Some Suggestions

Dear Mommy,

You know how you're always trying to change my diaper? Well, I don't like it. That's why I scream and try to get off of the changing table every time you try to change me. To answer your question- yes, I would be perfectly happy to wear the same wet diaper all day long. And the clothes you put on me- no thanks- I like being naked.

And also- that table food you keep trying to give me? There's a reason I keep throwing it on the floor. I don't want it. You can go ahead and put that table food right on the floor for Dottie, it'll save me the work. I'll stick with the baby food. Well, except for the cheese- keep that coming. And, really if you want to just go ahead and feed me cheese all day long, that would be even better.

Another thing- what's with all the face and hand washing? I mean every time I finish eating you come at me with that wet paper towel and try to clean my face and hands. Don't you hear me scream when you do that? Just leave the mess there until bath time. Then you can do all the washing you want while I do all the splashing I want.

I think things will go much smoother now that you understand where I am coming from.

Love,
Hailey

Desktop Free View Meme

I was tagged by ZAM to do this meme so that everyone can see what the desktop of my computer looks like.

My Desktop Free View Instructions:

A. Upon receiving this tag, immediately perform a screen capture of your desktop. It is best that no icons be deleted before the screen capture so as to add to the element of fun.You can do a screen capture by:
[1] Going to your desktop and pressing the Print Scrn key (located on the right side of the F12 key).
[2] Open a graphics program (like Picture Manager, Paint, or Photoshop) and do a Paste (CTRL + V).
[3] If you wish, you can “edit” the image, before saving it.

B. Post the picture in your blog. You can also give a short explanation on the look of your desktop just below it if you want. You can explain why you preferred such look or why is it full of icons. Things like that.

C. Tag five of your friends and ask them to give you a Free View of their desktop as well.

D. Add your name to this list of Free Viewers with a link pointing directly to your Desktop Free

View post to promote it to succeeding participants.

List of those who participated in the tag:
iRonnie
skippyheart
thesserie
domlawrenceosb
sasha-says
maiylah’s snippets
verb

Our Happy Happenings

So, here is the desktop of my computer:

Now, I personally do not like having all of those icons. I would prefer just a few. But, since this laptop actually belongs to Rich- most of those are his icons. On my computer - the one that I never use because a laptop is so much more convenient- there are only a few icons.

So, now who shall I tag? How about you? If you're reading this- you're it! Let me know when you do it so I can come by to see.

Thankful Thursday #5

1. I am thankful for our vacation we took to Disney World. We had a wonderful time and I am thankful that we were able to go. I am not thankful for the bill I paid this week for our trip- but I am thankful that we were able to pay the bill.
2. I am thankful that fall is here. Fall is most definitely my favorite time of year. I love the weather and that cool crisp feel that is in the air. I put out my fall decorations last weekend and some fall scented candles and it just feels like fall now. (Even though it is still hot.)
3. I am thankful for Rich. He celebrated his 33rd birthday last week and I am just reminded of how much he does for us. He works hard so that I can stay home with Hailey. He is a great dad and I love watching him with his girls.
4. I am thankful for the MOPS group that I have joined. Last week was our first meeting and it was wonderful to be able to sit and talk for a couple of hours. It's been a long time since I've been able to do that. I had a great time and I am looking forward to our next meeting. (I am also thankful for my friend JenLo who told me about MOPS)
5. I am thankful that I am finally feeling better. I was sick all of last week and just yesterday I started to really feel better.
6. I am thankful that I know we can count on each other to pray for the needs of our fellow bloggers. Over these last few days many bloggers have been checking in with the Farley family. They had a precious one week old baby girl, Copeland who suffered from Trisomy-18. Copeland went home to be with Jesus on Wednesday evening. We can rejoice in the knowledge that she is no longer suffering. But my heart breaks for her family. If you haven't already, stop by their blog to let them know you are praying.

Lynn is hosting Thankful Thursday this week, so stop by her blog to see more participants.

Look Great in 2008 Weight Loss Challenge

SCROLL DOWN FOR WORDLESS WEDNESDAY

And so begins a new challenge. Actually it started last week, but I was too sick to care about losing weight last week. Well, that's not true- I always care about losing weight. I was too sick to care about eating healthy and doing exercise is actually the truth.

I participated in the May Day Weight Loss Challenge and did not have much success. Truth be told- I gained 3 pounds. There were some weeks where I tried really hard and had some good results. But, most of the time I was too busy worrying about eating my Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip cookies to be really serious about losing weight.

One of the mistakes I think I made was that I was trying to lose weight for the wrong reasons. First I wanted to reach my goal weight before my brother's wedding. Then I was hoping to lose all the weight before my cousin's wedding. Then I thought- if I could just lose this weight before we go on vacation I will be skinny in our pictures. Each time I would realize that it just wasn't possible to reach my goal by the time the event would be here. Then I would give up. So, this time- I am going to lose this weight so that I will be healthy. Not so that I can be skinny and look better for special occasions. Although that will be nice too, it is not my main reason for trying to lose weight.

So, my goal is to lose 25 pounds. If I want to reach my pre-pregnancy weight I will have to lose 30 pounds. But, for now that sounds too overwhelming to me. So, my goal is to lose 25 pounds.

In order to reach my goal I am going to start walking everyday again. I will do it at least 5 days a week. I am going to work on keeping myself busy so that I am not tempted to snack every time I feel the slightest bit bored. I will also drink more water.

I am going to add a weight loss ticker to my side bar to track my losses. (I used to keep it hidden at the bottom of my blog, hoping no one would notice it) I'm also going to add a little reward box on my side bar with the rewards I plan to give myself for each 5 pounds that I lose. These will both be for my benefit and to help me stay motivated- but you are welcome to look too.

See you next week for my first weigh-in! Check out the other participants (or join yourself!) at Tales from the Scales.

Wordless Wednesday #22

For more Wordless Wednesday click here or here.

It's a Twofer Today

I'm still playing catch up on the memes I have been tagged to do. About 50 years ago I was tagged by JennieBoo to do the middle name meme. Then while I was on vacation I was tagged again for this meme by Pam.

So here goes...

The rules:

1. You have to post these rules before you give the facts.
2. Players, you must list one fact that is somehow relevant to your life for each letter of their middle name. If you don’t have a middle name, use the middle name you would have liked to have had.
3. When you are tagged you need to write your own blog-post containing your own middle name game facts.
4. At the end of your blog-post, you need to choose one person for each letter of your middle name to tag. Don’t forget to leave them a comment telling them they’re tagged, and to read your blog.

My middle name is Louise. This is my mom's middle name too and was my grandmother's name as well.

L- I Love my family.
O- I enjoy visiting the Ocean.
U- I always wear clean Underwear. You know- just in case I'm in an accident and the people in the emergency room will be checking to see if my underwear is acceptable, of course. (Aren't you proud of me, mom?)
I- Ice cream is one of my favorite foods.
S- I can be very Silly when I am with certain people.
E- I have my degree to teach Elementary school.

I'm not going to tag anyone. Yes, I am breaking rule #4; I'm such a rebel. But, please do feel free to play along- and let me know if you do so I can read yours.

And since I'm playing catch up on my memes, here's another one. Many moons ago Dawnae at Nifty Nicholson News tagged me with the Resurrecting Old Posts meme.

So, here goes:

1. This first post must be an old post about your family- This shouldn't be too hard since that's pretty much all I ever blog about. I couldn't figure out which on to pick, so I decided to just go with the oldest one I have. This is a post of pictures from Christmas 2006.

2. This post should be about your friends- Friends? Sadly I don't really have any posts about my friends. Most of my friends live inside my computer. I was able to find this post- a High School Meme where I mentioned my best friend from high school. I really must get out more.

3. This post must be about yourself- I decided to pick my post from the first time I was ever tagged. I was tagged to do a post of 7 Random Things About Me- so it's all about me.

4. This link is about something you love- And since it says something I love I can not talk about the people I love. So, I picked this Fun Monday post where I discuss my love for Chips Ahoy Chocolate Chip cookies.

5. This one should be about your favorite post- Well, I have two favorite posts- so I will list them both. This one called Babies Don't Keep and my Blogaholic posts are my favorites.

And now I am supposed to tag five people, but I just don't want to. So, if you want to play along- please let me know so that I can read yours.

8 Random Things Meme

I have been tagged several times to do several different memes. For some reason I just haven't gotten around to doing them. So, this week I am going to catch up on some of the tags I've had. About 100 years ago I was tagged by Susan to do an 8 random things post. Then a little while later I was tagged by La Bellina Mammina to do 8 random things about me and my hubby. A bit more recently Melanie tagged me to do the 8 random things meme. I've decided to combine the two different memes and just do 8 random things about me and my hubby.

1. Rich and I met when I was 17 and he was 20.

2. I was a senior in high school. Rich worked part time at a nearby Subway. I went there for lunch one day. I went back the next day and the day after that too. I'm pretty sure I ate lunch there almost everyday after we met.

3. Rich wouldn't tell me his name and so I made one up for him. I called him Elwood. I'm quite sure that he loved the nickname I made up for him.

4. Several months later we starting dating (and he told me his real name).

5. We dated for 5 years before we finally got married.

6. We went to Disney World for our honeymoon. We've gone back three times since then.

7. We have been married for 7 wonderful years.

8. Every Saturday and Sunday morning Rich makes us a yummy breakfast that we eat together while we read the paper.

I'm not going to tag anyone, but play along if you'd like. Be sure to let me know if you decide to do it so that I can check out your post.

You Make Me Smile Award

Last week I was given this award by Grams at Talk to Grams and by Sharon at Sit With Me A While.

This is what the person who created this award says about it- the thing that I love most about blogging is that I learn so much about a person just by reading their blog. I have met MANY wonderful people with wonderful stories to tell, and I am grateful every day for each person that I have the pleasure of crossing paths in life with. I wanted to create something special for the top ten people who have inspired me through their blogging; the stories they tell, and the lives that they lead with grace and dignity. I visit their blogs for inspiration and encouragement. Although there are MANY people I want to give this award to at this very moment, I am going to choose ten bloggers: Please grab your badge and wear it(with a smile) proudly, and pass it on because you inspire and encourage me, thank you. So, now it is my turn to pass it on.

Thank you Grams and Sharon! You both make me smile too.

And so now I get to pass this award on to 10 people (in alphabetical order).

1. Carrie's Crafty Cottage
2. Common Mom
3. La Bellina Mammina
4. Mindless Chatter of a Busy Mom
5. My 4 Kids
6. My Spot Of Blog
7. Notes from the Laundry Pile
8. O So Mo Love
9. Queen of a Disney Castle
10. Random Thoughts

All of you ladies make me smile every day! Enjoy your award.

Did I Say That? #7

The other day while we were out shopping I noticed that Hailey was chewing on her shirt. So, I said, "No, Hailey don't chew on your shirt." Hailey stopped chewing, smiled nice and big at me and shook her head no.

A little while later she was chewing on her shirt again and I said, "Hailey, we do not eat our clothes. No." Then I noticed one of the store employees smiling quietly to himself and I thought, "Hmmmm, I guess that probably sounded odd."

Vacation- Days 7, 8 & 9

On our seventh day of vacation (sixth day at Disney) we decided to do a bit of relaxing. We started out with a nice big breakfast at our hotel. We relaxed in our room for a while and let Hailey take a morning nap.

We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon at Downtown Disney doing some shopping. When we finished there we went back to our hotel for lunch. Then we all took a much needed afternoon nap.

After our nap we headed over to MGM.

We stopped to pose for a picture with Jafar. Hailey loved Jafar and thought he was hilarious. She couldn't reach his nose to bite it, so she just kept rubbing his arm and laughing at him.

Hailey and Rich watching The High School Musical show.
We had dinner at the 50's Prime Time Cafe where all of the waitresses dressed and acted like they were your mother. When we were seated the waitress gave us our napkins and silverware and told us that we were expected to set the table. Rich got in trouble several times during dinner for putting his elbows on the table. "Mom" also had to speak to Rich about wearing his hat in "the house." (And for those of you who know Rich you know he always wears his hat. Well, except to work and church, of course.) Rich also tried to hide his vegetables under his napkin so that he would not have to eat them. "Mom" did not fall for this and once again, Rich was in trouble.

After dinner we went to Epcot for the rest of the night. Hailey slept while Rich and I took turns going on some of the rides that Hailey was not able to go on. We got back to our hotel late and stayed up until 2am packing.

We left the next morning and flew back to the town where our parents live arriving later that evening. On Sunday morning we slept in a bit and tried to recuperate just a little before we left for the drive home on Sunday afternoon. We were exhausted as we arrived home on Sunday evening but we had a wonderful vacation. We're already talking about our plans to go back!

If you missed my previous vacation posts you can click here, here, or here to see them (or just scroll down a little bit).

Happy Birthday Rich

Happy 33rd Birthday Rich! I love you!!

Vacation- Days 5 & 6

On our fifth day of vacation (and fourth day at Disney World) we started out at MGM.

We stopped to pose for a picture just after we entered the park. And then we were off to have breakfast with characters from The Little Einsteins and JoJo's Circus at Hollywood and Vine. Hailey enjoyed watching June, Leo, JoJo and Goliath from a distance but she wasn't too sure about them when they stopped to visit her at our table.

Hailey and June
Hailey looked at Goliath for a minute and then started to cry.
Hailey was a little concerned about JoJo as well.
She watched her for a minute and then started to cry.

Hailey wasn't too sure what to think about Leo. He could tell she was a bit worried and tried playing peek-a-boo with her. It didn't work and she ended up crying again.

We spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon at MGM.

Hailey and I watching a parade.

After the parade we left to go to Animal Kingdom, where we spent the evening.

We stopped to pose for a picture soon after we arrived at Animal Kingdom.

Each of the four parks had an air conditioned baby center. They had places to change your baby, highchairs for feeding, rooms for nursing mothers, and various baby items for sale. They also had a room where Hailey was able to get out of her stroller and crawl and walk around for a while.
This is a picture of the Expedition Everest ride- a roller coaster that Rich and I both went on. Disney has a thing called Rider Switch for people with young children. One person gets to go on the ride and the other person gets a pass to skip the line after the first person is done with the ride. This way we were both able to enjoy the rides that Hailey could not go on without waiting in line twice. Anywho- I loved Expedition Everest- Rich did not.

On the sixth day of our vacation (fifth day at Disney) we spent the day at Magic Kingdom.

We stopped to pose for a picture right after we entered the park.

Hailey and I on a train ride.
Rich posing as Mickey Mouse.

We had reservations to eat dinner at the Crystal Palace with the Pooh characters. After breakfast with the characters from The Little Einsteins and JoJo's Circus the day before I was worried about how Hailey would do with these characters. But, she absolutely loved all of the Pooh characters and laughed and clapped her hands when she saw each one.

Hailey meeting Winnie the Pooh.
Hailey patting Eeyore on the nose.
Hailey reaching for Piglet's nose.

Hailey laughing while meeting Tigger. I'm not sure if Hailey is giving Tigger a kiss or a bite? At the time I thought she was giving him a kiss, but later on when we met Mickey Mouse- she definitely bit him on the nose. So, now I'm not sure if she was also biting Tigger.

Hailey cried after Tigger left our table.

Here we are posing in front of the castle.
We are meeting Mickey Mouse. Hailey grabbed right a hold of his nose and would not let go.

And, now she is biting poor Mickey Mouse on the nose.
Still biting and hanging on. I know for sure this was a bite and not a kiss because I had to pull her off of him and I could tell her little teeth were sinking into his nose.

Surprising we were not asked to leave the park after Hailey's attack on Mickey (and possibly Tigger) and we continued to enjoy the rest of the evening at Magic Kingdom. I have just a few more pictures left to share with you. So, be sure to come back to see those. If you missed my previous vacation posts you can scroll down a little to see those or click here and here.

Vacation- Days 3 & 4

On our third day of vacation (our second day at Disney World) we slept in a bit in the morning and then headed off to Animal Kingdom. We had planned to get there nice and early because we had been advised that the animals usually start to hide from the sun mid-morning which makes it difficult to see them. But, Hailey actually slept in that morning and we were not about to wake her up since she is not a very good sleeper.

Hailey and I pose for a picture in front of Animal Kingdom.
The Tree of Life

This is Hailey watching Festival of the Lion King. She sat just like this during the entire performance. Anyone who knows Hailey knows that this is amazing because it is a rare moment when she holds still for more than a split second.

After spending the morning and afternoon at Animal Kingdom we headed over to Epcot where we had reservations for dinner at Akershus Royal Banquet Hall where they served Norwegian style food. During dinner there were four different Disney Princesses who stopped by our table to visit Hailey.

Hailey and Jasmine
Hailey and Sleeping Beauty

After dinner we explored the attractions at Epcot. We stopped here so that Hailey could play the bongos. She just loved banging on them and thought the noise was hilarious.

Here we are in the Germany section of Epcot.

We were able to meet up with my Aunt Rita, Uncle Dave and cousins Ryan and Easton while at Epcot. We saw The American Adventure theatrical show together and then talked for a few minutes before we headed our separate ways. This was the first time Aunt Rita had met Hailey, so we were excited for the opportunity to get to see them!

We had planned to head over to MGM for the night as they had extended hours for Disney resort guests. But, we were much too tired, so we went back to the hotel to get some sleep.

On our fourth day of vacation (third day at Disney World) we went back to Epcot to finish the attractions we did not have time for the night before. We stopped to pose for a picture in front of the big Epcot ball (I'm sure it has an actual name, but I don't know it).

We spent some time at ImageWorks - The Kodak "What If" Labs where you are able to take pictures and then play around with the photos. This is one we took of Hailey and then turned her into a flower.

After spending the day at Epcot we went back to our hotel and then took a boat ride to Downtown Disney for a bit of shopping and for dinner. This is Hailey having a great time on the boat ride.After dinner we went back to the hotel to relax at the pool. Hailey loved being in the baby pool. When she was in this turtle she was able to stand up and walk around (without all of her usual falling down), which she thought was wonderful.

We spent the rest of the evening at the pool.

If you missed our vacation pictures from days 1 & 2 you can click here (or scroll down a little bit) to see them. Be sure to come back on Monday to see some more pictures- including a picture of Hailey biting Mickey Mouse on the nose!

Have a great weekend.