My Baby is 21!!

How could this be? I went to bed one night and the next the day I went into the hospital and after 11 hours of grueling labor complete with pitocin, epidural, and lots of squeezing the life out of hubby's hand That Kid was born!

I blinked my eyes again and he was sitting up, crawling, running (he never walked...it was always running!) and talking!






I blinked my eyes again and I was teaching him how to read, write, tie his shoes, and master all types of "school" stuff! I homeschooled him all through high school so I was blessed enough to watch him learn and grow throughout his school years!






I blinked again and it was time for him to learn to drive!! Oh my, that was scary! It's still scary but I've gotten used to it! Yes, I taught him to drive, then we proceeded to buy him his first car and watched him drive off in it. Talk about scary! As he went from a teenager to a young man I watched him and stood in awe that this man/child was created by my hubby and me.





His first time out driving! Whooohhooo!!



First car...thanks to his grandparents for offering such a great deal and us buying it!




This was him at his 18th birthday party! We rented a boat and went out on the lake. Look at that hair!!



His first time to vote - I was quiet pleased with him for taking that opportunity although many his age don't bother!



This is my favorite picture from his Senior Pictures. It captures his personality pretty well, I think.



How is it that in 21 short years he has gone from a baby who needed EVERYTHING to a young man about to leave our home and serve our country in the USMC? Although I am having a VERY difficult time accepting that my "baby" is about to leave the nest I am immensely proud of him for making a decision that will not only better his life but our country's.

From the time I started this blog I have always called him "That Kid". It was a nickname we came up with as a baby for him, but now that he is a full-fledged adult and about to become a Marine I have decided that I'm going to call him "My Marine".

I love "My Marine" and I pray that your life is everything you hope and dream it will be over the next two decades. You have brought many years of joy to my life, even if I don't always show you!! Love ya, baby....Mom

Lots of Changes....

First things first...I got really tired of my blog look so I changed it. What do you think? I like it but I'm not the one looking at it all the time. Please give feedback!!

Sunday (as in the 25th) I started working 2nd shift! YAY!! It is from 4p.m. to 1a.m. This will be so much better for me and the family...I think??!! So far I am having a hard time sleeping at night (boo!! What is wrong with me??) and That Other Kid is having a hard time having daddy put him to bed. I approached my managers a few weeks ago and basically begged them to move me off 3rd shift. I haven't been able to accomplish ANYTHING over the past 5 months and there is no way I can homeschool That Other Kid. Now my plan is to sleep from 2 am to 9am. Get up eat, go to the gym, come home do school, fix big, family lunch, go to work. So far this week things haven't really gone as planned but I'm calling this my adjustment week.

Did ya'll catch that part about me going to the gym? Well it's true. Dh told me I could reactivate my gym membership so I have been trying to go 3 times a week. It will be a lot easier to this working this schedule. I'm planning to go Monday, Wednesday and Friday and follow the Couch-2-5-K training plan so that I can run a race with my brother and sister in law in October. I blame the Sisterhood for this sudden desire to RUN!! I have hated running as long as I can remember (even as a child) but I think training for a goal like this will help me stay motivated to keep working out even though my life is still not "normal". So far I am on week 3 of the plan and yesterday while I was at the gym I managed to run 90 seconds 2 times and 3 minutes 2 times! It is a challenge but I keep telling myself, "I think I can", "Just a little longer", "Almost to the time when I can walk again"!! Before long I have done it!!

I'm also planning to join in a Challenge at the gym that is basically a "Biggest Loser" type challenge for 90 days. The winner (which I don't really expect to be) will receive $$$ and free private trainer sessions. I talked to one of the trainers yesterday and it sounds like a great way to keep me focused and going to the gym with crazy schedules. We also get free assessments and advice from the trainer during this 90 day challenge. The only hard cost is $25, and of course the committment to stay focused for 90 days. That may be the hard part for me!

Speaking of challenges...have you heard about the new challenge over at the Sisterhood?? It is a new team challenge and they are calling it "Down & Dirty in 30"!! The team challenges are always so fun and you can find out more about it from the 'hood. It is the forum that the Sisterhood uses for challenges like this! It is a lot of fun...even though it has indeed been a while since I have done much with it!! I'm going to be participating in this challenge and will be expecting BIG things from myself...It ends the day before my 26th wedding anniverary and I plan to be different both body and spirit on my anniversary!

Saturday was That Kid's 20th birthday. Has it really been 20 years since I had my first baby? Sometimes it is hard to believe he has become a young man; but then I look at him and realize he is a grown man. Taller than even his dad, with a deep voice and defined muscles. Today he is a fine young MAN, who needs me less and less every day, even though in my head and heart he is still my little baby boy who needs me for everything. Where did the time go? Why do they have to grow up? Oh well, he is taking this semester off from school so we can get some more things caught up from our economic nightmare of the past year, so he will be home a little more. I know That Other Kid is happy about that! So am I, if truth be known!!

Today is my birthday and we will be going out to eat in a little bit for our traditional birthday lunch. I plan to eat MEXICAN -- salty and cheesy! Also planning to buy a dessert!! I figure since I'm only turning 45 one time in my life I should make the most of it! That's why I'm online right now, goofy off reading blogs and commenting on them and writing a post of my own. I have to work tonight so this will be my one chance to enjoy my day...I'm sure work will be just like any other night at work...Although it is A LOT EASIER working 2nd shift, than 3rd it is still WORK!!

Well I better get moving...I think I'm going to put some makeup on and make myself look a bit younger before we go out to eat!!

Today's My Birthday!

and the day started out great! Just as I was getting ready to hop into the shower, a good friend of mine stopped off at my house to surprise me and go out for a quick lunch with our boys. She didn't even realize it was my birthday, but that made it even more special! So I went in and took a shower and prepared to go out for a fast food lunch and let the boys get all hot and sweaty...always fun! After lunch we went back home and let the boys play for a bit.

After they left to go home, dh and That Other Kid and I went to lunch at a nice mexican food place, Blue Goose Cantina. It was about 3 p.m. so we were one of 3 groups in the restaurant so it was nice that we had good service and we didn't have to worry that That Other Kid would disturb anyone. He was not in the mood to sit and be still and quiet, but he did eat 1/4 of a tortilla which was a food first for him (remember he has food allergies, so a lot of "normal" kid foods he doesn't get and hasn't tried). It was so yummy and they had Fried IceCream, the most delicious dessert to ever be created! What could be better, ice cream, cinnamon, whipped cream, and a fried crust??!!

After stuffing myself to the gills, we went over to Target and dh bought me this Wii game which is the only thing I really asked for. See how serious I am about getting back into shape??

After shopping for a few minutes we ran an errand for dh then came home. Since then I have basically done NOTHING!!! I did warm up some dinner for dh and That Other Kid, and I got TOK to bed. I decided I wanted a night off from my exercise routine, since I am pretty much exhausted and wanted to vegg out some.

To top off this wonderful day, it has RAINED the WHOLE day, with temperatures only in the low to mid 80's! How great is that for Texas in late July??!!

Tomorrow it will be back to normal, with loads of laundry to fold, bathrooms to clean,exercising and errands to run! Today was my day off, though and it was fun!

My Baby Is Nineteen Years Old!!

I think I'm going to cry!! What happened to my little, helpless newborn baby?? That Kid was due on July 8, but was in no hurry to be born. My doctor decided 2 weeks late for my first born child was long enough to wait and torture my ribs...he was a kicker and I had bruises on my ribs for a couple of weeks even after he was born. So the doctor told me to come to the hospital in the wee hours of Tuesday, July 24 and we would induce labor and then I would FINALLY get to hold this little baby in my arms. He was born later that afternoon at 5:50 p.m. He shocked us all a little bit by nearly being born before we even knew what hit us! But I was one happy momma at 5:50 p.m. July 24, 1990. And truth be told, I'm still a happy momma 19 years later! I love to look at him and hold him close...but he doesn't like to be close to me anymore, so I just take what I can get!!

I was excited, nervous, and anxious all at the same time. Was I ready to be a mom? Did I have what it would take to raise a baby? Would I be able to nurse him the way I wanted to? The answer to all these questions is a resounding YES! I managed to nurse him till he was 19 months old. I managed to raise him into a (usually) well- adjusted, well-behaved young man. I was definitely ready to be a mom....and I have to say I LOVE being a mom, most days. There have been days when I would rather not have to deal with the trials that this child has sent my way, but I am so glad that God has blessed me with him.

That Kid has taught me how to love unconditionally. He has taught me that I have things in my life I need to work on. He has taught me to put the little things aside and take time for the BIG things...concentrate on the future as well as the here and now. He has also taught me --(maybe not consciencely) to have MORE PATIENCE than I ever thought possible! He has also taught me to "let go and Let God".

I spent all of his childhood trying to teach him things, (since I homeschooled him) and now as it turns out I was probably taught just as much as he was during this time. He is preparing to move out and on -- to college -- at a private Christian college and I think I am ready and I know he is ready!! I pray That Kid will mature and find his way while he is in college there. I also pray that he remembers I will always love him... no matter what troubles or tribulations come his way!

I still owe him a graduation tribute...but things have been crazy this summer and I have struggled to get it into words so I don't have it done yet, but I hope to get it done soon! Did you know it is hard to write something about someone you have literally known their whole life??!!

So I will leave you with my weepy birthday wishes...HAPPY BIRTHDAY BABY!! I LOVE YOU!!

The Best Day Ever~~!!!

That's what That Other Kid told me numerous times today. Today was his 5th birthday.....omg I cannot believe he is 5 years old! I remember vividly the hours before he was born, the day we brought him home from the hospital, and the Christmas that we celebrated just days after he was born!

But...today was the best day EVER!!

He woke up bright and early and came in to my room....at 7:25 a.m. and declared to me that "today is my birthday! Tell me happy birthday!!" So I did...and then I told him it was too early to get up so get in bed with me and daddy. He proceeded to talk, wiggle, and squirm till 8 a.m. when I told him to get up...so we don't wake daddy. I went to the couch and curled up with my blanket and pillow and snuggled with him till about 8:30 when he decided he had waited long enough to open presents! He went in and woke daddy and That Kid so he could open his presents. Daddy said he needed to take a shower and dress then he could open presents. After waiting FOREVER (actually about 30 minutes) he got to start opening presents! He had guessed 3 of the 5 presents, but still professed that the gifts were AWESOME!!

Then we went to Chuck-E-Cheese with his bff and That Kid, bff's brother and his girlfriend. They had a TON O'FUN and came out with more junk than they both knew what to do with!

After Chuck-E-Cheese we went home for a little while, then went to dinner at his favorite restuarant, Red Robin. We had to drive through a ton of traffic and he fell asleep in his car seat! He hasn't done that forever!! Then he woke up and was grumpy!!! After he had time to wake up more and eat some dinner, he was his normal happy self! We rushed out of Red Robin, and went to his HOCKEY GAME!! The last of this session...he walked in and proceeded to tell every boy and parent in the locker room that he is NOW 5 years old!! How proud he was!! They played their game and WON.... 7 - 1!! Then we went upstairs and had a little party. We handed out goody bags with cookies, brownies, a pencil and a ball! Everyone sang "happy birthday" to him and he was surprisingly shy...

After goodies some of the boys were playing tag and he got pushed down and bruised his elbow and got a rug burn....so now he doesn't like one of the little boys! Of course, just a few minutes before he was one of his best friends! He is ok, but apparently a bruised elbow nearly ruined the BESTEST DAY EVER!!

He was soooooooo tired I managed to get him to sleep only about 30 minutes later than his normal time, and we didn't even get home till 8:30 p.m.

Now I'm sitting here thinking how my baby is growing up....and thinking that his birth day was one of my 2 bestest days ever!


Chuck E Cheese ... and present from best friend!


His new Star Wars Light Saber...one of the presents he guessed!


Blowing out Number 5 candle after hockey game!

Family

Happy Birthday to my "little" brother! Of course, he is now OVER 40, and has a wife and 3 kids, a wonderful job....but he is still my little brother. As a kid he was annoying, as a teenager he was a nerd, as a young adult he was a MARINE (best decision he ever made, btw). After leaving the military he became a husband, a father, a college student, now with a MASTERS DEGREE...can ya believe it??? I'm sooooo proud!! But hey, I was supposed to be the one with a college degree....what happened here??

Now he is working at the job he has wanted for years only 2 miles from his home in a small town in Kansas, raising a family and doing what he wants....what a man he has become!! I'm oh sooo proud....
Happy Birthday, little brother!!!

Birthday Wishes

I'm writing right now as That Other Kid plays with a new Lego Star Wars set and the Olympics are on in the background. I went shopping at Walmart early this afternoon and came home too tired to do anything else....so now I sit and think of my wonderful mother-in-law.

Today is her birthday! In a little bit I will pick up the phone and relay to her how much she means to me....but first I wanted to tell you, my friends. I HAVE THE BESTEST mother-in-law in the WORLD. She is kind, loving, understanding and super supportive of me. She thinks I am a good person, even when I make mistakes. She loves me regardless of what I do...My only complaint about my lovely mother-in-law is that she lives almost 3 hours away so I can't just pop over and hang out with her like I would a girlfriend....of course, maybe this is a good thing. She might not like me so much if I could do this just whenever!

Anywho, I just wanted to say I love you, sweet, loving, mother-in-law. You have been here for me through thick and thin and I LOVE YOU! I pray you are having a special day, even among the construction site you call your home!!

Happy Birthday!

Today is my mother-in-love's birthday. Most people would say she is your mother-in-law, I say no, she is full of Love, not laws. She loves me like no other -- she is my confidant, my friend, my advisor. She is everything a person could ask for in a mother-in-law. She has been through so many trials throughout her life and has come out on TOP.
I love her like no other.....
and if YOU are reading this, I hope you have the best birthday ever. Thanks for your everlasting LOVE.