Popcorn & Movies on TBS

I love popcorn lately. So does Giuliana. I am sitting here on the couch, eating a bag of it, and I have some saved for her on the counter. She is napping. Its nice and quiet except the movie Sabrina playing on the TV. I like this movie too, some of it is set in Paris- and Paris I love!

Anyway, it's been a nice quiet weekend, not a whole lot was done, except resting and relaxing. I didn't even get around to getting a shower yesterday- although, I have had one now. Don't worry, I didn't smell.

I took this picture here at Darlene's yesterday- with her digital. I really have to talk her and Lori into getting DSLRs.

Tell the ones you love..

Tell the ones you love how you feel. Don't hold back. You never know what life has in store for you, or for them. Don't leave things unsaid, and don't leave things poorly between you and your loved ones. You have to remember that it very well could be the last time you see their face, or hear their voice.

That is the best advice I have ever been given, and could give to anyone.

Yesterday I was once again reminded of how fragile life is, and will always be. It is so sad that I so often let life get me down, and let others affect my mood in a negative way. It is even sadder (bad English I know) that it takes the untimely death of a 24 year old woman, who I went to high school with, to remind me of this.

Melissa, God Rest Your Soul. You may be gone from Earth too soon, but you will never be forgotten -- so you will never really be gone. Heaven is a more beautiful site with your smiling face at the Gate.

Happy Birthday, America!

Well, its been a week or so, and It finally looks like I have a few minutes to come back and blog about the 4th of July weekend.



Let me tell ya, sick babies are no fun! Giuliana was sick starting the Friday before the 4th till yesterday (7-11) with some sort of bacteria infection in her intestines or GI tract. Fun huh? Needless to say, Saturday night we had a slight revival in her spirits so we took her to a party at her Aunt Sharon's house. It was a nice afternoon, filled with good food and good company. I had a good time, and so did Giuliana.

I managed to take a few pictures, down below, with Lori's point-n-shoot.

The black and white ones are of Giuliana and Alex watching fire works! I was worried she would be scared of the noises, but she did pretty well. Towards the end she was pretty done with it, and had no problem telling you- or anyone who was listening- that she wanted to go home.



Here is Nana and PopPop sitting on a cooler :D


Here I am! Yep. I am ACTUALLY in a picture with my child! I had Lori take one so there would be one of us from the Holiday. Then of course, look at the one below of her and Alex. WAY better. I am beginning to think she doesn't like to have her photo taken with me...hrrm..



Here I am in MORE pictures.. Gosh, what WAS I thinking... Giuliana and I layed down on the hot tum cover to talk about the colors in the trees and moon etc and she asked Ashley (more like TOLD her) to lay down with us. Then Ashley asked Giuliana what she was looking at and she said " Vance up there ". I think it kind of caught Ashley off guard, but I quickly explained what Giuliana meant so Ashely understood what Giuliana knew. Stephanie took this picture of us all laying there after that conversation took place. Then right after that Giuliana rolled over and hugged and kissed me- As Stephanie stood up above us and took this sweet picture.


At the end of the night, before the fireworks, I followed the girls out into the yard and took this sweet photo. I think Giuliana was happy to be sitting there with them. Look at where her hands are- sweetly placed on each girls' leg.

"See My Big Muscles, Momma!!"

Yep! You heard (Read) it here first folks! Giuliana says to me " See my big muscles, momma!" as she puts money into her piggy bank here at Nana & Pop-Pos house. It doesn't actually require big muscles, but you do have to force the money into the bank because it's one of those automatic counter type things. Anyway, she was adorable.


The headband was made by a girlfriend of mine in Jacksonville who does a lot of them for people on the boards. Her name is Lisa, and I am sure she has an etsy site or a website, I'll ask her and come back and post it if she does have one. Not only is the headband cute, I am SO thrilled she left it on, and has hair long enough to wear it :D


Last night Giuliana, Dave and I went to Chilis where Alex and Lori were going to come meet us. It gave me an excuse to try this new set on Giuliana. She had worn the top to school before, but not with the pants. I must say, I was excited to see it on her. It was cuter (in my opinion) than what I even thought it would be. Giuliana isn't feeling well, and really wasn't into haviing her picture taken, so I only got a few.. ..



Plus, I have discovered something. I am spoiled now.Don't laugh yet, this really is a new thing for me :) Ever since I got the Nikon D80, I don't want to take pictures with anything else. I am used to the speed of that camera and I dont have the patience that the point-n-shoots require ;) I'll be happy when my camera comes back from it's month long trip across the united states and Alaska.

Time Away...

This past weekend, I went away. For the first time since Giuliana was born, I left her behind. Now that it's all over, and everything was fine while I was gone, I am glad I did it. But I'll admit, I was nervous. I am always worried something will happen to her if I leave her behind, or send her away for the weekend. It's normal, and it's also a little bit paranoid. But, that's me. A little corky. What can I say....

Look at what happens when I leave Giuliana with her Nana and PopPop.. They picked her up from school, and brought her home. M&Ms were on the agenda, a Wal-Mart tee and a Dora hat... Man oh Man.. Nana also sent me this picture when I was gone, with a caption.."Look Mommy, I am a fashion statement"


Wondering where I went? Well, I went to Fort Wayne, Indiana. What could POSSIBLY make me go to Ft Wayne? Matilda Jane, of course. What else?? Denise, the owner/designer at MJC had a big party on Friday night at a local Art Gallery around the corner from the main office. There were a lot of us girls that flew and drove in for the party. What a great time I had. It was WONDERFUL to finally meet Denise and her husband David. They have 2 really cute boys who were fun to play with. Specially that boy Gabe, hes a little older than Giuliana, and SOOO full of fire. I also got to meet some of the Trunk Keepers (Sales Reps) and some of the girls I chat with on the clothing boards. I am waiting on Tami, one of my girlfriends, to send me the pictures she took. Once I get them, I'll post them. For now I only have a few..

This is Amy.. She is from Tampa and her and I have hung out before.. Lucky for us, she was in Michigan already on vacation and Ft Wayne was only a few hours away ;)


This is Tami.. Gosh, she was just GREAT! Her and I spilt a hotel room and rental car. It was a BLAST. She lives too far away.. Colorado :( Good thing her and her family like to come to FL on vacation :D


Last.. and certainly not least.. This is a picture of Tina, Lisa, Sam & I. I am not sure, exactly, what I was laughing at. But whatever it was, obviously it was funny. If I had to guess.. Sam was making jokes about something as the photographer was getting ready to snap the picture.


I'll have more pictures to post once they get emailed to me.. I'll elaborate on my weekend away once I have them.. Blogging isn't as much fun with out photos ;)

Rough Days

I have been having a lot of those lately. It's been hectic, and money is tight. It's not always easy doing the single parent thing.

But anyway, I came home tonight, after a rough day, that just got worse. I was short with Giuliana, and irriated all the way around. I tried time after time to chill out, and not be so aggrivated. It never happened. She goes to bed and I come to check my email and read this.
_______________________________________________________
This morning, I am going to step over the laundry and pick you up and take you to the park to play.

This morning, I will leave the dishes in the sink and let you teach me how to put that puzzle of yours together.

This afternoon, I will unplug the TV and keep the computer off and sit with you in the backyard and blow bubbles.

This afternoon, I will not yell once, even a tiny grumble, when you scream and whine for the ice cream truck and I will buy you one if he comes by.

This afternoon, I won't worry about what you are going to be when you grow up, or second guess every decision I have made where you are concerned.

This afternoon, I will let you help me bake cookies, and I won't stand over you trying to fix them.

This afternoon, I will take you to McDonald's and buy each of us a Happy Meal so you can have both toys.

This evening, I will hold you in my arms and tell you a story about how you were born and how much I love you.

This evening, I will let you splash in the tub and not get angry.

This evening, I will let you stay up late while we sit on the porch and count all the stars.

This evening, I will snuggle beside you for hours, and miss my favorite TV show.

This evening when I run my fingers through your hair as you pray, I will simply be grateful that God has given me the greatest gift ever given.
I will think about the mothers and fathers who are searching for their missing children, the mothers and fathers who are visiting their children's graves instead of their bedrooms, and mother and fathers who are in hospital rooms watching their children suffer senselessly, and screaming inside that they can't handle it anymore.

And when I kiss you goodnight I will hold you a little tighter, a little longer. It is then that I will thank God for you and ask Him for nothing except one more day.

______________________________________________________
I bolded the sections that really got to me.. the ones that make this thing ring true.

It brough tears to my eyes, and I jumped up from the computer chair and went and got Giuliana out of bed, with tears in my eyes I told her over and over again how much I loved her and I was sorry for being upset with her tonight. I must have hugged her a million times, and kissed her too. She's so sweet. She said " I know that Momma".

I really couldn't have asked God for a better child or a sweeter gift. I love her, pieces.

Dots, Dots & More Dots!

I love polka dots on little kids. Actually, I just love polka dots. I think that kids can wear them a lot easier, than me for example, but I do love them.

I sent Giuliana to school in this outfit the other day, and some new shoes from Nana(the SHOE Nana to be exact). I got tons of compliments on it, which shocked me. But I guess people like the simplicity of it, and perhaps the fact that it "actually matches".



What's funny about this picture is the conversation that we had while I was taking it. Giuliana is CONVINCED that this bike rack is ACTUALLY monkey bars, and she will not hear you out when you try to explain to her what it actually was. Ah well, the beauty of being 2 ;)