New Mom to 1

Where has the time gone....

2009-12-26T20:15:00.004-06:00

Here a couple of pictures to tide you over.... 2010 will be a different year on this blog...I have something exciting planned for it...and I can't wait to share....

Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

2009-11-07T04:04:00.000-06:00

Aunty Ollie $100 Gift Card GUEST GIVEAWAY!!!!

Slacker!!!

2009-11-02T12:37:00.003-06:00

Yes that term describes me when it comes to the blog...however, not when it comes to life in general. I've been sewing up a strom. Playing with the new WALKER that I call my Bear, and overall just enjoying our life. In less than 2 weeks the little Bear will be 1. I can't believe I just typed that. It seems that not to long ago i was just posting a 2 months post, or a 5 months post...and I'm fixing to have to type a 12 month post....

She is more amazing every single day. And I am so blessed to have her as my daughter...this is short and sweet I know, but here is a couple of pictures, so you can see how amazing she is for yourself....love to you all...

It's Thursday and All is Well....

2009-09-10T12:07:00.002-05:00

Only 1 more day until the weekend. And I'm excited for this weekend. We are going to a small town up the road to have some BBQ with a girl I went to High School with. We were headed that way, so asked if her family would like to join us. I'm excited...I haven't seen her in ummmmm...10+ years or so...Facebook is a good thing sometimes. :)

I'm actually pretty tired today. Bear had a rough night :( She it cutting MORE teeth and they are giving her fits. Once again my child is waking up in the night. Only once but she stays up for several hours. Last night she woke a smidge before midnight, and went back to bed at almost 3am!!!! This makes mama a little on the tired side, especially when the alarm goes off at 6. Oh well she's only little once. I'll cherish these times just as I cherish her giggling happy times.

What else is new.....OH!!! Yesterday I actually got to sew some. Nothing spectacular, but I did get all my curtains hemmed. And with the extra that I cut off, I am making tie backs. I do need to go buy some ribbon though to finish them off. I'm just glad that they are no longer dragging on the floor. 8 panels was a lot to do...and each one was the same process. Cut the amount off, fold up 4 inches, pin, iron, unpin, then fold in an inch, iron, refold and pin, then flip over and fold back 1/4 inch and iron...THEN take to sewing machine to do a blind hem stitch (this is the type of hem that is on dress pants/slacks). When all was said and done, I'm very happy with the outcome. They look great :)

Other than that...nothing new. My next project is to trace off my mom's jacket and make a muslin for it. Just to make sure it fits correctly. Then I'll have to decide on what fabric to purchase and sew up. I'm excited about it. I also have a dress shirt that I want to make for her as well. Lots to do...lots to do..

For now...I'm out of here.

Happy Tuesday... :)

2009-09-08T11:58:00.009-05:00

One of these days I will be able to keep up with this...*sigh* I have so much to write about, but never seem to have much time to get it all out there.

I just posted a post that I had written almost a month ago. I'm sure at the time there was more to say, but hey I got out what I could. Right now the Bear is asleep so I thought I'd see what I could share with everyone now...

My dad is officially moved in. We have found him a place to build his boat. It's only about 5 miles from our house so that's nice. We have moved some of our things out there for storage just so we could have some extra room :) It has been so much fun having my dad around. He is retired, so he doesn't have to go to work. It makes my days seem less lonely at home. We get to do simple things together, like go to Costco, and the grocery store...and he'll run errands with me so I don't have to take the baby out all the time.

It's been a bit different trying to adjust, but we are really getting the hang of it. Dad doesn't take up much space, and he is just using the guest room and the guest bath. Which we weren't using anyways. He does his fair share around the house. We don't expect anything but he does LOVE to cook, so he usually cooks 3-4 meals a week for us, and I cook the rest of the time. It sure has saved on our "going out to eat" bill. He does the dishes most nights which is nice. But most of all it's just nice to have him there. I know he's safe...not like he can't take care of himself, but I worry. He's had a quintuple bypass almost 10 years ago, and several shunts put in in recent years. So it's nice to have him close in case he needs something. He also is suffering from the results of getting red mold...so the breathing isn't the best...but he does really well. He has slowly improved over the years :)

Tori is loving having Grandpa there. He gets down on the floor with her and plays...she pulls on his shorts while he's on the couch to tempt him to "tickle" her. It's so much fun to watch!!! I'm just glad he's here :)

Now on to the Bear...she's getting SOOOOOOOOO BIG!!! She'll be 10 months in 4 days. So hard to believe. She crawls like there is no tomorrow, pulls up on everything, stands by herself, and is cruising around holding on to the wall and the couches. I foresee her walking before she is 1 or by the time she is 1. She's got 2 months to get there. She's got a mouthful of teeth, and knows how to use them. She's eating tiny pieces of meat, all veggies, yogurt (her absolute favorite food), cheese cubes, all fruit that is not citrus, and loves to "share" Grandpa's ice cream. She is self feeding snacks. But I refuse to turn her loose with the spoon just yet. I did once and we had mashed potatoes in her hair, eyelids, my hair, the floor, the wall, you name it, there was potatoes. So for now, we stick with the diced foods... She says "da da", "ma ma", and "hi". She knows who we are and will call to us with her arms up. She waves and says "hi" to people when you ask her too. She's really starting to love books. She loves books with shapes and animals. She can handle "story time" for about 15 mins now. Then she looses her focus...For simple words, we are teaching her the Spanish version has well. Slowly I think I am learning them too. I have my list that Vic has written down for me. And I go by it. We just keep adding to it. And I repeat everything in English then Spanish...or sometimes Spanish then English. Daddy is better at it than me, but I'm trying :)

Other than that, things are really going great. We pulled the carpet out of the living room and hallway. Laid tile down. I bought new curtains that are hung, but I still need to hem them :( In a couple of weeks we will be pulling out the vinyl in the kitchen and putting new tile down in there as well. It's a lot of fun, but a lot of hard work too. I'm still on the prowl for rugs for my living room. I had bought some, but they have since been returned, they just didn't "do it" for me. :( Oh well, such is life.

Well that's all for now...here are a couple of pictures of Bear....

Two New Roommates...

2009-08-13T13:28:00.004-05:00

Yes I know, I'm late in posting...no need to remind me...but...well there is no buts...

We have a new roommate. They moved in last Wednesday...and have decided to make it a permanent home for a little while. We don't have a lot of space, but we are making do. And for me, it's exciting. A little nerve racking but it is going to be fun. We'll have to rearrange some things, and things will have to go out in the shed, but it's no big deal at all....and we are happy to move the things out, so that they can stay.

I am talking about my Dad and Freida. My dad will be living in our spare bedroom while building his boat. Yes is making a boat so that he can sail up the eastern seaboard. A dream that he has had for a while now. And Freida will be sharing the space with him...now now, don't get to excited, Freida is my Dad's 11 week old Boston Terrier. She is an amazing little pup, and a great companion for my dad.

It will be nice that my dad is back in town....we didn't have the greatest relationship when I was younger so now maybe things will change. I'm an adult now, and don't need to please. I have my own opinions...and so does he...and we might just have to agree to disagree. I'm glad that Tori will get to know her grandpa...he has so much to teach us.

2009-08-04T11:13:00.004-05:00

Yes I am a slacker once again...but I have good reason...LACK OF SLEEP!!!! Little Miss Thing is becoming such a big girl. She now has her 2 bottom teeth in. However they are still bothering her. And the top ones are on their way. We can see them, they are on the verge of pushing right on through. Two teeth in less than a week is a lot for a little one to handle. I'm just happy that she hasn't been running a fever. She's just been wanting to gnaw on everything, and a little fussy. Nothing that a little bit of Tylenol/Motrin won't fix. After about 20 mins, she's as good as new again.

It's hard to believe that this month she will be turning 9 months. I don't know where the time has gone at all. My baby is getting so big. She's crawling, pulling up, and starting to "let go" to stand by herself. She can last for about 10-15 seconds, and then she falls down/ or sits down. She cruises around the couch and her crib. It's adorable...

I haven't gotten much sewing done :( I did make her a little skirt last Friday... It was something simple, but yet a lot of work...hrmm that sounds like an oximoron comment. It's a little Knife Pleat Skirt. It has an elastic waistband. I have made her a matching T-Shirt as well. I cut her initial out of the same fabric, and appliqued it to the front. I need to get a picture of the shirt. But for now, here's a picture of the skirt. I also did a French seam on the inside. It is tucked into one of the pleats so it's hidden. I was so proud of it. Here's a picture of the seam. Just and fyi, a french seam is a seam that is incased in itself. So there is no raw edge material showing. The waist was folded over, then I applied single folded bias tape to the raw edge and stitched it down to make a casing for the elastic. It's simple but it did the trick.

Title???

2009-07-28T11:04:00.002-05:00

Well I really didn't know what to title this post today. There's a lot of thoughts running through my head and yet none of them have any organization. Thoughts from how amazing God is, how wrong some people are, Christmas thoughts, I'm exhausted thoughts, thoughts that "wow it's almost 1:00 where has my day gone"...like I said I'm all over the place today. Trying to focus..but not being able too....

Yesterday was an eye opener for me. It amazes me what God puts in people's lives for them to endure. Some are capable, and some are not. I look at Mckmama, and she amazes me. She has been faced with so much this past year and a bit, and still she holds so strong to her Faith in the Lord. She is a true servant to God, and proclaims Him every minute of her life.

Then I look at the news here locally. And I am disgusted by what I read. Physically made ill by someone who was blessed with one of God's miracles and then committed a heinous crime against the child. (for my own peace of mind, I will not go into details, if you want to know, you can read our local news at http://www.woai.com and do a search for "baby scotty") I have know words to express my anger and sorrow for this woman. That is all I'm going to say.

I am a little on the tired side of life these past couple of days. Tori cut her first tooth on Friday, and last night we have seen/felt the 2nd tooth as well. 2 teeth in 3 days is a lot for a little one. And low and behold, the top 2 teeth are probably going to make an appearance shortly. You can see the "white" lines already. Anyways...needless say I'm exhausted...my wonderful baby that sleeps through the night was up at 9:20, 11:45, 2:15, 4:20, and 5:50...and then I got her out of bed at 7:25...all she wanted to do was comfort nurse....at least I was able to soothe her pain away...

And last on my list...Christmas thoughts. This year I'm making gifts. I'm tired of spending so much money on gifts that seem so impersonal. I have my list started, and I'm going to have to start hunkering down and get a move on things....4.5 months to go. And with a little one under my feet, my time is precious in front of the sewing machine. Things to be made

table runner w/ 6 place mats (S&S)
table runner w/ 4 place mats (A&N)
jacket (must make muslin first) (BD)
knit shirt (either wrap style, or bias cut) (AD)
bolster pillow w/ beading (KM)
50's style apron w/ flavored oils & sugar (KM)
pillow friend for boy (BM)
pillow friend for girl (AJ)
pillow friend for girl (VP
hooded towels (3) (BM, AJ, VP)

The items in ( ) are only for my reference so I know who I made things for....I'll still have to buy a couple of things, but it will be hopefully somewhat cheaper. At least it will be more personal...

...Off to see the wizard.....

My Heart is Breaking…

2009-07-27T10:22:00.002-05:00

That is all I can say….please pray for Stellan…. http://www.mycharmingkids.net/ it is a grave/dire circumstance right now. Please let your prayers be heard for Jenn and her family.

What One Has...

2009-07-16T10:45:00.001-05:00

Over the weekend Vic and I had a long discussion about how our life is being lived. And it really made me start thinking about a lot of things.....surprisingly they were mostly all good.

Growing up, I came from a family that was established. My dad was the bread winner, my mom was a SAHM, and we (children) were pretty spoiled. Not to the point of being bratty, but to the point of not going without. My dad growing up, didn't have much, and it was his goal to make sure that he gave us the best things possible. So that we would not have to go through the hard times that he did. And he did just that. He provided very well for us. We had a huge house, nice cars, good clothes, was able to be in every extra circular activity known to man. And he supported it all...I had the silver trumpet when I became a freshman in high school, I had the private lessons, I had the car when I turned 16 along with the gas card to go with it. But there were rules that went with it all. No buying things other than gas w/ the card, grades must remain at A's, be home when told, do my chores ect. My mom was always with us. She finally got a job when we both were in school. And even that job was at the school. So she was always off when we were off....

Looking at it now, I was spoiled...very spoiled, and I was materialistic....

That leads me to our conversation.....so I'm going to put it all out on the line....it's more for me to reflect back on....

We don't have much. And you know we might not ever have a lot either. But that's perfectly alright with us. We don't live in a 4 bedroom, 3 bath, brick house, with a big back yard. We live in a 3 bedroom, 2 bath mobile home, that's paid in full. And that's fine for us. We don't drive brand new cars. Vic has a 1997 Honda, and I have a 2006 Scion. But they are perfect for us. We don't take lavish vacations, we enjoy going camping on the weekend. I don't have a lot of extra money to go spend $50 bucks on a new blouse, but you know a $10 top from Wal-Mart will do me just fine. We don't have cable anymore, b/c of the added expense, but we can see almost anything on the Internet these days. Tori doesn't have a lot of toys, but a set of old pots and pans she loves the most. Even though there is the most gorgeous dress on the rack, it's not on sale or clearance; therefore, it will not make it to the check out stand with me. These are the things that make me who I am....

Our biggest issue in our conversation was our dwelling. You know, it's really not that much. But it's ours. It's paid for, it was a gift from my mom, and it's perfect for us. But for Vic, it's not enough. He wants to do more for us (meaning Tori and I), and he's having a hard time accepting that he can't. He says it makes him feel lesser of a husband/father, because he can't provide more. This saddens my heart. He feels that some might think less of us because of where we live or what we drive, or the clothes we wear, or the fact that we can't always go places with others because money limits this. He fails to see that WHO we are is what people should be looking at. If they only look at our material things, then they are missing what is in our hearts. He is an amazing husband, and an even more amazing dad to Tori. These are the things that people should be looking at. We could have the nicer things if I went back to work without a doubt. But the only one that would be missing out is Tori, and that's not fair to her. I CHOSE to have her, I CHOOSE to raise her. We do without, so that Tori may be raised in a loving environment, and be raised with the values that we want her to have. I don't want anyone else raising her. If she fails at something, it's because WE did not teach her right. WE will be the only ones to blame.

So after our conversation, we decided to do a little cleaning/reorganizing of our home. And it has made a world of difference. But we have decided there are some things that we want to change about our home. First, we will be ripping up the Hunter Green carpet, and the linoleum in our kitchen. I've found some vinyl tile at Lowe's that I am in love with. It will definitely brighten the house. Then we will lay area rugs down. Buy a $25 buck rug and changing it when you're tired of blue or burgundy is a lot cheaper than redoing the flooring again. I will also be redoing our curtains. I've found a pretty easy pattern for Roman shades, and we both agreed that that's what we want. The kitchen and den will be done first, then I'll do a room at a time, to cut down on expenses....but that's neither here nor there....

I guess my main reason for this post was to realize that what I have, may not be the best, may not be the most expensive, but it's mine/ours, and I need to be proud of what I do have. I have an amazing marriage, I have the most amazing little girl I could have ever dreamed of having, I have a roof over my head that can't be taken away, I have a job that I can take my daughter too, my husband has a great job, and I have a wonderful family. So to be honest, I have a perfect life. Yes it has it's ups and downs, but it's perfect for me. God has blessed me with so much, I just needed to take a step back and count my blessing....

A New Adventure…

2009-07-15T18:03:00.001-05:00

Well I took the plunge and have sewn my first knit garment. I’ve always thought it would be hard. But it’s AMAZING to sew on. I have to agree with a couple of other people, I think I like it better than wovens, and this was just my FIRST experience.

I just made simple summer dress for my sister. Nothing fancy at all, just plain Jane but she loves it, so that’s what matters….Here’s a couple of pictures.

Finished product

Bubble hem… My finishing…

Yes, it has been 8 months already…

2009-07-13T16:48:00.001-05:00

And where has the time gone??? Tori turned 8 months yesterday. I just can’t really believe it. It truly seems like only a couple of months that I gave birth to her…

She’s doing so much these days…

Crawling
Sleeping through the night
babbling and saying “mama”
Pulling up on objects (couch, pants legs ect)
eating stage 3 foods (as of today, no choking or anything)
using her “pincers grasp” (however mom has a couple of tiny bruises from this
recognizing peoples voices
realizing that objects are still “there” even when they are behind a sheet or something..

She’s absolutely a joy in my life. My true love without a doubt. I’m so blessed to have been given the opportunity to be her mother, and I thank God for that, and her.

Happy 8 month Birthday baby girl…I love you….

Yes I know, she’s a carbon copy of her Dad!!!

The Mailbox….

2009-07-13T16:36:00.001-05:00

So, how many times do you go to the mailbox and dread opening up? It’s usually the electric bill (ours is $175 this month..lovely), the cell phone bill, the car payment, or the ridiculous JUNK mail…..but today, I had the BEST “mail run”.

One of the blogs I follow… by Katie, is amazing. She has the cutest two little ones, but on top of that, she SEWS!!!. There’s other really neat facts about her, but for those, you’ll have to go to her blog to see for yourself. Several weeks ago, she posted a “Pay it Forward” blog. All you had to do, was be 1 of the first 3 commenters on her blog, and agree to “Pay it Forward”. I was one of the lucky ones…And today….I got my surprise. A beautiful bag sewn by Katie.

Here’s a couple of pictures to show you. I love it!!! Her craftsmanship is wonderful. I can’t wait to start using it… Thank you so much!!!!

The outside is a black denim…and the inside is lined with a soft purple fabric…I’m thinking it might be a linen. It’s just beautiful!!!

My Bear….

2009-07-10T23:38:00.000-05:00

Just of the Bear….she amazes me every single day….and she’s getting so big and trying to be independent!!!!

She’s already scheming against us!!!!

Now we all know that there is absolutely NO reason to SLEEP!!!

This picture is one of my favorites…I know she looks a little washed out, but there’s just something about it…makes my heart just melt…..

Better Late Than Never….

2009-07-10T22:42:00.000-05:00

As promised here are a couple of pictures that I took at my cousin Rick’s wedding…..Enjoy….

This is my little sister, Amanda, and her significant other, Nick.

Tori, with her Great Uncle Larry

Tori, with her Great Aunt Karen

This is the groom, my cousin Rick

The groom (far left), and the groomsmen. The gentleman 3rd from the left is Rick’s brother, TJ

Nicole getting ready to walk the isle

Nicole and her Dad walking in…

Joy, Rick’s mom, reading a passage…

Mr.. & Mrs.. Rick Dyer, Jr.

This is my favorite picture of all…..I love it!!!

There are more pictures, but blogspot is being a pain, and it’s not letting me upload…grr!!!!

Should have been a Monday post....

2009-07-07T13:46:00.003-05:00

Happy Tuesday everyone!!! Well this should have been a Monday post; however last week was one of those weeks that I don't want to relive anytime soon :)

I posted several posts last Monday and all was great. Then later in the afternoon I started to feel a little yucky. Not bad, but just not great. By the time my hubby got home (8pm) I had a fever of 101+. Mind you I went from awesome to crappy in about 4 hours :( . My fever broke Tuesday morning at around 4:45 or so. Needless to say I was exhausted and called in to work. [Thank goodness I have an awesome boss, who is also one of our amazing friends, and he just laughed at me, and said perfect timing beings our whole office was out of town.] I finally got up around 9 or so, and I felt GREAT. So totally weird in my mind. Then later that afternoon, I started to feel like crap again. Hubby got home, my throat had started to hurt, and then the dreaded look in the mirror....SPOTS!!!! BIG WHITE SPOTS ON MY TONSILS!!!!! Needless to say, after almost 4 hours in the after hours clinic, a swab test, I had strep. So that was my Monday and Tuesday.

Wednesday was recovery.

Thursday, I went into work for 5 hours, just to catch things up.

Friday, my cousins wedding. Although it was 105 outside, and it was an outside wedding at 7:30 so it was only 101 by then, it was beautiful. I was lucky enough to get to shoot some photos, and I can't wait to put them up for all to see. Nicole was GORGEOUS, and my cousin, was so very handsome. I love them both, and only wish them the happiness that I have with Victor, with many many many more years to come.

Saturday, hrmm we went over to my sisters for BBQ. And then came home and went to the local park for my tiny city's fireworks. For being a town of only about 15k they sure know how to party. It was so much fun.

Sunday, church and time with my mom.

That leads us back to Monday...which this post should have been...but anyways. Yesterday was weigh in day, and I'm proud to report that I lost 3.8lbs. I'm sure some of it had to do with me being sick, but a loss is a loss, and I don't plan on gaining any of it back. Tomorrow is my 1month anniversary, and I have lost 11.2lbs. I'm very proud of myself. The baby is loving it too, we are going for walks at least 5 times a week. She's always so peaceful and content in the stroller. I love the fact that she enjoys it so much. I take a sippy cup with ice water in it, and we are out the door. We walk anywhere from 45 mins to 2 hours. Just depends on the loop I want to do.

Hrmm what else....oh yeah....you know how you love to do something...and then it gets put on the back burner for whatever reason. And though you long to do it again, there just doesn't seem to be any time left to do it?? That's how I've been feeling lately with my sewing. I LOVE to sew. I find it therapeutic, relaxing, it's a way for me to let my artistic side come through. Well lately I haven't been able to sew. It's one thing or another, but it just hasn't been happening. Well I've decided that it is truly something that I LOVE to do. Just like exercising, and eating better, these were things that I had to make time for. I've decided that that's what I need to do for my sewing. There are so many things that I want to make. And I need to make time for the things that I truly love to do. My sister has asked me to make a dress for her, and that will be my beginning again. There are things in my sewing life that I want to get better at. And the only way to do this is through practice. So right now I'm in the process of picking a dress for my lil' sis. She's in love with the maxi dresses only she wants a shorter version. So I'm combing through the patterns to see what I can find....

Well for now that is all....I'll add photos tonight to this post, just so you can see my little one. She's getting so big...OH and she's now crawling!!!! She's slow at it, but she's got her knees under her and is going in the forward motion!!!!

Recipe??? Cumin Chicken Salad....

2009-06-29T17:12:00.002-05:00

For my own thoughts, and to have it in case I lose a computer or something goes crashing away. I just made the most amazing Chicken Salad....if you want to try it, here's the recipe. I have a different palette. I don't do "plain" at all. If it looks odd, make a small batch and see what you think :)

Chicken Cumin Salad
8 oz chicken tenders
1 yellow bell pepper
3 celery stalks
1 large pear
1 large apple (I used a Cameo, sweet, crisp & a little tart)
2 cups non-fat PLAIN yogurt

Before you begin, take the yogurt put it in a coffee filter and set it in a strainer. You want to drain the whey out to make it thick. I will be thicker than sour cream. Sprinkle the chicken tenders with garlic power, onion powder, sea salt, ground cumin, & pepper. Put in hot skillet w/ 1 tsp of Olive oil and cook. Once done, remove from pan, and set aside to rest. While chicken is cooking, dice all veggies to a small dice. Then dice chicken to small dice. Put all item in large bowl and add the strained yogurt. Season to taste with black pepper, sea salt, and a couple of sprinkles of garlic powder and cumin. Let set in fridge for at least an hour before eating to let flavors meld. Before you eat, make sure to stir before serving. Serve on lettuce leaves, or in lettuce leaves.

I know this sounds weird, but it's AMAZING!!!! So refreshing, and so very healthy!!!!

Monday Once Again...

2009-06-29T15:00:00.005-05:00

Well once again it is Monday, and here I sit....Last week was not to shabby. Not to much happened. It was actually pretty quiet in our house.

Tori is now pulling herself up on the side of her crib. She can go from laying down on her back , to flipping over, grabbing the side of the crib, to arched back position, to up on her knees, to a 1/2 stand. So yeah, I'm in for a rude awakening pretty quickly. *mental note, must find child coral* She still doesn't have any teeth yet, but I know in good time they will come in. Every child is different.

This weekend we drove to Graham. It's 300 miles one way. It was my Aunt's 60th birthday. She was totally surprise to see us there. We stayed for the party, and then started our trip back home. Roughly 11 hours in a car is way to long for one day. But to see the look on her face, it was priceless!!!!

The weight loss journey is going GREAT!!! I weighed in this morning, and I lost 2.8lbs this week. So in 3 weeks, my total is 7.6lbs. I'm very happy with those results. I'm really trying to get the processed foods out of diets. The only thing processed that is still left is bread, lunch meat and cereal. I'm not going to count yogurt or cheese, because well I can't make cheese, and yogurt is yogurt. I buy the plain stuff w/ no sugar or anything and just add chopped fruit to it. We are really limiting our going out to eat as well. Unfortunately there's not that many healthy restaurants around. However yesterday for lunch we did go to Panera Bakery. OMG it was wonderful. I had the 1/2 + 1/2 combo. I had the Strawberry Poppy seed salad, and a cup of their Vegetarian Black Bean soup. Was light, but very filling, and was just a great experience and I felt good about my dining experience.

We are really getting into an exercise routine over here. The only bad thing is that we have to go REALLY early, or LATE at night. Unfortunately we are having triple digits days and it's not conducive to having a baby out in it, or for that matter an adult. Last week the baby and I walked over 21 miles for the week. (Monday to Sunday evening) I'm really happy with it. She loves being out in the stroller and looking at the trees and the people. We wind through a neighborhood and end up on a great road. One side is a sidewalk, and the other is a wide strip of asphalt for jogging strollers, bikes, skates ect. It's lit all the way up. And on top of it, there are some hills to climb on it. So it's not just flat land!!!!

Here's to another week. I have pictures to upload, so I'll do that sometime this week....

Wow What a Week!!!

2009-06-22T14:53:00.004-05:00

That is the only thing that I can say....it was a CRAZY WEEK!!! Let's see. I had a birthday to celebrate every other day, starting on the 13th and concluding on the 21st. And then there was Father's Day as well......I need a couple of weeks to destress, but that won't be the case. This weekend I have a 5 hour drive to a surprise party. and then the following weekend, my cousin is getting married. When will it all end????

Over all it was a wonderful week. My husband turned 40 on Monday, my sister turned 24 on Wednesday, I turned 31 on Friday. My birthday was wonderful. I went to see my grandpa. It's what I wanted to do. So we loaded up the baby, and off we went. Hubby had to work, so it was my mom, sister, and I. It was a surprise for my grandpa, and I'm so glad. He was surprised to see us all sitting in his living room. It's wonderful that we don't have to call and tell him we're coming, (my step-grandma) new so we were in the clear. I was just so glad he got to see Tori. And as always, she was the perfect happy child. No meltdowns or anything. She just giggled and laughed, and made everyone smile. Life is wonderful.

Yesterday was Father's Day, and although we didn't do anything spectacular, it was fun just to enjoy the company of my husband and daughter. We went to church, then to breakfast, then we came home and took a nap (stayed out to late on Saturday night), then got up, went to the grocery store for fresh ingredients for hubby's dinner, ate, then went to the swimming pool, and ended the evening with a 6.2mile walk. Simple, but so enjoyable...

2009-06-16T12:15:00.001-05:00

Random acts of kindness have turned into little gifts for you. A great opportunity to get some MoXie swag and pay it forward. I would especially like the opportunity to create for people I've never met (but I'll make stuff for the people I love too!!)

The first five (5) people to respond to this post will get something handmade by me.
This offer does have some restrictions and limitations so please read carefully:

1. I make no guarantees that you will like what I make. Whatcha get is whatcha get.

2. What I create will be just for you, with love.

3. It'll be done this year (2009).

4. I will not give you any clue what it's going to be. It will be something made in the real world and not something cyber. It may be weird or beautiful. Or it may be monstrous and annoying. Heck, I might bake something for you and mail it to you. Who knows? Not you, that's for sure!

5. I reserve the right to do something strange.

6. In return, all you need to do is post this text on your blog and make 5 things for the first 5 to respond to blog. (So obviously you have to have a blog. If your blog is private, tell me so in your comment and I will trust you.)

7. Send your mailing address - after I contact you. (Be sure to include some sort of contact info if your blog profile doesn't link to your email or blog.)

IMPORTANT: This offer is null and void if I do not see you post your own blog to pay this forward.

Week 1 Complete...

2009-06-15T15:59:00.003-05:00

Well week one is complete. And I'm very happy with the results. I didn't get to exercise as much as I wanted, but there will be more time for it this week, I hope. This week is CRAZY BUSY. Today is Vic's 40th birthday, Wednesday my sister turns 24, and on Friday I turn 31. Like I said it is crazy this week. But I am determined to keep with the program.

My first weigh in was today at Noon. And I'm proud to report that I have lost 3.4lbs. or in a more visual aspect of it all, that 16 sticks of butter. GROSS!!!! I know this is short and I will post more later, but for now, I have cheesecake bites in the oven for the hubby. (They are reduced fat and everything... Now lets hope they taste good :) )

What Can I Say....

2009-06-08T14:45:00.003-05:00

I'm horrible....My goal in starting this blog was to make it so when Tori got older she could see what I was thinking when she was "x" old. And well I've slacked....but as of late, I'm making some new strides in my life and I'm getting back on the band wagon....Today is a few "firsts" for me....and I've made a couple of decisions for my life, and the betterment of my/our family.

I'll spare you all the details, and try and give it to you all in a nutshell....This month, I will be turning 31. Not a bad age at all. I didn't freak when I turned 30, so why freak out on 31? I guess I'm like my mom, age is just a number, and as long as I feel great, that's all that matters. The problem, I don't feel great....but that's neither here nor there. So here it all goes...I'm airing my laundry for all to see.....grab some popcorn and have a seat, and I hope you'll stay for the whole show.

In August of 2004, I woke up, looked in the mirror and was DISGUSTED. There I was, beyond the point of being pleasantly plump, and I resented myself for letting me get this way. So I acted upon it and did something about it. I joined Weight Watchers Online program. I exercised at least 5 days a week (my company had 3 gyms on location and it was dirt cheap) so I would exercise before I went to my desk. I loved it...and the pounds melted away. By February of 2005, I had taken up cycling. (Yes the kind that has 2 wheels and I have to use my feet to get it to move) and we (me, hubby, & my mom) were cycling about 200-250 miles per week. By the time that I got married in April 2005, I had lost 92lbs. And felt AMAZING!!! That July I had to have hand surgery, and it kept me from riding, but I also contracted a lung infection, that after 2 months of steroids I had gained 60lbs. I was miserable, tired, and just lost. I had given up. I kept off the last 32lbs though....but it wasn't the same. At the end of 2007 I decided to get back into things and was on a roll. I was slowly losing the weight, and it felt great, I had started cycling again and was up to about 100 miles a week. A far cry from my 200+ but it was a start. Then I started not feeling well in April 2008....and well you know the rest of the story. That's when I found out I was pregnant. A true blessing from God. I tried to keep up the exercising, however being put on bed rest at 20 weeks, eliminated that....So....after all that....here I sit today. The heaviest I have ever been in my life. Down and out about it, but WILLING to make a change. This morning I woke up, got Tori dressed, dropped her off at my sisters, and headed down the road.... I attended my 1st WW meeting today.

This road is going to be a tough one. I will have setbacks, and I know this. But it's not just about me anymore. I have the most amazing little girl to be healthy for. I don't want to be the "tubby" mom that can't go on the school field trips...or the mom who can't roll around on the floor with her. I want to be the mom that takes her jogging in the stroller, or pulls her in the trailer behind the bike. The mom that teaches her about self discpline, that exercise can be fun, and that when you are good to your body, it is good to you. I don't want her to grow up with a weight issue. I want her to be proud of her body, and the things she can do with it (ie: soccer, softball, swimming, cycling ect). I want her to be healthy....

Okay I said I wasn't going to get long winded but I did anyway...SORRY. But now you know what's going on in my world.

So this blog will now contain, my first time mommy experiences, my photography, and my road to a healthy new me....

I hope you all stay with me....it's going to be a roller coaster of a ride.....

Cousins....

2009-06-02T08:30:00.006-05:00

There's something to be said about cousins. Sometimes they look alike, and sometimes they don't. Sometimes they get along, and sometimes they don't....

My little sister and I never really grew up with our cousins at all. 2 lived about 6 hours away and the other 2 lived 2.5 hours away. So it's not like there were day trips to see them and things of that nature. Which it was kind of a bummer, because I would have loved to be close to them. But that's not the case for our children. My sister lives about 8 miles away from me. And she watches Tori 2 times a week for about 4 hours each day. And her 2 children I adore. Her first born (Ali) I watched from the time she was itty bitty until about 18 months. She was my "first" born. And to my sister I am Ali's second mom. I love her to pieces. Her son, Brandon (aka PB) I was in the delivery room to see him take his first breath. Although I'm not as close to him, beings I didn't get to watch him (my sister is able to be a SAHM now) I will always have that connection with him.

Well anyways, with that being said, I did a mini photo shoot with everyone yesterday. Here's a couple of pictures for you to see the group. I love them all so much.....

One of these days I hope to get the hang of this and make me some $$$.... but until then, I will be happy knowing that I have captured beauty at its finest....the innocence of children...

Rain, Rain Go Away...

2009-05-24T23:49:00.007-05:00

Well today we wanted to take the Bear out for some pictures, but unfortunately Mother Nature had other ideas. However, we did get a couple......Enjoy my little Princess!!!!

6 month Appointment

2009-05-18T14:23:00.004-05:00

Tori had her 6 month appointment this morning. Everything is A OK!!! A very healthy little girl :)

She weighed in at 16lb. 12 oz, so she gained 2lbs 7oz since her 4 month appointment, and she is now 26.5inches long, which was an increase of 1.

The doctor is very pleased with her. She was perfectly happy with our feeding schedule. And advised that beings she's been on solids for 2 months now, she can now start having meat. I've taken out some chicken tenders and some pork loin. I'll be poaching the chicken and then pureeing and I'll be baking the pork and then pureeing. She can now also start to have pasta. But it must be pureed as well.

I was worried because my milk supply had taken a downward spiral, but the doctor said this was normal once they start eating solids. As long as she continues to gain weight, there will be no problems.

Praise God for my beautiful and healthy Angelbear.

Yes I'm a Slacker :|

2009-05-16T12:09:00.007-05:00

Well hello everyone!!! I know long time know update. My apologies. We have all been good. Babybear turned 6 months old on the 12th of this month. I totally can't believe that she is that old. I wonder where the time has gone.

The Bear is doing wonderfully. She now rolls over and over and over...she sits up by herself. She talks like there is no tomorrow (must get that from Nana), she love to play in the water. She now LOVES to be on her tummy, she will spend hours in her Exersaucer and Baby Einstein Jumper, she eats solids twice a day and loves them, she loves all of her vegetables (thank you Lord), she enjoys standing up on her legs and bouncing, overall, she's just AMAZING!!! God has blessed me with an amazing child to call mine....

In other news, my nephew turned 1 on April 23rd, Victor and I celebrated 4 years of marriage on the same day. I can't believe it's been that long, seems just like a couple of months. I'm very fortunate to have a supportive, kind, caring and loving husband/father for my child. I've been working at the sign shop 2 days a week. I take Bear with me, then at lunch time I zoom over to my sister's and drop her off. She likes being with her cousins. And it gives me some time to get other work done that can't be done at the computer. I'm learning the sign program and it is really cool. I've done a couple of quotes, weeded vinyl, designed a door sign, and some other odds & ends. Once again thank God I have a wonderful friend.

Well anyways, here's a couple of pictures to pass the time through

Tori outside in her exersaucer, the 2nd one is what happens when Daddy gets home from work...she's all smiles.

Over at Nana's house....this is a swing that is a hammock. It's AWESOME. And the baby loves it as you can see.

On our way to the mall...I bought her a new umbrella stroller. She really enjoys it...and like the bright colors to boot. :)

And last but not least, this is the Birthday Cake I made for my nephew Brandon... It's all home made, from the cake batter to the butter cream icing, and hand piped by yours truly :)

Happy Monday :)

2009-04-13T10:54:00.001-05:00

I hope that everyone had a great Easter. Our weekend was spent with friends and family. Good times were had by all.

On Friday the hubby and I didn’t do much. We stayed at home and just relaxed. Not to eventful. But it’s a good way to wind down after a hectic week.

On Saturday, the morning was spent finishing up lose ends. But that night we went over to Steve & Sandy’s house for dinner. It was so much fun. Sandy fixed a wonderful dinner (stuffed chicken breasts with pasta alfredo & brocoli). I was so glad that they got to see the baby. They hadn’t seen her in a while. She got good cuddles from her uncle Steve, and lots of hugs from cousin Summer. (They are not related to us by blood or marriage, they are just amazing people. To the point that if something was to ever happen to Vic and I, they are the ones we have asked to take care of Tori.) It was just so nice to spend time with such wonderful friends.

On Easter, it was up at the crack of dawn and to church. Then afterwards we went out to brunch, then over to my mom’s house. It was a really nice time. Here is a picture of my mom and the girls.

The yellow you see behind them is so beautiful…I thought it was honeysuckle but I’m not sure. It smells wonderful as well.

Here’s a picture of just the girls together. We tried to get a picture of all 3 of them together, however PB (Brandon) wanted nothing to do with it. So that was a missed shot.

And here’s a picture of me and my gorgeous Angelbear. Ugg, I love the picture but goodness I need to start exercising again :(

Well I couldn’t post picture w/o posting one of my PB. Here he is with his Nana (my mom) I LOVE THIS PICTURE!!!

Well that was out weekend….but I do have some good news to share, that we (hubby and I) are really excited about. I am so blessed to have the friends that I do. God is so good to us. And this opportunity could not have come at a better time.

On Saturday night, while over at Steve & Sandy’s, they inform us, that one of our friends had left the business. She answered the phones, did paperwork, invoiced for him, things of that nature. I was really sad to hear that she had left. Steve knows my background, and knows what I am capable of doing, and asked if I would be interested in working 2 days a week. At first I thought he was joking. But he wasn’t, he was for real. The best part about it though, I can take Tori to work with me!!! I will not have to leave her in a daycare. I can take the swing and pack-n-play and set up shop. I had been wanting to find a pt job, but did not want to put the baby in daycare. And I can’t say I wanted to work on the weekends, because that is our family time. This works out so perfectly. God is so good. I am so blessed with the people that I have in my life….

So as of tomorrow, I will be back to work. I can wear jeans and a t-shirt, tennis shoes, I can take my child with me, what more could I ask for….oh, and the pay is good too :)

I’ll report tomorrow night how it all went….until then….

Easter Dresses…

2009-04-11T14:38:00.001-05:00

They are finished…over and done with. That’s all she wrote. I put the final stitch in the dresses this morning. Yes I know I was procrastinating, but they are done and that is all that matters. They turned out cute. I let Ali pick out the fabric. Not something I would have chosen for an Easter dress but she liked it. I was hoping she would have picked something softer so I could have made dresses with big white collars and lace. But it’s just as well that she didn’t. These were fun to sew.

Tori’s took me about 4 hours. That’s cutting and sewing. And about 30 minutes for the hem. It was nice not to have to under stitch the bodice. Hers was a simple finish with single fold bias-tape.

Ali’s…well hers is a different story all together. Ali is like a bean pole. Same measurement all the way down. Needless to say because she is so tall I have to make a longer skirt. But then she also need the bigger bodice because she needs the length in that too, but a smaller size for around her bodice. Needless to say, there were a lot of alterations. But the finished outcome is simple and pretty. And it looks cute on her.

Here a couple of pictures of the dresses. I’ll post updated ones tomorrow when the girls have them on.

Ali’s dress. There’s a zipper in the back and the ribbon ties in a bow in the back.

Tori’s Dress has a zipper in the back. She’ll wear hers with a white sweater.

And just a parting shot. Here’s a pic of Miss Thing as I surprised her with the camera, and then got down on her level. Drool and all, she’s an amazing little girl!!!

On a Happier Note

2009-04-07T14:53:00.002-05:00

Okay so now that I’ve got my feelings out there, I need to post something happier :) Tori tried her homemade applesauce last night, and loved it. Daddy couldn’t get the spoon to her fast enough. She only got about 1.5T along with 1T of rice cereal, but she was a happy girl. Personally I think my homemade applesauce taste 10x’s better than the stuff you buy in the grocery store. I love to eat oatmeal with applesauce mixed in with a little bit of cinnamon. It truly tastes like you’re eating apple pie, so from now on, I’m making my own applesauce too :)

As some of you know, our little miss will be 5 months on Easter. Which in my mind is absolutely crazy, there’s no way on earth I had her 5 months ago, but unforutnately the calender says otherwise. For the past 2 weeks she’s been rolling over from her back to her tummy, and sometimes from tummy to back. However, daddy and I have not been able to catch her in the act. She does it when we’re not looking, or when we try and record her, she stares at the camera and just giggles at us. So this morning, with her in her pack-and-play, and me nesteled into the edge of the couch out of sight….I CAUGHT HER!!!! The video is short, but I thought ya’ll might enjoy seeing my little one in action…so here she is!!!!

Just One of Those Days

2009-04-07T13:50:00.001-05:00

hrmmm…well it’s 1:27 on Tuesday and I’m just sitting here on the couch. The motivation is out the window. I just can’t seem to get it together. There is a list of things that I need to get done, but no desire to do a damn thing. Not like me at all. I usually like to accomplish a little something everyday. Makes me feel like I’ve contributed to the house. (Beings I don’t work, I feel I need to make sure that things around here are taken care of.) The hubby won’t complain. There was breakfast for him this morning, he had a lunch to take to work, and when he arrives home, there will either be dinner waiting for him or almost off the stove. But still I feel I need to do something else. Monday is cleaning day and I got that accomplished, but today, the items on my list just aren’t even getting started. I don’t know what my deal is.

It seems now, that since I’ve been a SAHM, I tend to get down a little easier. I used to be so lively and full of energy, and I feel that slowly slipping away. I don’t know where that girl is anymore. She seemed to hop on the train out of my life. I’m not depressed, I just feel so out of my element. The things that make me smile are the wonderful smiles that Tori gives me. Her little bubbles that she blows. The funny sounds she makes when I tickle her kneecaps. But as bad as this is going to sound, it’s not enough. :( [see i told you that was going to sound bad.]

There are some days that I just don’t want to get out of my pj’s and you know what, I don’t. Even though I am on the go quiet often, I don’t really go anywhere by myself. I knew my life would change once I had a child. And by no means would I ever give this up. But I need to find me again. I need sometime for me to sit outside and drink a cup of coffee and let the world pass me by. To not feel guilty for not having the baby with me. I need this time to make me a better mom. And right now, that’s not happening. Just like I feel hubby needs time with just his daughter alone to make him a better dad. No, this is not a dig at my husband, because he is an AMAZING daddy. I just need some me time. To find me again. Not the old me, but the me that is now a mommy…..

Tori’s Feeding Table

2009-04-06T13:10:00.001-05:00

Week	Food	Date Started	Mix-ins
1	Rice Cereal	3/16/09	Breastmilk
2	Bananas	3/27/09	w/cereal
3	Carrots	4/2/09	just carrots
4	Applesauce	4/6/09	just apples
5	Sweet Pots	4/09/09
6	Squash	4/14/09
7	Pearsauce	4/18/09
8	Green Beans	4/22/09
9	Peas	4/26/09
10	Prunes	4/30/09

So for now, this is the feeding chart that I plan to follow. According to all documentation that I’ve read, she needs to have 3 servings of the food before a new one can be introduced. This is to make sure that there is no food allergy. I’m doing 4 days instead of the 3. For those wondering, this IS NOT taking the place of a meal. She only gets about 2 Tablespoons of solids a day, if that. Before solids are offered for the day, she is nursed. Breastmilk is still her Main source of nourishment. All of her food is homemade. There is no store bought food, except for the rice cereal. I do have a homemade recipe for that too, however I wanted the DHA enhanced, so I succumbed and bought it.

Some people may think I’m being prudish, and not wanting to spend the money ect. However, fresh vegetables and fruit taste 500 times better than the store bought ones. I’m not diss’ing on anyone who buys the ones at the store, it’s just not for me. I was fortunate and my mom made all of my baby food. Fresh from right out of the garden. My daughter deserves the same. Granite I don’t have a garden, but her fruits and veggies are organic and they are steamed, so that no nutrients are lost. And they are not steamed in the microwave, they are steamed on the stove top. So for now, that is the best that I can offer her. This might be my only child, so I am holding nothing back. Besides, food made with love always taste better. :)

I’ll update the chart as she progresses through the foods….

Another weekend come and gone….

2009-04-06T12:42:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone. This weekend seemed to fly by for some reason. Although it seemed short it was packed with much fun.

Friday I went shopping for food for the baby. I decided that beings I am able to stay at home, there is no reason why I can’t make Tori’s baby food. It bothers me when I look at baby food labels and see other things in them. And when she gets older and I can start mixing a couple of flavors, I want the taste to be true. I don’t want everything to taste like carrots or sweet potatoes, which unfortunately that’s what baby food seems to always taste like. I’ve already made her steamed carrots, and she DEVOURED THEM!!! So on Friday I made the following: applesauce, pear sauce, green beans, peas, spinach, sweet potatoes, and squash. They all were steamed on the stove, so no microwave used, and the only thing added to them was nursery water. Which I used to steam them, and to thin them back out. And just to make sure that I approved of the flavor, I tasted them all too, and they taste pretty darn good :) It was a little time consuming but my freezer is now stocked full of baby food cubes.

On Saturday, we got up early and it was so beautiful outside, we decided to take the baby to the park for a nice walk. Off to McAllister Park we went. We went for a little over 2 hours and she loved it. We walked almost 6 miles. My legs are a little sore but it was so much fun. Here are a couple of pictures of our adventure.This is Daddy with his little girl, we are just getting started on the trek.. We were blessed with the song of the Cardinals…This is a picture of the path that we walk on….it’s so peaceful, you have the birds singing, and several deer actually passed by us. Not startled by our presence at all, just in their element.The rustic railings to keep us on the path and not go down into the small gulley. This is what happened at about mile 3…she had seen enough, and fell fast asleep..but we continued on.But when it was all over with, we had a very happy little girl who got to experience the outdoors with her parents!!!

Okay so that was my Saturday morning…that afternoon, the baby and I went over to Nana’s house (my mom) and helped her tear down a shed in her backyard. Yeah I’m sore, and my arms and legs hurt, but it was a great accomplishment.

Sunday, was up early for church. Then after church it was time to run errands and then back to the house to relax. We rented a couple of movies and just enjoyed time together. I FINALLY got to watch Slumdog Millionaire, what an amazing movie. We both really enjoyed it….

Now it’s Monday morning/afternoon and it’s time for all the house work to get done. I’ve already cleaned the kitchen and done the laundry, now I have to just fold a couple of loads and then I’m free for the day. Life is good…no life is great….

1 Year Ago Today

2009-04-01T10:47:00.001-05:00

The title says it all…One year ago today, my alarm went off at 4:00am. I was supposed to be getting ready to meet my mom at the gym for a spin class at 5:30. I awoke as normal. Nothing to different there. The few days before this day I hadn’t been feeling all to well, but I thought it was just me getting a little run down. However, for some insane reason, I thought I’d take a “test”. I had one in the cabinet and it was only collecting dust. So blurry eyed I did the deed and waited my two minutes. When I walked back over to the test, I wasn’t expecting anything. We had been let down too many times before. I haphazardly picked it up and here it was. 2 pink lines. I didn’t believe what I was seeing. But there it was. The proof. God had answered my prayers. I was finally pregnant after several years of trying.

Victor was sound asleep all snug in the bed. I grabbed his foot and was jumping up and down squealing. The poor guy thought something had happened. He didn’t know what my deal was. I handed it over and he was dumbfounded as well. What a blessing we were looking at.

We ended up telling my mom too. We told her we were coming over that evening. We stopped and bought a jar a baby food. When we got to her house Victor took it out of his pocket and handed to her. It took her a couple of minutes to put it all together, but when she finally did…she started crying right along with me.

The journey to his day in 2008 was a long one. A lot of tears. A lot of prayers. God answers prayers in His time, not ours. The road from that day on was a bumpy one, but we made it through…and on 11-12-2008 @ 6:33pm, my amazing little girl entered this world. Miracles happen every day. And she is mine.

Spring Flowers…

2009-03-30T14:27:00.000-05:00

Wow 2 posts in 2 days. I guess I’m back to my old self again. Or at least I hope I am. I actually really missed writing. It seems like I would sit down to write a post and then get pulled away. It happens, but still I need to make time for the things that I enjoy doing.

When my dad was visiting he said I needed to brighten up the house. And I whole heartedly agree, however I do not have a green thumb, more like black. I am the one who can kill water ivy. Don’t ask me how, but I can do it….anyways, yesterday Victor and Angelbear and I went to Wal-Mart to see what we could find. We actually did pretty good. I bought 2 deck planters, some potting soil, and flowers. I knew I had to get something that had yellow beings Tori LOVES the color yellow, so I ended up with beautiful Marigolds.

But this would only be enough to fill up 1 of the planter boxes. So I was on a mission to find another pretty flower. I really didn’t know what I wanted. But lo and behold I found these awesome purple Petunias. I think they are are really pretty. Usually purple petunias are solid dark purple, or they are dark purple with white veins. These and just different. And I love them. So here is the finished project. I really like the way it turned out.

The baby liked being outside while we were planting. She was just a squealing….she loves the outdoors. One minute she was just talking away, and the next…….Lights out

While we were out yesterday, we decided it was time to refill our bird feeder. We’re hoping to be able to sit outside at night and just relax. The past years we’ve had Cardinals, Sparrows, Blue-Jays, Mockingbirds, Red Robins, Doves, and others that I have no idea what they were. We haven’t had feed in the feeder in about 9 months, and didn’t know if the birds would return or not. But we went ahead and bought the feed and were hopeful. When I opened the front door this morning, I had such a nice surprise. There were birds on the feeder. I ran back and got my camera, and when I returned there was only one remaining. It’s a little bit blurry because I was shooting through the glass door. But overall, it’s really not that bad of a picture. I’m happy to see that they have found the food.

Overall, we had a pretty great weekend. And we got something accomplished. I’m currently looking into getting some tomato plants and planting them in buckets and setting them on the ground side of the deck. This way I will be able to stake them to the deck railing. I’m a tomato person. Love them with fresh mozza, basil, & olive oil. There truly is nothing better than a home grown tomato. Their flavor is AMAZING. We’ll see if I can make it happen……..

Well that’s all for now. It’s Monday, and that means house work. I need to get back to it. I’ve already gotten laundry done, the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded, and I’ve vacuumed. Now I just have to pick up a couple of things, and I’m done for the day…talk to you all soon….

It's been way to long!!!

2009-03-29T12:33:00.013-05:00

Wow....I've been gone awhile...well not really gone, just not writing much. A lot has been going on these past several weeks.

The baby turned 4 months on March 12. On Easter she'll be 5 months and it blows my mind. I can't believe she is getting so big. She is such a blessing to have and be around. She's changing so much every day.

On March 16, we took her for her 4month shots and check-up. She's growing like a weed!!!! She was 14.5lbs and 25.5 inches. She's perfect in all aspects!!! The doctor was very pleased with her growth and development. Nothing to worry about in the least. She's still a breastfeed baby. No formula, and the doctor was glad for that. We got the go ahead for her rice cereal. Surprisingly she was really good with the spoon. No messiness at all really. Her shots were fine and just a couple of seconds worth of crying. She's so brave!!!!

So after a great appointment, our day turned BAD. My mom needed a ride home from work Monday afternoon 'cause her car was in the shop. We left the house and all was good, then when we were in the exit lane, we got hit by a truck. It scared the baby and she got a bump on her head. Victor got a sprained back. But the worse part was my poor little box...Over 5K worth of damage!!!! I'm just so thankful that the other part will be picking up the tab beings it was his fault. God is good!!!! He saved us from any major hurts and my car is being fixed.

The other awesome thing that happened was my dad came in from Alabama!!!! I hadn't seen him in several years. He stayed with my little sister for a smidge over a week and with me about 4 nights. It was so glad to have him here. I miss him so very much, and wish he was closer. Tori loved seeing her Grandpa. He would make these funny noises (whistling kind of) at her and she would just smile at him. (think CHEEZWHIZ smile). We had fun times while he was here, and so sad to see him have to go back to Alabama. Hopefully he can come back soon.

While my dad was here, we went and visited my grandmother (Dad's mom) up in Austin. It was neat to have 4 generations in the same room. We were able to take some amazing pictures as well. Here are a couple so you can see us all.

Four Generations (Bottom Row: Grandma, Ali, Amanda (my sister), Brandon Top Row: Me, Tori, my Dad)

Family Picture: Everyone from above, plus my Husband (left) Victor, my Aunt Lavon, and Nick (my sister's significant other) (not pictured, my Uncle Lee, he was the photographer)

This is my Grandma, my Aunt Lavon, and my Uncle Lee

Other than that things are pretty much the same....oh Tori has gotten her first real taste of big girl food. On Friday I mashed (read pureed) a banana in my mini chopper, and mixed it with her cereal. OMG I could not get the spoon to her mouth fast enough. SHE LOVED IT. I mixed 1.5T of rice cereal with my milk to make a good consistency, then added about .5T of banana. It was so funny to watch her eat it. Here's a picture for you to see her cuteness!!!

For some reason, she thanks she needs to stare at the spoon all the way to her mouth

Well that's really all for now. Must get to work on some sewing...

Experiements with the Camera

2009-02-28T05:53:00.011-06:00

Last weekend, we were out and about and I decided to take my camera along. We had gone to a historic town just a few miles down the road called Gruene. So I whipped out the camera and just started playing around. I really did end up with some beautiful shots. Thought I might share them....enjoy.....

Wow....long time no post

2009-02-26T09:56:00.003-06:00

Wow....I've been slacking. So what's been going on in our world. Not that much. Just the same old thing it seems. Tori is just getting bigger. Starting to do more things it seems. I have made the final decision though, she HATES tummy time. Yes hate is a very strong word, but I think it fits this time. However with that being said, I'm trying to figure out other ways to make her back strong. Otherwise, I'm afraid she will be behind on her milestones. She will tolerate tummy time if she's laying on Daddy's tummy and looking up at him. But I don't think this is enough. I have been putting her in her Bumbo, and sitting with her. She a little wobbly but she does pretty good in it. I've been sitting her on my knee and supporting her, but I'm not really sure if either of these 2 options are giving her the strengthening that she needs. Must do more
research!!!!

I can't believe in less than a month she goes back to the pedi for her 4 month check up and shots. I'm curious to see how much weight she's gained. It's an amazing feeling knowing that I have been the one that supported her while in the womb, and I have continued to support her while she's in the real world. At times though, it is scary. Yes I know there's formula if anything should ever happen, but still...maybe it's just my odd way of thinking.

Okay I started this on Wednesday, and it's now Friday morning...*sigh* where has the time gone.

And now it's Saturday morning. It's currently 5:45 and I've been up since 4:00am. The baby woke to eat. No big deal I usually fall right back to sleep when she's done nursing. However at the same time she was nursing, the norther decided to blow in. And that means that the wind was blowing a gale storm. I got up to check the weather and found that the wind was gusting up to 40mph in some places here. THAT'S CRAZY. No the real crazy thing is, that yesterday it made it close to 90, an today, if we're lucky, it will make it to 65. When I got up at 4:00, it was 62, and 2 hours later, it is now 48. Must love Texas. If you don't like the weather just stay an hour or so and it will definitely change.

Okay I'm closing this one off for now, and I might actually post it....

Wednesday....

2009-02-18T12:03:00.002-06:00

Wednesday.....I used to be able to say Happy Humpday when I worked, and now, it just doesn't apply. The baby and I have been doing good. I'm just amazed at how big she is getting everyday.

Tomorrow we go and pick up our portraits that we took at Penny's. I'm excited to see how they turned out. She's been doing so good lately. She's starting to sleep longer during the night/morning. She's normally waking up between 9-10 everyday. Well except for today and she woke up at 10:22am. I didn't want to wake her up, a baby needs their sleep. We were out and about yesterday so she really didn't nap much. I just figured her little body needed the zzz's.

I sit here and think...she turned 3 months on the 12th, and it amazes me. In less than a month we'll go for her 4 month shots, and that's when the Dr. will give us the a-OK to go ahead and feed her some cereal. What??? She can't be getting that old yet??!?!?! and then in 2 months after that, it's baby food. (Mom's version of course) I'm just floored. Everyone says that they grow up so fast...but never did I imagine the time would fly by like this.

And with that noted, I'm so glad that I have the amazing husband that I do. Who is allowing me to stay home with our child. To be here for her first coo's, her first time she rolled over, the first time she will sit up on her own, to scoot across the floor, to take a step and then plop down on her bottom. I married a wonderful man. My best friend. My rock to lean on. I love him more and more every day. He is understanding, he doesn't judge me on my bad days, he gives me hugs when I need them and yet I don't ask. But most of all.....He loves me for ME. His two girls are his world, and he shows us everyday, in his little way.....

So here's to my amazing husband...I love you Victor. I love the man that you were, the man that you are, and the man that you will be. I could not have been blessed with a more amazing man to call friend, husband, or father of my child.....You are my everything.....

God's Little Miracle

2009-02-16T00:31:00.003-06:00

Maybe some believe in a god, or a higher being, or maybe you believe in the same God I believe in. I'm not to judge. But I believe in a God that can do AMAZING things. And once again He has proven that he is the Great Physician.

I've posted about her before, and I'm sure I'll post about her in the future. Miss Veiyah Karg... a very amazing little girl!!! Truly God's miracle here on earth. She was called into on the 11th and it was so touch and go. A procedure that was to go fairly smoothly had some hiccups and took longer than expected, and then the doctors had to do more in the surgery than they had originally planned. I read the update and my heart sank. Then today, they called for EMERGENCY open heart surgery AGAIN!!! What??? this cannot be happening, it just can't be. This little girl has already been through so much. They wheeled her back and were going to reverse everything they did during the week. The doctors opened her up and there was really nothing wrong with the original procedure. There was just some "gunk" that was trapped around the heart and shunt. (I know this is not the technical terms, but you get the idea) They cleared it, cleaned her up, and watched. They watched before their eyes as this little girl was getting better by the seconds, by the minutes....

Once again, God has shown His amazing power. I am so blessed to have found this family. I followed her mom while she was preggos like me. So it's been awhile that I've watched this little girl grow. My heart has dropped, I've cried many nights, I've prayed so hard for her mom Ani, and her dad Jeremy, and her two sisters. But this little girl has renewed my faith. I had been lost for a while, but I am found again. God puts everyone on this earth for a purpose. I believe Veiyah's purpose is to prove to people, be it ordinary souls like myself, doctors, nurses, non-believers whomever, that God does exist and he walks here on this earth.

I can't imagine what this family has gone through these months. I pray that I never have to experience it. But I know that my God is merciful...He is faithful to His sheep...and that's all I need to know...

We love you Veiyah....I'm so glad that you are getting better.....You are so amazing....keep fighting little girl...you have so much to prove to the world. As your mommy said. You are THAT miracle. May you know how loved you are, how special you are to so many. God is healing your heart, and your little body. Your heart is perfect in God's eyes, it just needs a few tweaks for you here on earth. Keep fighting, don't ever give up. You are a child of God.....

If you have a moment, or even if you don't. Take a moment, find a moment to say a little prayer for this little girl.....

Love,
Carrie

My Wondeful, Amazing Hubbykins....

2009-02-16T00:02:00.006-06:00

It's been a couple of days since I posted, sorry....but I've been having way to much fun!!! On Friday, I had my SAHM play group's Valentine's Day party. It was so much fun. Tori didn't do much...she fussed, laughed, cried, and slept. But I did take my niece, and SHE had a BLAST!!! I'm so glad. I love being with her. She's such an amazing little girl, and one day I will see her become and amazing woman right before my eyes. I love you Ali...you are my BaaBas.

Anyways...on to the rest of the story....Victor and I didn't really "go out" for V-day. We went to a little restaurant here in town for lunch with the Babybear. It was nice, just the 3 of us. There's no reason for the hubby and I just to share our love, when the PRODUCT of our love is more amazing to both of us. She was, as always, perfect while we ate....

Now for the wonderful Hubbykins part. Victor and I have been going and taking picture of Babybear at the studio, and as much as I love doing it, it does get expensive. I have a really good "point-and-shoot" camera, but it's 'just a camera'. We had been thinking about getting a new camera, but really didn't want to spend the extra money on one. So it was just a fleeting thought. Well GUESS WHAT?!?!? I GOT A NEW CAMERA!!! And it is SOOOOOO amazing. I got a Nikon Digital SLR. Yes the kind that semi-pro, pros use! OMG does it take the most amazing pictures in the world, and this is with it just set on "auto" aka dummy mode. So here are a couple pictures of my beautiful baby, and my most amazing hubbykins...

I am so blessed with such a Happy Baby
Daddy and Babybear having fun on the swings...

There's something about her expression...tranquil?

This was just my experiment...I really like it though

P.S. In case anyone is wondering...SHE LOVES HER MOBYWRAP. However she only like it when she's facing out into the world...doesn't like it in the "cuddle" aspect.

Veiyah Karg

2009-02-11T23:45:00.006-06:00

I woke up this morning, and saw a post from Ani that today was Veiyah's surgery. I was so happy to know that this procedure was going to be done today because it means that she would be getting better sooner rather than later. I said my prayers for her and prayed that God would have mercy on her little body and allow her to be healed. I waited patiently for updates, and waited and waited, and finally an update. Everything not going so well, but it was still going...there is Hope...

I continued waiting for the next update. Just praying that everything was going okay........

Although things did not go as planned, she has pulled through and I am so thankful. Keep in mind, I've never met this family. Never spoke to them. Never given her a hug. But she has touched me and blessed me in such a profound way. She is a miracle sent from up above. She is amazing....she is inspiring...........as I sit here and write this, I cry. My heart breaks for this family. I CANNOT imagine, or comprehend what her parents are going through. Ani & Jer, you amaze me. You are so strong....your love is undescribable....

Prayers...that's all I can say....they are so needed right now for this family. She made it through her surgery, but it wasn't as planned. God has protected her again, as He will continue to do. Please, Please, Please, I beg you, say a prayer for her....for her mom & dad....for her two older sisters....for her grandparents....her aunts, uncles, friends....this little girl has touched SO many lives. She is a miracle, and once again she has proved it again today. She is perfect in God's eyes, and that is what matters.... (If you want to know the story behind this amazing little girl, you can find her story here.)

We love you Veiyah...you have touched our lives so profoundly.....you are God's miracle here on earth....*hugs* to you precious baby girl....

Love,
Carrie

Precious Moments

2009-02-11T19:42:00.010-06:00

On Friday night, Victor and I went out looking for Babybear a new dress for her pictures that we had scheduled for Saturday morning. Ali was with us, because we had tried to have a picnic (the wind was horrible so it was a waste) and we were taking her home after we found a dress. We went to JCPenny's where we normally buy Tori's clothes at. I looked and couldn't find anything. Well I did but I just couldn't bring myself to pay $20 bucks for a tiny little dress. At that was the SALE price. So Vic decided we should go to Sears and see if they had anything. I never shop at Sears but what the hell, I'll give it a try. We walked in the door, and THERE IT WAS!! The perfect dress, in the perfect size, in the perfect color, and the perfect price. I grabbed it in a heart beat. Victor happened to turn around and boom, there it was, a size 4T. The exact same dress, in the perfect size, and the perfect price, for Ali. I decided to get the dress for her too. Then we decided we would pic Ali up in the morning and take her to shoot pictures with her cousin. The proofs are in, and I wanted to share....The love of that these two little girls share is AMAZING!!!!

The picture above is my FAVORITE of the two girls

My peanut has gotten so big!!!!

All smiles for the camera

The sassy girl that she is...love you Monkey!!!

The picture of innocence...

In a Funk...

2009-02-10T17:44:00.005-06:00

I guess the title pretty much says it all. Just kind of in a funk. Don't know why?!?! But I do know that I don't like it. I think I just need to get out more with the baby. I mean we go a lot already on the weekends and things, but not that much during the week. I sit here a lot during the week and take care of Babybear. We play on the floor, read books, sit outside on the swing and watch the birds eat from the feeder, but it's just not enough. I need to be around people.

I'm a very people oriented person. I like to be around adults and talk. I just feel kind of gloomy. Like those days that you don't want to get out of bed, don't want to get out of your pj's much less take a shower. Don't really feel like eating or anything. Just feel like being left alone. hrmm....I need to get some happy juice.....Being a stay at home mom, is definitely not easy, it's not hard, but it's time consuming. I feel like I'm more of a nanny, maid, chef, chauffeur, gopher, fix-it-man, ect....

Okay I'm done complaining...because when all is said and done, I'm very fortunate to be able to stay home with Babybear...

And just for laughs, here's a picture of the cutie...we were at the park with my niece. She wasn't to happy with the wind. This was the first time that Tori was able to sit in her stroller with out the car seat...see I have so much to be thankful for, but still the funk ensues....grrrrr

Karg Family

2009-02-08T09:03:00.006-06:00

Isn't she just adorable!!!!

This is one of those drive by posts. Veiyah is back in the hospital. Looks like her 2nd open heart surgery will be sooner rather than later. But this just means she can get better faster. This family is so strong and filled with love, but they still need prayers for their most amazing little miracle. On the right hand side of my blog you will see a button for her, "Pray for Veiyah" When you see this button on my page, please say a prayer for this little girl. She's AMAZING!!! If you would like to put the button on your own page to remember to pray for her, please visit their blog Karg Family Updates. It's on the right hand side as well, just get the code and paste to your own blog. If you haven't already, take a minute to read things over. They are amazing!!! God is amazing for what he's done for this little girl. He is the Great Physician. Love to the Karg Family, from the Palomares Family!!!! *hugs to you baby Veyiah*

Happy Friday

2009-02-06T09:41:00.003-06:00

1. The first full week cloth diapering is over and done with, and it is AMAZING!!! The permanent diaper rash is GONE!!! Babybear looks cute in all the bright colors too.

2. Getting to spend time with my niece today. It's picnic in the park Friday!!! Before Tori we did everything together, and since the baby came I can't do as much. But now that she's getting bigger and able to go for long periods of time, it's much easier. So we're going to go pick up Ali, and then head to the park for a picnic and then to the jungle gym to play. She's already called about 50 times asking when I'm coming to get her....ahhh the love of a child is like no other.

3. Once again, I have to put my husband. He makes me happy with all of his quirkiness. I'm so very blessed to have such an amazing man in my life. It sounds so cliche, but it's so very true.

Just Another Day....

2009-02-03T12:49:00.003-06:00

I woke up this morning feeling rather rested. Babybear fell asleep last night around 9:00 she scurried around midnight for a diaper change and a feeding and then off to dreamland again. And when that happened she was out like a sack of potatos. I moved her form the outside of the bed to the middle and she never made a sound. She was drunk on milk, warm & toasty, and snuggled back into the bed and that was it.

I laid there for a moment or two and just stared at my perfect and precious little girl. So very amazing.....And then I was off to dreamland as well. She didnt wake up until after 6:00 this morning, so I got a good solid 6 hours of sleep. Rather nice if I do say so myself. :)

I just wanted to update on the clother diapering. So far, so good. I'm truly in love with them. Her skin is not irritated anymore, and that is what I was hoping for. Although they are a little bulkier on her (she's got junk in her trunk now), they really aren't hard to deal with at all. I was worried about the BF poo issue, and I did not have any at all. She hadn't gone for about 3 days (yes this is normal, it just goes to show how "perfect" breast milk is for a child. Their bodies metabolize it so well, they actually can go up to about 10 days and be perfectly fine.) and I was worried about how the diaper and cover would handle the situation. They had no problems at all. To be honest, they did a better job than her dissposables. Yeah for cloth :)

I was worried about the washing aspect of it. I was going to be so upset if my pretty white new diapers were going to be stained. I'm doing the dry pail method. So I emptied them in the washer, did a cold rinse with 1/2 cup of baking soda, then ran a regular hot wash cycle with 2T of Charlie's Soap and another 1/2 cup of soda. When the rinse was fixing to happen, I pulled out all my covers. Then added 1/2 cup of vinegar and let them go. Then added back the covers for 1 more cold rinse. I decided not to put them in the dryer, I just hung them on the cloths drying rack I have. And the verdict........Beautiful white as snow diapers....That have no smell at all :)

It sounds like a big process to do, but it's really not. I was making dinner at the time. The washing was done by the time my dinner was finished.

My Interview

2009-02-02T16:19:00.006-06:00

I follow a blog that is absolutely amazing. It's called "Want What You Have", it's is just an amazing read. A week or so ago, she posted and interview, and if we wanted to we could comment to her and she would interview her readers. This week it's me... and here are my questions from her. (They were good ones too, made me think)

#1 You're a brand-new mom to a baby girl, Tori. I know that after I had my first daughter, I was so surprised - both pleasantly and unpleasantly- at all of the changes in my life. What is one thing that you wish someone had told you before you had children?

Wow. This is a tough one. I expected the sleepless nights, the fussy baby who would be inconsolable, the lack of intimacy between Vic and I. However, I never thought I would worry so much, and be so scared for her future. When it was just Vic and I, I could take things in stride. But now, every decision that I make, will impact her in some way or anther, either good or bad. I've always read labels, but now I read them even more thoroughly to make sure things aren't toxic. I worry about the things that are on TV, and even though she's only 11.5 weeks, I don't want her seeing/hearing bad things. I worry about the environment that I present to her. Whether we are out to eat, or with friends, or around strangers. I'm not saying that I'm overprotective, because I feel a germ is a good germ. I just view things totally different. Almost from a future perspective.

#2 If you could be granted one wish for your daughter's future, what would it be?

hrmm....to make sure she finds a Christian man to marry and raise a family with. It truly has made a world of difference in my life.

#3 Your blog header says that you used to be a "corporate woman." Can you share a little background with us about your life before motherhood?

Bean counter aka Accountant, that's what I was. I worked for an engineering firm. And although a very amazing and wonderful company to work for, not very accommodating to motherhood. 95% of the company were men, and the rest were woman. It truly was a man's world. I miss the people I work with, but I DO NOT miss the stress, or the hour+ drive to and from work.

#4 If you had one full day to yourself, with no responsibilities or obligations, what would you do?

Sleep in until about 8 or 8:30. Get up take a nice HOT shower. Head over to the coffee shop and relax outside for an hour or so and enjoy my Caramel latte. Then go to the book store and browse the titles. Go to the deli and have lunch with my mom. Go the fabric store and look at what cute fabric is out there to make Tori some summer rompers. Go home and get my crochet bag and head back to the other coffee shop, sit outside with an iced tea and watch the cars drive by as I crochet. Around dinner time, head home and go out to a nice dinner with the husband, then go for a nice walk on the riverwalk. Come home afterwards and cuddle on the couch for an hour or so, then head to bed. Get a good night's rest so I can then accomplish everything that I didn't do the day before because I was out enjoying myself.

#5 If you could interview a famous person, who would it be, and why?What would you ask?

Tricky question for me. Because although this person is famous for all the wrong reasons the case still makes me wonder day in and day out. I truly am a child of the sciences. But only the biology, microbiology, pathology, anatomy, and chemistry side of science. None of this evolution stuff. The human body truly fascinates me. I can spend hours reading about new discoveries that scientist unveil to try and explain things. Therefore, my person would be...Andrea Yates (this is the mother who drowned her children in the bath tub and said God made her do it). Now some may say this is a morbid thought process for wanting to interview her, but no not really. I believe in God and I believe in science. The two do not mix, therefore I do not believe in evolution and things of this nature. But to pick her brain and see what she was thinking when she did this. Mind you I would want to give her some thiopental sodium, which is "truth serum". I don't believe that "God told her to do this" as she claims. After having my own child, I CANNOT imagine what would drive a human to do this to another person, yet alone her own children. I have a list of questions to ask her....probably not the answer you were expecting, but to this day, the case still bothers me.

And the love affair begins....

2009-01-31T11:53:00.006-06:00

Here is a couple of pictures of Miss Tori in her very first cloth diaper. She has a Thristies Diaper Cover over her diaper.

I've done it...I've crossed over....

2009-01-30T23:12:00.005-06:00

Well I've gone and done it. I've crossed over.......I've been really thinking about it for several weeks, but never had the nerve to go out and do it. I've been speaking with several mothers that do it, and they wish they would have done it sooner. I spoke with the hubby last night and he agreed beings I'm the one that usually always changes Babybear that it was up to me. So last night I got all my resources together and set out on my mission. I looked at all the reviews. The good, the bad, and the crazy.

So, today, I went on a field trip to a local store and bought my "stash". And if you're wondering what I'm talking about....it's cloth diapers. The Babybear, will now be wearing cloth diapers from here on out. I wore cloth when I was born, and my mom did the same for my little sister. It's amazing how much they have changed in 20-30 years. IT'S ACTUALLY CRAZY!!!

I didn't go all out. I'm not doing the One Size Fits All like the Bumgenius, those are crazy expensive. As in $17.99 for 1. And I would need a solid 12. Do the math. *cringe* I decided to do the prefolds and, then put wraps over them. They can be pinned, snapied, or just folded and laid in the wrap. I spent less than what I would have in 2 months for disposables. Right now I go through about 8-10 diapers a day, and you get 180 in a box for $42.00 plus tax. That will last about 10-12 days. I have to change them more beings her skin is SO sensitive. I got 24 prefolds, 3 covers, 3 doublers, 6 micro fiber wipes, 6 hemp wipes, and 2 snappies all for $130. The covers are good for up to 18lbs, but the reviews said most can wear them until about 20-21lbs, then I'll have to upgrade to the medium size which is good up to 28lbs, most reviews say to about 32. The prefolds, aka the actual diapers, I will not have to upgrade. They are good to go until she's potty trained. Just depends on how you fold them.

So people may think I'm crazy. And maybe I am. But disposable I think were made for the moms who were on the go all the time. I'm not. I'm a SAHM. There's no reason why I can't do a little bit of laundry. It's better for Tori, better for the environment, and it's WAY cheaper. In the future I might go and buy a couple of "all-in-ones", but for now, these will be it. They really are a lot easier than what you might think.

Right now they are on their 3rd wash. I can't wait to start the day off tomorrow in her new diapers. It's rather exciting to me!!!

The Giving of Others

2009-01-28T21:53:00.003-06:00

You know it's nice to know that there are people still out there that are willing to open their hearts and share with others. To "pay it forward" so to speak. Today I had lunch with some of the other moms in my SAHM playgroup and it was so nice to be out and about and to be with other moms. But afterwards I went over to one of their houses and was able to get some clothes for Tori. Unfortunately they are moving back to their home state and will not be a part of our group much longer. But before she gave the clothes away she asked if anyone from the group wanted anything. I was so grateful to have the opportunity. Now that we are on only 1 income, there isn't as much to go around. Yes we can sustain our life, and there will be some extra. But not a lot.

I am not to proud to accept hand-me-downs. Nor am I to proud for my daughter to wear them. They were given to us with an open heart and kind heart. And they are beautiful.

I just wanted to say thank you Kate. Your generosity is so greatly appreciated. I wish I would have gotten to know you sooner. Thank you so much for the clothes, and for the wonderful conversation today.

Be Thankful for What I Have....

2009-01-27T16:32:00.003-06:00

The title pretty much says it all. When the days seem long and the nights do not have enough sleep, I must remember to be thankful for what I have. Because, at any moment it could be taken away. Now I'm not trying to sound depressing, or getting anyone upset, but it's true. And I'm reminded by this by a mother that I have been following since I found out that I was pregnant. I joined the community on Baby Center, and there was a mom that was pregnant with mono-amniotic twins. It's actually rather rare, and usually the prognosis isn't that great. But for them, it has been bitter sweet.

I would read their posts and cry while I was still pregnant with Tori, and pray that nothing would be wrong with her. That she would have all of her toes and fingers. That she would be healthy and able to come home with me from the hospital. Simple things that a lot of people take for granite.

These past couple of days Tori has been relentless. I'm now going to officially say it's a growth spurt. She's cluster feeding like there's no tomorrow, and although I love every minute of it. I need my time too. She does it during the day when daddy's not here, so he doesn't really understand the concept of it, or how difficult and draining it can be on me. But that's not my point either....remember it's be thankful for what I have.....

I am thankful that I have a daughter who is thriving. Who is able to be at home with me. Who is able to cry at night and wake me up. Who I am able to feed and know that she is growing. I am thankful that she has not had to have surgeries to make her better, or take enormous amounts of medicine for her to be able to sustain life. I am thankful for the fact that I have fed her every hour on the hour since 9:00 this morning, and she has finally fallen asleep for a nap at 4:00 this afternoon. I am thankful that she didn't sleep for 7.5 hours last night, and needed to eat at 4:15 this morning. That she decided to blow her diaper out so I had a huge mess to clean up, and she did this all while nursing, and pitched a fit when I wanted to stop to change the diaper. I am thankful for Tori....for every little tiny bit of her.....

Ani and Jeremy are the parents of the mono-amniotic twins Aderah Psalm and Veiyah Jaielle. And although they were blessed with 2, they are only her to care for 1. Aderah Psalm, was sent from the womb to be with her Maker and to watch over her miracle sister Veiyah. You could say they are mirror images. (Veiyah's organs are flip-flopped so everything is on the opposite side of where they normally would be; therefore, when her sister stares down from heaven, they are mirror images.) But this little girl is God's miracle here on earth. She is such a fighter. She has been through several major surgeries and is scheduled for another open heart surgery in the next week or so. You can read about the family here http://kargfamilyupdates.blogspot.com/ ...but remember I am here to be thankful for what I have...

I've followed this family from the beginning. I've cried many a tears for their pain. I've prayed many prayers for their strength and for their little Miracle. and when all is said and done, when I sit on this couch, and type this, and stare at my baby sleeping soundly with her little quirky smile...I am so very thankful for what I have. My days are so easy in comparison of what some have to go through....

If you have a moment take a look at Ani & Jer's blog...it will make you realize how lucky you are. And you can see what a Miracle looks like...

And the week begins...

2009-01-26T13:00:00.005-06:00

and not to badly either. Tori went to bed around 11 last night, and slept through the night waking up at 6:30. When I first heard her cry, I thought "not 4, please don't let it be 4" and sure enough it wasn't. We got up and went and changed the diaper and then it was off for "nummies" Yes that's was it's called. Nursing her has been one of the most amazing things. Giving birth was a neat experience; but, I find nursing her to be more rewarding. I love looking down at her, and seeing those big brown eyes staring up at me. To know that after being her lifeline for 10 months, I'm still that life line for her.

She's feeling better. She still has a stuffy nose, but no infection. If she's anything like her dad and I, I'm assuming she's probably going to be allergic to cedar. It kicks my butt every time. So even though she coughs every once in a while, she's her very happy self. I've been truly blessed with a happy child. God is good....

My weekend was pretty good. Friday night, went to the Spurs game with my mom, Saturday we really didn't do to much, just relaxed and watched a couple of movies. My Best Friends Girl, and Max Payne. The first one I loved, the second one was okay, but it was more a guy movie. Lots of shooting and stuff like that. Sunday we got up and went to church. Unfortunately I've been fighting with my allergies/sinuses as well and had a horrible headache, and lots of pressure in my head. So after church I came home and slept on the sleeping pad until 2:00. Daddy was good and took care of Babybear. Then we pretty much did nothing for the rest of the day. I love weekends like this...

However today, I have made up for my lazy weekend. After I fed the baby and got her back to sleep it was around 7:30. I got the dishwasher unloaded and reloaded, had the ham chopped for making breakfast (we had Migas w/ham), Vic's lunch packed, made Vic's breakfast, got the kitchen decluttered and cleaned, folded 2 loads of laundry, changed the sheets on the bed, cleaned up the living room, picked up the baby's room, amongst all of this, (fed the baby at 9:30, 10:30, & 11:30), picked up the bedroom/bathroom, and I've done 2 loads of laundry. Wow, now that I look at it, I've got a lot accomplished so far today. Phew!!!! I only have 1 more load of our laundry to do (sheets) and then the babies laundry. And I will be done for a couple of days.

I'm thinking that Tori is either cluster feeding to make up for the hap-hazard eating she did the one day when she wasn't feeling well, or she's going through a growth spurt. If I'm not mistaken I do believe babies have a growth spurt at around 12 weeks. And on Wednesday she'll be 11 so it is a possibility.

Anyways, I'm off to make me some lunch. I have another post that I've started, but I'll get to it in a little while...it's one of those posts that need my full attention...

Go Spurs Go

2009-01-23T23:50:00.003-06:00

Well it's 11:50 and I've been home for about an hour or so. I got a surprise night out with my Mom. She had tickets to the Spurs game, and I got to go. It was so much fun. Before I was married, mom and I used to go to the games together. We'd jump up and down and by the time we left, we'd be horse. Times have changed some, but it was still such and awesome time. But best of all it was time I got to spend with my most amazing mom. She's such a wonderful person to have as a mom, and as a friend. I'm lucky, and my daughter is lucky to have a wonderful grandma....here's to you mom.... I love you bunches. Thanks for taking me tonight!!! And best of all, they won!!!! Go Spurs Go!!!!

***Update on Tori***: She woke up this morning and was doing well. Took a really long nap this morning, and when she woke up, it's like she was new little baby. She looks a lot better, and is eating better. She's still got a little bit of congestion, but it's clearing up nicely. The power of prayer is an amazing thing.

Happy Friday

2009-01-23T14:04:00.003-06:00

I was reading another blog I follow and this is what I saw...now I'm to list 3 things that made me happy this week.

* Getting to spend time with the other mommies of Tori's playgroup
* Being able to spend time with my niece this week, and take her to the park
* Being appreciated by my husband, and him actually saying thank you and acknowledgeing the things I do while he's at work. (clean house, laundry, dinner waiting for him when he gets home)

Tori Bori...

2009-01-22T10:27:00.003-06:00

It's not a good day for the little one :( It started yesterday. She's not feeling well. She's really congested, and is coughing. It's so heart wrenching. I look at her and she's so tiny, she doesn't know how to blow her nose, or cough stuff up. Unfortunately the doctor says there's nothing that we can do for her right now. She doesn't have an earache or anything, just a mild cold. So for now, it's the humidifier, saline drops, and the beloved blue suction bulb. Even though she's not feeling well, she's still such a happy little girl....So here's to my day of cuddling with the little one.

Ali...

2009-01-21T13:15:00.009-06:00

Some of you may know that for the longest time I watched my niece. From the time she was itty bitty until she was over a year old. This year she will turning 4. And it amazes me how big she has gotten. When I found out I was pregnant, I wondered how it would effect her. She had been like my child for so long, and now I was going to have my own little one to worry about. She is amazing with Tori, and loves her dearly. There is a bond between the two that will never be able to be measured. I thought I'd put a couple of pictures up to share.

Chirstmas Eve over at Nana's

On her way to see Great PaPa

Ali with Great PaPa and her baby brother Brandon

We took her to the park on Sunday...and this is a new rockclimbing wall that they built, unfortunate she went higher than what Aunt Carrie said....

I got a little to big for my pants, and now I'm stuck...

Learning how to climb...

Some New Pictures

2009-01-21T12:13:00.017-06:00

So I finally got around to uploading the camera...I'm so slow at it sometimes. I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of the Babybear. It's crazy to see how much she is changing.

This was taken when we were getting ready to go shopping...she was just hanging out on the couch...so mellow, like her daddy

These 2 were taken in the middle of the night, she had been fussy and then all of sudden wanted to be happy... I love her little chipmunk cheeks

She had just came out of her bath, and was getting her baby massage.

This is what happens when daddy trys and lets mommy sleep a little longer. Mommy gets up and comes into the living room to see the two of them passed out on the couch. (the part you can't see is the pile of pillows that were on the ground to provide a landing pad)

She had been so perfect this day, I had had a dr.'s appointment, and then went shopping, and then to the grocery store, by the time we got home, she was passed out.

This was taken on Christmas Day. Tori with her Great Grandma Jean

Getting mad at mom for taking to many pictures, she decided to throw her gang sign!!!

And finally, my favorite of all, Tori talking to Mommy in the middle of the night... Makes my heart just melt

A New Day, A New Beginning?

2009-01-20T21:33:00.003-06:00

I woke up this morning, took mom's dog to the vet for her, came home fed the baby, and then fixed the hubby breakfast and had dinner in the crock pot all before 9:30. Then I sat down to a little girl sitting in her bouncer just a cooing away, and realized what today was.

For many Americans today is a great day in history. It's the changing of the guard. Out with the old in with the new. For me, I see it as something different. It's a day that has changed my 2 month old daughters future. It represents to me, that the hatred in America is slowly disappearing among the generations. I was raised to believe that races do not mix. (And yet I married a Mexican man). It wasn't until I was older that I realized how crazy this was. Like the President said today in his speech, 60 years ago a man stood at the end of the mall, and he could not have drank from the same fountain, or rode on the same bus, or ate at the same restaurant as many people did. Today is a day in our history that will go down in infamy. It is a day of firsts and new beginnings.

I pray that in 5 years or 10, or 20, that this will be an everyday event. That people of all races, religions and creeds, will be able to come together for one common cause. Many people before me have hoped for the same thing, and many people after me will too, but today was a step in the right direction. You do not have to believe in all of the causes, or everything they do. But you must believe that the people are strong that back this country. I may not have voted for him, but he is now my President. I only pray that he can lead this great country and show that we are still "one nation under GOD, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."

Today just goes to show, that anyone can accomplish anything. And this is what I want for my daughter. To know that no matter what obstacles are in front of her, that she can achieve great things. That she will know that she comes from a background of strong Germans, Englishman, and Scotsman, but also from a strong group of Mexicans, and Native Americans. She will not be known as Caucasian, or Mexican. She will only be known as a child of God, with an open mind and willing heart to serve. She will not be known by a piece of paper, but she will be known for the knowledge that she posesses. She will be strong-willed and determined in her endavours. She will be able to stick to her convictions, and have proof to back up her beliefs. She will be what ever she wants to be, and I as mom, will be standing right by her side knowing that I helped shape this amazing young woman that stands before me.

Being a Mommy....

2009-01-19T21:15:00.003-06:00

What a day....it was a wonderful day, and I couldn't be happier.....

Last night Tori had a serious tummy ache. I felt so bad for her. Nothing that we did made her feel better. I have her a warm bath, and she was okay for about 15 mins and then it started all up again. Did the baby massage, and that helped for about 10 mins. And once she started again, she just screamed. Not that scream that lets you know she's hungry, but that high pitched scream. The kind that makes your ears hurt, your toes curl.....the kind that makes your heart break because you know there's nothing you can do...Finally I got her to nurse and then she was out like a light. Just as quickly as it started, it was over....She fell asleep around 11 and didn't wake up until 6 this morning. Do you know what that means?????? It means I got to sleep for 7 hours straight.

When I woke up this morning to her little "warning" cry I didn't know what my day was going to hold. I was hoping that she was going to be feeling okay. Praying that she was going to be having a good day, but truly didn't know what to expect. I woke up to big beautiful brown eyes staring at me (yes we co-sleep), and a smile that would melt anyone's heart. Those eyes said it all....I know she doesn't understand much, but I know she understands how much I love her. I know she understands that she is my whole world. These are the mornings that I am going to look forward too. The mornings that this little girl and I can lay in bed together before we have to tackle the world and just cuddle. The time that we get to spend just getting to know one another.

One of my friends said it best...."Being a mommy rocks!!!" I'm sure it will be the toughest, most challenging thing I will ever do. But it will also be the most rewarding and fulfilling thing by far. Everyday is a learning experience...and let me tell you, I have a lot to learn.....

The Family

2009-01-17T19:09:00.003-06:00

I thought I'd share a couple of pictures of us...These were taken in December.

This is my amazing husband with his precious baby girl. This picture makes my heart just melt.

My perfect Christmas present

The 3 of us...

I love this picture...She's so happy and peaceful in this picture.

Consistency...

2009-01-17T18:57:00.003-06:00

Consistency....seems like something that should be pretty easy right? For example. I make homemade yogurt in my crock pot. I consistently put in 8 cups of milk, 1/2 cup of starter, and 2/3 cup powdered milk, and it tastes the same every time. When I got to my favorite restaurant, I always order the same thing, and it is Consistently always the same. This is what I look forward too.

It's really frustrating when I go out and spend my money 1 day and what I order is good and then I go the next day, and order the same thing and it's horrible. You know there is a formula for making iced coffee. How can a person mess with a woman's iced coffee after she's had a night of a fussy baby??? This is what I need to function!!!! :) Oh well....

Today was a good day, went shopping for a baby shower, and spent the rest of the day with my hubby and the wee one....Here's to a relaxing night...

And here we go....an Introduction of sorts

2009-01-16T16:03:00.006-06:00

I've thought about setting up a blog for a long time. However there just never really seemed to be anything to talk about. Well now I have something to talk about....Nine and 1/2 weeks ago, I was blessed with the most amazing gift anyone could have ever given me. I was blessed with a beautiful, healthy, and happy little girl. It is amazing how much your life can change in a blink of an eye. You go from being 2 people to now 3.

My life is pretty normal I suppose. I've been blessed with an amazing husband who I adore. I have a wonderful mother, who I am fortunate to live very close too. I have a little sister that has blessed me with a gorgeous niece (Ali) and very handsome nephew (Brandon AKA Peanut Butter). I am able to live in a small town which is just the right size, but I don't have to drive far to experience the big city.

(So far, I think this is an okay beginning???)

As of about a week ago, I am now officially a SAHM. This I think will be the best job that I will ever have. I love the fact that I will be able to look back and say "I didn't have to miss her first step, or her first roll over, or her first field trip." Things might be a little tight in the beginning, but once we figure it all out, we should be fine. It's a small price to pay to be able to stay at home and watch her grow.................