2 year old check up

Little Fred has his two year old check up today. He was given a clean bill of health. He is such a trooper. When he received the two shots, he just looked at the lady. He didn't cry or flinch. That's my big boy.

He kept saying, "Mommy, I boo boo." Turns out he just has gas. But he thought passing gas was absolutely hilarious.

"Out!"

"Mommy, out peesee!" Yes, my son attempted to climb out of his crib tonight.

Note to self: Always lift the gate when you walk away from your son who wants to escape his confinement.

Man Irony

Over the past few days I have been thinking about life's irony. I went from not having any men interested in me to having three (3) interested in me.

Guy A: Very attractive. Sweet and kind-hearted, with soft brown eyes, perfect white teeth and just a warm presence. He took my number but never called to ask me out on a date.

Guy B: Amazing friend. He is the one who sent me a box of bettermade potato chips. He told me that I care for others yet I do not have anyone to care for me. So, he sends me text messages daily just to check on me. I cannot date him.

Guy C: Big-heart, very compassionate. Career-oriented, handsome, smart, funny and wants to marry me. (This is not a shock as I have already told my parents this.) However, he lives in Pittsburgh. He would provide a very good life for me and the kids; yet, he doesn't ask me the simple everyday things like Guy B. Such as, do I prefer rain drops or summer breezes, do I eat hot sauce on my fried chicken, or what is my favorite flower. This gentleman is 36, no children, wants children, great character and sense of family. Focused and determined, yet, forgets about the small things.

Guy B knows more about me than my ex-husband. How is it all these qualities are divided by three instead of being combined into one man?

Family Photos

While in Michigan, we visited with Nana Ida and TiTi MiMi. Nana Ida is the one who buys NyCee all the cute dresses that you have seen her wear. Camille (TiTi MiMi) buys clothes for Tyler.

Camille is my youngest sister. She will be 21 in October of this year. I am very proud of her for maturing and getting direction for her life. She starts college courses this Fall and I believe she will be studying HR Management.

The older I get the more I realize family is the most important thing next to God. He instituted the family before the church. Regardless to differences of opinions or thoughts, family is still family and we have to learn to love unconditionally just as God loves us.

Birthday Boy; He's 2!

Today, Little Fred turned 2 years old. I am so proud of him. He has grown up so fast.

For the past week or so, he has been telling me when he poops in his diaper. Therefore, his caregiver has started putting him on the potty. We didn't do anything special today as we celebrated his birthday last weekend. But I took the kids to the park after work and to dinner.

This picture is priceless! A little birthday bonding.

I will use this photo as black mail when they get older and start trying to fight each other.

Weekend with the Family

We arrived in Michigan on Thursday morning. I opted to take a red eye flight knowing the kids would sleep most of the way. Also, due to the time difference, I did not want to spend one full day traveling. NyCee was too excited to sleep. She stayed awake until after take off. Then I made her lay down. Tyler fell asleep right after push back.

My dad picked us up at the airport and both kids were so excited to see him. Tyler exclaimed, "Grandaddy." NyCee was able to run and give him a hug. Tyler was in a stroller.

The time change was rough on me. I had to go to sleep around 10a.

Friday-
Boonie graduated from cosmetology school. It was a long time coming and everyone is so very proud of her!

We went to visit Nana Ida who played dressed up with Taylor. Taylor was donned in jewelry and pranced around like a princess.

At some point, Tyler ended up with a black eye. How you ask? My parents have stairs. Tyler is not use to stairs. Tyler slipped on the tile and hit his eye on the stair. Way to go son!

He also found great delight in his freedom. At home, he still sleeps in a crib. Therefore, at bedtime, he is placed in the crib and then he goes to sleep. Well, he was sleeping in a big bed at his grandparents house. He would get out of the bed and climb down the stairs. He repeated that action several times.

Finally, I just let him stay up. He zonked out around 3a. I was still awake because I was grading papers. He walked up to me with his arms out, climbed in my lap and within 2 seconds was fast asleep. No harm done. As Tarisa would say, "He was on vacation."

Saturday

We had an early birthday party for Tyler in Port Huron at my grandmother's house. He ran around and played with his little cousins and one special big cousin - Taliyah. She was awesome taking care of them for me. She spent one night at my parents' house with us. The next morning, she helped NyCee get dressed. It was great having another pair of hands.


Sunday
We visited my grandfather and aunt before going to church. Sunday was very relaxing as the church service did not begin until 5p. So we slept in on Sunday morning.

Monday
Tarisa took us to the airport. Both kids did a great job on the return flight. I set up a great dynamic. The iPhone is the best invention ever! I downloaded TV shows for the kids to watch. I had a DVD player for NyCee to watch her Princess and the Frog movie but the sound was inoperable. So, we read a book and she colored.

Finally, both kids feel asleep the last hour and half of the flight. One man commented that I did a great job with the kids. Another lady didn't even know Taylor was sitting next to me until we were deplaning. (Yes, the word is deplaning not deboarding!)

It was a great trip. We will be going back in September for my cousin Wally's wedding.

Episode of Hoarders Waiting to Happen

When the kids and I moved into this apartment, Tyler was about 4 months old. So, it was good for us. Well, we have lived here for almost two (2) years and have just run out of space. I had planned to move later this month into a three bedroom apartment but decided against that. However, because I made that decision and am so busy, I started packing the house in increments. You know, a container a day so to speak.

Initially, the containers were in my living room. Well, my son thought they were a race track for his cars. Besides the fact, it made the already crowded space look smaller. So, I moved all the stuff to the patio.


That empty space is the path from the sliding glass door off the living room to the washer and dryer just right of the door.


The other door is my bedroom which is now completely blocked and I cannot use as an exit point. My friend told me my patio is an episode of Hoarders waiting to happen. I am not a hoarder. I do not keep stuff for 600 years. (Okay, so I have a flight attendant beverage cart on the patio. But it serves a purpose.) Everything in the storage containers is stuff we need. I just need a larger place to live. Although I am not complaining because three years ago, my entire life was in one storage container in my parents' garage!

Praise God for being out of room! I have come a long way!!

Resurrection Day Weekend

Saturday -
Our weekend started yesterday when I took the kids to an egg hunt in the morning. The line for admission was ridiculously long. The kids got a little antsy but finally we made it onto the farm. Little Fred put several eggs (which were plastic and empty) into his basket, dumped them out, and repeated the process several times in different locations.

Sunday-
Of course we went to church this morning. I was assigned to work at our new location. Living Word - Ahwatukee Campus. It is the same church. Just a second location about 40 miles from the main campus and more towards the city of Phoenix. We ran two services: 915a and 11a. Total between two services: nearly 600 people at the Grand Opening! That is amazing. God is brilliant.

The kids' outfits were compliments of Nana Ida (NyCee) and Auntie Camille (Little Fred). He was so engrossed in an episode of "Dora the Explorer" that he could not focus for the picture. Little Fred actually kept on his tie and shoes while at church. I was pleasantly surprised.

After church, we came home and crashed. Thankfully, we did not have evening service so I only had to work the two services at the new location. After resting, I took the kids to the park to burn off some energy. And it was a beautiful day!

"I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows)." (John 10:10b amplified bible)

The purpose of Christ's death, burial and resurrection was to provide new life and a new beginning. Embrace the gift God so freely gave. Let go of the past. Walk in the new beginning He offers you.

Happy Resurrection Day!