Thursday, July 31, 2008

Growing Up


This week Ben has started putting himself to sleep. Monday, I laid him in his crib with his blankie. I turned on his mobile and then he started fussing. I turned off the mobile and started to get him out of bed, but before I had the chance, he stopped crying, and plugged his little mouth with his thumb. I watched out of view for awhile and sure enough he went right to sleep. I was so proud, but also heartbroken. I enjoyed our little rituals before naps and bedtime. I have a feeling he is going to be quite the independent little boy. What a man he will make : )

Tuesday, July 29, 2008

Labrador Mauls Baby

TULSA, Okla. (AP) _ Police say a puppy has attacked and killed a 2-month-old boy who was left unattended in a swing.
Officer Jason Willingham said Monday the baby was mauled by the Labrador at the boy's home and died at the scene. He says the dog will most likely be destroyed.
Authorities have not yet released the infant's name.
Willingham says the baby's mother and grandmother were home, but nobody was in the room at the time.
Police are unsure why the dog attacked.
The child's body was taken to the Medical Examiner's office. Willingham says police will forward their investigation to the district attorney to determine whether criminal charges are warranted.


When I heard this on the news yesterday I was sickened. My immediate reaction was what is wrong with that dog! After doing some reading my reaction changed. What is wrong with the parents? The puppy was only 3-4 months old. Anyone who has had a labrador, or any puppy knows they chew on everything! My sweet Dayton chewed all the siding off the back of our house. Thats just what Labs do, they chew. From the news last night, it looked as if there home was an apartment. How could they not hear that baby screaming? It seems really fishy to me. I do feel sorry for the mom. We all make stupid decisions, must of us do not lose a child because of it. I wouldn't be surprised if they charged the mother will neglect. It is just a horrible situation. I am curious the outcome. Anyways, I thought I would share this story in case you missed it on the news last night.

Monday, July 28, 2008

What Makes Me, Me

While in the shower this morning I was thinking about what I do, and do not like about myself.

Dislikes:

1. I constantly think I have upset someone. If someone walks by me, that I know, and they don't say anything, I automatically think I have done something to upset them. I may have only said hi so them in the last 4 hours, but maybe my tone was wrong. Maybe they thought I was saying they looked high. Maybe they didn't hear me when I said hi and they think I am ignoring them. Did I accidentally spit on them while taking and they were offended? The endless concerns go on.

2. I am emotional. When I tell someone something nice about them I get teary eyed.

3. I sometimes have nothing to say. This sometimes comes across as being moody. (Shut up Jenny, I am not moody. That right bringing out the S word.) I really have nothing to say, not because I am upset, I just have no input.

4. I get my feelings hurt...really easy.

5. I care about what other people think of me.

6. I hate my stomach. If I could just cut out my midsection and stick my head on my legs it would be great.

7. I am scared of squirrels, bugs and mice. Not normal fears.."oooo they are gross." I have actually ran when I thought a squirrel was chasing me, more than once, more than ten times. When I have to kill a bug, I cry. Not because I am sad to kill it, I have this irrational fear that it is going to jump on me. ( I have never thought what it might do while it was on me.) Mice, mice are just sneaky, and small and have teeth. I picture them gnawing on my feet while I sleep.

8. I cannot drive in the rain. Let me rephrase, I cannot be in the car when it is storming. John had the priveledge of seeing a full blown panic attack in the car when it starting raining on our way home from Oklahoma City. In my defense, I did total my car on the Turner Turnpike in the rain.

9. If I read something, its true. I take everything as a fact. Did you know Elvis is still alive?

10. For someone who cares so much about what other people think, I share a lot. Maybe I share too much. I learned in Psychology revealing your vulnerabilities is how you become close to people. The more I thought about this, the more it made sense. The people in my life who share very little personal things I am not very close too.

Likes

1. I am funny. I make myself laugh a lot. If I can make someone else laugh during the day, I think that day is a success.

2. I have pretty eyes.

3. I am kind hearted, compassionate, and empathetic.

4. I am a good, no, a great cook.

5. I can sing very well.

6. I am a very hard worker.

7. I am physically strong woman. (Not in a creepy way.)

8. I can joke about my downfalls.

9. (How sad, its getting hard to name things I like) I am emotional. I know I listed this as a dislike, but it is also one of my likes. I'm real. I cry when I am sad, you can tell I am angry when I am mad, I laugh way out loud when I am happy.

10. I share a lot about my life. I have been burnt, I have felt vulnerable, but thats what makes me, me.

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Pinching Pennies

We have NO cable. And yes, this was our decision. In order for me to stay home with Ben we have had to trim the fat, cable being a big chunk of fat. We changed our internet service (to a slower service, we really can't tell a difference though), telephone server, and of course cable. We were paying $130 plus for these services, now we pay around $60. John and I have yet to drive each other crazy without cable, so I think it was a good decision. I have also changed some of my shopping habits. I no longer buy bottled water or pop (saved about $25 a month), no ziploc bags (we use reusable tupperware, not much of a savings though), I go to three different grocery stores to get the best deals and spend an average of 3 hours a week looking at grocery ads, cutting coupons, and finding internet coupons. I saved about $40 in coupons last shopping trip. I don't use lights during the day, I just open the blinds. We don't eat out. Well, we occasionally do. I've eaten at a restaurant maybe 3 times since Benjamin was born and I eat fast food maybe once every other week. I have also started cleaning houses, two houses. There is just something humbling about cleaning someone else's toilet. It puts gas in my car though!
I'm curious. How does everyone else save money?

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

5 Months Old (I'm a little behind)




Likes: Mommy and Daddy, Sesame Street, Car Rides (yep, this moved from the dislike side last month), Bottles (he now gets excited when he sees them), Exersaucer, Dayton (He loves his doggy), being outside, the water, bath time, Hyland teething tablets, sitting on Mommy's lap during dinner time with spoon in hand, his mobile, pacifier, and his airplane blankie.
Dislikes: His Jumper, teething (we all hate this), eating cereal, waiting too long for his bottle, nap time, the music at Church (he screams every Sunday when they start singing).

Saturday, July 12, 2008

The Blue Hole





Today John, Benjamin and I went on a little road trip. We went to Salina, Oklahoma to the Blue Hole Park. I was surfing the internet one night and came across a website dedicated to "blue holes" in the United States. There are three in Oklahoma, the one in Salina being the closest to us. I was so excited and shared the exciting news with Jenny. She rained on my excitement and told me we had been there before when I was little. Oh well, so it won't be my first time, but I don't remember the first time. I pack enough to stay a few weeks, but with a baby you CAN'T forget anything. We leave around 9:30AM. The drive is beautiful. We come to Salina and turn on to a side street. The Blue Hole is only 7 miles away. Seven miles is a long way when it is a curvy, curvy road. Five miles in, it hits me. I didn't pack a bottle. What kind of mother am I? We turn around once we get there and drive back to Salina to the teeniest, tiniest grocery store. They don't have regular bottles. I end up with a sippie training cup. Benjamin doesn't seem to mind, he is just thankful for the milk. When I say this place in is the middle of nowhere, nowhere is an understatement. It was beautiful and shocking that there is water this clear in Oklahoma. You can see the bottom, no matter how deep it is. The water is about 50 degrees, no lie. It will put hair on your chest. There really isn't any sand, but there is rock beaches. Shoes are a must on our next trip and a tube or air matress. Our day was cut short by thunderstorms, but overall, it was a fun day. The park is family oriented, no alcohol allowed, no pets (although, I saw quite a few), there is a concession stand, its $5 for the day or $10 to stay the night, there are a few cabins (more like sheds with air conditioners), it wasn't too crowded, and there was some good people watching (I believe I have seen most of these people at the Fair).

Tuesday, July 08, 2008

Happy Independence Day


John love the fourth of July and sequence. He is going to kill me.

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Two Years Ago Today


Two years ago today, I married my best friend. John is a kind man. He is sensitive and compassionate. He has a silly sense of humor that drives me crazy, but always puts a smile on my face. He is a hard, hard worker. He is a wonderful provider for our family. He tells me I am beautiful, daily. He compliments my cooking. He is honest. He is so affectionate. It drives me crazy, but I miss it when he travels. When he looks at me, my heart still flutters. He is beyond a great father. Seeing John with Benjamin, makes me smile from head to toe. He is smarter than what he gives himself credit for. He is our protector. His smile lights up a room and my heart. I met John in July 2004. October 2004 John told me he loved me. February 2005 I knew some day John would be my husband. In November 2005 John and I started looking for engagement rings. On January 14, 2006 John proposed to me. I said yes. July 1, 2006 I married my best friend.