Happy Valentines Day!!

Hello guys, it has been a couple of days, since my last blog,We have had a fantastic week.Bryant started eating peaches on 02/11/09 and he seemed to really like them check out the picture:::::::::::: Ashley had several off days in a row, and we had a couple of pretty warm, days that we were able to go outside and play. Wednesday Ashley took Brayden out to fly his kite,he was so excited. I took several pictures of all the boys outside having a good time, needless to say Brayden didn't get to fly his kite too much Daddy most of the flying while Brayden found other stuff to keep himself busy. I think his kite is the neatest thing I have ever seen, it was a great gift from Santa.I just love this time of year when the weather is starting to get warm and we can get out and play, and I can take bunches of pictures of my boys! I got one of Ashley actually letting Brayden fly his kite, I should give Ashley credited the wind would blow really hard, and then just stop all of a sudden so he had reason to not let Brayden have, but I finally caught one picture of Brayden & Ashley.

I snapped this picture of Brayden after he started spinning around and around, he makes me laugh.
I Laid Bryant on the ground, and he was there for only a few seconds and his little hands found some pine straw, the kid is fast those hands move faster than my eyes, one second I am taking his picture then the next he suprises me with a handful of pine straw and of course whatever is in the hands has to go to the mouth. I took a few shots of him playing in the pine straw. I am so glad that he enjoys being outdoor so much I can take him to the park and walk for hours and he will sleep the whole time, but Brayden is at the age were he wants to be running and playing he isn't too much on just hanging out in the stroller sleeping any more, he considers sleep the enemy these days or so it seems;)

Ashley & Brayden working hard on repairing the pot holes in the front of our driveway, well Ashley was busy filling the holes while Brayden was busy unfilling the holes. Brayden had such a busy day that after he had his bath at 8:00 he climbed into his bed and just crashed until 9:00 am the next morning I had to take a picture of him sleeping he looked so sweet!

I weighed in on Wednesday and had lost one pound, I am okay with that like I said last week any lose is better than no lose at all. I hope that all of you had a fantastic Valentines day!!!I enjoy the celebration very much. I was reading on the history of Valentines, and it is actually kinda ironic, well there are a couple of story's out there and both takes on the Valentine history are so differant it is amazing.
St. Valentine who is this mysterious saint The history St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Ashley & me didn't exchange gifts, I love buying stuff for Ashley but its nice to buy stuff because you know its something he will want not because you feel like you have to buy something, I think everday we share is special. Brayden in his brand new Monkey pajamas that maw maw bought him with his Abby this puppy he has had since he was 1 my cousin bought it for him when we visited them in Indiana. My Card to Ashley for Valentines Pork Marsala)I made this from a recipe on Rachael Ray Bryant's first Valentine Day! The boys both recieved a card from maw maw and Brayden got a bag of candy a bear, and pajamas. Bryant recieved a card, and a dog that looks like a baby version of Brayden's AbbyThis is the card that Ashley got me I thought that was very sweet of him, he is such a sweet caring man.

Bryants card from Ashley & me

Brayden's card

Daddy's card from the boys........Brayden picked it out, but I am sure the day is coming that I will have to buy seperate cards for dad from the boys. Well guys hope you have enjoyed your night, I am going to turn in.

Haircut

Hello all I know I just made a post yesterday but I went to Jasper today and wanted to show everyone my new haircut I really like it, I just hope I like it when it comes to attempt to make it curly, the guy straightened it today and I was really happy about that, so I will let you all know how it goes. Here is a picture.....

Well tommorow is Wed. my normal weigh in day and I hopeful that maybe I lost another 2 pounds at this point any loss is a good loss for me. Maybe getting rid of all that extra nappy hair will make the differance. Well goodnight everyone, I doubt that I make another post tommorow unless something big happens.

Ashley still has not been able to pick up alot of overtime so we have been able to spend alot of time together, Thursday 2/5 we went to Jasper and a stop at ::::

Ashley left me and the boys in the truck while he ran in to talk to Jakers...then off to the next great stop, again me and the boys set in the truck and waited on Ashley to get a new battery in my watch but Brayden had a little accident so we ran over to Goody's to get him a new pair of pan. Got back to the store to get Ashley and then headed to Sumiton to H&R block for taxes.....Then we stopped at Brayden's favorite place to eat YiCuisine, he absolutly loves to eat there. Then we headed home after what seemed like a really long day.

I can't believe its febuary and Bryant turned 5 months old on the third. It just seems like I brought him home from the hospital....:(time goes way to fast. On 2/6 Ashley,Brayden,and me took Bryant back to the doctor for a recheck on his ears. We were only 6 days on the medicine so I didn't know what to expect,but he still had a great deal of infection so he will finish the Amoxil and start on Primsol. We have to go back in March for his 6 month check up and at that time Dr Bill will recheck his ear. Please pray for my little guy that his ears heal before his next checkup. We went to Marks Outdoor, then on to Aquarium Imports to get a new water filtration system.

That store isn't the nicest place I have ever been to buy fish, but they are always real nice in there and I think it is the only place in Alabama that you can buy salt water fish now, but I am not sure.Then our next stop was Publix for some shusi(yum) Then after our finally stop we headed home so that Ashley could get some sleep before work. When we got home I started Bryant on Peas, he seemed to really like the new change.He smiled and cooed the whole time.

Later that night I worked on the Aquarium that has been with out fish for over 8 months, and was looking pretty nasty because I just haven't taken the time to take care of it. Well I finally cleaned it and I am so proud it seemed like it took me forever to get it clean but I think it looks a ton better so now I have to do is find some fish to restock it, I never told Brayden when the last fish died I just didn't have it in me but Ashley attempted to tell him and he now says daddy powed it.

One last update I am down 2 pounds since my last update, I will continue to keep you all posted hope everyone is having a good month so far.

January Summary

Betty tried everything to get Bryant sleep and all he wanted was to be in daddy's arm What a sweet moment,Ashley is so proud of these boys!!!

Well today is the last day of hunting season, one deer,couple squirrels,and one bobcat killed this season. Monday & Wednesday afternoons we left the boys with Betty, and Brayden loves being with his maw maw,but Bryant is at the age were he has a little separation anxiety. So know comes the time to put all camo away ,then clean the truck out until next season.

Bryant started eating carrots on the 25 and he seems to really enjoy them he gets so excited whenever it it time to eat, he will grunt at me whenever I get the food close to him. I took a couple of pictures to share with you guys, hope you enjoy them.

I took Brayden & Bryant to Walmart yesterday to get Bryant's 4 month pictures, which I had went last Saturday to get them made without any luck because no one every showed up and I had an appointment at 12:00 and of course got there at 11:00 and no one was there, and no one showed up I hung around waiting until 2:00 well that being said, I went in the photo studio yesterday just planning to get a fast picture done, well no one came out I set and waited about 15 then she finally came out, and explained to me she was going through alot of family problems, and I told her it was fine that I was in no hurry the whole time, thinking yeah while you were being unprofessional my kids were suffering, well as the session began she was still telling me about everything going on and my heart felt so hardened for this complete stranger, she was dealing with so much, and I decided God put me right were he wanted me, that there was a reason why no one was there, again I am a firm believer in God and his master plan. Well Bryant took two pictures, and became fussy which I just thought was due to being in the car seat for so long, and that he was just tired, well we got home and he sleep all afternoon, and woke at 4:00 only to wake more upset than when he feel asleep, I feed him, with little luck of making him happy, then he threw up, so I knew something was not right, then about 7:00 he went to sleep again and sleep till 12:00 then awoke for a fast snack and went back to sleep finally at 3:30 this morning he awoke with a fever of 99.6 axillary I hate taking it rectally so I always just add a degree, so I gave him a dose of Tylenol. He became very grouchy once again,and then threw up, so I knew something must be wrong he is normally very easy going as long as he has me around. So at 8:45 this morning I called the doctors office and they suggested I come in and get him checked out. So without delay I got the boys ready & myself and made my way to the doctor. I hesitated to sit in the sick waiting room, since Brayden was unspymptomatic,but I explained to him he had to set there like a big boy, because the rest of the kids were really sick. I was so proud he sit there watching all of them play, while he played pacman on my phone. He wanted to go play with them at the table but he didn't he was so good, I was one proud mom as I watched many of the kids, playing and none of them seem to be on the same skill level as him, one boy was the same age, and he said a few words but nowhere near the talker as my son. We went back and I undressed bryant so he could weigh in, He weighed 17 pounds and 3 ounces today, wow he is growing so fast. I returned to the room to wait with the boys, and took a couple of more pictures. Okay so as I was taking pictures Bryant was giving me some really big smiles and I was thinking wow maybe I overreacted and he is going to be fine, and its just a cold, not one time did he complain while he lay there in just his diaper. Unfortunately Dr Bill was not there today, Brayden always enjoys getting to see him, but Dr Womack was in and she is a wonderful doctor very sweet, well she checked Bryant out and commented on how healthy he looked, just as she was bragging on my wonderful little man she peeked into his ear only to find he left ear full of infection....and the right ear beginning to look bad, so needless to say we were given his first antibiotic, and told to come back in a week for a recheck, so next Friday we will be going back to see Dr Bill so everyone pray that these ears clear up pretty fast, and that he does not get worse. Well we left the office and I had told Brayden if he was a good boy, that he would get a treat I already knew what I wanted to get him, a new Leap Frog Letter Factory since the first one I bought him was wore out we watched it so much. Well we went to Target I love that place everyone is always so nice, this was my first time to use the pharmacy, and I was very pleased, they add flavor to meds for free, and most pharmacy's charge for that, they also have rubber banding to help identify what med belongs to who. I dropped off my script and headed to the videos and got what I wanted to get him, then he said momma what about my monster truck which by that time I had already forgotten that I promised that I would get him one like one of the boys in the waiting room if he was a good boy, well in the process of looking for one he found Ramone from Cars well decision are tough for him but he made his choice Tad, and a shark. Finally after our long unplanned day we headed home.

We got home at 2:00 and I got busy cooking dinner while Bryant was still asleep, that didn't last long little man awoke very upset, and it seemed like it took forever to get him calmed down. It was so pretty that I decided to let Brayden go out and play with Lacy & Abby which Abby is our dog, and Lacy belongs to Betty but we are sitting her while she is away, well all of a sudden I hear a loud grumble the two dogs have began to fight because of Brayden. Needless to say I quickly got Brayden inside, and thought I sure hope this two don't keep fighting, I would hate for Lacy to get hurt.

Update on my progress I am down 14 pounds hopefully things will continue to go that way. Anyways guess that's about it for now, I will update everyone next week after we see Dr Bill. Brayden finally feel asleep and I snuck in and took a picture of him he is in there between all the stuffed animals, that is the way he sleeps every night, we live close to a power plant and you can hear it all night its something you just get use to over time. Well one night he ask me what the noise was and I explained to him that it was the plant, and now he thinks the garden is singing to him. He finds comfort in the stuffed animals being wrapped around him and there is a specific way that they have to be placed he is very particular.

The boys

Thursday Bryant started on Oatmeal, and at first he was excited but I guess the new wore off after the first two times, but it was still something differant so he enjoyed it. Sunday morning when Ashley got off work we headed down to the Tombigbee in Boligee were it seems we have spent the last two months, since work has been slow Ashley has actually had time to hunt. While down there we spent alot of time in the house watching cartoons.

***** Brayden & Bryant cuddling on the couch watching cartoons*****

******Bryant loves Brayden so much he looks at him with such love, this is one of my favorite pictures for now******

*********Ashley is such a great daddy, I love to see his smile, this is what happens when he spends time with either of the boys, it makes me upset that it blurred, at least you can still see the smile*******

******Bryant&Brayden&Ashley, I Love these boys***********

On Tuesday January 20 Bryant started eating Squash so for five days he will eat squash so far he is really enjoying it,but at first he was a little startled at it, I think the next food we try him on is going to be carrots. I took a couple of pictures of him enjoying his food again I can't seem to just hit his mouth, poor thing it always ends up all over him.

*****He is all smiles, seems to be really enjoying this stuff******

This finally picture Brayden had to have taken because he was teaching Bryant how to roll like him, He is such a wonderful helpful Big brother he is crazy about Bryant and that makes me so happy, but he does have moments, that he don't really understand why we spend so much time on Bryant, but it don't take him long to think about something else, well I hope all of you have had a good week since tommorow is Friday the ended of the week which means the begining of our week since Ashley does Baylor, meaning he only works Friday, and Saturday. I will let you all know how the next vegetable goes. Oh one more thing I am down 5 more pounds since I weighed last Wednesday so hopeful I will continue to progress.

January goodtimes.

Hey yall hope that 2009 has had a blessed year so far, The boys and I have been having a lot of fun, Ashley took Brayden to the monster trucks last Saturday and they both had a really great time me and Bryant stayed home, I just didn't think the fumes would be good to have a infant around. Brayden came home and told me the trucks went meow meow, needless to say I am not sure that is exactly the right way they are suppose to go, but hey what do I know I wasn't there. Later that night while Ashley was working Brayden ask mommy do you love me,and I said of course why would you ask something like that??He said cause daddy loves me he took me to the monster trucks so are you gonna take me to the circus if you love me. Bryant has been full of smiles he giggles all the time. On Tuesday I ask Brayden if he was going to go with me on Thursday to take Bryant to the doctor and he said okay but you gonna take me to chuck-e cheese, and i told him no, that we had to take brother to get a checkup and that they would probably have to give him shots and he said no I not let them give brother shots he said i gonna punch Dr bill right in the nose between his eyeballs. I explained to him that he couldn't do that and he proceeded to tell me that he would just kick him in the knee...needless to say we decided that him staying with Maw Maw was the best thing, he always has so much fun at her house. I took a couple of pictures of Bryant's doctor visit.

****Bryant Dressed and ready to go see Dr Bill *****

****Bryant at Dr Bill's office just after he got weighed, now to wait on the Dr to see him *****

So Bryant's doctor visit went well he weighed 16 pounds 6 ounces and was 25 3/8 inches long with a head size of 17 1/8 inches, I am so amazed at how fast he has grown since he was born, I never imagined he would have gotten so big so fast, he is wearing 6-9 months in his all of his clothes. I told the doctor that he showed an interest in food , every time I will be eating he will reach to get it, well Dr Bill said that normally he rather keep them on Breast milk only until they are six months but since he has an interest now that I could go ahead and start cereal, but Brayden was happy just eating milk he was kinda reluctant to eat cereal at 6 months even. Yesterday afternoon was Bryant's first taste of Oatmeal and he was the funniest thing he didn't act to happy with it at first he made a face like he ate a bag of lemons then he started to giggle, and I couldn't get him fed fast enough, he was reaching for the bowl wanting me to shovel it in. Of course I took a few picture of him enjoying his first oatmeal.

****This is a picture before I made a mess of him, I am not the best at clean feedings;}*****

****Bryant after his first spoon full not real sure if he likes this messy stuff****

****Yummy I want more its all on me not in my belly****

Brayden has become a little comedian he decided that he wanted to be big like daddy and go hunting so his first item of hunting clothes was the boots We took a picture of him wearing them he was too funny, he absolutely loves the camera if we get it out we have to take a picture of him.

****Camo Boots,spider man underwear,and a long sleeve shirt since he got potty trained he rarely wants to wear pants he rather wear a long sleeve shirt and his boxers,all Boy****

In November I turned 30 which really isn't a big deal to me, but my hope was to have been in a marathon by the time I was 30 which hasn't happen yet, but Ashley being the thoughtful person he is bought me a new pair of shoes, for my 30th birthday and I was so stoked about getting them on and starting my new journey to be in a marathon, well the shoes were so uncomfortable for me, my feet were so sore after just walking in them I was so disappointed, because these shoes were awesome they were Merrells and Ashley has worn several pairs of Merrells out and they seem to be the best shoe, even in Runners world they are ranked the best running shoe,but they just didn't work for me:{. Well I put the shoes back in the box, because the company he bought them from has a 100% satisfaction guarantee http://www.planetshoes.com/ I put them on the table for a few weeks, and then finally took them time to send them back, the company didn't ask any questions they just took them back and gave me a credit. I finally found me another shoe to replace them, I think I was just using my shoes as an excuse to be lazy....well I ordered me a pair of New Balance,and they are wonderful I love the looks of them, and they are light, and very comfortable. So no more empty excuses, I am going to get myself back into a normal regimen.

I will keep you all posted on my progress well I will try to keep you all updated on my progress as of last Wednesday I went back on the diabetic diet and I feel so much better in fact I have lost 5 pounds which I desperately needed. I hate to admit this but since November I have gained an astounding 15 pounds....when I stepped on the scale that was the point I said NO MORE EXCUSES!!! Having a new baby has given every excuse not to take care of myself, and that is just not acceptable, so I will let you guys know how things go, but I am just setting realistic goals for now, hopefully by next week I will have shed another 5 pounds, I know that may seem like a lot but in the grand scheme of things it really isn't nothing. I need to lose a total of 40 pounds but that is long term I am setting short term goals. I will keep you all posted, hope yall are all doing well.