Giggles

New Potty

So we decided to buy Shiloh a training potty.. we just want to introduce her & get her familiar with it so that when she is ready its not too stressful for her. So here is a video of her opening her new potty..

New Car Seat

 

So today we took a trip to Toys R Us & purchased Shiloh a new car seat. It's one of those sayings I guess.. you know your old/a mom/a parent when your excited about buying a new car seat for your toddler. LOL I don't know why I am so happy, I guess because I know its one that she can now see out the window, when she falls asleep I can easily lay it back & it has the latch secure system which I love because I know she is that much safer while we take our car rides. The one we had before this was nice & girly but it was one you had to completely unbuckle to lay it back if she were to fall asleep & it wasn't that padded on the inside so sitting it for long rides made it not so fun for her. This new Evenflo Symphony is awesome & I can't wait to take a drive tomorrow to see how she likes it :-)

Best Friends

Shiloh's Bestie is named Olivia.. funny thing is they look like they could be sisters.. & they even fight like sisters too. Olivia & Jessica came over for a visit a few weekends ago & it was fun to watch them play.. well I guess you could say compete.. either way they are both just too cute for words.

 

5 Favorite Finds of The Month

So I have some new things that I am just obsessed with & love & wanted to share with all of you! I also thought it would be something fun to do each month.. share my great finds.. I am sure there are other blogs out there that do the same thing.. but I thought I would start my own :-)

1. Smuckers Uncrustables.. LOVE these.. super easy for when I am out running errands & we are not home in time for lunch or just to have at home on days I don't feel like putting a lot of work into making lunch, but I have found that I must still put a bib on my child while eating them because she loves to suck the jelly & peanut butter out of them before eating the bread. I purchase these at Walmart.

2. Boogie Wipes.. we have been sick this week & Shiloh has had a very runny nose so these have come in handy quite a bit.. & the other thing I love about them aside from not drying out her nose is they smell so good. I know silly but I have a strong sense of smell LOL. I bought these at Target.

3. So I am a clean freak.. some say its OCD I say its just clean.. but whatever.. so I love new cleaning product finds.. I think I am more OCD about cleaning products then actually cleaning if you ask me. But one that I am currently obsessing about & have used so much in the last 3 weeks tha I actually ran out is Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner.. it actually works & very well in my opinion & it also smells yummy too.. well as yummy as a cleaner can hehe. I purchase this at Walmart.

4. So we recently moved as you may have read & well I have done some exploring of our very cute small town & I just love every thing about it. I also found this cute little boutique call Sugar Babies with the hippest new items out there & they even have the cutest maternity clothes as well.

click here for their blog

 here for the website
or here for the Facebook

5. The last great find of the last few weeks was this beautiful dress. Every year Stephen's fabulous company {Discount Tire Co.} has a company party & its pretty much a grown up prom. So I found this dress at Group USA for only $22 after it  was marked down & then had an additional 70% off.. yes I was so excited & still am :-)

What great finds have you had this month.. do share :-)

Not Me Monday

 

So on Friday I went grocery shopping alone.. yes you heard me correctly ALONE.. no Shiloh or Stephen. I think this is probably only the second time I have ever done this since getting married or having Shiloh.. crazy right! Anyways.. on the way home I was stuck in traffic & behind an unmarked brown creepy van. It was beautiful day out so I had my sunroof open & windows down jamming to my music when I noticed the guy in the creep van staring at me.. I looked away really fast & when I looked back he had rolled his window up just so I could only see his eyes {creepy}. So it of course was NOT ME who starting having anxiety of the creeping van following me home & kidnapping me as I unload my car.. no I would never think that this creepy unmarked van had a driver that kidnaps people.. especially not mom's who have no make up on & her hair a mess.. I mean why would I ever think something so crazy.. I guess its because our country has turned into such a scary place & its NOT ME that now has a constant fear that lives within her on a daily basis.

So we have all been pretty sick in our house.. so sick that on Saturday I woke up with a fever of 102.. so it was NOT ME who in a panic call my mommy {yes I refer to her as mommy when something is wrong & I am not ashamed} asking her what could possibly wrong with me. I mean what 20 something still calls her mom when she is sick? I then did not almost start crying when she told me she thought I had strep.. no I would never be so afraid of a cold. So after hanging up with my mommy I get Shiloh & myself dressed & head to the urgent care. Once I arrived the front desk asked my symptoms.. & it was NOT ME who then replied in a whisper afraid others would hear me & freak out when I said "I think I have strep". Then it was NOT ME who then had to wear a mask while she waited to be seen either :-(

So my loving caring husband allowed me to sleep in on Sunday since for the last week Shiloh has been up every night due to her cough.. crying & having a hard time falling back a sleep & its been me getting her since Stephen has to work. So it was NOT ME who took full advantage of this & slept till almost noon.. no way what mom sleeps till noon unless she works a night shift.. not this mama! Thanks hubby I love you!

Well that is this weeks not me mama for ya! If you enjoy mine then you should head over to MckMama's & read some of the ones posted on her page as well!  

Have a wonderful week!

Sleeping Beauty

Shiloh was having a hard time sleeping today because of her cough so I ended up bringing her down to the living room for nap time & cuddling with her until her body heat became too much for me with my high fever & I had to just let her nap alone. I just sat there staring at her & her beauty.. I have to admit I have one sleeping beauty who I am so proud to call my daughter. She is stunning. Here are the pictures I captured during her nap time on the couch today with the sun gazing in through our living room window onto her sweet face.

Man do I love this child.. she is such a blessing in my life & I am so lucky to be her mommy♥

Potty Training

So Shiloh is now 17 months old.. for months now {since she turned 1} she has started to give signs of being ready to potty train. She is embarrassed to pooh in front of other people.. well except for me ..she sits on her toy that is similar to a toilet & poohs in her diaper while sitting on it & she very interested in the toilet. So the other night before her bath I asked her if she wanted to sit on the toilet & in her cute little Shi Shi voice said "Yeah" so I plopped her up there. She smiled away looking down like she knew something was suppose to happen but unsure of what. After a few minutes I took her down & praised her & she clapped & said "YAY". Well then today I noticed her hiding while pushing so I said want to go on the potty & she said "yeah" & she ran to the bathroom.. I took the diaper off to find she had already done her deed but still plopped her up there & told her to push & made the face & noise as though I was pushing & she copied me.. nothing came out of course because she was done but she smiled at me as she continued to push.. after a few minutes of this I then took her down showed her how to flush the toilet {of course after whipping her} & praised her again saying "YAY Big Girl" & she loved it.

So my question is.. at what age should potty training start for girls? I have been told so many different things that I am not sure if I am starting her too soon or if its OK to introduce her now. I am not pushing it on her by any means just getting her familiar with the potty so they can be friends. Also what are some helpful hints to get them to actually go in the potty??

Photo Editing Site

So I have found a really neat photo editing site Picnik {& no I am not being told to advertise for them} Its a service you can use for free or pay monthly for to have the premium service. My most recent.. well most of my most recent pictures were edited from this site. I haven't decided yet if I am going to sign up for the premium service yet, I am still playing around with the free stuff but I thought I would share with all of you because its nice to customize your pictures if you don't have Photoshop or Photoshop Elements. I have elements but its so confusing to me.. maybe its because its on my Macbook or maybe I just need to mess with it more but this site does what I am looking for & its easier for now so I hope you find it useful like I have :-)

Pretty in Pink Shiloh Before:

Pretty in Pink Shiloh After:

Stephen & I Before:

Stephen & I After:

My Bridesmaids, Flower Girl & I Before:

My Bridesmaids, Flower Girl & I After:

Find Me On Facebook

So I now have a Facebook page for my blog friends & fans. I have had a few people ask to add me to there Facebook so I have created a Facebook page for you to request me & for me to add new blog friends to. I hope this is a success. 

Click here to add me!

Sicky

So we are all sick. Shiloh came down with it first. The coughing, sneezing & watery eyes.. then Stephen & now today I woke feeling under the weather. I hope this passes soon for us for I don't like feeling ill. I can handle the cold but its not fun seeing your baby sick. All night I worry about her.. when she sleeps she coughs & cries most of the night & all I can do is comfort her & have a humidifier on for her since she is still too young for any cold medicine. Tylenol doesn't help or anything along those lines. Of course the cough is worse at night too. Last night though was the first night that she sleep through the night.. of course I was up constantly checking her because she was still coughing super bad in her sleep. I tried to keep her elevated but she kept turning onto her stomach so that does no good. So I guess its just a waiting game now on us all recovering. The plus side is she has had no fever & most days has tons of energy.. but today as I write this she is just laying on me watching her toons. {its still morning} I did bring her outside yesterday to enjoy the sunshine because that seems to help & she loved it. I think its the first time she has played in our not so much of a back yard since we have moved her {its been cold, wet & too rainy other days} & it was so cute. She loves the grass & how it feels on her feet.. it was like she was in heaven.. but after a while she tired out & came back in to relax. Of course all the days she has been under the weather its been just beautiful outside.. I just hope the nice weather continues so that when she is well I can take her to the wonderful park I found down the street so she can run & play. I guess its time to get the cleaning supplies & lysol out & free the house of all our sicky germs. Well that is it for now.. life isn't too exciting at the moment just a lot of runny noses  & nasty coughs that we don't want to spread so its back to resting I go. 

Hope Everyone is  having a wonderful day!

Sippy Cup Dilemma

So I am tired today.. beyond tired. Shiloh was up on & off all night due to being sick {so I think that is why} so I finally just brought her in our room early this morning. I then woke up to her kicking me in the face babbling who knows what with the cutest smile ever. So I bring her downstairs half awake but knowing this is the start of the day at a quarter to eight. So I decided to be a nice mommy {especially since I am tired} & give her dry cereal & her milk to have in the living room. So I am sitting here glancing over at her on the other end of the couch & notice she spills her cereal so I ask her to pick it up.. & surprisingly she does. I then see her trying to get the milk out of her sipping cup into her bowl of dry cereal & I tell her no. I then see her dump ALL the cereal onto the couch so I go over there to pick it up & find that she has poured her milk all over two of the couch cushions. So I take the milk away tell her that was very bad & I am now washing the two couch covers. I just don't get how a 17 month old knows or why she even wants to spill her milk purposely on things. This isn't the first time she has done this & I am sure it is not the last but I just don't get it. I try to find sippy cups that she won't figure it out on how to get the milk out but I have been so unsuccessful. I don't think there is a sippy cup out there that does not spill or leak. If you know of or have ones that don't leak or spill please do share.

My couch now as I am washing the covers

This is Shiloh & the "I AM A MONSTER" look

This "I love making mommy work early in the morning" look

Our Wish List

So I have a few wish list items that I wanted to share & get feed back on so here they are:

↓This is for Shiloh & Myself↓
{Phi and Ted's Sport Double Jogger Stroller in Apple}

↓This is For Shiloh↓

{Britax Marathon Emma Carseat} 

 

 ↓This for Me↓
{iphone 3GS White} 

↓For Stephen↓
{ipad} 

↓For All of Us↓
{Another Sweet Baby}

We aren't asking for much are we?? LOL  
Well some can be achieved but others in our dreams..

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

Well I don't have much this week but here goes:

On Thursday it was Not Me who decided to take the freeway to B Boys house instead of the back roads knowing there would be morning traffic. It was also Not Me who then got off  the freeway only to go the wrong way & miss my turn because I was too impatient to wait for two dump trucks to turn. No I would never leave at 8:10 AM knowing that I had to be there by 8:30 AM, take the freeway, then exit, loose patients miss my turn & then show up 5 minutes late all because I didn't do what I should have in the first place.

I decided to make the Tire Boys some Valentines Day cookies something super easy. But it was Not Me me who decided to put them on a baking sheet with holes in it to have them baking but dripping to the bottom of the stove & burning. No I would never be so silly to think that would not happen. I would also never ask my Stephen to scrap it out while the cookies where still baking.. no Not Me. Oh & we cooked a pizza last night & of course the kitchen filled with smoke because it was Not Me who still has not cleaned the oven from the last baking experience so it is still burning the cookies that are still on the bottom of the stove.

So for some reason lately I have had a sweet tooth. I am not a big candy eater or one to snack so this is not normal for me. So it most definitely was Not Me who on Saturday night after watching Valentines Day the movie was craving Rolos like it was going out of style & then on our way home stop to buy two packs of Rolos. It also was Not Me who refused to share, not even when Shiloh sat there looking at me like "mama I know you have something I would like so why aren't you sharing?" I would never not share with my sweet baby & hide the evidence. I also would never sit there eating each one like it was the first bit of food I had in days or like they were heaven on earth.. nope I would never consume that much sugar in one sitting no Not Me.

Memories of Alexis

Tonight I found a blog about a little baby girl who drowned in her pool at age two. Her fourth birthday was on the 10th.. what a sweet but sad story. It brought me back to when Alexis, our neighbors daughter who drowned in her pool when she was only a year old. I remember that day like it was yesterday & its a day I will never forget. I remember her laughter, her brown curly hair, her bright beautiful eyes & smile that could light up a room & I see a lot of Alexis in my daughter even thought there is no blood relation. I was in Fifth grade when Alexis passed & it wasn't the first person to pass in my life but it was one of the saddest & hardest to except for me.
I was home sick that day or I guess you could say playing hooky.. I remember thinking about going over to Alexis' house to play with her but hesitant because I didn't want my parents to know I wasn't really sick, so I stayed home instead. I remember I was watching General Hospital (I know I was way to young to watch that show but my babysitter had me hooked) & there was a breaking news story.. that is when my sisters where on there bawling their eyes out screaming & down on there knees.. I instantly started crying because I was so afraid & I hurt & my heart froze. Then the news broke that an infant was found in her pool by her father & they were unable to revive her. They said that her dad (who worked nights while the mom worked days) had taken a nap while Alexis was asleep & while he was asleep she climbed out of her crib unlocked the patio door & fell in the pool. They said that from the weight of her diaper & her inability to swim is what lead to her drowning. I remember them saying it was around noon or so & it crushed me because that was right around the time I was debating to go over there. I remember my mom getting home & the tears in her eyes & I knew she felt the pain that any mother would feel. When my sister Nicole came home I remember her not wanting to talk & just hiding in her room crying.. I remember our house was a sad quite house for days maybe even weeks after this. For years I have beaten my self up.. asking why "Why didn't I just go over there if only I would have she would still be with us". Now as I write this my heart hurts & I feel the sadness that I have never dealt with or talked about sit in & my heart breaks. Michelle (her mother) I don't think ever moved past it but her dad continued living in the home.. but Michelle moved away. I remember my sisters where allow to attend the funeral but I was not. My mom thought that I was just too young.. which at the time made me angry but now I understand. I remember my sisters taking me to her grave sight later & showing me her beautiful butterfly gravestone (which was perfect & is why I have loved butterflies ever since) & I remember my life forever being changed from the moment on. I remember as a kid when I was having a bad day or just needing to escape (which I did a lot) riding my bike to the cemetery (which was down the street from our house) & sitting there talking to her or just sitting there. I never told anyone about doing that.. I thought they might think I was silly but I remember going there once & seeing Michelle there all alone crying.. & my heart just ached. Now as a mom I think because of Alexis I am so protective.. so afraid of leaving Shiloh or putting my trust in anyone watching over her because of this.. I am so afraid of ever having to experience a loss of a child & because of that I am the over protective over barring mom but I am OK with that because it means she is safe.. I don't think my heart could handle loosing her. Most don't know of Alexis.. I have only told a few people because I can't seem to make it through telling the story without crying or having anxiety but I miss her & think of her often. I have always said even before I was a mom that I would NEVER have a pool.. No Exceptions ..not even when my children know how to swim.. & I am still staying strong to that & I know I always will. I haven't been to her grave sight in many many years but I have driven by the house.. & every time.. I get choked up & I wonder what would be if she was still with us today.

In My Daughters Eyes

 
In My Daughters Eyes


In my daughter’s eyes, I am a hero,
I am strong and wise,
And I know no fear.
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me,
I see who I wanna be, in my daughters eyes.


In my daughter’s eyes, everyone is equal,
Darkness turns to light,
And the world is at peace,
This miracle God gave to me,
Gives me strength when I am weak,
I find reason to believe, in my daughter’s eyes.

And when she wraps her hand around my finger,
Oh, it puts a smile in my heart.
Everything becomes a little clearer.
I realize what life is all about.
It’s hangin’ on when your heart has had enough;
It’s giving more when you feel like giving up,
I’ve seen the light/ it’s in my daughter’s eyes.


In my daughter’s eyes, I can see the future.
A reflection of who I am, and what will be.
And though she’ll grow and, some day leave
Maybe raise a family,
When I’m gone, I hope you’ll see,
How happy she made me,
For I’ll be there, in my daughter’s eyes.

Author: Martina Mcbride song

  

{I love this song & it is so true to how I feel for Shiloh she is my world}

Positive Attitude

So my last posting was me in rare form. I am usually open minded, positive, happy & can handle most things that are thrown my way good or bad.

Last night for some reason I let money of all things get to me & bring me to a place that I rarely visit. But today I woke up thinking positive happy thoughts. I told myself that this is just a bump in the road & if anyone can get over it, it would be us. We are a strong family who has had many bumps in the road but we always get over it & move forward. So I just needed a good nights rest to assure myself that we will be OK.

I have applied for a lot of positions since last night.. but when I sit down & look at the income I would make & then what daycare cost & gas.. it is kind of a wash.. unless I make more then what most would pay.. so we will see. I applied at the bank, I have always wanted a bank job. There is just something about working in a bank that sounds so interesting. I also applied at the hospital.. I have no experience in the medical field so I am not even sure I qualify.. but will see.. that would be nice too so I can gain experience. I also applied at many other openings in the area so now its just a waiting game. So will see if I recieve any call backs & if the pay is what I am need to make it worth while.

So I wanted to let everyone know I am in much better spirts this afternoon.. thinking happy thoughts & appreciating all that I have.. because our situation is nothing compared to others so I need to remind myself of that.

{Plus with this sweet face to look at each day how could I possibly be down}

Hope everyone is having a blessed day!

When it rains.. it pours

So we have been anticipating our taxes.. & Stephen's bonus, waiting patiently & hoping it was a good year. This past year was another big financial year that has left us stressed & over budget. But I have kept a cool because I was sure we would have a nice check in the mail come tax time. Well unfortunately that is not the case. We actual owe taxes.. yep you heard me right we are owing money.. & its not just a few hundred dollars or even a couple thousand its way more & I haven't a clue as to how we are going to pay it. So now I am stressed out, depressed & in search a full time position. I love the part time babysitting job that I have & the family that I work for.. but I have to return to the corporate world so that we can get out of this financial state that we are in. We haven't received Stephen's bonus nor do we know how much it will be or when we will receive it but I am praying that it is more then I am thinking it will be.
I am sad that this has happened. I am just wondering when we will start receiving good news & all the bad will disappear. I mean isn't it time for some good to happen?? This last year we have already had the bad news dumped on us.. so why again in 2010. I was just starting to except my medical conditions, I was just starting to except that I may not be able to get pregnant,  I was just starting to except that even if I can get pregnant I may not be able to carry a baby full term. So my question is when? When can we have some good news.. when can the financial strain be released from us.. when will I stop feeling like I am drowning?
I thank the man above for all the good he has brought on to me. All the miracles & blessings & good in my life.. but right now I feel like I am in need of some good & that we are deserving of it. My husband works his butt off.. we hardly see him & when he is home he is exhausted or drained from the day. I try to help & thought that watching B Boy would help us a little more but now I am learning we need more. I always wanted to be the stay at home mom who is able to participate in my children's lives & attend all activities & be there for all the special moments.. & now that I have to return to work I am so afraid of missing out.. & loosing the bond that Shiloh & I have together. This news just came at the wrong time.. & now I sit here awake applying for job after job crossing my fingers that something will be in my favor & that it pays well enough to benefit us. I am hoping that soon there will be light at the end of this dark tunnel & we can enjoy life again.. I just pray.

Some may think this post is too personal to share.. others may not.. but me I just need to get it out & maybe get some advice on other ways to bring income in without having to put my daughter in daycare.

Not Me Monday

Welcome to Not Me! Monday! This blog carnival was created by MckMama. You can head over to her blog to read what she and everyone else have not been doing this week.

It was Not Me who on Thursday had Wendy's & then on Friday have it again. I would never allow my child nor I to eat fast food two days in a row & if I did I would never go to the same one & order the exact same meal both times.

I went to Toys R Us on Friday to buy some door locks & sippy cups for Shiloh. So it was Not Me who took her down the doll isle & found the creepiest doll to buy for her because she loved it & the creepy noises it makes. I would never think a doll that babbles is cute & I especially would not buy her a new toy if she was having a terrible two's day either!

On Sunday we were all excited to attend our new church in our new town. We would normally attend the early mass but decided to go to the later one. I had checked the time online so it was Not Me who read it wrong & had my Stephen & Shiloh arrive at Church to find that it did not start for another hour. It was Not Me who then said lets go drive around for an hour & return only to drive around to have Shiloh fall asleep & then decide that church this week would be us driving around looking at houses instead so Shiloh could sleep.  I would never do such a thing nope Not Me.

Five Things Friday

1Took Stephen to work at 6:45 am because my Edge is in the shop.. & I am realizing I am still not a morning person & think I will never be one.

2Play date at the mall's play ground with B Boy. Shiloh loved all the kids after a few minutes of warming up but then decided she didn't want to leave & had a tantrum in front of everyone.. gotta love toddlers!

3Lunch at Wendy's again. (second day in a row) NO MORE fast food for a while I think I am gaining all me weight back that I just lost & that is no bueno!

4Had a nice nap with Shiloh.. since we started our day early today but now I feel lazy ugh.

5Now heading to Target & Toys R US before picking up Stephen to get my car, check out the Flex & the Edge Sport (just for fun & but showing excitment to my husband may convince him on buying a new one LOL yeah right) & go out to dinner some where yummy since we have a TON of options where we live now :-)

Fun Times. Hope Everyone has had or is having a wonderful Friday :-) Oh & Shiloh absolutely LOVES her new tutu.. that I of course left in the Edge yesterday :-( But she wants to wear it all the time.. so cute!!

 

 

 

 {Ta Ta For Now}

Getting So Big

My baby is growing up. The past few days I have noticed how independent & how smart Shiloh is becoming. She now knows where the pantry is so when I ask her if she wants a snack she runs to the pantry, when I ask her if she is sleepy & if she wants a nap she will say nap or seepy, tonight I asked her to get me her juice cup so I could give her some juice for dinner & she brought me her juice & at dinner tonight she was so determind to use her fork with dinner.. & it was so cute watching her get her corn on her fork... baby forks are so dull so she would pick them up & put it on the fork then in her mouth.. my baby is getting So Big so fast :-(

..showing mama where the food is at..

..This was snack time today..

..This is her poor toe that a picture frame dropped on when we were moving this past weekend..

..so sad..

Valentines Day Tutu

So I found this site on how to make a tutu.. Make Them Yourself ..& I love the finished product. I love tutu's & I love being crafty so I thought I should make one for Shiloh for Valentines Day. It is so cute!! Here are the pictures of the finished product.