Preschool Jitters

Yesterday, was the start of something new.  I attended my very first parent orientation.  Mason will be attending preschool on September 1st.  Unlike most preschool settings, this program consists of 3 buses located throughout the county which have been converted into classrooms.  The children attend classes two days a week for 1hr and 45 minutes each day.  

During the orientation, Ms. Lisa discussed all the policies and procedures.  And as I listened, the reality started to set in.  My little boy is growing up and starting school.  And although it's not on a full-time basis yet, I can't help but feel a little heartbroken.  Next year will be a whole different ball game and it will be here sooner than I know it.  It's really hard letting go, but I know the coming year will be very helpful to the both of us. 

It was clear to me that he's also going to have a hard time letting go of me as well.  During the orientation, the children were invited to visit two of the three buses.  First we visited Betsie, the cow spotted bus.  Mason was very hesitant and held on to my leg as tight as he could.  The teacher welcomed him and gave him a quick little tour.  "Would you like to stay and play for a while, while I go and meet with Ms. Lisa?", I asked.  He didn't like that idea.  So, I thought maybe he'd like visiting BeeBee, the purple bus that was full of kids playing.  Nothing changed.  He still hesitated.  It wasn't the reaction I was hoping for but I wasn't surprised.  He's a little shy, at first, but I know he'll learn to love it once he gets used to the idea and makes new friends. 

I do think that deep down inside there's a part of him that's looking forward to it.  Today we met with our builder and the first thing he said to him was, "You know what?!!! I'm going to school!!!"  He had the biggest grin on his face.  :o) 

I'm so excited for him!

First Comes the Snack, Then Comes the Girl...

And so it begins...

I've noticed the start of something new in my life.  My little guy has started helping himself to the kitchen.  In a way it's sort of bitter sweet.  I LOVE that he's helping himself BUT there will be a day when I'll go reach for that ONE little snack that I tried to hide beneath a pile of equally worthy yummies, just to find an empty box. A little box flirting with me, saying come and get me, you know you want me.  And as I take the bait, it gets me instead.  Oh the tease of an empty cookie box.

My sister tells me it happens to her all the time.  Who am I kidding... "There WILL be a day"?  PA~lease, girl. The day has come.

I have to admit, it's pretty cute hearing the pitter patter of little feet and a chair scooting to it's final destination - THE KITCHEN CUPBOARD or THE FRIDGE.  It all depends on the snack attack.

This is the start of him going out to dinner on his own, with his own money (nahhh, most likely still mine), with his own friends, WITH A GIRL!!!!   I may be getting ahead of myself.  After all, he IS just going in the kitchen, right????  I can't even think of girlfriends right now....

3-D Eyes

 Waiting at the ball park...

 and goofing around with 3-D glasses.

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Capture yourself in a photo and join Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans.

♫ Learning to Sing ♫

Today I thought I'd try something new and join Nan at Mom's The Word for Making Your Home Sing Monday. Every time you take pride in your home and in your family, you make your home sing.

Nothing is more rewarding than being a stay-at-home mom, especially when you're the one teaching you're little one his ABCs and 123s. I'm so proud of my little guy. He's like a little sponge when it comes to learning. It's always been that way. By the time he turned 2, he knew all the colors of the rainbow. I couldn't tell you how proud I was of him! Then, not long after turning 2, Mason discovered the computer and the Playhouse Disney website. Once again, I was amazed at how the knowledge came to him with such ease. Now, he navigates the computer as if he were a 3yr old Bill Gates. It's nothing short of amazement!

I can't help but wonder at times if my staying at home has anything to do with it. I'm no where close to being a rocket scientist, but I'd like to think that my one-on-one time with him has influenced him in some way.

Right now we're working on phonics. Yesterday I asked him to spell his name and slowly but surely, HE DID IT!!! Both our faces just lit up.

Sometimes, all it takes to making your home sing is to give your kids a little time and attention.

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Someone's not feeling too good.

MEDICAL REPORT

Patient: Mason
Symptoms: Coughing, Sneezing, and a Runny Nose
Self-Diagnosis: Brains in his belly


MOTHER'S RESPONSE
OH MY!


DOCTOR'S NOTES

Sounds to me like either the patient's made a new medical discovery or he's discovered the secret to eating smarter. Must keep overnight for observation.

SUPERHERO MEDICINE, TO THE RESCUE!!!!!!!

Something awesome happened this week!

Mason got both his H1N1 and seasonal flu shots. I've been so worried that he wasn't going to be able to receive them this year because of the limited supply. He had an appointment back in Oct. which got canceled because of the shortage. It took a whole month for the pediatrician to receive another supply.

When I made the appointment this time around, I was so excited and just hoping & praying that it wouldn't get canceled again. You know things are pretty bad when you're actually looking forward to getting your little one vaccinated, but I'm just glad that he had another chance for protection. So when the day came for his appointment, I was one happy momma. I told him we were going to the doctors office to get him a dose of the Superhero medicine. He was all for it! After all, every superhero needs his superhero medicine.

He was scheduled to receive only the seasonal shot, but when the nurse finally came in, she said they had just received the H1N1 nasal mist that day. "AWESOME!! Let's get this over with," I told her.

He did great! The nasal mist was a piece of cake. All it took was a sniff, sniff and that was it. And as I grabbed a hold of his little hands to brace him for the seasonal, the nurse was already aiming for his little leg and BAM! That was it for that one. Poor little thing started crying, understandably so. We BOTH were shocked from the sudden impact. She wasted not time at all, but that is the best way to do it. Just a WHAM, BAM, and a {BIG} THANK YOU MA'AM!! Thank God! My little superhero now has a shield of protection and I have piece peace of mind.

A{Mason} Little Monkey

Time for some Halloween dress up at I Heart Faces.

God blessed my little guy with the chubbiest little cheeks, perfect for filling out this cute little monkey costume. I couldn't wait to take my little monkey trick or treating for the first time even though he couldn't eat any of the treats. I think I just looked forward to showing him off. Fast forward three years later and yup, his chubby cheeks are still hanging strong and he's still a little monkey.

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I Heart Faces is a photography contest in which beginners, amateurs and pros can enter their favorite photos. Each week brings a new theme and lots of great photos!

Momma Saw the Doctor and the Doctor Said...

I went to see my "family" doctor the other day just to get a check up. He pulled out his stethoscope and began to listen to my beating heart.

"Thum Thum....Thum Thum....Thum Thum,"
the doctor said quietly with deep concentration.

"So how's it sound, Doc? Am I good?" I asked.

"Nope," he replied.
"You're sick and sour."


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GOT THE GIGGLES?
CHECK OUT MORE FRIDAY FUNNIES @ HOMESTEADERS HEART

LeAnn Whines

Mason woke up this morning and immediately turned on the T.V. and out of all the things there is to watch, he decides that he wants to watch music videos. Sounds good to me! So there I was, making his breakfast, thinking "Oooo I like this song!" Then suddenly I hear him say,

"Mommy I can't watch this."

"Watch what?"
I asked.

And with a wrinkled little face full of disgust, he turns and says,
"I can't watch this 'GIRL' music!"

Yes it's true. He may LOVE music, but LeAnn Rimes... not so much.


I guess she's just not tough enough. Man, do they start young. Can you believe it?!! Just 3yrs old and already picking sides. His daddy will be proud.

One things for sure...
Boys will be Boys

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GOT THE GIGGLES?
CHECK OUT MORE FRIDAY FUNNIES @ HOMESTEADERS HEART

A SUPER-SIZED Library Visit

Look who came
STROLLING
into the library.

The McMan himself.
Of course, the kids got a BIG kick out of it!

They crowded around him and listened with their mouths wide open as he told stories and clowned around.

Mason always looks forward to our weekly trip to the library. I'm so grateful to the library for creating such a wonderful environment for children to learn. It's become part of our routine, always starting or ending with a trip to Chick-A-Donald's, as he likes to call it.

A Word from a Butting Toddler

I don't know what has gotten into my little guy lately, but all I hear come out of his mouth these days is the word "BUTT". I have no clue where he got that from. I always refer to it as a "BOTTOM". His word of choice could've been A LOT worse. I guess I do prefer this four-letter word over the three-letter word. That's definitely a plus! Gotta look at the bright side, right?! Apparently it's a fun word to just blurt out at random. He'll say, "Mommy, I want a snack (BUTT)." Or "Mommy, play cars with me (BUTT)." A little butt here and a little butt there, everywhere nothing but a butt butt. Then he's giggling like nothing could be funnier. I just don't get it. I guess that's just the mind of a toddler.

I Blew It!

When you're a stay-at-home mom, you have the luxury of setting your own pace. No bosses to seek for approval. No schedules to follow. No agendas to adhere to. (Well, for the most part.) Yesterday was one of those days that we could do as we pleased. So, what did I do? I blew it! It's true. Find out how @ Five Moms and a Blog.

Every breath I took was for the sake of this little guy's happiness.

It was worth every huff and puff!

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Most moms have an obsession of photographing their families that they rarely are ever seen coming out from behind the camera. That's why Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans created a new challenge for all blogging mamas. It's called 52 Weeks. Every week moms will be stepping away from their cameras and sharing the spotlights with their loved ones. Looking through my photos, I discovered that it's so true. I'm missing in action in most of the shots. And really it doesn't bother me one bit. Well......maybe just a little. I would have to say that when I look at pictures of me growing up, my favorites aren't the ones of me alone. They're the ones that capture me with my family, especially my parents. So, I'm excepting the challenge.

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Manny & Me

I'm so glad I decided to participate in Carin's carnival 52 Weeks. I'm having so much fun with it; and I gotta say, I love taking pictures with my little guy! Once again, we're enjoying this beautiful weather. Handy Manny had lots of work to do outside that day, but as you can see, Squeeze wasn't feel'n it. I can't blame him. All work and no play....not very fun at all.

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Most moms have an obsession of photographing their families that they rarely are ever seen coming out from behind the camera. That's why Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans created a new challenge for all blogging mamas. It's called 52 Weeks. Every week moms will be stepping away from their cameras and sharing the spotlights with their loved ones. Looking through my photos, I discovered that it's so true. I'm missing in action in most of the shots. And really it doesn't bother me one bit. Well......maybe just a little. I would have to say that when I look at pictures of me growing up, my favorites aren't the ones of me alone. They're the ones that capture me with my family, especially my parents. So, I'm excepting the challenge.
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Bubblicious

This week's I Heart Faces theme is NO FLASH. All that's required is the sheer beauty of natural light. So, now that Spring has finally arrived, I took Mason outside to enjoy the sunshine. Out he went with a bubble machine in one hand and a big grin on his face. He was so excited! Or shall I say bubbly.

Check out more not so flashy photos at I Heart Faces.

I'm so proud of myself! This week I finally came out of hiding. Here I am, with my little guy, trying to get him ready for bedtime. Apparently, I wasn't getting anything accomplished. Still fully charged, he was jumping up and down and running all around. I finally managed to get him to lay with me for just a moment to snap the picture. Then, with the flash of the camera, I was off again to catch my little energizer bunny.


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Most moms have an obsession of photographing their families that they rarely are ever seen coming out from behind the camera. That's why Carin @ Forever in Blue Jeans created a new challenge for all blogging mamas. It's called 52 Weeks. Every week moms will be stepping away from their cameras and sharing the spotlights with their loved ones. Looking through my photos, I discovered that it's so true. I'm missing in action in most of the shots. And really it doesn't bother me one bit. Well......maybe just a little. I would have to say that when I look at pictures of me growing up, my favorites aren't the ones of me alone. They're the ones that capture me with my family, especially my parents. So, I'm excepting the challenge.
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Happy Go Lucky

This week I Heart Faces celebrates St. Patty's Day and I'm green with envy. There's so many great green pics. I always look forward to this holiday, even though there's not a drop of Irish blood in me. Maybe it's because of all the goodness it represents. And so, in the spirit of the holiday, I wanted to go out and have a good time with my little guy. We drove up to the local mall and I let him go wild in the play area. At first he was his usual shy self. That was to be expected but it didn't last too long. There was too much fun going on! Off he went...for TWO WHOLE HOURS. That was O.K. with me. I was having a good time watching him run and play. But eventually we were gonna have to go home. I thought, "How am I gonna get him to leave with out kicking and screaming?" Thank my lucky stars there was a Sweet & Nutty store right across the way. Otherwise, I would still be sitting there. Luckily for me, Mason went happily. He was a SUPER GOOD BOY!

The Love Story

Today I'm pushing the rewind button and reminiscing of a day back when I was eating for 2.....or 3......or 4. There was nothing special about this particular day, at first. It was just another day. I wobbled a little more, my shoes fit a little tighter and all I could think about was, "Am I ever going to see my feet again?" But, there was a moment in those 24 hrs. that made me forget about how miserable I was feeling and made me stop and appreciate the blessing that God had brought my way. Brad and I had stopped to grab a bite to eat.......or 2.....or 3 and on one of my MANY trips to the ladies' room I witnessed LOVE in it's purest form. A little boy walked in with his mommy. They were on a mission - a potty training mission. The mother was helping him do his busy in a very patient sort of way. After he finished doing what he had to do, he stopped and said "Mommy, I love you." By the sound of his voice you could tell she was a very good mommy. My heart, right then and there (out of all places), turned to putty. One day I was going to hear my very own little boy say those 4 precious little words to me. Well......once again my heart is nothing but a BIG glob of putty. Last week, for the first time, Mason told me "Mommy, I love you." I had heard him say he loved me before, but this time it was different because it came out of the blue and straight from his heart. I know there will be days when he won't be able to stand the sight of me. Let's face it. Those days are just inevitable, but I will always remember the first time I heard him say those 4 precious little words and that moment will always be a piece of me.

See. I wasn't lying when I said I was eating for 2....or 3.....or 4!

My Little Einstein

I'm so impressed with all Mason has already learned.

I know that all moms are proud of their kids and bragging is just part of mother territory, but Mason REALLY amazes me. He is unbelievably wise beyond his 2 little years. Even before he turned 2, I could see the little wheels in his head turning. By then he had already learned his colors and could count to 10. Oh....did I mention he already knows his ABCs? One of his absolute favorite things to do is play on the computer. It's so funny to see him move his tiny little finger across the touch pad, click the button and just like that he's got Cartoon Network or Playhouse Disney at his fingertips. Just the other day, he figured out how to highlight a sentence. Who knows, maybe he'll be the next Bill Gates....maybe he won't. But, no matter what he decides to do, I know he's got what it takes to be a shinning star.

Frustration Meltdown

Ahhh! It's a beautiful day. After almost a week of cloud covered skies, the sunshine is shining down and the clouds have rolled away. Those clouds can really put a damper on a stay-at-home mom's day. I'm not a big fan of the rain. I guess you can say I'm sort of a solar powered mom. Now that the sun's out, I'm full of energy and ready to start the new day. And then, just when I was starting to feel so optimistic,

I hit a bump in the road.

It's not a BIG deal, just one of the everyday struggles in my mommy adgenda, getting Mason to eat. What could be so hard about eating a bowl of Fruity Pebbles? This could determine the whole outlook of the day. Either he'll put up a fight and the day could just tumble down from there OR he could just swallow his pride and his Fruity Pebbles and everyone's happy. And then, with just one little comment, all my frustration starts to melt away. I say to him "Mason, I am the mommy. You need to listen to me." He responds, "Mommy, I am the Mason Grant Chapman." Tears on the verge turn into giggles of laughter. Thanks again Mason, for another laugh!

A Day to Remember

Yesterday truly was a day to remember. We woke up to a fresh blanket of snow. It was the first of the season and probably will be the last. So, Mason and I were sure to enjoy it. I bundled up my little Eskimo and we were off. We didn't get as much as I had hoped for. But even though it wasn't enough to make Frosty; there was plenty there for mini snow fights and slipping and sliding. After a while of sliding, Mason's little bottom was ready to come inside and warm up. He was so cold that he was actually telling me it was time to come in. That doesn't happen too often. It was his first time playing in the snow; so, for me, it was truly a memorable moment.

But, the memorable moments didn't end there.

Yesterday was also a fresh new start for all Americans and those privileged enough to live in the GREAT U.S. of A! It was a day full of hope for a better more prosperous future. The United States of America has a new President, Barack Obama. There have been 43 Presidents before him. Some were more great than others, but never has there been one to accomplish what he has accomplished, uniting our country like never before. As I watched the news coverage of his inauguration, it was hard to believe that not long ago there was so much hatred simply based on the color of your skin. It's been a long time coming and the time is now here. To see, yesterday, people of all races, all ages, and all classes join together in celebration of how far we have come. It was truly a day to remember.