Day 3: Keeping Busy

The bad thing is that I miss my hubby :(

The good thing is that I've been all sorts of productive trying to stay busy so the time goes by fast.

On Sunday, Marshall and I cleaned the living room, dining room, and most of the kitchen. I still have some more organizing to do but I was happy with what was accomplished.

On Monday, we got up bright and early and headed off to Target to pick up some baby and cleaning supplies. Then we stopped at our local Stop & Shop so I could pick up some frozen dinners for my lunches and various grocery supplies. Baby and I got in a nappy in the afternoon as well. I even remembered to take out the trash last night :)

Today, after I got Marshall down for the night, I started my first lesson for Rosetta Stone. My employer has a contract with Rosetta Stone so I have access to it until October. I hope to get through most of the levels for Spanish by then.

BTW... Freddy called today. He was counting bullets. Our tax dollars at work, folks :)

~AKO

Day 2: Happy Memorial Day!

Please remember those who are serving and those who gave the ultimate sacrifice.





~AKO

Day 1: Operation Drop-Off

We had to drop Freddy off this morning for the start of his Annual Training. He spent the last 2 days getting ready and packing all his stuff. It sucks that they felt reporting the day before Memorial Day was a good idea. If you know anything about government agencies, they normally take 4 day weekends around holidays and that includes the Army. So what they'll probably do is bus them all to their location this morning and then they'll sit around and do nothing until Tuesday. Your tax dollars at work, folks :)

Anyway, I'm just hoping I remember what night is trash night and which is recyling. Freddy normally takes care of that so hopefully our house won't be overrun by garbage when he gets back. The good thing is that Marshall is still too young to realize that Daddy is going to be gone for an extended period of time.

The hard thing about the National Guard is that there really isn't the same kind of community that the active members enjoy. The Guard and their families are usually spread out all over the state and don't really know each other. When Marshall starts school, he will most likely be the only kid in his class with a parent in the Guard so he won't have anyone to relate to when Daddy is gone.

I guess I'll cross that bridge when I get there. At least baby will keep me busy and the time will go by quickly.





~AKO

Harder on Mama

I never believed it before but vaccinations are definitely harder on mama than they are on baby.  Marshall had his 6 month vaccinations today and of course just screamed as soon as the first needle went in.  A minute after the nurse was done he was all smiles again but I felt horrible.

Now he is wiped out from the trauma we put him through.

Scentsy!

A couple of months ago you may remember my post about a Scentsy giveaway. Well, I won that giveaway and really enjoyed the product. I enjoyed the product so much that I order some more room sprays (which work fantastically in the area that houses our litter boxes!!!), additional scents and another warmer. I got to thinking about the product itself and what a great idea it is that there is no open flame, especially with a baby and 4 cats. The last thing I need is someone knocking over a candle!

This past weekend I decided to start selling the product myself. I thought it was a great opportunity to start a little part-time business for myself to meet new people and earn a little extra money.

I would love for you to check out my personal website when you have a free moment. If you like what you see and wuld be interested in ordering some product for yourself or hosting a party just let me know.

https://amandaolvera.scentsy.us/Home

You can also "Like" my facebook page for updates on new products such as the warmer and scent of the month. Just click the "Like" button in the box over on the right hand side of my blog.

Of course this had to be my first warmer :)




~AKO

Meet the Great-Grandparents

One of the things I was so happy we were able to do while in Michigan was introduce Marshall to his only set of Great Grandparents - my grandparents on my dad's side. Until this year, they living year round in Florida so I didn't know if they every would be able to meet him so I made sure we made some time to visit with them. Especially since he is their namesake.






~AKO

Handy Gadgets

Awhile ago I mentioned my new smart phone. Well, I still don't know how to use 95% of its functionality. You would think, as an IT professional, that I would be more excited about all these new gadgets that are coming out these days. The truth is, I really don't care about most of them. So far I haven't felt the need to run out and spend $600 on the new iPad. Until it can prove to me that it will make my life easier, I can do without.

Well, there are a few things that I've found over the past few months have made my life a little easier. Even if it saves a few minutes of my time I consider it useful :)

1. The Kindle



So it took me a long time to jump on the eReader bandwagon. I just couldn't justify spending that kind of money on something when I could just pick up the book. Freddy got me one for Valentine's Day and now I don't know why it took me so long to get one! It has been so hard to find time to read, especially since Marshall was born. I used to read during my commute, but it became such a hassle to carry an additional book especially now that I have to lug a laptop back and forth to work. Before, I would hear about a book that I wanted to read but forget to write it down. Now I can just download it to my Kindle and read it when I'm ready. Not to mention eBooks are a few dollars cheaper than regular books. It is so much easier to try and read while I'm rocking Marshall to sleep as well. These days I have to make sure all of my time is used wisely :)

2. Beaba BabyCook



Everyone made fun of me for this one. Yes, I know you can still make your own babyfood with a regular food pocessor. But, I liked the fact that this little gadget is all in one. It steams, blends, defrosts, and heats food. With our limited amount of space, it is nice to not take up too much room. Just so everyone knows I still have to peel and cut the food!

3. Wireless Printer



Freddy got this for his birthday last year. I can print from the living room without having to email what I'm working on from my laptop to my desktop or the need to actually hook up the laptop to the printer. Very cool and time saving. Again... how did I get by with out this???

4. Nikon CoolPix



Don't get me wrong. I love my Nikon D3100 but I obviously can't lug it around everywhere we go. My Nikon CoolPix is small enough that I can keep it in my purse or bag and I have a camera on me at all times. You never know when Marshall is going to do something cute. Which is all the time!

5. Maclaren Trumph Stroller



Ok... I know this isn't a gadget. But it was super handy when I was travelling by myself with Marshall a couple weeks ago. The fact that you can fold and unfold it one handed while holding your infant paid for itself in about 2 minutes!

As I find more I'll definitely report my findings :)

~AKO

What I Did on My Vacation...

~AKO

100 Truths About Me

Work has been a bear. I sit in front of a computer all day and haven't even wanted to look at one when I get home. I am so behind on anything personal that involves getting online. Once I get Marshall home, changed, bathed, fed, and asleep - usually by 8:00am - I have been asleep not long after. You really start feeling old when you're asleep by 8:30!

My intent was to post som pictures from out trip to Michigan but now I'm starting to get a headache again. I'm guessing the air pressure again since it just got done raining... again. So, I'll try to post some over the next couple of days since Marshall was nothing but spoiled last week by my family.

In the meantime, I got this idea from Party of Five

100 truths about me...

001.Real name → Amanda
002. Nickname(s)→ Manda, Mandy
003. Zodiac sign → Cancer
004. Male or female → Female
005. Elementary → Sacred Heart Academy & Ganiard Elementary
006. Middle School → West Intermediate Junior High
007. High School → Mt. Pleasant High School
008. Hair color → Brown
009. Long/Short → Long
010. Loud or Quiet → Depends on my mood :)
011. Sweats or Jeans → Sweats... I wish I could wear them everywhere!
012. Phone or Camera → Both
013. Health freak → Semi
014. Drink or Smoke? → Drink socially
015. Do you have a crush on someone? --> Does my husband count :)
016. Eat or Drink → Do I have to pick one??
017. Piercings → Ears only
018. Tattoos → Nope

HAVE YOU EVER?
019. Been in an airplane → Yep
020. Been in a relationship → Yep
021. Been in a car accident → No
022. Been in a fistfight → No

FIRSTS:
023. First piercing → Ears when I was 10
024. First best friend → LeAnn... we met at the bus stop in Kindergarten
025. First award → I think an honor roll award or something like that
026. First crush → I'm sure it was someone in elementary school
028. First big vacation → Florida with my family. I remember we drove down in an RV but that's about it.

LASTS:
029. Last person you talked to → Freddy... I just sent him to Dunkin Donuts to get me some coffee :)
030. Last person you texted → Freddy
031. Last person you watched a movie with → Freddy
032. Last food you ate → Chicken Fingers
033. Last movie you watched → The Sound of Thunder
034. Last song you listened to→ Something latin at the street fair in my neighborhood
035. Last thing you bought → Dinner at Tommy's Diner
036. Last person you hugged → Marshall before he started his bedtime routine

FAVES:
037. Food → Totino's Pizza Rolls
038. Drinks → Diet Coke
039. Clothing → Jammies
040. Flower → Lilacs
042. Colors → Dark Blue
043. Movie→ Smokey and the Bandit
044. Subjects → Criminal Justice

IN 2010... I
045. kissed someone→ yep
046. celebrated Halloween→ nope... was in the hospital with Marshall
047. had your heart broken- no
048. went over the minutes/texts on your cell phone→ nope
049. someone questioned your sexual orientation→ Not that I'm aware of
050. came out of the closet→ no
051. got pregnant→ yeppers!
052. got someone else pregnant→ I wish Freddy could have been :)
053. done something you've regret→ I don't think so
054. broken a promise→ I hope not
055. hidden a secret → no
056. pretended to be happy → a few times
057. met someone who changed your life → Yes... Marshall!!
058. pretended to be sick → nope... Marshall made sure I didn't have to pretend :/
059. left the country→ No
060. tried something you normally wouldn't try and liked it→ No
061. cried over the silliest thing → Um... yeah :)
062. ran a mile → no one was chasing me so... nope
063. went to the beach with your best friend(s)→ No... I'm no much of a beach person
064. got into an argument with your friends→ all the time
065. hated someone→ Yes... but you probably don't want to get me started!
066. stayed single the whole year→ nope

CURRENTLY:
067. Eating → Nothing
068. Drinking → French Vanilla Coffee
069. I'm about to → Pobably go to bed
070. Listening to → The cats yipping at each other again
071. Plans for today → Didn't really have any but I managed to get the living room vacuumed
072. Waiting for → It to be 9:00 so I don't feel as bad going to bed so early

YOUR FUTURE:
073. Want kids?--> Probably one more
074. Want to get married? → Yes and planning to stay that way
075. Careers in mind → I'm currently a Project Manager but I would love to do something in Crinimal Justice

WHICH IS BETTER WITH A MAN
076. Lips or eyes → Eyes
077. Shorter or taller?→ Taller
078. Romantic or spontaneous → I think being spontaneous can be romantic
079. Nice stomach or nice arms → I guess it depends on your definition of "nice" :)
079. Chest or Bum? Not particular
080. Sensitive or loud → Sensitive, but not too sensitive
081. Hook-up or relationship → Relationship
082. Trouble-maker or hesitant? Depends on the situation

HAVE YOU EVER:
083. Lost glasses/contacts → Nope
084. Snuck out of your house → Nope
085. Held a gun/knife for self defense → No and hope to never have to
086 Killed somebody == No
087. Broken someone's heart → I don't think so... unless you count the stalker guy
088. Been arrested → No
089. Cried when someone died → Yes

DO YOU BELIEVE IN:
090. Yourself → I try to but it's not always easy
091. Miracles → Not sure yet
092. Love at first sight → Not really
093. Heaven → Yes
094. Santa Clause → Always!!!
095. Sex on the first date→ I guess it would depend on the mood
096. Kiss on the first date → Sure

ANSWER TRUTHFULLY:
097. Is there one person you want to be with right now? → Nope... they're both here
098. Are you seriously happy with where you are in life? → Almost... a few more things need to happen first
099. Do you believe in God → Yes
100. Post as 100 truths and tag 20 people.

Hmmmm.... I guess I'm not all that interesting :) Well at least Marshall thinks I'm hiliarious.

~AKO

Jet Setting

On our way home and we're already delayed 15 minutes in Cleveland.  So far Marshall is in pretty good spirits flirting with anyone who will give him some attention.  I have tons of pictures to go through for Marshall's big vacation.  Wish us luck that we don't get too delayed!

On the Road Again...

Baby Marshall has been all over Central Michigan this week visiting friends and family.  It is exhausting being the life of the party all the time!

6 Months

I'm a tad bit late with this post...over a week late!

Marshall was 6 months on April 30!

So what was Marshall up to in April? Well the month started out with an ER visit and croup :( All he wanted was to be held when we got home after spending the night in the ER. For those of you who have been following we think he is finally over this nasty cold he's had.





Marshall's first tooth popped through.





We started on solid foods this month. Marshall wasn't too sure about it at first but now he's eating Pears, Peas, and Sweet Potatos in addition to his rice cereal.





Marshall celebrated his 1st Easter.





He is sitting up with some support. We are not up on all fours yet but he is trying to get there.





Marshall is just an all around happy baby and everyone loves the Marsh.





He was 17lbs and 25in at his 6 month appointment and has graduated into his 6mth, 6-9mth, and 6-12mth clothes. I'm in the process of packing away his 3-6mth clothes. I can't believe my baby is already 6 months old!

~AKO

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day from Marshall and his family!





~AKO

First Flight

Today is Baby Marshall's first time on an airplane.  We're on our way to see my family in Michigan.  We've made it to Cleveland and so far so good.  Marshall slept the entire way from Newark.  So far baby's first flight is going better than expected.

Almost Done... I Hope...

We took Marshall to the pulmonary doctor on Friday and, as expected, they changed up his meds.  Marshall also had some chest xrays done to check his lungs.  He had a recheck with his normal pediatrician which went well.  There was hardly any wheezing so she does not need to see him again unless he gets worse again.  We have a recheck with the pulmonary doctor on Thursday and then I hope we're done with doctors for awhile.

Here's Marshall waiting patiently to have his xrays done.  He's been such a good baby through all of this.  And, as you can see, we don't go anywhere without Sophie :)