My Spunky Monkey

Exciting News!

2008-08-28T15:57:00.007-06:00

Incase you didn't get the memo I am here to tell you that Rayce is going to be a BIG BROTHER! In turn I decided to start a new blog to have everything in one place. If you would please join us over there. Hurry on over you've already missed a lot.

lalasnest.blogspot.com

See you there!

Haircut!

2008-07-27T11:23:00.004-06:00

Whew! We have been so busy lately. I hardly have a second to blog anymore.

We took Rayce for a haircut last week because it was out of control with all this humidity lately. He needed it bad! It was bitter sweet. I almost had to excuse myself to go cry outside. My baby instantly looked like a little boy. Then when she started cutting his baby curls I got so teary eyed. Why do they have to grow up? Can't he just stay my baby forever? He's growing up too quick.

Before

After

Isn't he so handsome? I think he gets his good looks from his mom. ;)

Potty Training time!

2008-07-15T19:55:00.004-06:00

I think it’s time for pee-pee in the potty! Within the last week Rayce has been bringing me his diaper and wipes when he wants to be changed. LOL! He’s such a cleaver little guy. I think if I get on this potty thing right away, while he starting to show signs, I might actually see some results. Oy, wish me luck because I have never done this before. Only time will tell...

Saturday Social

2008-07-12T11:04:00.001-06:00

Have you seen any good movies lately?

What a great question! I haven't participated in Saturday Social in awhile but I saw a really good movie the other night so I had to jump in on this question. Ray and I have been trying to have a movie night together (at home) once a week so we have seen a few good movies lately. The other night we rented Gone Baby Gone with Morgan Freeman. Oh my it was good! It kept me on the edge of my seat and that is the kind of movie I like. If it doesn't grab me in the first 10 minutes, you might as well for get it. I will get up and start doing things. LOL! Another good movie I saw was recently was The Bucket List. Again, Morgan Freeman he is such a good actor. Those are the first two that come to mind. I've been into movies lately so who knows I might think of a few more. ;)

Visit the lovely Lisa if you'd like to participate in Saturday Social or click here for all the rules and details!

Happy Socializing!

18 months old + photo shoot!

2008-07-08T10:57:00.005-06:00

Wow, what a year and a half it has been! I could not be more blessed with the way things have turned out. Rayce has been a complete joy from the start. Sure he keeps me on my toes but I love every minute of it. I miss my once squishy, cuddly baby but he has grown into quite a character with a spunky personality. I absolutely adore him and I can’t believe how fast he is growing up.

One of our neighbors said to Ray the other day…”wow your baby is walking already?” Ray politely responded oh yea! Then she proceeded with “it’s seems just like yesterday when you had that it’s a boy sign in your front yard!” I instantly got teary just thinking of the day we brought him home and what an awesome feeling it was to be new parents.

I know I say it all the time, how blessed I am to have such a wonderful family but I say it all the time because I mean it. Life is good and I'm right where I've always wanted to be!

Happy 1 and ½ years on this earth Rayce! I cannot wait for many more…

Summer time!

2008-07-06T20:25:00.006-06:00

Whoa! It’s been awhile hasn’t it? I still am trying to get into the hang of things again after having my wisdom teeth out. I still feel real tired and just downright groggy but things are slowly improving. I have an appointment tomorrow to get my stitches out. I’m hoping all goes well.

Rayce is as busy as ever. He loves to open anything and everything and as a result I feel our whole house is taped up! He’s so curious it’s amazing. Also he’s starting to become more verbal. We’re hoping one of these days he will just take off with his talking. Still no “real” words yet but I know he has it in him. In due time, I guess.

Not much else is really happening. Just enjoying the summer weather and trying to stay cool. Rayce loves the water! I think we have a fish on our hands. I hope all is well in your neck of the woods!

Hugs,

He's come a long way!

2008-06-25T21:49:00.004-06:00

There was a point in time when Rayce saw someone other than mommy or daddy he would instantly become hysterical. I’m not talking cry for a minute and get over it hysterical, I’m talking hold his breath, turn purple, on the verge of need a paper bag kind of hysterical. It was bad and for awhile it made it really hard to go anywhere, but gone are those days. I’m so happy with my big boy Rayce; today he stayed with Grandpa Ray for four hours while mommy got her wisdom teeth out. They had a great time together and I didn’t get any frantic phone calls advising me that I needed to come home. It was nice for a change. I think I could get use to this idea! :)

Clapping, Pointing, Waving

2008-06-16T22:04:00.009-06:00

Finally, yes! At 17 months old I'm pleased to announce that Rayce is doing all the above. This may not seem like a big deal to some but if you have read some of my previous posts you know this has been a concern of mine for some time. At 9 months old I started to notice that Rayce was a little behind in some areas (mainly fine motor skills) and as time when on I got more and more concerned.

Ray and I have been working non-stop with him and it's nice to finally see results. He has been waving for a few months now. He loves to go bye-bye so whenever he hears "that word" he will wave. I wanted to be able to go to his 18 month check-up with a good report and this is definitely a step in the right direction. I knew he had it in him, I couldn't be more thrilled. :)

Father's Day

2008-06-15T10:23:00.002-06:00

Wow what a year it has been! Over the past year I have seen Ray grow so much as a dad. I get all teary just thinking about it. I couldn't ask for a better father for Rayce. I can honestly say Rayce is blessed to have Ray as his dad. He gives Rayce all the love and attention he needs it is truly amazing.

I wanted this year to be extra special for Ray, mainly because of all the sacrifices he has made for us this past year. So I let him decide what he wanted to do with his day. He wanted to go to breakfast together as a family and so we were all up and out of the door by 9:30**AM. The remainder of the day we spent with his dad which was really nice.

I wrote Ray a letter this year just to let him know what an awesome dad he is. I won't share it here but overall I think Ray had a fabulous day. Happy Father's Day daddy! I hope you know how much we love you.

**For those who know me real well know what a shocker that is in itself!

My crazy toddler

2008-06-11T11:06:00.003-06:00

The shenanigans this kid gets himself into is beyond me. This morning he somehow managed to get his tag stuck on a dresser drawer. All of the sudden he starting squealing, (which is nothing new) a kind I hadn't heard in awhile so, I quickly went to see what was going on and I found this...

How he got it caught on there is puzzling and the only way to break it free was to cut it. Go ahead see it for yourself! I couldn’t help but laugh and of course I had to take a picture. Every day is a new adventure with this kid, it’s truly amazing!

Big boy bath

2008-06-07T11:35:00.006-06:00

After almost 17 months of life Rayce has graduated to the big boy bath. I know, I know you're thinking, why so long? The truth is ~~I was secretly afraid of him drowning~~ it was more convenient for me. But do not fear the big boy bath is here…to stay! Rayce loves it and I can no longer deprive him of such fun. This just means one step closer to big boy-ness and another step lost of my baby-ness. I think I’ll go sit and sulk. Hehe.

Too cute for words right? I just love him.

Molars, Ack!

2008-06-03T11:28:00.002-06:00

This is the face of a molar teething toddler refusing to go to sleep. Looks fun right? For the past few nights Rayce has woken up whining, which is odd for him considering he has pretty much slept through the night since 9 months old. But, after a little rolling around and some help from Mr. Tylenol he’s back asleep and forgets anything ever happened in the morning. Whew! I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, teething is rough. These are his first molars so I will cut him a little slack this time. And, to top it all off he is cutting two molars at one time. Fun, fun!

In other new I’ve been working intensively with Rayce on expressing himself and using one word phrases to pin point what he wants. As a result his tantrums have decreased drastically. I couldn’t be more thrilled. He still has his days, which is to be expected but I’ll take any improvement I can get.

Also spending time away from the computer has helped as well. I feel like I have a better hand on things in general. I hope all is well with everyone.

Hugs,

Where has the blog gone?

2008-05-20T21:30:00.005-06:00

While browsing the Internet today I read this article on 5 minutes for mom , I instantly thought wow that’s me. I have run into a blogging speed bump! It seems I have lost my passion for blogging. I use to enjoy it so, now it’s the furthest thing from my mind. Lately my mind has been cluttered with tantrums, climbing, and keeping Rayce entertained. The only time I have to blog is when Rayce goes to bed at night, by that time I’m too tired. Sigh. I apologize in advice but hopefully I can push thru the blogging drought and be back into the swing of things soon.

Where's Waldo Rayce?

2008-05-12T10:32:00.000-06:00

Little stinker destroyed his room not 10 minutes after I finished cleaning it. I cleaned his room and proceeded to clean other parts of the house and I noticed it got strangely quite. So I went in to investigate and this is what I found. Notice, the table up side down, chairs thrown about, Mickey face down. What is a mom to do? Apparently nothing because I’m told this is typical boy fashion.

I recently read some encouraging words on babycenter.com about tantrums and toddler hood. The article read: your toddler may be easily overwhelmed by life's challenges and respond to them by dissolving into tears and screams. Don't ask him to stop — he probably can't. Instead be patient, available, and willing to offer him comfort or just your presence, whatever he seems to need at the moment. He'll get over it and be good as new if you just let him storm.

Ok great! I’m thinking that would work great a home but what about in public? Am I supposed to just let the storm pass while everyone stares? Because we all know people love to stare when your child is throwing a fit in the middle of a restaurant. I mean come on people as if it’s not bad enough, I don’t need an audience as well.

And he’s not even 2 yet!

Mother's Day

2008-05-11T21:00:00.003-06:00

To all moms: I hope your day was filled with lots of love and fun memories. I can't wait to do it again next year! ;)

16 Months

2008-05-08T18:55:00.004-06:00

Where, oh where, has my baby gone? I now have a full-fledged toddler living with me. Walking and running still top the agenda, but now more complex movements have become the norm. When he crosses a room, he'll squat to pick up an interesting toy. Soon I fear he’ll be ambitious enough to figure out how to push a chair over to the kitchen counter so he can climb up for a better look — all the more reason to make sure my house is as childproof as it can be. Rayce is changing and growing at such a fast pace some days I feel, I just can’t keep up. It’s pure craziness. Lord help me get through toddler hood, I need you like never before!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-05-07T00:06:00.001-06:00

©My Spunky Monkey-A cereal mess!

Woody Woodpecker

2008-05-04T17:56:00.004-06:00

My son is a woodpecker! That little sinker chewed up his crib. I guess teething got the best of him, he must have needed something to gnaw on pretty bad. It’s funny but it’s not, you know what I mean? Speaking of teething, Rayce still only has 8 teeth. It kind of looks like he has some coming through on the top but so far nada. Poor little guy, teething is rough. If it’s anything like wisdom teeth I feel his pain.

In other Rayce news: we’re trying to conquer tantrums. :/ I know it comes with his age and where he is right now developmentally but lord help me on some days. Rayce is one of those kids that you stare at, at the grocery store. He throws fits anywhere and everywhere. Yesterday we went to Lowes and he would not sit in the cart. Not only did he wanted to get out at walk around (which was fine) but he also wanted to push the cart on his knees. Imagine the looks I got from that one. Then after that blew over, he wanted to stand in the back part of the cart, not sit but stand! Oy! I tell you it has been a challenge but we will make it through, one way or another.

Little Climber

2008-05-01T12:06:00.001-06:00

Keeping up with a spunky toddler is anything but boring. He challenges me everyday and always has something up his sleeve. His favorite thing to do is climb. He can now get on top of the couch, coffee table, and his chair, un-assisted. He loves to stand up on anything, I think it makes him feel big! I know what you’re thinking, omg Laura, that is dangerous. The good new is he knows how to get down safely and we haven’t had a fall yet. From an early age I taught Rayce how to get off of things backwards, you know, feet first. So now, whenever he tries to get off of something he turns around and plants his feet first. Works like a charm! I love my little guy. Isn’t he growing up quick? Too quick!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-30T00:08:00.001-06:00

©My Spunky Monkey-I love my boys!

We're still on Top Momma

2008-04-28T08:41:00.006-06:00

Just incase you were wondering, were stil there! A big thanks to everyone who clicked but the job isn't done yet! What are you waitng for? Get busy clicking here! The more clicks my blog gets the better. Thanks again!

More on Vaccines

2008-04-27T11:52:00.009-06:00

While doing some more reading on vaccines I ran across this blog, the beautiful Raney family. I was immediately drawn in and moved to tears by little Noah’s story. His mom, Cassandra wrote:

"Noah has been diagnosed with PDD (Pervasive Development Disorder) with the possibility of falling on the Autism spectrum. By 18 months old he had acquired approximately 20 words, however, all at once he lost the ability to speak. For the last 9 months we have worked with Early Childhood Intervention with speech and occupational therapy. His speech is increasing slowly. I am keeping a running record of his vocabulary, although not all of them are articulated correctly he says them to the best of his ability."

She is almost positive that Noah’s PDD was triggered by vaccinations. Then she went on to share this article and once again I was moved to tears. The article read:

Written by Dr. Mercola:

"The U.S. government has now gone on the record saying that childhood vaccines can contribute to the symptoms of autism. They have then backtracked and stated that there is no association.

So which is it?

Well, by the time your child starts school he or she will have received more than 36 injections, including four doses each of vaccines for Hemophilus influenzae type b infections, diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis -- all of them given during the first 12 months of life.

And by then it may be too late for the CDC to make up their mind about whether or not vaccines can be dangerous.

In 1976, children received 10 vaccines before attending school, and in the early 1980s, the incidence of autism was 1 in 10,000 births. Today it is 1 in 150 births and still climbing.

Is there a connection between autism and vaccines? I’d say so. And a pretty obvious one at that. If you are interested in the science behind this connection, Dr. Russell Blaylock has written an excellent paper that provides a connection between excessive vaccination and neurodevelopmental disorders like autism that is definitely worth reading.

The Blame Game (read on here)

I encourage you to read the entire article and to become more aware of the dangers of vaccinations. I am by no means saying you should not vaccinate your child I’m just saying do a little research first and decide what is best for your family. I wish I had done research prior to vaccinating Rayce. With your help we can help get the word out there about the dangers of vaccinations. One size does not fit all especially when you're talking about vaccines.

Who knew?

2008-04-26T15:14:00.006-06:00

Rayce would still be entertained by his bouncer at 15 months old! I had it tucked away in the back bedroom and he discovered it and had a grand time in it. He loved it so much I had to take a few photos. He looked so big in it. I remember when he would drown in this thing. Ah the memories!

Saturday Social

2008-04-26T10:12:00.003-06:00

What do you plan on doing with your tax rebate check (economic stimulus package)?

My husband and I decided to half ours so he could do what he wants with his half and I could do what I wanted with my half. I have no idea what he will do with his half but I sure do know what I'm doing with my half! I plan to do a few home improvements, pay a few things, and save the rest. I'm super excited to have this extra money...it's like Christmas in April!! It can't get any better then that right!

If you'd like to participate in Saturday Social click here for all the rules and details!

Today I'm tagging Sammi t Stop by her blog if you get a chance. She's a mother of five including 2 sets of twins. Amazing!

Top Momma Part Deux

2008-04-25T07:59:00.008-06:00

Apparently I made the cut for Top Momma again only this time it wasn't I who submitted the entry. So let's give the a whirl, again! Would you be so gracious to VOTE for me?

Visit TopMomma.com look for this adorable monkey image
(you can't miss him)and click it over and over and over!! The more clicks I get the longer I stay up! So whatcha waiting for get to clicking! Hopefully, this time I can last longer then one day. Thanks in advance ladies!

Friday's Feast!

2008-04-25T07:12:00.001-06:00

Appetizer

Name something you would categorize as weird. My in-laws lol!

Soup

What color was the last piece of food you ate? Yellow

Salad

On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how much do you enjoy being alone? 10! I love being alone. I'm a total loner!

Main Course

Fill in the blank: I will ______ vote for ___________ in _______.

I have yet to decide on this one. :/

Dessert

Describe your sleeping habits. I sleep a lot! Only because I have trouble falling and staying asleep, causing me to feel not rested. Typically I go to sleep around midnight and wake at 8 am with Rayce. Then usually I require a afternoon nap, if I'm lucky!

15 month check-up

2008-04-24T17:51:00.002-06:00

Before I got abruptly cut off from my internet I forgot to give an update on Rayce’s 15 month appointment. He weighed in at 24.6 pounds and is 32 inches long. He is still down 2 pounds from where he was prior to getting sick so that was a little disappointing. Also he is developmentally delayed in fine motor skills and in his speech. His pedi didn’t seem as concerned as I was. She just said we would have him evaluated and nothing would probably come out of it. WTH? I guess because he is doing some things on target but not others. That would be my guess. I’m not as concerned about his fine motor skills as I am his speech because he doesn’t really say anything, at all. For awhile there he was attempting to say hungry but now he can’t quite get that to come out. So in the meantime I decided to delay some of his vaccines. Rayce stays at home all day with me. He’s not in daycare around a bunch of other kids and so at this time I felt it was in his best interest to hold off on the controversial MMR. At least until we get to the bottom of what is going on with him developmentally. When we get things figured out we will re-evaluate. Until then I guess that makes me a non-vaccine mommy. Although you may not agree I feel like this is the best for my child at this time.

Away

2008-04-17T12:52:00.001-06:00

I'm out of commission! For the time being at least. Hopefully I will be back soon. Hugs to all!

Saturday Social

2008-04-12T16:22:00.002-06:00

What do you do to help the environment?

This is definitely an area our house needs some improvement. Currently we don’t do much to help the environment. I know, I know! As far as recycling or cutting down on trash we don’t do it. I need to find our local recycling place because we don't have curb side pick up here. I do try and conserve energy whenever possible. I do not use lights unless it’s necessary. We try to conserve water whenever possible. We don’t have grass so we save there. I only run the dishwasher, when it’s completely full, so we save there. This is a great question! It’s definitely something to think about.

To participate in Saturday Social click here !

Wordless Wednesday

2008-04-09T00:02:00.001-06:00

©My Spunky Monkey-A walk in the park.

15 months

2008-04-08T14:21:00.003-06:00

Rayce is 15 months old today! He's a curious little guy. He likes getting into anything and everything. His favorite thing to do these days is to tear the house upside down right after mommy got done cleaning for 2 hours. I find myself constantly picking up after him because if I don't by the end of the night it looks like a tornado just got done blowing through here.

We have also been working on talking. Rayce has started to show more and more interest in talking so lately we have been working on that. So far he attempts to say hungry and bless you. He thinks it's the funniest thing when people sneeze and just the other day I caught him trying to say bless you after Ray sneezed. Too funny! Who thought their child’s first words would have been hungry and bless you?

On Thursday we are going for Rayce's 15-month checkup so stay tuned for that. For now enjoy a small slide show of some pictures from this weekend.

Mommy is sicky poo!

2008-04-05T21:20:00.002-06:00

So I caught whatever crud Rayce had. Please excuse my brief absence while I try to recover. Thanks for all the birthday wishes, I had a good birthday. Hope to be back soon.

It's My Birthday!

2008-04-03T00:06:00.001-06:00

On this 3rd day of April, 1979 I was born in to this world. Weighing in at a whopping 6 pounds. Little did I know what a chaotic life lie ahead. We all have our stories, I’m sure some worse then others but I can truly say my story has made me who I am today. I have been through so much and have yet to conquer it all but for now, I am content. I look forward to what tomorrow may bring. Live, Laugh, Love, and always remember everything happens for a reason.

Here are some pictures of me when I was younger. I use to be so cute! I'm sure you're wondering what happened? LOL! Kidding! A big thanks to my mom and Jay for providing these photos.

Happy Birthday to Me! Gasp! I can’t believe I’m 29! *tear*

I was tagged

2008-04-02T16:14:00.006-06:00

My list of 4's

I was tagged by my friend Vashonnte. She always has fun tags!

4 Jobs I've Had:
Cashier
Front Office Assistant
Accounts Recievable
Medical Receptionist

4 Shows on my TiVo/DVR:
Big Brother
Dancing with the Stars
Paradise Hotel 2
Oprah

4 Places I've Been:
Mexico
Colorado
Texas
California

4 Favorite Foods:
Tacos
Potatoes (of any kind)
Pecan Pie
Steak

4 CD's Recently Listened To:
Justin Timerlake
Chicago
Kelly Clarkson
Colbie Caillat

4 Things You Can Do to Make My Day:
Tell me you Love me
Buy me some shoes (LOL)
Take me to get a pedicure
Clean my house!

4 People I Tag:
Lisa, HolleAnn, Katie, Angie

Ten on Tuesday

2008-04-01T08:48:00.001-06:00

Ten Things I’d Fix in My Home (if I had the time and money)

1. More storage space
2. Re-do master bath
3. Get some new couches
4. Replace my entertainment center
5. New carpet throughout
6. Re-furnish the guest bedroom
7. New blinds
8. I need a new stove
9. Bigger refrigerator
10. Landscape my yard.

A girl can dream right!

Article by Dr Mercola

2008-04-01T07:45:00.000-06:00

It seems clear from watching the CNN video with Dr. Julie Gerberding, the CDC’s director, that they are looking to put the blame for rising autism rates on anything other than their overzealous vaccination schedule.

While they have admitted that vaccines can trigger autism, Dr. Gerberding is quick to say that it’s only in children with a “rare” mitochondrial disorder. Referring to the landmark Hannah Poling case, Dr. Gerberding claimed that Hannah's case was a rare incident with little relevance to the other autism cases pending in the federal “vaccine court.”

Since then, however, Dr. Gerberding and other CDC officials were made aware of a Portuguese study reporting that 7.2 percent of children with autism had confirmed mitochondrial disorders. Some now estimate the rate of mitochondrial dysfunction in autism to be 20 percent or more, and the rate among children with the regressive sub-type of autism is likely even higher.

If mitochondrial dysfunction can convert into autism in large numbers, then the connection between vaccines and autism could clearly be quite strong.

So much so that the CDC acknowledged they are aware of this situation and are “immediately taking measures to address the current national vaccine schedule.”

Yet, Dr. Gerberding made no mention of this on CNN.

She also did not mention that the current vaccination schedule has never been proven to be safe.

Health officials consider a vaccine to be safe if no bad reactions -- like seizures, intestinal obstruction or anaphylaxis -- occur acutely. The CDC has not done any studies to assess the long-term effects of its immunization schedule.

So no one knows whether injecting children with 14 vaccines in their first 24 months of life, plus the meningococcal vaccine, which is to be administered between the age of 2 and 6, is enough to overwhelm their systems and lead to neurological and immune system disorders. They don’t know, yet they are very adamant about keeping your children on this schedule -- and they make anyone who dares to question their logic out to be a quack.

Yet here’s something to chew on. One vaccine injected into a 13-pound, 2-month-old infant is equivalent to 10 doses of the same in a 130-pound adult.

This is an assault on your child’s nervous system and immune system, neither of which is fully developed. It’s no wonder, then, according to Dr. Russell Blaylock, that multiple vaccines given close together over-stimulate your brain's immune system and, via the mechanism of "bystander injury," destroy brain cells.

What else wasn’t mentioned in the interview?

Oh yes, that members of the CDC's Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) -- the one that promulgates a self-serving, one-size-fits-all vaccine policy -- are known to have ties to vaccine makers. And their compulsory vaccination schedule, that’s required of nearly every U.S. child who is entering public school, has made many of these vaccine makers rich beyond their wildest imaginations.

Vaccinating Your Children: How to Find Out the Truth

The CDC is clearly very confused about where they stand on this issue (or at least are pretending to be). So if it were me, I would not put the future health of my child in their hands, or the hands of a doctor who blindly accepts all of their recommendations.

Personally, I question the validity of most all vaccinations. But there is a middle ground, one that at least protects your child during the crucial time of their brain development. The most rapid period of brain development begins in the third trimester of pregnancy and continues over the first two years of life. By then, brain development is 80 percent complete, so it makes sense to wait until this time to give any vaccinations.

Dr. Donald Miller, a cardiac surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of Washington in Seattle, came up with this user-friendly vaccination schedule back in 2004, and it is leaps and bounds ahead of the CDC’s “one-size-fits-all” schedule:

1. No vaccinations until your child is two years old
2. No vaccines that contain thimerosal (mercury)
3. No live virus vaccines
4. The following vaccines should be given one at a time (not as a combination vaccine), every six months, beginning at age 2:

Pertussis (acellular, not whole cell)
Diphtheria
Tetanus
Polio (the Salk vaccine, cultured in human cells)
This schedule takes the best interests of the individual into consideration rather than what the government judges best for society. If your pediatrician does not like this schedule (and most won’t), I’d suggest finding a new one who does."

Sicky Poo

2008-03-31T15:25:00.002-06:00

Rayce has been sick yet again. It all started last week, he developed a fever on Thursday. His fever has been in the 102-103 ranges for 4 days now so I went ahead and took him in to the doctor again. Of course, as I suspected, she didn't find anything visibly wrong. She said to give it another few days and if he isn't better to start antibiotics. She's thinking that he might have drainage problems. If he keeps getting infections then we will probably have to look in to thing further. I'm hoping it all passes and I cannot wait for cold/flu season to be O-V-E-R! I'm sure you all know a sick toddler is not the finest thing on the block.

Just a swingin'

2008-03-30T22:03:00.003-06:00

It has been awhile since I posted a video of Rayce. This weekend we went to birthday party at the park and Rayce got some serious swingin' time in. I missed it because I was doing other things but daddy got it on video so, I thought I would share it with you all. He's such a big boy now, I can not believe how big he's getting. Enjoy!

Saturday Social

2008-03-29T10:59:00.004-06:00

Are you a procrastinator?

To an extent I am. I try not to be because it only makes things more difficult for me in the long run. But sometimes I just don’t feel like doing things so I guess it just depends on the day and my mood.

If you'd like to participate in Saturday Social visit Lisa! Or click on the badge above for details and rules. Today I’m tagging The Vasquez3! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

It's Friday!

2008-03-28T00:11:00.003-06:00

Appetizer
What does the color dark green make you think of?

The color dark green makes me think of pine trees. We used to go camping a lot when I was little and I always loved the smell of fresh pine trees.

Soup
How many cousins do you have?

Yikes, too many to count! It has to be somewhere in the 30’s.

Salad
On a scale of 1 to 10 with 10 being highest, how honest are you?

I would have to say a 9. I try to be as honest as I can most of the time but sometimes I fib with my husband or sister. Some things are just better left unsaid. Sorry!

Main Course
Name something that is truly free.

Wow! I don’t think anything in this world is truly free. I’m sure if I thought about it for a while I’m sure I could come up with something.

Dessert
Using the letters in the word SPRING, write a sentence.

Somebody Poked Ryan In the Nose he Gagged! Ha! That’s the best I could do.

That was fun! I think I will have to try Friday's Feast again!

Oh My Sweet Rayce!

2008-03-27T20:49:00.004-06:00

Once again Rayce you cease to amaze me as to the extent of the situations you get yourself in to. This is a picture of a gap in our screen door that Rayce managed to get his head stuck in yesterday. I turned my head for a split second and the next thing I heard was screaming, the kind of sheer terror. I looked over because I wasn’t but a foot from him and saw his head all twisted of sorts. Somehow he had got his head in the hole and couldn’t get it out. I frantically started yelling for Ray, he was outside in the back of the house, but he wasn’t coming fast enough. So I started yelling help, HELP! I couldn’t get his head out. All I imagined in that split second was having to call the fire department to free my screaming son for the screen door. Finally, Ray arrived, just in time for me to get it un-wedged. By this time Rayce is purple starting to turn blue, (he holds his breath when he cries) I’m trying to calm him down, while trying to explain to Ray what happened. Oy! Rayce is fine; he only had a minor scratch. I’m sure this won’t be the last of incidents to happen but I just can’t get the image out of my head. I just wanted to die.

I think it was all a conspiracy!

2008-03-27T11:19:00.001-06:00

I had more clicks then some of the pictures still on Top Momma. Oh well it was fun while it lasted. Thank you to everyone who clicked.

I'm on TopMomma!

2008-03-26T14:05:00.009-06:00

What is TopMomma you ask? It’s basically a site to help your blog get recognition and it’s also something to brag about. TopMomma has new contenders everyday. The more clicks your image gets the longer it stays up on the site. The longer your image stays up there the better. So help me stay up there for more then a day why dontcha!

Simply go to TopMomma.com, look for this image, click on it, or better yet click the I'm a Top Momma image above. Do it over and over again. I will thank you in the end!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-03-26T00:02:00.000-06:00

©My Spunky Monkey-a view from Rio Rancho

Ten On Tuesday

2008-03-25T15:28:00.002-06:00

10 Things to Do Before You Get Married

I'm going to make my list based on the 10 things I wish I had done before my wedding.

Marriage Counseling
Saved Money
Hired a Photographer
Made a seating chart
Set a timeline (I was late)
Picked a different bridal party
Got my hair done
Saved more money
Had a bridal shower
Focused more on the rest of our lives instead of just that one day.

First Real Word

2008-03-24T13:41:00.001-06:00

I’m pleased to announce that Rayce has officially said his first real word. Ready for it? No laughing! He says hungry! Of course he doesn’t say it just like that, he actually says “ungy”. Love it! He walks around all the time now saying ungy, ungy. I never thought this would be his first real word. I was thinking more along the lines of puppy or dog because he loves both. Oh well what can you do? Hungry it is!

I hope everyone has a great week. Our isn't starting out so good but I will save that for a separate post.

Happy Easter!

2008-03-23T14:34:00.004-06:00

We don't need the Easter bunny around here! I love this kid he's my cute bunny. I hope everyone had a great weekend, enjoying all the Easter festivites!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-03-19T00:00:00.001-06:00

©My Spunky Monkey- 3 Years ago today we said "I do!"

My Shamrock

2008-03-17T12:20:00.004-06:00

What Your Shamrock Says About You

You are brilliant, analytical, and somewhat of a perfectionist. You are ultra competent and knowledgeable.

At times, people find you intimidating. You can be a bit sarcastic and harsh.

You don't really consider yourself a lucky person. In your view, people create their own luck.

You are creative, innovative, and complicated. You definitely have a unique spin on the world.

Very interesting if I do say so myself!

The Shamrock Personality Test

Today's Mood

Shamrocky

Manic Monday

2008-03-17T00:02:00.001-06:00

If you could have any music group or musician play at a party, who would you hire?

Ooo that's a tough one! It would have to depend on what kind of party it was and who was attending. Maybe a little bit of Gwen Stefani or No Doubt. She/they put on a real good show.

Name three things to be happy about today.

Rayce

Nice weather

A roof over my head!

How do you release frustration?

Usually through cleaning and music. Then eventually communication.

Great questions this Monday! I hope everyone has a good week.

Saturday Social

2008-03-15T13:37:00.004-06:00

How do you like to spend your free time?

Considering I have a toddler, the only “free” time I have is when he’s sleeping or on the weekends when daddy is around. In that free time I enjoy doing many things. Probably one of my most favorite things to do would be surfing the Internet. Some would say I’m addicted to the Internet but I like to consider it a hobby. I love blogging, chatting on ClubMomma, revamping my Myspace, and shopping on eBay. On the weekends I like to get out and about and do girly things. Like shopping and going to get a pedicure. Believe it or not I also like cleaning house. I try to keep my house tidy and neat. With spring right around the corner, spring-cleaning is defiantly in full effect.

A big thanks to Lisa for hosting Saturday Social! If you would like to participate in this meme click the badge above for details and rules. Today I’m tagging Vashonnte! I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Today's Mood

Sneezy

Another update on Rayce

2008-03-13T10:44:00.002-06:00

This is the smiling face I woke up to this morning. What a difference 24 hours on antibiotics has made. Oh how I wish I had taken him back to the doctor sooner. I struggled with is he just going through a phase or does he really not feel good. I mean there’s so much talk about how your child goes through these “phases” of not wanting to sleep. Rebelling because of separation anxiety. Sometimes you just get caught up in trying to do the politically right thing that you forget to listen your mommy instinct. My mommy instinct told me something just isn’t right but little voice in the back of my head said to just wait it out. I feel so guilty that he suffered for over a week. Ah if only he could talk. Anyway, he’s a brand new kid! It’s like nothing ever happened. I cannot tell you how nice it is to have my monkey back. I think all the sleepless nights are behind us, for now at least. Hopefully now we can enjoy the beautiful springtime weather and get back to “the normal life”.

That's my monkey!

Infected Adenoid

2008-03-11T14:04:00.007-06:00

Since I got back from Las Cruces a couple weeks ago Rayce just hasn't been the same. We all look like zombies around here because we have been getting zero sleep. Rayce has been a mess. He refuses to lie down and just plain screams for HOURS. It once took him minutes to fall asleep and now we are going on 2-3 hours. It’s not just at night either it’s goes on for naptime as well. He's visibly tired; it's obvious something is wrong. So, I took him to the doctor again today. As you may recall I took him to the doctor last week because he mysteriously spiked a 104 fever well, I think this the answer to the mystery. The diagnosis is infected adenoid. So what are adenoids you ask? Your adenoids are a mass of lymphoid tissue situated at the very back of the nose, in the roof of the nasopharynx, where the nose blends into the mouth. Adenoids are part of the immune system. Like all lymph tissue, they trap infectious agents like viruses and bacteria, and they produce antibodies. My poor little guy. He also lost a pound since he was in last. His Pedi said at this point he should have been getting better instead of getting worse. I’m glad I took him in. Once again the mommies instinct was right. We got a prescription for amoxicillin and hopefully things will be back to normal around here in a few days.

Ten on Tuesday

2008-03-11T09:22:00.003-06:00

10 things I look forward to in the Spring.

BBQ's

warmer weather

spring cleaning

my birthday

flowers blooming

green grass

days at the park

rainy nights

planting flowers

FLIP FLOPS!!

A Cluttered Mind

2008-03-11T09:20:00.002-06:00

My mind has been so jumbled lately. I seriously can't even hear myself thinking these days. With Rayce being sick, I have found it hard to be able to sit down and write. Blogging has always been something that has come easy to me but that's not the case lately. It's starting to bug me, BIG TIME! So I decided to take a quiz just to see how cluttered my mind really is...

Your Mind is 63% Cluttered

Your mind is quite cluttered. And like most clutter, it's a bunch of crap you don't need.

Try writing down your worst problems and fears. And then put them out of your mind for a while.

How Cluttered is Your Mind?

Not as bad as I thought it would be but still something needs to change. REAL QUICK!

Today is Grandma's Birthday!

2008-03-10T08:11:00.001-06:00

We love you and I hope you have a great day!

Click here to see the rest of the photo shoot!

Manic Monday

2008-03-10T07:59:00.000-06:00

What's your favorite thing to spend money on?
Wow, that's a loaded question! I love to spend money but a few of my favorite things to spend money on are things for Rayce, clothes, shoes, and household items.

If you could retire tomorrow what would you do?
Buy a motor home and travel the country. There is so much out there I want to see.

Should anything be censored and if so, what and why?
I don't like censorship but I might change my mind on that when Rayce gets older.

Happy Monday! I hope everyone has a good one.

Let's Party!

2008-03-08T17:11:00.000-07:00

The Party has started! Hosted by 5 minutes for mom.com If you'd like to join in on the fun hurry on over here the fun has already begun!

Welcome to my Ultimate Blog Party! Come on in and stay awhile! I am so glad you stopped in. Can I offer you something to drink? How about one of my personal favorites?

A Margarita! What's a party without margarita's right? If this is your first time here, thanks for stopping in. Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Laura or sometimes known as Lala. I spend way too much time on the Internet and I love my full time job as a wife and a mom. I have a loving husband (Ray) we will be married for 3 years this coming March 19. Together we have a spunky monkey toddler (Rayce) he is 14 months old. Rayce puts the sunshine in my day and he is the inspiration behind my blog. I could go on and on about him but instead I will just let the blog speak for itself.

I first started blogging as a way to keep in touch with out of town family and friends but to my surprise, blogging has turned into so much more. I have met some great fellow mom bloggers and I always look forward to meeting many more. This is my first blog party so I hope you’re having a good time. Read some stuff, say hello, and don’t be afraid to click around! Oh and don’t forget to grab a bite to eat…what’s a party without food right?

Have a great weekend and don't forget to party on!

Saturday Social!

2008-03-08T16:27:00.005-07:00

My blogging friend Lisa who also happens to be the founder of ClubMomma has started her own meme called Saturday Social! Every Saturday she will have a new question for all of us to play along. To play along go here. Today's Saturday Social question is:

How long have you been blogging and what do you love best about it?

I first started blogging when I found out I was pregnant with Rayce in May of 2006. It was more of a journal that I used to keep friends and family up to date with all my pregnancy happenings. Then after my pregnancy was over I realized how much I missed journaling so, I decided to start this blog. I have blogging about Rayce and other happenings for about a year now. Blogging is so addicting. I love it because it has given me the chance to meet other blogging mommas that I probably wouldn't have met otherwise. It has also been an outlet at times; it’s just nice to have my own space to reflect.

Update on Rayce

2008-03-08T11:07:00.000-07:00

Rayce is feeling so much better. His sickness didn’t last as long as I thought it would. With the way things started out I thought for sure I was in for a rough road ahead but thankfully him being sick was short lived. Thank you to everyone who sent get well wishes. Rayce is still not 100% but we’ll take anything we can get! He’s back to playing and jumping around and that’s all that matters. I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Not so Wordless Wednesday

2008-03-05T16:27:00.002-07:00

Sickness has stuck and Rayce is down and out. He got a bad case of the junky cold stuff that is going around. He had a temperature of 104 yesterday so we went ahead and took him into the pediatrician. It was apparent that something was wrong because he looked horrible but there were no visual reasons for the cause of his fever. So, she took a few swabs from his nose, sent them to the lab, and sent us on our way. We should have the results by tomorrow but in the meantime it has been constant clinginess and whimpering around here. I apologize in advance to my blog readers and blog friends. Things might be a little neglected and boring around here until things get resolved. I hope everyone is having a better week then I.

Today's Mood

Going Crazy

Ten on Tuesday

2008-03-04T15:29:00.002-07:00

My 10 Favorite Drinks

Starbucks frappuccino of any kind.
Diet Coke
Crystal Lite
Margarita
Cherry Limeade
Coffee with creamer
Long Island Iced Tea
Wild Cherry Pepsi
Chi
Coconut Slush

Kind Things

2008-03-04T14:57:00.003-07:00

5 Things I do for myself.

Get proper sleep everyday.
Took a trip to see my granny.
Bought some spring time clothes.
Get a pedicure often.
Get a haircut.

5 Things I do for my huband and son.

Spend quality time with them everyday.
Love, love, love them.
Keep up with the house.
Laundry.
Feed their tummies!

5 Things I have done for a stranger.

Turned in a lost checkbook.
Gave back money that was dropped.
Let them cut in during traffic.
Anonymous donation.
Prayed for them.

I was tagged by my blog friend Vashonnte.

Here are the rules:

1. List five kind things you do for yourself.

2.List five kind things you do for your closest friend, partner or child.

3.List five kind things you have done for a stranger.

4. Have fun! (I added that one myself)

5. Tag five people.

I'm tagging Lisa, Angie, Not so perfect, Tommie, and Shera.

Grandmas Birthday photo-shoot

2008-03-01T22:29:00.000-07:00

Leap Year

2008-02-29T14:24:00.002-07:00

I've never really taken the time to think about Leap Year until today, I always considered it just another day. So this Leap Year I decided I was going to do some research and try and figure out just what it was all about. So why are leap years needed? Leap years are needed to keep our calendar in alignment with the earth's revolutions around the sun. It can go more in depth then that but that pretty much sums it up without boring you too much. I'll be hot damn! I learned something today and now you can say you learned something new today to! I hope everyone has a good weekend.

Today's Mood

Busy

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-27T07:57:00.002-07:00

©MySpunkyMonkey-Gotta love toliet paper!

New Wheels

2008-02-26T17:32:00.006-07:00

Rayce wants to show off his new wheels. Well, not really new, he got them for his birthday but it was nice outside today so we went for a walk. He was so fasinated by all the things passing by and all the dogs barking at him. I think it's safe to say he liked it!

And I liked it to! We are so ready for spring time and steady warm weather. It was so pretty outside today. It's time for green grass, flowers, pedicures, and flip flops. More sun shine also means sunglasses which Rayce isn't to thrilled about. He doesn't like to keep his sunglasses on but I tried to get a picture regardless. :/

So here's to warmer weather and hopefully more photos from outside to come!

Today's Mood

Tested

Ten on Tuesday

2008-02-26T12:44:00.003-07:00

Once again there's not anything good going on in the tabloids so, I thought I'd try something new!

10 Movies That You’ve Intended to Watch, but Haven’t:

No Counrty for Old Men

The Bucket List

Little Miss Sunshine

Pride and Prejudice

Blood Diamond

About a Boy

Alvin and the Chipmunks

Premonition

Spider Man 3

The Green Mile

That was fun!

Manic Monday

2008-02-25T11:09:00.003-07:00

How did you celebrate your last birthday?
For my last birthday my hubby had a party for me. We had a BBQ with family and friends. It was a good time!

What's the last thing you bought yourself, just for fun?
That's a loaded question for someone who is addicted to shopping! I bought myself a new pair of flip flops for spring time!

What would the child you once were think of the adult you have become?
Considering the childhood I had, I think the child in me would be proud. I think I’ve turned out ok. There’s always room for improvement but I have definitely learned to appreciate the finer things in life. Great question! It could go in so many different directions but I think I will just leave it at that.

Happy Monday! I hope everyone has a great week.

Today's Mood

Jittery

Linky Love

2008-02-24T15:12:00.006-07:00

Since starting My Spunky Monkey I have met some amazing blogging mamas and continue to meet new moms everyday. I love blogging, I love memes, and I love tags! To my surprise A Frog In My Soup tagged me and she happens to be the mom that did the design for my blog. If you get a chance check out her designs she does a wonderful job at a fraction of the price as some of the others out there. So without further adieu, Tommie, Vashonnte, and Not so perfect, I tagged you click here for the details! If I didn’t tag you and you would like to participate go on ahead! It’s a great way to get recognized and meet new moms.

Have fun and keep the Linky Love going!

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-02-22T09:19:00.002-07:00

1. One on one time is the best thing about traveling.

2. I love a good cup of coffee when I'm cold.

3. I often use my laptop.

4. I'm reading Women's Day right now; I like it.

5. My childhood is something I dislike talking about.

6. When I visited home I most looked forward to seeing my grammy.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to take out, tomorrow my plans include cleaning and Sunday, I want to do some shopping!

Happy Friday Y'all!

Straps? What straps?

2008-02-21T09:57:00.005-07:00

Rayce managed to wiggle himself out of his highchair straps. I tell you this kid learns something new everyday. He continues to test me, day in and day out. Now that he is walking everywhere he constantly keeps me on my toes. Some days I just can’t keep up with him. I’ll turn my head for a brief second and he’s into something that I’d never thought he’d be into.

On the flip side, it’s so neat just to sit and watch him learning new things. He’s so bright. He can now relates different things to certain words. For an example I’ll say, “are you hungry, do you want to eat?” and he’ll either look or walk over to his highchair. Some of his other favorites are hot and bye bye. He associates the word hot with the stove. He learned that one real quick because when I bake he likes to touch the stove and I always say no, hot. He also knows when I say “bye bye” to go to the door. I can see those chains turning in there. It’s so cute.

I love this kid, his smile truly sets me free!

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-20T00:01:00.002-07:00

Odds and Ends

2008-02-19T15:35:00.009-07:00

There's not really anything juicy in the tabloids today so I figured I just cover some of the odds and ends going on around here.

First thing is my flowers from Valentine'S Day have bloomed. They are oh so pretty!

Also Rayce got a package in the mail today from Grandpa in Las Cruces! Inside were some handsome Stride Rite shoes! I love love these shoes, they are some of the best made out there for babies. So cute!

Last but not least I wanted to share some pictures I've taken recently of Rayce. It's not easy to take pictures of him lately but I managed to get a few.

I think he's gonna be a vacuum repair man!

Look at all those teeth!

He loves his sippy!

I hope everyone is having a great week.

The Mom Song

2008-02-19T14:58:00.000-07:00

If you haven't already seen this video...you have to watch it! It's too funny!

Manic Monday

2008-02-18T19:02:00.000-07:00

What do you order when you eat Chinese food?
I'm not a big fan of Chinese but when I do eat it I like sweet and sour chicken w/o the sweet and sour lol and fried rice.

How much have you controlled the course your life has taken?
As an adult I have controlled it 100% but when I was younger well...that's a whole different story.

Whose opinion do you value when deciding how to vote?
There's two things I don't discuss over dinner, politics and religion. But I will say this, the only opinion I value is my own because half the time no one agrees with me anyway. :/

Happy Monday!

Today's Mood

Stubborn

Things that make you go hmmm

2008-02-17T14:13:00.004-07:00

Your Life Is Worth...

$407,500

How Much Is Your Life Worth?

So I'm not sure what the average life is worth but not too shabby I guess. :/

My Valentine's Day

2008-02-15T13:07:00.006-07:00

My Valentines day turned out better then I thought it was going to. Originally Ray and I agreed that we would make each other cards this year and do nothing else since money is kind of tight right now. Ray agreed but of course he always has something up his sleeve. My husband is so romantic; he always goes above and beyond for occasions. My day started out with a box of chocolates and a homemade card. I just loved the homemade card. It was so sweet and Rayce signed it to.

Ray left for class and I got some things done around the house, bathed Rayce and put him into his Valentine’s Day shirt. Then all of the sudden I hear a loud truck pull up, the gate open, and a knock at the door. I run to the door and no one is there. I hear a toot toot as the Fed Ex guy drives off. I go outside and there lays a box that says Pro Flowers. My eyes instantly tear up. I come inside and open the box and sure enough it’s flowers. The card inside reads: Happy Valentine’s Day sweetheart. Just a little something to show you we love you and we’re always thinking of about you. Love, Ray and Rayce. Isn’t that just the sweetest? By now I’m bawling, I’m such a sap.

To finish the night off we got take out and Ray insisted on making me my very own cake. I without a doubt love this man. Not because he got me all these things for Valentine’s Day but because he always goes out of his way for me. He’s constantly showing me that he cares and for that I love him so.

Today's Mood

Adored

Friday Fill-Ins

2008-02-15T13:00:00.000-07:00

1. Snowdrops are rare where I come from.

2. I'm going to take a walk today.

3. Because of You is a song whose lyrics have meaning to me.

4. Just one sip and I must have more.

5. Home is where I'm happiest.

6. I believe that trials is a necessary part of life.

7. And as for the weekend, tonight I'm looking forward to relaxing, tomorrow my plans include yard work and Sunday, I want to relax some more!

Happy Friday!

Happy Valentine's Day

2008-02-14T10:19:00.002-07:00

Flowers, candy, red hearts and romance. That's what Valentine's day is all about, right? Well, maybe not so much. The origin of this holiday for the expression of love really isn't romantic at all, at least not in the traditional sense. The story of how it all began goes something like this.

Valentine was imprisoned for his Christian beliefs, and while in jail, he restored the sight of his jailers' blind daughter through his faith and love for her. Before his execution, on the Feb.14. AD, Valentine sent her a note signed "From your Valentine." This phrase became the everlasting symbol of friendship, affection and sharing with others.

In 1537, Henry VIII, who had more cause than most for sending a Valentines note, established Feb.14 as St.Valentine's Day by Royal Charter, but it wasn't until printing techniques started to develop that the exchange of illustrated paper that Valentine's Day began to develop as we know it today.

Until today I’ve never really thought about the meaning behind Valentine’s Day. Whatever the story may be Valentine’s Day for me is always going to be about spending time with loved ones. I hope everyone has a great day!

Today's Mood

Loved

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-13T07:21:00.003-07:00

Tabloid Tuesday

2008-02-12T15:46:00.000-07:00

Accidental Death or Aggravated Murder?
At nine months pregnant Jessie Davis was reported missing on June 15, 2007 after her mother found her 2 year old son Blake home alone with bleach spilled on the floor and furniture broken and overturned. In televised reports, Davis' mother reported that the 2 year old son kept stating, "Mommy broke the table" and "Mommy's in the rug".

On June 23. Davis' body was recovered in a wooded area. Bobby Cutts Jr., Jessie's boyfriend and the father of her 2-year-old son Blake, led law enforcement to the body. Cutts was arrested and charged with two counts of murder on June 23, 2007.

Fast forward to today...

The jury could begin deliberations today in the Bobby Cutts Jr. murder trial, a day after the former police officer delivered a tearful version of what he described as the accidental killing of pregnant lover Jessie Davis.

Bobby Cutts Jr., 30, told the jury that he swung his elbow at Davis during a confrontation in her bedroom when she refused to allow him to leave her home. The blow to her throat, which he testified happened after she bit his finger, knocked her back, killing her as their 2-year-old son, Blake, slept, he said.

If you haven't already seen the video of his theatrical testimony, don’t bother. It’s pretty disgusting. The fact that this man probably watched her die and didn’t even bother to call 911 to save his unborn child just makes me sick. I hope justice prevails in this case. This man definitely needs to "go away" forever.

Today's Mood

Frustrated

Manic Monday

2008-02-11T07:00:00.001-07:00

In honor of Valentine's Day

What is the most romantic movie that you've ever seen?
The first one that comes to mind is The Notebook. Great movie. Another one of my favorites is Where the Heart Is.

If you could be the lover of any person alive other than your current lover, who would you pick?
Hmmm that's a hard one... Jk honey! I'm currently with who I want to be with. Boring I know but it's true.

What scents remind you of a loved one?
California Baby reminds me of my sweet Rayce.

Today's Mood

Talkative

Flashback Friday

2008-02-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

Exactly one year ago today Rayce turned one month old. He had his first photo shoot with mom and little did he know that photo shoots with mom would become a reoccurring event. Over the months we have tried to have monthly shoots, some turning out better then others but nonetheless, it has been fun. I encourage you to look back at past photo shoots, you will be amazed at the changes.

So much has changed since then. My once squishy baby is now a spunky toddler. We have over come some obstacles, some tougher then others. We have grown to learn what works best for us and are now accustomed to our daily routine. Being a stay at home mom has proven to be a lot more challenging then I ever imagined but it is so rewarding at the end of the day. I am right where I always wanted to be.

Today's mood

Refreshed

Awsome Thursday

2008-02-07T16:40:00.000-07:00

Ray had some things he needed to get done this morning so he took a few hours off this morning and as a result I had a glorious morning. I woke up this morning to breakfast in bed and I got to sleep in an extra hour. Not only that but he got Rayce up, dressed him, fed him breakfast, and put him down for his morning nap. It was heaven! At times my husband can be a real pain in my A$$, but it’s times like these that make me love him so.

I later asked him “what did I do to deserve this” because we totally had a b**ch out session last night. If anything I didn’t even expect him to say bye to me this morning. He just kindly responded, “It’s not because you were mean last night” and proceeded to smile.

From the start Ray has been an awesome dad. He has always been there when I’ve needed help with Rayce and has never had any hesitation. I love him for that. Can it get any better then that?

I hope everyone had a great day to, Happy Thursday!

Today's Mood

Fabulous

Wordless Wednesday

2008-02-06T08:49:00.000-07:00

Baby Thrown from Burning Building

2008-02-05T11:26:00.000-07:00

GERMANY— Trapped by smoke, the parents of a nine-month-old baby girl faced an excruciating dilemma: if they threw her out of the window, would she be caught four stories below?

The split-second decision paid off: Onur fell safely into the arms of a policeman below. The parents also survived, although the mother was still in a hospital Tuesday, two days after the blaze that killed nine people, including five children.

Can you imagine having to make that decision? What a horrible situation to be in. I'm just glad the story had a happy ending.

Today's Mood

Sneezy

Manic Monday

2008-02-04T07:52:00.000-07:00

Is there anything to serious to joke about? If so, what falls into that category for you?
Of course. If you can't seriously joke about somethings then life would just be dull. If kept in moderation, I think you can joke about everything.

Would you rather be a tortured genius or a happy simple-minded person? Why?
Happy simple-minded. Who would want to live a tortured life? Having a simple-mind means having a simple life. That's right where I want to be.

A dear friend or family member has a terminal illness and is in agony. He/she wants you to help him/her die. What would you do?
Wow, that's a tough one. I don't think I can honestly say until I'm in that situation. I can say one way or the other now but, I think until and unless it comes down to being put in that situation I really can't say. Sorry.

Today's Mood

In thought

Not so Super Bowl Sunday

2008-02-03T09:33:00.001-07:00

I'm not so into the Super Bowl this year. In fact I think this will be the first year in a long time that I'm not having a party or going to a party. I mean for petes sake the half time show is Tom Petty. Can it get anymore lame? Sure I will miss all those cool commercials and yummy munchies but lets face it, the commercials haven't been all that great the last couple of years and I surely don't need all those yummy munchies either.

We plan on having a fun filled day at Itz! If you've never been there and are ever in the area of one, you should go. It's a fun filled time!

Who knows, this just might become a Super Bowl Sunday annual event for us!?

Today's Mood

Childish

2008-02-01T13:00:00.000-07:00

R.I.P. "Grandpa Blue Chair"

You were loved and will be missed by many.

Today's Mood

sad

Linky Love

2008-02-01T00:38:00.002-07:00

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Linky Love Tag
The Strategist Notebook
Link Addiction
Ardor of the Heart
When Life Becomes a Book
The Malaysian Life
Yogatta.com
What goes under the sun
Roshidan’s Cyber Station
Sasha says
Arts of Physics
And the legend lives
My View, My Life
A Simple Life
Juliana RW
Mom Knows Everything
Beth & Cory’s Mom
A Mind Forever Voyaging
enjoying the ride
Jennifer’s thoughts
Mom of 3 Girls
Amanda
Don’t Make Me Get The Flying Monkeys
Ex
Pat Mom
Just Jessie
Wilson Six
Kristin
Nuttier Than You
Shonnte
Summer’s Nook
Laura Williams Musings
Melissa’s Idea Garden
Eve at Confessions of an Everyday Housewife
ChristiS of the Blah Blah Blog
Stephanie at Stop the Ride!
Diane at Soap, Blings & Girly Things
Amanda at Amanda:Mama’s Musings
Kristin at An Ordinary Life
Mama Zen at The Zen of Motherhood Atomik Kitten
The Sassy Southerner
A Room of Mama’s Own
Exploring Autumn
Immoral Matriarch: Catechizer
Real Life Boogiemum
Living and loving every minute of it
Huckdoll
The Daily Rhythm
The Rocky Mountain Retreat
Peace is Every Step
Life According to Lizzy
Following Forward
Boys Rule My Life
A Quest for Relevance
Not Trying for a Boy
The Gaspards
Orryally’s journal
My Life with Boys
The Truest Thing
The Potter’s Hand
Permission to Peruse
Live Laugh Blog
Pianomomsicle
Heather’s Hot Mess
Kevin and Paula
Smatterday
Guidance for Victory
Sports Momma
Pensieve
The Home Team Wins
Sisters of a Different Order
Chased by Children
A Frog in My Soup
My Spunky Monkey
Tara’s View of the World
Living A Mom’s Life
Dawn-Sweet Pea Cakes etc Blog
True Tales of A MiniVan Mama
Tuesday Update
A Mommy's Life
Fragmented Sentences and Incomplete Thoughts

Wow what a day

2008-01-31T00:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was the day from H-E-double hockey sticks. Within an hour Rayce managed to get into BBQ Sauce.

AND
Burn his hand on the 192 degree water dispenser.

Trying to eat his dinner with a wounded hand

That's all I have to say about yesterday...I'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

Welcome to the Dungeon

2008-01-23T14:28:00.000-07:00

It has fun and games!

OK, so maybe it’s not quite a dungeon but when he’s in it, it reminds me of take the key and lock him up!

Getting this play yard (or dungeon as I like to call it) for Rayce was almost a necessity. Trying to get things done around here with a toddler on the loose has become almost impossible. I’ve been on the look out for something like this for quite sometime now and I finally came across one so I quickly snatched it up. So far it has been a hit and it keeps Rayce entertained long enough for me to get the things done that I need to.

Hooray for Rayce’s new play yard and lots of thanks to grandma for the birthday money which made it possible to get this.

Bye-bye Bottle

2008-01-21T12:29:00.000-07:00

On a recent visit to Target I found this darling book in the dollar section. I bought for Rayce and myself to try and ease the process of bottle weaning. I can already tell this is going to be a challenge. Up until this point Rayce has been a self-weaner. He weaned himself from nursing, swaddle, his binkie, but Rayce is by no means ready to let go of his darling "ba-ba". It is recommended that you wean from the bottle anywhere from 12-18 months. Some of those reasons being:

Children using bottles are more likely to develop tooth decay.

Children who drink from a bottle may have improper dental development.

Children who depend on bottle feedings may not consume enough solid foods to meet their nutrient needs.

Children who are not weaned from the bottle may not develop appropriate feeding skills.

Ok so I get it, it's not good for your child to be on a bottle for long, that's great but what is a girl to do now? Advice? Suggestions? I'm open to anything at this point. I'm at a loss here and I seriously don't want to go through this. Maybe if I just give it another month or so he will self wean. Oh maybe just maybe?

Say hello

2008-01-17T12:31:00.000-07:00

From early on Rayce has been learning how to talk on the phone. Ok well, maybe not actually talking on the phone but we often hold it up to his ear so he can "talk" to whoever is calling. Between both grandmas living out of town and daddy calling throughout the day, Rayce probably got more talkin' time then he wanted. But I'm thrilled to say all that phone talkin' has paid off! Last night Ray was just joking around and handed a play phone to Rayce and he held it up to his ear and said "hello"! Then he continued to babble as if he was having a conversation.
My heart instantly went pitter patter.

Ahh, it's moments like these that make it all worth it.

Something fun

2008-01-15T15:33:00.000-07:00

I thought this was interesting and kind of fun. Maybe just something to take your mind off of things for a minute. It's a game! Kind of like a scavengers hunt.

How to Play:

1. Go to Wikipedia- The first article title on the page is the name of your band.

2. Click Quotationpage - The last four words of the very last quote is the title of your album.

3. Visit Flickr - The third picture, no matter what it is, will be your album cover.

4.Use your graphics program of choice to throw them together, and post the result.

Here's what I got:

What a beautiful picture wouldn't you say?

Now it's your turn! Go ahead have some fun why don't ya!

A new form of entertainment

2008-01-14T15:35:00.000-07:00

Rayce has found a new form of Entertainment, toliet paper! Lately he has been on a path of discovery. He wants to learn and know about anything and everything. It's so darn cute. I love the expression on his face when he has discovered something new and analyzes its every being. He's such a curious little guy. Without a doubt he brightens my day.

I'm Greatful

2008-01-12T13:36:00.000-07:00

As I’ve said many times before and you will continue to hear me say it over and over I am grateful. I was recently inspired and challenged by Angela Moore to come up with 10 things that I am grateful for. Not only to come up with them but also to do it in a way that makes you think twice or harder about what we truly have. What a great way to get that motor running on a Saturday afternoon. So without further adieu I give you the 10 things I’m grateful for.

1. A roof over my head.

2. A husband who is caring.

3. My awsome Rayce.

4. Sisters I can talk with.

5. Parents who are still alive.

6. The air I breathe.

7. Life itself.

8. My digital camera. (to capture priceless memories)

9. The ability to live comfortably

10. Freedom of Speech.

So there you have it. Now I challenge you to do the same. Even if it's just reciting it aloud. Have a great day.

TGIF!

2008-01-11T10:30:00.000-07:00

I'm so glad it's Friday! I know what you're thinking. Why you ask? I mean it's not like I work 5 days a week or something. * Cough, cough * Sorry to break it to ya but I work 365/24/7! Ok, give or take a few but still Friday’s are as glorious to me as they are to you. Friday's for me mean daddy is home to spend time with Rayce, which equals less responsibly for me. Don't get me wrong I love spending time with Rayce and he is great kid overall but after doing the same thing day in and day out sometimes you just need a break. Everything is so repetitive. Wake up, eat, play, nap, eat, play, nap, eat, play, and sleep. Not always in that order but for the most part that's how it goes. So the moral of the story is I’m glad it's Friday! I can't wait to do things together as a Family. Hope you have a great weekend to.

Smash cake part duex

2008-01-10T10:31:00.000-07:00

Ray and I felt really bad that Rayce didn't get any cake at his birthday party so, we decided to have a smash cake part duex. Lets just say it went a lot better then the last attempt. He wasn't crying this time nor did he have a bunch of people staring at him. He only got a few licks in and decided he was done with the cake. He must not have much of a sweet tooth like his mom.