Thursday, February 28, 2008

Random Acts of Kindness

Have you ever gone through a toll booth and paid for the person behind you?
Have you ever made a meal for someone who just had a baby or got out of the hospital?
Have you ever offered someone money ahead of you in line who was short at checkout?
Have you ever way over tipped to make someone's day and left before they realized it?
Have you ever helped someone with yard chores?
Have you ever picked up a small gift for someone because you knew they would love it?
Have you ever left someone jump you in line at the grocery store?

They all are quite simple and selfless acts, but have the potential to truly make someone feel very good. Imagine if everyone tried to do at least one nice thing for someone else every week. That would be 52 R.A.K. a year. This is above and beyond the "normal" things we do each day. Imagine taking that random act that someone offers you and then passing that kindness on to someone else. It would make the world a heck of a lot nicer place to be!

This past month, February 11-17 was Random Acts of Kindness Week. I didn't know that until today. Did you remember to do something kind for someone else? Did you even know about this "holiday"? How come it wasn't on the news? Hallmark hasn't capitalized on it yet?

I am going to put out a challenge. Please perform a random act of kindness for someone who just might need it. Or they might not "need" it but enjoy it none-the-less! Once a week do something that is selfless or thoughtful. You have 168 hours to do one nice thing for someone else every week.

With all that being said, if you reflect for a few minutes about what's going on in your world, you may be surprised how many people are doing nice things for you. As well, how many nice things you have done for someone else.

My mother in law knows how much I LOOOVVEE scrapbooking. She was out at JoAnn's crafts and picked me up three prepacks of scrapping supplies. I was so excited to get that and the fact she was thinking of me was best of all! I can't wait to begin to use the materials. Jacob and Jayda are excited to scrap with the new supplies as well!

Then there was the time when my dad knew we had a leak in our pipe behind the washer. He and Mike were planning on fixing it over the weekend but my dad could not rest until he had checked it out. I got home from picking up the children on Friday afternoon and there was a home depot bag on the washer. He had picked up supplies he knew that they would need and had left them at the house while we were gone.

Another time, I was at the post office and I accidentally knocked a stack of fliers off the counter and into a filthy garbage can. The young man behind me looked hard core scary. However, as I was looking in the can he came over and said don't touch that while you have the baby with you. It is so dirty. He reached in carefully and pulled them out. I handed him a disinfecting wipe for his hands. I was able to RAK him right back. The best part of all, here were about 7 people behind us in line. They all watched this. Hopefully, they went on that day and did something nice for someone else.

My father in law can never let us leave empty handed. He always packs goodies or doggie bags for us before we leave. I love how he pays attention to the things I like or our family likes. It speaks volumes of how much he cares about us.

My mom was in Vegas and shopping. She came across a cute purse attachment she knew I would love and she picked it up for me and one for herself. She also is so thoughtful about making meals for us often. I love not having to cook!

Our neighbor gave us a bag of grapefruits from his tree.

I could go on and on.

But now I must close and begin to think about how I can make someone else's day.

So, as you finish reading this you now have 167 hours to do something nice for someone else. Hopefully more than just one RAK.....and at least one RAK for me too. hehehehe

Tuesday, February 26, 2008

Rock and Roll Baby!!!

If there is a picture with an X on it, click on it...it will be huge. Then click on the back button. This should show you the normal pic in the blog. Working on this technical difficulty!

On Sunday afternoon, Baby Jay rolls from his belly to his back. On Monday evening, he rolls from his back to his belly! While he is on his belly, he is beginning to pull his knees up under him. It won't be long and he will be scooting all over this house!






Part of me leaps with joy at his accomplishments...the other part of me is sad to watch him growing and changing so quickly. I never thought I wanted to have another child. Yet, now that he is here with me...I couldn't imagine life without him. I hold onto every precious moment I have with him. His personality matches his sweet little, uh chubby, face! He is so content and happy! So many parts of him to love!



Even the lint between his toes!!!

Sunday, February 24, 2008

Guess what!

I was playing with the baby today and wanting to get some sweet smiley pictures...


But of course our day is not complete without one of these spitups...


Michael got me an amazing Sony camera for Christmas...it has so many features I still have not figured them out. The setting here is one that I can capture hundreds of pictures in succession should I so choose to do that. I was snapping away to get those cute smiles when I captured this big moment in Baby Jay's life!








He rolled over from his tummy to his back. He is 5 days short of his 4th month birthday!

Saturday, February 23, 2008

Memories of me...

After reading my blog, my mother has filled in some blanks from when I was a baby. Mom had Bryan and me at the same time(he was 13 months I was a newborn) alone in California. My birth father was busy not being a very good dad. With all that said, Who would have had time to photograph? Mom has filled in some blanks!

I will quote her:
"No you did not weigh 9.5 at birth you weighed 7lbs 9 0z and were not very handsome. I did not want you to ever know what you looked like at birth. (I did not get any newborn pictures of either of you) You were very dark red and your nose was absolutely flat against your face...and I loved you. You had no hair at all (however your first poop had a wig worth of black hair so I guess you shedded it before birth and ingested it).
Aside from the flat nose the rest of your head looked normal. However your eyes were so big and brown, but with no nose to offset, you looked lots like an owl. No, I never told you this. I always wanted you to know how beautiful I thought you were.
I was so damn busy with two babies. I was home with you the next morning at 10 am. You were 17 hours old. You nursed like it was your last meal...every meal, and were the most pleasant child...could you have sensed how guilty I felt for robbing Bryan of his babyhood....remember he was a little over 13 months old. Oh that is a story you do remember huh. You slept through the night at 2 weeks of age and never were colicy or fretful. You were an absolute joy and you were beautiful as you grew. I did not have a camera except a poloraid and the film was expensive. I did take some pictures I think...look in the box. At four months we moved to PA from Calif. I flew with you and Bryan from LA. He was 18 months plus and way active and you needed to nurse twice on the plane. I got stranded for awhile in Pittsburgh until Grampy and Grammy could be at the airport...I forget what was the change that caused that.
You did not walk until Bryan's 2nd birthday. On his birthday, in fact. You crawled wherever you needed to be and climbed on everything. You were muscular but chubby and when you finally decided to walk you ran. You loved to sit in the Highchair and play with your food. As soon as you were not being watched everything was on your head...now I know why you like hats...You made me smile and cry at the same time, lots.
People would stop and comment on your beauty. I lived a very quiet life and was either at work or home with you two, mostly alone. I guess some of this you knew but I guess I have left lots of gaps even yet...what else did I leave out...I hope there are some pictures of your babyhood."

Some of my personal favorite memories as a toddler/preschooler are the stories when Bryan and I were sooo bad:
paint and hangers, paint all over the room
mattress+water=swimming pool
my own haircut thx to Mr Roger's outing
swimming in the creek naked before dawn
sitting out on the roof with our Dalmatian
swinging on the swingset dead of winter in my diaper and boots at 5 am
throwing my laundry out the open window cause I didn't want to put it away
pour whole box of cereal in bowl, not eat it all and hide it behind furniture
ripping open feather pillows to pillow fight brother
throwing eggs at the 2 Dalmatians

These all surely made my mother cry time and again. This is proof children should be locked in their bedrooms! Just kidding These were all his ideas and I just went along with them. wink wink

Other great memories:
Hershey Park Happy
Dog show weekends away(always had fun playgrounds!)
playing outside until late
bonfires and chip parties
jumping over the bannister and landing in piles of clothes
antagonizing my brothers and sisters
skating rink
taking care of bulldogs
CHRISTMAS!!!!
all holidays
Saturday night, generic chips and orange soda watching tv until I fell asleep
Grampy and Grammy's
bike riding
sports
summers at the swimming pool
my appendectomy and the enema before hand(that was fun)
dad sat up with me the night before my appendectomy
picnics up at stone quarry
Brockway 4th of July parade and fireworks
long bike rides through woods
cross country skiing with bryan and almost freezing to death
my broken leg and my mother rescuing me on the hill on my sled
riding to school with my mom
our wreck in the snow in the jeep
me wrecking the dodge colt on ice and doing more damage to the guardrails than the car

With all of my excitement about preserving the past and scrapbooking, I trampled right across my mother's feelings! Just because there are not many pictures of me, doesn't mean I didn't have the Picture Perfect life. (I was thinking like a scrapbooker when I made that comment! Had nothing to do with my mother!) My mom and dad took truckloads of lemons and turned them into the best lemonade! I could not have asked for a better dad...or mom for that matter! Being a kid...being me...growing up was the most awesome thing ever. I played outside from sun up to sun down, coming home only to eat. I would say the one area my mother let me down was...forcing me to eat salmon patties in pita bread. Please just kill me now. What the heck?, with bones too!?!

Memories last a lifetime...pictures fade, wrinkle, rip, and get lost!

Friday, February 22, 2008

Cinderella

Well, my highlight of the day was scrubbing floors. In between naps and feedings, I accomplished scrubbing floors and folding laundry. I feel like Cinderella!

Baby Jay had a fun day at home! He didn't do too much today. He watched the fan, played with his dad, pooped his pants and threw up on me! A regular day!

I went through a box of memorabilia from when I was a kid. I found my baby book...I had one page of baby pictures. I was one, it was my birthday and they were cut in tiny pieces. I was sad. I realized I don't know what I looked like when I was a day, 2, 3, or even 5 months old. I did find out I weighed 9 pounds and 9.5 ounces at birth!

I can not wait to begin scrapbooking my life. I am so adament about everyone else's scrapbook....what about me!? On that topic, Michael came home from work and brought home a huge handful of memorablia he wants me to "scrap" for him. I have my work cut out for me! After receiving Grandpa Red's history of himself, I keep reminding myself I am a historian for my family.

Holding onto the happily ever after!

Thursday, February 21, 2008

Ewww-day-toilet

Ever have one of those days when you were peed on, thrown up on, and then peed on again and again?

I sure do smell funny!

Time for a shower!

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Family

Did you ever have a moment when you stopped to think about your family?

I know, some may roll their eyes when they think of their family. Their overbearing mothers, their argumentative inlaws, their downright odd cousins, and dreadfilled family functions are cause for serious shuddering!

I on the other hand am one of the lucky ones!

I had the luxury of accompanying my husband to drop off my children at school. Then, we went to check on one of his jobsites before heading to Ocala today to visit with Michael's parents and grandpa. The ride was nice and we went a different way which was a welcomed breath of fresh air. We bypassed the shopping district(bummer) in order to go by way of horse ranches. What a beautiful sight! There were all sorts of types of horses. My favorite was the mother horse nursing her baby in the field! I could appreciate that!

We had a lovely visit with my inlaws. Baby Jay was in top form smiling, cooing, talking, and sitting upright from a laying position. We checked out Michael's baby book and found out at 6 and 1/2 months old he weighed 18 pounds. Jay weighs 18 pounds and he is 3 and 1/2 months. I think I have a strapping young boy on my hands! Grandpa was so adorable with his Great Grandson. It was so sweet to watch how he looks at and talks to the baby! Grandpa will be heading back up North for the summer and won't be back until next year. I still may make one more trip to Ocala before the first of March for Grandpa's sake! Plus, Jayne has next Wednesday off and it will be good to see her again. I missed her this trip! It was a grand day!

On the way home from Ocala, we got a call from my parents inviting us to Aunt Candy's and Uncle Gordy's new house here in Florida for dinner! We had stromboli and it was delicious! Best I have ever tasted! Their home is so cozy and comfortable. It's one of those homes where you could sit and relax all afternoon and into the evening. Not wanting to wear out our welcome, we came home to get baby ready for bed! Truth be told, so he wouldn't be off his schedule or he will be up til midnight!

My parents had dinner along with us. That's our 4th meal together since Aunt Candy and Uncle Gordy have been down.
RECORD:
My mom: 2 times
Me: 1 time
Gordy and Candy: 1 time.

My turn next. I think we will have huge baked potato bar with all the trimmings! Then, play wii bowling! All invited!

For so many years, I was here in Florida on my own with Jacob and Jayda. I never thought I would make it through some of those days, trying to be everything. It was worth those years alone to have lots of family today!

I wouldn't trade my family in for anything. Not even the Florida lottery of 37 million dollars that I hope is ours so I can share with everyone!

Goodnight!

Monday, February 18, 2008

Running to keep up!

Well, he did it. Don't know how, but he did it! Michael sat the baby up at a slight angle and he sat himself up. He did it about 10 times in a row! We have video!

He also throws his right leg forward and back to make his bouncy seat FLY!

Another big first was grabbing his foot as I changed his diaper. It didn't last long and it was all he could do to keep ahold of it...with his big belly and all!

So many things alone he accomplished today!

And everytime I pull out the camera to take a picture of him doing one of these things, this is the look I get!



The children did not have school today because it was President's day. The weather was pretty gross today so we stayed in. Jayda made breakfast this morning! Scrambled eggs and home fries! My favorite!! Later we got into scrapbooking. Jayda is now beginning to scrap. I am thrilled to say she has the scrapbooking thing down to a tee!!!





Well, the baby had a busy day of many firsts and many spit ups and many messy diapers. So many so that by bedtime, he was wearing his last onesie that fits(had to be changed so many times today because he was messing them up from both ends!). We also had to resort to a Christmas Reindeer bib. Somehow, he didn't even mind what he was wearing!



Bathed and in bed by 8 pm, again! Let's hope he sleeps through to 3:15 am like last night.

Here's to crossing our fingers for a repeat!

Saturday, February 16, 2008

Girl's and Boy's Day Out!

Michael and Jacob left first thing this morning to go out and fish together. Jacob had a banner day out on the water. Michael gave Jacob free reign to cast and catch while he photographed and helped him throughout the morning!



When they got home, they cleaned the boat and Jacob mowed the lawn! Way to go Jacob!

Jayda and I decided we were going to have a girls day out! We spent the day together taking turns deciding what we would do next! We started out this morning by laying in bed watching cartoons while baby Jay nursed.


In the meantime, we need to get a "bro" for our little, uh big, guy!



We straightened our hair at home, then headed out and shopped for scrapbooking supplies, had lunch at Smokey Bones, and went to a quaint store called Kringle's Chalet. Jayda found a great webkinz there she called Stormie. She used the money from Grammy and Grampy for Valentine's Day!



Baby Jay was worn out after a long day of fun!



We had a great day together. The boys and girls had a great time together. It is days like this you enjoy in your mind's eye forever!

Thursday, February 14, 2008

Happy Valentine's Day!

I received my dozen roses, chocolate, and sweet card. But the best Valentine of all is baby Jay!



May your hearts be filled with joy and love, today...and everyday!

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Tree huggers Unite

This morning I placed baby Jay on his blanket on the floor to lay while I got ready to go to Ocala. I happened to walk by him and noticed he was trying to sit up on his own. He lays there and pulls himself up like he is doing crunches or situps. He has done this about 9 times so far today. It is his first day doing this, I imagine by the end of the week he will have six pack abs.

Now to me, I find this odd that he is doing this so soon. He hasn't rolled over or even much further than his side. He seems awful determined to accomplish this so I give him all the moral support I can muster!

On a lighter note, we had a lovely day in Ocala. The weather was a bit gnarly as we had storms come through last evening and it brought heavy winds and cold air today. The grandparents, AKA Grammy and Grampy and Great Grandpa, were thrilled to see the baby. Jay was as happy as ever and let everyone around him know it. He giggled, he laughed, he cooed, he squealed, yes... he even threw up!

I traveled alone today and rather enjoyed the ride and peacefulness of the forest.
Along the way I saw dozens of "interesting folks" sitting out by the road, off to the side of the road in vans, and hitchhiking. All abnormal occurrances from my past knowledge.

It seems I am not the only one who enjoys the peacfulness along the Ocala Forest. There is a band of folks called "Rainbow People". Supposedly they are to be peace loving folks. After some research...I am not so sure.
Click here.

Peace does not necessarily come peacefully or legally.

See it for yourself!

I suppose if you signed a sub-prime mortgage loan this might not be such a bad option.

In the meantime, it's nearly midnight...oh, but mere minutes from the most romantic day of the year. Valentine's Day. I got my prizes early....but this is a topic for tomorow evening!

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

He asked...

"Be Mine!"

I said, "Yes"!

Sunday, February 10, 2008

It's hard to get a date!!!!

So this morning, I set myself up with Michael's computer(where all the pictures are saved). I must match photo to photo in his computer in order to find out what the date was when the picture was taken.

I can't believe a camera this expensive would not have a mode where you can set it to mark the date on the pictures itself. Heck, for the cost of the camera...it should be doing laundry and fixing dinner each day!

I have put on my list of things to do: Call the Sony company. Envisioning myself on the phone with someone in India, trying to be walked through step by step directions to make this happen.

Over 400 photos had to be researched and dated! Let's not discuss time spent on this! In this day and age something this prehistoric should not be occurring!

However, on a brighter note...how much fun was it to see how baby Jay has grown!?!
Then:

Now:

Saturday, February 9, 2008

An itch you can't scratch!

Poor, poor baby Jay!
I am so cautious about what I eat because Jay has an allergy to dairy protein(milk, ice cream, cheese, etc.).
After having dinner at my parents house with my uncle and aunt, we returned home and began the nightly routine. Some reason...the baby was being fussy and having a hard time going to sleep.

After closer inspection, the baby broke out in hivey/eczema type splotches on his head, cheeks, and back. Remembering that my mother loaded my chicken salad with cheese, I felt horrid! I am usually so strict with myself for his sake. However, in all the excitement I forgot.

This left poor baby Jay sooo irritated. Not having great command of his hands, he was not able to scratch himself. He was flailing his head from side to side, and he had scratched at his eyes and made some marks. I began to gently scratch his head and he responded like a dog when you scratch it under the armpits. He was in HEAVEN!

We put him in the shower, scrubbed his head with his brush, used Dove soap on his skin to help with the itch, and followed it up with a dose of Hydrocortisone on his back, head, and cheeks. After a nighttime snack, he was off to dreamy land and settled right back down for some sleep!

I know...your thinking, "this is all the better you can come up with?"

I could have written about my business trip with Michael(boring), or Bubbalou's lunch(eehhh), procrastinating about making cookies(boooo), making my very own valentine's(big deal), skipping my son's scrimmage(shame on me), or about Michael getting all ready for his fishing day tomorrow(so what). Rather, I chose a moment that was simple to remind me never to eat anything that I know will affect baby Jay.

Hmmm, after he stops nursing I am going out for Sushi big time, followed by Ice Cream at Rodeo Whip, then coming home and pouring myself a refreshing glass of coconut rum(double shot!) and pineapple juice with a lime. Who's with me???

Friday, February 8, 2008

Fah-gee-tah

Also known as, Fajitas.

Today was living proof of kids saying the cutest things.

Jayda asked, "Are we having fageetahs for dinner?" [Thank goodness Jacob was nearby to correct her(tongue in cheek).] She was reading the McCormick's package and just not thinking about it. No comment on that topic! I just loved hearing her say it.

It made me smile and I made a mental note to revisit it in my blog. It definitely deserved to be the highlight for the day!

I took a trip down memory lane today. I have been putting off going through pictures and organizing the ones as far back as 1993. I can't tell you how many precious memories were caught in photos of Jacob and Jayda...1999 was a special year with them! It seems the time flew by so quickly and I took each day with them for granted. Wait, probably having two babies 15 months apart is what actually kept me so busy....

When Jayda, now on the cusp of becoming a young lady, still says something cute and endearing...I can't help but go back in time and remember a baby sooo happy and full of glee that her hands and feet could never stop moving. Nothing cuter than a 6 month old chubby baby plopped on her bottom, just watching the world go by and trying to keep up with her hands and feet. Somehow, no matter how many hats I put on Jayda, Jacob could not wait to remove them and place them on his head.



With my two now moving away from being best friends and smoothly transitioning into "bicker" and "badger", I am sure I need to have the precious memories or I just might be living proof of why some species eat their own young!




Today was a day of remembering through photos...some good things....some bad. I kept the good memories and threw away the bad in the trash can. Neat how we can do that, huh!?!

Thursday, February 7, 2008

I smell a RAT!

Baby Jay is 100 days old today!

He can:
hold up his head
pull himself up to sit in your lap
turn on his side
hold up his head while on his tummy(finally!)
stand in your lap assisted
starting to coo, maa maa
squeals
grab toys and get to his mouth
chews/sucks on his blankie
likes a blankie
laughs
touch the floor while sitting in his walker
sleeps 6 hours at a time at night
recognizes mommy and daddy
jacob and jayda too
likes to dance with me
likes to hear me read to him

I am sure there are hundreds of other things I simply take for granted!

It also happens to be Chinese New Years!
Gung Hay Fat Choy! "May you become prosperous!"

Here are the following signs and descriptions of our family Chinese animal signs.

Jay:
Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial, rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming, sturdy.
Jayda:
Tiger (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Wood): Unpredictable, rebellious, colorful, powerful, passionate, daring, impulsive, vigorous, stimulating, sincere, affectionate, humanitarian, generous. Can be restless, reckless, impatient, quick-tempered, obstinate, selfish.
Jacob:
Rat (Yang, 1st Trine, Fixed Element Water): Forthright, disciplined, systematic, meticulous, charismatic, hardworking, industrious, charming, eloquent, sociable, shrewd. Can be manipulative, cruel, dictatorial, rigid, selfish, obstinate, critical, over-ambitious, ruthless, intolerant, scheming, sturdy.
Jessica:
Dog (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Metal): Honest, intelligent, straightforward, loyal, sense of justice and fair play, attractive, amiable, unpretentious, sociable, open-minded, idealistic, moralistic, practical, affectionate, dogged. Can be cynical, lazy, cold, judgmental, pessimistic, worrier, stubborn, quarrelsome.
Michael:
Horse (Yang, 3rd Trine, Fixed Element Fire): Cheerful, popular, quick-witted, changeable, earthy, perceptive, talkative, agile mentally and physically, magnetic, intelligent, astute, flexible, open-minded. Can be fickle, anxious, rude, gullible, stubborn, lack stability and perseverance.

After an exasperating day of running errands and rerunning errands and still forgetting things, we finally sat down to a delightful chinese take-out dinner. Who knew celebrating something could be so easy on me? Not having to make dinner was a treat!!! Just as we sat down to eat, the baby passed some very loud gas. It was evident that his diaper would definitely need checking! Luckily, Michael stepped up to the plate to change that one. Lately, they have been kind of stinky!

Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Make a wish!

Over the river and through the (Ocala) forest to Grammy and Grampy's house we go! My mom went with us on our journey northward. It was time for our trip to visit the grandparents.
It was a gorgeous day, the sun was out...it was breezy and warm. The B2-10 worked like a dream and cruised through the forest using very little gas and emitting very little exhaust into the atmosphere. What was exhausted, went straight to the trees in the forest to encourage more oxygen from them.

Baby Jay slept the whole way there!

Upon arrival, Grampy(Jay's namesake) wisked baby Jay inside. Great Grandpa Red, Grandpy and Grammy all cooed and had Jay Harvey full of smiles! It was a delightful visit and all were happy to be together. Isn't it amazing how something so tiny can help to cement families together forever?

Poor baby Jay...he was throwing up more than usual today due to a weak valve that keeps all fluids down!

This is typical...


I have a feeling his stomach was also not feeling too well due to the fact I basically inhaled a large amount of chocolate at the baseball game last night. After one feeding, he was spitting up so much it was as if he was my own tabletop fountain. I felt like tossing coins at him and making a wish!

I wish....for more days like today!

Tuesday, February 5, 2008

Who's HAPPY?

There are nights I lay down to sleep and bring along Jay Harvey. He likes his crib just fine. There is something just plain comfy about having your baby right next to you. However, last night I began to see a habit forming. (Your probably thinking..."uh huh, I knew it! A baby will not sleep in his own bed if that continues to go on!") Well, you would be incorrect.

He has this habit of when he awakens, and I do not quickly adjust myself to nurse him, of getting my attention. Most babies would cry or scream. Not Jay Harvey! He flails his head from side to side conking me on the arm as hard as he can. As if to say, "Um, hello...baby hungry here. Didn't you hear me grunting? Well...take that and this and that!" This will continue until he has roused me from sleep and latched on proper! Not even lack of sleep can keep me from giggling about this! It make's me so happy to be able to nurse him and stay at home day after day to take care of my late in life baby! Well, not so late in life it would get me in the world book of records.

Both baby Jay and I were undisturbed as Jacob, Jayda, and Michael prepared for their days. Upon waking, I found Jacob's baseball uniform laid out on his bed, Jayda's Guitar in the dining room for me to put in the car, laundry piled high next to the washer and remembered this was going to be one of those kind of days! Pick the kids up from school...run Jayda to her guitar lesson...do the household chores...feed the family...Jacob's scrimmage...watch American Idol(Hey, you gotta have some fun!!!). Yes, I can honestly say, my back will be very happy when I lay down to sleep tonight!

After our first morning feeding and diaper change, I dressed baby Jay and began to play with him. I handed him a plastic beach ball with a jiggly ball inside. He actually grabbed it with both hands and brought it to his mouth to suck on! Well, what's the big deal? He grabbed it with both hands and directed it somewhere! A big first for him! The bonus was that it made his mouth very happy to finally get a taste of that thing he has been kicking on his overhead toy! After all the excitement, photos, and home movie shot, I thought it was time to celebrate.




I decided to get dressed and go to Big Lots to see if I could come across any scrapbooking gems hidden amongst the riff and raff scattered in and among the aisles. This is putting it very nicely!
I found a couple of things in the super clearance section for 1/4 the regular price of $1.00. That's a fancy way of saying 25 cents. But more importantly, I found a Hooked On Kindergarten program for baby Jay. You know, it is for 4-6 year olds. Heck...there's only 4 years until he can use it! Now, your probably wondering why I purchased it so soon. Well, in 4 years I would have been angry, that's the opposite of happy, that I did not get it when I saw it. Then, when I arrived home, I checked the World Wide Web to see what it's official cost was. It was $199.95. That's a fancy way of saying, HOLY CRAP that's expensive! I paid only 40 dollars. So, I think Michael was happy I got that for baby Jay...who is 3 months old and can't even begin to use it until he is 4.
Now, I am just counting on The Mayans, Nostradamus, Y2K, Meteoriteologists, and R.E.M.'s inaccurate predictions of the world coming to an end in the year 2012. Otherwise, this purchase will be null and void. On a brighter note, if 2012 brings the return of Jesus, I am all for that.

After our shopping excursion, I headed to my mom and dad's, AKA Mommom and Papa. They live in a retirement community. She has decorated the thing in flamingo's! Who knew flamingo's could be so cute? http://www.myspace.com/rairiruff Well, all I can say is they make her happy! My dad was cleaning and fiddling around in the yard when I arrived. Cleaning makes him happy! They both were excited to see the baby and he was excited to see them! He really likes all the pink flamingos he finds at Mommom's house. Today though, the fan was most exciting for him to watch. By golly, he could even see it from the other room. I truly think this made him happy today! Soon enough, I was cramping their retired way of life and I had to be off to pick up the kids from school. They had bigger, better plans for the pool with other like-minded, older folks.

I hurried up to school only to wait. Rush Limbaugh kept me company as we both sat and shook our heads at the thought of John McCain taking over the presidency. (Sorry, Dad, no offense.)
Jacob and Jayda hopped in the Saturn, AKA the "B2-10", and promptly began their bickering they had left off with first thing this morning with Michael. Jayda felt he should have taken the objects I was sending to my kindergarten team as she ALWAYS has to do it and it was his turn! However, they both were filled with GLEE when I told them they would have Subway for dinner between guitar lessons and baseball. This made them very happy.

Home at 3:35, Guitar at 4:00, Subway at 4:30, baseball field 4:45, home at 7:15, bed at... well, here I still sit. My computer is happy, though. It missed me today.

Who knew there could be such joy in a single day!?

Monday, February 4, 2008

A Simple Ficus Tree

This morning I sat on my couch and Jay Harvey looked in my eyes and smiled. Now, what's the big deal...he has smiled at me a hundred times in his 3 months of life. Today, though, it was different. In a split second, he looked at me as if to say, "Mom, you are the best thing in the whole world and you just make me so happy!" It came out more like, "aaaaa, oooooo, aaaaaaa, hiiiii."

Then as quickly as he smiled at me, he turned and looked at the ficus tree. He looked very solemn as he tried to understand what it was that had caught his attention. I told him it was a tree and he continued to stare in wonder at this object. I said, "Ficus". He turned and looked at me again and giggled out loud! Scrunched up his nose and jumped in my arms. I said it again and the same thing happened. How silly something so little could evoke such emotion.
I am sure it had nothing to do with the word tree or ficus, it was all about this great person who feeds him when he's hungry, plays with him when he wakes, burps him when he's gassy, and changes him when he's messy. It was about a little boys love and a mother happy to have every last morsel of it!

As he stood there in my lap giggling and pushing up on his legs I took a mental note, of how he looked, how he smelled, how he smiled, how he felt in my arms. Then he threw up on me...for the third time and it was just 11am.

I loved today with my little boy. I can't wait for tomorrow!

What's a drivelswigger??

a. drunken sailor

b. one who reads about nautical terms too much

c. hole on a boat that drains water out

d. none of the above



If you said B you are correct!

I love to fish with my husband, saltwater inshore and offshore. I love to learn new things. When we got our boat I could not get enough knowledge about water, boats, and fishing. Thus, I have picked up the pirate slang word for myself.

Now, it seems, I am onto my next obsession, my little baby boy Jay Harvey and scrapbooking our lives. Throw into the mix my 11 yos Jacob (football, baseball), my 9 yod Jayda (soccer, guitar), a husband Michael and you can imagine I have my hands full!

I love my life and everyone in it! I can certainly coin the adage..."Life is good!" My name is Jessica. Welcome to my blog. Like anything new...it takes time to learn. I will post pictures soon!



Scrapbooking 500 Pages in 2008