Good Gosh

I have been wanting to post but life has been crazy.  It's the holiday season, why would I expect anything different!  To sum it up, and until I can post later on............

1.  We found and buried my loving Keiko.
2.  I adopted a new little kitten named Nemo!
3.  Thanksgiving came and went with 4 full days of family/travel/friends.
4.  We all ended up sick after Thanksgiving.  Too much running and not enough rest.  I am STILL suffering from a cough.
5.  My Granny passed away a week ago tomorrow.  I still haven't accepted it I guess.
6.  Ryne is walking like crazy!!
7.  I have a 16 month old!  I still have yet to blog from his 15 month doctors appointment.

I hope to elaborate soon on these recent happenings and to post pics!

Where Has The Time Gone?

Can't believe it has been almost 3 weeks since I blogged!

I have a little boy who, next week, will be 15 months old!!!  Today while he was at a friends house he walked across her living room floor.  Of course, I was not there to witness it.  I was at a funeral.  He has spent the evening walking in between me and Rusty's recliners.  He'll be walking strong before we know it!  He's been cruising forever but he is just scared to take off.  He still doesn't say a lot of words but he is VERY vocal!  He LOVES to be outside.  I keep hoping this nice fall weather won't go away too soon.  He still loves to feed the geese and ducks at Gramma's.  They eat out of momma's hand and he gets a little cup with corn in it and he throws it through the fence.  He would stand out there forever!
He was a Tyrannosaurus Rex for Halloween.  He just rode around in his wagon and didn't really do much.  He enjoyed the sights and sounds though.  I'll post some pics when I'm done.
We got our burro's finally.  We have 2 males and 1 female and her baby which we think is a male.  The momma donkey was already named Daisy so we are sticking with a Disney/Pixar theme.  We have Daisy, Donald and Woody.  When we find out for sure what the baby is we'll name her/him.  Ryne loves to watch them and walk up and down the corral fence.  They get to eat junk food and apparently their favorite thing is Doritos.  We just don't have much junk like that.  Plus, Daisy likes to hog all the food and won't let any of the others get up there to get any.  We make sure they do though.  They are fun.  Can't wait to one day have cattle and horses.  Maybe a few pygmy goats too.  :o)
One animal missing from our home is my precious Keiko.  This coming Tuesday will be 3 weeks since I last saw him.  We found his break-a-way flea collar just behind the house where he likes to hang out.  We put up Rusty's game camera back there but we haven't seen him on it trying to come home.  We did have another dog show up that same day that Keiko never came home.  She looks like Rex's sister!  Funny thing, every time I would walk around and call for Keiko she (Blondie) would walk in front of me and lay down for me to pet her.  Sigh.  I miss my cat.
Two weeks or so ago we went to a Thunder exhibition game.  That was fun but I was tired!
Ryne has tons of teeth coming in and he loves to show you where his nose is.  He also likes to find yours for you and squeeze it HARD!  He has a little friend, Eli, that he has play dates with and it is fun.  Not just for him but for both momma's too!
I was able to enjoy TWO days of An Affair of the Heart this fall and it was amazing.  TIRING but amazing. I was so worn out.  SEVEN buildings of crafts, etc. was awesome.  The first day nearly killed me and we were there from 8:45 am to 6:15 pm.  The second day I went with another friend (my play date mom) and we were only there from about 9 to 12:30.  Phew!  Exhausting but so many great ideas seen.
I'm sure there's more.  As always!!

My lovely Keiko. I love you bubba!!!



Ryne wanted to bring this kitty home.  He loved Keiko and Keiko let Ryne love on him.  Makes me so sad.

Here is Ryne at his Grammy and PawPaw's.




Here is his first trick or treating experience this past weekend in Moore.  He held that Twix bar like no other!  LOL

Trying to figure out what the stuff is.  When someone can explain to me what value there is to giving a 15 month old candy maybe I'll let him try some.  Until then, keep your trap shut!  :o)

And below, not much candy for an hour and a half! He got three times as much on Halloween night in just an hour!  LOL

Cooler Weather, Outside Fun!

We haven't been up to much lately.  In September, we took a quick weekend trip to Hays and it was magnificent.  I was able to surprise a friend by just showing up on her doorstep.  It was the BEST reaction ever!  That's what happens when you don't call me back!  LOL  Can't wait to see her again!  I can't wait to see all of my friends again.  It was a long trip and bug had a rough couple of nights.  I'm not sure what the deal was but he usually sleeps all night and sure didn't for the whole trip!!  It was rough.  He came home and ended up sick then I had it afterwards.  Just a little head cold but man it was rough nights on him and momma.
The weather is cooler finally and we have so much enjoyed being outside.  I'll just prop the front door open and Ryne will come and go as he pleases.  He does not much care for grass so I don't have to worry about him going far!  I know that will change.  He is doing a lot of standing and actually took his first step this last Tuesday.  It was one step but it was a step!  He doesn't say a lot of words but he "talks" a lot and really LOUD!  :o)  He is just a toot.  So much fun!
I can't even think of what's been going on.  Probably because I'm watching Ryan Gosling on TV with no shirt on in "Crazy, Stupid, Love".  Ha!!
I'll put a picture in here.  Ryne loves to watch the ducks and geese at Gramma's house after she feeds them.

Looking at this last picture reminds me.  We gotta get this boy some good shoes!  Our wood floors are hard to maneuver having to have socks on all the time.

I didn't know..............

that my husband also participated in "So What Wednesday".  Apparently his was *so what if my wife said bring home supper.  I'm not gonna!"  I don't think he even knew it was "So What Wednesday"!  LOL

So What Wednesday

*So what if it has been almost a month since I've blogged!

*So what if I LOVE my open mouth kisses from my boy.  Even when he slips me the tongue!

*So what if I had Ritz Crackers for lunch.

*So what if I haven't emptied my dishwasher!

*So what if I told my husband the only thing he needed to bring home this evening was supper because I'm worn out after getting up every two hours these last two nights with my sick little man.

*So what if I haven't fixed my hair in 3 days........I haven't even gone anywhere so who cares!

So What Wednesday

What A Party!

So, it's been almost 3 weeks since we had Ryne's first birthday party.  Maybe I should blog about it.  In that time, I have also turned another year older.  Poor Ryne, people are going to think we are his grandparents at his high school graduation!
On his actual birthday daddy and I sang to him and put a candle in his cupcake.  It was all fine and dandy until he reached for that pretty little yellow/orange thing moving on top of the candle.  LOL  He also had his one year appointment and was rewarded on his birthday with shots and a blood draw.  He was such a big boy and did great.  Even better, all was normal!  He weighs about 21 pounds and is average on his height.  His weight has finally caught up with his length!
He is not a fan of sweets and that thrills me.  Probably because he never had anything but pureed fruits in the aspect of sweets up until that photo shoot on the 6th.
His birthday party went off without a hitch.  Thankfully it was a cool 96 and not the 113 we had previously been having!  All the family did great and so did Bug.  Here are just a few pics.  We rented the pavilion at the park and there was also a small splash pad.

His banner.  $15 is all this cost.  It was so cute!

The empty trough.  It looked really cute once the drinks were in it!

We just had cake and mints/nuts.  

His smash cake.

His FIRST birthday cake!  It turned out good.  I plan to make them from now on.  

The party favor boxes were super cute!  They had a pig snout to wear, stickers, crayons and farm note pad, corn shaped water blower and a few other things.  His gift table was overly full after this picture.  He made out like a bandit.  I was especially pleased with the amount of books he received.  He loves books!

I made his shirt.  The front said "Today I am one-derful!"

" I thought I told y'all I don't eat this sweet stuff?"

My ham.

Momma had some fun.  Ryne didn't know WHAT to think! LOL

Sugary sugars!

Daddy got momma back.  Ryne was still just amused with daddy's icing covered face!

Um, yep!  Beautiful, I know!

This was one of my gifts I made for Ryne.  The animals are interchangeable so we can decorate it however fit for his age plus we can take it if we move, etc.  I can't believe people charge $35 for these things! 

Gramma got Ryne his coverage wagon and he LOVES it!!!!!  I personally LOVE the name tag!

I was OH SO SURPRISED by the arrival of one of my best friends from Hays!  Renee and her mother surprised us at the party.  I am still in shock!  It was so fun!  She finally got to meet Ryne.  She is only the second friend from Hays that has got to meet him.  Staci did but he was only 2 months old at the time!

Daddy and Ryne cooling off at the splash pad.  After this we had a tired Ryne.  He did so good for all the action!

You Are My Sunshine

You are my Ryno, my sunshine, my bug, my toot, my love, my everything.  You love "Itsy Bitsy Spider" and wave your hands in front of you "washing the spider out" when you want Momma to sing it to you.  You love, love, love your Ellie and she is your sleeping buddy.  You absolutely will not go to sleep if you have a dirty diaper and are aware of it.  You love bread!  You love Graduates Little Crunchies (Garden Tomato, Veggie Dip and Cheese).  You weigh around 21 pounds and wear 12 months clothes even though they are a little wide for you.  You are a long one!  You go to bed roughly around 6:30 each night and sleep anywhere from 7 am to 9 am.  If you aren't over tired we can lay you down and you don't make a peep.  I love this about you.  I sing "You Are My Sunshine" to you each night before bed and "Good Morning Beautiful" (edited a bit) in the mornings.  You love to dance in your silly way, you sing and you light up my world.  I love you Ryne!  Happy First Birthday Sweetheart!!!  Now, it's almost that time (4:06 am).  Going to head into your room so I can be with you at the very moment my life gained meaning one year ago!  Oh I love you!!

Ryne's First Playdate

Today Ryne had his first official playdate.  It was so much fun and I'm not sure if I enjoyed it more than him! To sit and talk to another adult all while watching my son have fun.  I loved it!

It is so darn hot here and it makes it hard to get out.  I keep thinking there is something wrong with my AC in my car and then I realize that it just can't keep up!  Plus, in my new car the front two windows are not tinted and that has just been moved to the priority list!

In less than one week Ryne will be one year old.  I know, I know.  I keep saying it.  It is still just too soon.  I love how much growing he has done but I don't want him to be one already.  He will always be my baby, I don't care how old he is.  He'll ALWAYS be my baby boy, my bug-a-boo, my sunshine, my wonderful.

Gramma Day Turned Into Family Day

Tuesday is lunch with Gramma day.  Ryne and I go up to Moore and pick Gramma up from work for lunch then take her back and go hang out at her house.  Well, today we got to see Uncle Tommy, Aunt Tammy, Cousin Brad, Aunt Vicki and also Gramps of course.  Just Daddy was missing!  It was a good "family" day!

It was also a LATE day for my bug.  Didn't go to bed until around 8:30.  He got his second wind when we got home.  It allowed him some Daddy time so that's good!

P.S. ONE week from today my bug will be one year old.  I still just can not believe it!!!!!!!!

Hot, Hot, Hot

This time last year I was 37 or so weeks pregnant and boy was I hot.  I saw a girl in Wal-Mart two weeks ago who looked about 8 months along, in flip flops and had swollen ankles.  Oh, did I feel for her.  And I mean LITERALLY feel for her.  I don't think I will ever forget being pregnant in the summer of 2011; the hottest on record for Oklahoma.  In fact, I think the 3rd trimester of my pregnancy is one thing that keeps me perfectly content with one child.

Speaking of being hot, Ryne stays pretty cool in the Prius since it's so small but when we are in the Pacifica it is so hard for the air to circulate around to him.  Being a third row vehicle makes it a little difficult with all that extra space for the cool air to go.  I saw this at Wal-Mart and put it in the car today.  It works so well and will help redirect the air to him.  I'm sure he will get a kick out of watching it oscillate too.

Regardless of the heat, sometimes when Ryne sees his swing out the window he points and "eh's" to go out so we go anyway.  Only thing is that it faces the east so today I switched it to face the west.  The child loves to be outside and I can't wait for it to cool off a bit.

Well, guess I'll let this do.  Ryne and I are off to Gramma's tomorrow to have lunch with her.  Then we will go to her house and make Gramps a peach cobbler.  Yummy!  Then Aunt T and cousin Brad are gonna stop by.  Yay!

So...Lazy...Lately

So, I went and spent four days with my mother on the 16th.  We worked, and worked, and worked.  I helped her throw away/donate/store probably 12 or 13 large black trash bags full of stuff.  We cleaned out all closets and also the kitchen.  Something that's been needing to be done for a long time.  I was so worn out!  The last night I didn't go to bed until 1:00!  I think it has taken me a while to recuperate and even then my body is still down from it!  Either way, we did an amazing job!!!
That same week my bug went for his first ever haircut.  I am so very proud of him and so very blessed that he was so well behaved.  He loves pretty girls though!

Here's my first attempt at posting a video.  Don't mind the huge hick voice when I say mohawk!  Oh my......

That next weekend we ran down to Stratford to the Peach Festival with my mom and  her husband.  It was HOT and it was only 10:00 am!!!  We got some Pullen Peaches and they are stinking AMAZING!  I got a recipe for peach cobbler that was so dang simple off of the blog "How To Cook Like Your Grandmother".  This guys blog is amazing.  Ryne was a hot boy but he did great.  Here he is showing off his hillbilly tooth up top!

Let's see.  What else....oh!  I finally went and ordered Ryne's birthday cake today!  I was pleasantly surprised to find out the "smash cake" is free!  Woo hoo!  His birthday party theme is farm animals and I got the supplies from www.birthdayexpress.com and I am so pleased!  Next year I hope to make his cake as I plan on taking cake decorating classes.  I have always wanted to.  My Granny was a professional cake decorator.  Unfortunately, she was not able to make my wedding cake as that was usually her gift.  Her poor hands just couldn't take it any more.  So, in my books, no cake will ever be as good as Granny's but I sure hope to be able to decorate one as good as her one day!

I've just been lazy since the week at my moms.  I sure do want to do my own house in regards to the "throw shit away!" theme.  I say I've been lazy but Rusty says as long as the house is taken care of, Ryne is taken care of and laundry done he doesn't care!  I would have to admit that I do keep a clean/straightened up house.  I am amazed at how many people these days don't "dust".  I think it's because we have too much of that trinket "shit" I was talking about!!!  :o)

I'm sure there's more.  But...........the fact that I got this posted is amazing in itself.  Miss my friends....Renee, Becca, Staci and Aubrey.... something awful!  Believe me, when I can work it out financially I'll be up!  Rusty is even wanting to come so we may head up that way for a weekend soon.

I Knew It Was Coming....

I struggle with the job I currently have....Stay At Home Mom.  I feel like people look at me and think that must make me stupid, not very smart, no common sense, I don't know what I'm talking about, and so on.  (I worry too much what other people think of me.)  Well, it finally happened.  Someone actually said it to me.

I was commenting on me in fact knowing what I was talking about because I had a degree in Biology (which was related to the subject and it was what I learned while studying Biology) and was told "well you're not using it".  Um, yes I am right now, but because I'm a "stay at home mom" my information is not valid I guess?

An education is never wasted.  Sometimes I feel like it, but I have to remind myself that I am in fact smart.  I do have an education and I am more than a Stay At Home Mom.  I am a teacher, friend, mother, maid, cook and the list goes on and on.  All that matters is that I do right by my son.

Ok, maybe not a cook, but I do fix stuff now and again.  :o)

Blog coming soon.  Been a busy little thang!  My bug will be 1 year old soon.

OH MY GOODNESS!!!!

Hope Your 4th Went Out With A Bang!

Ryne's bedtime is normally around 6:30 so we did not go anywhere.  We bought a few little things like poppers and smoke bombs; spend all of $8.00!!  We did get one little thing that was more like a "firework".  Well, the loud SHRIEK at the end put an end to his fireworks! LOL  Even the sparklers after that weren't going to make it.  It was still light out so it wasn't even as visually appealing to him as it should have been.  We forgot to do the parachute one so we will do it for him later.  We may try another night with sparklers if he can stay up late enough!  We went up on the roof when it was dark and watched a couple of shows; one that was about 15 miles away and another that was 5.  Not exactly how I like watch fireworks but it will do until Ryne is older!
Hope to post more picks soon.  Hope your 4th was fantastic!  Oh, and Ryne's went out with a shriek!  Ha

My Little Love Bug

Somewhere along the way we started calling Ryne "Bug".  His nickname is supposed to be Ryno.  At last that's what we always thought we'd have it be. LOL!  Lately I want to call him Whiny Ryney!  Someone went ALL day today without more than about a 15 minute nap.  It was rough!

Even though he has Pawpaw's big ol' pool to swim in we got out his little wader pool and he enjoyed it!  It has been hot here but not as hot as in Kansas.  Thinking of my friends as they burn up like we did down here last year.  That was probably the hardest part of the pregnancy.  That dang 100 plus heat for over a month!
He was well worth it.

We have a super busy weekend this weekend.  We are finally going to Eischen's to eat some fried chicken that every one always rave's about.  After that, a little swim with Pawpaw and Grammy then off for a dinner date with just the hubby.  We will end the weekend by going to Moore to visit Grandma Claribel as she is coming from Manhattan for a short visit.  She will be 103 this year!  I can't wait to get Ryne's picture with her again!

I honestly think there was more I was going to blog about but for the life of me I can't think of it!

Is It Hot Yet?

Wowza.  I'm such a wuss now.  I think being an August deliverer last summer (partially without central AC) caused me to have a severe aversion to heat!  I can't stand it now!  I put Ryne's little wader pool out this am with water in it so it would warm up for when he wakes up this afternoon from his nap.
He has got two more teeth that finally broke through (hence his being a complete toot recently).  He has become super clingy.  He has also become a big fan of biting me.  Me, I'm not so much a fan of it so I've started pumping a bit more.  I think he is also doing a bit of self weaning as he isn't interested in getting as much milk as previously.  Yesterday he woke up from his nap at Gramma's and I found him crying in his pack and play.  He was crying because he was standing up and holding on to the side and felt "stuck".  Today I got to watch him do that in his crib so I could pick him up.  At the library Monday he finally exhibited frustration when another child offered him a toy then took it back.  He also wants to hold his spoon but only after I get a good amount of food on it.  So, I give him a spoon and then I have a spoon also.  He's doing great on eating and tries what we are eating.  He likes all vegetables and fruits.  We only have fruit at breakfast and then afternoon snack.  He loves, loves, loves books and that makes me sooooo happy!  He responds to "no"...sometimes with a little reinforcement or repeating.  We have started planning his first birthday party and it's stressful with having both of our parents divorced.  My mom and dad have gotten better at getting along and can be in the same place and be fine.  We just have such diversity within our family.  Bleh.  Anyway, can't wait for it!  I need to get a cake figured out!  Geesh, I can't believe my little guy will be a year old!!!
I'm sure I was going to blog more but I can't think of it right now.  I need to get off of here and get some stuff done.  Tomorrow is my big "get stuff done" day!  Here's some pics!  Standing at the dirty front door (from the pups who have since wondered off) and then eating a noodle at lunch with Gramma on Tuesday.  Gramma tried to show him how to slurp it in.  LOL!

Where To Start

I wonder where I should start?  I think I should just upload pictures and let that do.  Ha!
Let's see....
In April we went to Zac Brown Band.  LOVE their music!

Around May 18th was the week I got poison sumac.  We have it all over the farm.
On May 21st I had my gallbladder out.
On May 30th or so my Uncle Gary passed away.
It had been a busy couple of weeks there and I found myself slumping into a little bit of depression I think.  I also think I was just missing my friends quite a bit.  Anywho!
A few weekends ago we went to the OKC Memorial.  I had been on a teacher continuing education stint back in the day where we got to tour behind the scenes, see the archives, and also listen to a survivor plus hear the man who caught Timothy McVeigh tell his recount.  Rusty and I had gone when we first started dating but he had never been inside the museum.  When Charles Barkley commented that every one should make a point to see the Memorial, I thought that should include my husband and child.  So, off we went on Ryne's first museum trip.  Rusty was very impressed.

Seeing Rusty's shirt in the pictures above reminded me of something.  We went to a Redhawks game one evening and didn't get a playbill when we went in.  While we were walking around I suggested we grab one. Sitting at the game, Rusty flipped through it to find that if we took our tickets to the Newcastle Casino we could get a free throwback shirt.  Not just ANY shirt, it was a free RYNE SANDBERG throwback shirt.  The very  man our son was named after!  So, off we went into the smoky abyss to claim our free shirts.  We were super excited.  We don't go to casinos nor gamble but since we were there Rusty handed me a $20.  I tripled my money on a penny machine and then I was out of there!  They gave me a free shirt plus another free $40!  Suckers!  :o)

Father's Day was amazing.  After breakfast Rusty and Ryne took a nap and slept for 3 whole hours!  Momma worked around the house.  Then we went to Rusty's dads and cooked out and swam.  This was Ryne's first time in a pool and he absolutely loved it.

We have a small pool for him but haven't set it up yet.  We had a couple of cool nights here recently.  Plus, we have FIVE stray pups running around.  (Today only 2 as 3 have since wondered off).

Ryne is growing and changing by leaps and bounds.  He is wanting to stand, stand, stand and walk, walk, walk.  Only thing, he wants YOU to be involved in him doing it.  He loves his books and is also crawling up on things.

Today we went back to the dermatologist and thankfully the ARNP that we previously saw called in the actual dermatologist to make sure he was doing what he should.  I was a little pissed when we went to Ryne's 9 month appointment and his pediatrician asked how long he had been on the hydrocortisone he was prescribed.  He had been on it for a month and a half.  Found out from the pediatrician that you are only supposed to use it for no more than two weeks or it will start to thin the skin out.  I was very upset about that and so was he.  I'm hoping what they are doing this time will help.  Seven months is too long for this in my opinion.
I got another vehicle in March.  It's used but is "new" to me.  We don't drive it a lot because who wants to drive something that gets half the gas mileage that the Prius does?!?  LOL  It's a 2006 Pacifica and it's pretty much loaded out.  I'm not big on leather seats but they will be easier to clean once Ryne gets a little older.  The built in DVD will be nice but I'm not big on him watching much TV anyway.  We mainly got it for longer trips as the Prius is nice and big but not when you load in a pack and play, stroller, and luggage etc.  So, I have my "Momma Wagon" now.  :o)  It is super comfortable and roomy, that's for sure!

Well, I'm not sure what else I got.  Just trying to stay cool and keep my baby boy entertained and learning as much as he can.  I know one thing, I'm not looking forward to all the boo boo's we are going to be getting soon!

Here are just some random pictures.  One is of my nephew, Brad, and Ryne.  These pictures are rare as my nephew doesn't like to be in pictures!

 Ryne thinking he had to stay up late with Gramma and I in the hotel room to watch the Thunder win a playoff game.

 At the library!

 Pulling up!  This is where he first did it several weeks ago.

  A Father's Day gift for my step-dad that I made from Ryne and I got the idea off of Pinterest.  

 Chilling in his special chair at Gramma's!

 I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this picture!

 Oh, THUNDER UP BABY!!!!