Alphabet Soup

I have been being proactive and working with Brian on his ABC's and colors. He has been doing EXCELLENT! I swear my child amazes me every single day! I have an application on my phone that is from the Five Pumpkins! I highly recommend their applications because they are not only adorable but highly effective. I bought regular flash cards to help Brian learn his ABC's and colors, but they are a joke. Brian loves having my phone so when I saw the application I thought I would give it a try. I won't lie, I was very skeptical of it even being effective or teaching him anything. Within the first week of using the application Brian knew A, B, and C! He could not only say them, but can read them from the screen!!! Not even 2 weeks in Brian knows A, B, C, D, E, G, and H! We are still having problems with F, but he really can't pronounce anything that starts with F. Fishy is ishy, Fan is an, so I know I just need to work extra hard with him on F. We've been working on colors as well and so far he knows Red and Purple! I haven't had a chance to work with him yet on his shapes or numbers, but as effective as the ABC's and Colors applications are I'm sure he'll know numbers and shapes quick! If you would like to check out the applications for your self visit http://m.fivepumpkins.com/#top

The BIG 17.... Months that is!

This month has been full of FUN! Brian is growing right before my eyes! He's turning into a little man and it makes me bubble over with joy! We have had a blast this month! We went to Brian's first football game (GO REBELS!!!), we went to the Dallas Zoo with Aunt Brandy, Uncle Brian, and cousin Orlaith, We checked out some day cares for Brian since I'm in school full time, and we had a mommy and son day (which was a blast I have to say)! Brian's Halloween costume is bought and I have decided to co-coordinate my costume with his. 

This is going to be a change for me so lets pray it looks good. Brian is going as a baby vampire and Im going as a mommy vampire. I went today and bought my corset and I will be dying my hair mid October. It's going to be black. Snuggle buddy is going to be dressing up with us! Brian and I went to Build-A-Bear Workshop and found this adorable costume for him to wear and it matches Brian's as far as colors and theme goes! 

On September 3rd I took Brian to his first football game! He had a blast watching the game and just being goofy! I can't wait to be going to HIS football games and I know it won't be long until he's playing. We also went to the zoo with Brandy, Brian, and Orlaith the beginning of the month! Brian had a blast while we were there, but got real cranky (he didn't get enough sleep). We had a blast though! A few days later Brian was throwing tantrums about everything so I decided it was time to do a Mommy and Son day. We hadn't done one in a while so it was time anyways. We didn't do anything extravagant. We went to Babies "R" Us and traded in our umbrella stroller (the seams were busting) and bought a new better stroller that we both like! Brian got a hat while we were there and he loves that thing! I couldn't ever get him to wear a hat, but he loves this one! It's black with the skull and cross bone on the front. It's Amy Coe, whom I LOVE! Her stuff is just  so adorable! After Babies "R" Us we went to Kid to Kid and looked around. I hadn't ever been in the one off of Bryant Irving Rd and I really didn't like that one. They didn't have any clothes that would fit Brian this fall. They had an abundance of baby clothes and clothing for older kids, but no 18 month to 2T stuff. I think we are just going to stick to the Kid to Kid's in Lake Worth and Watauga as they have the best selection. After leaving there I wanted to go to the mall and look around. We put our new stroller together in the parking lot and I have to say it was VERY easy to assemble which was a plus! I put him in and away we went. We went into Bath and Body Works and smelled the candles! That's the new thing I have taught him to do! If you tell him to smell something he gets close to it and will smell it! It's the cutest thing ever! We left Bath and Body Works and went to Build A Bear. I was going to let him make his own bear, but he didn't want to. We looked around and that's when I saw Snuggle buddy's costume! We bought it and left there. The mall has a small train right now and Brian was amazed by it! We rode the train and he loved it! After getting off the train I let him ride the little kiddie rides. I can't think of what they are called, but it's like the cars that go back and forth, like what they have at the stores. Anyways I had to pry him off when I was out of change! He would still be sitting there driving if I'd let him! He really drove the thing too! I never thought he would pay that much attention to me driving in the car, but I guess he does! He moved the steering wheel, honked the horn and laughed! After getting him off the car we rode the carousel and then did the photo booth! After that it was time to go home. Brian fell asleep in the car and slept about an hour. We ate dinner and watched Car's together then it was bed time. We had so much fun that day! Brian had also learned some new words so I wanted to add to the list that is already going. We can now add (and please excuse me if some are already on the list)

Milk

Apple

Moon

Nugget

Bite

Elmo

SpongeBob

Bird

Pee-pee

Diaper

Easy

Shh

Nasty

Us on the train!

Peace, Love, and Crackers!

Spreading the love man!

Daddy messing with Brian while he was sleeping

The rainbow that I saw while at the mall. It made me think of Lilly!

An awesome giveaway!!!

I am so lucky I decided to log on today! I clicked on the link I have saved to go to the Minnesota Mama's Must Haves blog and found this awesome giveaway! It is for an all natural wooden walker that converts into a scooter for ages 12 to 36 months and then into a push cart for ages 3 and up! I know Brian would really get some use out of it because he pushes EVERYTHING around! You can click HERE to enter the giveaway for yourself!


I also came across another great giveaway hosted by Minnesota Mama's Must Haves and it is the Anytime Costumes giveaway! With Halloween just around the corner this would be an awesome time to win a costume of my choice up to $50 value! Click HERE to enter this giveaway for yourself!

Please Pray

This post isn't for myself or Brian, but a friend of mine. I went to high school with her and she just had a little girl a week ago. She posted earlier on Facebook that they had been admitted to the hospital because Ember was turning blue/purple around her nose and mouth and would stop breathing at times. She just updated her page and they have ran blood work, have an IV and antibiotics going, she has been cathed, chest x-rays, and a spinal tap. My friend is having a hard time with everything. You have to remember Ember is only a week old. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers. I really hope they figure out what is wrong with her and get her better soon

Just a quickie (:

I just have a quick post. I have to keep it short because I really need to go to sleep and I have class tomorrow afternoon! YAY!!! So I got my angel wings today and I have to say I LOVE them! They are black and pink and the detail is done in white. They are more than I could have ever dreamed about!

Ok and I have to tell you about a really cool giveaway that will be going on over at Minnesota Mama's Must Haves. They are going to be giving away all sorts of things including an organic crib mattress, a bassinet, a Keekaroo high chair, and tons of other things! The giveaways start on September 1st and last all month long so join in on the fun and enter to win some amazing items!

16 Months

Well Brian is in a big boy bed now. He decided that he was going to start climbing out of his crib and I though now was the time to put him in a toddler bed. I let him pick out his own bedding (Cars) and he loves it! We went a few days ago and toured some day cares. One I know for sure he will not be attending. They were kinda rude and I don't feel they are sanitary enough for him to attend. They have all the kids cups mixed together so every one's cups are touching each other. We have had one to many bouts with Thrush and I am not willing to risk it. I think he may go to the head start day care I looked at. There are 11 kids in the class with 4 teachers. If he acts out then he will get personal one on one time with the teacher and they won't kick him out for his behavior. I was also looking at La Petite day care and while I liked them, I'm not as sure that they are the one's for us. Brian was shy when we first went in then wanted down to play. This little girl walked up and gave him a hug and he hugged her back. Then something snapped with him and he got mad and started pulling the girl's hair and biting her. I think he may have just been overwhelmed by the amount of kids as that was the most kids he's ever been around. The only thing I don't like about head start is I will have to take a Dr's note so that I can provide his dipes and wipes as well as his own cup. They provide Pamper's dipes and wipes, which Brian is allergic to the wipes and I refuse to use the Dry Max on him, so we will have to bring our own which is fine. Brian went to Rebel Rally with me at my old high school. It was great to see some faces I haven't seen in a while as well as the new school. I have to say though I kinda teared up standing as alumni and doing the Alma mater at the end. Man do I miss high school. Brian had a blast dancing, laughing, and clapping at everything. Like usual, when they did the pledge he kept talking. We've been having some trouble getting Brian to sleep. He gets 2nd and 3rd wind and wants to stay up until 3 in the morning. This past week he was better, but wanted momma to sit on his bed until he was asleep. I obliged, but I will very slowly start moving further away so eventually I can just put him in bed and he will go to sleep. He is doing remarkably well for being in a toddler bed so early. I have to admit I was scared he wouldn't sleep in it at all or he would be into everything. He's been really good though and when he wakes up he either plays until he wants something or he will climb in bed with me and snuggle for a little while, which I admit I love. Brian has recently learned some new words such as nugget, another, drink, fishy, mom (which has been his favorite word this past week), go, what, mouth, eye, and ear. I also taught him to do "piggy piggy piggy, oink pink" He laughs and walks around oinking lol! Next we'll be working on cow, then duck, horse, and chicken. He already knows cat and dog. I'm hoping to soon get some family pictures done. I don't have any with the 3 of us so it will be great to have those. Travis and I briefly talked about it, but nothing said was set in stone. Well I am off to bed. Today will be a test from God as it's the 2 year anniversary of when I lost Lilly. I'm praying today won't be to tough on me. I'm thinking about getting her angel wings done today in memory of her.

Brian and my friend's daughter. He was so gentle with her it amazed me!

My Birth Story

I went to the hospital about 9am on April 18, 2009. I had been contracting regularly since the 15th, but L&D sent me home saying that I wasn't contracting. I followed up with my midwife, Brenda, the next morning and allowed for her to check me. In 11 hours I went from 0cm dilated and 65% effaced to 1cm dilated and 70% effaced. I cried tears of joy! I knew I was in labor and I would soon be holding my little bundle of joy. Because I was over due they did an ultrasound to check my placenta and check the baby to make sure there was no reason to induce. The first time the baby wouldn't move. The tech sent me back out into the waiting room with some juice and crackers to see if we could wake him up. I went back in 20 minutes later and nothing. He moved a few times, one of which was the middle finger to us (he is my child lol), and she said he was not scoring what she needed. I was scared. I called Travis and my family to let them know what was going on. I talked to Brenda and was sent next door to the high risk office. There they did an intake and prepared me for an ultrasound. Of course me walking woke him up so he was moving around. They checked everything and hooked me up for a NST. By then Brian had relaxed and went back to sleep, preparing for his big arrival. They checked the strip and his HR looked good, but no movement. I asked them to place the monitor in a certain spot. They did and it then started showing my contractions! I was contracting every 3-4 minutes lasting 30-45 seconds! They were still mild, but I knew they were the real deal. They released us and sent us back over to talk to Brenda. I didn't want to be induced, but my placenta had calcifacations on it and I was told if we didn't have a baby by Monday I would be rechecked and she was about 98% sure we would induce, but she told me that she was 99.9% sure we would be having a baby this weekend. I asked what I could do to help things along besides sex. Sex and being overdue just does not work, plus it made me very sick (weird I know). I was told to walk as much as I could and was given the ok for Evening Primerose Oil (EPO). We went home and I took a small nap then Travis and I went up to the park and walked. I swear, that mile was the longest, hardest mile I have ever walked in my life! Things were coming regularly now. Travis was supposed to work, but decided that calling off was best. I felt like things were progressing fast and I was scared. I needed my hubby by my side to hold my hand and tell me everything would be ok. We walked back to the house and laid down. I went to Wal-Mart and walked the whole store then went home and went to sleep. I was up and down all night as my body would adjust to the contractions and then they would intencify. I went to Wal-Mart and Sam's with Travis's mom the next day. We again walked the whole store, every isle, and by the time we left I was contraction so bad that I would have to lean on the shelves and breath through them. We decided to go out to dinner that night as it would more than likely be my last meal for a while. We went to Red Lobster and I PIGGED out! No joke! I had 21 pieces of jumbo butterfly shrimp, 2 full house salads, 4 biscuits, half of a foundue thing, then had another biscuit and rice krispie treats when we got home. I tried to lay down, but my contractions were getting more intense and they were hurting. At one point I was in the living room with the family, Travis and his brother were fighting. I got up and went to the bathroom. I lost my mucous plug and my water had partially broke, but the baby plugged it. My contractions were now 200 times worse. I went back into the living room and tried to talk, but couldn't get a word in. Finally I yelled "excuse me please!" They stopped and looked at me and very calmly I said, "Im in labor." I believe Travis said yeah we know. I explained that I lost my plug and I thought my water had broke and that my contractions were now worse. We decided to go lay down and go to bed. That was 3Am. Fast forward to 9Am. I woke up and had to be pushed out of bed to go to the bathroom. My contractions were worse and they were about a minute apart lasting about 1 to 2 minutes. I knew it was time. I went to the bathroom and discovered that I was having my bloody show. I went back to the bedroom and woke Travis up. I told him it was time. I called the midwife while he woke up his mom and we got ready to go. The whole way there I thought that we would never make it. Before the ride didn't seem so long, now it seemed to take forever. We finally got there and I was admitted. I was 3cm dilated and 80% effaced. I walked the halls and tried the birthing ball, but my contractions were so intense that I couldn't breathe through them. I ended up getting an epidural, but the way I see it is that I went about 75 hours natural and for me thats good enough. As soon as I got the epidural the baby turned back like he was supposed to be. I was able to relax though and get some sleep. They broke my water and the baby had pooped while still inside so it was explained that NICU would be on hand so as soon as the baby was delivered they could take over and do what they needed. Things were progressing along rather slow. About 8Pm I was checked and I was about 7cm dilated 95% effaced. We were told it would be early the next morning when we would have a baby. Well they were wrong. My epidural had wore off and I knew I was ready. My L&D nurse came in and checked me and I was ready. She wanted me to do a few practice pushes to make sure my body was ready. After the first I was told not to push because she could see his head. They called for Brenda and I waited for what seemed like forever. I tried and tried not to push, but finally I told everyone they better get someone in my room to catch because I was fixing to start pushing and I would deliver the baby myself if I had to. It seemed like everyone started running in and we were ready to go. My sister Brandy coached me through and after about 10 minutes of pushing he was out! I remember my first though and I think my first words out of my mouth were, "My stomach is flat again!" They took the baby to look over him and make sure he was fine and weigh him. I delivered the placenta and was stitched up. I had a second degree tare, but it wasn't anything big. The baby was fine and weighed in at a whopping 7lbs 15oz and was 20.5 inches long. He had a head full of blonde hair and the beautiful blue eyes. I cried. I couldn't believe I was a mommy. My life was changed forever now. He nursed perfect the first time and I allowed them to take him to the nursery to get cleaned up while I was moved up into my room. Overall my delivery went good. There were somethings I wish I could have changed or tried, but Im happy and no regrets.