Fate? ? ?

I met Lew July 24, 2002. My mom's one year death anniversary.

He told me he wished on 11:11 on the clock all the time. I thought that was a secret of me and my mom's.

We got pregnant with Will on May 7, 2007. My mom's birthday.

Will was born at 11:54 am. 11 for my birth month and birth day. 54 was the year my mom was born.

Do you believe in fate? I definitely do.

Bits of Bubsy. . .

• Bubsy you are totally and utterly obsessed with choo choos-Thomas is your favorite. You know all the names of the trains. You even know some of the words to the dvds you watch of Thomas. Whenever we go to Target you say...Choo Choo, Pease. How can I say no to that? But you always want to pick out a Thomas train. It is a good thing they have several variations of Thomas. Daddy and I are thinking about taking out some stock in Thomas!
• I got you the coolest big boy underwear the other day. They are boxer briefs. So cute with sharks on them. We tried them on and you hated them. I guess you still prefer to have your poops in the diaper. It's okay. I will wait for you to give me that sign.
• You love Lady Gaga. Poker Face is your favorite song and sometimes we have to hear it over and over. I can deal.
• When you come with me to train my clients, you often help me count. Sometimes you will get on the floor and do sit ups or leg drops. Mommy's clients get a kick out of this. You help them get distracted from their tough workout and they appreciate it.
• Today we are going to do pilates and you are going to hang out with Brenton. He is like your babysitter but not. You love to hear him play the guitar and even help him. Sometimes you sing along or dance. You love to play the piano too. It's like your own special jam session.
• This week we are taking our trip to NYC. Mommy is already starting to freak out about how to pack for you. I guess we will be taking Tidmouth Shed and a couple of trains with us, that's for sure.
• We are going to dye our Easter eggs today since we will not have time before then. I have a feeling it is going to be kind of messy. Oh well.
• Just wanted to say how much I love you Bubsy. Today. Tomorrow. And Always.

Taking A Bite Of The Big Apple!

Two days ago I get a random call from my sister and she is totally excited and she sounds like she has ants in her pants!

I was like what is up? She said she just wanted to pick up and go somewhere for spring break for my niece Lilly.

Then she was like "Will you and Will please, pretty please come to NYC with us?"

For a second I thought she was kidding, we do not kid about NYC. We heart NYC.

I told her I would definitely be in but I just had to get the okay from Lew. And of course he said yes because he has been dying to take a boys fishing trip. Plus he knows how much I love China town and finding deals!

So now we are totally on cloud nine and counting down the days tell the Big Apple meets us girls and Will for the first time. I can't wait for Will to see all the lights and action!

We have a lot planned for the kids and a busy 3 days of cramming it all in. But if you have been to NYC or lived in NYC would you suggest there is a place we MUST go to? I would love to have your input!

I Shed Tears for This Shoe!

You all know the saga of Will breaking his foot. Well....once he got the cast off the ortho. doctor wanted him to go right into a shoe. So I just put him back in his worn out New Balance Shoe. Then this weekend my sister was like....he is walking weird Jenny. You should take him to Stride Rite.

I hate to say it but I am not into these gimmicky(if that is even a word) kinda stores. The ones that cater to kids and suck you of all your money. I have gotten most of Will's shoes from the Gap or from where we get our running shoes.

I unfortunately had to be a Stride Rite kid as I had some messed up knees and I wore those goofy black and white saddle shoes for years. It was awful.

Anyway. So I gave in and the next day we went to Stride Rite. It was buy one get one half off. SCORE! The place was packed and you could barely even breathe in there! But I ended up getting this shoe and some sandals. We did not try them on there because it was so packed. We just had his foot measured and I picked what I liked.
The next day we put on those shoes and set out for our walk to the park. Let me tell you. Will started to run! That's when my eyes started to well up. Forget that I was outside, major PMSing and tears coming down my cheeks. My bubsy was running again! His knee and foot were not turning out and I was the happiest mom in the world! You would think I just got my first pair of Jimmy Choo's or something.

So. Stride Rite. I will stop putting that label on you and Bubsy will be wearing your shoes from now on. Thanks a heap!

Time To Pour Your Heart Out-

This Wednesday I am linking up with Shell @ Things I Can't Say to Pour My Heart Out. So if you need to get something off your chest or just have a little vent, go link up and let it all out.

What I am going to pour my heart about is something that is extremely close and very sensitive to me.

When I was 21 my mom died of Lung Cancer. It sucked. It rocked my comfy little world. I was sort of in a transition phase. I left school and everything I knew in Virginia to be with her and my dad in Connecticut. I am the baby of the family, and I considered myself to be the closest with my mom. My dad traveled for business very often and was not able to be around with treatments and appointments, so I was the primary. Which I did not mind. I loved my mom more than I loved myself at times. She was the best.

The months that she and I had together were months that I would never ever want to take back. I feel out of my siblings I am the lucky one. I got to spend a lot of one on one time that they were not able to do. She and I took walks on the beach. Went shopping. We went out to eat all the time and ate whatever we wanted. It was very freeing. This all happened a lot in the early stages of her diagnosis.

Because there were hospital stays and lots of chemo and radiation. Times where she and I just sat on the deck and looked out at the ocean not saying a word.

At one point my mom hit a road block and she really wanted to die. She could barely eat. At times barely breath. She just did not want to be like this. She asked my dad if she could be committed because she felt like she would take her own life if she did not talk to someone. So we did. She stayed for a weekend and it helped. She came out my mom again. She felt like this cancer was not going to be her death sentence.

We celebrated her 47 birthday with my middle sister and brother in law and the smile on her face was something I will remember forever. She is my angel.

She died on July 24, 2001.

Please if you know someone who has lung cancer or enter a conversation about it, don't let the first thing out of your mouth be, "did they smoke". It hurts. My mom did smoke for a long time when it was the "cool" thing to do. But she did quit. And it was a couple of months before she even got her diagnosis. Hearing someone ask that question before they even ask about the person, well that hurts too.

Cancer sucks!

Bullying 101-

How to tell if your toddler is going to become a bully:

1. He pushes another 2 year old in the back with one hand and just laughs as the kid eats some mulch.
2. He smacks his OLDER sister in the head to push her down the slide and laughs again.
3. He finds a tree branch and starts hitting everything in sight all with a devilish grin on his face.
4. Does not listen to his father telling him to be nice.
5. Throws mulch at his sister when she gets to the bottom of the slide.
6. Is named "minor".

i do not wish to offend anyone who has a child like this or who in fact did name their child minor. i just wish that they would play nicely with my bubsy thank you.

Definitely Some Sunshine and Maybe a Laugh-

This Saturday we got to go and spend some time with my sister and family. Will especially loves spending time with his cousin Lilly, who just so happened to test for her brown stripe belt at age 7 and passed her test! Way to go Lilly! She is now two away from black belt. Could not be more proud of her for sticking with it and doing such a wonderful job in the process.

She just recently joined a dance club at her school and they are working on a dance for a pep rally that is coming up in April. So my sister and I got to film her "practicing" her dance. She may or may not be making up the rest of it and adding in some Tae Kwon Do moves.

Love you Lilly!

Future veterinarian...

Where To Put The Poop

When it was time to search for a pediatrician for Will, I knew exactly where I wanted to go. They come highly recommended by some of my clients and they have been rated the top practice in our city. There are so many pediatricians there that I knew we would be able to be seen whenever we needed.

The first year, as you all know comes with tons of well baby check ups and vaccinations. The first year was great for us. Then when we went to his 1 year check up I noticed a sign in the bathroom and the exam room.

"Please do not put dirty diapers into exam room or bathroom trash cans. Ask a nurse for a plastic bag so that you can dispose of it outside of the practice."

Luckily we never really had poopy diapers the first year or even at the 1 year check up. But I still wondered, what if Bubsy pooped right when we got there? I have to hang on to the poop tell I can take it to the trash can outside? I mean it is not like I can leave after I check in, what if they call our name and we miss our appointment?

Well. It happened to us. As you know we have had pretty much everything this cold/flu season. With this last bout of ear infections and cold, the antibiotics have not set well with Will's stomach. I had to take him for a follow up appointment just to make sure his ears were clearing up since he was still VERY CRANKY.

That morning he actually ate a whole blueberry muffin and I was so happy because his eating has been horrible. What a mistake.

I was signing him in and he had wondered over to look at the fish in the tank. I keep my eye on him and notice he is being extremely quiet looking at the fish. Normally he talks to them or will bring another kid over there to look at them with him. Guess I can't blame him for needing a little privacy. I hear, "Oh..no."

I walk over to him amongst all the other moms with their kiddos and realize that Will has had an explosion in his pants. GREAT!

We head back to the bathroom and I am just wondering already, what am I going to do with this diaper? Will was a bit reluctant to get his diaper changed, as he thought he was getting seen by the doctor already.

This diaper required 11 wipes! Yes, I remember how many wipes. I am weird like that. I do not think I have ever had more than a 10 wiper! Luckily nothing got on his pants because I did not have a spare with me.

As I am trying to fold this diaper up, I am starting to freak a little. I am for sure thinking they have called our name and we have totally missed our appointment.

Unfortunately the trash can in an open one and of course there was nothing in it as we have gotten one of the first morning appointments. I start washing my hands like I am on a mission, I look at myself in the mirror and then look at Will with tears in his eyes from this whole experience.

I did it. I chucked the diaper in the trash can. I put paper towels over it so ashamed of what I had done like it said, "Bubsy" on the diaper or something.

When I opened the door, the nurse popped around the corner and said, "Will?" I thought for sure I had been caught by the nurse/poopy diaper attendant. Nope. I was free and clear, literally of that diaper.

Don't get me wrong I feel bad for what I did. Seeing as how I could not smell it with my stuffy nose, I can only imagine what the next person in there thought. But what would you do? I mean I would have had to carry that diaper around for another 30-40 minutes! Sorry. I just could not do it. I do not do well with diarrhea.

Have you ever had an experience like this?

under construction...

We are getting a makeover courtesy of Lindsay at blogaholic desigsns. We entered a blog makeover contest and we won! Lindsay is an amazing designer, so if you are looking for a fresh new look, check her out!

In other news, we are all starting to feel better. Will slept through the night last night, thank goodness! I was beginning to feel like I had a newborn again.

We have been doing some yard work, playing in the sandbox, swinging, and going on nice long walks. Soaking up this awesome weather we have been having. It is supposed to get into the 70's tomorrow and Saturday. My prayers have been answered, spring is near!

I have also been working on a craft project, oh for a couple of weeks now. But I will post some pictures when I am done.

Hope everyone is having some sunshine where they are.

randomness...because i want to...

randomness is not a blog cop out!
i like randomness.

• reading a lot of books since i have been sick and vegging out....The Politician (Andrew Young), Winter Garden (Kristen Hannah), and a trashy one Poor Little Bitch Girl (Jackie Collins). i have not finished any of them yet, just reading three at a time. i am weird like that.
• bubsy and i have watched marley and me about 3 times. me crying and will telling me the dog is "seeping". i wish that.
• he did not go to sleep last night tell 11pm. don't know why.
• i have been sneaking his antibiotics into his vitamin water.
• totally obsessed with a beverage called Izze. love love the peach and grapefruit.
• watching a whole bunch of reality tv. kell on earth, kendra, 16 and pregnant, and american idol.
• the sun is shining today and will and i have already been out. when he wakes up from his long over due nap we will take a nice long walk and play outside. can you blame a girl for wanting to watch american idol with a little piece and quiet?
• might even have some wine tonight. not much of a wine drinker but starting to feel better and well, i need something.
• i have been expanding my bloggy reading and really enjoying myself! such great blogs out there.
• i have also gotten some more followers. thanks followers!
• okay. enough random. time to get back to kell on earth.

Sickeeeeeessss....

Yep.

We are sick again.

This time with stuffy noses, sore throats and all that gunk!

We have had the sniffles for a few days but yesterday we reached our breaking point.

Will has a double ear infection with a fever that keeps making an appearance.

Me. I do not think I can blow my nose anymore!

I am so over being sick.

When I heard Mommy at 11:30pm I knew it was going to be a long night.

Will and I sprung into spring together. Rocking away.

Enough of the sick talk. I am WAY over that too.

On with what I got at the Wee Sale.....

Nothing!

It was like a baby convention at the sale. There were hardly any choices for Will in the clothing department. Toys, books and puzzles that I would have got for him were majorly over priced for a consignment sale.

I stood out in the rain for 30 minutes waiting to go in with all the other moms and all I got was a lousy cold!

Guess I will be heading to the outlets in the next couple of weeks.

Mommy's Gone Shopping...

Today is the day that I have been waiting for.

Since January 1.

The day where I go crazy and shop like a mad woman for my Bubsy.

It is a day where some mom's get a little pushy.

Not me.

I am considerate of other's space. Some are not.

That is why I am getting there early. I want to make sure I get the best finds for my little man.

Because after all, how can I deny that cute face anything?!

Headed off to the Wee-Sale @ 9am today! But I will be there @ 8am.

Probably with an umbrella because it is supposed to rain. It's all worth it.

I will take a picture of Bubsy's loot when I get back. Plus, I am sure I will have some stories of moms gone mad.

You Have to Check out This Giveaway!

Okay...Time to give some bloggin' love to Winey Mommy. Not only is she a great bloggy friend she has an AWESOME blog as well. She does tons of reviews and giveaways that you have to check out!

She is teaming up with EcoSMART who has wonderful organic products to protect you, your family, your pets, and your garden! Who could ask for anything more?

So what are you waiting for?! Go enter to win a value bundle of organic products at

Winey Mommy!

Ramblings and Wanderings....

Will wanders....

under the table to do his business.

Will rambles....

"Almos clean mama" when I have to change that business

Will wanders...

into my jewelery box when I am in the shower

Will rambles....

"pretty necklace mama"

Will wanders....

into the bathroom trash can to get his old, broken bath crayons out

Will rambles....

"ellassss, good girl" for our dog when he wants to play

Will wanders....

into the kitchen with a dining room chair to climb on the counter

Will rambles....

"sh**" after I dropped a smoothie a couple of months ago (working on this one)

Will wanders....

into the kitchen and sneaks an oatmeal cookie

Will rambles....

"cookie, pease mama? " okay i say. "i wuv u mama" thank you bubsy. "yo welcome mama"

He's My Dirty Birdie

I definitely have a little boy on my hands. He loves to pick up sticks and dig in the dirt. Play with all sorts of bugs. Splash in mud puddles. Roll around in the dirt. You name it, he will probably do it.

I am such a clean freak too! I guess I will have to get used to this and stock up on a lot of "play" clothes for him.

Fantastical Weekend Part 2!

We spent some time at the park because we happened to be having 55 degree weather! That is outside fun kinda fun weather!

I just love any color of blue on him...brings out his blue eyes and those lashes are ridiculous!

Will cheesing it up with his neon green glasses. The picture is not the greatest but his smile makes up for it. Ready for the zoo! Oh...and he is teething. Notice the nice red cheeks.

Will saw her and said, "Cat...Meow!"

Just love those big teethy smiles!

Will and I by the Tiger...one of two tigers at the zoo. Can you see the Tiger?

Right next to my head on the left. HA!

Monkey Crossing! Will was not too fond of them.

We had a wonderful time at the zoo. Although the Sea Lion and Elephant house were closed we did get to see a lot of animals.

Will's favorite, the fish pond. Go figure.

Next time we have a family outing, we are headed to the aquarium!

CSN/Rachael Ray Pan Review!

I was recently asked to review CSN and the Rachael Ray skillet.

Let me tell you the picture on the web site does not do it justice. When I opened up the box, it was packed perfectly and out popped this beautiful, cobalt blue pan! Blue happens to be one of my favorite colors and I love having a splash of color in my kitchen when I am cooking. If you are not a blue fan there are many other colors to choose from. So if you want to spice up your skillet or pans, check it out.

When choosing what to review, I knew that I wanted to do the Rachael Ray skillet and the CSN site is so easy to navigate. They have everything you could want.

When I busted out the Rachael Ray pan, it just so happened to be taco night in our house, which is a family favorite. It's also a good thing this skillet arrived when it did because, I just had to throw a pan away and my other favorite skillet's handle is coming loose.

This pan is super amazing. The 93% lean hamburger did not stick at all! Sometimes that happens when there is not a lot of fat in the hamburger. So needless to say I was pleasantly surprised.

As for the clean up. That was even easier. The skillet was super easy to clean and there was not little tidbits hanging on to the pan for dear life. Once it was clean and dried it look like a brand new pan!

I also loved that the handle was a comfy, cobalt blue. It did not get hot and was easy to handle.

Overall I was VERY impressed with the Rachael Ray skillet and would definitely buy her products from CSN. They were wonderful to work with and everything was expedited very quickly.

Don't you just love that color? So pretty! I have to add more to my collection now.

Thanks to CSN for letting me review this product.

I was provided the product above in order to provide an honest review for my readers. No other compensation was given.

What a Weekend!

First off I have to give a "WOOOOT.....WOOOOT" to my sweet Will who has now been off of his beloved binky for 2 days! It kind of happened by accident when we lost our last two binkys and I thought we were totally screwed because I was not ready to deal with the back lash of binky withdraws. There were some tears but, amazingly not much!

Also Lew is taking on a huge challenge at work this week and Will and I just wanted to tell him we are so proud of him! Way to go Daddy!

First off Will and I went to go and see "Hero on The Rails". A Thomas the Train flick. I knew that Will would love it and he did! I was kind of nervous taking a 2 year old to the movies but I thought it would be such a nice treat for him even if he only made it through part of the movie. I did see a couple of moms leave half way through the movie, but not us!

Will did AWESOME! He even got to enjoy his new obsession which you will see in the pics below. Yes, I brought my camera to the theater. I am a cheese ball like that.

Will munching away on popcorn. I think the bag was almost as big as him!

Enjoying some popcorn at home. I just love that face!

It looks like he is giving a thumbs up to popcorn but he was actually putting some popcorn in his mouth. But I like to think he was giving the thumbs up.

My lovey.

More to come from this weekend. We had a wonderful Sunday adventure at the Washington National Zoo. The weather and the animals, just perfect!

My Worry...

When I found out I was pregnant with my Bubsy, I was completely and utterly over joyed. I needed him.

But my worrying kicked into over drive. The very night I took the pregnancy test, I stopped sleeping on my stomach for fear that I would crush my little bean. Crazy I know.

At about 12 weeks, I had some spotting and totally wigged out with worry and called my doctor immediately! To make me feel better we were able to listen to my Bubsy's heart beat. Dr. H said it was super strong and had even predicted Will was going to be a girl. HA! He said sometimes woman have spotting the first few months or if you hmm...do the deed, it can cause spotting. I told Lew about that and he had a bit of a worry moment too. That didn't last long.

I worried about what I ate. I worried I was teaching too many kickboxing classes and that some how I would hurt Bubsy. I worried about driving to see my sister in Va. I was a constant worrier(if that's even a word).

Then when we got closer to delivery day, I became worried that somehow Will would get stuck in me and they would have to vacuum him out. Or push for 5 hours!

Worrying got the best of me and it still does. When Will was born I was constantly checking to make sure he was breathing. I know everyone does that. But I would have major OCD about it. I would check and re-check, over a dozen times.

When he got acid reflux I felt horrible. He was so unhappy and being a new mom, I had no idea why he was so cranky. Once he got medicine for it, I felt like I should have known.

When Will started to walk and then run down the side walk, I was so terrified and worried that he would smash his face into the pavement. Lew would say he is going to get a skinned knee every now and again Jenny, he's a boy. Lew even suggested we just stick him in a bubble, if that would make me feel better. Such a comedian that husband of mine. Love you!

Will bumped his head on the step and had a huge goose egg, I majorly freaked out and took him to after hours care thinking he had a concussion. He was okay.

Will snagged his foot on our last step and broke his foot. Lew thought I was crazy to take him to after hours care, a month after his head injury. He wasn't crying or anything. Lew that he was okay. 12 hours later, my Bubsy is in a cast. So you can just imagine the worry I felt on my shoulders. He's going to crawl everywhere, have to clean the floor over and over. What if he doesn't want to walk again when he gets it off? (Still working on that 2 weeks later)

Every night I tuck Bubsy in after he is asleep. I cover him up and arrange his blankets for him, so they don't end up over his face. Then I put my hand on his back to make sure he is breathing. Because he is my world and I would be totally lost without him.

Sometimes my worries take over and I feel like I am in my own little, dark worry world. But I guess where would I be if I didn't worry? It's good to worry, sometimes.

I hope my mom is proud of me from Heaven. Because she always said, I might worry a lot but I definitely love the hardest.

Ready Or Not Here We Come...

Since we were up at the "butt crack of dawn"(just for you Brandi) again this morning, I am finding it so much easier to blog. Will is still half asleep drinking his milk and watching his morning train fix and I can blog. Perfect!

Although today when I got Will out of his crib he was pimpin' it with his pj's zipped down to his belly button! One day I will walk in and he will be naked. Guess I waited a little too long to go and get him this morning. Even though it was 6:30am! But he did let me snuggle with him for about 5 minutes, so that was totally worth the wake up call.

This past Monday we went to visit a Preschool near our house. I have always loved it from the outside and when Will was about 8 months old, I could totally imagine Will having a blast there and me becoming one of "those" moms. We got to meet the Pastor, who was super nice. Will was not too fond of him. But that is okay because Mommy and Daddy liked him and the director of the Preschool. I think we might have found our church! That makes me happy too.

Anyway the director took us to the 2 year old room, I was holding Will and all of a sudden he wiggled himself out and said, "WOW!" He instantly fell in love and so did I. He went and played with some of the children and tried to get in on the arts and crafts project they were doing. But I was so shocked! He did so amazing and did not cry or even look at me for re-assurance. He played well, he took turns, and he made himself comfortable.

Unfortunately the 2x a week class has already filled up but the 1 day a week class still has openings. Lew and I were both in agreement that this is the place for him. We just got that warm fuzzy vibe from them. The director said she could put us on the waiting list for the 2x a week class if someone dropped out. So that is nice to know we have that as well. When I told Will it was time to go, he wanted me to pick him up but then he said goodbye and waved to all his new friends. So cute! Lew was like can he start now? Oh, Daddy's. Sometimes they are clueless. Even if you do tell them this is for the next school year. We love him though.

So this Friday Will, will be officially registered for Preschool. I am so excited, but at the same time I realize my little bubsy is becoming such a big boy. A big boy that is super smart and ready for this adventure.

Crib Talk...

Will recently got a new bed for his crib which we are hoping will be a nice transition into his toddler bed. By no means are we there yet, but I wanted him to have a nice comfy bed after a long day of playing.

Well, I think the new bed is causing my bubsy to get up at the butt crack of dawn! We just got him dark navy curtains to match all his bedding and I thought for sure that would keep him sleeping past 7am. No. Will has been waking anywhere between 5:30-6:30am! One morning he was up at like 4am and I rocked him back to sleep, which is not an easy feet when you have a 2 year old that is 37 inches long! But he did fall back asleep tell around 6am. So I am guessing he loved his old bed more than this one.

I am hoping that once he is able to run around more he will get a lot more sleepy. Right now we are still kind of helping him walk since his cast removal. He will walk for a little bit but his foot gets a little tired. Which I kind of knew would happen. So he has been riding his plasma car around the house or we call him the speedy crawler!

So today it is 6:00am and I am laying in bed awake since my bubsy is my personal alarm clock. Then what do I hear. Will having a conversation with his trains. We let him sleep with two small talking trains. Anyway he is in there talking to Thomas and Percy or they are talking to each other, not sure.

But I hear, "Tomiiiiiisssssss, oh no watch ouuuttt!" Then I hear what must be Thomas crashing into Percy. Then out comes, "Cccc(Percy) getch ya!" Totally hilarious! Then they must be racing because next he says, "6, 7, 8, 9...Reaaey(Ready) se(set) go!" One must have crashed into the rail of his crib because he said, "Oh, NO STUCK!"

Gotta love the crib talk! So sweet and cute. Ever since he had got his cast on his talking really picked up. I am thinking since normally he would walk to go and get what he wanted, with the cast on his foot he really has had to express himself.

It's nice to have another talker in the house. But now we have to watch everything we say because let me tell you his ears are open and TOTALLY listening.

Have you had any funny crib talk lately?

Painter-Buzz Cutter-Messy Hair-Train Lovin' Will...

We call it "fire". Will loves....loves.... to paint.

Bubsy's new haircut. I am not crazy about it, but he is not a fan of the haircut to begin with and to fix what was done, we had to buzz it. I definitely miss his locks. I think we are going to grow it back out. He is still my cutie though!

One benefit of buzzed hair, no bed head.

Will looking through his train tunnel. Not the best picture. I tell you what though, he is obsessed with trains. We got him some that are motorized and he prefers those over the nice wooden ones. I would seriously like to take the batteries out of some of them!