Thursday, April 24th

Today was productive!!! I went and looked at 5 houses, and I found a couple that I am thinking about making offers on! YIPPEE They are small little houses, but very cute and all remodeled...a BIG plus for me! I don't want to do a lot of work on anything, so I am liking it!
Other than that, not too much...Rowan and I had an awesome evening though. When I got back home, he was a crab and tired. He desperately wanted to go outside, but it was rainy and windy most of the afternoon. So, I compromised and we went out on the deck to play. He started rubbing his eyes, and wanted to sit in the swing. Well, a few minutes into swinging, we ended up lying down wrapped in a warm blanket. I was singing, and he put his little head down on my chest. The next thing I recall, I was waking up to a gust of wind blowing in my face; of course, this didn't phase Rowan though! He was wrapped up all snug as a bug in my arms and covered with the blanky. I took him upstairs, and we lied down in my bed...something I have NEVER done with Rowan before!!! It was a nice little treat for me, though I didn't go back to sleep. I couldn't help myself; I just stared at him in awe and amazement and ran my fingers through his hair. He is just perfect, and I love him so much. I truly never knew that I could love someone so much!!! I know that is so cliche, but moms out there...you know what I mean! In the hustle and bustle of chasing a mobile toddler boy around, I don't often get to sit and reflect on life, and today I had that time and moment; it was truly an amazing experience!
Well, then we went and ran some errands when he woke up from his nap. I had to go to Walmart, and I also was dying for an iced coffee!!! :-) Hey, I need all the caffeine I can get these days, thank you very much! We came home, I fed Rowan dinner: hamburger with cheese, diced pears, steamed carrots and blueberry muffin. He didn't eat much at all, especially the hamburger! I put Rowan in the tub and let him play for a good 30 minutes; usually we just do the sink for a quickie bath, but every once in a while, about once a week, I like to let him splash and really enjoy bath time. We did our weekly grooming, which consists of clipping his nails and toenails and cleaning his ears. Odd, but he really enjoys having his ears cleaned! I bought Rowan a new toothbrush today, and he loves it!!! I think he will be a very high-maintenance kid...he loves to brush his teeth, hair and get his nails clipped...odd, huh? Oh, but he hates me putting lotion on him! LOL
It is nearing 10:00 PM...he is going strong, like the Energizer Bunny, but I am ready to CRASH! Why is this???

ONE MORE THING

OOPS! I thought I already posted our accomplishments today... Well, Rowan had an apt. at 2:30, so we left around 2ish. He was a total hellion the whole time, nothing new. He doesn't do well in strange places!
We arrived back home around 3:20, and Rowan had not eaten lunch OR had a nap...he fell asleep on the way home, so I put him to bed. While he was asleep, I thought it would be a wonderful idea to fry up some hamburger for his meals, make some hamburger patties, prepare some sausage for breakfast, and overall just prepare the meals for the rest of the week...for him. I steamed some carrots too. While I had all this going on, I also made beef stroganof (not sure how to spell this???) for dinner tonight (for him, NOT me). I cut up some cheese for snacks, and THEN I decided...yep, let's go ahead and clean out the refrigerator. So, once I started, I went all out...everything came out of the fridge...everything got inspected, cleaned, wiped down and put back in...in a VERY outrageously organized manner...it's kinda sad. Rowan woke up in mid-freak-out cleaning binge, so up he went, and it was time for lunch. I got him fed, and then we played outside once everything was all done.
Next, we headed out for a nice, long walk! FUN!!! Deeva went with us, but her collar broke mid-way...dangit! I had to put her in the basket underneath the stroller for the rest of the walk, but she didn't mind! :-) LOL
Needless to say, my body aches...I hurt...and I am really tired. So, off to do my exercises now...BYE

Ending our Wednesday folks!

Wow, I really had a SCARE tonight!!! So, I had to record AI, fast forward through the commercials and bogus crap on the show...oh my LORD! I really thought it would be Brooke and Jason in the bottom two tonight; yes, they are my favorites, but no I don't think they are the best on the show...and let's face it, they will not win...I thought I was going to lose my Jason tonight, but NOPE! Neither one was in the bottom two, PRAISE JESUS! Another week of getting to see Jason...oh, those eyes...that smile...that VOICE! (Sorry honey, overboard...I KNOW!). Thanks America for voting for my love!

Well, I finally got a chance to sit down and eat, and I grabbed a bagel...good choice, Ashley! Way to go...let's eat BREAD before bed...I am brilliant, I tell ya! GEESH! Oh well, it filled me up, and I didn't even eat it all...so I won't be TOO hard on myself, although I only got to the gym once so far this week...my body will hate me this week!

Rowan and I have had a freakin' BLAST tonight! We have played hard, really hard folks! We danced until our guts hurt from laughing. I have never heard him laugh as hard as he was laughing tonight, granted he was laughing AT me...I was running circles around him b/c Jason was safe! LOL I was screaming at the top of my lungs, dancing, singing and just all out celebrating; I'll admit it! He was just watching me, laughing his toosh off...it was so funny!!! Then I fell to the floor and was rolling all over the place, which he thought was REAL FUN...he joined me, and we rolled...and rolled! Then I decided that since I didn't go to the gym, I would do weights WITH HIM! LOL He makes a great weight! I still need to do my sit-ups and push-ups, so I will sign off for the night!
SLEEP TIGHT!!!!!!!!

Pics from today

Well, here are the pictures; I am going to go ahead and get these up, and then when Rowan goes to bed, I will do my blog...

Rowan in the dog house is the first one; I did NOT put him in here, he did it on his own!!!

I need to win the lottery!

So, I opened up my closet today, in hopes to find something new peeking out at me I guess? When I came home last June, Rowan was 8 weeks old. Needless to say, I had not lost much of the baby weight from pregnancy. I brought home ONE suitcase for both Rowan and me, anticipating we would return August 31st as planned. I think I brought, MAYBE, three pairs of pants and MAYBE five shirts for myself.
Well, since then, I have successfully lost all the pregnancy weight, and then a little more. I am fully intending to lose another 10-20 lbs. by August when Jamie comes home...PRAYERS PLEASE because I have not been so good about eating right and going to the gym regularly since Jamie's trip home last month...I think I have lost 1.5 lbs since then. Well, I HAVE NO FREAKIN' CLOTHES TO WEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I am at a loss. I need to go shopping DESPERATELY, but I just cannot get myself to go. Shopping for myself seems so selfish now, there are just so many other things that seem so much more important! I am broke until the 1st, so there will be no shopping going on until then anyway. It's frustrating though; I have worked so freakin' hard to lose weight, and for what? So I can look like a rag-doll in my old clothes? This sucks...perhaps I should start stuffing my face with twinkies, then my old clothes will fit again and I won't look like a damn charity case!
Furthermore, Rowan needs some spring and summer clothes. I truly think I could spend hundreds of dollars for our wardrobes this season, and that makes my stomach hurt just to think about it!!! His clothes will definently come first, which will leave me waiting until later...by the time I have the money to go shopping for myself, well...it will probably be winter again! LOL ARGH!!!!!

Wednesday, April 23rd

Today is off to a MUCH better start. I woke up earlier than Rowan (normally I do, but lately I haven't...have had a cold, 'nuf said!), and I got showered before I woke him up. This is always a good way to start the day, I feel like things are accomplished before I am chasing my little man around.
Rowan had his breakfast, cheerios and bananas AGAIN! Hey, he likes it and it is easy...but I do know that I need to start making better morning food for him. I am not a breakfast eater, though I know I SHOULD BE, so I prefer fast in the mornings!
I am pretty much ready, just have to get dressed, and Rowan is ready, also not dressed. So, we are about to head out for the day. We have an appointment at 2:30, and I have booty ballet tonight at 6. Other than that, we are just winging it today and going to have fun...I HOPE!!!

Tomorrow will be BUSY...looking at houses alllll day, and I hope to pick one of them to be moved into by next month! WISH ME LUCK, and say LOTS of PRAYERS for us. It is a big step for us...

Still awake!

Well, it is approaching 11 PM, and I am still awake! Rowan is refusing to go to bed, so here we are...I have exhausted all activities, including: reading, blocks, car ride, piano, television, music, dancing and reading...still no luck! Please Lord, I need some dang sleep!!!

So, my one year old has a new trick...it's called "pinch Mom and RUN"...that's right, which lets me know that he understands it is not nice to pinch! I literally have bruises all up the back of my left arm from him pinching me while I am carrying and/or holding him. Tonight, it is pinch and run... Anyone have any solutions for toddler pinching? PLEASE HELP!!! Thanks!

Tuesday, April 22nd

I am stressed. I am having "one of those days" today. I woke up, and first thing someone said to me, I was pissed...I knew it would be a bad day. Why is it that someone else's mood can dictate how I will feel for the rest of MY day? Why do I allow people to have that kind of power over my life? This is really something I need to work on.

Rowan has been super good today, though he hasn't really eaten much. We had a busy and productive day, and I am getting an idea of what "errands" are like with a toddler in tow. I had to run to the grocery store, which ended up taking me about 45 minutes (normally a task completed in 15-20, b/c of my LISTS!). I also needed to return those movies that were two days late, get gas, and go to the store to look for shoes and some other items. Well, it all went pretty well, except for Rowan's little tantrums over my keys and rice...he wanted to play with the box of rice in the check-out line...that could have been a bad situation!

We got home and AI was on, so I flipped it to FOX and hit record, knowing that I would NEVER be able to sit down while Rowan was still awake. I headed upstairs with all the groceries, put Rowan on the deck with the baby gate up, put the groceries away, put some nuggets and tator tots in the the oven and headed outside to play with Rowan. I then had a MARVELOUS idea...I brought the booster seat downstairs to feed Ro his dinner, and I got a minute to sit down and watch AI! BRILLIANT, I know...you all should try this!
The dogs are crazy today and haven't stopped barking long enough to let my ears have a rest, and Rowan has been a crap apple all evening! He fell over and busted his lip...poor baby, that is never fun. I also had to switch the laundry to the dryer and get Rowan's bed made for tonight, all the while Rowan is running around. It has been a LONG, EXHAUSTING day, and I am wondering how I will make it another fifteen months as a single parent...

I am hoping that Rowan will go to bed soon, as it is nearly 9PM and I have yet to get a single meal eaten today...I'm hungry, I am tired...is the day over yet???

4-21-08

So, I know that I say this a lot, but my son amazes me...he really does! Tonight, I realized just how much he is growing up, and JUST how much Jamie is missing. It's a happy-sad, as I like to call it. I am so happy to see him evolving into a toddler, yet sad that Jamie isn't here to experience it with me.

Rowan and I have been playing in the family room tonight, and he just is so interested in play-time with Mommy all the sudden! It is so neat, and I am sucking up all the time I can get! He looked like a rag-child today, wearing a size 3T t-shirt and mis-matched shorts...(my aunt dressed him; I am NOT to blame for this!) Anyway, he was filthy, so I took his clothes off of him and let him run around nakey for a bit. I was putting the shirt over his face, and he LOVED IT! A new game I must take not of for later use! He put his hands up over his face, laughed, threw his head back, and ran around like a silly man until he pulled the shirt off...or fell, whichever came first! LOL

Then, I thought we needed to try something new...I held one end of the shirt, he held the other, and we ran around the family room. It was a TON of fun, and exhausting too! He just wanted to keep going, but hey...I'm getting up there in years, I can't keep up with a toddler's energy...won't even lie! LOL

Okay, so other than that, we had a fabulous day. Rowan got to play outside pretty much ALL day, which he LOVES!!! :-) I decided to take Rowan for a short walk to the circle, but ended up going the long haul...which is several miles...okay, let me explain. Rowan has a plastic car that he LOVES; it has a handle, and I push him in it. Normally, the car is reserved for short trips, as it gets loud and bumpy on the gravel road around the neighborhood. Well, I was wearing my dress clothes for the day, and some flip flops I threw on on the way out the door. Rowan had no shoes on, looked like a rag-child, his sunblock was worn off, and I smelled a poopy...short walk, no big deal, 5 minutes tops! NOOOOOOOOOOOOO I decided to just keep going, and going, and going. By the time we got home, my feet were covered in dirt and dust, my hands were numb from the vibration of the gravel, and Rowan had poopy up his back! It was a mess, but it was fun nonetheless!

Now Rowan is playing on the floor...and I am so ready for bed! I still have the movies I rented the other night, and it looks like we are waiting until tomorrow! That's it folks, I am going to enjoy the night with Rowan!

NOTE: Yes, I do realize that these pictures are AWFUL! I look like poo; I have no make-up on AT ALL! My hubby is used to seeing me look like this, so go easy on me...k? After all, I AM posting these for HIM! Thanks for your kindness! LOL :-) Oh, and the one of me with a sad face, yeah...Rowan had just beaten me up and pulled my hair!

4-20 pictures