Monday, May 31, 2010

Mommy & Me Monday


Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn





And a bonus -- Because it's super adorable!




Have a great Monday everybody!

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Emmersyn's 1st Beach Trip!

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!
I love my hubby for all he does for our country. . .
We'll never forgot those who've left us while serving our country!
With that said -- We've had a full weekend! And of course, little miss Emmersyn has done fantablous! Yesterday we were out of the house from 6:15am-10pm. She is such a great kiddo -- Love her!!

Today we had a nice little family day. Emmersyn took her 1st beach trip. I've been looking forward to this since I found out I was pregnant last summer. I love the beach. And I love living at the beach. Summer of '08 I spent the good portion of my summer (unemployed) at the beach. It was amazing and I had a nice tan. I also relearned how to boogie board -- And fell in love with it!! Last year I spent hardly any time at the beach. I found out I was pregnant early July, so that put a damper on my beach time. I can't just go and sit. . . I like to jump in the waves & go boogie boarding. But I didn't want to risk doing those things while pregnant. . . So I missed the beach very much & I day dreamed about this summer, taking my little one to the beach.
I didn't want to take her for the 1st time without hubby. . . I figured today was as good as any other day. The weather was beautiful and we had nothing else to do -- So to the beach we went!

Unfortunately, it was windy. So yes, the weather WAS nice, but the wind made it chilly. Emmersyn had an adorable bathing suit on that my mom got her, but she didn't get to show it off as it was too chilly to take her out of her little cover (which she was also adorable in!). So she just hung out with mommah, laid in her dome thing, and we took her down to the water. She didn't care about the sand. . . And was upset about the water at first -- But I think it was because she wasn't expecting it & it was cold. After the 1st go, she was good. Don't worry though, we only put her feet in. And it was only for a few minutes, if that. 

I, of course, took many pictures. . . And I have come to share!
I hope y'all have had a wonderful holiday weekend!

Hubby turned the flash off on my camera, but this pic was too cute to delete even though it's crappy quality.
This bathing suit is 6-9mo. I was worried it wouldn't fit. But it does. With room to grow. It should last her all summer.

The handsome man I married
A quick [or not so quick] bite to eat before we had some fun

Her cute hat was way too big, but it did the job of keeping the sun and wind outta her little face

Checkin' out the sand

I love this pic

Headin' to the water

She loves to stand -- And has strong lil legs!

It was windy -- Ignore my hair

With her daddy

My lil family

Summer time baby!



Come back tomorrow for Mommy & Me Monday!!

Friday, May 28, 2010

Friday Follow

I was a bad blogger this week. . . It was just crazy. I can't ever get on the computer until later in the day, & since I'm on the West Coast, it's even later for the east coast people. Next week, I'm going to try to schedule my post. . . And then just link up when ever I get the chance. We'll see how well that works.

For now I am going to join in this weeks Friday Follow:
”Friday-Follow.com”

Welcome to the very first NEW Friday Follow hosted by Tami at Hearts Make Families, Harriet at Harriet and Friends, and Ian at The Daily Dose of Reality! We invite you to join us every Friday to get more blog followers and to find many interesting blogs that you like. This is all about sharing and having fun.
A few housekeeping issues: We are looking for hosts for later dates. We have decided that three hosts is a good number for each blog hop. As usual, the top slots will be reserved for the hosts so they will get a lot more attention to their blogs. Another great benefit is that each host will have the opportunity to showcase their work the week after they host on Friday-Follow.com.
We expect you to be on your honor and to have fun. These are only guidelines to make it more enjoyable for you. Here’s how YOU can join the Friday Follow celebration:
  • Link up your blog name and URL using the McLinky below. Only need to add on one blog to be seen on all the blog hops.
  • Grab the Friday Follow button and include on your Friday Follow blog post.
  • Follow Friday-Follow.com so you can see the current things going on. If you haven’t check out the website yet, please do so.
  • Follow the Friday Follow hostesses listed in the first 3 slots.
  • Follow as many other blogs on the linky as you’d like.
  • Take a moment to comment on the blogs telling them you’re from Friday Follow.
As always, we are trying to improve the Friday Follow so here are a couple of rules to make the experience even better for you:
  • Only one linky per blog. We do have a giveaway tab that you can include your giveaways on.
  • Please try to keep your post current so that people can see your showcased work.
  • Follow someone back if they follow you – this is common courtesy.
  • No xxrated blogs.
  • No spammers.
This list is new each week. The links do not carry over. Please link up each week for new participants to find your blogs. The list is only open to add your blog links on Fridays. It will be visible all week to visit the blogs listed.
Three (3) Friday Follower of the Week!!
Each week we will randomly draw from three (3) blogs from the links for the next week’s Friday Follow, and each blog chosen will be placed in the highly coveted number #7, #8, and #9 position on the blog hop. The first blog chosen will also be given the option of doing an interview which will post on Friday-Follow.com on Thursday the next week. We love your participation and want to give back to you! You could be next!
Spread the word about Friday Follow by grabbing our button for your blog and come celebrate again every Friday. Feel free to also send out a tweet, blog, stumble or share the news in your own special way!
CafePress
Guess what for joining the Friday Follow today – One lucky participant will win a T-Shirt!!! Courtesy of CafePress in honor of Father’s Day!!
Did you know that you can find amazing personalized gifts you can customize – all at CafePress? Please check them out on Facebook and Twitter.
If you are interested in being a host or sponsoring a blog hop for Friday Follow, feel free to contact any one of your hostesses using admin@friday-follow.com.

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

No post it note tuesday. . .

No PINT for me today. . . For one, I don't have the energy. I've been up since 5am (the kid also woke up at 3am to eat, something she hasn't done in a few weeks), and I went on an hour long walk with my friend, her little girl & of course my princess. I also spent last night dealing with drama with my husbands cousin, which wore me out in itself. . . And for two, my notes are always boring. 

Is there any other fun memes for Tuesdays out there?
I do have pictures - And a video - Of the little one, though. Of course. 

This weekend I was told that I "post too many pictures" on my Facebook page. Is there really such a thing as too many?! I think not. Especially when our family hardly gets to see her. I know my mom greatly enjoys all the pictures, on top of the daily picture(s) I send to her phone. And especially when it comes to my love bug. And if only they know how many pictures I actually TAKE. Yeah, shove it!
So on Friday I took out her infant carrier, and installed her convertible big girl seat. The only time we ever took the carrier out of the car was in restaurants. They're just big, bulky & too heavy with a 10+lb baby in it. . . We won't mention the fact that she screamed her head off in the carrier all of a sudden the last few weeks, stressing me out. She spends a lot of time in the car. . . We take hubby to & from work daily. . . So that's at least 2 hours a day in the car (sometimes less, just a round about number). It was just too much. . . We had the seat, and were planning on installing it before our drip to his dads (8-9 hour, one way, drive) next month. So I figured I'll go ahead and do it. . . So I did. She exceeds the minimum requirements (5lbs & 19in) and is rear facing, as it should be and as she'll probably be well past a year. 

So with the new seat, comes other big girl adventures. Like sitting in the high chair, like a big girl, at restaurants. She did this twice this weekend, & she did so dang good. She just sat there, looking around. And when she got sleepy, she sunk into her big cushion-y high chair/grocery cart cover, got comfy cozy, sucked on her paci and fell asleep. . .


Where she contently slept while we ate, laughed, talked and enjoyed our time with family. She is such a good baby - I count my blessings daily. 

And here is a video of Emmersyn in her beloved Jumperoo. . .

Monday, May 24, 2010

Mommy & Me Monday


Mommy and Me Monday at Really, Are You Serious?
Hosted by Krystyn





My parents came into town for the day Sunday. . . So I thought I'd throw this in here. I love my mommy!

After my parents left, I was tired. And I had a killer headache. So I laid down with my little miss for some baby cuddles. . . And ended up taking a 2 hour nap with her. I felt much better when I woke up.

Monkey Minutes - *snort* edition


1 - Do you *snort*?
I do not.

2 - Our friend, has a nickname and it's Daffy.  What's your nickname?
My most used one, and ones I have my friends kiddos go by, is Lyssa. A handful [small handful] of people call me Ally. Growing up, however, Lissy was the main one. My dear husband likes to randomly call me it just to 'grind my gears'.

3 - Do you know sign language?
Very little. Very, very little. As in "eat" & "more". . . And I knew a little bit more, but I forgot.

4 - What's a sample convo from your hood?
A few weeks ago, the husband and I had to run to the bank to deposit money. . . It was a beautiful, nice, warm sunny day. We had the kid with us. Of course. I don't go anywhere without her. Or rarely do, I should say. So we got her out of the car, and were walking into the bank. I had the kid up on looking over my shoulder. She's very observant and likes to see everything around her. Some random lady gets out of her car around the same time, she was walking into the bank as well. And she starts walking over to us. I thought "Oh, here comes someone else to tell us how cute our kid is/ask how old she is." Yeah. I was wrong. She mumbled something. I could barely hear her. So I asked what. She then proceeds to tell me that the kid is going to get sun burnt, that I need to get her blocked from the sun. Excuse me? Really, in the 2 mintues it takes the walk into the bank, my kid is gonna get burnt? I think not. I was so dumbfounded. I just moved the kid down to my chest & blocked her as best as I could. The lady seemed pleased. I just. . . Didn't know what to say. Walking back out, she was sitting in her car and being the smart ass I am, I asked my dear husband "So should I be walking backwards to keep her out of the sun?" Hah.
*disclaimer- I do not let my baby sit in the sun for long amounts of times. But I do not shade her from the sun every time it touches her skin. She is a breastfed baby, and was a jaundice baby. The Vit D is not going to kill her - She needs it.*

5 - Do you sleep with electronic devices - i.e. laptop, Blackberry, iPhone, etc?
When my husband is home, I just have my Blackberry in bed with me. I don't have a night stand on my side of the bed. I have the babies pack-n-play. And we have a CA King bed. So anything that'd be on a night stand of mine, is on the edge of the bed by the pack-n-play. And that way I don't have to reach over the husband when my alarm goes off during the week to feed the kid.

Sunday, May 23, 2010

Getting to know ME!

I appologize for being MIA this weekend - It was busy! We had my cousins in town for a few hours yesterday & then were exhausted when they left. . . And then my parents in town for a few hours today. And again, exhausted by the time they left. I ended up taking a 2 hour nap on the living room floor with my itty bitty. :)
 
I am going to attempt scheduled post for tomorrow. . . I hope I can figure it out right! But for now, here's a little -

1. Do you have a fetish?
Honestly, no. Not that I can think of.

2. Do you sing in the shower?
If I am in the mood.

3. Who was your first crush?
A neighbor kid. Hah. He wasn't the cutest kid on the block.

4. What do you think is the best manly trait a guy could have?
I am a sucker for a good, hands on, wanting to jump in and help with things kinda dad. There aren't enough good dads out there any more, it's sad.

5. Do you sleep naked?
Underoos & a bra. Oh god I am SO tired of wearing a bra pratically 24/7 thanks to nursing. I hate bras. I hate sleeping in them any more. And I hate having to wear one, with breast pads, every damn day all day. I am a fan for letting the girls hang out. . .

6. What do you do when (you think) no one is looking?
Scratch my butt/pick a wedge. 

7. What's the first thing you do when you go online?
...Jump onto Facebook. xD

8. Summer is.....?
My favorite time of the year! Minus the ungodly heat back home. But I love summer even more now that I live at the beach!!

Friday, May 21, 2010

Fix it Friday

I'm late -- But we had a busy day.

Also, I won't be around much, if at all, this weekend. We'll be busy. . . I'll be back Monday with something. Not sure yet what I will be participating in this week -- I like to mix it up. :)



Original

Edit.

I had a hard time with this picture. . . So it isn't much.
Plus like I said, it's late & I'm exhausted.

Mission Monkey Day

If you’ve been living under a rock since the beginning of this month, then you have no clue what this Monkey Business is all about, but worry not, my friend!  I’m here to ‘splain it all to you!

See, one of our own, Pixie Momma has a daughter.  She goes by Monkey.  Monkey was diagnosed with Neuroblastoma during the first week of May.  Monkey is 16 months old.  She doesn’t deserve this.  Nobody deserves this.  As bloggers, we can’t cure cancer, but we can fight like hell. 
 
In the weeks since Monkey’s diagnosis, we have recently learned that the cancer is Stage 1 (low risk).  This is great news, but cancer is still cancer.  Monkey’s bills are piling up.  Physical Therapy has started and this isn’t covered by their health insurance.  She will also have hefty bills to pay for monthly scans and tests for the next few years.

Though we know that the cancer is low risk at this time, we are still going to rally around Pixie Momma and Monkey to provide support.  In addition, to further entice you to lend your hand, and donate to the cause, we have over 50 items that have been donated.  Many bloggers are hosting these fabulous giveaways and all you need to win one of these items is just one raffle ticket.

All funds raised will be deposited (via paypal) into an account in Monkey’s name.  Any unused funds will be passed on to another family fighting the good fight.  Pixie Momma firmly believes in the “Pay it Forward” method

To see what has been donated to help raise funds for Monkey and her family, simply visit the links listed below!  Trust me when I say:  you don’t want to miss out on these things!




You may donate any amount of money via PayPal as it's linked directly to Monkey's bank account.  However, in order to be a part of the raffle, this is how that's going to go.  If you donate the following, you get the subsequent number of entries:
  • $10 - 2 entries
  • $20 - 5 entries
  • $30 - 10 entries
  • $40 - 15 entries
  • $50 - 20 entries
  • $75 - 35 entries
  • $100 - 50 entries
  • $200 - 125 entries

The raffles for each item will start on or around July 1st.


Click on monkey to donate...please help!


If you are donating money via PayPal, I need to know who it's coming from.  For example, look at the first picture below.  The link takes to you this screen.  Press the plus sign and then indicate your blog name/blog email address so it can be tracked accordingly.



Photobucket




Don’t forget:  This could be any one of our children or family members.  Thank you for taking the time to help out and donate or even learn more about Neuroblastoma.  Money helps, but awareness is also key in this fight against (any kind) of cancer!

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Random Dozen

[[I am far too exhausted today for a real post. Between Emmersyn eating every 2 hours & her fighting naps in between eating. . . I am just worn thin tonight. I don't mind if she is wanting to cut some of her naps, but don't fuss so dang much if that's the case. I am just exhausted. I don't know what she does this. . . How to fix it. She eats every 2 hours. Is awake for an hour and sleeps for an hour. All day every day. That's how it is. But she is fighting her naps. Help?? Remember -- She is sleeping through the night.]]

1. What is one really fast, know-by-heart "go-to" meal to fix in a pinch?
BBQ Chicken. Real easy. So long as you have defrosted chicken you're good to go!

2. What is one item you won't leave home without. (Purse and license do not count.)
My child. Haha. But for real - My phone [and my chapstick, but it only asked for one].

3. Where is one place you never tire of visiting?
Home.

4. Share one factoid of your family's history.
My brother played travel baseball -- Thus I have been all over the US, to Mexico & to Austraila.

5. Complete this sentence: "Once upon a time I ...."
...wanted 6 kids. xD

6. If you could win a one year's supply of anything, what would it be?
Donuts. Except then I would get fat. So maybe I should pick something better? How sad is it that all I can think of us unhealthy stuff?? I'll go the mom route -- Diapers!

7. "One quirky thing you may not know about me is ...."
Sad. I can't come up with anything. I sure am boring!

8. You have one dollar in your pocket. What will you buy?
Ice cream [from the ice cream truck that randomly comes by]!

9. "One thing that always makes me laugh is ...."
When I think about our family trip [for baseball] to Omaha -- In the air port. Heck -- That trip in general.

10. What is one thing you could do today to help yourself reach a personal goal?
Work out.

11. What is one thing you could do today to bless someone else?
Help them with something. . .

12. What is one thing you're looking forward to soon?
Our vacation!

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Black & White Wednesday

Head on over here to join in the fun & link up!


My heart is filled with so much love for this little girl that I grew inside of me and gave birth to. . . I never, in a million years, imagined how much love I could possibly have for one tiny little person. I never realized the true love a mother has for her children. Until now.


Her smile just lights up the room. It fills my heart with so much joy. So much happiness. I could be having a bad day -- And just one little smile from that cute little face, and my day is turned completely around.
I was so blessed with such a good sleeper. She takes lots of [cat] nap during the day -- And completely sleeps through the night. By 9pm, on the dot, if she isn't already in bed then she's fussing to be put to bed, and she puts herself to sleep. . . She looks so peaceful. So content. So at ease. 


Her little hands. . . Her little feet. . . Her itty bitty nose, lips, ears and eyes. Oh how I love them. She's got such tiny feet. When she was in my belly, towards the end of my pregnancy, I would always play with her little foot. Itty bitty it was. She would push it out, I'd push it in and she'd move it somewhere else. . . And we would do that for 5-10 minutes at a time. It was then that I fell in love with those itty bitty feet. Her hands. . . How they hold onto our fingers so tightly. How they find their way into her mouth. . . Oy -- I just love this little itty bitty baby of mine.


If only she stayed itty bitty forever. . . She's gotten so big already. I can't believe she's already 2.5 months old -- She's learning new things every day.

Every day my heart fills more and more with love for her. . . I am waiting for the day it just explodes. I cannot imagine loving her any more then I already do.
So you should all know by now that well. . . I love my daughter.

I also love pictures.
The two go hand in hand. . . I love taking pictures of my daughter. I have hundreds thousands of pictures of her. Seriously. In her short 2.5 months of life. I may or may not be taking advantage of the fact that she doesn't run from the camera right now. . . Because well, she can't even roll yet. [Uh, when is my daughter gonna roll over?] I wonder if I'll be this way with my 2nd child. . . I sure hope so. Otherwise s/he may think s/he was adopted when s/he gets older & doesn't see many pictures or videos of him/her. Hah. I kid. Maybe. I don't know.

Either way. . . Enjoy. Because I certainly enjoy her cute little face. . . And hands. . . And piggies. Oh how I love her piggies. 
She greatly enjoys her little play area. . . Even though the most she does is kick the toys hanging off her play mat. Hah.

Her Grammie (my mom) got her this outfit when she went to NY in December to visit my Aunts & baby cousin. Good thing I put it on her today -- It fits snug!
I wish this picture would've came out more clear. Sometimes, having your auto focus on your camera broken sucks. Especially when you wear glasses.



The lighting in my bedroom was horrible. . .
I love that she follows me with her eyes/looks for me if she hears my voice.
[Ignore the yuckiness of the bib -- It was a hand me down and she only wears it for like 15 minutes after she eats. She's a happy spitter]
Not focused well. Lame. But I still like it.

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