Weekend

As the weekend comes around on Friday, I feel such glee and contentment. By Sunday, I feel resentment that my weekend is nearly gone. Why do I enjoy the weekend so much? Especially since I'm a stay at home...Well, for ONE, my husband is home and I have both my boys here. Spending time together as a family. During the week its always a very monotonous routine, which I suppose I do like...a set schedule! But at the same time, I love running useless errands with my boys. Nothing but time on our hands, we are at our own leisure. I love it. So as I sit here, watching my 14 month old bring me the Sunday ads that are sitting on my coffee table and he's going to and fro....I think even more how much I love the weekend and how much he loves spending that extra time with his daddy (and I). It's just a moment like this that makes me close my eyes and thank my good Lord above for my family and healthy little boy. I am going to enjoy this beautiful, yet chilly and quite windy day. Savor the very last part of our weekend. I think tonight calls for hot chocolate. a fire. christmas tree lit. a great classic Christmas movie. Great!  Perfect!


:::::ON A SIDENOTE:::::

Today Laurel starts her 2nd round of chemo. This particular chemo will cause her to lose her hair and have horrible ulcers in her mouth that will keep her from eating and drinking. Pray that the Lord will give them strength and confidence to endure through this long journey.

Hello Friends!

Alright, we've made it through the week (nearly)...just one more day and WHO DOESNT LOVE FRIDAYS?! I'm currently in the process of making a birthday cake for a very special little girl. It's her 1st birthday!!! She and her parents are very close friends of ours! I feel like I've been out of the cake decorating realm for such a long time...only because I really have. As I started pulling all my ingredients together one by one...eggs. sugar. flour. vanilla.... a wonderful sweet suprise awaits the everlonging salivatious palate in 47 minutes. Next up, a chocolate truffle cake. The decorating begins TOOOOMORROW! Zebra. hot pink. lime green= precious!


UPDATE ON SWEET LAUREL....
You can also keep updated at Christmas at The Good's. Take a browse around their website. Their dad, Ken is a dedicated Christmas man in the fact he does amazing Christmas light display show! You'll be entertained for sure!!!  Let's give God the glory and continue to lift them up!

prep and whhhhhaaaaa??

So my little 14 month old has discovered the greatest thing, second to walking...the TV show Prep and Landing. When it's on, everything LITERALLY comes to a stop! His whole world is focused on these two elves...Manny and Lenny. I've lost count on how many times we've seen it. It's the only thing on tv he watches (thank goodness). I've never seen him stop so quickly and zone out to the tunes of "chestnuts roasting on an open fire...." Last Christmas he was 2 months old and was a bump on the log! This year is a whole new ballgame! A whole new territory for me (and Jay). We are starting new traditions this year and it makes me very excited. Granted he's only 14 months old, but it's lasting memories. I have to savor all I can from the get go!

Is it so crazy that mom's (or ME rather) get so sentimental over some of the craziest and yet cheesiest things? While the dad's seem to take it as a grain of salt...no big deal. I know deep down all the cheesy sentimental "nothings" get to them. I'm doing all the nutty stuff, "OH but it's his FIRST time to see Christmas lights!" "OH it's his first time to taste Thanksgiving food" "OH  BUT it's his first pair of shoes..." "I HAVE TO WITNESS IT ALL!!!!!!! EVERYTHING!!!" I think I need to take my dose of crazy pill and chillax a little. I know things will be different with my second child and little mi-nute things won't be so overly dramatic haha he is, afterall, my first.

Merry CHRISTmas everyone! He IS the reason for this season, He is the center of all it and I don't want the hectic holidays to overshadow His blessings and grace!

The Good Family

A family very close to my heart is in the current motions of embarking on a very scary, unknown journey. I was a nanny to 2 little girls YEARS ago (and by years, 5 years to be exact). One was in the first grade and the other was just born. The youngest was born with T.A.R. Syndrome. A very very rare disease. By rare, I mean 1 in a million! She has a lot of WBC issues and she can't clot her blood. Her parents were always on their toes to make sure she didn't even get a scratch! Well as you can imagine you can't keep injury away from a growing child, especially for 5 years! So what would be a minor little cut or bruise for you and I, ends up being this life-threating situation for this little girl. God has been with her since the beginning!

She fell one day and hit her eye. Rushing to the emergency room to care for her injury, they discovered a tumor in the same eye that she fell on. Gods way of letting this unknown tumor, becoming known. Doctors were able to care for this. Her eye got so swollen she couldn't even see out of it. She's a vivavious little girl. Full of life...its bursting from within her!

She loses platelet counts and gets real clumsy and loses her balance a lot. The time came for the hard news that she would need a Bone Marrow transplant. No one in her family was a match. Finally the doctors were able to find a match. She had her central line put in today. She will start chemotherapy tomorrow and she will undergo her bone marrow transplant in the next few weeks. She will lose her hair, her mouth will be filled with sores so severe she can't eat or drink, she will be very sick and at her absolute sickest around Christmas. She will be in absolute isolation until March 2011.

I can't imagine what they are going through, but as a mother, my heart breaks. I don't want to imagine my child being so sick and needing chemotherapy at such a young age and having to be isolated from everyone for MONTHS! Helpless. I feel like I can't do anything to help, but I know I can pray! I can lift her and her family up. I know the Lord will wrap them up in His arms. I pray they feel His love, warmth, peace and strength. This is a very unknown, fearful journey, but I know God will be with them every step of the way. Please keep The Good family in your prayers!!

Finals Finally Finished *sigh*

Finals are Finally Finished and I couldn't be more pleased with my grades nor the impeccable timing. I think the holidays arrived just in the knick of time because I was fading fast!

Currenty in the household:
my house is warm and cozy
2 dogs and 1 cat snuggled up on their beds chasing cars and birds in their dreams
Christmas tree lights are glowing from afar
a tired, worn out sleeping baby
a (for once in a really REALLY long time) relaxed momma and wife (not worrying about studying)
the ever prominant QVC on the tv
sweet bells of text messaging from my husband

The sound of silence never sounded so sweet! It has been a beautiful day! God is good and full of grace and mercy. My husband is full of love. My little boy is filled with bounding sweetness and laughs. It's in the stillness that I can embrace and reflect on my OVERFLOWING blessings. My household is generally NEVER quiet, there's always something going on! It's so good to be able to sit and not worry about studying, stressing, this or that...but take time to be in the stillness of the Lord and thank Him for ALL He does and continues to do in our life!

A family very close to my heart is in the current motions of embarking on a very scary, unknown journey. I was a nanny to 2 little girls YEARS ago (and by years, 5 years to be exact). One was in the first grade and the other was just born. The youngest was born with T.A.R. Syndrome. A very very rare disease. By rare, I mean 1 in a million! She has a lot of wbc issues and she can't clot her blood. Her parents were always on their toes to make sure she didn't even get a scratch! Well as you can imagine you can't

BIRTHDAY BOY!

Now that I have allowed a full day of settling into the new groove of having a one year old, I can confidently say....WOW! Today we had a one year check up at the doctor for him and NOT ONLY were there 2 shots, but also 2 vials of blood drawn. I have no idea if this is a new process or not but holding down a tired one year old (who just had 2 shots in his leg) while the nurse puts a turniquet on his arm and then PROCEEDS to extract 2 vials of blood is BEYOND more than what I was prepared for! Knowing his loud screams were coming out of pain and NOT TO MENTION, I am the one who took him there in the first place! I felt awful. We got home and he took a 5 hour nap. Woke up refreshed and (literally) ready to rock out by walking!

He is such a HAM!! Tomorrow we have his VERY FIRST birthday party ever!! It is so special and I am so excited to see our family and friends. It means a lot to me that our loved ones are coming to celebrate his birthday with us. We will NEVER get this time back. I mean sure you celebrate 5 year old birthday parties....7...9....then they sort of stop haha but ONE really is special!! I can honestly say I am ready for it to be over! I hate this planning and I am just ready to enjoy the fruits of this labor!!

BUSY NIGHT and DAY soooooo I hope to post some pics soon! Good night....whoever you are! :)

IT'S FINALLY HERE....

....the day in which I have been dreading since my son was born. HIS 1ST BIRTHDAY! Dreading is probably a strong word, but it's not for any other reason than me just being sad and completely (and more than likely UNNECESSARILY) emotional. It felt like an eternity to be pregnant and this first year of his life has literally flown by and I'm not sure I even took more than a few breaths. Tomorrow at 12:33pm, my little boy will be 1!!!! My husband says this is an exciting time and yes he is completely RIGHT!!! He is a strong, healthy, sweet little boy. He is loved more than he could ever know or imagine. But my little baby, whom I rocked to sleep, and listened to him make ooooo's and aaaaaaaa's, is now getting older. Talking, eating adult food, walking!!! Becoming more independent. To say the VERY least, I'm sad bc a little more everyday his independence takes him to a new level and his "neediness" for his mommy is diminishing. I am LITERALLY dreading the day when he says, "NO mom, I can do this alone!" "MOM go away!" "Mom, I met the girl I'm going to marry..." Am I a little ahead of myself here?? I THINK NOT! I know it will fly by and tomorrow he really isn't turning one...tomorrow he is graduating from college! moving out. getting married. having kids of his own....*sigh* I love him. He will always know that. I am always going to be right here. Happy Birthday My Sweet Little One. Mommy Loves You to all the stars God has ever created!!!

Scarcity is my maiden name...

Me...scarce? NOOOO...well yea, okay I am! School has been so busy. I've been focusing so much of my time on A&P, probably more than motherhood!!! Okay maybe not quite THAT much, but boy it feels like it.

I am currently "planning" the best that I can at this moment...a ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY PARTY!! Yes, its been (nearly) a YEAR!!! My heart is beyond excited, but my emotions are up and down more than a rollercoaster. I'm thrilled hes learning and growing so much, yet heartbroken that my baby isn't so much of a baby anymore. How can it be that this ONE year has flown by faster than my 23 years of life?? I thank my God everyday for His amazing blessings and guidance. My family has been so wonderful, standing by our side. It's been an amazing ONE year, and my prayer is for yet again, another amazing year.
       -Tristan has learned to sit up, crawl, pull up on EVERYTHING, (almost) walking, 8 (nearly 9 and 10)teeth, ADULT FOOD!

Have a great week...make Monday a good day, not a dreaded DAY! haha

HUUUUMP-DAY!

You know how you always say, "IF I can get through Wednesday...HUMP DAY, then it's all down hill to the weekend"? Well, I am soo there! I have class tonight (THANKFULLY my lab is over with for the week; Monday nights) and I can come home before my little man has to go to bed. It's taken a toll on me.
Monday and Wednesday's seem to be at my demise; I can do this. If I want to get my Master's in Nursing...I need to get used to this school business, along with its dedication and persistance. I have to keep looking at the bigger picture, the GOAL! 2 weeks in and I'm already begging for a holiday break...LABOR DAY! A time my husband will be home from work, however I feel like it's more generated towards homework and studying. We reached chapter 2 in A&P...CHEMISTRY!? OHHHH yuck! I can't even begin to tell you how inundating it is. I hate chemistry. Never liked it, never will!! Luckily we are hardly stratching the surface with it and on to the Skeletal system next week.
In LESS THAN 1 week, my little boy will be 11 months old. I mean really? Seriously? Does time really feel the need to pass by so quickly? I suppose all my pleading to slow down has made the efforts hopeless and now it just feels like I am at warp speed. I had a break down this weekend. I can't believe I was soo focused on "sad" it is that my little boy isnt so little anymore...he'll be ONE in just over a month. I need to be celebrating and focusing on how much he's grown, how healthy he is and how much he learns EVERY DAY!!! That kid is just too smart! So observant and HAPPY! I heart him so much!
Well I'm going to wrap up...I have psychology to do (Lifespan Growth and Development).

Far and away

Gosh I feel like it's been forever since my last post, but May really wasn't as long ago as it seems. A lot has happened since May! My little man is NOW (nearly) 11 months old. He is standing up on his own now (for a seconds at a time) and still no walking...but SOON though, I can feel it!!

I have now started school (AGAIN), it's been 3 years since I've been out of college and now I am back in! Nursing right now, but eventually Nurse Practioner. I have a long road a head but I am so anxious to be done. I know my journey will be well worth it! My husband, Jay is also going back to school to get his Master's degree. We literally both decided to take the plunge one day. That's what I LOVE about him, he doesn't "talk" about doing it and then never does it. He was like, If you can go back to school and be a stay at home mom at the same time....then I can go back and get my Master's!! So, here we are...2 crazy, out of our mind parents...BACK IN SCHOOL! With God by our side, I know we can do it!

I figure I won't have as much time to get on here and blog...but then again, I've been out of the loop for a while anyways. Not like you'll miss me much! If I can (and it's at all possible), I want to take you on this learning journey with me. Not only mommyhood, wife and chef, but as a student too!

• FIRST order of business...Anatomy! I've studied Organic Compounds and Anterior/Posterior Body Landmarks.
• Thoracic, pleaural, perdicardial....(ETC...) cavities.
• olecraneal, orbital, nasal, oral, buccal, tarsal, thoracic, occipital, cephalic...you get my drift? As the list goes on...
• ALSO, never forget your Right and Left mixed up!

SO until I can quickly find time or take a break from the gridiron...Ill see you soon!

finally friday!

I literally have to tell myself everyday, "ONE MORE DAY CLOSER TO FRIDAY!" Now it's here and I love it! Wednesday I got the WORST sunburn of my life. I have the whitest, palest skin ever. I was basically pregnant and recovering all last year. Winter was in full swing for the better part of this year...NOW I finallly have the opportunity to get some sun...some color and I burn. It hurts. I didn't get any rest Wednesday night. I was hurting all night. ALL day yesterday was complete misery. Last night was better. I slept on a cool, damp towel wth aloe all over my back and chest/tummy. I took Motrin and a sleeping pill. I slept very well last night. It just seemed like 8am came so early...but my little boy was up and ready to rock. I feel AWFUL bc it hurts to hold him right now. Since my burn is literally my chest and tummy and all over my back. SO to hold him, HURTS...I am sooo ready for this to go away and I hold and play with him again. I don't want him to think I am mad at him, but Iam completely THANKFUL for my mom who was able to help me out SOOO much yesterday. My hubby will leave work at 11 today...so thankfully Tristan will be able to have tons of great positive interaction!!

I can't get over how quickly he is growing. He is changing so much every day. Learning more and more. Becoming more and more aware of his surroundings and what is going on. He is so smart. I am soaking up and savoring every minute. Taking tons of pictures...I sort of "forget" to take pictures, but I am coming back into the swing of things. Pictures are sacred.

More homely news...Jared can't make up his mind lol No i want to buy a house. No now I want to build a house on a 10 acres of land. OH honey I found this immaculate 4 bed, 3.5 bath, 3000 sqft house on 6 acres....so naturally I'm like HONEY ITS PERFECT LET'S GO SEE IT!!!! He tells me we can't afford it. So why does he do this to me?!? I had to ask, bc personally I hate the tease. He said once I was finished with school and started working (which is in a year and half at the earliest); we could have a home like this. Well I told him, this particular home wouldnt be available in 2 years and I am sorely upset that he would even show me (ME being obsessive over the things I want; IE, a house, a car, a certain piece of clothing....) something we couldn't even have. He just said motivaion. SOOOOO until he decides what he (and ultimately, we) want...we RENT! Which I am beginning to hate more and more everyday!! I told him we are going to have to reapply for a loan soon lol no activity. He told me theres a lag time between beng granted a loan and having to reapply, I forget what it is..but I feel it hovering over us. I told him I wanted to be in a house or on the way to before Tristan's FIRST BIRTHDAY! I don't know if that is going to be possible! That's almost 4 months away!

Happy Friday to you all!!! Have a great, fun and safe weekend!!

i feel it coming...

Don't get me wrong, I love the sun! LOVE! The one thing I don't love, heat. When winter closes and spring opens, my heart breaks a little more everyday hahaha now I love spring! No not as much as winter, but spring is great...I just cry inside because I know as each spring day passes....summer is coming and along with summer is misery! Heat. Humidity. The days when you decide to run some errands, you literally drip with sweat from the time you get out of your car...get your child rounded up out of the carseat, into the stroller (or buggy), get inside....THEN on the walk inside, its just the sun BLAZING down on you...NO WIND! 105 in the shade! EGHHHHH.

Today it was about 87 outside, sunny, slightly breezy. I ran some errands today with my little tike...OMG it was a precursor of what summer is about to bring my way! NOOOO can you just, not come this year?? would that even be possible? I love the activities of summer. The pool, 4th of July, beach...The heat is all I ask for to go away. I am naturally a hot-natured woman! My husband is even more hot-natured and my son has inherited that as well...I am so nervous about temperments lol

DRIVES ME NUTS! As summer passes and goes along, I just have to keep in mind that right behind summer is my favorite time of all!!! Fall and Winter. I can do it!!!! I CAN do it. Really what is going to get me through summer is the fact that my little boy will be ONE in October. SAD SAD SAD!!!!!! I will cry just thinking about how much he's growing and learning....time flies!!!

the plans up my sleeve...

I'll admit that being a stay at home mom is completely rewarding and I love it! Now, of course you are waiting for the "but...." and yes there is one, BUT being at home all day, everyday takes its toll. I don't get to have any adult conversation, shows that are usually going are (the everplaying tunes in my head here lately)...SpongeBob, Team Umizoomi, Dora, Diego...no Tristan doesn't watch any of these shows. I am absolutely aware that he probably doesn't pay any attention to it at all, but why not have kid friendly tunes playing through the house anyway, right? Doesn't hurt I say.

I know you might say, it's busy, hard work staying at home. Here lately I try to keep up with the house as much as I can. Tristan gets in an hour to 2 hours worth of a nap. I do what I can around the house, but my mind needs freedom. I need to be able to escape even for just that ONE HOUR or 2...(if I'm lucky 3...RARELY), to release my creativity that is literally about to burst out of my head!!! I have so many things I want to do and learn!!! As I talked to Jay about everything these last few days (and more so last night), he seemed to understand now, more than ever where I was coming from. I was so thankful! He *gets* to step away from being a parent every day (and I say *gets* but I don't hold that lightly, because I realize and understand he is at work!!! not a complete escape, but kind of....). He can step away from being a parent to regather his thoughts and come to...so when he comes home he gets that I MISSED YOU feeling. Tristan doesn't experience that with me. He seems everyday. There has not been ONE day in his life that he hasn't seen me. I think he's like OH THAT LADY...THAT MOM PERSON I ALWAYS SEE!!!!!!

So Jay, in all understanding, is completely on board with allowing me to do the things I love and let me get me get my couped up creativity out!!!!!!!!! I am sooo ready and so excited!!!!!!

Have a great weekend!!

life lately...

This whole sleep training business that seemed to be all consuming these last few weeks...IT'S PAID OFF!!!!! Jay and I had forgotten what sleep felt like, we no longer just lay there in anticipation of the ever longing, timely scheduled burst of cries! Tristan has been going to bed every night between 8 and 9. It has been wonderful! Jay and I are able to have our quiet time together...something we haven't had in so long! It has been wonderful! Tristan went to bed last night at 845 and was up at 830 this morning...I know right?! It is sort of one of those things I hit myself with, because I wish we had done this a lot sooner! It will definently be done earlier with our next child!!

HOUSE UPDATE! So, we (and by we...JAY!) decided we should wait for a house. He doesn't want to move into a house and stay there for 5-7 years and pick back up and move again! Which I had a hard time coming to grips with, since 5-7 years seemed like a decent time to stay in a home before upgrading. I would of been opposed to it if it were more of a move in and move straight back out...but it wasn't the case. I can't say I was happy with that decision at all, but I could understand and respect where he was coming from. We were having a hard time finding the right place for us. Prayers and prayers....I knew God was saying, "not right now...". That is the hardest answer to hear, but after finding sooo many houses we liked, they all had contracts on them before we could even say WRITE UP A CONTRACT, foundation needs desprite repair. Needs a new a/c unit and new roof. Sellers aren't willing to come down on price at all! Oh this is a foreclosure and it could take up to months to close if they even decide to accept your offer. NEEDS MAJOR TLC. Awful layouts....I was beginning to just come to the realization that I shouldn't get attached to any properties, because my downfall had been (literally) visualizing our stuff in this house...to become our home! So disappointment after disappointment I sort of mentally gave up. I knew God's answer and I am okay with it. I have to be. I would rather be places where He wants us, than to place ourselves in house where we shouldn't be. All for a home tax credit, which would of been wonderful! Jay kept saying, "Just get that out of your head. We aren't buying a house solely on the basis of 8 grand being in our pockets...I won't let us make a commitment to something like that if it's not the right timing or the right place for us...." Made me so mad, but he was so right (how could I let him actually know he was right!? I couldn't do that!!! hahaha) SOOOOO, now (and I will admit, I like this idea a lot more) we are going to keep our eye out on land! We want to build a cute little 3 bed, 2.5 bath house on 10-12 acres of land. I love that idea!!!!! Jay had a layout he showed me, I thought it was precious! I told him my concerns and wants in that house and he made some changes to it that he thought were great. He said I have complete reign on decorating it...with a few minor details lol but over all...We are looking for the perfect land...NOTHING is out there right now within our budget. So we are keeping an eye out and in the meantime, we can keep saving our money and get all of our odds and ends together. I am soooo excited! We hope to have land before the end of the year is up (and of course a GO on building)! Prayers prayers prayers!! The great thing about us building on our land of 10-12 acres is in the future...we can just add on to our house...renovate and remodel to stay up with our needs. So essentially a lifetime property!

Tristan is down for a mid morning nap. My house is soooo clean and fresh looking. Shampoo'ed the carpet, vaccuumed about 10 times in 1 day! Dusted. Mopped....sooo nice! Spring cleaning too! It's been great!

Have a happy Monday (it's so nice outside!)

Crazy life never ends

I know I have been completely absent in OVER A WEEK!! Tristan is down for a nap and the sound of silence never sounded so sweet. We are trying naps in his bed now...he's getting alittle big for his swing, so we are trying to make a transition from naps in his swing, to naps in his bed. He is a bear!

Life is nutty around here...AS USUAL! We are still in the process of sleep training Tristan...he has done sooo well. In fact, I dont even recall him waking up at all last night!!!!! He got to bed a little later than we would of liked, but we had to grab a few things at the grocery store and it took forever to get out of there. So we rushed home and got that kid in the bathtub, scarfed down some delicious green beans (his favorite), a bottle and down for bed at 930!! Meanwhile, Jay and I started dinner for ourselves; at 1104 my head hits the pillow and I am out until about 3am....Jay *cough cough cough....* then immediately goes into SNORE mode...I give a little nudge here...SNORE...nudge there....FINALLY he stops.

We went out of town last weekend to see Jay's granny (Tristan's GreatGranny); it's an 8 hour round trip for us. Naturally we stayed in a hotel so it could give us and EVEN MORE SO, Tristan a break from the monotonous ride. 4 hours in a car seat one way is exhausting. It took him days to recover from this trip!!! On our way back home, we were 1 hour from our house and Tristan decided he had enough of the stupid car. Enough of the stupid carseat. Enough of our 20th rendition of "twinkle twinkle little star" and "the abc's" (which by the way I sang in every genre...jazz, reggae, rap, country lol)....he was ready to be out and essentially run a marathon!! He had no time in his day to be wasting it riding in the darn carseat.

My house is a mess and I need to clean, but with my husband still not home from work, the dogs asleep outside, my baby boy taking a nap....how can I pass up the blissful sound of peace???? A time where I can write, be at one and at peace with my thoughts (WHICH NEVER HAPPENS!!!!!!). I wish I had that perfect bathroom with the biggest bathtub in it, so I can take a bubble bath and relax; escape the caos that usually comes from the moment my foot steps through the doorway. Energetic dogs, nutty cat, a crazy husband, an ever so learning baby, a tiny little house...dinner, cleanup, laundry, animals, this that up down.....aghhhhhh hahaha

So until I can steal some time away, have a wonderfullllll weekend!!!!

No we aren't driving (pics down below), just one of a few stops we needed to take to change diapers, feed him and let him stretch his poor little legs). (Pic to the right >>>>>) At the hotel...happy little baby!!

6 Months old...ALREADY!

Fighting his bedtime...

A sweet Easter nap with his daddy!!

My handsome happy baby boy!!!!!!

Baby boy, you need to stop growing soo fast!!

*sigh*

*BIGGER SIGH* might a take one more breath and release my stress!! The Shepherd house has been WILD these last few weeks! Tristan now has 2 teeth coming in. I firmly believe a 3rd one is about to show his grimey little face in the next few days. I miss you sleep! For some reason, when I had a baby, the thought of teething never crossed my mind! My mind was full of poopy diapers, crying and restless nights feeding. TEETH??? What are these things you speak of?! I FORGOT THEY GET TEETH!!! hahaha that's how NUTS I am.

Since the first two have come in, Tristan no longer sleeps through the night. I miss the 8-9 hours of peaceful sleep. I literally blocked out the first few months of waking up every 2-3 hours a night to feed him. So when he started sleeping through the night...I got spoiled. Now I am trying to come to grips with this whole teething business. Teething tablets have been wonderful!! I know he hurts and its miserable. I have patience and (try to) hug away his pain.

He is rolling over everywhere now....hes getting his little knees up under him now...ANY DAY NOW HE WILL BE TOTALLY MOBILE! Am I ready for this?!!?

Well I am going to try to rest a little bit before my little tike wakes up with a furry for food and a dry diaper!!!

easter hop

As Easter rolls around, I can't seem to overlook the special photo sessions with the Easter Bunny himself, the classic photos with the rabbits and of course, all of the flowers. It's the ULTIMATE view of Spring itself. AMAZING!!!! I can't believe it's already about to be April...time has flown.

My son is about to be 6 months old!!! HALF A YEAR!! WOW!!!! It doesn't seem that long ago he was coming home. I can't get over it!

Monday down, 4 more days until the weekend. Amazing weather...perfect! :)   

teethers!

One week of teething down and on to another week. Just when things started evening out with his 1st tooth, the tooth next to it decides to show his little face! Excited yes, but ohhhh the sleep! Where are you???

He's been up every hour after he goes to bed. He went to bed last night ab 1130pm, up at 1230am, 130, 230, 245, 3, 315, 4, 430, 5, 6, 7...Tylenol, teething tablets and orajel. SOOOOOOOOOOO tonight we are going to make sure he does not sleep from 7pm on...at 9 he will get a bath. 930 he will get his dinner (right now, 2.5 oz of some baby food, then his 6 oz bottle) and 10 o' clock tonight, his head will hit the sheets of his bed. CROSS OUR FINGERS AND PRAY!!!!!

Jay noticed my eyes were black, as well as his....I was in MUCH thanks to him for noticing hahaha HOW ATTRACTIVE right????

So we took Tristan somewhere the other day and he was COMPLETELY enthralled with the fish in the aquarium. So we decided to take him to a local pet shop, we made our way back to the fish section. Yet again, fascination with the fish. We thought this awe he was in over fish, we would try ONE more pet shop....just to seal the deal. On to the fish section and still intrigued. So we crumbled and bought an aquarium for his room. Yes, my 5 1/2, almost 6 month old has an aquarium in his room. Speaking of that, my husband is currently getting it put together now. We thought the fish would be great, but also the sound of the water filtration system would be relaxing for him at night too. The light sound of a waterfall. So its the vetter part of both worlds here. Its not a big tank and we are doing freshwater fish.....so it's minimal upkeep!! We haven't gotten the fish yet, we have them picked out, but we have to make sure everything isjust right before we enter them into their new home (temperature, ph balances...).

The weather here has been incredible!!!! The last 2 days we've made it a point to get out and "run errands". A breath of fresh air never smelled so great. Getting sun and just enjoying our day. Today has been a bit of a different story as its been a little chilly and windy, nonetheless, our windows are open and our house is filled with outside haha I LOVE IT!!!

So, as we start the new week, lets hope for great weather (that hopefully never leaves!!!!), restful sleep and lots of health and happiness!!!!

The Culprit

Alright, so the last time I posted, I had said the crazy weather was the culprit for a fussy baby. WRONG, WRONG, WRONG! He just cut his 1st tooth! So much going on with him right now. He's getting his first tooth, he's rolling rolling rolling rolling all over the place. I know next is the mobile-ness....baby proofing our house is about to be at the top of our to-do list.

He is growing by leaps and bounds and I am in a bitter-sweet state right now. I am so sad he is growing up, learning something new everyday. The world is becoming a little clearer everyday. He has so much more to continue to learn, but I am right there with him! At the same time, I am sooooo excited to see him learn and GROW. For him to progress in every light is amazing and such a blessing!!
God has blessed my family beyond all words and expression. I have an all-knowing God, who knows my every thought and sees all of my faults and yet, He still carries and loves me. He has sent me 2 amazing parents who are always there for us. Helping out as often and as much as they can. My prayer is that God blesses them 10 fold for as much as theyve been able to bless us. I have a wonderful husband, who loves me in all my faults and weak moments. Who does the happy jig with me in exciting moments and who lends his me his shoulder, while wrapping his loving arms around me, during sad/trying times. A beautiful blue-eyed little boy who is healthy, happy, loved, safe and encouranged. Im in love with him and it just grows more and more every second of every day.

STILL trying to find the perfect house/property. We've looked at houses (big. small. odd layouts. no storage. strange neighborhood. odd neighbors). shacks. fixer-uppers. cleared land. wooded land. 10 miles away. 2 miles away. 15 miles away... House? Land? where are you? please just jump out and be perfect for us...for NOW. Better yet, please just grow a sign out in the front yard that simply reads "Welcome Home Shepherd Family....this is it!!" I know a home is what you make it. So I have my home, but I want the HOUSE that usually comes with the "home" part. Crossing out fingers and pray. I know its out there. I keep telling Jay APRIL 30th...APRIL 30th....thats our housing credit deadline. He keeps saying, if we find a home before then great, but we dont need to rush into buying something just for the credit. If we get it we get it, if we dont. we don't (I WANT IT!!! what an amazing savings!!!!)...

ALRIGHT, once we get through HUMP DAY, its all down hill from there!!!

First Day of Spring??

While it may be the first day of spring for the rest of the country....where I live, NOT SO MUCH! First day of Spring brings snow. I completely enjoy snow, but on a more regular and consistant basis. After having about a weeks worth of amazing Spring weather, I am totally over the snow! Come again later this year and that will be perfect!!
I guess this crazy weather has had some sort of peculiar effect on Tristan, he hasn't napped officially in probably 3 days!!! Not sleeping that well at night either. OHHHHH how I am dreading my week starting. I completely enjoy daddy weekend duty. I am not looking forward to my full week of waking up at 2, 4, 5 and then probably again at 6-7 AM! I got out the habit of this bizarre nightly schedule, he had been doing so well at night, 6-8 hours a night. Now, no napping, no sleeping during the night. Broken sleep starts to have its tolls. My resolve is still in search; I fully believe it has to do with the pressure going on outside with this weather. It's been affecting my ears a little, so why not his too right? or his head, or whatever...
I blogged about Friday night being so enjoyable, yet here I am on a Sunday, dreading the new week. The "dreading" part is just the many wakeups during the night.
Well, I am off to watch the 2nd series in The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

ah weekend, we meet again

Well here I am again, the lone ranger of the house. My 2 boys asleep. My animals, sleep. Somehow, the all-annoying March Madness is currently playing in the background and HOW I have kept myself awake....I have no idea!!! My husband is obsessed with this basketball...and in the next few weeks, The Masters will be on. I can actually handle golf, but it can have the same drowsy affect on me that March Madness is having on me right now!!! lol My little dude is being honed in early to the sport genre!!! He actually stops to watch basketball and football. I know its a lot of action, but he doesnt do this with any other show. Just sports. My future is looking more and more like "foul-ball", "pass intercepted", "homerun!!!", "get in the hole!!!"....blues, greens and reds. HAHAHA I live in house of boys and here I am the all girly mom. I am completely obsessed with makeup, baking and all things artsy; yet, I am surrounded by 1 sport addict and 1 future addict.
It is absolutely beautiful outside, all of the windows are open. Fresh air smells so wonderful. The sound of birds and trees rustling in the wind...oh how I love Spring!
My house is a wreck right now, and while I need to clean, the ambience that is surrounding me is not telling me to clean haha it's telling me to chillax as every other being in my house is doing so right now. Not to waste, but to completely soak it in!!! My husband seems back to normal after his awful sickness from earlier in the week. Tristan is growing by leaps and bounds. I wanted to take him to the zoo today, but a 5 month old has no clue what is going on with such wild animals. A walk in the park would suffice him just as well for now....hopefully though this fall he'll be more in tuned with animals.
This time thing is really throwing me for a loop. I can't believe its nearly 6pm....ahhh time is flying!!

Friday night is my all time favorite...not saturday, but friday evening into night....bc the weekend is still so "long". Saturday night just reminds me of oh gees tomorrow is the end of the weekend lol Friday night....ENJOY!!!!!

sick sick and more sick

agh it seems to be coming from all sides. i actually tried to post yesterday, but something was going on with our internet....crummy day outside, maybe it had contributed a little. my husband came down with something awful Sunday, and even more so Monday morning. He woke up with a 102 degree temperature. headache. stuffy nose. mucus. dizzy. i have no idea what it was but he stayed home to try to recoup as much as possible. when your husband wakes up with 102 degree temp and there is a 5 month old baby in the picture...you rush that baby out of there asap! so i took tristan to my mom's yesterday morning and rushed to the store to pick up $70 worth of stuff for jay lol gaterade for its electrolytes. emergen-c. a humidifier. tylenol warming nighttime fluids. tylenol day time severe cold/flu. soup....anything you can think of, i got it!
jay rarely gets sick. when he does get sick its usually extreme. example....randomly waking up with 102 fever. he got sick 2 years ago with chronic bronchitis...NO hes not a smoker at all! that awful raspy, horse-filled cough that comes with bronchitis never really leaves you. so ever since he got that, his cough sounds like hes been a chain smoker for a decade! i left him to sleep at home all day! peace and quiet. i guess it helped bc he broke his fever last night. he looks and sounds a lot better. pb 70% now....im soooo glad!

so today, i disinfected our house like crazy!!!!!

Tristan and I have both felt a little under the weather today. more tummy issues if anything. im boiling it down to allergies and drainage. he felt a little warm today, so i gave him some tylenol to hopefully help. nap and more nap!

we had my nephews birthday party on saturday...my hubs 2 sisters also got sick...i kept myself pretty secluded, so i guess there was something in the air. yuck!!

i hope everyone is back to normal by the end of the week!!! pray and cross my fingers!

craziness

finally my first time in what seems like months, but really in a week to sit down and enjoy the sound of silence and relaxation. jay and i have been going nonstop, no sleep. its been a long week! tristan has been getting some pretty strange hours in, not his fault, just our schedule. going to bed at 2...being up at 630. it seemed like it would never end!
Jay took me to Dallas yesterday, we went to my all time favorite restaurant, The Cheesecake Factory for my birthday (on March 10)...then on to IKEA for some amazing shopping. My nephew was having his birthday party (3 years old) last night, so we went in early for a great day together and it was beautiful outside!!! I was so glad to get out of town for a little while and enjoy some time with my 2 boys. We thought about spending the night, but since we've been going so much lately, we wanted to sleep in our own bed and wake up at home....for a great lazy sunday!
i really need to do some grocery shopping, but cant find the energy in myself to actually get ready to go and to deal with the crazy, stupidity my town offers! it seems like here lately drivers have gotten slower, more rude, inconsiderate, oblivious....people at stores have gotten dumber, more rude, inconsiderate, oblivious.....are we noticing a pattern here?? yea, me too! i can't stand it.
my sinus' have been terrible these last 2 days. i love the spring, but i hate the allergies it brings with it.
my 2 boys are currently napping and here i am, a lone ranger awake in the house! my cat is sunning and completely passed out. my 2 dogs are sprawled out on the kitchen floor, passed out.
Not looking forward to starting a new week, i love having jay home all day on the weekends. however, duty calls and off to work he goes, 8-5.
well i think i am going to sneak in some me time, before my 2 boys wake up and madness soon follows!

ODE TO FRIDAY

my week is measured by friday. i think to myself EVERYDAY, if i can just get to friday.... As one day ends, it's well 4 more days til friday, 3 more days, 2 more days...

Only this time around, Sunday, my little boy will be 5 months old! I can't get over it. It's heartbreaking, yet so exciting. Learning, discovery for him is astounding. He is precious. He's conquered carrots, applesauce and bananas! Loves them all, next we are on to peas. Wish me luck on that, because I honestly don't know a single person who likes peas.

I am currently taking a break from cleaning. My house is such a disaster that I am finding it hard to decide where to start. Bathroom? Kitchen? Bedrooms? Laundry? Living room? dusting? vaccuuming? mopping? organizing? aghhhhhh none of it sounds appealing. I clean house between 2-3 times a week; when i say clean, I mean dust, vaccuum, mop, scrub....the whole schpeel! But I swear, it gets so dirty and messy so quickly. I'm talking, I'll clean everything up and the husband comes home from work and opens the mail on the kitchen counter...leaves it there. Puts his tubawear containers on the kitchen table and leaves it there. shoes are left in the middle of the bedroom floor (and somehow, his dirty laundry makes it into the laundry basket...HOW I am still trying to figure this out!!!! Since he can't march over to the dishwasher and put in his dirty dishes, or put his shoes on the shoe rack in the closet...). Our bathroom is awful! He trims his beard and leaves the trimmings all over the counter!!! He says he "cleans it up", but I totally beg to differ here. The worst part is, he trims his beard in the GUEST BATHROOM!!!! So I am completely unaware of the situation until I go clean in there. Then I am completely mortified to discover his mess, then wonder, how many people came over and saw that!!!?? We have friends that come over randomly during the week, use the bathroom and BAM there it is!! I guess I should check in there everyday to make sure he hasnt snuck in there to do it.

ON A LIGHTER NOTE, we are having dinner with some great friends tonight and tomorrow night! Both couples had a baby right after Jay and I did. One 3 weeks after Tristan, the other 2 months....BOTH GIRLS naturally lol however I would NEVER trade my little dude for a little girl now! I remember when we found out it was a boy...omg my husband got the cold shoulder for like 2 weeks!! I wanted a girl so bad, but God totally knows what He is doing and I am head over heels in love with my little boy!!!!!!

Alright, I guess I procrastinated long enough, back to my housing duties!!! agh. Bright side, I already vaccuumed and dusted every room, now on to the actual CLEANING portion.

HAPPY FRIDAY!!!

mondays come all too often

I feel like I roll over in bed and BAM it's Monday...already!! Time just seems to fly by these days. Im trying to savor every moment, but I feel like it's passing me by too quickly. I wish I could stop time for just a moment every day! My little boy is growing so rapidly. He's eating applesauce, bananas, and carrots; and one more additional food every week. Starting to sit up by himself now (unless he gets super excited or tired), saying "momma"...or something like it. I have been so thrilled to see him pass these little milestones, and in the (near) future, even bigger milestones. Crawling, walking, talking, pre-k...eventually graduating, marrying, having kids of his own. I guess you never realize how time flies until you have a family and it just moves faster than you can keep up. Gosh I love him sooo much. He'll be 5 months on March 7th (*tears of denial and sadness*).

So it's official, I've decided to go back to school. OB Nurse. That's what I plan on doing.

Well, I am going to watch The TIme Travelers Wife. My husband suprised me by renting it tonight. Love him!

Sleep well fellow bloggers :)

Please just stop time....

Have you ever had the moment of I wish I could rewind time by ohhh, 10 seconds?? YEA, I'm having that moment now!!! I think it might even apply more for those who have kids (and by kids I mean babies!) lol The moment is so perfect when you FINALLY get your baby down for a nap (especially after they fight it and do everything in their power to not give in to the sandman!), when BOOOOOM, a loud crash occurs. It is the absolute worst! All you can do is go on about your activity and "pretend" you didnt hear it. Try not to cause a fuss or ruckus over it. Hopefully they"ll go back to sleep and all will be okay. What happens when it wakes them up, they do in fact try to go back to sleep, then the grouch dog of the neighborhood (and idiot owner) comes out and barks at the grass growing for all I know, my dog decides to get up and shake it all about hahaha AND THE LIST GOES ON!!!!!

IT'S LIKE, REALLY??!?!!

It's not even KIND OF a nice day outside to enjoy a walk. It's rainy, overcast, cold, windy....the perfect concoction for 1.) rhinovirus aka "the cold" 2.) ear infection(s) 3.) rvs 4.) pneumonia

I'm sorry weather, but I am clearly not in the mood to mess with your local friends today or ANY day soon for that matter hahaha

Our satellite is being ridiculous and nothing is coming in clear on the tv, which is fine, but i do have one bone to pick and its The Bachelor season finale tonight. Vienna or Tenley...or NO ONE! (lets hope its the latter of the 3). So I am praying to the satellite gods of "please quit being so ridiculous and going out after some one who has flatuent issues 2 houses down...lets pull through until 9pm" I am serious, I swear if my neighbor 2 houses down had gas, my satellite would go out!!! It clearly doesnt take much for such technological advances to crumble sometimes.

I feel like I am at an inbetween! I want to do something!!! I love being a stay at home mom don't get me wrong, but what happens when Tristan is older and ready to go to pre-k...Jay and I don't plan on having another baby until Tristan is in pre-k (so about 3-4 yrs). I think I might go back to school to be an OB Nurse. I think I might enjoy it. My occupational outlook has always been so different than that of a nurse. Never my ideal job. I wanted to be a makeup artist or pastry chef...something creative! While my husband is completely supportive of my dreams, he's also into "realistic outlooks" and for him, makeup and baking is not "technically" achievable right now. Yes, opening a stand alone bakery is a lot of money, and in all honesty who wants to open an unknown business in this economy??? It's different it were a famous fast food chain or major retail shop...but an unknown local bakery?? yea....i guess I agree with my husband on this one!! So for now, I do it when i can! I guess we will see where God leads us and go from there...that's probably the better path anyway!!!

Happy Monday...and Happy MARCH! (already!??!)

Ahh Saturday, nice to see you again.

The sun is shining bright. My dogs are in absolute bliss outside, sun bathing (as I wish I could be doing). It's a crisp 55 degrees and feels heavenly...compared to the last few days of below freezing temps. Here in my hometown, we have a famous show in production. Extreme Makeover Home Edition. Perfect day for building a home for such a deserving family! Breakfast has been cooked and eaten. My little boy is blithely playing in his exer-saucer continuously saying his new found word..."momma"...and yes, momma is giddy beyond all belief. My heart smiles. My husband is sitting next to me, playing some game on his iphone, completely unaware of his surrounds. He's totally enthralled.
I think it's time to take a shower and run errands!! It's too nice outside to be locked up inside this darn house!! Perfect excuse haha
Did anyone happen to see the Olympics last night, speed skating more specifically. I am completely disappointed in the Canadian judge. Absolute favortism was shown as an American was disqualified. Ohno put his hand out to preventing an accident, a Canadian actually rolled his skate and fell on his own. Not only that, but a fellow racer (and Canadian) put his hand on another skater (during the same match) and that racer fell...but for some reason the judge didn't call that. Frustrating. I'm thinking twice about Canada here!!
Anyway, have a wonderful Saturday...soak up this sacred weekend!!! lol

cross country skiing

on an added note, i am currently watching the olympics, i find cross country skiing quite humorous. a very noteworthy sport, but if you just watch their legs...they look funny. moreover, if you watch their upper body, it's funny...the motion of it all, the rythmn. NOW...watch it as a whole and tell me there isn't a little humor here. :)

3 obsessions...

Alright, so it's quite clear I have a few obsessions in my life. My family. Baking. Makeup. Shopping. Now, we can offically add 3 more new obsessions. 

Garlic. I absolutely love this exquisite ingredient. I could quite possibly drink it in my water; garlic water. Make some sort of concoction for garlic candy. I could even bite it as though it were an apple. My obsession with garlic is never ending. I have always loved it and used it every once and awhile, but for some odd reason, here in the last few months it has become sacred!!! Anything I cook, I am always thinking can I add garlic to this dish in some way at all?!! And my reasonable answer is without question...YES. It's a proud staple in this household. My husband even mentioned to me last night that we would start sweating the fumes of garlic. pee smelling garlic...he also mentioned I was building an immunity to garlic and that one day very soon, I would no longer be able to taste it. He's probably right!!! I love it!!

The Ellen Degeneres Show. I think this lady is so humorous and entertaining. I haven't seen the show ever until literally 2 weeks ago. Ever since then, it's been OHHH ELLEN'S ON!!!!! I am not a keen talk show watcher, but I do enjoy this show a lot. She's a hoot and riot. I can now add her to my other talk show I watch, Oprah.

THE OFFICE!!! Now, I will admit that I go beyond obsession with this particular show. Fanatical. Completely engrossed in this show! I mean what's the word I am looking for...? Okay obsessed is the absolute understatement in this case. The funny thing is, Jay and I never liked this show when it first came out. It wasn't until last year really that we had a discovery of favorism for this show. We have now seen season 1, episode 1 all the way to today!! In fact, we have seen every episode numerous times. Thursday's to us....isn't Thursdays. It's OFFICE Thursdays. We record every episode thats ever on. For me, it's one of those shows I watch when I've had a bad day. At first, we didn't understand the humor. It seemed so dry and boring. Once we actually sat down and watched it....LOVE! Jay and I will purposely set each other up for That's What She Said's and Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica. Question. Answer. False.

You know what....I think I am going to put up an Office quote of the day on my sidebar!

It's Thursday...my husband has worked so much the last 2 weeks at work, they are letting him take Friday off!! In this economy these days, businesses are very watchful of spending. Here in our area of the country, there's been moderate unemployment. So, when things really hit hard, my husbands company decided to cut weekly hours and impliment a 5% pay decrease until the economy has shown a perminent establishment of progress . Yes, it was awful!!! For our family...that was a lot!! About $1,000.00 a month less! HOWEVER, to us, for him to still have a job...that's incredible!! We will take a pay decrease and a few hours less a week...that's totally fine. Completely blessed to still have a job!!!! Nonetheless, Friday off!!!

I'm sorry...what was that??

As a parent...and I guess more so, as a mom, there are things that excite you beyond all belief. Things that would never move you in a certain way. Since being a mom (in October 2009), I have been excited about gas, poop, burps, cooing, grasping for things, (trying to) roll over, giggles....but when you get to a certain point, when does it really become real? WHEN THEY START TALKING? Saying words?? I don't know, but it has all been portentiously exciting, but there is something about hearing a word coming out of your baby's mouth. Whose words were just "ooo" "ahhh" "ohhh" "eeeeee" haha, now the possibility of "mommmma". COULD IT BE? Or am I just one of those neurotic compulsive moms? haha Gosh, maybe I am just hearing things...mumbling that just sounds like "momma" but it's an audible word..for the first time. Mumble or the actuality of it, sounds enchanting nonetheless.

My day has been productive thus far. Tristan is getting in his third nap of the day, which is kind of nice...allows me to do some house work and take a moment to think and breathe.
-I ran his HUGE pile of laundry. Is it just me or do babies go through laundry constantly?? I feel like I run a huge load of his things every other to every 2 days. I'm sure that's normal. I'll just convince myself and leave it at that.
-Folded and put away laundry.
-Unloaded and reloaded the dishwasher.
-Straightened up and cleaned the kitchen/living room

NOW during nap number 4? SHOWER TIME! lol I love how i plan these things out like that. About the time I get out of the shower, it'll be play time and time for the hubs to come home. Hmmm, what's on the menu tonight? Cordon bleu, garlic rice and broccoli/carrots/corn. Sounds delightful!

Well I am off to fold his clothes and go through the mail (does this sound like an eventful day or what?? this sounds more like a calm, relaxed Wednesday! No craziness today??? I probably shouldn't count my chickens before they hatch!!)

Bazinga!!

Anyone else obsessed with that show as much as I am? I find myself having more and more "Bazinga!" moments and I love it!!!

Here in the last few weeks I've pulled out my baking thumb yet again and discovered how much I still have such a passion to bake! To create. To be inventive. To create something so scrumptious to the eye and even more so to the palate. After all we fall in love with our eyes first right? (whether it's a person, retail, materials or FOOD)...and come on who doesn't have that sweet tooth? For some it's there all too often, while others have to dig deep to find the desire for a sweet treat! My passion for baking has grown more and more with time and experience. My husband has the sweetest tooth I've ever met! 50 lbs and hundres of cookies, cakes, pies, pastries, rolls, tortes and frozen treats later....he is still my best customer lol. I love that man more than he loves his sweet treats. What's funny is his sweet tooth never existed until the day I met him...it's been a downhill ride ever since! It's like the little person on your shoulder who says "no you don't want to do that" and the "go ahead...one won't hurt". There is something about sweets that draws you in...wants you to be bad for just that instant. Really, what celebration doesn't involve cake, cookies, pies, pastries or some sweet treat??? It is literally the little bubbles you get in your tummy when you see that ONE sweet thing you just love! That one thing you know you don't ever eat except for birthdays, holidays or special occassions. It's the one thing you allow yourself to eat for a happy moment!

For me baking is passion that is so deep and so destressing for me. My husband can tell by how many dozens of cookies appear in the kitchen one day by my stress level. No so stressed....ab 1-2 dozen cookies of ONE flavor. SUPER STRESSED? Gah there's got to be atleast 2 dozen peanut butter chunks, chocolate chip, snickerdoodles, oatmeal raisin....It's sort of his banner for "man she had the worst day ever" lol

I grew up in the kitchen. My mom was making cakes and cookies and these little special treats all the time. She always let me help (even though I was probably more of a hindrance to her if anything), but she always let me stir or pour or add this egg or this cup of sugar....I think that's where it began for me. My mom :) I love her so much! I discovered how much I want to do that with my kids. One day when they are standing on the little stool at the counter...asking me if they can help stir or add that cup of sugar or the bag of morsels.

That's the thing when your day is so bad, so stressful....you feel like OMG I want this day to end...start the day over; but go into the kitchen and you know with absolute certainty that 3/4 cups of sugar, 3/4 cups of brown sugar, 2 eggs, a pinch of baking soda, salt, etc......you'll makeup the perfect concoction to the perfect chocolate chip cookie. Everytime.

Baking....it's who I am.

Olympics

Have you been watching the Olympics? I have and let me just say one thing, WOW! The training these kids do is amazing. The work. The dedication. The determination. I find myself watching non-stop. All consuming. I think I even gave myself a headache over some competitions today haha. Isnt that awful!?
My little dude has been so fun today. For the last 2 nights we've started applesauce with him. He's pleased I think. There is absolutely no comparison to cereal, in which he hated and loathed on more than several levels. I am continuing to (try) see the world through his eyes. The things that excite him, that move him. I see our cat walk past me and think nothing of it...but he sees the cat walk in front of him and he's in utter awe. It amazes him. You see his eyes get wide and he is suddenly filled with this burst of energy lol (and speaking of cat, my cat is currently playing fetch with me. His sacred toy, the one with feathers and a bell, compared to a dogs stuffed toy you throw for them. He brings it to me, drops it, a deep soulful stare into my eyes, a fluffed tail and in a sprint of lightning he's off...for the whole process to begin again lol). A mothers love is sooo strong and so powerful. I feel like my love for my little boy grows more and more with every breath! not enough hugs, not enough kisses. im savory every little bit, but i dont think im doing it enough!!!!
Anyway, all i can say...TGIF tomorrow!!!

case of the mondays

sometimes i just wish whomever invented mondays should be shot, but then it would the case of the tuesdays....... regardless, mondays always seem like the longest day! the best day of the week, in all retrospeck...THURSDAY! i mean fridays dont count, bc to me its techincally the start of the weekend. thursdays sort of stand alone. its the end of the week. you either start making preps for the weekend OR youve planned something for the weekend by thursday. its like once you hit it....its all downhill from there. monday is like the long trudge up the the mountain without water and a 15 lb pack on your back! you may see the nice view (the weekend), but you still have a long way to go to get down the mountain!! gosh my analogise even sound awful for a monday!!!
Anyway, spent a good deal of time in the kitchen today with experimental sweetness! I LOVED IT! i dont know how it taste's just yet, but the icing is delicious! i made a (moist...or that was my plan) yellow butter cake. cross my fingers it turned out good. i hope my passion for baking shows through in actuality!
DOWNSIDE! husband is still at work. he gets off at 5...now 630. dinner is officially in the oven and NO word of my husband. WHOM in which said put dinner in the oven "in 15 minutes" at 515. SO i did....and NOW hes still 40 minutes away. irritated? yes! but at the same time I am trying to be reasonable here!!! its hard to be understanding. i just wish this was something he would of honestly told me, and yes, he knew he would have to stay late...so in a way it's inconsiderate! agh. to note, i have a cat napping 4 month old at his best today and my 2 annoying dogs in the backyard barking and the old lady 2 houses down! THAT THEY CANT EVEN SEE BUT THEY CAN HEAR HER TALKING TO HER FLOWERS lol
good thing the bachelor comes on in 30 minutes...but im torn! bachelor or the olympics?!? oh how i love both! thank goodness for DVR's!!!!!! NOW the individual who invented such a wonderful creation....should have his hand shook from me, myself and I.
My house is a wreck...I guess I will clean up until Jay get's home (and restart dinner, now that its out of the oven, sitting on my stove and commodiously getting cold!).

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentines Day to all!!!! We went grocery shopping last night and found absolutely nothing! Jay said, "Is there some sort of major holiday coming up that requires the onset of buying out a grocery store?!" (ie...labor day weekend, 4th of july, sporting events...). I said no I bet it's all the sweet husbands out there who plan to make dinner for their wifes tonight...isn't that sweet?! as I gaze at him sternly lol. No I don't have to worry about it, my husband is taking me out to dinner tonight. Although if he just cooked me dinner at home, that would be great too! Any thoughtful idea counts right?!
Today we decided it was time to get Tristan (4 months 1 week) a jumper! He has so much energy he needs to expel. Sometimes it's hard for Jay and I to devote 3-4 hours he's awake to just letting him stand up in our lap! lol You can just tell he's ready to GO! He's ready to conquer the world! TO GO PLACES!!!! Bless his heart, I do love the mess out of this little boy! He cant roll over yet (although we are soooo close!!), he cant crawl yet (but he wants to)! I feel like we are doing everything out of order here!! lol But I know every baby is different and they all do their own thing in their own time! We are getting the whole cereal thing down...gosh who am I kidding? He hates it! bland! His doctor wants him to do the whole cereal ALONE business for 2 weeks, which now we are 1 week in. There is absolutely nothing he likes about it. 3 bites in and he decides enough of that! Any tips on a better feeding?! He can start fruits and veggies in a week. I am so ready, hopefully it'll taste better to him!
I am having a hard time grasping the concept of growth lol he's growing so much. I'm trying to see the world in his eyes. A whole new perspective and understanding. I love him! My 2 boys are my world!! I consider my husband my oldest and probably the most immature hahaha
Now to try out this new jumper....I'm excited.

SNOW, SNOW, SNOW!!!!

For those of you who are actually "blessed" to get snow, this is no new news for you! The reason I added the " " above....I consider you blessed haha you may, on the otherhand, think differently about that fact. Having snow in TEXAS is like the Saints winning the super bowl....IT NEVER HAPPENS!!!!!! BUT this is the year for BIG NEWS, good news lol. I love it. I felt the depths of my soul fill with excitement and exuberance!!! Pure GLEE!! My little boy, God love him, is only 4 months old...so this joyfulness his daddy and I are experiencing....he could care less! haha what's this cold, wet stuff falling from the sky and moreover, why am i put in this stiff, lifeless snow suit my mother insisted on me wearing, because she feels it's neccesary for me to be out in this!? Yes for a slight moment I felt as though he needed to get a taste of SNOW! Not literally, but metaphorically haha Turns out, 4 month olds would rather suck on their whole hand than bask in the glory of snow haha
Today made me want to pack up all of our things and just move to Colorado. It is after all my 2nd home...unoffically! To just become vagrants of the mountains....alright that sounded a little creepy lol but to be snow bunnies! who doesnt love a cute snow bunny?! My husband, Jay was of course four-square against this spontenaity...this wild hair, but how could I resist but to go on ahead and ask, plee and down right lose all integrity! still NO! after all of that...NO!
okay I had to take a slight pause in time here to go and have an amazingly fun snowball fight with my husband...powdered snow and a very funny tripping of my husband. NO i didnt trip him, something in out backyard covered by inches of snow! face first!!! hahahaha i had to laugh! best thing too...he laughed in all his clumsiness.
NOW for the office and survivor!!!!!!

Hello World of Blogging

This is my renewal of blogging! I disappeared forever ago, but my newfound glory....A CRAZY LIFE, turned upside down. Nothing horrible, becoming a new mom and an every changing day to day routine (somewhat). I found writing, whether completely functional or not, was one more outlet for me. My husband doesnt understand the realm of writing and all that it brings. For me my frustrations and excitements have an escape! SOOOOO as I start my blog writing days again, I am completely sure I will have tons to write about. My life is as odd and quirky as it can come...SOMETIMES!