Mommy Material

One Crazy Prenuptial Agreement

2009-04-22T17:49:00.000-07:00

I have had such a handful going on since my last post! Let's see...OK, it doesn't seem like much written (typed) down, but it was for me! Work, work, work...a small fraction of time with old friends, seeing my babies here and there...and work. Yep.

Real exciting.

But let me just add that my life wouldn't be much of one if I didn't have things to do, so I guess I don't mind too much.

Brittany's memorial was last Saturday. I was glad to see many people come to acknowledge her life and not her passing. I am happy that her parents requested that everyone who attended wear colorful attire and nothing black. Her parents are tough cookies. Brittany was so very loved. Rest in peace Brittany.

It's getting hotter. I am almost not looking forward to summer. My husband doesn't do the beach or pool thing very much. Bummer since I live in Southern California. Oh well, his loss, I have plenty of other beach happy friends!

I'd better get back to my babies, the little one has fallen asleep to "Wow Wow Wubzy" and he doesn't take long naps, wouldn't want him to wake up without me. :)

On to

Wacky News Wednesday!

I do believe that if this was in the news, it may have been just a couple of years ago, but I stumbled upon it recently and just thought it was ridiculous! Prenuptial agreements...could they really be as outrageous as this one?

http://festville.com/index.php/2007/08/08/cedric-and-yvette-mcneals-prenuptial-agreement/

(Note: My personal favorite paragraphs: "VIIII":Not communicating with husband's physicians about any mental illness he may possess; "IV": She will conduct her self as a fit minister's wife (although I don't believe Mr. McNeal is one!); & "XI": Wife will not have her husband arrested. Hmmm... why did this poor woman decide to sign her life over to a most likely insane man? This is just so bizarre I had to post it! Enjoy!

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Reality TV Relieves Even The Biggest Headache!

2009-04-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

Okay, so my 1st day back in the squadron wasn't so bad. My partner-in-crime was there to work right alongside with me. I found out that my supervisor has been trying to promote me to Senior Airman for the past four (!) months and the MPF (kinda like the "home" or personnel building for each individual air force base) keeps rejecting my approval application without good reason. Ugh! That bothers me like nothing other. I honestly think that it really is "every man for himself" sometimes in the military, even though they constantly mention having a wingman by your side. I don't get it sometimes.

I was so happy to step into the mall yesterday! Carter's makes the absolute cutest baby clothes out there and they were having a 50-70% off sale yesterday! Carter's baby clothes is like the Macy's or Nordstrom's of baby clothing! :D

My ex is crazy. No wonder he is my ex, right? I rarely ever talk to him, as he usually can't man up most of the time and just have mature adult communication with me. He will usually only talk to me if he really wants something or needs my help. Today was one of those days. The whole conversation didn't go very well. I'd rather not mention what his issue was, but all I can say is that some men are just crazy nuts.

Son is amazing! He is growing up so quickly, I swear. He is an absolute ball of fun and laughter. He has such a personality. His dad does, too. They're definitely related in that aspect! And what makes it 100X better is those beautiful deep dimples he shows us when he gives a smile!
Enough personal talk. It's

Essential Things Thursday!

1.Honey Roasted Peanuts. OMG. Those things are so addicting. Savory & sweet all in one!

2.An award. Everyone is good at something. No one is good at everything. So when you're having a down day, just remember that you're an expert at playing the piano, surfing big waves, or even geometry.

3. Lotion. Soft skin is a must! And not keeping your skin moisturized is not neccesarily good for you either! BONUS: a good smelling one!

4.A favorite reality television show. You better admit it: you like at least one, if not five! My personal favorites are "Survivor" and "Project Runway." Yay for Bravo tv!

Image via Wikipedia

5."Always and never are two words you should always remember never to use."
-- Wendell Johnson

Road Rage Helps Spark A New Idea!

2009-04-15T13:54:00.000-07:00

I have such a busy week ahead of me. Thank goodness that I have at least one day off (today) for this week! I am making up a drill that I missed for the month of February, and I also have to work this weekend for my regular drill for this month. I do like being a reservist in the Air Force, but having children can make it all a bit tough.

While I was out earlier today to get some groceries, I got some mild road rage at a woman at least 70 years of age. Now, why would she pull out in the middle of a busy road and wait there, because she realized a bit too late that it wasn't her right-of-way? Whoa. I really think that either we should have a renewed driving class after we hit the retirement age, or DL's should just be confiscated once you hit your 80th birthday. Seriously. And I don't mean that to be rude, but for the safety of the rest of us!

Which reminds me...it's time to give up my Oklahoma DL for a new California one. So long Sooners!

Image via Wikipedia

So I finally came up with a really creative ritual for Wednesday blogs!

Here it is... Wacky News Wednesday!

I love it! I use to read about crazy people/events in the news all the time when I was younger, and I would love to add some of it to my blog! It might be some silly news, but hey, we will certainly get a laugh out of it!

Wacky News Wednesday

(Credits to http://www.associatedpress.com & http://www.msnbc.msn.com/)

DENVER - Kelly Coffman-Lee wanted to tell the world about her love of tofu by picking the letters for her car's license plate.

But her tofu fondness ran into a snafu at the Division of Motor Vehicles, which blocked her plan because they thought the combination of letters could be interpreted as profane. Her suggestion for the plate on her Suzuki: "ILVTOFU."

Department of Revenue spokesman Mark Couch said the letters could be misinterpreted.

Coffman-Lee, 38, said tofu is a staple of her family's diet because they are vegan and that the DMV misinterpreted her message.

And that's it for now!

Thou Shalt Not Steal. It's Just So Rude.

2009-04-12T09:01:00.000-07:00

When you have a new baby in the house, you really start to notice the changes in various things week by week (aside from the obvious baby that you're caring for, I mean!). It's Easter morning, and I am intently enjoying my off time from work, writing, relaxing, and sitting right next to my happily babbling son. What a happy baby. It's hard to believe that nearly two months ago this poor kid was plagued by the unfortunate stage of colic. Nowadays, he smiles and laughs more than ever. Yeah right, we will see how he acts in about another month or two. What will he find to cry about then? ;)

Image by pierrotsomepeople via Flickr

On a minor silly note, a few co-workers, bosses and I went to dine at the Cheesecake Factory (YUM!) in a little celebration for achieving the most sales in our division. Go Northern California! The good news- I had a delicious salmon meal along with a supreme chocolate Godiva cheesecake (seriously, chocolate overload, but it tasted so divine!) The bad news- I offered it to my mother-in-law. What the hell? I vividly remember telling her about the yummy dessert and that she could try "bite."
Yes, that was my exact word.
And no, a bite, in my mind, does not translate to devour the whole thing like you'll never had a good treat like that again in your lifetime. Now, I am not upset at the fact that I had a mere two bites of the cheesecake, I am flustered that she took it upon her self to snatch it right up in her unforgiving little mouth. Angry? Maybe for a few minutes. Honestly I wasn't really that mad, and I didn't confront her about it. Besides, if I did, what would she do, regurgitate it? Yuck. I wouldn't want an apology for her lack of good listening (or maybe she knew what I said, but she didn't care?). I know that we have a very poor standing relationship, and I think she used that situation to use her control and power, like I have clearly noticed she likes to do in the past. One key item of advice, MIL, if you just got a job and got over your fear of dealing with real live imperfect people, you just might be a little happier. I'm sorry, but blaming other people for your problems isn't gonna get you where you want to be. No wonder you rarely go out in public or have many friends; most normal people wouldn't put up with your annoying bullshit.

Okay, I'm done venting. It really just had to be done, I was slightly aggravated.

I have decided to modify my blog a little bit. I am going to throw away Super 5, as I only did that one time anyway, stick with Essential things, no links for Wednesday. I like to write, but I don't want to make all my blogs just about linkage; I want to be able to put my own two cents in about whatever need be that day I choose to write. Amateur blogger I am, but I am willing to learn day by day. If anyone has advice to give to me on writing, I would gratefully accept it.

Until next time... Happy Easter and enjoy this upcoming week!

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Music To My Ears

2009-04-09T07:19:00.000-07:00

It's my "weekend" again, yeah! I am up early again with my son, watching as he intently observes the new colorful rattle I bought him... he is growing up so fast! I told his dad last night I didn't want him to grow up; I want him to stay small forever, or at least for a long time. Not possible, I know. He's just so cute and innocently sweet, I know that this day fifteen years from the the story won't be so similar.. well, we shall see about that, he just might be a mama's boy! :)
At his doctor's appointment he weighed in at 15 lbs and 6 ounces, growing five inches since the day he was born nearly four months ago. He's growing like a weed! He was a trooper for his shots too; His pacifier was definitely his best friend! DJ is absolutely beautiful.

I am sad yet content with my friend Brittany's passing last Saturday. I visited her one last time that morning, and although she did not talk back to me, I still believe that she listened as I spoke to her. I did not like to see her in the condition that she was in. I hope from the bottom of my heart that her passing was truly painless. After six years of sickness, the pain is gone and for that I am grateful. I am thankful to have had her in my life; she made me see things from a different perspective and she has reminded me to be positive and courageous.

And now, on with...

Essential Things Thursday!

1. Music. I think, that for a lot of people, music is an outlet to vent, just like writing is for a good number of bloggers out there. The best thing about it is, any genre of good music can please any ear.

Image by Getty Images via Daylife

2. A good salad. Mine? I'll take a Caesar salad any day!

3. Go see "I Love You, Man", featuring Paul Rudd (Knocked Up) & Jason Segal (Forgetting Sarah Marshall). HILARIOUS. I would go see it again in theaters. It is about a man who becomes engaged to the love of his life, and he finds that he has no male friends. This is his quest to finding himself a best man for his wedding.

4. 20 questions. Ever played that game before? If you're bored at work, or taking a 10 minute break from cleaning up the house, go to http://www.20q.net and see if you can outsmart it!

5. "Maybe part of loving is learning to let go." ~From the television show The Wonder Years

Crazy Coffee-Cup-Throwing People!

2009-04-03T20:39:00.000-07:00

Spalatch! That is the first "word" that came to my mind. Yes, I believe I made it up. Ha ha. Friday's are usually no fun, considering it's my day back at work from having two days off. I can't even really think of how to relay my thoughts in an organized way. So take it as it is.

First of all, I was extremely upset to walk out of my favorite donut shop knowing they didn't haved anymore cream cheese croissants. For shame!

I'm very saddened to learn that my friend of 11 years will be taken off of the respirator she has been relying on for the past week, tomorrow. Apparently the doctors believe that we are hoping for the inevitable. She is not getting any better, and the infection continues to envelop in her body and her vital organs. Brittany has been sick for a long while now and she is aware that her life is lived on eggshells, unfortunately. All I can do now is hope and have faith and that is what I have been continuing to tell myself.

My son is doing well. It's funny, he has finally found the binky that he likes to use most, the "MAM" brand pacifiers. I think those are the cutest ones with all the silly designs on the front nub. At first I felt kind of guilty for suggesting he use a pacifer. I hear those horrible stories and peoples' children having a hard time weaning off of them or messing up their teeth. My daughter, who is three years old now, never used a binky nor sucked her thumb so I've never had to deal with that before. But alas, I am allowing DJ to do so. Not everybody is perfect, right?

Work has been interesting. I work for a pest control company and I manage accounts in the northern California area. Unfortunately, I came back to work today to find out that one of our inspectors had gotten himself fired because he threw his coffee cup at a customer for not calling us at the office to cancel the appointment she set (she set it but decided she did not want to proceed with treatment from our company, and she did not give us a call to cancel.) Why are some people so crazy? And what the heck lead him to do that? Now I understand why some people (AHEM! M-I-L!!) don't work. My goodness! I'm still in shock that he did that. But I suppose I understand why our company let him go, I would be extremely upset if I was a customer and had that done to me.

Well that would be all the news so far. I have nothing special to post, it is Friday, work tomorrow morning, so nothing exciting for tonight. So until next time!

Juice, Faith, & A Slap In The Face

2009-04-02T09:00:00.000-07:00

Eeessh. It's been a fairly tough week so far. I haven't posted in a week, not so good.
I've been busy with work & the baby mostly. DJ is growing like a weed! Today is actually his 4 month appointment with the doctor, we shall find out how much he weighs! I went to the store yesterday and skipped buying him the 9 month old sized clothing, I just bought the 12 month old size (which starts at about 18 lbs.), because I swear he is at least 15 lbs. right now and he will reach 18 lbs so soon! Spring has sprung, and so has he!

On a more difficult side, a friend that I have known since we were 11 is in the hospital for an infection that has become quite dangerous to her. She developed pneumonia a couple of weeks ago, something that most of us could fight off with time and rest, but since she is a donor transplant patient and has almost no immunity, the disease is really starting to overcome her. She is still resting in the hospital and has a few ups and downs about the situation, but still manages to keep her peace and faith for the most part. It has been a real big slap in the face for me, but I think the only way I can move on with the reality of the situation is to think positive and believe that whatever is best for her will happen.

And so it's Thursday, time for some essential things! I have been finding that I've been needing a lot lately...

Essential Things Thursday!

Image by nycwatchdog via Flickr

1. A favorite drink from Juice It Up. Or Jamba Juice, wherever you go. Mine is the 50/50. MMM... tastes just like an orange dreamsicle!!
2.A great pedicure. Whether you go to the salon or try it yourself at home, make it a good one. You probably deserve it!
3. Peace of Mind. I've learned that in the past week with what has been going on in my life. Without it, stress can eat up your life.
4.A book. Be it a horror story, one about the civil war, or even a cute little children's book about puppies, it's good to read and relax.
5. "Faith is taking the first step even when you don't see the whole staircase." ~Martin Luther King Jr.

Until next post.

Let's Make The World A Little Greener

2009-03-25T09:05:00.000-07:00

Ahhh yes. Finally. My day off from work. The days have been going by so fast lately. DJ is growing so quickly. And it's gonna be spring already? I'm excited, the weather will be warmer and soon summer will come...beach time!
I believe that in my last post, I mentioned that I have yet another great idea to add to my blog. You may have seen it somewhere before, or maybe not.
I like to learn from the postings that I create. I love to write, I love to read, and I love to learn how to do new things. So from now on, Wednesdays are reserved for...sites, sites, & more sites! The internet is overflowing with great information. Yes, I find myself asking, what would I do without it? Thank goodness for the computer! So on Wednesdays, I am reserving the blog entries for a theme on the most useful links that I can find on a certain topic. Hopefully you find them interesting and useful.

Image via Wikipedia

Sites on Wednesday:It's A Green World

1. This is probably one of my favorite green blogs. The author is extremely informative on out consuming, our waste, and even shares how to take on a low trash challenge for your home.http://www.fakeplasticfish.com/

2. Here is a social networking site that you can provide your green ideas to major companies like Wal-Mart or Target. Give it a try! http://dotherightthing.com/

3. Do you receive shopping catalogs in the mail that you really don't care for? You know, you can just shop on the internet and save some paper! Go to this website, and here you can opt out of receiving paper catalogs by mail! http://www.catalogchoice.org/

4. Yay! What a great idea! The Ecocho search engine will plant two trees for every 1,000 searches performed on their site! So long, google! http://www.ecocho.com/

5. Of course you love to shop! Try this site and you may not leave!http://www.greenzer.com/

6. Green Living Ideas is another super blog to read that will help you with some ideas to green your home better. http://greenlivingideas.com/

7. Kids should learn to live green too! Here are ideas to teach your kiddos on green living, based on age group.http://www.ivillage.com/green/family/0,,bmbzlqpb,00.html

8. According to this blog, it pays to live green. Here are some more useful hints and tips to stay greener. http://www.paystolivegreen.com/

9. Organic and green living are the healthy ways to go.http://www.ghchealth.com/natural-health/

Until next time!

One Thing The Hubby Isn't Good For & Another Lovely Idea

2009-03-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

It's raining this Sunday. Life is okay so far, let's see...
I recently got my bangs cut over a month ago and they had been growing out a little too much for what I like. So it seems that in order to maintain the length of the bangs the way I want them to be, I would have to get them trimmed about every 4 to 6 weeks, somewhere in between, maybe. I paid almost $20 bucks to have them cut last time, which was the first time I've had bangs since...who knows??!

I don't want to keep paying $20 bucks every month to get a trim, so I decided I would cut them myself.

I chickened out.

Then, my husband proceeded to cut them for me.
Bad idea, he sucks, and they looked completely uneven & totally lopsided on the right side. (I should have known! He messed up my daughter's bangs one time COMPLETELY! Poor baby.)

But of course, he says it couldn't have been his fault because he cut them the way I instructed him to (start in the middle where it's one length and end on the ends where it's a little bit longer to give a certain effect).

Oh well, I believe I managed to fix them, and if not, I'll just be using bobby pins for a while. Love those things!

Anyway, I came up with a few more ideas on what to write in my blog to liven it up & have some fun. As you may have seen from my last entry, I started my Essential Things Thursday... so now, get ready for...(here comes the drum roll!!) Super 5 Sunday! Yeah!

Here is where I have a random topic, anything from Barbie to sports cars, or trees to blogging, whatever, and I provide you with the five best linkages to that topic, or I will give you some new ideas for certain things! Should be real fun and interesting, we will see how it goes!

By the way, I have one more idea for Wednesdays, but you'll just have to see what it is in a few days!

New Uses for Everyday Items!

1. VELCRO! You probably have a couple pairs of shoes that you didn't tie, but you velcroed? Instead of hanging your pictures on the wall with those nails, why not try it out with some velcro?

2. A DRYER SHEET! Yes, they certainly make your laundry smell fresh. But they can also pull up Rover's dog hairs and Lady's cat fur!

Image by Tojosan via Flickr

3.ZIPLOC BAGS! Good to store food. Even better to use to put frosting on your daughter's birthday cake. (Use the corner of the bag!)

4. COFFEE FILTERS! We all know you drink coffee. If not you, then your husband sure does. For those plants that you have in your kitchen window sill or outside in your garden, stick them in the flower pots. That will help prevent the soiling from falling out!

5. NEWSPAPERS! What's the latest headline? You can wrap your gifts in newspaper if you don't have wrapping paper handy!

So long, farewell, and enjoy the rest of your Sunday!

I've joined the crowd... Esssential Things Thursday!

2009-03-19T17:01:00.000-07:00

Thank goodness, I have been enjoying the past couple of days off work. Did some clothes shopping, watched Erin Brockovich (awesome movie!), and best of all, got some good quality time with my baby boy. He is three months old today! Now it's time to put something into my wonderful blog and turn on the DVR for the latest episode of Ellen.

I've have noticed how many blogs have a "Wordless Wednesday" or "Thoughtful Thursday." You know, how bloggers have a day of the week for a theme? Here is my theme. I call it "Essential Things Thursday." Okay, no so catchy but it'll do for me. For these particular blogs I will mention at least five different items or ideas that I feel are important to use or believe in to live a successful life. So enjoy, and laugh, if it's funny!

1. Pantyhose. At least for me. If I "forgot" to shave that day you'll never know of my laziness, will ya?

2. A thesaurus. Obviously for us writers who aren't to clever with words...

3.Fortune cookie fortunes. If you can't tell yourself how great you are, this cookie will.

Image by ~C4Chaos via Flickr

4. A mirror. It can do so many things for you: show you how beautiful you are, help you with public speaking or that next job interview, shaving your beard....

5.“Fear less, hope more; Eat less, chew more; Whine less, breathe more; Talk less, say more; Love more, and all good things will be yours” -Swedish proverb

...And that's it!

dear mother-in-law,...

2009-03-11T08:18:00.000-07:00

I hate to be neglectful of my blog.
Too bad my life is just so crazy and busy!

I went back to work this past Monday after being out for three months. They completely changed everything around, from the computer system and how to handle customer accounts, to where I sit (YES! I don't have to sit in the CORNER anymore!), to my supervisor. Whew. I guess I am pleased with the changes overall. It's too bad I still have to work in the first place.

Babies are doing well, DJ will be three months old on the 19th! Daddie's parents are killing me though! To make a long story short, both of his parents don't work due to health issues that prevent them from having the ability (so she says, hmmm..). I have argued my point time & time again on why I think DJ should just go to a baby sitter. If you have health problems, wouldn't that mean you CAN'T watch a child? Isn't that why you are on disability in the first place? I happen to consider taking care of a child as WORK!

I lost the argument of course. Whatever. I say if you want to watch him, then do it, but if I hear one PEEP about how you can't handle it anymore, well, screw you, you messed up, and you better acknowledge that I am right. I am just waiting on when his parents (mostly his dear mother) are gonna start complaining about how difficult it is to watch him. She already started yesterday by bringing up the fact that he spits up after he eats. Her tone of voice was really annoyed, like maybe I should be "fixing" his spit up "problem" and I'm not doing anything about it. Right. The thing I don't understand is, wasn't she a parent herself? Evidently, neither of her two children spit up their milk/formula in their life. She calls it "throw up" instead of "spit up." I guess to make it sound much more horrible than it already is.
I could go on and on about this lady, my god.

I think the thing I've learned though, is that sons fear and respect their mother's more than anything. I can understand that and I do agree, but I think that can only go so far. If a son can't differentiate when his mother is wrong and can't bring it to her attention, then it's obvious that the relationship is not healthy and, well, he doesn't have any balls.

All I can really do now is remind myself that it's not a big deal, and the best thing to get over the situation is to laugh at it. Oh yes, and maybe blog about it, too. And maybe move real far away....? I've heard Texas has some nice land out there...

Here are some site that I have come across ... just to have a laugh...

There is a "How-To" for everything. Here is a very valuable how to..
http://www.ehow.com/how_2069904_keep-from-killing-annoying-inlaws.html
..And how NOT to become an annoying mother-in-law (just because she is, doesn't mean you should be!)
http://www.ehow.com/how_2285728_not-be-annoying-mother-inlaw.html
There are some basic rules to dealing with them. Yes, in-laws can be difficult.
http://life.familyeducation.com/in-laws/family/48061.html
Here is a blog about hellish mother-in-laws..glad I'm not the only one who thinks so!
http://motherinlawhell.com/

Here are my personal, from experience tips on how to deal with or act around your MIL.
1.Lie to her. She made some roast beef? Tell her that it was excellent! DON'T tell her she should have flavored it more. She just might beat you up.
2.Avoid long conversations. She probably doesn't really want to hear what you have to say anyway.
3.Give her as little information as possible. She does not need to know everything about you and your husband's life.
4. NEVER, ever, ever, ever, ever, ever, EVER argue in with your husband in front of her. She will butt in, and of course, take his side. Whether he is wrong or not.

Thank god for blogs. Thank you to everyone who listens, and can identify with at least some of what I go through.

Today, Mushrush!

2009-02-26T13:04:00.000-08:00

Not too much has happened since my last post, what can I say, this is the life of a mommy with a brand new baby. But I love it. Unfortunately I have to go back to work within two weeks. But what can I say, I can't complain too much, I've got most everything I want and need.
I really don't have anything specific to write about today, so here goes what's currently on my mind:

1. Mushrush. I'm stuck on that word. What a word.

2. I've been on this laptop all day. my new favorite site that I've come across so far is http://www.thisisindexed.com. Hilarious!

3. I know I just made a post about colic and my son. Well, for the past 3 or 4 days he has been an absolute angel! When you have a baby who cries inconsolably at least 6 hours out of the 8 that your spouse is away at work, and then all of sudden, he smiles at everything, you really notice a difference. I am so happy and relieved he is getting better.

4.I came across another great website, http://www.carbonrally.com. This site includes information on challenges that you and your family can create to help you live healthy and greener. Honestly I am nothing near a green freak, but I do like to think that I attempt to help preserve the environment somehow.

So I am off to enjoy the rest of my day, being lazy and spending time with my son.

Things To Do, Places To Be, People To Meet

2009-02-24T09:32:00.000-08:00

Yes, there are so many things that I want to learn & accomplish by the time I'm...whatever age. I want to share my list and be able to say I have done every one of these things:

1. Learn to do Yoga, and use it as regular exercise.

2.Write a book on my life.

3.Rockclimbing. Snowboarding. Waterskiing.

4.Have my kiss at Times Square on New Year's Eve.

5.Wine tasting in Italy.

6.Plant at least five different types of flowers. Maintain.

7.Be on a game/reality television show, i.e., "The Amazing Race"

8.Meet an actor or a singer.

9.When the time comes, my children will pay for half of their first car. Whatever they save up to buy their car, I will pay for half.

10.Learn a type of dance that I don't know (salsa??)

11.Learn how to play golf.

12.White water rafting. That seriously scares me just watching it done on t.v.

13. Take my kids to Walt Disney World for a week.

14.Run a marathon. Hopefully for a charity.

15.Ride in a hot air balloon (ahhh!!)

16.Mardi Gras in New Orleans!

17.Get LASIK to have better vision (I am so iffy about anything that touches my eyes).

18.Read at least 25 "Classic" books.

19. Volunteer with Habitat for Humanity.

20. Visit my mom's home country, the Philippines.

I have many other goals to accomplish in my life, but those are just a few interesting ones that I wanted to share. I look forward to accomplishing ALL of them!

Information on visiting Walt Disney World: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/
How to start Yoga:http://www.yogapoint.com/info/basicmovement.htm
Beginniner's guide to flowers:http://www.gardenguides.com/plants/flowers/
Prepare to run a marathon:http://running.about.com/od/halfmarathonsmarathons/a/firstmarathon.htm

Babies-A Realization

2009-02-24T07:14:00.000-08:00

So yesterday was my daughter's third birthday. My how time flies, and I don't say that just because most people say that ALL THE TIME, I really am in awe of how incredibly fast Betsy is growing up.In the mean time, my son DJ is rapidly approaching three months. Something I am really excited for, because he is a very colicky baby.

Practically from the time of my son's birth I realized something:I have an entirely different child on my hands. While I was pregnant I was "totally prepared" for everything that was to come from this second child, after all, I've gotten by with my first one, right?

DJ has almost slept through the night since he was one week old. On the other hand, Betsy woke up every other hour for at least the first three months. Waking up every other hour was pretty rough. They always say to nap whenever the baby is sleeping, but that was difficult for me because I have a difficult time sleeping when it's light outside and I was always wanting to do something like cleaning. Betsy never had colic either, nor did she ever use a pacifier.

Colic usually starts around three weeks of age and ends at three months, sometimes not until six or even nine months. If your baby has colic, some symptoms he may be showing are excessive crying (sometimes the crying spree[s] occur at the same time every day) or curling the body up (because he is having gas pains). Some things that you can try to help ease the babies colic is offering a pacifier (my son uses one), pushing on their legs, toward their stomach (this should help release the gas that's inside), or an over-the-counter medicine called "Mylicon", which helps to ease the gas pains.

My son is now nine weeks old, his colic started at about four weeks, and peaked to its highest at six and seven weeks. I know for a fact he is slowly growing out of this colic phase because he eats a bit less than he used to. He would try to scarf down 6 to 8 ounces per feeding every to hours or less! We also changed his baby formula to one that has 1/5 the amount of lactose. He may or may not be lactose intolerant, so we decided that he would probably need a more gentle type of formula. Taking your baby to the doctor about his colic didn't really help, and I'm sure that most people who take their colicky child to see their doctor gets the same type of answer: it will go away over time. Apparently, the number one cure of colic is to be patient.

Colic has been my biggest issue so far. But as I mentioned before, DJ has been going down from his colic episodes and all I can do is look forward to what's next. He is a very good baby otherwise. Honestly, I don't remember Betsy sleeping seven hours straight at night as a two month old!

Ahhhh.... the wonderful joys of parenting!

Here's some websites that I found informative.

From About.com:one of my favorite websites for information:
http://pediatrics.about.com/od/yourbabyweekbyweek/ss/baby_wk_three_4.htm

Colic Facts from Parents.com: http://www.parents.com/baby/care/crying-colic/colic-facts/

One more: http://www.realsavvymoms.com/parenting/article.php?category2=11&article=15

Keep Your Change!

2009-02-23T09:41:00.000-08:00

We are all looking for the best ways to save money and make money. If you like to use your money to it's fullest potential, one thing you must do is keep your change.Every time you go to your favorite fast food joint to pick up a tasty burger for lunch, remember to pocket the nickels and dimes the cashier hands back to you. it doesn't seem like much, but it all adds up very fast. If you tried a little experiment with your change and an empty jar, wait a month and you will see for yourself how well you maximize the use of your money. Here are ways to make sure you make the most out of your change.

1. Check your couch. For sure you can find a dollar or two and a few quarters.
2.Clean out your car. Not only will you have a nice and tidy car to drive, you'll also find a few dollars worth of change in there.
3.Drawers. Kitchen drawers, bathroom drawers, sock drawers, there will be some coins!
4.Don't for get to empty out your pockets before throwing your clothes in the washer. And make sure you take out the chapstick and pen from your pockets, too.
5.Your purse will be carrying some change.

When you acquire enough change you can either take it to your local grocery store and convert the coins to dollars through a machine, usually near the checkout stands, or take the change to your bank. They will take care of the coins for you and deposit them into your checking or savings account.

I could name hundreds of things you can do with the spare change you find in your home. if you have a kid or two, you could use the change to deposit into a savings account for when they grow up. or maybe you could use the extra $40 dollars you saved up to go out on a movie date. Either way, it's your money, and be proud that you took the little bit of extra time to keep and utilize your spare change!

One More Thing

2009-02-22T10:25:00.000-08:00

I have considered writing a story on my life a few times, I’m sure some would find it interesting. I think it’s incredibly unique and although I didn’t thoroughly appreciate everything I went through, I have learned plenty of lessons. This post is my life so far in a nutshell.

Commonly enough I was born nearly 23 years ago to my mom and my M.I.A. father. Evidently my dad knew about my existence but chose not to have practically anything to do with me. I’m sure my mom was aware that he didn’t care one bit so she kept me private from his side of the family, until I was three years old, hospitalized for anemia (blood transfusion, yeah!). He “finds out” about me three weeks prior to marrying my (cliche) evil step-mom, Shelley. Mom is still single and poor living in Garden Grove until I turn six. She meets a man who later became my abusive step-father. By the way, I would like to add that I am not looking for any empathy I am just telling it like it is. Life happens.

We move to the city of sin for about a year (as my step-father was in the great U.S. Air Force as a military COP and stationed at Nellis A.F.B.). We also move to cities like Sonoma, Tustin, Lake Forest, and Westminster. Yes, a lot of moving. Something I would NEVER do to my children.

Probably the worst part of my life (so far!) happens here. Being a victim of continuous abuse is agonizing yet it seems just a part of everyday life. To make matters worse, a child who is in an abusive situation completely throws off his or her perception of life and the way it should/could be. I chose to bring my story to the police when I was 13 years old. My step-dad went to jail for a while and my mom stayed with him.That fact alone is completely devastating. My mom is from a different country in Asia and I really believe that her choosing her husband over child is something she would have learned where she is from. Although the doctors stated they had plenty of evidence to put him away for life and beyond he did not stay in the pen. I chose not to testify against him. I know that I was afraid and ashamed of everything and I couldn’t bring myself to the stand. But I choose not to regret keeping my mouth shut.

Unfortunately I kept a few grudges during high school. Of course, because my mom chose her criminal husband over me I was forced to live with my real father. At this point I am 14 years old starting my first year of high school. I didn’t have too much fun or good memories during this era. I was very unhappy with what both sets of parents had done to me. I didn’t get along with my step-mom. I wasn’t popular in high school at all and I reverted back to what I knew. I had somewhat of a “boyfriend” who was very abusive also. In fact I carried this way of behavior on until my very last boyfriend. I’ve gone through three crazy partners. It has taken me 21 years to see that I am an important person and I should never stand for abuse or disrespect.

My last boyfriend is the father of my first child, Riley. He was a nice person at first, but eventually became very controlling. He was also quite a bit older than me (at 18 years old, he was 25). Living with him was “Jackie, do things this way” or “Jackie you better dress like that” et cetera. I am still not out of the abusive mode, and I didn’t realize that being controlled can be a form of abuse too. He was the first (and only, I will never stand for this again) boyfriend to cheat on me, with his ex-girlfriend. His explanation for his poor actions was that he felt so sorry for her having to go to Iraq for awhile (she is the mother of his first child, so they have ties. Whatever.)

I left him after three trying years, and now I am with the person I would pretty much call my husband. I couldn’t have it any better or be treated any sweeter. I will not stand for any form of abuse again. My two goals in life are to enjoy the ride and make my children happy. I am proud to say that I have endured abuse and walked right past it. No one deserves to live with abuse.

For help, or if you believe you know a victim of abuse please call:

The National Domestic Violence Hotline> 1-800-799-7233

The Childhelp National Abuse Hotline>1-800-4-A-CHILD

RAINN: Rape, Abuse, & Incest National Network>1-800-656-HOPE

Hello, world!

2009-02-22T10:15:00.000-08:00

I keep kicking myself in the butt to create a blog. Finally I have started one.

Well hello everybody! I am a young mom to two, a very brand new 2 month old boy, Dorian, and his big sister Riley, turning 3 years old this coming Monday. Oh how time flies (I can't believe that is part of what being a parent is about. It's a crazy concept.)

I like to write. I am a rookie at it by far, but in high school I used to write for my school newspaper. Very amateur, but I appreciated it. I hoped to become a journalist by trade after I graduated from high school. That hasn't happened yet, but I do choose to write as a hobby for the time being.

All I can really say about myself is that I am learning every single day. Luckily I am completely open to what is to come. I'm very into music, love to watch reality television, and I couldn't be any happier spending a day at home with a snack, a good movie, and a good friend.

My blog has no specific category or theme. I love to write about anything and everything I see or hear about. So at the very least, this should be a very interesting journey!