Sprinkler

After seeing all of your Water Toys (Heather & Mary), I was on the hunt. I hadn't found anything and Matt reminded me this morning that the Easter Bunny had brought Ryder something earlier this year. I had to spend a few minutes trying to remember where I stowed the gift away, but I found it. We had some water fun before 10 a.m. this morning! Had to cut it short due to blue lips and teeth chattering, but he thought it was the BEST! Here is some video...you can hear Jimmy Buffet in the background. Don't ya know the neighbors love us Smith's blaring Margaritaville in the Backyard at 9 a.m. on Saturday Morning!

Clotheslines, Tee-Pees and Lots of Pictures with No People...

I was up early this morning with a baby kicking me in the side ferociously and another baby coughing his head off upstairs. Why is it you can sleep and never feel a pain of hunger, but the minute you wake up it is on? I feel like I am hungry every waking minute of the day. I found out on Wednesday that I have already gained as much weight with this pregnancy as I did my entire pregnancy with Ryder. Initially I was alarmed and decided I really needed to get focused on being more active and eating healthier...this morning that initial shock as worn off. I filed that bit of information into the back of my head and decided I am not going to let it deter my desire for cinnamon rolls.

Looking out the back window as I place the rolls in the pan, I see a string of sweet little man items strung across the fence.

How does this fence turn into a clothesline every summer? Guess we have a trace of trash in us! I'm sure one day, I'll truly miss the absent signs of the little ones that inhabit this house and keep our daily lives incredibly interesting. Makes me think that I shouldn't obsessively have a bottle of windex in my hands wiping the back door of little finger prints and dog kisses, but rather be grateful that I have the love of these creatures with me!

On another note, Ryder and I hit First Monday in Canton yesterday with my Mom, Sisters and Cousin Anna. For those of you who don't know....Canton is basically a huge flea market. But, it is not solely junk...there is lots and lots of decor and cute little boutique like items. My parents live about 20 minutes from the grounds, so I make it out there probably more than I should. Ryder got a really fun Tee-Pee. I wasn't sure about it at first, but my Mom convinced me that he loved it and she was buying it for him. I hated the fabric that was on it...but last night Matt and I got it out in his playroom and it actually wasn't that bad. Ryder had a blast going in and out, repeat, repeat, repeat!


We also picked up a few things for "Plus One". The items were totally not what I had envisioned for his room, but I think we will be able to make it all come together and work. Thank you, Gran!


Last weekend we moved Ryder into my "old" office. We actually moved my office downstairs after Christmas and the old office space has just been serving as a storage room. We got some things sold, set some stuff out for the trash and took some more to Goodwill...sigh. Finally, we were able to clear it out enough to move Ryder in. The closet is still full of all of my gift wrap and crafting supplies...so it is still up in the air where those items will go. Once I figure that out, I'll be able to move all of R's clothes and shoes over. During the whole move, Matt converted R's bed into a "Big Boy" Bed. Literally, the Bed is higher than ours. Matt's parents graciously picked up the Mattress and delivered it to our house since Matt was at the Ranger's game. We put rails on it and moved it to the wall. I am proud to report two nights in a row of staying in the Bed! Yay, Ryder!!!
On Thursday, Ryder had his last day of Mother's Day Out until next Fall. This was Ryder's class photo of his MDO group...I thought it was hilarious...all these little babies lined up! Ryder looks a little on the giant side...but he was only 11 months old for 3-weeks. That's what September Birthdays do for ya!

We swam this week almost every day, played with our Cousins Syd & Madison, and had a playdate with Bryce! Ryder lovesx3 his cousin Madison and I love having them over because they are good little helpers!!

Bryce is Ryder's little BFF two doors down. Those two play really well together..both just kind of doing there own thing and leaving the other alone. We did have a few incidents when they went to meet the sweet little girl who lives across the street. It involved breaking all of her sidewalk chalk and pushing her down so that they could take posession of "HER" ball. Outside of that I'd say the semi-play date was a success!

OK, so much for a short little post about our clothesline...and now the aroma of my cinnamon rolls is calling me!

A Pass-a-long Tip

I just finished basking in the sun while my little one is napping upstairs (figure I should do this now because next summer there will be no way) when I came across a tip in an old issue of Better Homes and Garden Magazine. Stow away a few dryer sheets under the seats in your car...it will always smell fresh and help disguise the odor of spilled milk or stinky shoes! I love a good smelling car, so I am going to give it a try!

For you greenies, beware. I have read that there are harsh chemicals in dryer sheets that are bad for the environment as well as our skin and air passages. Luckily, my skin is not ultra-sensitive and I don't think a few sheets in my car is going to kill my air passages, any wildlife or my neighbors.

Just Making Cards...

I love making cards even though I have definitely not mastered the art! I guess it is just a hobby of sorts. Some of our friend's welcomed their first baby two weeks ago and I toyed around with making a few cards for their birth announcement. They didn't pick this one, but I am a sucker for baby feet!


What a sweet couple who has quickly become a family...Congratulations Bub & Andy!

Our Austin Weekend....

This rainbow was in the sky at the end of our beautiful weekend! Matt has been far better than I at keeping up with friends from his past. This past weekend we went to see our good friends, Chris & Nima and their daughter Rylee. Matt and Chris went to high school together and would probably still be inseparable if we didn't live 2.5 hours away. Those two jet back to 1995 the minute they see each other, as if 15 years haven't passed since they were taking extra long lunch breaks at the "Wokaholic". Or at least they tell me that is what the Restaurant was called...maybe they have just been pulling my leg. Nima and I learn something new every single time we get together. Each revelation is usually followed by shock and then hysterical laughing! We had a blast guys and thank you so much for inviting us down!

Rylee basking in the Sun at Amy's Ice Cream

"A Restaurant with a Park Mom...this is Heaven!"

Update on a Friend

A few weeks ago, I posted a request for prayers, for my friend who's Baby was diagnosed with Potters Syndrome. She has now started a Blog to update friends and family on their journey. I thought I'd provide a link to The Banks Family here so that you may all read the story they are living from their point of view. I am sure they would love to have you travel this most difficult road with them.

Wal-Mart

So I went today....but not to our Wal-Mart. Even though it still seemed a little gross, I found some really cute things at a really sensible price. I sanitized our hands when we left..that sounds so snotty and I promise I am not a Snot! Or at least I don't think I am ! The Birthday gift that I was looking for at Target...I found at Wal-Mart for more than $10 Less. Glad I put the one at Target back yesterday, because heaven knows they wouldn't let me return it without two forms of I.D. and a receipt! LOL!

Wordless Wednesday No More...

I will start by saying that I am usually a fan of Target...I wasn't today. In fact, they disturbed me so greatly a few hours ago, that I have had to break my Wednesday Silence…LOL! I go to Target when I need to get other things besides strictly groceries. In large part I frequent Target, because I cannot handle Wal-Mart. Our Wal-Mart is old, it smells, the carts feel germy; and I am pretty sure my son, myself and most likely my unborn child will catch some kind of bug before we leave. So, Target is the spot for the Smith's.

Ryder and I headed to Target this morning after our walk. I needed a Birthday gift and some Toiletries in addition to a few groceries. I am trying my hardest to monitor our budget a little more tightly these days. I am clipping coupons, shopping grocery ads, carrying my calculator with me. I just figure every little bit saved counts. I purchase Ryder a Popcorn and Icee. It is seriously only $2. Well worth its value since it keeps him very occupied, and I am able to go through coupons and scan prices. To boot, it served as lunch today (yikes! I tried to give him something nutritious when we got home but his belly was full). OK, so I had all of the coupons collected and we are ready to check-out. Ryder was just starting to get ancy, but no worries...we'll be out of there in a flash. Whatever!

Seriously, Target is the "Coupon Nazi". I am not even kidding when I tell you that the checker was making me go through the bags of groceries that she had already stowed away in my basket to prove I had purchased the item the coupon was for. Really??? First, I promise I am not a thief...much less if I were, I think I'd try to be a little more clever than to commit theft by coupon! And if you are listening Target, even if I had mistakenly handed you a coupon that I didn't have the correct product for, I am sure you could afford the .35 cents. I will spare you all my rants on their return policy, although that is another one I could go off on.

Yes, I officially became the person "holding up the line". The person who frustrates all of us the most...so let this be my official apology to the people in line behind me. Although I realize they neither know who I am much less read this blog, I feel better airing my sincere gratitude to them.

My little popcorn belly just laid down and I am now off to attempt to get Cherry Red Icee out of a brand new white t-shirt...not sure what I was thinking on that part!

Wordless Wednesday

This Week's I ♥ Faces!

This week's theme at I♥Faces (a fun photography blog that I know a lot of you follow) is a Blurb Photo Book Contest! The winners get a free copy of the book, so you should all find your favorite face picture and enter it in the running! I took this one of Ryder playing in the Water last week! Not the best...but I just love how excited he was to be in the water. I obviously enter mine in the amateur category, but there is a professional category for all you professionals!

Go check out all of the photos by clicking the button below.

I am submitting this photo into the www.iheartfaces.com Blurb book photo contest. If chosen, I grant I ♥ Faces permission to use my photo in a printed version of a book for commercial use and possibly advertising of a photo book on both the Blurb and I ♥ Faces web sites.

Lets Play "Catch up"!

Wow! Last week went by so fast! So fast, that I am pretty sure I spent the weekend recovering from all of the activity! I really feel like I have stayed pretty active this pregnancy...a 19 month old toddler who never seems to slow tends to reinforce my active state even when I desperately want to hit the floor. Saturday it all caught up to me though. That's a story for another time..but I am happy to report that I am rested and feeling much better now! Ryder also got to spend some valuable time with both sets of grandparents while Matt tended to a recovering Me!

I "collaged" the pictures from our trip so they wouldn't take up so much space. We decided to have one last hoo-rah trip as a family of three and headed to Pedernales State Park. This park is near Johnson City, Texas, in the heart of the hill country. It is beautiful there...but it was HOT! We spent more time driving around the hill country than we did in the park, simply trying to beat the heat. We shopped Fredericksburg, visited Luckenbach, hit the Outlet Malls in San Marcos and took Ryder to Sea World! Ryder did get to play in the River one day, too....which he loved! You can tell from the Sea World clippings that the little water feature was much more entertaining than Shamu. Go figure! Matt's parents were there and it is always so nice to have an extra set of hands (not to mention good food at night after we have been out all day)!

We are Back!

After a few of our friend's have set their Blogs to Private...it got me thinking that I probably should not announce to the World that we were leaving town, opening our house up to every burglar who might surf blogs looking for fun houses to crash when their Owner's are away!

I'll post some pictures and details once we get settled!

Happy Mother's Day!

This is going to be a "Wordless Wednesday" sort of post on a Sunday. After all, words really can't describe how much we both love our Mom's! Happy Mother's Day!

(Disclaimer: My Mom HATES to have her picture taken...so this is the best I could do...she was comforting Ryder after his first Major Boo Boo! I love you, Mom!)

(Matt's Mom...We love You!)

A Mouth Full

Why is it that you can only get them to smile like this when their mouth is full of FOOD?

Wordless Wednesday....Blast from the Past

Coupon!! (Last Post today I Promise)

I was just emailed a link to print off a coupon for the New KFC Grilled Chicken! I have been wanting to try it and here is the opportunity to do it for free!

Free KFC Grilled Meal

I am having trouble getting the Coupon to print right now...it may be that there are too many people on the site..but hopefully it will work for us all! Just thought I'd pass this along!

I ♥ Faces!

This week's theme at I♥Faces (a fun photography blog that I know a lot of you follow) is hats! I always peruse the photos, but have never dared enter a weekly contest. When I read this week's theme, I remembered a picture of Ryder I took when he was 4 Months old. In the picture he was wearing this little knitted beanie that fit his perfect tiny head...but then I thumbed through all of my photos and found one I wanted to eat up even more! This was when we were camping in Arkansas! I just love his little face...but I am biased ofcourse! I couldn't resist posting this!

The other photos really blow this one out of the water...go check them all out by clicking the button below.

Baby Update

Here is the latest update on our still "Unnamed" Baby Boy. We went to the Perinatologist yesterday where they performed a full anatomy scan (i.e. sonogram) of the baby in an effort to see if they could find the echogenic bowel that was detected in my OB's office. Indeed, the Echogenic Bowel was still present. However, the Doctor was very optimistic as my OB was the week prior.

The odds are in our favor that this is a perfectly normal Baby, but noone can 100% tell us this without performing an amniocentesis. We declined this procedure since the risk of complication from the amnio greatly outweighed the odds of their being an abnormality with the Baby. We will go back in Six Weeks for another scan so that they can re-check the bowel. Our prayers are that it will disappear over the next few weeks and they won't be able to see anything at all!

Sinful...

Get your car keys and drive to the nearest Costco for a deliciously sinful treat....


....in order to not burst the sweet high you will most definitely experience, please refrain from viewing the nutritional information on the bottom of the box.