LIVING OUT LOUD

our very first Christmas Tree at home

2008-12-09T12:30:00.010-05:00

this is mine and mr K's first year putting up a tree in our own place. we normally just go and enjoy Mimi aka Grammie & Papa's BIG tree at their house...but this year i decided since mr K aka shnookie doodles is more aware and totally knows who e-claus aka santa claus is we would decorate and get all into it! our little 4 ft tree is a little bigger than shnookie doodles and he proclaimed that this is HIS tree. :o)

here is mr K singing jingle bells (joo-joo bells) at the top of his lungs and dancing for mommy!

notice the singing elmo stocking in the photo with our little tree. elmo sings jingle bells and moves and thanks to mr K - he sings it all day long (pretty much) another thing mr K insisted on that he just had to have, and yes, i the mommy - gave in.

yay me!

here is mr K calling "e-claus" to let him know we finished with our tree and that we are ready for him to bring mr K's horsey that mr K also insists he must have for Christmas!

i have to say since mr K has come along, Christmas has become that much more FUN! at the same time we do remember what the true meaning of Christmas is and we are so grateful for being able to celebrate it together and with all our family, friends and bloggers!

Hugs- Love- Peace- Blessings!

i am thankful....

2008-11-26T14:52:00.013-05:00

.for a beautiful healthy son.

.for a roof over our heads.

.for a car that is paid for.

.for a wonderful caring family.

.for a job.
.for my health.

.for the people I love.

.for the beautiful fall colored leaves.

.for kisses & I love you’s from mr K.

.for my son’s presence everyday.

.for mr K's smiles.

.for mr K going to bed when he should.

.for mr K's fro.
.for mr K's "I wuv ewww Mommy"s.

.for the heater under my desk at work keeping me warm.

.for forgiveness.

.for God.

.for Jesus.

.for an awesome church with awesome pastors.

.for friends old – present & new.

.for friends like Ellie & Irene & Doris (to name a few), no matter how much time has passed, it's still the same.

.for favors in the nick of time.

.for making all the green lights on the way to work.

.for just enough gas to make it all the way home from work when I realized I left my wallet at home.

.for mr K’s hugs & laughter.

.for my nephew Noah’s wonderful journey.

.for family at Thanksgiving time.

.for the many prayers (even from strangers all over the world) that blessed my nephew.

.for my grandma & grandpa Anspach, because they made me a big part of who I am.

.for a place to go when this place ends.

.for creativeness.

.for Tonia (she rocks) & all she does for mr K. while Mommy brings home the bacon.

.for "babysitters" when Mommy needs a little me time.

.for always having someone (my mr K) to look forward to seeing when I get off work.

.for lower gas prices.

.for the sermons at church, they always hit home.

.for love.

.for 6 cheese pizza.

.for chocolate.

.for sacrifices so many have made for our country & other countries & our freedom.

.for my mom & dad & all they do.

.for wonderful artwork made by my son.

.for my brother PJ & Melanie being back in NC.

.for the lil mexican place next door, they do my chicken taco's just right.

.for PJ's quirkyness that always makes me smile.

.for my sister and her strength & beauty.

.for Noah.

.for my dreams, even ones that seem faded.

.for new dreams & new ideas.

.for my writing.

.for God’s arms that hold me up every time I feel like I am falling & I sure do fall a lot.

.for unconditional love.

.for breathing when I feel like I can’t.

.for the tears I cry & the smiles that come later - because it means I am alive.

.for facebook and finding old faces I thought I had lost forever.

.for my son.

mr K and is Thanksgiving Creativeness! :)

mr Noah and mr Kai posing for their Christmas Cards :)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL!

*~*~ Peace n Love ~*~*

sweet tooth

2008-11-12T10:40:00.004-05:00

candy cane kisses in a milky snow blizzard cream

swirling concoctions of delicious sweet peppermint morsels on my lips

experiencing sugar overload from thoughts of moon drops drizzling across my face and I see decadent fragments that come together in colorful M&M pieces

a polychromatic union of marshmallow manifestation in a milk chocolate Hershey bar s'more graham cracker vision

I exhale and breathe in vanilla and cherry vapors tumbling into my liquorish senses of taste fresh strawberry preserves jam to a dancing peanut butter sexy tango,

missile toe manifestation leave kisses of no obligation and

hearts invest in all pie of lemon meringue,

dipping my inhibitions in streusel and swimming in silk chocolate frosting

that ripples in between my daydreams and out into my life

on a sugar high my mind travels across tantalizing mountains of apple crumb cake and ice cream caves, surfing valentine heart candy waves

peach cobbler beaches with coconut raindrops and cookie dough umbrellas

getting lost in 7 layers of delectable whip cream clouds,

gumdrops hugging the inside of my cheeks and mouth singing sweet tarts into my reality and waking up to a mixed candy fruit flavored edible rainbow parfait with semi-sweet tang on the tip of my tongue in a titillating tingle tied up in a reverie of palatable explosions that drift off

into an orange cream exuberant embrace of gooey melancholy caramel with a sugary glaze leaving me in a daze of twisted peaceful pecan clusters

over dark bittersweet chocolate covered cherry bliss with just a taste of butterscotch pudding gloss on my lips in a kiss of i love you delish,

vanilla wafer dipped hugs hiding in a banana pudding cream,

throw on your cracker jack jeans & find a secret surprise in the pockets

tumble down a water slide of juicy sweet watermelon drifting into a delicate sugar storm of berry jubilee showers

traveling down a candy coated almond and jelly bean path, sucking on lemon drops

holding hands on the way then resting on cream cheese chocolate covered cupcakes filling our pockets with turkish delights - sneaking small bites

fall asleep with me on cinnamon sands under keylime trees

with lime green mint leaves,

gazing behind your eyes in mouth watering colors that fill up

every corner of your mind

lost in a belly full of sweet cravings and tasteful distractions under powdered sugar sleeping dust and pillows of assorted tooth-achingly sugary wafers,

take down your irresistible delicious inhibitions and pull up your high fructose sleeves and then fall asleep with me again under a mango candy sunset and fresh wintergreen breeze…..please.

Halloween 2008

2008-11-12T10:17:00.005-05:00

please meet mr. Noah aka Moo Moo with his mommy Anna-Lisa (my sis) & our other celebrity of the evening.....mr. K aka (shnookie doodles) aka mr. ScareCrow (with his papa) :)

mr K "carving" a pumpkin at daycare

mr K with his daycare buddies

"twoot or tweet" (trick or treat)

Peace out!

My Baby is a 2 Year Old TODDLER today!!!!

2008-09-10T13:25:00.011-04:00

first day going home!

now!

I wanted to share.....as you all probably know by now, my little bald headed baby is now officially my super duper curly headed 2 year old toddler TODAY!

Yes, Kai has turned the BIG TWO today.....September 10, 2008.

My once brand new teeny tiny 6lb even, beautiful little fellow is now a long and lean 25 something pounder who chatters non stop, runs and jumps in single bounds with scraped up bruised little legs with occasional band-aids here and there. He tells me NO - most of the time, but he gives me HUGS, LOVE, and KISSES normally whenever I ask.....sometimes even on his own. :o) He tells me when he wants to eat-eat, or wants some "ice" aka drink.

He tells me "bye bye Mommy, see you later" when I drop him off at school with Ms. Tonia and friends and blows me kisses. He snaps his fingers and claps and dances when a song is on that grooves him. He independently likes to walk and follow me when we leave in the mornings or I pick him up in the afternoons (sometimes we still want Mommy to pick us up and carry us). He climbs into the car on his own and fastens the top part of his car seat by himself, and then proudly proclaims YAY Mommy!)....he climbs into his own seat at the dinner table when it is time to eat, wipes his "icky" fingers and hands when he done eating. He climbs up on the stool and washes his hands and brushes his teeth by himself (of course Mommy does help with some of the teeth brushing *smile*)

He is becoming such the little person....he can say a lot of his ABC's and recognize some of them now, same with numbers and colors. He still loves the Backyardigans and is even more mesmerized by the colorful singing dancing characters and he will bring me the remote as soon as he WAKES UP, or we come home etc....and tell me "Pablo Mommy" (Pablo is the Penguin) He interacts with what they are doing on the TV now, so cool. He can open the doors by himself, lock them etc....including locking himself in Mommy's BATHROOM! *whew* more than once.....

He sings songs, he says his prayers (Awwww-Me [amen]). He can ask for "help" both verbally and in sign language - he can do quite a bit of signing actually. He can tell you "cheese" when it is time to take a photo (but take the photo quick! As fast as he says cheese, is as fast as he has moved on to something else, which means I get a lot of photos of the side or back of his head....lol)

I just can not believe he is 2. People were not kidding me when they told me that the time would FLY by after I gave birth to him.....

I now believe them, more than ever.

He is still just as amazing to me as he was the first time I set eyes on him on September 10, 2006, he fills me with the utmost indescribable love and joy and a certain peace filled with unsureness, if that makes sense? :o) He bewilders and baffles me, he makes me laugh, he gives me small heart attacks, he makes me think I am crazy sometimes (most of the time) and maybe "I am not the "best" Mommy out there" feeling...but then he smiles at me with his BIG GORGEOUS gray eyes and wraps his arms around my neck giving me a big hug (and he always says "oooohhhhhhh" when he does this) and gives me his soap opera kiss....and I know, okay, MAYBE I AM doing this whole Mommy thing right! Right?

I guess time can only tell, 2 years down and oh so many more to go - and I am looking forward to them ALL![I just wish they would slow down a little bit more]

I totally believe in cherishing every bit of time you get with your babies, children, teenagers, family & friends.Life is actually very short and goes flashing by before you know it. When your house is a mess and laundry is piled up - who cares - seriously - ENJOY that little one running around - because before you know it - they will be 2....5......10....18....25.....30....etc...and that darn messy house and laundry will ALWAYS be there.......trust me.....but the toddler with the curious eyes, endearing smile and infectious laughter, banged up knees and craves YOUR attention, he/she will grow up way to quick and, trust me, you just don't want to miss ANY BIT of it!

Happy Birthday to my Sweetie Kai, my Shnookie Doodles, My Baby Boy.....I love you! I love you! I love you! I love you! I just can NOT say it enough! I am so proud of you little one! You are Mommy's BLESSING ALWAYS!

Love, Love, Love, Love...

(Mommy)

.....a walk down memory lane below.....

****Blessings****

hey look - i am blogging!

2008-07-23T16:36:00.026-04:00

a few "catch up photos" before the BLOG!

shnookie doodles is very much in to his cars....

bathtime is always fun!

our friend Nolan's 2nd birthday - mr K looks so grown up now....wow.

ummmmm pizza is YUMMY!

cupcake with a spoon is very tasty!

watching So You Think You Can Dance is some serious business!

cheesing for the paparazzi-mommy!

mr K trying out The Little Gym at friend Nolan's B-Day party!

trying on my life jacket thingy for the pool and riding my "gockle" (motorcycle)

hum wonder what this tastes like...

mommy and shnookie doodles being silly in the bathroom mirrow after bath

my preggy sis right before she gave birth to Noah - she was feeling goooooooood here - she had finally got her epidural! oh YEA baby!!

shnookie doodles is serious about his CARS!

watching "So You Think You Can Dance" - very seriously

i love this photo - i love cookies!

my handsome handsome little bathtub dude!

hummm...so....hear i am, again {wink} i really don't know where to start - if i back tracked this thing, it would be the longest blog - EVER! so....i am just going to start out short & slow- i have probably lost all my blog-a-licious blogger friends anyway (boo hoo & poor me).

i really haven't been "slack" persay, just busy. i FINALLY left my old job, got a new job, still learning the new job. shnookie doodles is growing way to fast for me, he is this little tiny individual person now with EMOTIONS and ATTITUDE and CUTENESS and FUNNYNESS all rolled into one. my little baby is now a TODDLER - he will be the big 2 in September - yikes! he is also at a new inhome daycare now and loving it. he is with all boys- imagine! (imagine his poor teacher....lol) he LOVES his new teach ms T (she totally rocks!) and his new brand new buddies mr B, mr J, mr A, mr tate-tate, mr zay-zay, mr C and mr R and auntie risa!

my bro (pickle juice) and sis in law moved back to NC from Illinois this past MAY!

YAY!
i am so excited about THAT!

my sis, myself and friends did the March for Babies/March of Dimes this past April - we raised over a $1000.00 - this cause is very near and dear to my heart - even more so now than ever. i have been participating for over 10 years and setting up my own MOD teams since 2007. i make a big deal of it every year...

and speaking of March for Babies then one of the busiest life changing things happend in my family in June, June 4th to be exact - my sis gave birth prematurely to my little nephew Noah at 25 & 1/2 weeks. Noah was 2lbs and 3 ounces - he has already had heart surgery etc...- but Praise God he is doing very well right now. he is 7 weeks old now and is at 3lbs and 3 & 1/2 ounces - breathing on his own (at least since Tuesday at 9am) the physical therapist says he is advanced, he is 32 weeks gestation but acting more like a 34 old weeker - hallelujah! he is currently living at Duke Hospital in the NICU (possible could be transferred to REX if all goes well). needless to say this has been a very very very busy/emotional etc time for ALL of us. i started a carepage for him and will post that info for you before the photos start up again at the end of my blog.

also getting ready for my sister's BIG Baby Shower coming not this weekend but next weekend on August 2 at 2:00 pm.

the photos above and below are just random photos of all of us and brand new baby Noah throughout the time here that i haven't been blogging. {smile}

i know this isn't a BIG wordy post - but i wanted to post something- because i realized if i dont start posting now - i never will and i miss it and miss all my blog-a-licious blogs and blogger friends!

so until my next post.....keep in touch - I WILL DO BETTER NOW! ;o)

OH! and here ---> please visit my nephew's carepage at http://www.carepages.com/ his care page name is BlessedNoah. please sign the guestbook & leave a thought or prayer - would love to hear from you! (this carepage has been one of the most inspiring things!)

Hugs, love, unlimited Blessings!

xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxxoxoxox

enjoy more photos below!!

shnookie doodles and grammie
my wonderful nephew Noah without all the stuff on his face (CPAP/nasal cannula etc....)
mr K on a field trip with his new daycare and friends

my wonderful sis and her itty bitty baby Noah

Noah only 3 days old here!

mr K and his new buddy B

my sis, me, my bro (uncle pickle juice) and my sis in law Mel (4th of July)

my 4th of July dude

mr K playing with mommy's cell phone

my bro - pickle juice (wink)

texting mommy to bring me some more milk - pronto

proud mommy & daddy with their little fighter Noah

mr K and his 4th of July spirit!

************ THE END......for now *************

here i am ~ here i am!

2008-04-30T11:41:00.008-04:00

okay, so here i am and i haven't blogged in so long, i am not even sure where to start.....yet i have so much to talk about, right?

right.........

it's ME......duh.

LOL

first of all, im so sorry i haven't been around my blog-a-licious blogger friends to comment on your blogs and keep
up with what has been going on with you.....or blogging myself for that matter. i can't say all to much about work stuff,
because you never know who is LURKING.....but work has played a very big part in my not having time to blog anymore.
(my job search has also taken any free time i get, which is next to none) i am back in my old department and there is NO breathing time what so ever - last week i stayed late a few nights just trying to catch things up - because there is no catching up in our department right now, and it still didn't help....go figure, and it is very overwhelming, to say the least.
and why don't i blog at home? well by the time i get off and pick up shnookie doodles - go play or walk or something with him before dinner and baths and bed - by the time i finally get him down, i am lucky to get a shower and just BREATHE before going to bed myself and getting up and starting all over.....argh.

and i miss it so much, writing, blogging, my little blog world and blog friends! (thank you to those of you who have not forgotten me and come back and check on me time and time again - i love your for it and it means soooo much!)

i have had so much going on, especially on the inside of me. :o)

we had a death in the family right before Easter, and that was very very hard...another loss to the evil Cancer who always seems to be hanging around the corners every where you look....kinda just sucks.

i actually had a "ladies night out" at the Melting Pot the last week of March (hince the feet photo below) i put on my hot shoes (that i used to wear 24.7, but haven't really worn since having the little man join me in my world in 2006.....sad i know....because they look so at "home" on and all.......)

[heheheheheheheheheeeee]

ladies night was iiiight....we had some good food, good talk and a few good tinis. i really need to do it more often.....but i am always saying that.

;o)

i have been on interview after interview after interview and just can't seem to "land" anything. finances are always tight, single mommyhood and all and NO help, really.....i am still struggling with my weight and insecurities from it among a few other
"silly" "outside" things.

i will be turning 36 on Saturday (May 3rd) and I am just not happy where i am "at" in life right now - i think i need a better plan. i pray by 40 i have got it mostly figured out and TOGETHER if not for MY sake for my SON'S sake...yanno. :o)

what IS my plan???

geeeeeesh, i am still working on THAT too....

i have been having some major dental issues and that has taken a lot out of me, i finally have an appointment Tuesday of next week.....i just haven't really been able to afford to go....but now that i am in an "emergency" sort of situation, i am just having to DO IT....and pray it all comes together.

i am doing A LOT of praying....which i do anyway, just seems like a lot MORE right now.... ;o)

i don't know if my blog is making much sense today, i am writing in between everything going on at work....so i am sure, as usual, it is a lot of rambling ISH.

as for updates on the little dude, he is fabulous and so entertaining, he gets me through the day every day (he and God of course) he is growing so fast - i swear every week he does something or says something new - he is a CHATTERBOX! (i love it!) he and i along with a handful of others did the March for Babies on April 19th here in RTP - a cause very close to my heart- I do it every year! A BIG THANK YOU TO HALLIE FOR MAKING A DONATION TOWARDS OUR TEAM FOR SUCH A GRRRRRREAT CAUSE! (((hug)))

shnookie doodles fav thing right now is playing with cars and balls. he has a ton of matchbox, hot wheels, little tikes etc cars that keep him very entertained. he is saying things like, "ball", "oooooh noooooo", "no no no no", "uh oh", "more" (and he does the sign for more when he is saying it), "gone-gone", "here mommy", "thnk ew" (for thank you), "plse" (for please), "buuuuuu" (for book), "eat eat", "beep beep", "baby", he loves to call me when i am not in site (or even when i am in site) "moooooommmmmeeeeeeeeeee" he thinks it is funny. he communicates very well with gestures and such. he still loves to dance and sing, "papa" is still his fav person along with "ammmmeeeee" (grammie). he now calls aunty anna-lisa "annnnnna or annnnnannannannaa" and uncle paul is "paw", he calls uncle pj "pujjjj" and we are still working on aunty melanie. he is just a doll, and still so loving and happy and sweet. he gives me kisses now with his lips puckered (all on his own) and i tell you - it just makes my heart MELT and in that moment makes the world a very HAPPY place....not a care in the world except for that moment and those kisses.

yep.....shnookie doodles rocks.

i will post some updated photos below :o)

so....my sis found out she is having a BOY! yay - we (i) are soooooo excited! shnookie doodles will be having a cousin close in age to grow up and play with - i am soooooooooooooo thrilled! she is due in September! (doodles birthday month)

my bro and his wife are still trying to sell their home in Illinois and move back here - i soooo can not wait!!!

other than all that.....all i am doing is WORKING non stop. i am really hoping to find a way to get back into my blogging and READING blogs.....i really am.....please don't forget me blog-a-licious bloggers, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze! xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxx

and now without further adieu [drum roll] my wonderful little dude.......

SHNOOKIE DOODLES!

MY LITTLE EASTER DUDE ABOVE :O)

MY LITTLE 19 MONTH OLD DUDE BELOW PLAYING WITH HIS CARS AFTER HIS BATH BEING NORMALLY CUTE AND EXPRESSIVE!!! :O)

Peace n Love~~~~~Blessings to ALL!

he IS

2008-03-14T10:19:00.011-04:00

your smile of innocence and not yet worldly discoveries
fresh tears of pure emotion are full of life and naive reality
a beautiful abundance filled with ooozing character and stunning
personality, you squeeze my heart with your being
and I am not even sure, who you are yet, who you are

to be

but he envelopes me with his whole self ♥

endearing spirit, old soul, have you been here before
my one and only true, unconditional love, you have all of me
a blessing from above that crowded my belly full of felicity
anticipation of your visitation, a lasting encounter I will always hold dear
your jollity forever holds my attention, and I pray that integrity fills your soul

his existence checks me with his actuality ♥

my protection of your goodness that come so naturally at this moment
the simplicity of your individual revelation as you slowly unveil your creation
that God has presented you in lives of autonomous adoration, you complete me
your spurts of identity and new found independence excite and astound
the alluring endearment you anoint with your modest unknowing charm

his life has brought life back into mine, complimentary
his love has rejuvenated my faith, colossal
his person has made me a better one, immensely

his innocence has become my reality, more than you know
his entirety has become inescapable, and I want a front row seat

his small voice echoing life, opens my ears to life in sound, out loud
his HE is all I want him to be, and more, and pray for him to keep and BECOME
his presence, is my acknowledgment of thanks, appreciation everyday that he is here and I get to share in his love and existence profoundly

♥

AEP © Copyright 2008
_______________________________________________________

;o)

besos & blessings ALL!

try n to blog yo

2008-03-07T12:35:00.012-05:00

okay, so i have been trying to blog ALL WEEK and it just hasn't been happen n'. i have tried to go and view some of my blog-a-licious bloggers' blogs as well, STRUGGLING people....sigh.

i was once again moved back to my old department that i was moved from right before Christmas. i have already moved 7 times in one year since being with this company. good grief yanno.

so the department i am back in, is more crazy busy than the others, lots of little tiny steps and paying attention in great detail. so there goes my blogging time - well i mean there goes my blogging time A LOT LESS. (i see you sticking your tongue at me HALLIE - that is not very nice) [hehehehehehehehee] (notice how much ms H gets linked on my blog, you'd think she was someone super important huh? {giggle} well she IS, & i love to give her these (+) (+) (+) tee hee hee!) wink n at Scarlett!

okay, so i am not say n' that i am not going to blog or visit my fav blog-a-licious bloggers, no no, not at all....it will just be even HARDER for me to do so - but i can't stop completely, i am to addicted to you guys! plus one of the main reason for doing this whole blog n gig was so i could document my shnookie doodles & keep peeps up to date on things. this is sort of my diary and then some - a diary that you guys have the key to, a diary where you guys know where i keep it at and are welcome to flip through it any time. :o)

the LIVING OUT LOUD version of my diary.

so NO NO - I am not going anywhere, keep check n me out. i am trying for a blog AT LEAST once a week - if not more. :o)~

meanwhile, here is my latest ISH to dish:

shnookie doodles with be 18 months Monday the 10th and i so can not believe how the time has just flown by, this time last year he was my little bald headed butterball baby and not SO mobile [hehehehee].

have to love this no - makeup mama- hair a frizzy mess pic above, right Scarlett? wink!

i get so excited watching him grow and learn and become this tiny little individual person with an actual personality! he is simply amazing and then some to me. he expresses his likes and dislikes now, in fact we had our first public temper tantrum last week at bruegger's bagels. i was just standing there like, "ohmygosh! i am one of those people with one of THESE small people!" and the thing is - it wasn't even real, right after he started the tantrum he then started giggling.

he must have copied someone at daycare , he does that a lot i see, copying people and things. he really isn't a big "fusser" (my word peoples) he is a very happy little guy. in fact the people in brueggers were gushing about how totally cute he was....and that little dude was LOVING every minute of it. he is a HAM. and yes, he is a little bit spoiled. but he is my FIRST and ONLY and i guess that is just how the cookie crumbles with us. {ha}

he is growing like a weed, and often he eats like i can not believe (and then sometimes he is super picky and won't eat anything BUT fruit- go figure) he is now fitting into his 18 month clothes pretty good - so pretty soon we will need to go shopping for bigger. he is going to be THIN and LONG/TALL i am sure. right now he is in a size 4 shoe, i think we will be hitting 5's any day/week now.

my fav thing about him right now, he loves to come and give mommy some "love" (hugs & kisses). i don't even have to ask, he just comes over and does it. he used to sleep in while i got ready for work, now he gets up right after i do, he walks in the living room with this sleepy face, rubbing his eyes and holding his arms up for me to pick him up (every morning) i pick him up and give him some love n' and then i sit him next to me on the couch. we watch the news for a little bit while i do my "face" and then we watch backyardigans. he continues to watch his shows as i finish getting ready (of course he pops in and out to bring me toys or just tell me something in shnookie doodle language, or drop things in the toilet, or to see how much toilet paper really comes off the roll) and then i get him ready for school - all the while him talking to me and giggling (and complaining when brushing TEETH) and then he goes back to his shows while I fix his breakfast to take to school (oatmeal with fresh bananas, strawberries and sometimes various other berries. he comes and sneaks a few as i am fixing it) i give him his vitamin and then we put on our coats and head out the door. he now WALKS out the door to the car (with the help of mommy sometimes, especially up the big flight of stairs) by himself now......WOW. he truly amazes me. he even carries his little book bag with his breakfast in it now and then. (we are only 5ish minutes from his daycare and 5ish minutes from my office)

here is my little dude NOW and i am so blessed to get to be his mommy.

this is at the park on the swings this past Sunday.

i realize i really need to write more about mr K. so i will have something to look back on to REMEMBER all these FABULOUS times with. i hope he will get a kick out of it when he is older as well. and i have to say, this really is the best time of my life right now, preparing a life and observing it blossom.....there is nothing like being a mommy in this entire world (not even being one of Janet Jackson's Dancers (a serious dream of mine) nothing at all) shnookie doodles takes the cake!

~~
just for fun, take a look at these pics below, talk about POST IT NOTES! WOW!

HAPPY FRIDAY, BLESSED WEEKEND!

blog n on a saturday

2008-03-01T10:03:00.014-05:00

okie dokie, so here i am actually blogging on a weekend day - odd for me.

weekends are usually pretty busy with shnookie doodles and family, errands, playing at the parks, laundry, running around and doing "stuff" and church. but today (Saturday) i am here in the office running license plates for investigators across the US and typing, proof reading reports etc....

yea, woo me! fun!

not.

good thing is, i came in at 8am and will be leaving a little after NOON - so i still will have a lot of my Saturday left to go do "stuff".

needless to say mr. shnookie doodles was not happy that mommy was leaving him to go to work this morning. as soon as Carlyssa (babysitter and good friend) came over this morning, shnookie doodles was suddenly attached to my leg like super glue.

looking up at me with these sad puppy dog eyes and pouty lips.....

"mommy, mommy, mommy, mommeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee......." he desperately hung on to me not wanting to let go. good thing mommy made him his fav cereal and Carlyssa had it waiting on hand for him. :o) (mixed grain baby oatmeal mixed with mixed berry applesauce, cut up bananas and cut up fresh strawberries) he loves that stuff - she was his new best friend. eating his cereal and watching backyardigans he pleasantly smiled at me and said, "bubye mommeeeeee".

nuff said.

so here i am, at work, thanks to a long 2 week and some dance with the freaking flu. i am feeling better today though. thank God. that flu is NO JOKE people. ugh. i pray you don't get it, if you haven't already. plain yucky it is.....and i hardly ever get sick.

i have to tell you a quick FUNNY before i sign off and go back to WORKING like i should be doing, but i am not [heheeheheheeeee] i am proofing this report (i work in insurance fraud investigation, in case you missed that) this case is about a husband and wife (i am assuming they live in government housing etc....they are not well off, not that there is anything wrong with G-housing, let me just add THAT, either that or they could be homeless) first, the wife, makes a claim with our client that while she was at Burger Kingdom (i will change the names for security reasons, lol) in Illinois (somewhere) she had to go to the restroom after ordering her food. while the claimant (wife) was in the restroom, the toilet tissue dispenser fell on her head leaving her with a NASTY bump on her noggin, in fact it almost knocked her out.....

okay, are you visualizing this right now? really....THINK ABOUT THIS.

[heheheheheheeeeee]

the impact was so horrific that it made her lose her appetite and she could no longer eat her BK whopper, fries and milkshake. (eh HEM) she also NOW has a detached retna (ummmmmmmm) from the IMPACT. so she placed a claim with our client to get some mula outa BK. (eh HEM) now get this, the claimant's husband a week later, has the same claim, but in ANOTHER Burger Kingdom. he too had to use the restroom after ordering his food and while using the restroom (just like his wife) he too was hit in the head with the toilet tissue dispenser......um.....me thinks i see a PATTERN? lol he too could no longer eat his whopper, fries and drink. and he thinks NOW he could be suffering from a COMA. (hummmm......)

now, come to find out BOTH BK's told the claimant and husband that if they mopped the floor for them, they would give them these meals FREE, because they had no mula at that time.

things that make you go HUM.

okay, so this is the part where i think the FUNNY comes in (not to mention the poor investigator that has to actually investigate this entire situation with photos and reenactments).....HA!

ah....if i could only show you the actual report w/ photos and comments. HILARIOUS.

but anyway.....

take a look at this photo:

notice WHERE the toilet paper is LOCATED. as it is in MOST public restrooms......

now take a look at this photo: see the toilet tissue dispenser? now imagine sitting on the toilet - doing your BIZ (i know Hallie is just love n' this right now....lol)

mmmmmmmmk?

so.....HOW does the TOILET DISPENSER fall on your head while you are sitting there?

anyone? anyone?

(i too will give out 736 bonus points to the person who can explain this to moi)

scroll back up and look at the photos. imagine the dispenser falling on your head.

how does one's head get UNDER the dispenser - where it is LOCATED.

yea.......right.....

this is what we deal with A LOT here, where i work.

lol you have no idea.....this is just a TASTE of it. [heheheheheeeee]

but seriously.... i even tried to go in the PUBLIC restroom here and recreate this situation. for the life of me, i can not figure out HOW any one's HEAD can get under that thing - while SITTING on the POT.....much less have it fall off and hit me (you) in the head?!?!?!?!

funny stuff sometimes i tell ya.

and this: is just something i thought was interesting and wanted to share with you.

this is one of the photos i found when googling public restrooms.....LOL

HAPPY SATURDAY KIDDOS!

Peace out \/ two fingers!

Be Blessed!

i flu you not

2008-02-27T11:41:00.006-05:00

omg. i have never been this sick, not for a very long time. this thing is ridiculous. shnookie doodles started with it last week around Tuesday. and just TODAY he seemed "well enough" to go back to daycare. granted he still has a runny nose and yucky cough, but the fever seems to have subsided. he actually ate some dinner last night. i started with it Thursday and i still feel like i am going to DIE.

i don't even know HOW i am back here at work today-functioning. my manager left as soon as i came in this morning, she has it now. ugh. i haven't eaten since Friday lunch, and even THAT i picked at. i have nibbled an apple here and there and have TRIED to make myself drink liquids. water makes me want to gag, anything soda like makes me want to gag - i have gotten some grapefruit juice & orange juice down....but that is about it.

granted i wanted to lose some weight, but not exactly like THIS. ugh.

this thing really REALLY sucks. i hate being sick. i hate being cooped up inside and not being able to go anywhere. shnookie doodles has been cooped up since last Wednesday, he was so bored with me the past 3 days, bored with his toys, bored with it all and into everything he was not supposed to be in. i spent all my time being sick chasing after him with no energy and no patience, made him sit with me on the couch as much as possible. mommy was so NOT any fun......poor little guy. he couldn't wait to get to school today. as soon as i unpacked his bag and was getting ready to tell him bye bye - he waved at me all SMILES, "bubyeeeee mommmmy".

translation: "Peace out Mommy, I so need some away time from YOU!"

so here i am, back at work. still feeling like CRAP. and of course my manager is out so i am having to figure out her stuff and mine and not fall out of my chair in a comma (oops coma as Hallie so nicely put....lol) because my sinuses ache, im dieing of starvation but im not hungry, my cough won't stop, and TRYING to keep myself dehydrated.

i don't know how some of you continued to blog through this horrible thing....it was all i could do to take care of shnookie doodles. it hurt to blink, it hurt to LIFT my head, it hurt to think, it hurt to change his diapers and keep him fed, it hurt to smile at him so he would think all was okay......whew.

needless to say i have sucked in blog blog land for the past 7 days. i hope you will forgive me, and thank you for all the well wishes!

sick

2008-02-21T15:03:00.016-05:00

yep, i feel SICK.....again.

(PLEASE DO ME A BIG FAVOR AFTER READING THIS BLOG AND READ MY NOTE AT THE VERY END OF MY BLOG IN GREEN- THANKS!)

shnookie doodles came home yesterday with a high fever and looking like he just felt absolutely miserable, poor little dude. i swear he has been sick more than he has been well since being in daycare (and thanks to daycare, mommy has been sick more than ever in her whole adult life, yay me) all shnookie doodles wanted to do last night was sit on mommy's lap and snuggle (as BUSY as he is, you KNOW he is sick then) baby boy was burning up and drinking a lot more than eating. in fact eating was more like nibbling. he didn't even want to eat his fruit, and THAT dude loves loves loves his fruit man.

if he could live off of strawberries, pineapple, bananas and mandarin oranges - he would.

so we were up all night and he was having chills, stuffy nose, coughing.....i hate that - wish mommy could just kiss all his sicknesses away, yanno.

and here i am at work, all of the sudden, coughing and can't stop, burning up, achy, head feels like it is going to burst and even my ears hurt and my eyes, and my teeth and my hair. my clothes hurt.

yep, sick.

doesn't matter though, i still have to do what i have to do. work, etc...

that is just how it is in the single mommy world. i am blessed that my parents are only 45 or so minutes away and are able to help out at times. and today was one of them, PAPA came and picked little dude up and took him to PAPA & GRAMMY's house for today and tomorrow. mr doodles was thrilled in a weak sort of sick but happy go lucky way. that little guy LOVES his PAPA & GRAMMY, he just can not get enough of them. although i will miss him sooooo much tonight, in fact KNOWING i won't see him when i get off work is already making me miss him something terrible. i am a SAP when it comes to that little munchkin, if he only knew how much he had mommy wrapped around his finger (s). yep, he has mommy whipped. [ha]

as for me, i have to apologize to my blog-a-licious bloggers for being more slack than the normal slack. work has been so ridiculous crazy busy and the personal non blogging part of my life has been bananas and then some.....i haven't had much time to HOP around and visit you all and read what i have been missing (bad a-licious, bad, bad, bad) so please forgive me (please Hallie Mama! please! please! please!) i promise to play catch up with you all!

so a little update on moi and the munchkin:

~we were going to move end of march - but now we are stuck for another 7 months in our teeny tiny 580 sq foot place. ugh. long story, but i am hoping to buy a townhouse in the next year for me and my shnookie doodles. i would love for him to have his own HOME and not have to move from apartment to apartment. that was cool when i was single and without child, but now - i just need to be more responsible. yes, me, a-licious....responsible. {quit smirking, i see you!}

[heheheheee]

~ i got a new cell phone, the LG EnV in orange. no idea how to work it yet, haven't had the time to sit down and figure it out. so im still using my old razor phone that will not stay charged for even 1/2 a second, and as soon as you get to the GOOD PART of whatever it is you were trying to tell me, my phone goes dead. crap.

my new phone above

~ working on cleaning out the clutter in our tiny place, because i just can not take it any longer, and since we are not moving to a bigger place (like i thought) i have got to do some rearranging and getting rid of stuff so this next 7 months won't feel to squoooshed & cramped.

~ other than being sick, shnookie doodles is just fabulous, he cracks me up and entertains me every day! he changes so much with every few days. if i ask him to throw something away in the trash - HE DOES! if i ask him to put his toys BACK - HE DOES! if i hold up a tissue he will take it and act like he is blowing his noes! (after he empties the entire box all over the floor, which he is very proud of doing) he now likes to clap his hands and yell YAY! if something falls or gets knocked over or isn't working the way he expects, he says UH OH! he can tell you where his nose, eyes, lips, ears and hair are. he helps mommy with the laundry! i am sure there are other things, it is something new every day it seems. he is just amazing i tell you, simply brilliant!

~ i am thinking of going back to school, online at night, just haven't figured it all out yet. (and you think i don't have time to blog now....ha)

~ i have decided since the weather seems to be getting nicer here and there, we will take more trips to the park and lake etc.....mr K (aka shnookie doodles) loves to be outdoors and i think we could do with a bit more of outdoors vs cooped up inside watching Backyardigans 24.7. (granted we play together and read and dance too)

~ even though it is hard for me, i have decided i need to at least once a month or so have a "A-LICIOUS DAY/NIGHT" without doodles. i know it might sound silly, but i love my time with him and hate being away from him and the whole idea of making a day or night like that makes me sad and seems hard to do.....but i think i need something for ME other than WORK - but any hoo , it is just a thought - we will have to see if i actually implement it in our schedule. [heheheee]

~ still very very very excited that my little sis is preggy (little as in YOUNGER than me not little as in Britney Spears's little under age nickelodean sister little, lol) she is about 12 weeks and i am just super excited! her due date is close to shnookie doodles birthday too (yay) and hey, i mean i doubt shnookies doodles will be getting any siblings at the slow rate i have been going (not to mention i am not even DATING anyone yet, lol) so having a cousin close in age will ROCK. although having a COUPLE cousins close in age to doodles would ROCK even more....hint hint hint uncle pickle juice and aunty mel (wink wink wink wink) - i can't wait to find out the sex of cousin bump (that is what i am calling him/her) you'd think this was my baby, i mean i already got in trouble for sharing the news before the expected parents did (bad a-licious, bad bad bad) OOPS - my bad! ;-)

~ and last, but never least - i am still harping on my weight and know i just need to do something about it instead of harping on it.

other than that guys, not much else. just work keep n me slammed lately and hard to blog (sigh). in case ya didn't know, i work for an Insurance Fraud Investigations Company - never a dull moment (so to speak) and it never, i mean NEVER slows down. my job itself could be a very interesting blog to tell one day.....for realzzzzz peeps.

so i am PEACE N' OUT for now........\/ two fingers!

A PS HERE - AND I WILL BE PSING THROUGHOUT MY BLOGS UNTIL APRIL 18, 2008

ON MY SIDE BAR ABOVE MY BLOG-A-LICIOUS BLOGGER LIST, I HAVE POSTED A LITTLE PIECE WITH A LINK TO MY MARCH OF DIMES/MARCH FOR BABIES FUNDRAISING SITE. I REALLY REALLY REALLY HOPE THAT YOU GUYS WILL HELP ME OUT WITH A LITTLE DONATION AND IF YOU LIVE CLOSE BY AND WANT TO JOIN MY TEAM AND WALK- LET ME KNOW AND I WILL GIVE YOU ALL THE INFORMATION!

MARCH OF DIMES IS VERY NEAR AND DEAR TO MY HEART. I HAVE BEEN PARTICIPATING IN THIS FOR THE PAST 4/5 YEARS. PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK AND READ WHY THIS CAUSE IS SOOOOO IMPORTANT TO ME AND MY FAMILY!

I REALLY REALLY REALLY APPRECIATE ALL YOUR SUPPORT!

I THANK YOU IN ADVANCE AND KAI THANKS YOU AND MY FAMILY THANKS YOU WITH ALL OUR HEARTS! ♥

XOXOXOXOXOXO

V day n stuff ♥ ♥ ♥

2008-02-14T10:02:00.030-05:00

YO MAN! YOU'RE IN MY VALENTINE SHOT!

RELAX! I'm JUST kidding.......

so it is the big V day.

i really am not that in to it.

i don't really practice V day.

i think it is more commercial than anything.
although the story behind it is pretty cool.

but for the heck of it, i decided to post in red & pink.

you dig that donchu?

[heheheheeeeee]

now i suppose IF i was dating someone and they were in to it - i could get in to it then - if i had to....but ONLY if i had to....but V day is def no biggy to me. i think people who care for people or have significant others, should practice V day all year round, not just one major day of the year, but that is just my personal 2 cents.

February to me, is more about Black History Month, and with my son shnookie doodles being mixed, i really would like for him to grow up KNOWING this part of his culture, in fact we have been playing this cool little "Famous African American Inventors" quiz at work and i thought i would implement it in my little bloggity blog here today.

HERE ARE YOUR CLUES:

(let's see HOW well you know your African American History)

1. This invention was created in response to a fussy customer, who is rumored to be one of the Vanderbilts.

2. The original name for the invention is named after the inventor's hometown.

3. The invention is sold all over the world in many different forms and flavors.

4. The inventor was a Native American/African American chef.

What is my name and what did I invent?

okay....so now let me see what ya got....heheheheeee!

now back to V day....i mean V day is always FUN for the kiddos, i mean in school i always loved V day (even more so than Halloween) i totally was dig n' the whole V day card thing for class, giving V day cards to my entire class and getting them back, and sometimes the cute boy would actually write something really COOL on my card or give me the card that had a special saying so that i knew i was his numero uno chica, oh yea, those V days rocked.

and the candy hearts????

lets face it - ADDICTING.....you can't eat just ONE.

♥

i will absolutely enjoy helping my son do V day as he grows up, in fact we made V day cards for his daycare class & V day party (woooo hooooo!) that was kind of fun - he even got a few valentines back from a couple of little babes, Abby & Alexa, how ya like those apples? my son is a rock star already! ♥

[heheeheeheeee]

(although V day does give good reason and excuses for eating chocolate for breakfast. i just had a Reece's Peanut Butter Chocolate Heart with my oatmeal. how'd ya like THAT?)

[yummmmmmm]

but in honor of V day for those of you who do practice it, i have posted a poem of mine that is somewhat fitting at the end of the blog. please do ENJOY!

and don't get me wrong here, i do have a valentine....

this was my valentine last year. ♥

and THIS is my valentine THIS year.

(teeth and all) ♥

quite the handsome dude isn't he? (i sure think so)♥

i figured i'd be a little more nostalgic today and post a bunch of recent photos of my little love, shnookie doodles, just to update you on how really FABULOUS he actually is....

and to those who DO go all out and celebrate V day - GO CRAZY!!!!!!!!!!!

(get flowered up, fill up on chocolate & wine, get naked & dance like no one is watching!)

(tee hee hee)

shnookie doodles got a big green valentine froggy from mommy for V day! :-)

my pouty face doodles.....lol

this past Sunday, eating gold fish crackers (shnookie doodles turned 17 months) at the park....

playing with toys this past weekend. doncha just dig the curly mo-hawk hes got go n' on!

bathtime last night.....we love our baths man!

♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥
♥

NOW FOR THE POEM!
♥
♥
♥
KISS

kiss my lips\/trip\/I want to sip\/you\/slow\/relax with my flow\/just know\/it is\/you\/me\/free\/just alone\/in my\/zone\/tone of your voice\/choice\/envelops my mind\/unwind\/lost in your time\/making you mine\/just for the time\/being\/seeing\/you in my face\/trace\/your smile\/awhile\/in a trance\/at first glance\/beauty exuding\/intruding my thoughts\/locked in your presence\/essence\/your soul\/whole\/untouched\/flushed\/my crush\/can’t think\/blink\/my heart sinks hard\/linked\/stalling\/falling\/enthralling for you\/meditate\/in your proximity\/limits me\/just in this space\/place with you\/solo\/blind from the vast\/majority\/important to me\/you feel\/how I be\/don’t look past\/see what I mean\/crave you close\/want you the most\/your breath on my lips\/close in on\/my hips\/minutes linger\/prevail\/past an hour\/devour\/your energy\/free my restraint\/collapse in your desire\/inspire\/my quaint thirst\/for your lips\/that just kissed\/my life\/impressed my soul\/ten fold\/apprehended\/from\/the start\/my heart\/you behold\/with\/just a kiss\/sprung\/got me hung\/closed eyes\/open\/hope n’\/real\/seal the deal\/with\/your embrace\/chase\/exploding feelings\/reeling\/look past\/the haze\/daze\/I am in\/awe\/lost in your\/maze\/rescue me from\/delirium\/trapped in your\/cage\/hesitate\/is this my\/fait\/wait\/kiss me\/again\/consume my\/position\/gnaw at my\/inhibitions\/show me\/flow with\/me\/that this\/you\/we\/bona fide\/ride\/undeniable\/reliable\/no diss\/no risk\/this\/just\/is\/a certified\/kiss\/
AEP © Copyright 2008

HAPPY V DAY KIDS!!!!!!

6 quirks

2008-02-11T10:58:00.000-05:00

okie dokie.....i have been TAGGED by Dianne!

6 quirky things about ME (about you).

what better way to start out a MONDAY?

so without further adieu!

here are the rules.....

Link the person that tagged you.

1. Post the rules on your blog.

2. Share six non-important things/habits/quirks about yourself.

3. Tag six random people at the end of your post by linking to their blogs.

4. Let each random person know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their website

5. Let your tagger know when your entry is up

So here goes it.....

1. i don't like to "handle" raw meat. i don't eat beef, pork etc anyway and seeing it raw gives me the heebie jeebies - much less having to touch it. shoot, to be quite frank-a-licious - i don't like it cooked either......E-yewwwwwwwwwww!

2. i am told by a close friend mack-a-docious and a few other friends (okay, okay EVERYBODY) that i make lots of quirky facial expressions on the regular. i can't get a way with beans. my face gives it all a way before i even say a WORD [crap!]. if i like something, don't like something, i think something is weird or funny, or if i don't get something right away, or i am trying to keep something from you...etc...i am told my face gives me away all the time [crap! and i like the word crap]! i am quite a goofy give away giver facial expressioner i guess..... go figure.

3. i don't like pedicures - giving or getting. you can have the prettiest feet in the world, and i will tell you so, but i still don't want to touch your toes. eeeeek. i actually used to be a nail-tech and i could not for the life of me do FEET.....now, i can do my own - because i can't stand having someone doing a pedicure on ME either....the filing grosses me out. (massaging my feet is OKAY though!) i can play with shnookie doodles feet & toes all day long, i can kiss them, and put them in my mouth without even thinking about it.....but then he is 17 months old (as of yesterday peoples) and that is okay, baby toes & feet ROCK!

4. my food can not touch each other. it just can't. i will walk around with 10 plates before i can let my food touch one another- if it does, by accident - i won't eat it. i will need a new plate and new food. (i know, i know the poor starving people in Africa my parents told me about my whole life....i will just give them my plate of food that is touching and i'll take a new plate, please)

5. if i am telling you a story (and they can be long, i am all about DETAIL people, i want you to feel like you were THERE in MY story as i am telling it to you)....so please listen up. i can not stand not being able to finish my story - via in person, cell phone etc....god forbid you loose your signal and hang up on me via mid-sentence. i will freak out. because i also can't remember what i was saying from one minute to another (via the post it note memory) so if you interrupt me or hang up on me.....frustration sets in. stress sets in from trying to get out what i was trying to say, or NOW trying to REMEMBER what i was trying to say..... and now i think you just didn't care what i was telling you to begin with. *insert pouty face here* i am kinda "bratty" that way. {smile, like you love me} oh.....and i repeat myself too (so i am told) so just listen people, okay?

are you listening?

let me finish tellling my story okay.....

i don't like not being able to finish.....

my story. i like to finish.

are you there? hello?

and last, but truly not least....

6. i get ready in a certain order (after washing).....i put my make up on first (and even if i have NO MAKE UP DAYS, i still have a little concealer & powder on, always), do my hair, brush my teeth, then get dressed. i also have a certain order i get shnookie doodles ready....change diaper (of course, a given) wash face and hands, brush teeth, put on lotion, dress him in his clothes, brush hair (the hair he does now have, lol), put on shoes. don't know if that is "quirky" but i also shave my legs a certain way {grinning} i always shave my right leg first, and i start outside IN. then my left leg, outside IN and then i do my knees last. [heheheeee] and a freebie ~ i have to eat my cereal BEFORE it gets soggy - the least bit soggy - i am done and i am over it, so over it i am NO longer interested in eating cereal and won't even go get more.....~

okay, so i don't know how entertaining that was for you all, but those were some of the quirky things that i could think of, with a little help from people who did think these were quirky things about me. i am so sure there are about 100 more...so maybe another blog, another time....LOL

so now i must tag some other bloggers, hummmm......duhdunnanannaa!

tag n Hallie - of course, you knew i would.....[heheheheeee]

tag n OhMommy - because she is adorable, and i know she has some quirky ISH up her sleeve.

tag n Santa Claus - because i love his blog soooo much!and wouldn't it be so much fun to hear HIS quirks?

tag n Zoe's Dad - because he is brand new to MY blog and i just LOVED his blog AND he is a stay at home Dada!

tag n' Queen of Mayhem - because she IS the Queen - duh! (and she is so darn cute herself!)

tag n i'd rather be blogging- because i too just lover her rambles....yay!

and tag n' one more EXTRA one - Mars - cuz she is my buddy & i miss and luv her....xoxoxoxxo

so there ya go PEEPS. start listing your quirky things! i am sure they will be WAY more entertaining then mine! [hehehehehehee]

peace n blessing.....

ps. i think i did pretty good considering darn spell check is STILL NOT WORKING.

post it note memory

2008-02-07T10:02:00.000-05:00

blew this one up just for you Hallie......lmao!

i have a post it note memory. no seriously, i do. it started with my pregnancy with shnookie doodles and it has just gotten worse. not only could i not see my shoes when i was preggy, but i couldn't remember if i had even remembered to put my shoes on. i put the milk in the cabinet and my keys in the fridge. i brushed my teeth with soap and brought the remote control with me in my purse to start my car, because the keys.....well shoot i didn't know where the heck they were. i would have forgotten my head if it wasn't attached, better yet i might have found it in some crazy place....like the laundry.

and yes, i am admitting this one. i once went to the bathroom without pulling my undies down. [uh....yes....i did....]

like you haven't?

i write notes to myself on post it notes....i guess i didn't feel the need to write THAT one down. "note to me: when using the restroom, remember to pull undies down WITH pants before peeing!"

{doh!} um.....yea. thought that was a given.

or not. in my case anyway.

who would have thought, that maybe, just MAYBE, a post it note posted on the wall in front of the potty saying, "don't forget to pull your undies down." would have helped me avoid a mess, an embarrassing encounter at that time. go figure.

luckily, i was at home when this happened, and no one knew.

until now......

and now, way beyond pregnancy....still no memory, or not much of one. i still post it note it everywhere and on everything. it is very hard to see what i am blogging about right now because of the bazillion post it notes all over my computer, they block half the screen.

i have post it notes here at work so i know what i need to be doing now for work, should do later, and better not forget in the future. i have post it notes posted on my checkbook to remind me what i need to buy, pay or spend. [heheheheeee spending is the best one] i have post it notes posted to my day planner to remind me what i need to be doing, where i need to be doing it at, and when i should be doing it.

i have all colors too. so i do have a very colorful memory. okay, well maybe not THAT colorful. more like a pastel yellow, pastel blue, green and pastel pink memory.

a pastel memory.

wow, after writing it out like that......how boring. i think i need some hot pink, flourecent green and electric blue memory.

do they make post it notes in those colors? humm......

i sooooo have a post it note memory. i can be walking somewhere to see someone or to do something, and forget where i am going or WHO i am going to see - or why? or i can be getting ready to tell you something and then my mind is blank, empty, abandoned, vacant.....depleted, like someone pushed the "erase memory button" and then......WTF? and i am just standing there with this dumbfounded look on my face, and people are walking by looking at me with sympathetic stares of [poor girl, is she lost? does she have issues? is she contagious?] and i just know it, or knew it.....that whatever i was going to say or needed to say or DO was major importanto!

geeeez louise!

(then i hear my mother in my hollow empty mind that just lost everything, say, 'if it was important honey, you'll remember it.")

oh yea?

right. so now i am in deep shananigans because that important thing i forgot that i would remember it IF it was important that i couldn't remember it after all even though IF it was important i WOULD remember 'thing' that i didn't remember even though it WAS important after all........crap, what was i saying?

where was i going with this......

heck if i know.

if it was important....i'll write it down later if i remember it.

so you see.....

i have a post it note memory and when i run out of post it notes.....i am screwed. or God forbid a post it note comes unposted and falls off of whatever i posted it on, lost in wherever post it notes go when they fall off their post it notes post - space! place? [eeeeeeeee gad!] then what??? i could be in the wrong place at the wrong time or i could be no where at the wrong place at the wrong time, doing the wrong thing or forgetting the right thing all because i couldn't remember to go there, or here, or wherever it is i should be at or going.....doing......did....done?

crap.

"note to self via post it note: memory does NOT come back after pregnancy. shnookie doodles sucked the memory right out of me and then some. so....buy more post it notes ASAP!

by the way, since you are here......i thought i would point out some yummy, talented blogs to check out....

Frank, he is a fav to read, found him so randomly that i have no idea how i actually found him, or i just don't remember because i didn't think to write it on a post it note [heheheheeee]...but love his blogs and hearing about his business ventures. he rocks!

Hallie, of course, because she whips me into shape in my bloggity blog blog land. and i just love her blogs as well, love hearing about her and her family and of course her butt and stuff......lol. i just know that if shnookie doodles and i lived close by, we would be knocking on their door visiting them often! [tee hee hee]

Scarlet Wanna Be, OMG, is a TRIP and then some, she is a MUST READ. not only is she drop dead gorgeous, she is funny as HELL-O! i can not get enough of her and Big Daddy. they CRACK me up, especially when i am at work reading her ISH and falling on the floor LAUGHING my bootay off (and clapping, she is a clapper too- HOORAY!) and my fellow co-workers think i am going nuts, "poor amy, mommyhood has done her in, she needs a vacation, crazy girl with all the post it notes." seriously though, Scarlett knows how to blog a blog....cleverly witty and stuff! if i lived close to her.....i so know we would be trouble!

Mommyblog is endearing and so well written. this adorable blog has been a fav for awhile. mommyblog is expecting her 2nd child and her first one is a DOLL- and i love love hearing all her fantastic tales. they also have a doggie Dudley- and shnookie doodles and i just love doggies.....Dudley has had some issues, so we are praying all is OKAY.

Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda is hilarious. another family i love to hear about, i feel like i know them so well. she is a freelance writer and her talented blogs are amazingly well written and are so funny and touching, i always go back for MORE!

and the best of the best....

Santa Claus Blog - rocks! OMG - this is the most clever blog ever, i think. i get to read about Santa all year long and hear about him and Mrs. Claus and all the elves, reindeer etc....who knew they had lives AFTER Christmas??? Ha! You have got to check Santa out.....REALLY!

now most of my blog-a-licious bloggers are moms - parents etc....(not all, but MOST) it is funny how you feel like you connect with all these people on so many different levels...

and those above were just a FEW favs.....i have a TON more....and will highlight them now and again!

YAY!

peace forward~be blessed!

oh. and PS stupid spell check would not work for me today in blog blog land, so if stuff is mispelled.....oh well. not my fault.

blog issues

2008-02-05T14:44:00.000-05:00

just sitting here today, working

my mind wandering (as usual)....

and i was thinking....{surprise right?}

is there a proper thing as "blog etiquette"?

humm……

like if someone comments on my blog, should I return the favor and comment back? i mean normally i do anyway, i was just wondering if that was proper or expected of bloggers in blog blog land? i mean i love to go read blogs, as many as i can squeeze in between work and mommyhood of course. i have quite a few regulars that i try to read on a daily basis (TRY being the key word, i get slack when my work load is crazy busy, which is a normal thing) or when people DO comment, should you comment back to them on YOUR blog or go to THEIR blog and comment back….i normally TRY to do both.

i sometimes even go back to some of my favorite blog-a-licious bloggers older blogs that i might have missed and comment on those, because i feel if i don't - i am missing out on something important or super funny!

but i have noticed.....

not everyone i comment on comments back or even comes to my page at all *insert sad face here* (although i noticed i happen to read some pretty popular bloggers, those that have 30 to 50 + comments) i am guessing they probably just don't have the time, i mean 30 to 50 + comments is A LOT of commenting and quite a big FAN network going on....

as Hallie likes to point out how slack i am about blogging....maybe i don't keep up enough with these pro-star bloggity blogging bloggers to be worthy of commenting back.....sigh. *insert poor me, let’s have a pitty party for a-licious face here* [heheheeee]

and there are AWARDS people.....YEP.....tons of them....i have seen them.....tons of blog-a-licious bloggers being AWARDED for their blogs by other bloggers....talk about pressure.....lol

[rock stars!!! of the rich & famous in blog blog land...................]

they probably don't have time to get back to little ole me, and the fact i don't blog daily like most people, maybe this throws them off or maybe, hey....i am just kinda boring cause i can't keep up with the daily bloggers.......hummmmm.

[me? boring!?!?! WHAT?.....nooooooooo way....]

maybe i just have issues.

i also get lost in blog blog land, i will be reading a certain blog and click on a name or link that is listed in their blog and read that blog that was listed....then THAT blog will have a link to someone else's blog, i will click that link and now i am in THAT blog.....and so on and so forth....and THEN....

i am lost forever....can't seem to find my way back....

where was i? what blog was i initially reading? whose blog? [ahhhhhh!]

back to my blog-a-licious blogger list and....

START OVER....[ugh]

another reason i have problem blogging regular, i am too busy trying to read other blogs AND WORK and take care of an almost 17 month old and work, and work, grocery shop, bathe him, bathe me, cook, play, shave, do laundry, work, work, more darn freaking work..........................blog?

i guess you could say i am very irregular.

i am an irregular blogger.

a little constipated.

do they have a blog award for that? i wonder.........

sometimes i START to blog.....but just can't get it to GO. [geeez i hate when that happens] talk about stopped up, yanno. i get a little...and then get nothin' [arrrrgh] or i get a little blog, but nothing worth posting. little blops here and there.....might as well flush it and start over, yanno. [hehhheheeee]

me (above) trying to blog daily.......

maybe i should try to pick a time of day and just......DO IT!

i am also a little ADD blogger, i can't sit still long or focus long on one thing (like blog jumping link to link on different blogs) or i start talking about one thing and end up talking about 5 things.....and end on an 8th thing and add a PS on a 10th thing......and then i am sure those people that DO read my blog are like......WHAT?!?!?!

"what is a-licious talking about? i am confused....i am lost. why do i come here? AHHHHHH!"

yep, i have blog issues…..

or i just think to much.

who knew?

[shoot, until this blog, i had no idea…..]

OH!

and can i just say i hate these things below?

what am i an idiot? because they NEVER work the first time for me....okay most of the time they don't work the first, second or third time......LOL

hip hop amy

2008-01-31T15:58:00.000-05:00

before i was a mommy i was pretty cool.

not to say that i am not cool now, just maybe a little out of practice. {wink}

i mean i have always been pretty dorky, but dorky in a cool way.

yes, that is possible. [heheheheheee]

before i was a mommy i came and went as i pleased, worked several jobs, worked out at the gym 6 days a week 2 to 3 hours at a time and i spent a lot of time at the night clubs dancing all night and staying out until the wee hours of the morning….spent any extra time and money shopping for new outfits to wear at my next club venture….

who was i before MOMMY?

my nickname was "Hip Hop Amy" then.

Hip Hop Amy, you say???

yea.....

a local dj here at the clubs gave me that nickname and it stuck for a very long time and people started to know me as this.

i was known for my baggy jeans and combat boots, little teeny tiny tops and rock hard abs, a silver belly chain (sometimes two) and my long blond wild hair bouncing to every beat my body did.

i was always asking the dj's to play MORE hip hop music so i could show off on the dance floor. so i “Hip Hop Amy” could do my thang.

i was a HAM. and then some.

yes.....before i was a mommy....i was QUEEN of the dance floor.

"Hip Hop Amy" was QUEEN of the CLUBS.

the baggier my jeans were and the farthest they could hang off my teeny tiny hips without falling off - the better....sometimes hanging on to a lovely pair of wild boxer shorts that poked out the top of them....holes in my jeans, funky jewelry, funky tops.....that was me...."Hip Hop Amy".

i was pretty hot. granted i still had my dorkiness but it was cool. i was cool. very cool. a dorky kinda hot cool that could dance like no one was watching cool and yet i jammed. i had little to no inhibitions about me then. when "Hip Hop Amy" hit the dance floor that was it. all eyes on her....uh....me.

then.

i used to break dance. seriously.

i did not spin on my head, but i could spin on my back and then pose, i could moonwalk and do a little robotic thing or to as well. I had this hip shaker thing we liked to call “the blender” – kind of like Shakira’s booty shake thingy. I used to tick too.

i used to know all the lyrics to every hot hip hop song out there. i knew all the new dance moves, and even made up my own. i could watch music videos all day and pick up the routines in a minute and then put a twist on it and make it my own. one of my fellow club dancers was a dance teacher (she still is and she is VERY good) recruited me and i taught a boys hip hop street funk class for a few years for little boys ages 5 -16. i used to bribe the little dudes with the "tootsie roll" dance if they did well all through class.....which they always did and they were always awesome. they loved that dance and so did their parents…..so much fun.

even they (the little boys & their parents) thought i was super cool. they even told me so. {cheesy smile}

yep....before i was a mommy.....i was hot. i was funky. i was cool. i was sassy. i was hip. i was "Hip Hop Amy"

i rocked it.

"Hip Hop Amy" was a legend in the clubs, i knew everyone, got in all the clubs for free, new the owners, dj's, bartenders etc....never had to wait in long ridiculous lines to get in anywhere. a friend of mine once said that "Hip Hop Amy" was such the schmoozer that i could run for president....now that would have been FUNNY. [hardy ha ha]

President “Hip Hop Amy” here to save the dance floor……

ummm hum....that's right.

i was really cute and i had some really cute boyfriends (that were a lot of really cute trouble, go figure) and i had a whole posse full of "clubbers" to go "club n" with. i did a local tv dance show called NB901 (we didn't have things like "So You Think You Can Dance" then) for about 3 years. i was the bomb-diggity. "Hip Hop Amy" was the shizzznit.

i used to be one of those people who jammed their music so loud in the car with my windows down that people would stare at me at stoplights, gas stations when i stopped for gas, pulling up at my apartment etc...because i was just soooooo cool....yanno. [not]

UmmmmHmmmmmm....so i was a pretty cool chica before "Hip Hop Amy" became "Hip Hop Mommy"......[heheheheeee]

i mean let's face it, club days are over, teeny tiny itty bitty tops are over, jeans sagging off my rear end with holes in them - so OVER and those yummy abs have been on a hiatus lately (but i will not allow those to be over, i am holding on to those, they will come back, they will, they will, they….will), 6 days a week with 2 to 3 hour workouts - OVER, my belly chain has SO retired, my mommy radar looks for more than "cute" in boyfriends now (and less than zero trouble i.e drama, games etc....) and unless you knew me in those "Hip Hop Amy" days...."Hip Hop Amy" ceases to exist....sure there are pictures, dance videos [yikes!], even a few pairs of old jeans that "Hip Hop Amy" designed with my very own scissors and saftey pins…tucked away for proof....but “Hip Hop Amy” lives on only in loving memory now….

[a moment of silence please……]

thank you....

now shnookie doodles and "Hip Hop Mommy" ....we have our own dance everynight.... to a little Backyardigans and a bit of Jack's Big Music Show....and i must say, we are pretty good dance pair!

i wonder what shnookie doodles will think of “Hip Hop Mommy” when he gets older…..

he will probably think mommy's music is old, mommy is such a corny person, and how in the world could my mommy have ever been cool?? and “Hip Hop Amy”??? are you kidding, what a cheesy name…..[ha]

and then i will break out my NB901 videos and show him a thing or two…..[heheheheheeeee]

...maybe.

interviewing

2008-01-23T14:43:00.000-05:00

interviewing....

i think i suck at it.

(not always, just now, lately....

in the past few years.)

i can always think of a 100 wittier things to say AFTER it is over....

or a 100 things i could have asked, or a 100 ways to have answered something better....AFTER i have left.

AFTER it is OVER. (ugh)

during interviews....i think i come off shy, soft spoken and not as out going as i actually am or can be. i mean i can be shy though and i do believe that this continues to be my downfall when interviewing. recently anyway, not always. i used to be much more confident and outgoing (and thin and cute and younger hehehehee) i know my ability to not UP PLAY myself is a neg and my shyness is a wet noodle and i know this because my confidence level sucks right now. because I AM a witty person, a fun person, a silly easy to get along with - yet hard worker, intelligent, fast learner, team player HAPPY - person.

i am.....really. {smile}

a mouthful.

again it all goes back to my weight gain issue AGAIN and i am not as social as i once was since i had shnookie doodles. so i feel like i am loosing my social butterfly skills i once had and was known for and wore oh so proudly. [double ugh with a twist of sighs]

slack huh?

i know.

interviewing makes me feel totally ungraceful and clumsy in a natural sentence sort of forming way.

make sense?

yea....whack huh.

plus sitting in a booth at Panera Bread (of all places) with the Interviewers right-right across from me, very very close to me....is kind of an intimate situation.

donchu think?

trust me.

i think.

i mean a booth at restaurant is CLOSE. a booth at a restaurant is a place you gather with family, friends, dates, co-workers even....people you somewhat know - right? a casual gathering, a some what laid back atmosphere.

but a booth during an interview...weird, weirdly CLOSE. and not casual at all.

uncomfortable. REALLY uncomfortable.

strangers.

i don't know these people who are sitting far enough away from me that i could actually reach out and pinch their cheeks...seriously.

and here they are sizing me up...CLOSE UP...

looking at the new zit that popped up on my forehead last night as soon as she called to say, "hey you have an interview tomorrow at 11am."

poof. zit. forehead. ahhhhhhhhhh!

hide me.

and now, here are the interviewers looking at my zit as they tell me what they expect from this person, what they want in this person that they are looking to hire....

i know they are looking at it.

the zit.

how can they not? i am only a mere few "pinch their cheeks and tell them how adorable they are" feet away from them.

[humm...maybe that would have landed it for me, you think?]

okay, maybe not.

ugh.

i did try to cover the zit this morning with my bangs, but my bangs of course wanted to comb towards the opposite side of my forehead, not the side where the zit stood....

yelling and waving at everyone he could,

darn zit.

i am so mad at him]

so there he was, he, the zit....and there they were, they. the interviewers.....

looking.

[hole in the floor? swallow me up please? now?]

not to mention just the whole start of this ordeal.

interviewing at Panera Bread?
(not for Panera Bread mind you, another {wonderful, i might add} company.)

"How will I know who they are? How will they know who I am?"

"They are two white men, one mid 30's, the other mid 40's or so. One has brown hair."

"Oh....well that narrows it down."

right....Panera Bread in one of the shmoozy white collar sides of town at lunch time, busiest time of day for Panera Bread.

sure.....that's easy to figure out.

are you kidding?

so talk about a a great start.

i arrive 10 minutes early.
it is packed [duh!]

i am scanning the large room.

two white males, early 30's & 40's one with brown hair.......uhhhhhh.

yep. lots of THOSE types. [geeesh]

so i am thinking, maybe THEY will see ME looking around the room like i dork. like i
am lost. like i need a home.

yea.....

no.

they did not.

now i did see THEM, but i didn't know it was THEM. they were engaged in a deep conversation (like most everyone in there with laptops, cell phones, business papers) sitting across from one another in "the booth" and they did not seem to be looking or waiting for anyone....nor did anyone else in there for that matter.

so, after scanning several times. i sit down at a little table by the door.

and wait and look. and look and wait. and look....look......wait.

wait.

i feel like a dork.

i look over at the table where i had seen THEM, but didn't know it was THEM. one of THEM gets up, a man in his mid 30's? (i did research their website {verrrry impressive} and there was a picture of the, i am guessing, the 30ish man with brown hair) this man had dark blond hair (at least that is what it looked like to me) he walked in front of me and turned and said, "amy?".

yes!

(finally, whew)

he was very friendly and nice (didn't look at all like his photo on the website)

but this already was feeling awkward....

from the start, yanno.

he walked me over to the table they had been sitting at (all this time) and introduced me to the 2nd gentleman who looked to be in his mid 40's. salt and pepper hair, nice smile.

we shook hands.

booth time.

really nice men, they were very enthusiastic. loved it. loved them. loved the concept of the company. loved the company.

(i know i fall too fast sometimes, hheheheee)

but

will they love me?

that IS the question, right?

they really didn't ask me too many questions, they more explained what they wanted and what the individual hired would be facing if picked. there were a few odd moments of silence (errrrrrrrrr.....)

i can def handle it. the gig. i can dig it.....

just don't know if i portrayed that ENOUGH to them efficiently or not......

i now draw a blank.

but....

my feeling....

ehhh.....

could go wither way.

because i suck at them....

INTERVIEWS.

in a modest self-doubting way of course.

so we will see.....

YAY

random ISH

2008-01-22T09:48:00.000-05:00

well here is some random ISH today....

we never really got our snow, we got a light dusting of it Saturday evening about 6pm (woo hoo, not) and it only lasted a couple hours and then POOF it was gone, and really what were we going to do with a light dusting when it was already dark outside and in no way was that even coming close to giving me a "snow day" away from work with my little dude....so looking up in the sky at the snow Gods - yea, gee....thanks for nothing! (and yes, to those of you who mentioned -40C and 6 feet of snow etc.....i hear ya, but i only wanted a day or 2 of the stuff and then for it to melt away the next day and Wha-La Spring would be here (right? isn't that how it works?)

right?

well that my bloggers - is my kind of snow and wintry weather.

and just to set the record straight, i am not a winter person nor do i really even like snow, i'd be happy living in Hawaii (or Fiji for that matter)

on a beach with the hot sun 24.7.

snow for me is just a "get out of work for the day (or two)" kind of thing for me, kind of like a child wanting to "get out of school" - and yes i was that kid too, 'pajamas on backwards down on hands & knees praying to the snow gods to pleeeeeeeeze bring me snow so i did not have to take that test i really didn't study for because i was there on my hands & knees praying for snow and not in the mood to study anyway" kid. surprised right? (not if you know me)

see, i am sending wonderful messages of slackness to my 16 month old already. [help!]

so enough about the non snow and my slackness.

shnookie doodles had his first dentist appointment about a week or two ago (and i am just now blogging about it, okay so we are discussing a little bit of my slackness still) so far so good, his teeth are coming in nicely and i was told the little gap between his top two front teeth (which is adorable at this age) was a good thing, this means his teeth will not be crowded. he has about 12 + teeth now.

and he can eat some food man!

brushing on the other hand- we go through the motions in the mornings and evenings where i let him hold the toothbrush and he thinks he is brushing them (more like sucking the baby toothpaste and water off the tooth brush and just twirling the brush around in his mouth) but hey he is getting the idea and the habit of it (i hope) but actual BRUSHING, good grief! who knew trying to pry his little tiny lips open when time for MOMMY to actually BRUSH them would be like trying to open a can of soup??

soup?!?!? why soup? well let me explain.....you know when you use the can opener and it doesn't quite open the lid all the way completely, and then you have to CAREFULLY try to pry the lid the rest of the way up on your own, with your fingers, without losing a finger?

yep, that is what i mean.....

(okay people this happens to me anyway)

and of course he crying like i am torturing him [aw]

poor little dude, but as soon as i give up he stops and smiles at me with that "i just love you mommy and you are all that and bag of cookies!"

(sugar free cookies mind you)

yes we do sugar free cookies, sugar free jello etc....NO juice except orange juice in the mornings (1/2 water 1/2 OJ) the rest of the day H2O and Milk. shnookie doodles LOVES fruit, he would JUST eat that if i let him. (occasional sweet things with real sugar are a treat) [boo! right?]

by the way the dentist (who was very cute (eh HEM, but young) and very good with my little dude) was very happy about that and very excited that i took the initiative to bring mr. shnookie doodles in at 15/16 months instead of waiting until he was 2. he said by then toddlers were already likely to start getting cavities. [yikes!]

as for the rest of my rambling ISH today....i am here at work, as usual....

these are not my coats and the walls are actually cream, go figure, but this is THE window. lol

i sit by this big window and catch myself gazing out of it every 5 seconds (not that you can see much but a bunch of trees and part of a house's back patio) but me and windows at work (or school) cause DAYDREAMING. wishing i was on the OUTSIDE. (ha) just ask my mother how many days she was called when i was in school about my "daydreaming"......{whistling}

i have a PILE of work to do today, and i am just not feeling it (but when am i ever). i sit in a cube with 3 other women and they like to whisper 24.7 (so annoying) so i basically mind my own biz. they seem to have their own "click" going on and act like it takes so much out of them to even say "hello or good bye" when i come in in the mornings or leave in the evenings. weird. but it doesn't bother me, i figure they have their reasons and i don't have time for the negativeness and it won't stop me from being polite and professional. we all need acts of kindness now and then, so that is mine to them DAILY. {smiling}

again, i have to give some major props to some excellent blogging going on....it takes me all day to get to everyone on my blog-a-licious blogger list, but i love it and i am so not complaining! the list grows every time i go to someones blog, i see a catchy name and i am like"hey wonder what their blog is about?" and then i am off to investigate, or a better term is blog hopping as one talented and clever dad - pointed out. he started a weekend blog hopping group and i loved his selling points for this awesome idea (which i totally joined their party by the way)

1. you are a parent and have no life

2. no time to club hop anymore so you blog hop [woo hoo]

i am so down wid it.

you will have to check this dad out if you get a chance.

(i personally just love meeting new people.)

now back to me, i am still trying to do better in blog blog land and blog more. (winking at Hallie who let me know in an ever so sweet (bribing me with money) sort of way, that my blogging is not enough and i am very slack) [ha]

so here i am....today....blogging some ISH![yay!]

other than blogging, i am trying to write more poetry (i am going to link the heck out of my latest poem until more people read it heheheeee) i used to write poetry daily, now if i do it monthly, i'm doing good. i would like to turn a lot of my stuff into music (one day).

so....i still need to lose weight (arrrgghhh, i am way past saying i just had a baby) face it shnookie doodles is 16 months, i don't think that "i just had a baby" works as well anymore. {wink} i am trying to eat better and do a little exercise at home....but with me....i need to be in the gym to really be motivated.

my back (that was out during the holidays) is feeling SO much better now [hoooray!] and i am able to get down on the floor (and get back up) and be shnookie doodles human jungle gym and fly him around the room singing "super kai" dunuhnuhunuhununanaa....

OH! and i can dance with him to Jack's Big Music Show now (shnookie doodles loves that i get up and dance with him).

other things i am trying to do better at....like keeping in touch with people, work on my procrastination bug i seem to get often, digging more into my spirituality and looking for a new place to live (our lease is up end of March) we will either do another apartment for a bit or possibly looking into owning a townhouse, not sure just yet. (but i need to hurry) right now we live in this teeny weeny tiny place and shnookie doodle's toys are taking over!

and because who knows who might be reading my blog.....i am doing other things as well to secure a little bit better future for my little dude and me {wink} will fill you in on that as it happens {smile} and hopefully i will be going back to school and taking some night classes in the Fall.

(my sis is off today to DC for a bit (a couple months or so) to help out some family members we love DEARLY that are going through a very hard time right now. i will miss her so much, but she is such a sweetie pie and this is such a wonderful thing for her to do. D&D are in our prayers DAILY and if you are reading this D&D WE LOVE YOU GUYS AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

so my plate is normally pretty full. being a single mommy with a 16 month old, it never really empties, but that's OKAY because I am SO Blessed (and yes, i do have to remind myself of that here and there at times).

full plates are good though!

Peace Forward~Unlimited Blessings!

no snow???

2008-01-17T10:00:00.000-05:00

no snow???

darn it! we haven't had any good snow since 2004 and i was really hoping for snow today (those of you who get tons of snow like it is in your yearly contract with the world are probably cursing me right now) but i really wanted to get out of WORK and stay home in my pj's, get cozy with a hot cup of chocolate and my shnookie doodles and veg out - plus i would love to see how he reacts to the white stuff this time around - last year he was only 4 months old and we only got a teeny tiny bit and he just stared as mommy put him in his car seat and sat him outside in the middle of it to take his picture, i know "poor little guy has a dorky mommy" right? [i plead the 5th on that one]

shnookie doodles first snow January 2007.

4 months old

[i am also not admitting that i have taken a picture of every second and every breath of shnookie doodles 16 months of life, eh hem]

actually anything to get out of work and spend more time with my little guy is what i am all about. [oh yea] but unfortunately being a single mommy and running this show solo, we just don't get a lot of that "time"

, bills to pay & diapers to buy [hooRAH].

i do envy SAHMs. {smile}

hum....imagine all the blogging i could do if i was

a SAHM?!?!?!?! [woo hoo!]

OKAY....so....i have noticed a lot of my new found fav funny fearlessly talented bloggers in blog blog land blogging daily. [say that a couple times fast]. even those that are NOT SAHMs seem to get their blog n' on daily and MAN there really are some seriously clever HILARIOUS blogs out there....

i feel like i need to step up my blog game....

i do think i am doing much better than i was, i am at least trying to get a blog or two in a week. [yay me] i am even trying to get to all the blogs on my blog-a-licious blogger list and read them all so i can comment daily (addicting i tell ya) - although i do get side tracked because i will see someone with an interesting name or comment on one of my already blog-a-licious blogger's blogs and go to their page and then WHALA....i have a new blogger to add to my list and more to read - whew! [geeesh] cause yanno i am so sure if i don't get over to all these gifted people daily they will ALL be wondering, "where is A-Licious? why hasn't she been here today,

why hasn't she commented?" {chuckle}

in my dreams....

/dork!/ ...... i said i plead the 5th on that one.

poetry is actually easier for me, but i really haven't been doing to much of that lately either. i was thinking of doing a separate blog just for my poetry and linking it to this one when i actually poetisize (you like that, doncha) something. i used to be a daily "blogger" on yahoo 360 back before i got preggy with shnookie doodles. i actually had a pretty big "fan base" - i miss

that. 360 was actually a nice little community of bloggers (aka writers), lyricists, and poets, the only problem with 360 is that they like to micro manage your writings and if they saw something they didn't like (whoever they were) - they would just delete it with no notice or anything, and being an ARTIST OF THE WORD myself, i just thought that was plain rude. [sticking my tongue out with a raised eye brow at 360 and shaking my fist]

take that 360 ....lol

so....here i am.

i moved on over here to blogspot because one of my very close friends Mars had been posting her lovely and very endearing little blogs over here for quite sometime in blog blog land (before our adorable little ones made their debut into this crazy world here) and i was very taken with it so i started Living Out Loud in May 2007. {smile}

i am very random if you haven't noticed, the way i write is the way i speak, live and love (and complain lol). scary? maybe.....depends on who you are. (heheheheeee) my poetry is the same.

so anyway.....snow.

WHERE ARE YOU!?!?!?!?!?!!??!?!?!!?
mommy wants to go home and play!

peace forward ~ be blessed

I just love all you bloggers out there!!! {wink}

blog what

2008-01-11T13:05:00.000-05:00

okay, am i a total dork or what? <dork!> i honestly had no idea how addicting blogging could be?!?! i have been surfing blogs more recently (notice my awesome blog-a-licious blogger list) - mainly finding bloggers by other blogger's pages (how networking of me). who knew?!?!? man, i tell you, there are some VERY talented people out there, from writers to photographers to artists - who knew blogs could be so entertaining? now i personally love to write (wish i had more time for it actually) - albeit I am probably not the best writer [especially now that i have witnessed some extremely talented writers in my blog-surfing ventures] i am by far a way better POET (is 'way better' correct grammar? um er uh....see what i mean) than a writer, but with poetry you can get a way with forgetting all about the little writing things like (uh) oh punctuation, spelling, capitalizing, not to mention you can make up your own words, if you want. basically you don't have to follow any major writing rules [i guess].

so......

i am probably a TAD bit better poet than an actual writer, per say. i have to say though, after reading so many talented blogs out there in blog blog land, i am now feeling very inspired to write more (of course, then i sit down here to write something witty and i'm like DERRRRR, go figure).

just see my latest poem below in the past blog vs. just random writings (like this) and you will see what i mean [doh!].

i mean most of my blogging has just been about shnookie doodles, he is my main material these days and pretty darn entertaining material he is, if you ask me.

[at least i think so]

shnookie doodles (above) (in case you didn't know from him being plastered all over my blog) (and notice he loves MOMMY, hehehehee that's my lil man!)

but seriously, if you have some time and want to read some talented ISH i would def check out a few of these folks: Oh The Joys (omg she is HILARIOUS and so talented) Mommy Blog (another super duper talented mommy blogger) All Adither (so talented with a great sense of humor - love it) just to name a few. there are so many others i have come across but those have been some favs so far!

so please go enjoy! ;o)

oh and i must give a shout out to Sheri (another very talented writer and her blogs are so informative) for explaining to clueless me how to LINK someone on my blog [YAY!] i am so quite proud of me right now!

peace forward ~ be blessed!

OH!!! and dig this below!

got to love that right?

sweet tooth

2008-01-08T17:20:00.000-05:00

sweet tooth

candy cane kisses in a milky snow blizzard cream
swirling concoctions of delicious sweet peppermint morsels on my lips
experiencing sugar overload from thoughts of
moon drops drizzling across my face and I see decadent fragments that come together in colorful m&m pieces
a polychromatic union of marshmallow manifestation in a milk chocolate Hershey bar s'more graham cracker vision
I exhale and breathe in vanilla and cherry vapors tumbling into my liquorish senses of taste

fresh strawberry preserves jam to a dancing peanut butter sexy tango
missile toe manifestation leave kisses of no obligation and hearts invest in all pie of lemon meringue
dipping my inhibitions in streusel and swimming in silk chocolate frosting
that ripples in between my daydreams and out into my life
on a sugar high my mind travels across tantalizing mountains of apple crumb cake and ice cream caves, surfing valentine heart candy waves

peach cobbler beaches with coconut raindrops
getting lost in 7 layers of delectable whip cream clouds
gumdrops hugging the inside of my cheeks and mouth singing sweet tarts into my reality

and waking up to a mixed candy fruit flavored edible rainbow parfait with
semi-sweet tang on the tip of my tongue in a titillating tingle tied up in a reverie of palatable explosions that
drift off into an orange cream exuberant embrace of gooey melancholy caramel with a sugary glaze leaving me in a daze of twisted peaceful pecan clusters
over dark bittersweet chocolate covered cherry bliss with just a taste of butterscotch pudding gloss on my lips in a kiss of i love you delish

i am

2008-01-07T16:06:00.000-05:00

i am

working: WORK (of course) and trying to get back into my poetry writing

reading: the purpose driven life (again) and the bible

recording on dvr: gossip girl, dance wars, october road, desperate housewives, celebrity apprentice

tv shows anticipating: LOST, The L Word, So You Think You Can Dance (again)

looking forward to: moving to a bigger place at the end of March, better finances, a new cousin for kai!

missing: my grandparents, my brother& sis in law, kai's complete dependence on mommy, being IN love

over: kai's father's selfishness (or trying to be over it), presidential campaign

sick of: my weight and feeling BLAH, all the crazy sad news on tv, politics

loving: God, Jesus, my family, my child and my child's enthusiasm for the simple things in life

appreciating: my blessings, my freedom, my child's love for me, getting to be kai's mommy

i borrowed this from Mars (hope she doesn't mind) smile.

happy new year

2008-01-01T01:12:00.000-05:00

happy new year

2008 is here, hard to believe. time really does fly - too fast.

i spent tonight with shnookie doodles - we ate take out, baked cookies and watched Jack's Big Music Show at least 15 times and then watched Dick Clark's show in Time Square, haven't done that in a while....unfortunately my lil man didn't make it to midnight - he fell asleep on mommy's lap clapping to fergie...lol...guess the cookies and milk did him in. ;o)

i am not making any "new years resolutions" - i normally don't. i just know that there are things i need to do, have to do and should do and want to do.....and i will do them in my own time - and that works for me. :o)

tonight was nice, peaceful and quiet and filled with my son's laughter and giggles and toys all over the place, his show Jack jamming in the background and the smell of fresh baked cookies.....who could ask for more?

i am BLESSED!

HAPPY BLESSED 2008 to ALL!

peace forward~blessings! xoxox

christmas and things

2007-12-27T10:23:00.000-05:00

shnookie doodles on grammies lap

& playing with his house...christmas and things

i have to say all in in all christmas was a blast! i will post christmas pictures in the next blog.

back at work today, wish i could have been off all week - but that was just impossible. my brother and wife will be leaving back to Illinois on monday - sad to see them go - wish i had more time with them. they are hoping to move back here and be close by - but they have a lot to do before they can actually do that. aunt mel and uncle pickle juice are absolutely amazing with shnookie doodles! he adores them! and their two lovely puppies sophie and gus. i think shnookie doodles was a little overwhelmed with all the family and gifts - but he loved it. he def got a lot of attention & racked up in the gift area!!! :o)

i spent christmas eve early day in the emergency room where my parents live, i have been having horrible back pains and spasms that run down into my legs - by christmas eve i could barely move - much less walk. they gave me some meds and i finally feel much better today. i am supposed to get up with my doctor and have an MRI done. i guess we will see - the emergency room thinks it might have been my sciatica nerve. i have never in my life had back issues before now- we are guessing it all stems from the pregnancy last year????? and what sets it off is....STRESS!

i have to say - so many wonderful blessings to be thankful for this year. God, my child, family, friends, jobs, little finances that pop in just when we need them (sometimes) and all the little things we receive every day and take for granted (roof over our heads, food, car to drive, the fact we WOKE up....)all in all it has turned out to be a pretty good year- we have had quite a few bumps & struggles in the road this year - plenty of "trials and tribulations" - but so far- so good. :o)

i hope everyone had a wonderful christmas & has an unlimited BLESSED 2008!

i will post more on christmas later w/ photos!

peace forward~~be blessed!

just stuff

2007-12-20T12:33:00.000-05:00

just stuff

it has been a crazy 7 days. i was laid off on Friday and picked right back up by the end of the day because a co-worker put in her 2 weeks after i was let go (talk about WHEW). so i came back in on Monday to a different dept. and too top it off there was a lot of rearranging going on. people being moved to different departments, upstairs going downstairs - people from the other bldg moving to our bldg. upstairs. i was one of the upstairs people and now im downstairs. so this morning was spent moving everything UP-->down.

i am not to sure how i feel about the whole thing, but i know that i am BLESSED that i didn't lose any time and STILL have a job. another thing that i just KNEW i had - Monday i was told i didn't have it - ugh- so that really upset me, and the type of person i am, i am obsessing over it trying to figure out WHY...... i just need to move fwd and KNOW that God just has something better planned.

well 5 more days to Christmas, i can't wait. ready to veg out a little and spend time with my family and play with shnookie doodles. i have to finish up MOST of my Christmas shopping tomorrow evening and then bake all night - head out to mom's Saturday sometime..... i can't wait to see my bro and sis in law they will be here for the Holidays - a def treat. and to top the treat off, Christmas Eve will be spent with a lot of family LOVE and i so enjoy these times, all the family (or a bunch of us) hanging out together under one roof - that is the most important to me...gifts & good yummy food are cool but don't come close to La Familia. we are doing a white elephant gift exchange after dinner along with our regular gift exchange - although this year that has changed up a little bit too. instead of getting EVERYONE a gift - we drew names for a MAIN gift, a GAG gift and a STOCKING. i would tell you who i got, but they might be peeking - so i will fill you in after the event!

on a shnookie doodles note - he is OVER the rash thing but now has bronchitis and will be monitored for asthma. we don't have asthma on our side of the family and i can't get a hold of his "father" to find out if he has it anywhere on his side of the fam. (surprise, not) hopefully he doesn't have asthma. even being under the weather, that little dude is as busy as can be - he is so entertaining to watch because he totally amuses himself. we tried sitting on Santa's lap at a work potluck, but he wasn't having it - although he got a nice big fluffy-stuffed puppy out of it.

well work is still calling and im trying to get back into the swing of things......i will update more later!

Peace Forward ~ Be Blessed!

darn daycare

2007-12-12T10:26:00.000-05:00

darn daycare

my babe is sick - again....geeeez. i seriously hope by the time he hits kindergarten that he is the healthiest kid in the class - considering he is always getting something from daycare! don't get me wrong, i think daycare is really awesome for his social skills etc....building his immune system - but good grief....sometimes i feel like he is sick more than he is well. no sooner has he just got over a slight ear infection and pneumonia in his left lung - i get a call from daycare to pick him up NOW because he is covered in a rash of red dots and high fever (arrrgh) poor little dude. so now he is out another week.....supposedly another baby in his class was sent home the week before with the same thing and because shnookie-doodles was just getting OVER pneumonia his immune system was down and he caught that too.

my parents have him this week because they live almost an hour a way and i just can't miss any more work.....so i have been without my little man since monday afternoon - my first time being away from him over night - much less a whole day. he will most likely come back tomorrow evening (grammy says he is looking much better) but man oh man i miss him like bananas! i found myself sitting in my living room the other night just looking at all his toys neatly put a way and listening to how quiet it was....i used to be solo before i had him so you would think this would be no big deal, but shooooot - i miss that little dude - i miss watching 'jack's big music show' over and over and over and over and watching him get all excited watching it and dancing, clapping, singing to it. playing all his noisy toys at one time and listening to him just babble a way at me.....just not the same with out him......sigh

so.....other than that - just trying to get ready for Christmas and "stuff" brother (uncle) pickle juice and sis in law (aunt) mel will be spending the holidays with us all...and i sooooooooo can not wait to see them! :o)

be blessed all!

encounters of many

2007-11-16T15:12:00.000-05:00

encounters of many

i was sitting here thinking today about all the people i have encountered and all the people i have experienced….

i honestly have met a multifarious of people and befriended SO many of them in my life. so many interesting, fun, funny, silly, crazy, courageous, intelligent, mysterious, classy, classless, popular, unpopular, famous, quiet, wacky, shy, breath taking, handsome, beautiful, quirky, memorizing, plain, magical, cool, peaceful, loud, sporadic, spontaneous, wonderful, touching, simple, mean, meaningful, jealous, non spiritual, truly spirited, bothered, charismatic, sinful, hilarious, talented, sensible, sexy, sassy, full of life, adventurous, sad, whimsical, witty, entertaining, boastful, uplifting, strong, proud, holier than thou, humble, admirable, loving, outstanding, sweet, undeniably caring, phony, authentic, selfish, controversial, conservative, flashy, unselfish, insecure, uptight, wanna be, hysterical, chilled, child like, peaceful, mindful, totally relaxed, respectful, disrespectful, amazing, lost, graceful, clumsy, chatty, vivacious, animated, irksome, engulfing, liberated, closeminded, politicly correct, random, charming, unaware, conscious, facinating people….

and so on and so forth…

i have indubitably come across an amazing assortment of people in my life time. i miss so many of them, and some i wish i could see more often - while some i just wish them true bliss and happiness and peace. i realize how truly blessed i am that i got to experience so many different flavors of people (so far) in my 35 years of life. some good, some not so good - but i know i crossed paths with every single one of them for one reason or another. i believe each and every one of them have all helped me figure out WHO i am, in one way or another, all these people have helped mold me into who i am….

today anyway….

whether it be past or present or possibly the future - some challenged me, some excepted me, expected me, some loved me, some consoled me, some pushed me, some rushed me, some guided me, some betrayed me, some waited on me, some waited for me, some tested me, some admired me, some confused me, some hated me, some laughed with me, some cried with me, some had a blast with me, some denied me, some forgot me, some remembered me, some looked up to me, some looked down on me, some forgave me, some knocked me down while some others helped me back up, some moved me, some overwhelmed me, some taught me, some road right along beside me, some filled my heart, some broke my heart, some grew up with me, some moved away from me, some moved closer to me, some complimented me, some compromised me, some excited me, some belittled me, some equipped me, some showed me the world through their eyes, some brought pure joy to me, some brought stress, some comforted me, some infuriated me, some calmed me, some inspired me, some replaced me, some welcomed me, some made room for me, some brought tears, some brought smiles, some brought faith, some brought hope, some brought peace, some brought wisdom, …..but sadly….MOST have moved on – without me – and me without them....

for one reason or another

but that’s LiFe….

there are very few still around me in touch, in contact and i know i will always meet new people and those people will make new marks in my life as well, and the ones still in my life will continue to have their places in my heart and the ones that i might have forgotten, but remember now and then if only for a moment – are still there, deep inside my mind, my heart and my soul….

forever

if i sat down and wrote a list of these wonderful, touching, important characters in my life, it would probably take me another 35 years just to get them all down perfectly and tell EXACTLY what they ALL meant or mean to me or how they prepared me for ME.

so if you are reading this….i BET you are one of them….in one way or another…you have affected me…and made me who i AM right now, today…..at this moment.

thank you….

smile & be blessed

super kai

2007-11-14T14:44:00.000-05:00

super kai

to save the DAY.......and I must say - he always does save MOMMY'S day! ;o)

my little big boy (picture show)

2007-10-30T16:59:00.000-04:00

2007-10-30T16:35:00.000-04:00

my little big boy

i just can not believe how much he has changed since his first birthday that was only just a month ago! unbelievable! he is an absolute delight to have around, to observe and most of all to LOVE. he is so beautiful.....in fact i think everyday he is more beautiful than the last. he makes me light up, he makes my parents light up, he makes the room light up, in fact i think he makes the whole PLANET light up......yes, i am a very proud proud mommy....if you couldn't tell.

life is so beautiful now, even the clutter and snug-ness of our teeny tiny apartment (and i mean teeny tiny - knock down the walls and it would be a very small (less than 500 square feet) studio) the scattered toys all over, the goldfish and puffies i find constantly in varias places around the floors, the constant "no no's" that are part of my daily vocabulary now, the sometimes sleepless nights when my mr shnookie doodles doesnt feel well and can't sleep, the stress from finances, the non existent social life i used to be so busy with......i wouldn't change any of it for the world.....nothing compares to having this blessing, this GIFT that God has graced me with.....

he is walking now, started doing it positively SOLO last Wednesday (uncle pickle juices 29th birthday actually - talk about great minds....) and he is so darn CUTE....deliciously CUTE....ridiculously CUTE....he walks like a little old drunken man....wobbly and all. everyday he is becoming more and more confident in his travels and i am cheering him on! i tell you i fall in love with him more and more everyday - even more than the day he was born - if that is even possible.....God must think something really wonderful of me to BLESS me with this incredible child, i have to pinch myself every day and make sure im not dreaming....i mean this yummy little boy calls ME (yes, can you even believe it....ME)........MOMMY.

amen & then some yanno........wow.

don't call me no mo' - don't text me no mo'

2007-10-18T13:05:00.000-04:00

♪♪ don't call me no mo' - don't text me no mo' ♪♪

"cuz i'm through whicha - cuz i'm through whica"

are they kidding? LOL

if this is the NEW song - then please someone hand over a pen and a piece of paper QUICKLY and let me jot down a little DITTY for you!!!!

toooooooooooooooooooooooo funny (or maybe sad?) LOL

rambles

2007-09-28T15:23:00.000-04:00

rambles

here is my shnookums, he is now 1 and i just can not believe how the time flies. this picture was on his first birthday a few weeks ago - after the cake- waiting patiently for mommy to clean him up. he is just SO beautiful. i love everything about him, i can't even pick just one thing.....it is just not possible. everyday he changes, i catch myself just sitting and watching him for hours - and he doesn't even know what i am doing. he is amazing to me - he is like a sponge and is learning something every minute of every day. i had no idea it was possible to love someone THIS much - no matter how cranky he gets (which is rare for him) no matter how many times he pulls my hair or yanks my earrings out (ha) - i can't even remember much of my life before i had him - i mean i can - but it seems so long ago now- and i wonder- why had i not had him sooner? boy was i missing out! :o) he was so much fun at his birthday, half the time not even knowing what was going on and other times very intrigued by what was going on....

my gf said looking at her daughter everyday was like the very first day the doctor put her daughter in her arms for the very first time.....and i can so relate to what she was saying.....

every morning is like Christmas with shnookums, awaking to see the new surprises of the day- and enjoying every minute i have with him....i truly cherish him and our time together. when i get off work i can't seem to go pick him up at daycare fast enough, i miss him SOOOO much throughout the day.

i thank God everyday all day for this wonderful child he graciously blessed me with.....there is truly nothing BETTER in this world than being his MOMMY.

enjoy some birthday pics.....