Another Unexpected Hiatus

This past week was tough. Probably the toughest I have had besides the week before Natalie was born. Our family was struck DOWN by the flu. Not just a cold, I'm talkin about shivering and sweating, achy, can't keep anything in my stomach for the life of me FLU.

It started Tuesday morning, and it took me twice as long to feed Natalie breakfast because I had to keep running (literally - SPRINTING) to the bathroom. It was so bad that I finally plopped her in her crib with some toys and went back to bed and tried to periodically check on her through the baby monitor. I had two layers of clothes and the blankets and was STILL cold, even though I was sweating and had to keep the fan on to blow on my face. And it just kept getting worse. Hubby's mom came and picked Natalie up on Wednesday and she didn't come back until Thursday night, and by then I was feeling a little better, but still nowhere near ready to take care of my baby.

Friday, I still couldn't keep anything in. I had nightmares all day of being at a table taking an order, having an "episode" and either (A) puking on someone or (B) it coming out the other end. (TMI I know - sorry) I tried to call in. I know I was contagious. But they couldn't find anyone to work for me. Saturday and Sunday I worked too, and even though I was feeling better, I still was no where NEAR 100 percent.

Now, it's Monday and I can say I feel better, but I'm at about 90%. I'm still a little stopped up from the Immodium my mom had the genius to bring over, and everything isn't back to normal yet. I did however get to eat REAL FOOD yesterday, and it was SO GOOD.

So I'm sorry for the lack of posting, it's been a HELL of a week.


In other news, I'm sure you've noticed my new name and design by now! I'm hoping that you like it, because I think it fits me and my family a bit more than the old name, as much as I loved You Me and Natalie, I just couldn't get away from feeling like my next child would feel "left out" because I fully plan on still blogging by then, and it still being a big part of my life. So, I went with something that I felt drawn to. The tree logo was an image that I used in my wedding planning and decorations, and the colors were the colors in my wedding as well. The Growing Tree was the name of the preschool I went to growing up, and I have alot of fond memories about the place. It also symbolizes that my family tree is still "growing" and I have images ready with 4 little red hearts instead of three, etc. etc. just in case. In fact we MIGHT have to be adding a blue heart here soon because a certain little BEAGLE is expecting PUPPIES.

ACK.

Oh, and I just have to share one.more.thing.

Look at what Hubby and Natalie got me for Mother's Day!! It's a snowglobe that plays music and spins, and he had it engraved "Happy First Mothers Day Love Mike and Natalie"

I LOVE IT!


So, that's the news. I need to get caught up on my schoolwork so I'm jumping off of here. Expect a few more TINY changes on my blog in the next few days, and for my posting to get back to normal!(I HOPE)

I can't believe I'm about to do this...again...

But readers, I need your help! I've been thinking for a long while now, that while I love my blog and it's name You Me and Natalie, the fact remains that IF I have another baby (even though it's going to be very far in the future) that my blog name won't "fit" anymore.

So, here is what I am asking:

Do you think I should....

(A) Keep the name and add a "tagline" when/if I have another child?

or

(B) Change the name altogether now before my blog gets "big"? (Not that I believe it will any time soon, but one can hope right?)

Now, if I DO change the name, I think I have one already picked out. When I did my wedding invitations I used a graphic that I fell in love with that I think would be appropriate to use. Here it is:

See the little hearts? The red ones are for me, my husband, and my daughter, the blue ones are for all our pets! And if we ever have another child, (or get another pet) I can just change the color of another heart!

I would call the blog....

The Growing Tree

What do you think???

I have to tell you that I LOVE this idea, but I am SO SO SO SO SO nervous to do it! With the elimination of GFC, and having to change my url, and having to send new buttons, and new links and a new blog design....I'm really afraid of the change, because it's a BIG CHANGE! But... I really want to do it!

And if I do decide to do this, and you agree with me, I wouldn't be doing it overnight. I think the first thing I would change would be my blog design. Then, I would sit on it for a few weeks and see if I love it as much as I thought, then I'll change my email address and all my buttons with my sponsors. Then, after about a month I think I'll change my url, just so that all of you wonderful readers have time to prepare and know that the change is coming, because I love ALL of you and want you all to continue reading my lovely little piece of the blogosphere.

I'm excited, but afraid!
HELP ME!! Help me decide what to do!

Happy Birthday Mom!

First I wanna send a huge Happy Birthday out to my mom! Happy Groundhog's Day Birthday Mom!

Natalie and I love you bunches! We miss you!

**********************************************************************

I am having a bit of writer's block, and am honestly getting bored with the things that I have going on my blog right now. I think I'm going to take this weekend off (with the exception of my nail files post) to think about things. In the meantime I would love your opinions on these things, if you can spare a moment:


*  Is anyone enjoying the weekend planning posts? Maybe I should shake it up a little - stop posting the same format every week?

*  What about the My Husband Rocks posts? Should I make those a weekly linkup? If I do, will you join?

*  How about the Nail Files? I'm having a great time with that one, and it seems to get alot of popularity, plus it gives me a reason/excuse to take some "me time" each week and at least have nice looking nails! Should I keep it?

*  I KNOW my Waist Watcher Wednesdays are fun, and I will definately be keeping those! What about maybe doing a Pinterest/Crafty "show me your stuff" linky party? Would anyone be interested in that?


 Just leave me a comment or email me at youmeandnatalie [at] live [dot] com!

Have a great weekend everybody!

Linking up with:

Transitioning...

Man, is it frustrating! It's been two days, and I thought I did a good job at telling everyone about my move, but I still only have 2 - count em - 2 followers over here!

Anyone have any tips on how to get everyone to come with you? ::sigh:: I knew starting over was going to be hard, but it's like I never had any followers at all, and I am just talking to myself!

So, if you were following me on Google Friend Connect, would you PLEASE follow me here? I would really appreciate it, so that I don't feel like I'm talking to myself anymore??

Also, I'm thinking about doing a giveaway, though I'm not sure what yet. Any ideas/things that would be good for a giveaway?? Let me know!




Stop by Shabby Apple for all your clothing needs! Baby, Momma, soon-to-be Mommas it's all there! Click the link below and tell them I sent you!

Restless...

For some reason I just can't settle on a "theme" for my blog. At first it was a collage of my cats, dogs, husband and cooking at the top of my blog.

Then I had a baby and I added her photos.

Then when I picked the theme for Natalie's nursery I added that theme to it - liked it for a week.

Decided that I wanted everything to look more....sleek and sophisticated so I added a fancy border, a signature image, etc. - I liked it for another week.

Decided that I wanted a more funky theme, so I spent FOUR HOURS on Picnik designing my current logo, a rowboat with a Daddy, Mommy and little girl in it. It was supposed to go along with the whole nursery rhyme thing "Row, Row, Row Your Boat." - and guess what?

I'm not sold on it. I just can't seem to settle. I want to include photos of the loves in my life in my blog header, but at the same time I want it to look simple and not over-cluttered. I want a fun, funky blog...but I can't seem to find the right fonts, images, etc. I can't even decide on COLORS. I mean, c'mon how hard is that? Am I just over-thinking things?

What should I do?

Changes...

As you can see I simplified my blog quite a bit today. I really like it, and think this is the way I will keep it from now on. I hope you like it too!