My new favorite photo

This wast taken on Christmas Eve. Macias was handed down his daddy's (Morgan's) trench coat and hat from when he was a little boy. It also got Morgan the nickname "The Little Professor" which he lives up to today.

This shot was taken as Macias was running around in the back yard and stopped to pause to show us the beautiful glory of the forest. It is just so hilarious. I could come up with a million captions for it such as:

1. Please, won't you join me
2. And here we have the forest just beyond
3. Why Watson, can't you see what I see? It's right there in front of you
4. And...a new car!!! (Price is Right theme playing in the background)

Christmas Card

Because I can't possibly afford to send everyone a Christmas card, please accept the cyber version below and know that even though you don't fit in my wallet, you are with me in my heart!

xmas2010

Sparkling Scarlet Snowflakes Christmas

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View the entire collection of cards.

In Season

Yesterday we took Macias to Holiday Farms, a local farm about 30 miles away that has a pumpkin patch, food and festivities (not to mention a petting zoo and hay ride) for the kids. He's still too young for a lot of the activities, such as the bouncy house, although I'm not entirely sure I ever want him in one of those, but he had tons of fun throwing a football through a tire (from close range) and picking out his very own pumpkin from the patch. The hayride (no actual hay) to the pumpkin patch left from their barn which housed the petting zoo. Macias touched a bunny and was enthralled with the ducklings and the pigs (no actual petting of the pigs or large animals took place).

We brought the two pumpkins home and painted them. I was able to snag a photo before all mayhem broke loose, including tears, screaming and throwing (the actual pumpkin). He still thinks they are balls.

Back in Business(es)

When we last spoke I was running a bit of a bad luck streak. In 12 hours a week and a half ago that all changed.

I was called by my former boss, told about a job opening, called the company hiring, had an interview the next morning and was hired on the spot.

It's not with an architectural firm, but it is with a national/corporate company that has a construction department. I am a project manager in charge of all of their signage for their stores. I have about 130 projects that I manage altogether, but only about 12 store openings a month. I started last Monday and man did it keep me busy. I'm still learning the ropes, but I hope this job will be a good learning experience, not to mention looking good on my resume when the architecture profession/jobs picks up (hopefully in the next few years).

In the mean time, since I don't work for an architecture firm, this allows me to have the opportunity to work on the side and not have a conflict of interest. This will also help feed my desire for design.

I present to you:





I have opened a business and will hopefully be picking up design work to keep me busy (ha! - mix in a full-time job and a 16 month old and a husband).

So, I've gone from a completely unemployed, stay-at-home mom to having a full-time job and running my own business on the side.

"There are 24 hours in the day - if you don't have enough time...work nights!"

Easier Life

Because sometimes you just need a theme song.

Thank you

Thanks to all of our friends and family for their well wishes for our family and Macias' health. We went back to the doctor today for his post-op and they removed the drain and gave him a thumbs up. The doctor said everything looks great.

Thank you especially to Jayna for the beautiful flowers, Heather for the yummy lasagna, garlic bread and cake, and Justin and Megan for the wonderful fruit basket and balloon. Macias sure is loved. He's a very lucky boy, and we are very lucky to have him.

Seriously?!

Morgan and I bought Macias a small play/swing set at Toys R Us today. After he went to bed we went outside to assemble it, only to find that it was missing a major part and of course is needed in step 1. The company isn't open until Monday and then I'm sure it will take 10 business days to get the missing part.

What is it going to take to get a freakin' break this week?

I Have Enough Character, Thank You

All my life I've been hearing "It builds character", whenever I would fall on hard times, little or big.

After all of our ordeal Monday and Tuesday with Macias (ongoing I should add)...I lost my job today.

I have enough damn character. Enough.

Surgery

The LONG....... story short:

Macias went to see the pediatric surgeon and was admitted to the children's hospital so that they could drain the abscess and insert a tube in it for further drainage. It was a fairly traumatic encounter for Macias and since they consider it surgery he had an IV and was sedated so it wouldn't be as painful.

The IV was hard to take for us (the parents), but after seeing what they did to him in surgery (they were able to do it in the room we were in so we could stay with him) we are happy he was sedated and didn't feel much.

It was a very long day, especially for Macias. No food or drink since 7am and he didn't end up having the procedure until 4:30pm. And that all happened without a nap as well. He was such a trooper through the whole thing and is now sleeping soundly in his own bed at home which we are very happy about.

It will still take time to drain fully and heal all the way, but hopefully the hardest part is over.

The silver lining is that Macias got TWO orange popsicles for his trouble which he devoured on the spot. All the nurses and doctors were really great, I think it helps since they are a pediatric unit so they work with little kids all the time.

Now that we have the medical stuff out of the way it's time for the insurance battle (another time) which took us in circles and cost us about 2 additional hours of jumping through hoops and possibly thousands of dollars. Thanks insurance! Why do we even bother?!

A call for HUGS

This past Sunday Macias contracted a MRSA staph infection in a small rash bite from a viral rash he had located in his groin area. On Monday morning it was much worse. We went to the doctor Monday morning and they drained it (very painful). He is on two types of antibiotics and Motrin for the pain and very high fevers and chills.

We have had to soak him in hot baths and try to drain it some more which is horrible for him. He is in a lot of pain right now.

We had a follow up appointment this morning and we are being referred to a pediatric surgeon. We go in today at 12:30pm in Savannah. We're not sure what's going to happen. He could be drained some more and put on more meds or he could be taken in to surgery to remove the abscess. Any way you shake it it's not going to be fun, and it is going to be scary and painful, for everyone.

It's particularly hard for us since we don't have family close to us for support. The closest is 3.5 hours away. So, I am asking for everyone to send Macias, Morgan and I hugs from afar and hopes for a speedy recovery.

I'll let you know how it goes.

The Mommy-mobile

After having my first car for 11 years, it was finally time to get a new car. Almost every little thing on the interior was broken, it was pretty comical. The last straw was when Morgan broke the interior door handle of the passenger side door. You had to roll down the window to let yourself out. We also wanted something that was much safer for Macias.

So, behold...the wagon (Hyundai Elantra Touring - wagon version of the sedan). I totally love it. I've wanted a hatchback forever and I still needed something that had relatively good gas mileage because of my commute to work.
I do miss my old car though. It was with me when I first started dating Morgan, through college, through my wedding (it's even pictured in my wedding photos) and through my baby. It was a great car. I just hope it goes to a good home, even if it will probably be sold on a lot as a $500 car. It's officially a beater.

Good deeds

At the end of the work day Monday I went out in to the hallway from our office to find a $100 bill on the floor fairly close to our door.

My first thought was, "Wow, that's really horrible for the person who dropped this".

I picked it up and walked back in to my office to ask my boss if it was his (like anyone else in the office would be capable of carrying that kind of cash...please). It wasn't his - I laughed that he actually took his wallet out to check. I can't remember when I had a bill that high, or any bill for that matter, in my wallet.

Our office has been in transition lately. We were in one Suite, but are in a temporary one while we renovate and move in to our permanent Suite. There are a lot of construction workers in the building, walking up and down the halls. One guy came to my mind, the guy in charge of the framing. I remembered him stopping in to our office a little bit earlier to check in with my boss. I had a gut feeling it was his.

I folded it up at my desk and announced that I would ask around tomorrow...and if no one claimed it I guess we could all have a nice dinner (hmmm...how many boxes of diapers would that buy?).

Tuesday morning came and the previously mentioned framer came in to ask my boss a question. As he turned to leave I asked if he happened to drop any money the day before (I didn't mention how much it was, just in case he wasn't telling the truth). He quickly said "a 100 dollar bill??!!!".

I felt such relief and joy that the money had find it's rightful owner. I was not sad that I couldn't keep it for myself. I suppose I know how horrible it would be if I lost that kind of money.

He kept going on about how he was soooo thankful and SHOCKED that I asked him and was handing it back. He said "most people wouldn't do that".

That part took me aback. I thought, really? Most people wouldn't? I don't believe that. But, my boss, too went on about what a good deed it was and how it was noble and decent.

I don't consider myself to be the most moral person around, but I know the difference between right and wrong and about honesty and fairness, and I would like to believe there are more people out there like me than not. Unfortunately, I keep hearing different.

Maybe it's a credit to my friends that I think differently since I know all of my friends would have done the same.

So here's to all of us out there who do the right thing because it makes us feel better to do right than to be selfish and who's first thoughts are joy when something is returned to their owner. I know you're out there, and thanks for surrounding me and making me naive enough to think that more people are like us.

Sorry Morgan,

Morgan and I are both home today from work because Macias is home from daycare with a double ear infection. Morgan went to work in the morning until lunch and then came home to watch Macias while I worked from home for the afternoon (that's a slow go). I was perusing through the fridge to see what we could have for dinner.

We have leftover hot dogs that need to be eaten and although they're not my favorite food I hate to throw away unopened food we spent money on.

Chili dogs! I thought to myself. Morgan always has a can of chili hanging around, except today. So I asked him if he would go get chili. No problem.

2 minutes after he left a torrential downpour started. One of those really bad southern thunderstorms. Oops. Sorry. I'm sure the chili dogs will be extra delicious.

Post Script: Morgan brought home chili, and a 10" crack in his windshield. Now I really feel bad.

One of my favorite things...

Every time I make Macias laugh, really laugh a big belly laugh, he gets the hiccups. I love him.

Lies

This post goes out to Christy Crandall Beal who once commented on my blog that after about 9 months post baby the extra baby pounds I am holding on to will just melt away with no effort.

Maybe for you - you and your sister and your crazy genes and metabolism, but not for me sister. I am plagued to walk around with my 5-6 extra pounds of baby weight for the rest of my life.

That is all.

Birthday Boy

My baby turned one today. ONE! Here are some highlights:

Early birthday celebration with Nanny



















Birthday set up on actual birthday









Cake for Great-Grandad, sorry Macias, no chocolate

Teeter Toddling

My little man is becoming a big man. He is teeter toddling his way in to Toddlerhood. Exhibits a, b, c...

a. Today at daycare he took his first two unassisted steps.
b. He got his first hair cut on Saturday.
c. He no longer drinks formula - good old moo milk all the way.
d. He hasn't used a bottle in two months - he loves straws.
e. He's crafty and ingenious beyond his years - he actually showed Morgan part of our remote that Morgan didn't even know existed.
f. He tries to feed me what food he doesn't like/want to eat - he'll pretend to feed me his yummy food but retract it right before I eat it.

His first birthday is coming up this Friday. I think back a year and what I didn't know about myself and life and it astonishes me how much he's taught me in this measly one year. I only hope I can return the favor.

Enough

I have had a few friends lately have really bad luck. Jayna, you top the list with your house, but my friend Brenda seconds with losing her job and the next day having her mom break her hip, etc. etc. etc. (and believe me, it keeps going).

Morgan and I helped Brenda out with her computer and ever since I have started having a string as well. I'm starting to think it's contagious.

First my starter went on my car. There's $450 for you. Then, while my Mom was visiting this weekend for Memorial Day and an early birthday celebration for Macias, one of our water pipes under the house came loose just as we were going to break in Macias' new pool and we had to call the emergency plumber. Another $128 - although I consider that to be pretty cheap. Once we got it fixed, we tried the pool again, but the nozzle wouldn't come off our hose (it needs to hook up to the pool). We were finally able to borrow a hose from a neighbor.

Then, this morning Macias woke up with Croup. So, I had to take him to the doctor and then try and work from home with a sick baby. In the entire day (including up to 9pm) I only got 4 hours of work done.

I'm done now. It's time for it to move on to someone else.

First Review

My mom started her long-awaited business last fall - Deborah's Kitchen Kreations - selling her infamous mustard and lemon poppy seed cakes. She has made this mustard since long before I was born and it has been raved over by all family and friends. She has wanted to start her own business for even longer, and she finally has!

Last November I went up to help her out at her first farmer's market (previous post). Since then she has added more items to her repertoire and has been selling like gang-busters (what are gang-busters anyway?).

She is now selling her mustard to local restaurants to use on their menu (pretty cool) and just recently she got her first blog review! Read it here!

I'm so proud of you, Mom!

p.s. please try to look past the ghetto name banner in the photo... ;o)

Sand, Sun and Swings

Here are some photos of our fun weekend:









































A sign of what's to come...












Riding the waves












This looks interesting...












Very squishy...












And delicious!!!












Walking in to the sunset with Grandma Patty

The Last "Twenty-Something" Birthday

Your 29th birthday, I'm told, is tough on some people. It means that you have finished your 29th year and are about to start your 30th. It means you're one, short, sad year away from 30.

I've never understood why people dread their 30th birthday. But, I've also been told that's because I'm not 30 yet.

A lot of people I know who have turned 30 talk about how they viewed the age of 30 when they were younger and what it was supposed to mean, or what they wanted to accomplish by that ripe, old age. I've determined that most people who are upset about turning 30 haven't lived up to their own goals and expectations they held for themselves.

As I turned 29 today I evaluated my life and what I've accomplished so far (only "grown up" things - people don't need to know I was 6th grade backgammon champion):

Two college degrees: check
Marriage: check
House: check
Great Career/job: check
Licensure: check
Baby: check (fabulous baby, I might add)

I can honestly say that when I was young I never had a specific idea of what I wanted to accomplish by 30 or what I thought my life would look like (probably because I couldn't imagine myself being so OLD). Looking at it now I'm pretty pleased with my place in life and am proud to be where I am, which is probably why I'm not dreading it.

After all 30 is just 30 and it's just a number...but, that's because I'm not 30 yet.

A Day at the Park

Tomorrow is Morgan's 32nd birthday so in honor of him we had a picnic in the park. Macias had a grand time trying to eat the leaves.

"What's your game, Nemesis?" - Heroes

Tasty Treat

Apparently that's what Macias is. All of his rolls and chubbers makes for an appetizing snack for little ones in his classroom.

Today when I picked Macias up from Daycare he had a red mark on his forehead and I was told that he was basically tackled and bit. I guess this kid was too hungry to wait for his lunch. These kids move so fast - they're like ninjas. This is the second time some tiny tot has tried to take a taste of my cherub.

My question (besides the obvious and more serious) is: why go for the forehead? It's the least meaty part on him.

Crawling!

Saturday splendor

Couch potato

I've been relegated to the couch for three nights now (which is actually quite comfortable). Kicked out of my bed by strep, or some sort of infection. Morgan has been battling an illness for about 2 months now. It comes and goes and is usually just lethargy, weakness, excess mucus, nausea and possible post nasal drip. But, a couple of days ago it got really bad. He had a fever of 103.3 and was freezing, but burning up and was throwing up really violently. He was kind of shaken by the whole thing, but I kept tylenol in him and the fever finally broke. He went to the doctor and it was determined that it isn't the flu, but a possible bacterial infection. We won't find out until his blood results come back.

So, in the meantime I'm on the couch with three cats while he's snuggled in our queen sized bed resting peacefully. As it should be.

On a different note, I'm starting to work from home one day a week. I think it's really going to help since I have such a long commute to work on normal days. I've been driving to Savannah for school or work for about 8 years. I now drive 62 miles a day and my commute home is over 1 hour since I have to pick Macias up from daycare. It's a beating. My first day didn't go so well since it started with Morgan being really sick and me having to take Macias to daycare and get him items while I was out. But, the good thing about working from home is that I can make it up on the weekend.

I dropped Macias off at daycare on Friday and was casually talking to his teachers. One of them told me that they call him 'movie-star baby'. I laughed and asked why and she said it was because they think he looks like a baby you see in movies with chubby cheeks, always smiling and has a face like the Gerber Baby. She said they think he should be in movies, therefore: movie-star baby. I thought that was cute.

He was also sent home with a bag and a baby-sized toothbrush because a pediatric dentist visited their classroom and were given goody bags. It's hot pink and mini.

And to round out my random post, here are a couple of my favorite photos of my little baby.

8 days old and already sick of me

Swimming/napping with Nanny at 8 weeks

We love our kitty

too bad kitty doesn't love us...yet.

Crusty Garlic Twists

Feast your eyes on these tasty treats:

Allison's terribly tragic interpretation:

I should win some sort of medal at the Special Baking Olympics.

Ode to Da-da-da

I remember Morgan telling me about a conversation he had with my dad years ago when my dad asked him if he wanted children (knowing that I definitely did). Morgan was tentative about answering the question since the idea of having children, at that time, was something that he still wrestled with.

He told my dad that he wasn’t sure whether he wanted kids, but there were definitely things that he didn’t want to do – like change diapers. He was basically afraid to handle a child and looked at them as a giant chore and wondered if he would be a good father – afraid to mess up.

Present day:

Every night before retiring (yeah, I said ‘retiring’) I take a pass through the house to make sure everything is locked and turned off.

A couple of nights ago I headed off on my rounds to find:

1. The doors locked tight
2. The lights off
3. Fresh water in the cats’ bowl (whom Morgan doesn’t like)
4. Bottles cleaned and drying by the sink
5. Bottles for the next day made and sitting in the refrigerator
6. Macias’s lunch box unpacked and ready to be loaded up the next day
7. Dirty diapers taken out to the trash
8. Humidifier filled and running
9. Laundry done (but not put away yet - that's my job)
10. Clean dishwasher unloaded, dirty dishes from sink in dishwasher

Each morning I get up, get myself ready for work then fix breakfast for Macias. I get him up and feed him just in time for me to run out the door and still be late for work.

Morgan’s job is to:

1. Select what Macias is going to wear to daycare and get him dressed
2. Wash Macias’s hands and face and douse with lotion
3. Play
4. Make sure Macias gets a nap (which includes sometimes letting him sleep longer and sacrifice himself, being up to 45 minutes late to work just so Macias gets some sleep).
5. Pack Macias’s lunch bag
6. Pack extra clothes for day care
7. Pack up Macias and dropping him off at daycare

Morgan’s favorite things:

1. Bath night, making sure that a towel is being heated in the dryer for when Macias gets out of the water in to the cold air
2. Coming home from work to receive a giant smile from his biggest fan

The other night I was playing peek-a-boo with Macias which was making him smile and Morgan came over and said “No, you have to do it like this”. He proceeded to play a different way which sent Macias into a laughing fit.

This morning I asked Morgan to start my car for me since he was already outside doing something (in his socks in 30 degree weather). I looked outside and he not only started my car, but was scraping the frost off of all of my windows so I could get a few more minutes of play time with my son.

Is Mommy even needed anymore? What is there left for me to do?

I wonder if he still worries if he’ll be a good father.

You Decide

I think he's finally starting to look like me. I submit to you (You may also laugh at my hilarity):

Look at my family! So funny.

He has perfected my "Take the damn photo already look"