The Monday Snapshot - Fun in the Snow

I am still trying to get my butt back in gear and blog.  It has been so long, November was my last blog post...I actually think The Monday Snapshot was my last actual post.  So I guess it is only fitting to start my first post of 2013 with The Monday Snaphot!

So much fun with Daddy!

My boys and I took about five minutes out of our Sunday to enjoy the white fluffy stuff!  Our little Jackson was unsure at first and probably ready to trowing in the towel until his Daddy started to pull him faster on the sled.  The we heard squeals of joy!  

Despite my dislike for snow, winter, ice and cold, I am so glad we took him out in the yard yesterday.  I got some great photos and a video to document this memory for the little guy.  

Up until yesterday I almost forgot that the snow can be looked at as such an innocent and joyful thing.  My Jackson continues to show me and remind me how much fun life can be!

Hugs and Loves~

Tuesday's True Confessional

It's been awhile sine I have done one of these posts, but today I just have a lot to confess!

• I am currently wearing a maternity top!  Yep that's right, a maternity top.  It doesn't look bad, I promise.  It's just really comfy and I enjoyed it while I was pregnant.  I needed to be comfy today and this is what I decided on.
• I have lost a total of 25 pounds since October 8th.  Nope I wasn't trying to loose weight, I was just trying to not have my gallbladder knock my ass to the ground.  It has been seven and a half weeks since my last attack and I strongly believe it is because I adapted a low fat no fat lifestyle.  Yes, I could have lost the weight to begin with but I really never felt bad about myself.  Being down this much weight doesn't make me feel one way or another about myself, it is just that, weight lost.  Yes I will maintain this new found lifestyle of mine, even after surgery, but I also will not deprive myself of a chocolate milkshake when the time is right.
• Speaking of surgery, I am scheduled to have my gallbladder out on Friday via a lap.  I am beyond afraid.  I have never had surgery and have only been in the hospital to deliver a baby.  I am so stuck on thinking negative, that it is really freaking me out.  I had a lot to live for before Jackson came into my life, but now I feel overwhelmed that something will happen because I have Jackson. 
• I think we, inadvertently, taught Jackson how to stick out his tongue. It's not a good behavior to have, nope not at all, but it is stinking cute when he does it!
• I have actively been thinking about baby number two and I feel guilty for doing so.  I want my child bearing years to be over before my mid 30s.  In my PAIL blog post about family planning, I outlined a timeline and hopefully once this damn gallbladder is out, we can explore our next steps to a little brother or sister for Jackson.

I'd love to write more but it's dinner time for the little guy and bath night, so I have to get moving.

Hugs and Loves~

The Monday Snapshot - Slumber or Lumber

I posted on Facebook a few days ago this crazy cute picture of our little Jackson.  The post said, "Slumber Jack or Lumber Jack, you pick?!?!

Our little Jackson has had some sleep issues that, ironically, started the night of my 30th Birthday (November 3rd).  It was so strange, the weeks before he was doing so great with sleeping.  A little sleep regression, teething, or maybe a growth spurt, either way, we will work our way through it.  We have been picking him up and bringing in into our bed at night, The Hubbs and I have both been tired and resulted in the easiest solution, co-sleeping (not saying it is the right option, but it is a solution).  Most the time he isn't joining us until 2 or later.  Jackson loves to sleep in the big kid bed!

Hugs and Loves~

Monday Snapshot - Go Bucks!

I think the only thing that makes a Monday worth while is waking up to my little Jack Pot!  Aside from that, Monday's are just another day that keeps me away from the weekend!

My Monday Snapshot is of my little Jackson cheering on his favorite team, The Ohio State Buckeyes!

This little boy wants to dot the "I" one day!

I know things have been quiet lately here on the blog, I have good reason.  Since September I have dealing with a faulty Gallbladder that likes to bitchslap me at any moment.  I have basically resigned myself to flying under the radar and eating to low fat, no fat foods in order to keep me from crippling over in pain.  This Gallbladder, whose name is Gary, will hopefully be leaving me on November 16th!

I have so much to write with regards to my life and how things are going.  I have so many comments to post to blogs it's not even funny.  But life has taken me hostage and my little boss (pictured above) has kept me busy.  My hope is that I will pick up full swing and get posting, after all it was two years ago this week that I started this blog, where did time go!

Hugs and Loves~

The Monday Snapshot - Getting My Feet Wet In The Blog World Again!

So I took August off from blogging, apparently.

My time in from of the computer has been very small.  Aside from my time at work, computer time is limited at home.  When I am home, I want to be with Jackson and focused on playing with him and helping him learn new things.  Blogging time is clearly limited or nonexistent.

I am working on curving out more blog writing, reading, and internet time for myself.  With Jackson going to bed at an earlier hour and becoming more independent in his play, I think I might be able to pick up a little blog time.

For today though, I decided to jump in and do a The Monday Snapshot that is feature over on the PAIL Bloggers site!

My Little Browns Fan!

He was all smiles after the game even though, in true Browns Football fashion, they tanked the game in the final few minutes.  He has a long road ahead of him as a Browns Fan, cheering for a Cleveland Team is never easy.

Until Tomorrow....

Hugs and Loves~

Tuesday's True Confessional

If I actually get this post completed that will mean that I posted twice in one week.  Holy Cheese Balls my friends, that is pretty impressive!

• People who have bumper stickers, sticker families and web address plastered on their car annoy me (please don't take offense until you hear me out).  I could give two craps that you put something on your car, but my issue is (and it is totally a me thing) that I get distracted by reading and/or looking at the stuff you have adorned your car with.  Apparently my ADD kicks in over time and I am sitting at red lights, stop signs and flying down the highway trying to read the saying on your car.  This is dangerous people, I need to pay attention to the road.  So yes, this is totally a me issue.  But seriously if I read "It's a Jeep Thing" one more time, I may just take my GMC and run you over.
• I am trying to clean up my language for obvious reasons.  I have a potty mouth, always have.  I knew that there would be a point in my life when I would have to clean up the language and I think I have hit that spot.  When we first brought Jackson home and we would say F*ck, we would say, "Jack, don't say F*ck, okay?".  I know stellar parenting.  But now shit is getting real.  I noticed he watches us more and is more attentive to his surroundings, so I figure now is the time.  I am now trying to use Cheese Balls, Holy Hell Batman, Fudgesicles, and Cheese and Rice.  I know I should cut out the cussing all together but it just isn't happening yet.
• I am sure, by now, you have heard the whole Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise split and divorce, well I can officially say I am over it.  Katie is actually from Toledo, OH (not too far from where I am at) and I had to hear all about their love affair on our local channels and I had to hear how everyone said she changed.  I always thought their relationship was weird and that she had issues for being with him, but now that it is over, I just want to say, "I told you so!"  She just needs to find Dawson and head her happy ass back to the Creek because those were the good old days when she wasn't crazy!
• Last year I found myself watching a Lifetime Show called Against the Wall, I really liked it.  I had been anticipating it coming back for weeks now and decided to Google it to see when it would air again.  Of course, to my disappointment, Lifetime decided not to renew the show.  Totally Pissed.  The very last episode of this show had Abby, the main character, picking which guy she really liked (Brody or Danny) and now I will never know.  All those weeks that I invested in watching the show and now I am left hanging forever.  All I wanted Lifetime was a little closure, that's it.  Oh and by the way Lifetime, totally pissed with how sucky the new season of Army Wives is going.

Happy Tuesday my loves!

Hugs and Loves~

Consideration on Family Building - July's PAIL Post

My baby boy is 12 weeks old this week, he will be a whole three months on Friday.  How did three months go by so fast?  Just one year ago today, I was in my second to last TTC cycle and I had just ovulated.  I was hopeful for that cycle but it just wasn't meant to be.  Now I am sitting her a mommy of a three month old, oh how a year can change things.

Jackson is growing up so fast.  I was told that that is the worst part of having children, they grow up too fast!  This is so true.

Proof that he is a big boy!
He has his game face on or he just wants me to get the damn camera out of his face.

Every day and minute that I have had with Jackson are by far the best in all my 29 years of life.  He is my child through and through.  He has my eye brow expression and chunky cheeks.  He is a blessing in many ways, an answer to my prayers and a realization that all those dark days of TTC were totally worth it because I could never imagine my life with out him.

I am grateful to have my boy and thankful to be able to blog and share my journey to baby.  Those days of TTCing for number one were hard and lonely, the blog world made this so much easier.  I strongly feel that it is because of the blog world that I was able to stay afloat and not go nuts during my journey.  And it is because of the blog world and the support that I feel I can embark on that journey again for baby number two.

I want to expand my family, I have always wanted four children (in the beginning).  Once I saw how hard it was to have a successful pregnancy, I decided to concede to only having two children, if I can.  I'm going to be 30 soon and for me, I hear that biological clock ticking too loudly.  It took me two and a half years to have a baby, I hope to not have to wait another two and a half years for baby number two.  I want my kiddos to be close in age, I have always wanted that.  I don't want to wait too long but just long enough.

There are many reasons I want to have another baby but the biggest reason is for Jackson.  He deserves to have a sibling.  Someone to get into trouble with, fight with, and share with.  Someone who he can rely on when mom and dad just aren't reasonable.  Someone to help decide which home to put us in when we are old and senile.  And most importantly, someone to be there when The Hubbs and I are no longer.

Laughing at his daddy, but really thinking , "I'm going to put you in the best old folks home your money can buy!"

So with all that being said, I would love to embark on TTC #2 around December of this year.  That just seems like the right time to me.  Jackson will be eight months old.  I will have (most likely) stopped nursing.  And I will have enjoyed my 30th birthday with a beer in my hand.  I don't want to wait long, I fully expect to have to return to the clinic for assistance and don't envision baby number two to be an easy journey.  My thought is to start early because it will be a long journey.

Of course I am well aware that this might not work out how I would like.  They always say, "the best laid plans..."  Hell, I never thought I would have to struggle for Jackson but I did.

Hugs and Loves~