Born From My Heart

I really, really, really need some good, creative ideas on how to stop a very annoying habit that my daughter has. Sometimes Reagan will wake in the morning or from a nap and not want to get out of bed right away or sometimes she wants to go in her crib before she is actually ready to go to sleep. Sounds great, right? We thought so too. And it was great. Until the habit started. And the laundry increased. If Reagan decides she wants awake time in her crib, and if you aren't in there checking on her every 5 seconds, she will remove her diaper most times lately. It started out occasionally and is now a regular event. We'd go in to find her with her pants and diaper off and (thankfully, usually only) wet spots in the crib. Out she'd come, sleeping or not, to be changed and have her crib sheets, pillow and pillow case changed. We started then putting her to bed in only one piece sleepers (unless she had a onesie on) thinking that would surely cure the problem. Yeah, um, not...

I've come to believe that most children are born with a primeval instinctive need for chicken nuggets and french fries. I've seen it in my nieces and nephews and first noticed it in my own child when she was around 10 months old. That baby could pick out a McDonald's bag anywhere and would demand to have what was inside. This "need" has now evolved into actual requests for meals. On Saturday I asked Reagan what she wanted for lunch and she told me "fries". I figured there was no harm in getting her a Happy Meal since she usually eats what we put in front of her and she loves green vegetables so nutritionally I knew she was well balanced. So I toss her in the car and we hit the drive thru. She was her sweet cute self saying "thank you Mommy" once the food was safely in the car. We get home and she joyfully eats her chicken nuggets and french fries. And Mommy is completely unaware that the force behind the request is trying to take over. Sund...

On Saturday we finally got out to the mall to see Santa Claus ! She wanted no part of sitting in his lap but the Santa's helpers of today are experts at getting a good picture. One had me sit her on my knees up next to Santa while the helpers distracted her with a Dora ball and little globe strobe. While she was distracted, Santa slipped his arm around her, I leaned as far out of the picture as possible and a couple snaps later we had a keeper. I wouldn't have been too upset with a screaming toddler picture (it is a rite of passage after all) but I was impressed at their ability to get most toddlers distracted enough to smile. Thanks Santa - it was good to see you again.

Any day now my CD will arrive that contains Reagan's 2 year old pictures .  I can't wait to see all of the awesome shots!  In the meantime, here is a sneak peak of my little darling's "imp" look.  That pre-devilish smirk she gets and gleam in her eye just before she does something she doesn't think she is supposed to do.  In this case, she was getting ready to make a break for it and run past me.  LOL  I love her imp look!

Yay!  I have a few minutes today to play!  If you want to play too, head over to Mama M's  and join in the fun! 1. Do you regift...and if so, do you have a regifting horror story? It depends.  I will regift something generic to a casual acquaintance in a heartbeat.  I don't regift to those closer to me though unless they see something I got and they want it and I don't particularly want it.  We reuse the heck out of gift bags though - it's kind of a running joke in our family.  2. Do you know what you are getting for Christmas this year? I am probably getting nothing because I usually insist that my DH not get me anything.  If I need or want something bad enough throughout the year I usually just get it so by Christmas there isn't really anything I absolutely want. 3. Who brings the most gifts in your family, you or Santa? Santa does.  I LOVE the magic that is Santa.  I even wrote about it recently - you can read it here! 4....

Yesterday we went to Reagan's pediatrician for her 2 year check-up.  Here are her 2 year stats: Weight - 23 pounds - 5th-10th% Height - 33 3/4 inches - 75th% HC - 48 1/4 centimeters - 50th% She is maintaining her regular growth curve and all measurments hit her target.  We get to switch to low-fat milk now and her next well visit won't be until her 3 year check-up.  She is on schedule with all her vaccines except the yearly flu shot so there weren't any shots yesterday since she is officially old enough for the flu mist.  Hooray!  She wasn't too sure about the first nostril mist but got the hang of it for the second one. As is typical for Reagan, Dr. E spent most of the exam laughing.  For some reason my daughter LOVES going to the doctor and has been fascinated by the exam process since she was a tiny infant.  This time though she decided to help Dr. E with the exam.  She gently took the stethoscope and put it to her own chest under her s...

Wasn't this just yesterday?!?!?! (Can you tell I still can't believe my baby is already 2?)

I have seen other folks discussing Santa and the controversy that can sometimes surround him so I figured I’d throw my two cents into the ring. I grew up in a Christian Methodist home complete with Sunday School and church on Sundays. We were made to go up until we were Confirmed wherein we were then considered responsible for our own faith and decisions involving our faith and could decide whether to attend regularly or not. In the United Methodist Church, Confirmation refers to the decision a person makes to respond to God's grace with intentional commitment, publicly reaffirming his or her baptismal vows before the congregation. It is offered in the early teen years and involves classes, studies, field trips, etc. which culminate in a ceremony during service to publicly affirm your faith. For the most part, after Confirmation I continued to attend on a semi-regular basis. I enjoyed going to church and youth group however as a teenager I didn’t always want to get up in time to be...

Yesterday we met up with a fabulous photographer (and friend) Andrea at Loch Haven Park in Orlando for Reagan's 2 year pictures.  I had her 1 year pictures done at a chain-store studio and while they turned out great, I spent wayyy too much money and both of us were cranky, exhausted and frustrated by the time it was over.  I was not looking forward to doing that again so I asked Andrea if she would take Reagan's pictures this year.  It was so much nicer being at the park, in a natural setting and where Reagan could run around and be herself.  No overly forced poses, no 8 million things laying about that are oh-so-enticing yet completely off limits to a toddler, no overheated room and no being rushed.  I was a little bit worried about how cooperative she would be (which would have been a studio concern as well) but Andrea is a natural for getting the little ones to engage and Reagan was going right along with it.  I was pleasantly surprised at how often ...

Reagan has lately been amazing us with things out of the blue.  One night in the bath it was suddenly counting to 8, then a few days later to 10 and most recently to somewhere in the teens - 11 and 12 are relatively easy to understand and then you hear a series of some-teens so who knows how high she is counting.  A few weeks ago she started identifying colors while being dressed for bed.  Yellow is her favorite to point out and she gets that one right 100% of the time.  Pink and purple are next on the accuracy list followed by blue.  Red, green and orange are frequently called yellow as she for some reason doesn't know or doesn't choose to identify them.  Still, we are very impressed with her current color skills. Last night was another "how does she know that" moment.  Her magnetic drawing board is her favorite toy and she sometimes insists that we draw things for her.  The routine is we draw something and say to her "What's that?" and ...

Hi!  If you are looking for me today I am over at LeeAnn's  having a play date.  Come join us!

Reagan and Oscar hanging out in the fully loaded beach pack n play waiting for it to be carried down Cocoa Beach so we could relax and watch the awesome Cocoa Beach Air Show!  It was a really fun day and Reagan got to see her first fighters - it did not take her long at all to learn that you have to look ahead of the sound to be able to see them.  Maybe my little girl will go to Embry-Riddle too just like her momma!

She was abandoned by her previous owners.  :-(

The first part of this post will be sad but the sad part is necessary to get to how she got her name. I have two older sisters – the oldest has 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls, and the middle has 2 children, 1 boy and 1 girl. I was beyond happy and excited as each of my nieces and nephews entered this world and I am close to all of them. I bestowed on each of them my own special nickname and frequently call them by those nicknames – in public.And the kids don’t mind! In order of birth they are, Beaner, Super Chunk, Peanut, Minnie-Me, Kaboom and Goat-Butt. With a tiny bit of training (LOL), if you ever ask any of them who their favorite person in the world is, they will tell you Aunt Dawn. That may not actually be the truth, but they’ve been coached well. They are all growing up now and making their way towards adulthood but the special and close relationship I have to all of them has only grown deeper with each new year. In April 2008, the worst possible thing to ever happen to our fami...

YAY!  It's October!  I love October.  Here in Florida we finally get breaks from the intense heat and humidity and get some really nice, warm days.  Plus, it is the start of the holiday season in my mind.  Halloween is so much fun - not to mention the hayrides and other fun fall activities.  From there it is Thanksgiving and then on to Christmas!  This month is a busy weekend month - so many fun fall things to do plus a two airshows!  The first one is in Daytona - Wings and Waves  - where I will get to spend some fun times with college friends and the second is in Cocoa - Cocoa Beach .  I can't wait!  I am a huge airplane nerd and Reagan has picked up my love for them so it is going to be really great. Now on to 5QF hosted by the Lovely Mama M .  Head on over and link up! 1. Did you have a pen pal when you were little (or now)? Where were/are they from? Now this question takes me back. I vaguely remember a mail in place ...

Reagan has loved the television since she was just a teeny tiny thing.  I am quite sure she watches way too much of it already but it is the only thing we have found that will get her to actually sit still and rest for more than 3.2 seconds at a time.  Her very first favorite TV show was Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and we use to use it for 20 minutes of entertainment while we were taking care of various tasks.  We'd put her in her bouncy chair or her swing and turn it on.  Pretty soon we noticed her doing a version of the Hot Dog Dance - when they'd start singing the song and doing the dance, her little legs would kick one by one.  Adorable! Soon after that, she discovered Yo Gabba Gabba.  It was love at first sight for her.  The singing and dancing and funny characters had her hooked.  One of her first words was actually Gabba.  There were even times she would wake in the morning, look at us and start saying GabbaGabbaGabbaGabba.  Her firs...

One of our dogs, Brady, taking a snooze on Reagan's folded out Mickey couch.

It is no secret to those close to me that I have issues with the paci.  My issue you ask?  I really don't want to ever have to take Reagan's paci away.  As I've mentioned before, I actually remember the trauma of giving mine up - to Santa Claus no less (and I almost opted out of presents that year just so I could keep it!).  I remember arguing with my sister when she took the paci away from my oldest nephew and I stated - no baby should ever have to give up their paci.  I've joked with my friends that Reagan could keep her paci until college if she wanted and part of me actually meant it. But, her teeth are now showing evidence of being on the paci too long.  I *thought* that it wouldn't become a teeth issue if she only had it at nap and night time.  Apparently I am wrong about that.  So, here I am breaking my own heart over a paci.  LOL  I say my own heart because I am well aware of my issues and fully realize that I am probably more ...

Big thanks as usual to Mama M  at My Little Life  for hosting 5QF!  Head over there, grab the questions, the button, add yourself to the Linky and join the fun! 1. If you could speak with a different accent, what would it be (i.e Australian, Scottish)? This is one is so easy for me to answer - it would definately be South African.  The first time I heard it in person, at college from a dear friend of a dear friend, I was mesmerized.  I think it is the most beautiful sounding accent in the world. 2. Can you fall asleep anywhere? (i.e floor, couch, deck) That is a big YES!  And I can sleep through just about anything too.  I love to sleep - always have.  3. Do you use public restrooms? If so, do you sit on the toilet? I do use public restrooms and I usually sit on the toilet - without cleaning it - and without a paper cover.  However, if the toilet looks gross, has pee on the seat or otherwise looks suspicious, I'm doing th...

So today I was Tagged by LeeAnn at The Life of Rylie…and Bryce too for some fun random questions. The rules are that once tagged, you answer the questions provided and then you tag 5 others and ask them questions of your own. Here are the questions LeeAnn asked... 1. What is your most embarrassing moment? I’ve had quite a few in my life but one that pops into my head immediately is from a looooong time ago when I was in either middle school or a freshman in high school – I can’t exactly remember the when. A new family had moved in a street over from where I lived and I had developed a crush on one of the boys. Some of my girlfriends and I made up some reason to go knock on the door. We all had dressed for the occasion complete with mini-skirts and cute shoes. Well I was a tom-boy so walking in those cute shoes was not something I was used to. As we turned to walk down the wide steps from the front porch, I slipped and slid alllll the way down and ended up with my mini-skirt up to...

Reagan playing with Oscar

Through your nose apparently.  Yup, corn is meant to be shoved up your nostril and inhaled.  At least that is what Reagan thinks.  And it is just the perfect size and buttered just right to make insertion a breeze.  Ay!  I spent about 30 minutes trying to make sure all the corn was out of her nose.  She was not too pleased with that.  I've mentioned to our family before that I see an ER trip in my future to have something or somethings removed from her nose.  Ever since she realized there were holes there she has been obsessed with shoving things in there for safe keeping.  Thankfully, so far, we've been able to remove her, uh, treasures.  The good news of today is that she has been fever free for over 24 hours!  Hooray!  That means we don't have to go back to the doctor for a urine sample via catheter.  Of course by the time we got to the doctor yesterday her fever had broken.  She was checked all over and after se...

I came across a very sweet blog done by Lindsay and Jon  and was moved by their plan to adopt a little girl from Ethiopia.  This child already lives in their hearts and even has a name - Emersyn.  They are moving through the process of international adoption and like most hopeful parents-to-be, they are struggling with the costs to complete the process.  To help, they've held and are planning several fundraisers.  The neatest idea I have ever seen is the puzzle piece fundraiser.  They have chosen the First Kiss puzzle - The First Kiss photo where a Mama giraffe is giving her baby a big kiss on the head. They have a PayPal link on their blog where you can sponsor a puzzle piece for $5 and your name (or family name, or child(ren)'s name(s), etc.) will be lovingly written on the back.  When the puzzle is complete, they are going to frame it in a double glass frame to hang in Emersyn's room where she will always be able to see the names of the many peopl...

Well since yesterday I've done some more tweaking on my blog.  I am now 99% happy with the results.  As I posted in my update yesterday, I found a template that I really like on http://lenatoewsdesigns.blogspot.com/ .  She also has some really great Premades that are only $5 and all monies raised from the Premades go towards her adoption.  There is some really beautiful stuff there.  The 1% that I am not happy with on my blog is 1- I can't figure out how (or even if I can) to change the way my Blog Title appears in the heart frame.  I'd love for it to be each word on a new line that is stair-stepped.  Kind of like this: Born      From             My                Heart And 2 - I wish the column widths were adjustable.  I'd like for the column of the posts to be a bit wider.  But really, o...

Today I got to messing around with the Blogger provided templates to try to make my blog look more like I wish it looked.  I consider myself moderately technically inclined however when it comes to web design stuff, I am clueless.  So, the new design is closer to what I picture in my head but yet not exactly what I want it to look like.  For one, it is a little darker and monochromatic than I'd hoped for but I had reached the end of my abilities.   I also really want to have a button of my own but can't seem to understand the instructions on the web for how to do it.  I had dabbled with a prototype of one a couple months ago but even that wasn't exactly what I pictured. So, if there are any web design savvy people out there who know how to create a vision in Blogger and are sitting around bored with nothing else to do, want to help me out?  I'll be forever grateful! UPDATE - I found a Freebie template I liked on  http://lenatoe...

Happy Friday everyone!  I can't wait to play this weekend.  Not sure yet what exactly we will be doing although I hope to get over to LeeAnn's  for some play time on Saturday afternoon.  Then I have to schedule some time to get into my busting at the seams junk room to prepare for a yard sale.  NOT looking forward to that room but it will be so much better afterwards.  On Wednesday night, I took Reagan to Chick-Fil-A for dinner and to let her play in the play area.  She's still too small to climb up the tower - the platforms are spaced too high - and there were no other kids in there at the time so I let her climb inside the slide.  (my phone takes the worst quality pictures!) She would climb around the first bend, turn around and slide back down.  After a few times of this, I sat on one of the benches and started playing on my phone.  Next thing I know, I hear giggling and little feet running over my head.  That bugger managed ...

Hmmmm...What is on TV?

I took the day off from work so Reagan and I could go to Magic Kingdom at Disney World with my dad (Pop-Pop), my aunt, my cousin, her husband and their son Ryan who were all visiting from out of town.   We were SO EXCITED to see them all again and we had so much fun at the park.   Reagan especially loved spending time with her cousin who was very accommodating to her and quickly was added to her collection of trained monkeys and snuggie partners. This was Ryan's FIRST.TIME.EVER at Magic Kingdom and I, being the loving Aunt Dawn that I am, made sure to get him his 1st Time Visitor pin to wear for the day - even if that is kind of embarrassing for a 12 year old.  Teeheehee.  A momentous occasion such as this requires fanfare for sure.  Then it was on to the ferry to get to the park.  I spent the first 15 minutes trying to insist that he get Mouse Ears to wear.  I even showed him that we could get his name embroidered on the back too.  He ...

I was talking to a friend of mine about the “dangers” of indoor playgrounds for kids and to be honest, I never really thought of anything bad before this friend starting speaking of things like e Coli and Strep (C and/or G). But, it actually made me laugh out loud as I considered how I handle Reagan and “dirt/germs”. I don’t take potential illnesses lightly however Reagan has proven to have a really good immune system – having only had one honest to goodness full blown cold in her 21 months. She’s had the occasional fever here and there along with short term malaise from a vaccine reaction or two and fleeting intestinal issues but nothing that required a trip to the doctor. She’s actually only had two sick visits – one when my husband and I both had the flu last year and it wasn’t certain how to handle well family members (she never got it) and the other when she was near the end of her cold and we were about to fly. So I consider her a rather hardy little thing that I let roam the w...

Yesterday I had the best *stress-free* saturday that I have had in a long time!  It started early with heading out to Bryce's  first birthday party.  The party was held at a really great local park that has plenty to keep children occupied and happy.  First on Reagan's agenda was the really fun playground - and the big kid section at that! From there it was on to the Splash park.  She didn't play in the water as much as she ran around the outside of it but the entire splash park is fenced in so I was able to just chill and watch without having to chase her all over the place. After a little bit of yummy food, it was time to check out her first ever Bounce House!  She was intimidated by it for about 3 whole seconds and then she had the concept down easily.  She loved it! It wasn't long before she figured out how to navigate to the top of the attached slide and Little Miss No Fear went down without hesitation.  It is easily the highest slide she'...

Wooo-hoooo!  It's FRIDAY!  I am very excited about that.  And I am so excited for Bryce's big 1st B-day bash tomorrow!  Since I've been slacking on the blogging (the last month was crazy busy for me), I am going to try really hard to get back to it.  I decided to head over to Mama M's  for Five Question Friday.  Here we go... 1. Do you feel guilty spending money on yourself? That really depends on what I am buying but most of the time the answer is yes, I feel guilty.  2. How well do you know your neighbors? This question made me laugh out loud because there are a few things I know about a couple of my neighbors that probably most people wouldn't know about theirs so I would say I know my neighbors very well.  LOL 3. What age are you looking forward to being? I am no longer looking forward to being any age until and unless they figure out how to truly go backwards.  ;-) 4. Do you get excited when the mail com...

So August 27th was another CD1.  Which was interesting because August 26th was CD 61 - exactly the same as the last cycle.  I haven't been as diligent about taking the Soy as I'd hoped to be because it does seem to be helping with the regulating.  Oh well, I'll just sit back and see what the next 2 months brings.  I am sure the days being the same was just a freak coincidence but that is how PCOS seems to be for me.  Weird and annoying. 

Angel is a 13 year old blind American Eskimo Dog girl that was dumped at the Orlando shelter and marked "stray". Thanks to the efforts of many, many people, she was saved! I had the pleasure of springing her from the shelter and cried part of the way home at the way she had been let down by her former "owners". Still, she showed an incredibly sweet and adventurous spirit despite her predicament. A very long transport to Iowa was quickly put together and she is now safe at American Eskimo Dog Rescue & Sanctuary of Iowa. Her adventures included many cars, two overnights, an RV ride and two small plane rides thanks to Pilots and Paws! And, as it turns out to be her style, she collected everyone's hearts along the way. We love you Angel and are so thankful to have been a part of your amazing rescue.

Head over to see My Little Life  and play along! 1. What were your school colors? High school was Blue/Gold and college was, well, Blue/Gold!  It was a convenient coincidence. LOL 2. What's the best compliment you ever received? My daughter.  The fact that her birth parents felt me worthy of that beautiful gift and precious life. 3. Do you buy cheap or expensive toilet paper? Expensive - I am a generic brand queen but NOT when it comes to toilet paper!  Ouch!  LOL 4. Have you ever had a surprise party thrown for you? Or have you had one for someone else? Nope.  Never.  I'm probably too nosey to have one thrown for me.  I think I'd probably catch on at some point.  I've been to a few surprise parties but never actually threw one either. 5. What is one material possession that you "can't live without"? DVR - I can't live without having Dora, Diego or Yo Gabba Gabba on emergency stand-by.  Plus, I can still catch the shows ...

On the 21st of June Reagan had her 18 month check-up. As usual she was extremely cooperative and interested in process of the exam and even knows how to breathe in and out when a stethoscope is near. LOL Her stats were: Height – 32 ¾ - 75% Weight – 20lbs 14ozs – 5% Head Circumference – 47 ½ - 75% These are all in her normal percentile – my tall, thin big brained girl! LOL Her exam was normal except for the doctor detected a very slight heart murmur that hadn’t been detected before. Since Reagan is growing, eating and has a normal energy and activity level, the doctor decided to wait and see if the murmur was just an anomaly. Today we went for our recheck and the murmur was still there so after we return from our week in Ocean City, MD, Reagan will be getting an EKG to confirm that the murmur is just a normal, benign murmur. I am not concerned about it but am looking forward to a Pediatric Cardiologist telling me that I am right not to be concerned. KWIM?

I am so happy Friday is here!  I have been exhausted this week.  But Friday it is always fun to play along with My Little Life  with Five Question Friday! 1. Do you collect anything? Actually I do.  I collect anything related to the movie Peter Pan.  I have a ton of stuff currently in boxes but I need to finally drag out the glass enclosed cabinet to have them out where I can enjoy them.  Oh and I even have a tattoo of Peter Pan and one of the silhouette of the Captain Hook ship.  A little obsessive?  Perhaps! 2. Name 3 celebrities that you find good looking. Well Brad Pitt has been a yummy favorite for me ever since Thelma and Louise.  I think Adam Lambert is incredibly hot.  And, hmmm, I am having trouble picking a 3rd.  Oh, yes, Tom Cruise during his Top Gun era...before he went a little off the wall. 3. Do you have any scars? If so, what's the story behind it (them?)? I have a few.  One is a bikini cut scar from th...

Feb 2010

Five Question Friday with many thanks to My Little Life 1. What is one thing you miss the most about childhood? Not having to shave my legs, or underarms, or bikini line, etc., etc., etc.  I dream about being able to wake up and put on a swim suit without reaching for the razor first.  2. Are you still friends with your friends from high school? Yes but we are not as close as I wish we were.  Geography took its toll on the friendships but I still love them and stay in contact via email and of course Facebook. 3. Is there a catch phrase, cliche, or word that just drives you bonkers every time you hear it? Not so much one when I hear it but there is one that when I see it I want to beat that someone with an English book.  I know not everyone is great at spelling and grammar and I know I mess up plenty but for some reason, seeing someone type "should of, could of, would of, etc." instead of should have, could have, would have just drives me nuts.  LOL 4...

I am fortunate that Reagan and I share similarities in looks.  That means that only those we wish to tell will ever know that she became my daughter through adoption.  I think that is pretty neat and just confirms what my heart already knows - she was meant to be my child, chosen just for me, delivered in just the right way at just the right time.  Sweet perfection.  Here are some other ways that I know she is mine: * Secret shared squeals and giggles from under the blanket that is over our heads. * Seemingly thinking the same thing at the same time...and realizing it. * Morning hellos from her crib with kisses waiting just behind them. * Those precious few moments when she climbs into my lap and sits very still and allows me to snuggle her.  I swear she does that for my benefit - LOL - it always happens just when I need it the most. * Her love of nakedness - it started with me as a child and spread to my nieces and nephews and no...

Raspberries!!!  This was last year.  Man they grow fast!

My modem/router at home broke and I'm not really supposed to be posting from work so that is why I've been a little MIA.  But, I wanted to get a quick post in today. Yesterday was CD1 - Hoooray!  LOL  I know, I know.  That is only exciting to other infertiles and women waiting to begin TTC.  I was happy because Saturday was CD61 so that was a huge improvement from the last time.  I am sticking with the Soy to see if it will help regulate.  Trying 240mg on CD 1-5 to see how that goes.  And while I was mostly miserable yesterday, I did take some time to enjoy watching my little skinny dipper have fun time in her little pool.  She makes me smile with just the simplest things.  :-) Silly baby! Splash-a, splash-a!