POTD 040108

POTD 040108, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Warm enough for Ian to play outside in the sprinkler today (well, not really that warm, but he did anyway!) Last year he wouldn't even get close to it. He played until he was soaked and starting to shiver!

POTD 033108

POTD 033108, originally uploaded by sheakey.

So my newest weight loss program started today! I got myself a big scoop of peanut butter cup icecream from Burr's and it seemed Ian didn't like his tiny dish of pink ice cream that he asked for! So he stole mine and only gave it back when the ice cream was about ready to topple off of the cone. He was pretty proud of himself.

I don't like pink ice cream so I guess he saved me the calories!

Stinker

Dad

This little boy loves his Dad! I wanted just a quick photo of Ian with flowers behind him but he refused to sit their without Dad. As soon as they sat down, he cuddled up next to him, looked straight at the camera and smiled his big grin! Just a perfect little moment!

POTD 032908

POTD 032908, originally uploaded by sheakey.

We took a little family excursion to Daffodil Hill! I've wanted to go there forever. Beautiful drive and lots of gorgeous flowers. And a chicken or two for Ian to talk to!

No Whip Cinnamon Dolce Latte

Ian started saying this about two weeks ago. Now he says it just to make us laugh! It cracks me up how much clearer it is each day! He definitely has his voice now! It is a little frightening just how many phrases he's picked up from us (mmmm...me, since I talk more than Shea!)

Credits here

POTD 032208

POTD 032308, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Easter Eggs!

We had a great Easter visiting my family! Lots of egg coloring adults this year since the 5 year old and the 2.5 year old were bored after about an egg and just wanted to hold the colorful ones!

I love how bright they turned out!

We made an offer on another house tonight (after driving three hours so may question our judgement tomorrow!)

If we get it I'm calling in all help we are owed...it will be a very short move...but lots of sweat needs to be poured into it before the move can happen! Keep your fingers crossed (and yes mom, it will be easy to find!)

POTD 031808

POTD 031808, originally uploaded by sheakey.

This is his pig face! Yes...he's holding a hippo...but he was convinced it should grunt like a pig!





Out of order...kind of like I feel right now...

POTD 031908

POTD 031908, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Yes...I'm behind.

This has been a long week of waiting and wondering and hoping and looking and wondering and hoping some more.

Oh...and that last post? It's a mental crossroad that Shea and I reached together. We aren't fighting just bewildered by the prospect of $250,000 for 2400 sq ft versus $350,000 for 1200 sq ft. $100,000 worth of questioning! Just reminding myself that it isn't a problem...just an expense.

Values

I am low maintenance.

I don't wear makeup. I only get my hair cut about every 6 months when it starts to bug me or just look gross. I don't need a lot of things and am comfortable in a small home.

I believe that we should leave the world a better place. I don't shop for entertainment and try to use things until they can't be used anymore. I believe that my car should be efficient and if I can walk instead of drive, I will.

I want my son to go to public school because I want to support the institution of public education, even if that may mean he doesn't get "the best" education attainable. I want him to be happy. I want him to be surrounded by people who are different than him and experience things that help him realize how fortunate he is. I believe that what I teach him is just as important as the teachers he will share with 30 other kids a day.

I believe that a vegetarian diet is best for the environment and for my body, but I would never push that upon anyone. I believe that we should live in a space that is adequate for our needs and not the largest available space possible.

I believe that we should know our neighbors. I believe that people are good. I believe that we fear what we do not know and we do not understand.
*************************************************
So why the rant?

Shea and I are at a values crossroad.

In our quest for a home (in this falsely labelled buyer's market) I cringe at the discovery that we could move to the suburbs and live in a 5 bedroom 2 bath house with a 40 minute daily commute and have over 200 home choices

We know where we want to live, we know why we want to live there. We know it will be smaller. We know it will be more expensive. We know it won't be easy to find.

And once again, we are reminded that it is expensive and sometimes difficult to live a life dedicated to what we value.

But it is the right thing...right?

POTD 031708

POTD 031708, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

We continued our tradition of Irish Taco night with Justin! Can't beat the Irish taco :)

This was "breakfast" at the Fox and the Goose this morning since today was also the first real day of Shea's Spring Break!

POTD 031608

I get pretty emotional over things...that doesn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me well! Just about anything can make me weepy...but few things make me absolutely proud! Today was one of those days though.

Justin ran the Shamrock'n 1/2 Marathon -- not his first race, not his longest race, just another race for him. But today was different. He'd asked if we were going to be there. And since it was local we didn't question for a moment going. After a full day yesterday sleeping in sounded like a better idea this morning...but I'm so glad I didn't!

We positioned ourselves near the Tower Bridge to watch him at about mile 1 which would then turn into mile 4 about 18 minutes later. I knew it was a good race when he passed us in 7th place. He looked great and was right on his schedule at both mile 1 and 4. After he passed us we wandered to the finish line at Railey Field, not waiting to cheer anyone else because it was just a little too cold! We found a spot at Railey field and waited for his finish. I found a photo spot as close to the field as I could (dopey finish line, no spectators on the field, had to sit in the stands...but that is topic for another post about my inability to deal well with stupid rules) I was kicking myself for not getting a little inside pass to the finish line.

I'd written down Justin's expected finish time of 122 on a Post It and waited.

Just short of that time we saw him enter the field with the announcers (Tom and Dusty) greeting him as J-Dub. Not only did he look great but he was 5th overall! A field of 3000 and MY little brother was 5th! I'm not sure if I was more proud to be his sister or to see the smile of PURE joy on his face as he crossed the line.

IMG_0782-Edit-justin finish, originally uploaded by sheakey.

He's raced a lot of races, but this one was just different! It was after the race that he said he had PR'd (personal record) by 3 minutes! 3 MINUTES!! That's just crazy! He runs about a 6:20 minute per mile pace. Maybe you can cut off seconds...but minutes?? Just PROUD! Proud that he could work so hard. Proud that he can run that fast. Proud that he found something he loves! Just PROUD he's MY little brother!

POTD 031508

POTD 031508, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Spent the day in San Francisco showing a couple of Alaskan's around! I think Ian was overwhelmed with everything. He actually sat in his stroller the entire day and just took it all in. No fussing, no fighting, just a good little guy. More pictures to come soon!

POTD 031408

POTD 031408, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Cupcakes!

Shea's childhood best friend (who he hasn't seen in 11.5 years) is in town from Alaska! We had to celebrate!

***We put a backup offer in this morning

POTD 031208

POTD 031208, originally uploaded by sheakey.

I'm stunned at the emotions we've experienced in the last 24 hours. We started the very serious part of house hunting this week. Checked our credit -- Excellent
Prequalified -- Well within our range
Realtor -- Perfect match
House -- Shea has been pouring over listings and could probably pass the real estate examine at this point

So excited to know that everything was in line.

We'd found a house that we LOVED. We had been there at at every hour of the day (except the midnight to 6am shift...a person has to sleep). We'd talked to neighbors. Walked the neighborhood. Found the park. Mind you we have done all of this all since last Friday. (except of course Shea's looking at listings--he'd been doing that since December when our house sold)

We talked to our realtor for the first time yesterday, gave him the details. We planned to meet last night at 7pm to see it. It was...perfectly us! Ian loved it, we loved it, Don (our realtor) loved it. It was quirky in a good way and just screamed buy me...you need to live here!

After an hour of wandering around, poking, prodding, turning things off and on, and doing it over again we left with Don's advice to sleep on it.

6AM this morning. Shea and I are both wide awake sitting in the living room talking about it, both knowing we didn't need to sleep on it AT ALL! I was preparing to send an email to Don to meet him to write the offer, Shea was prepared to get a sub so we could take care of it...

Shea pulls the Metrolist up to see the house...and there...in bright red letters across the photo it says

SALE PENDING!

Ahhhhhh! Can you believe the timing??!! It had been on the market for 106 days and THE DAY we look at it, they accept an offer??? THE DAY we look at it??? In THIS market????

So now...I'm sitting here wishing that it falls through for someone, knowing that can't bring about very good karma for me. So I guess we will just have to what is meant to be.

I'm sad. Shea's sad. It's 1:16PM and I haven't even brushed my teeth...

POTD 030808

POTD 030808, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Grandparents visiting called for Shea, Justin and I to go out! Fun dinner at a great table at my favorite restaurant!

POTD 030608

POTD 030608, originally uploaded by sheakey.

This would have been funnier last Friday!

POTD 030308

POTD 030308, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Ian and I ventured out to the Train Museum today. It was a gorgeous day outside, so we ate snacks on a bench near the museum. He jumped up from our table and said, "take a picture momma" He perched himself on a step and flipped his hat around. How did he get so big? And how did he learn to pose? :)

"I Windy"

Words spoken by a 2.5 year old feeling the wind in his face! I love his perspective and am completely prepared for "I windy" to take on many different meanings as he ages...

A relatively low key weekend! Discovered Micke Grove Park in Lodi, definitely worth the drive! And a little time at my computer to just do what I wanted to! Love those weekends.

Here's a glimpse of a few accomplishments (credits and journaling here)

POTD 030108

POTD 030108, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Ian flew a kite today for the first time! He LOVED it! He needed a little help from dad of course!

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss

Happy Birthday Dr Seuss, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Ian's shirt made us all LOL!

POTD 022908

POTD 022908, originally uploaded by sheakey.

It's beggining to look like spring!

POTD 022808

POTD 022808, originally uploaded by sheakey.

Look what I found in the produce section today!

POTD 022608

POTD 022608b, originally uploaded by sheakey.

How did he possibly grow so quickly? How is it that he looks more like a boy and less like a baby?

POTD One of The Herd

One of The Herd, originally uploaded by sheakey.

One of Ian's many dinosaurs. This one was from his Mumzy.

About A Boy's Mom

I'm pretty simple.

My sheets don't coordinate with the duvet that covers them. My child's bed has sheets that covered my bed that also happen to fit his. My house is a mismatch of furniture purchased here and there over time when I was in a not so frugal mood, but not so wild as to buy sets of anything (other than the dining room, which happened in a week pregnant moment) My walls are all the same ugly color of off white. There are about 2 pieces of art and 6 photos hanging in the entire house. My desk is a cluttered mess. My "office" (aka breakfest nook) frightens even me. and I haven't "worked" in it in months opting for my space in the living room instead.

There are typically goldfish under the couch and in every available nook and cranny in the car. There are more toys and books in my living room than anything that might be called home decor. I wear black, red, or black...and usually just the same 5 things interchangeabley since I don't see the same people more than once or twice a month. (except of course my neighbors, but they've seen the inside of my home, so my dress should come as no surprise).

I don't buy paper towels. Or paper napkins. Or well, much of anything that can't be ordered via Amazon.com prime and lately thru subscribe and save. I haven't been to "the mall" in almost 2 years or to Target for almost 2 months and don't even get me started on the W place. I take my own bags everywhere and if I forget I just carry what I buy in my hands. People think I'm weird.

So...what does this all matter?

I've been dabbling in the world of scrapbooking for a while. And if you run with the stereotypes of that world, well, I just don't really fit. Except I'm a crazy mom who wants to grab every possible moment with Ian and write it down so that somehow I'm preserving that little guy who has changed my world in more ways than I could ever imagine. I want to remember today when he said, "big boy underwears pants" and then proceeded to announce that he was "stinky" in those bbup's. I want to recall the smell of his little head after a bath and the look in his eye when he spies me across the room at "school" at the end of the day. It is an obsession. It feels like if I don't capture it at this moment, somehow some little portion of him will disappear.

So...that dabbling grew to an entirely new level when I discovered the online world of digital scrapbooking at www.designerdigitals. That grew into a community of people, a community of friends, a very safe place. We've chatted, shared ideas, thoughts, and the moments of our worlds that we are all working so hard to preserve. Then (probably because I bugged them so much with all of my posts, they couldn't stand it) I was selected to be part of their Creative Team. I'm still just in a little shock over that one! Now, not only am I obsessed, but now I've agreed to scrap for them! Then add to that I thought I'd try a little magazine submission just for kicks! And well...seems Simple Scrapbooks and Digital Scrapbooking Magazine both liked a little of my work! And they're paying me for it! Crazy!!

So that brings me to the point of this very very long post! I got an email from the VERY talented Debbie Hodge and she asked me to design for her Scrap Yourself class at NYCScraps. Wow! Stunned again!

And my sheets don't even match my duvet!

2.5 YOL Perspective

After a quick weekend trip to visit family we are all just sitting around this afternoon recuperating from a total 7 hours in the car.

Ian and Shea are watching Ice Age. They reach the part where the baby and dad reunite.

Shea says, "he found his dad."

Ian says, "where's his car?"

Ahh the perspective of a 2.5 year old!

Steamers

steamers, originally uploaded by sheakey.

This photo is not really about Ian...but in a way it is. Before Shea and I were married we would ride our bikes here and have a coffee on Fridays afterwork. That was 12 years ago. Since then we've taken family and friends and Ian. It wasn't a great place. The service was bad. The food was okay. The coffee was okay. But so many memories connected to it. I remember watching tourists walk by with Shea. Drinking tea there with my Aunt and my Mom. I recall spending time there with my inlaws when Ian was just tiny. And so many great talks with Shea about our future.

And today I discovered it has closed. So sad.

Yummy - POTD 2

Yummy, originally uploaded by sheakey.

He's such a nut! He would live on ice cream sandwiches alone if we let him! He willingly stood in our "light spot" and let me take this, then insisted he "see Ian."

This might also be his cat imitation as he's decided he is now a cat. He crawls around, purrs, meows, and was caught today eating out of his bowl just like a cat would...

We don't even have a cat!

Flickr

This is a test post from , a fancy photo sharing thing.

Day 1 -- Photo A Day

A group of us from http://www.designerdigitals.com/ are attempting a photo a day for 30 days challenge. I'm going to post mine to Flickr so that this blog continues to be about a boy!

Ian did give me these buttons yesterday as a late Valentine's day gift so they seemed a fitting start to the 30 days! I had been talking about how much I loved "stringing" buttons with my Grandma when I was young. My mom gave me buttons after I mentioned it to her and then Ian (somehow) discovered Ebay and bought these for me! They are all red except for that one sweet heart! The best part? They are all really used older buttons! Scratched, string attached and a few here and there with little bits of the clothing they fell off of! I love them!

qotd 2-16 and a layout!

"where's my cake?!"

spoken at the birthday party we went to today, the birthday party we went to last weekend, and certain to be heard again at next weekend's birthday party. yes not only does ian want his cake...but we've entered birthday season!

and a layout

Credits

QOTD 2-13-08

"I Good"

In response to:

"Come to dinner Ian"..."no momma, I good"

"Want to walk like a big boy Ian?"..."no I good, you carry me"

"Ready to get out of the bath?"..."no I good"

QOTD 2-12-08

"hi mommmm-eeeeeeeeeee"

his greeting this week (even to daddy sometimes)

"i got you momma"

his invitation to chase him throughout the house, usually with tickles

"park go nigh nigh"

After realizing that it had taken us so long to get to the park after running into at least 3 people we knew that we were not actually going to play at the park. He said about 50 funnier things today, but I'm tired and can't remember them now...

Early Vday Present For Shea!

Click here to view this photo book.

QOTD 2-11-08

"Someting to eat zebra? Zebra hungry!"

At the zoo today because of course the zebra must be hungry!

QotD 2-10-08

"Get crazy and run"

(as we arrived at Southside Park early this morning)

Friends and Fun

This has been a really good week! It was one of those weeks filled with activities, but not so many that you are left feeling like you need a break from it all! Just the right balance!

Ian and I went to Lisa Phenix's music class on Wednesday. He as in rare form, singing, dancing, greeting everyone! He got so excited when Addy arrived announcing to everyone, "look Addy's here!"

After music we went to the park with all of the kiddos. So glad to have sun and a little warmer weather this week! LOVE this photo! (and yes I'm emailing it to you right now Charleen)

Credits here

Birthday party for Fin today! Ian's phrase of the day, "where's my birthday cake?" He understood the birthday part but was just a tad confused about whose party it really was!

Now just quiet here...love that time of day :) Oh...starting tomorrow I'm only blogging Ian phrases...so check back for all of the crazy funny things that come out of the mouth of a 2.5 year old! (and a few photos too)

Arrrrr

Avast matties...have ye seen me son?

Rock Out!

While the rest of America was watching the Superbowl, Shea Ian and I were rockin' out with Dan Zanes! What a great time! A little overwhelming for Ian with all of the people, but after a few songs he warmed up to what it was all about! He danced, sang, clapped and had a great time!

He even jumped up and down on my lap to the song "jump up" and when it was done threw his hands up in the air and yelled "wooohoo!" What a great first concert experience.

I didn't take my camera because of their "no camera" thing at the Mondavi Center so only have blurry photos from my new phone. There were so many flashes going...I wish I'd brought my real camera...but I still have the memories. The red jacket is Dan, the black blob on the right is me and you can just see Ian's head to the right of mine! Well...now that I look again, I don't think you can see Ian at all. But he really was there! Good times!

Disclaimers...

My brother is really a lovely lovely gentleman very intellectual, kind, caring, and spends much of his time volunteering, saving the earth, riding his bicycle, helping little old ladies cross the street, entertaining his nephew, and he recycles!

And

The 5 cupcakes were mini cupcakes...

So I'm really not a bad sister or mom...right??!!

Sweet!

Wow...I missed this entire week! Not sure how that happened!

Just when I was frustrated that there was NO LIGHT for good photos...the sun came out! And so did Ian's tongue. After eating about 5 cupcakes!


Have a good weekend. I'll be better next week!
*********************
And Michelle...
The Wow photos were me flying into IronForge (woohooo you) and right before the exit of DeadMines!

The Countdown Begins!

Just 8 days until Ian goes to his very first concert!! Can't wait!! We're prepping him for it all this week.

The Story Of Wow

Not gone after all! I found the long version!

Michele asked about "The Game" so I have to answer :)

*******warning*****big geek fest follows, read at your own risk******************

Shea started playing the game in 2005 after watching my brother play it in our house from the day it was released. Justin (my bro) is the biggest game nerd ever! He's one of those regular looking guys who, if he had his way, would do nothing other than play games and run! We were "wow'd" by the graphics and Shea needed something to do ( since he was a new teacher and had so much free time??!!?)

While I was pregnant with Ian I'd sometimes watch Shea play eventually creating my own character on his account. I'm such a goob, I couldn't play it close to bedtime though since it would give me really weird dreams! After Ian was born I set up my own account (because I had so much free time with a newborn???!?) and got hooked.

Last summer I stopped playing...just went cold turkey. Just wasn't feeling the love. Had a level 64 Paladin and level 62 Priest...all Alliance...Cenarius server :)

Shea reached that point this week. Just too much time doing nothing he said, so plug now pulled!

We'll see if it lasts! And for nostalgia here we are...and I'll know how much you play if you can name the locations :)
**And Michelle we fit it in by having no life and a child that slept a lot!

WOW

Well...I wrote this long beautiful post about the origin of WOW in our lives and silly blogger had an error and now it is gone. Being unmotivated to write it again I'll just say, it was my brother's fault that we started. We didn't play as much when it was warm. And we both quit (at different times) because it just felt like so much wasted time (even thought we enjoyed that waste :))

Not nearly as interesting a post, but it's done!

And a picture of me...

Depths of Bad Parenting

So here is where it all began...2 years ago today. He now calls it "the game" and asks to "watch game" so dad can "hurry things" or make them "go nigh night." Withdrawals will now set in I'm certain since dad has decided to stop playing.

Oops! Weekend Off!

I completely forgot to post over the weekend! Not for lack of sitting at my computer though. In fact we had one of those quiet stay at home weekends. Ian has a little cold so we laid low except for a trip to order him shoes.


Yes, he's spoiled! I don't even order shoes for myself...shoot I seldom buy shoes for myself. I ordered him shoe's from Justin's store because I can't bear to really shop and I don't want to try to explain to an almost 2 1/2 year old why I don't want him to have shoes with that silly train on them! So here's what he has on order, expected to arrive in a week or so.


I think I found the house I want to live in for a very very long time...but I can't talk about it yet.


Happy MLKJ day!

The Public Has Spoken

So 3 of my 4 blog readers have spoken...so back to the old look! I kept the banner for you Rosie so at least you know you're in the right spot! Tell those grand kids of yours to buy you a bigger monitor!! :)

Rockin Playdates and Living Rooms Near You

Today was one of those great laze around the house with Ian days. No real plans, nothing to do but enjoy each other's company. We stacked, we laughed, we chatted, we knocked stacks over, we read, we danced, we napped, we ate. Just a good day!

I think he enjoyed being home today after our adventure yesterday. We spent the morning at Matthew's house for a playdate. He had a lot of fun but was one tired guy when we were done! (still so fun that I've reconnected with "little Todd" from high school...and that the kid I babysat back then now has 2 kids of his own!!)
We ended our day with a crazy RockBand fest at Justin's apartment. Shea on drums, Justin on guitar, me on vocals, Ian on anything he could get his hands on! Let's just say I ROCK! :) LOL

New Look?

So trying a new look. What do you think? Somehow the sidebar fell down...I'll rescue it later!

I Wuv You Very Much

Ian and I have had a bedtime ritual for the last few months. Shea gives him a bath and after drying him, Ian runs (naked) into the living room as he squeals any number of things. I then give him a big hug, kiss his wet little face, bounce him up and down a few times and then hand him back to Shea for pj's and a diaper.

Then Shea carries him to bed and if all goes well he sleeps. On that trip into his bedroom I've always said, "Goodnight Ian. I love you."

He always responds with something with a little prompting from dad.

Tonight, without prompts, he said. "Goonight momma. I wuv you very much."

WOW! He makes my day :)

Oh No! The Sky Fell

Today when we got out of the car to take Ian to "school" he looked up and said "oh no, the sky fell." I like that perspective on fog :)

It's Official!

So I was officially invited today to be a permanent member of the Designer Digitals Creative Team! Woohoo! So excited about that. They are a creative group of talented ladies. Ian is going to have a well documented life :)

And I have a layout featured on DiSc Talk Radio tomorrow!

What a Swinger!

A big day at our house today! Ian was able to "pump" the swing all by himself. So proud :)

Ian At His Best

Obsessions!

So I've been scrapbooking a lot! In fact it has been a little bit of an obsession.

Here are a couple from the week...

Oh...and that sleep number bed? Figured out that the control is backwards from the bed...that just doesn't make sense!

Books On Children

Over 2 1/2 years ago (aka before Ian was born) a lovely person I was doing some work for gave me a list of books that she thought would be helpful as he gets older. I've been shuffling that list around my desk for those 2 1/2 years (including moving it from apartment to house at one point). I'm throwing it away today...but thought I'd leave the great contents of it, along with her comments,here for posterity :) (and eventual links to amazon)

Parents:

• A Good Enough Parent, Bruno Bettleheim
• Practical Tricks on How to Put Baby's Clothes on, Nutrition, etc, Pamela Leah books
• How to Talk to Your Kid so Your Kid Will Listen, and Listen so Your Kid Will Talk
• At The Threshold, academic tome but excellent reading about adolescence
• Series -- Your One Year Old, Two, Three, etc
• The Courage to Raise Good Men

To Read to Your Kids:

• Goodnight Moon
• The Runaway Bunny
• Charlotte's Web

Videos:

• The Secret of NIMH
• Grandfather's Magical Toys
• Winnie The Pooh

Now my desk is cleaner and I'm closer to Amazon's "1-click"

Home!

It is a really good place to be!

What's Your Sleep Number

I'm sitting in a hotel in San Bernadino wondering exactly that! A sleep number bed in a hotel? Yep...probably sounded like a great idea and I have to admit I thought how cool is that when I saw it. After one night's sleep I have to say without knowing my "number" I had a pretty yucky night's sleep. I'm not a 25. I'm not a 50. Tonight I'm going for 100...all the way...wish me luck!

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

Thank you CNN...I hadn't actually heard Barack Obama speak...WOW can he! Now my indecision just grew, but I need more details...and so little time! Tomorow I return to my sheltered nontelevision tainted life!

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

Oh...Amanda...they offer you the truck "upgrade" when you arrive at Enterprise RentACar when you arrive at 630PM on a Monday night and they've already rented every car on the lot and you are lucky to get anything at all!

Minivan or a Truck?

I took the minivan...and it made me feel old, but it felt like home.

Longest I'll be away from the boys and I miss them a lot.

Pantsless Pete

So in addition to refusing to wear pants most of the day, Ian must have said the phrase "watch me mom" about 10 times.

Back to work tomorrow for everyone in our house...so not ready!

Not The One

First one we've looked at. Lots of space complete with lizards and bugs in the bathroom, but the telephone pole in the front yard and weird vent thing in the strange bedrooms just weren't for us!

And yes...I took my camera!

Still Above Water

What a blustery blustery day! It was a good excuse for Ian to get his boots out...probably for the last time! He liked the boots but not being outside!

Special Bed

Well...it isn't very special, but he is sleeping in it as I type! Of course it took 3 hours and complete exhaustion to get him to sleep...it will get better, right?

And another page from today. Photos from October.

Right There!

Today Ian moved into his "special big boy bed." Moved may not be exactly the right word. He was fine for a while until he realized it was the real deal then he began to cry "mommy's bed, it's right there! mommy's bed!" Even after I layed beside him and tried to convince him that mommy was better than mommy's bed he continued with the crying "it's right there" but now added pointing just in case I'd forgotten which direction it was!

So...I caved as the crying escalated! He's now sleeping soundly in mommy's bed which is right there!

I'll tell you the Love You Forever story, but I can't right now. It will make me cry (again)

And on a lighter note.... Not only does being a DD Guest CT mean I get to see things "behind the scenes," I also get goodies! Woohoo.

Happy New Year!

This year is off to a great start! We are healthy, happy and have officially rated our year...

8-Health
5-Social (we need to connect more with old friends)
9-Relationship (we need to go out on dates more)
7.5-Family (all good just need to see Kirin more!)
9-Financial
5-Physical (needs no explanation)
8-Professional
9-Fun

7.56 Total not too bad!

AND...I was selected as a Guest Creative Team Member at Designer Digitals! SO excited about that. It was a month of doing layouts to earn the spot! So many talented ladies there. Here's my gallery.