Houston Zoo Trip

I was a mother. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to cry. I felt such pride, such and incredible sense of wholeness. - Diahann Carroll

Here I am!! Finally back on blogger!!

I recently did my first big adventure with both my boys. We went to the Houston Zoo. Matthew my oldest LOVED the trip!! He had a blast except at the end of the trip he got bitten by a turtle. He tells everyone the story he says "turtle, bite, medicine." Yes, we got him some topical cream to prevent an infection and he calls it his medicine. He's doing fine and we'll make another trip to the zoo soon!

I'm loving having two. They are both rockin my world in a good way :-)

Ten Random Things about me!!

(from my friend "A Mother's Journy" Blog...)

1. I'm extremely clumsy. I've fallen and bumped into things on a number of occasions...quite embarrassing...

2. I'm fussy and picky when it comes to my food...it has to be just so. Only my husband could deal with such foolishness.

3. This one is strange...I'll only get out of bed on an even number. i.e. 7:10 not 7:09.

4. I’m a terrible speller. Thank goodness for Spell Checker though, I think I've broken it a couple of times.

5. I am crazy when it comes to ironing. I like to iron everything. I've calmed down since having a baby...just not enough time...

6. While most people crave things like chocolate...I get weird cravings for fruit. One evening after work I almost had a mental breakdown for an apple. My husband asked "where are you going?"...And, I marched out the door telling him "I had to have an apple!"...then I walked (when we lived in California) about two miles to the grocery store to satisfy my craving.

7. I had a belly button piercing. I actually got it later in life, not as a teen. I got it after having Matthew. To me - it was my reminder to always take care of myself (my body) by eating healthy and trying to exercise. It's crazy how some people take better care of their cars then their own body. I took out my piercing since my current pregnancy...perhaps I'll do it again??

8. I love going to bed early with my husband, crawling up and watching "Outer Limits" or a movie in bed.

9. I love getting my hair cut, styled, or just played with.

10. I love shopping even for grocerys and when I get an awsome deal, I get a natural high!

Now that you've read my random things - try this yourself??

Simple Pleasures

I like to find pleasure in simple non-materialistic things. Here are a few everyday simple pleasures that bring me joy!

• A Kiss from a loved one!
• Listening to my not even two year old count to 10 in the car as we drive along.
• Watching my son try and sing and do the actions of a song at story time.
• Watching my son play and giggle with his friends.
• Watching my husband plant a banana tree in our backyard.
• The smell of fabric softener on a load of towels.
• A good nights sleep free of any awakenings.
• A phone call from my husband just because he wants to talk to our son.
• My husband letting me sleep in on the weekend, while he watches our son.

Remember To Dance!

My cousin (a fellow stay at home mom) sent me this today in an email. I'm not much for forwarded "crap" but, this one is profound.

Too many people put off something that brings them joy just because they haven't thought about it, don't have it on their schedule, didn't know it was coming or are too rigid to depart from their routine. I got to thinking one day about all those people on the Titanic who passed up dessert at dinner that fateful night in an effort to cut back. From then on, I've tried to be a little more flexible.

How many women out there will eat at home because their husband didn't suggest going out to dinner until after something had been thawed? Does the word "refrigeration" mean nothing to you? How often have your kids dropped in to talk and sat in silence while you watched 'Jeopardy' on television? I cannot count the times I called my sister and said , "How about going to lunch in a half hour?" She would gas up and stammer, "I can't. I have clothes on the line. My hair is dirty. I wish I had known yesterday, I had a late breakfast, It looks like rain" And my personal favorite:"It's Monday." She died a few years ago. We never did have lunch together.

Because We cram so much into their lives, we tend to schedule our headaches.. We live on a sparse diet of promises we make to ourselves when all the conditions are perfect! We'll go back and visit the grandparents when we get Steve toilet-trained. We'll entertain when we replace the living-room carpet. We'll go on a second honeymoon when we get two more kids out of college.

Life has a way of accelerating as we get older. The days get shorter, and the list of promises to ourselves gets longer. One morning, we awaken, and all we have to show for our lives is a litany of "I'm going to," "I plan on " and "Someday, when things are settled down a bit." When anyone calls my 'seize the moment' friend, she is open to adventure and available for trips. She keeps an open mind on new ideas. Her enthusiasm for life is contagious. You talk with her for five minutes, and you're ready to trade your bad feet for a pair of Rollerblades and skip an elevator for a bungee cord.

My lips have not touched ice cream in 10 years. I love ice cream. It's just that I might as well apply it directly to my stomach with a spatula and eliminate the digestive process. The other day, I stopped the car and bought a triple-Decker. If my car had hit an iceberg on the way home, I would have died happy.

Now...go on and have a nice day. Do something you WANT to...not something on your SHOULD DO list. If you were going to die soon and had only one phone call you could make, who would you call and what would you say? And why are you waiting? Make sure you read this to the end; you will understand why I sent this to you. Have you ever watched kids playing on a merry go round or listened to the rain lapping on the ground? Ever followed a butterfly's erratic flight or gazed at the sun into the fading night? Do you run through each day on the fly? When you ask "How are you?" Do you hear the reply? When the day is done, do you lie in your bed with the next hundred chores running through your head? Ever told your child, "We'll do it tomorrow." And in your haste, not see his sorrow? Ever lost touch? Let a good friendship die? Just call to say "Hi"? When you worry and hurry through your day, it is like an unopened gift..Thrown away.... Life is not a race. Take it slower. Hear the music before the song is over.

Happy Father's Day to my Husband and Matthew's Daddy!

A little blog to recognize our favorite person! Just a some of the things we love about you!

• You're a good teacher and leader.
• Reading Time
• Playtime!
• You protect us
• You always think about our future
• You are a very good provider.
• You always want the best for us
• Dreaming with you
• Vacations with you
• Pillow wrestling with Matthew and daddy!
• Sunday afternoon adventures with Daddy
• The way you treat mommy like a princess.
• Snuggle time with you.
• Watching Outer Limits with you.
• Laughing with you

*To be continued....Outer Limits time!

Father's Day Craft

Matthew and Daddy! Chris gets Matthew out of bed most every morning. This picture was taken last weekend while they were playing after Matthew woke up. I overheard them on the baby monitor. Chris was teaching Matthew a new word....it was FART!!! Yes, yes, oh my, and to think I have another boy on the way! Boys will be boys I guess :-) And, I do love my boys even though they can be a lil gross at times!!!

Father's Day is next week and we're getting ready!!!! On Friday I took Matthew to a craft day hosted by MOMs Club. We made a craft for his daddy! It's really very easy and cute! All it takes is a small tub of Play-Doh. And, all you do is use a rolling pin to roll out the Play-Doh into a circle shape. While doing this I let Matthew play and explore with a little Play-Doh while keeping a close eye on him. At his age (21 months) you have to be careful they don't put it in their mouth! Then, have your child press their hand print into the rolled out Play-Doh. This part may take a couple of attempts - Matthew liked to try and grip the Play-Doh while doing this. But, on the third try we got it! I helped him push his hand into the Play-Doh to get a good impression. Once this is done, use a tooth pick to write "Happy Father's Day". We also put the date and Love, Matthew on the work of art! And, finally bake it in the oven on wax paper at 375 for an hour. Keep an eye on it while doing it - I actually only had to put ours in the oven for 45 minutes. Another option is let it air dry but, this could take a week!

Next week Matthew will do a Father's Day treat for his daddy at story time. I wonder what it will be?!?!? We have story time every Wednesday! This past week I signed Matthew up for the summer reading program. It's very neat and best of all free! Children from birth through elementary school read books or are read to. Incentives (bookmarks, door hangers, etc are the reward for reading . And, at the twenty book a little trophy is awarded! Encouraging reading is so important for children, as it helps them develop a vivid imagination!

A Fever for My Lil Boo

Matthew had a fever last night so, not a fun night! He slept pretty well all considering. But, putting him down for the night was a little more difficult then usual. I normally let him put him self to sleep once his routine for the night is done. But, last night I lingered a little longer then normal laying beside him in bed. I worried he needed a little extra comforting with his fever. I have to admit I do love just laying next to him in bed. But, I don't want to spoil him and have him resentful when the next baby comes because I can't linger as long. He always smells so nice at bedtime after his bath, smells of baby shampoo and lavender. After about twenty minutes of laying with him, he drifted off to sleep. As I made my way out of his room (about 9pm), I took one last look at my baby - he really is growing up too fast - In his big boy bed all ready!

He awoke again around 5:30am with a fever. Chris and I gave him some Motrin and I tried unsuccessfully to get him to go back to sleep. So, Lil Boo was up out of bed around 6am this morning. He is napping now, he went down around 1pm, let's hope it's a good nap - he sure needs it!

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