny little fingers and it makes the emotions even more intense. She is truly a blessing and there is no way to describe the feeling of becoming a mother until you do. I drove to the bank and Walmart yesterday and bringing her in the store (just me and her) finally let it settle in....it really hit me, I'm a mom. It was an incredible feeling. So, even though things are wonderful and she is healthy and happy, we still need the support and prayers as we adjust to becoming a family. Thank you so much to everyone who has already done so and shown us lots of love during this special time! We are so blessed!

Until next time,

Mom

Awaiting Hartley

I never thought that this day would ever come, nor did I ever think it'd fly by this quickly and I'd soon become a mom. Since I was a little girl, my number one dream and goal in life was to be a stay at home mom, which some of you, if you have read my blog for a while now, may have heard me mention my frustration with the way people react when I tell them that. The most important thing to me in this world is to be the best wife and mother possible, and that's that. I won't go into my whole argument about why I believe being a mom is the most important job there is. I've complained in possibly one of my longest entries ever once before and this one is specifically for Hartley.

Hearing the news that I was pregnant was probably the most exciting, yet scary day of my life. Whether it come at the best or worst financial time, God made it possible there in that moment. I've been driving Joey crazy with my pregnancy ups and downs, psychotic emotions, unnecessary and ridiculous requests for some time now (and by the way, he's been an absolute angel of a husband), and I remember thinking that 40 weeks seemed like it would never come to an end. Wow. I'm in my last week before my due date and I can't even remember where these 9 months have gone. I'd definitely say that it's come faster than I could have ever imagined and that it's been the most magical time of my life.

Waiting for the big moment, that is, popping this little one (that I love more than anything already) out, is quickly approaching but yet I'm still anxiously waiting for the split second I think I'm in labor or that my body is telling me it's time. It's starting to drive me nuts, but in a way, it's quite a thrill. I tried the whole eggplant parmesan inducing idea--didn't work for me. Sad day. I think I've eaten it about 4 times in the last week (including leftovers), but still no Hartley. Despite the fact that I am beyond ready to meet this precious little bundle, I'm still waiting on packages to get here that hold that last touches to her nursery. Wow....the one time in my life that I don't have everything done 6 months, no scratch that-  a year prior to it being necessary or due, I'm actually cutting it close. Oh well. I think now more than ever I've realized that everything works together in time, like our amazing new house that just happened to work out and come into our lives a month or two before my due date. God is so good. I have no other explanation other than the power of prayer is everything. So....my very last appointment with my doctor is in two days. I'll find out how much more progress i've made and whether or not he will induce me this week or on my due date (unless Hartley decides to come on her own). I can't wait!!

I'm going to end this with the poem I wrote in the very beginning of my pregnancy because somehow, writing this entry made me remember when I first felt her move inside me. Anyways, that's all! Pray for me!

<3 SaRaH


A Little Note to My Little Princess:

I feel you...
tiny, precious, innocent one inside me.
I think about you constantly...
wondering if you're okay, if I'm taking good care.
I dream about meeting you...
looking in your eyes, holding your hand, giving you kisses.
I love you...
even though i've never seen your face, or looked in your eyes,
or held your hand, or given you kisses- because,
You are the gift I've waited for my whole life, my little princess.