tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-61012840631575003772024-03-13T09:54:21.844-05:00Two Girls and EthanThoughts, hopes, and dreams of a mother of two wonderfully wonderful girls, and the Little Hunk of Love, Ethanerikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.comBlogger171125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-90954314533620355822013-05-23T16:54:00.001-05:002013-05-23T16:54:25.925-05:00"Lighten up..." (The R- Word )
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am infuriated today… Gabby informed that today her band
teacher used the R-word (retarded) today. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I am not infuriated at the fact that he used the word,
rather that he disregarded my daughter’s feelings. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">The fact that he cut her off as she tried to explain how her
little brother, the little boy that has her wrapped around that stinky little
finger, has Down syndrome, and how that word is degrading to people like her
brother and insulting to those that love them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Instead he told her to “lighten up, people call me ‘Baldy”
all the time…” well Baldy, I assure you that being bald is not degrading your
existence (per society) nor those the word “baldy” have a negative connotation
and implies stupidity. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And like I mentioned, I am not completely infuriated that he
used the word. Truth is at one point of my life, before I even knew what Down
syndrome was, before one of my greatest blessings was ever born, I used the
word often. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">I didn’t mean to insult people with disabilities, although
in some way I was. In some knowing way, I was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">When my phone (or some other object) started to act up, I
would refer to it as a “retarded” phone… because it was stupid and dumb and
worthless…<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>because the word retarded
came from “mentally retarded”… and somehow, those people were dumb. Hence the
usage of the word seemed appropriate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Stab me in my heart, why don’t you. That is exactly how I
felt when Ethan was born. Heartbroken. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">So retarded doesn’t imply stupidity, I’ve learned. Sadly
society has twisted the word. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Back to my point – I understand if he doesn’t
understand<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>what the word means. I
understand if he doesn’t see how hurtful the word can be.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4OXb9htNFB4fEjrIn-duRKtri43RFXC1ZzAhBYO223Bvsbabpy-7DN0a8jWE4aEvdj1M7AhHDFLPevG_ZUjCGDtID3z66JtR9fMNWWSHupSQhUlvfrUUhQIG7HqU_j6gcDEacQQ24_tx/s1600/6X3A8131+copy.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr4OXb9htNFB4fEjrIn-duRKtri43RFXC1ZzAhBYO223Bvsbabpy-7DN0a8jWE4aEvdj1M7AhHDFLPevG_ZUjCGDtID3z66JtR9fMNWWSHupSQhUlvfrUUhQIG7HqU_j6gcDEacQQ24_tx/s640/6X3A8131+copy.png" width="425" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri;">But DO NOT dismiss my child’s feelings. Do not make her
feel like less for standing up for what she believes in. DO NOT make her feel
little in a room full of students. DO NOT shatter my daughter’s confidence. DO
NOT teach her to hold in her feelings in matters that DO MATTER. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">And middle school is tough! TOUGH! Not academically, but
socially. This is where kids who don’t know who they are, fall in with the
“wrong” crowd. This is a time of a child’s life where we need to direct them
and feed them how amazing they are and how they CAN make a difference in this
world. Lets empower these children not bring them down. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">Thanks for the advice you gave my daughter, but I assure you
that neither she nor I will “lighten up”.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">By the way, did you know a man with Down syndrome, </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica","sans-serif";">Sujeet Desai, plays 7 instruments…
impressive. </span></div>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: Calibri;"> </span></o:p><br />
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<span style="font-family: Calibri;">-Erika</span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It has been a while since I’ve put some thoughts
into words lately.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Blogging was definitely my outlet… my way to
express my thoughts and feelings. And lately all of my feelings have been<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>all bottled inside. And honestly I’ve been so
busy that I havent even had a chance to go over my own feelings in my head. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know I have been struggling with some things
lately, I just havent been able to reflect on them. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Also, life has become so **normal** that a lot of
things just don’t faze me or I’ve learned to deal with/overcome/change… honestly
having a child with Down syndrome just hasn’t been as scary as I thought. And
to be even more truthful, I wasn’t necessarily scared to begin with, I was just
brainwashed by society to be scared… because oh my gosh having a child that is
different is SOOO scary… </span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It hasn’t been a walk in the park… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>it does have its challenges but nothing that
cant be overcome. Or at least I like to think so. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Well everything is fine and dandy in the Saldana
household for the most part. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">We did hit a very difficult time in our lives,
but we are overcoming it. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">The girls are doing great and they are about to
become extremely busy with a (dance) drill team for a local park football team.
I am already kicking myself for signing them up. Besides being very costly, all
of the game times are on the weekends and I am very busy on the weekends! But I’ll
make it happen somehow. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Ethan, well he will be 3 late August. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">My baby boy. It is all still so very surreal. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I still love him more and more each day. My heart
still skips a beat, every single morning when I see him. Through those dreamy
sleepy eyes that he tries so hard to keep open. And yes, most of these mornings
lately have been started off in my bed, because we have done the unthinkable,
the #1 NO-NO I said I would never do…. : to let him sleep with us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It starts off with us letting him fall asleep in
our bed, me taking him to his bed once he is out and somewhere in the middle of
the night, Ethan either quietly finds his way back to our bed or he very loudly
calls out for his “dad”… and as if he was lost in the woods, there we go,
eagerly jumping out of the bed and running to his rescue. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He makes every morning especially hard to wake up
and get out of bed. I want nothing more than to just snuggle next to him and
take in his scent. I place my cheek against his soft warm cheek, I kiss his
tiny perfect nose, his pouty, even while he sleeps, lips. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I’ll admit it - I cant let him grow up. I love
every second with him, I struggle with the thought of him growing up. I want
him to be my baby, I want him to be small in my arms, small enough to cuddle in
between me and his daddy, small enough so I can carry him on my hip (which I do
a whole lot more than I ever did with the girls at this age)… I want him to
stay just as he is. Just small. I want to chase him around the living room and
hear his laughter, I want to laugh at him as he climbs on his toy trucks and
tries to ride them. Just the way he is. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I know I cant keep him small forever. I know he is
growing up and will continue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I know. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Aside from becoming rather manipulative, his speech
is still at stop. Not really going anywhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">A few months back it really looked like it was
going to go somewhere. He was repeating back words, almost perfectly. From “pancakes”
to “I love you”. Then he got sick one weekend and he regressed. He is still
attempting the words but not with much enthusiasm or clarity.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">He was wearing his Spongebob swim trunks yesterday
and he did say “bopbop”. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">I really do not know what to think. A huge part
of me wants to say that it is his hearing. I don’t believe he is hearing
perfectly clear and nor can he hear himself. Many times it looks as if he has
the word, you can see it in his eyes, but he holds it in. Almost as if he is
scared to pronounce the word wrong so instead he stays quiet and just smiles at
me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">An ABR test has been suggested by many. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His eating has also not improved. He still has
the same food items: pancakes, eggs, ramen noodles. Snacks on crackers,
oranges, berries, cereal. Also tolerates donuts, yogurt, ice cream and peanut
butter. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">His school referred us to a Feeding Therapy place
(with behavioral <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>approach, because at
this point it seems to be more about his behavior and what he wants to do) but I
just cannot make it work in our schedule. And it is something that we need to
be consistent with …and well… I am just going to say, to be nice, that is just
not going to work.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And that is a whole other story on its own. A battle I fight
daily within myself… </span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">And another big issue I am dealing with recently is
his behavior. That is another post on its own. I promise to write about that
soon. I really struggle with my feelings when it comes to his behavior. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">Some of you might have seen some of these pics already,,... but for the rest of the world - this is my Ethan! </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38wN4v7W973ESqIsW30mnPKgJpAdXkrKAfoYDAQy1TSuiGDIJoscHH4o2UDOFViRRwaDXKb7gECjLIOhmLV2wZ7cyeXKjuujg7EDAdVOt-WaK50Zl6wSOl81hUeU1sxD0e4S1Xz1ray7Z/s1600/IMG_4721.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38wN4v7W973ESqIsW30mnPKgJpAdXkrKAfoYDAQy1TSuiGDIJoscHH4o2UDOFViRRwaDXKb7gECjLIOhmLV2wZ7cyeXKjuujg7EDAdVOt-WaK50Zl6wSOl81hUeU1sxD0e4S1Xz1ray7Z/s640/IMG_4721.jpg" width="426" /></a></div>
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We went camping for 4th of July... Ethan had a blast! <br />
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"> The beautiful Texas Hill Country. </span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">-let's see if I can make blogging a habit again!</span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;">Erika </span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: windowtext; font-size: 11pt;"><br /></span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-23152910400521910632012-05-18T14:39:00.001-05:002012-05-18T14:39:29.451-05:00Photos of the week<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
What have we been up to?<br />
<br />
All sorts of fun....<br />
<br />
<br />
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and a photo of me as well! I've been holding Boudoir sessions once a month, since they have been such a great big hit and the last session was just way too fun for me to not join in!<br />
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<img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4hJX9IdWkDlo6RNahKHxXEw21KADR-LWbSwYv9hymuIMUD8TiANuALFiwXHbTo7TUH676YJsHQYhcN20F3MYMnhEjeM9EPXSm8bAc5BfFKE8bxjDgGauxMnIUbx-Fo655K5pJSeXTKKxL/s640/IMG_8961+copy.jpg" width="640" />erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-26725747665961365022012-02-14T14:00:00.001-06:002012-02-14T14:01:50.743-06:00XoXooXxoO<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Just wanted to wish you guys a Happy Love Day. So what is wrong with a Holiday that is all about love? You don’t have to be married or be in a relationship to enjoy your day. Celebrate the ones you love! A sweet gesture, a piece of candy, a note saying how much you appreciate them -something simple that will definitely bring a smile to someone’s heart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">TO ME, valentine’s day is not about me and my husband… I love him dearly and he loves me in a beautiful way (because I said so -haha!). We have other moments together to show each other what we mean to one another and show our love… But for my kids, it’s an extra special day to give them a sweet little gift and add an extra sparkle in their day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And an extra day to show my girl friends how much I treasure our friendships! I had a lovely lunch with a couple of girlfriends and exchange gifts, totally made each other’s day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Ethan made sure he spread his love today!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">He made a Valentine for a classmate last night.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VORVQOhBxFg/Tzq4fdUan0I/AAAAAAAAY50/ExtPvbPBDHc/s1600/vday+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VORVQOhBxFg/Tzq4fdUan0I/AAAAAAAAY50/ExtPvbPBDHc/s640/vday+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">NO, he didnt just want to show off all that hunkyness, we were working with paint,</span><br />
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4tPOPOWSR94/Tzq504d0hQI/AAAAAAAAY7k/OMWOra0s_l8/s1600/vday+033.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4tPOPOWSR94/Tzq504d0hQI/AAAAAAAAY7k/OMWOra0s_l8/s640/vday+033.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"> so that requires a shirtless little guy **WHISTLE**</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hiQdq2NrjCA/Tzq5Iyt3eRI/AAAAAAAAY6o/MNen3NgTmAU/s1600/vday+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hiQdq2NrjCA/Tzq5Iyt3eRI/AAAAAAAAY6o/MNen3NgTmAU/s640/vday+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZpwda00MDI/Tzq41FRsVXI/AAAAAAAAY6Q/8jxckaEIq5s/s1600/vday+024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YZpwda00MDI/Tzq41FRsVXI/AAAAAAAAY6Q/8jxckaEIq5s/s640/vday+024.jpg" width="640" /></a></div> putting so much thought and love into his Valentine <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DbhjZLmaQrc/Tzq5gDUwWtI/AAAAAAAAY7I/9DoyCdV34YU/s1600/vday+029.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DbhjZLmaQrc/Tzq5gDUwWtI/AAAAAAAAY7I/9DoyCdV34YU/s640/vday+029.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYvnTy1ifR4/Tzq5oIfubGI/AAAAAAAAY7c/l05yDi3YyBs/s1600/vday+032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KYvnTy1ifR4/Tzq5oIfubGI/AAAAAAAAY7c/l05yDi3YyBs/s640/vday+032.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> He is such a lover boy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQWMktIFq84/Tzq5J9BhA3I/AAAAAAAAY60/GMHXcsuT0bI/s1600/vday+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MQWMktIFq84/Tzq5J9BhA3I/AAAAAAAAY60/GMHXcsuT0bI/s640/vday+026.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ub6FYn1irbc/Tzq5SEPZFPI/AAAAAAAAY7A/7pRjNdKsiSY/s1600/vday+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ub6FYn1irbc/Tzq5SEPZFPI/AAAAAAAAY7A/7pRjNdKsiSY/s640/vday+028.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmbw1agC63Q/Tzq6cKvKiVI/AAAAAAAAY8I/IK2WTRU2IqE/s1600/vday+036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Lmbw1agC63Q/Tzq6cKvKiVI/AAAAAAAAY8I/IK2WTRU2IqE/s640/vday+036.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Happy Valentines, from my little love monster! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-erika </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #660000; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-54499684574434904422012-01-26T16:25:00.002-06:002012-01-26T16:58:48.882-06:00Momentarily- it brings me down<div class="MsoNormal"> <span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This morning a dear friend on FB posted about how she learned today that the kiddies in her 2yr old’s class can count to twenty. And she had a Ds mommy breakdown. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I assume the differences in her son and other peers his age became very apparent at that moment. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">(First I must say, neither one of my girls could count to THREE at that age.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And I know this mommy, and she is a really amazing mommy and she has unbelievable love and faith in her son (don’t we all). But sometimes getting slapped in face with what it (ds) really is, is harsh. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">In reality I think we all have our Ds "sad" moments, or whatever you wish to call them. Some of us might have them more frequently than others, and some of ours might be shorter lived than others, but I guarantee you they are still there. No matter how you feel about Ds.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I know most of the time I have positive things to say about Ethan and most of the time it seems like nothing in regards to DS fazes me. For the most part, it is true. I was able to accept Ethan’s diagnosis within a week, I didn’t love that he had Ds, but I accepted it. I later came to have an “understanding” with Ds, and we became tolerable acquaintances. You know, like a coworker you have to work with that you neither hate or love, but they are just there and you are able to tolerate them well and sometimes you even like them and you even go to lunch occasionally and you actually enjoy it. Yeah, that has been my relationship with Ds. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But lately, this “friend” that I neither hate or love, is starting to annoy me and frustrate me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Yup Ds is finally starting to annoy the crap out of me.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I love everything positive that has come out of my life because of Down syndrome. I appreciate the change in myself and my husband. I love that I can honestly say that we are better people because of it. Honestly, I appreciate my children more now than ever. I truly understand how blessed I am now. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But who am I kidding, Ethan’s delays are becoming more and more apparent. Really, it is what is and I can live with it, but sometimes it <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">momentarily</i> brings me down. Not for long, not for days or hours nor minutes, just split seconds. I know I cannot dwell on the negative. I can’t benefit Ethan if I stay in my funk. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But damn. It sucks. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To know that Ethan is a 2yr old little boy that functions more at a 1yr old level. To see your child struggle in areas where other 2yr olds are just flying by him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The thing is, I am NOT in denial. I am around A LOT of people with Down syndrome. We have many dear friends with children with Ds of all ages. I’ve seen them all! From the ones that can talk your ears off to the ones that are nonverbal at age 20. So I know that anything is possible. And in all honesty, I will handle whatever comes our way and I will make the best of it. While it might <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">momentarily</i> bring me down, I know it will all be ok. But I just know that <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">anything</i> can be our reality. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sometimes I think to myself, “what if Ethan is nonverbal?” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And I know it sounds ridiculous, I know. He is only 2.5yrs old, his speech is naturally delayed because of Ds and there might be other underlying issues. I can’t predict what he will or will not be as an adult or as a person in general. I feel in my heart that Ethan will talk, but at a later time, just not today or tomorrow. And I know it is “typical” for kids that are usually walking earlier than other kids with Ds, they might be lagging behind in speech and those who arent walking have better speech.. I know,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> I really do know</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But at those brief moments when that thought crosses my mind, it <i>momentarily </i>brings me down. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Every day I tell Ethan, “Say {insert word} <insert a="" word="">” to try to get him to repeat a word back to me. I’ll gently grab his jaw and move his jaw for him. </insert></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Lately whenever I tell him to repeat a word he’ll grab his jaw and move his mouth for me… or he’ll just move his lips but NOTHING comes out. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">NOTHING</b>. Not even a squeal. I see the desperation in his eyes, with a slight hint of disappointment. Right after he does that he runs off as if trying to hide the fact that he can’t do what I asked him to do. OR he’ll throw himself at me and starts to wrestle as if to change the topic. I’ll scope him up and kiss those tiny adorable lips, and I tell him it’s ok. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">It’s ok Ethan. I’ll wait for you. </span></b></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I cant say it doesn’t break my heart, because it does. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Momentarily</i>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">He might not be talking yet, but he is still an amazing little guy full of many things I wish I could be. How blessed is he, that he will never know some of the pains I know. My sweet sweet child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">While Ds can <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">momentarily</i> bring me down, there are things that are amazingly beautiful that have come out of it and my love and joy for Ethan is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">infinite</i></b>. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-erika</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccdIsNyqcwI/TxzD5FY6SgI/AAAAAAAAWgs/UtIifEgI94c/s1600/_MG_8285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ccdIsNyqcwI/TxzD5FY6SgI/AAAAAAAAWgs/UtIifEgI94c/s640/_MG_8285.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRTbXEkmgCI/TxzD5uwFXCI/AAAAAAAAWg0/OT-CjRxBR60/s1600/_MG_8286.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRTbXEkmgCI/TxzD5uwFXCI/AAAAAAAAWg0/OT-CjRxBR60/s640/_MG_8286.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryz9wirZt3c/TxzD5nEa3SI/AAAAAAAAWg4/FPSppyTDrOc/s1600/_MG_8287.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ryz9wirZt3c/TxzD5nEa3SI/AAAAAAAAWg4/FPSppyTDrOc/s640/_MG_8287.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mRTbXEkmgCI/TxzD5uwFXCI/AAAAAAAAWg0/OT-CjRxBR60/s1600/_MG_8286.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-3593429117787024642012-01-25T10:26:00.003-06:002012-01-26T12:03:57.070-06:00The Tales of a Toddler - From Crib to Toddler Bed<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/">Pin It</a><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span>We’ve been talking about converting Ethan’s bed into a toddler bed for a while, but of course we just like to talk a lot and never actually do stuff until like years later… finally this weekend we converted his crib to a big boy bed!</span></span> <br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">He took his first nap in it on Sunday. We barricaded him in the room with a safety gate so he wouldn’t run out of his bedroom. It took him about 30-45 minutes to finally fall asleep, between getting up and crying at the gate and going back to lay down, he was out for good and napped a good two hours. It seemed too easy and too good to be true. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9COkKXFlWBmyHfqVRyhLGkPgQaJ8UMk2HhI0IkxZJOwxVIOyEAmrGKAdTe6VpYp68eOTIF3rVQqDryZwHK4p1ILicXHQPRBL1zF_TST5_sFnzfgvN2JMUc6xQar4vYxLIw61H72O4Z-Ds/s1600/bed-school-boots+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9COkKXFlWBmyHfqVRyhLGkPgQaJ8UMk2HhI0IkxZJOwxVIOyEAmrGKAdTe6VpYp68eOTIF3rVQqDryZwHK4p1ILicXHQPRBL1zF_TST5_sFnzfgvN2JMUc6xQar4vYxLIw61H72O4Z-Ds/s640/bed-school-boots+001.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> And it was. Bed time was horrible!! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">It didn’t help that he had taken a late nap and wasn’t too sleepy by 8pm. So he screamed at the gate off and on for about 2hrs. Finally he fell asleep on the floor! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Throughout the night I had to check on him to make sure he wasn’t on the floor, and I only found him on the floor once, sound asleep at about 3am. He was extra fidgety in bed and I could hear him all night long just kicking in his bed.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">As bad as it was, it wasn’t nearly as bad as it could have been and the next night would be better. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">NOT.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">It was worse.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">He cried more but at least he stayed in his bed most of the time. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">But it was - ALL. NIGHT. LONG.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Apparently everyone else slept through it because the girls and the hubby said <i>he did so much better and that he hardly cried</i>… umm, ok were they sleeping in the same house as I was. The kid whined and moaned and cried <b>all night long</b>. At one point he started to cry really loud and I was determined to let him cry it out, I was way too comfy under my blankets and worn out but daddy went to the rescue and brought him to the bed with us. <i>That seems to be the only thing Daddy remembers.</i> He eventually put Ethan back in his bed and woke up whimpering not long after that. Mommy went to the rescue this time and I caressed his little face, within minutes he was out again and he was mainly out for the remainder of the night. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Part of me considered to convert his bed back to a crib, YES, shamelessly that thought crossed my mind. Sleep deprivation can cause you to do silly stuff, like giving up. But I didn’t .</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Now some of you are probably like “what is wrong with this woman? Why does she insist on her baby sleeping in a toddler bed, why doesn’t she convert it back to a crib or let him sleep with her..?”</span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">-Well he cant sleep in his crib forever. My other kids were out of their cribs by this age. No need to baby Ethan a little longer just because he has Down syndrome. I want him to learn and be independent and be able to fall asleep on his own. Like the big boy that he is. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">-And no way am I going to let him sleep with us. Yeah sometimes we let him snuggle inbetween us at night until he falls asleep, but I learned my lesson with my first born and breaking her out of that habit has been one of the worst things I have ever experienced. She cried bloody murder all night long, Lord did she cry. At that time we were living with my inlaws and they even broke the door down to get in the room to “rescue” Gabby… - true story. Ever since then I vowed to never get my kids in the habit of sleeping with us. Andrea was so easy to transition from crib to bed.. to her own room. She is a trooper, she can sleep with no lights on and the door closed and sleep till the cows come home. Gabby on the other hand, still needs a night light and just recently started to close her door. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Those have been my experiences… AND I like having the bed for just me and the hubby. I think it’s healthy for a marriage to be able to spend some cuddle time with just you and your spouse in bed. Without a kid kicking you in the face. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">(I am not bashing anyone that decides to co-sleep with their children.. it just didn’t work for us, that’s all.)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: windowtext; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">LAST night</span></b><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">, I was for sure it was going to be another awful night.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">It actually turned out to be much better. A whole lot less crying and if he did cry he would do so from his bed instead of at the gate, although he would go and just stand to see if he could see anyone. Around 9pm I found him snoring and heavily asleep on the floor by the gate. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlC2PsgsFUqx-JzZWuhIEjj9Yt67-OwybOR0bZJR3AP1-9UjiMAnV9zM3d1WqU9BLQfAMDbz-5w8WVwY9Y5jaZKwK3HiYZjoIqOvunnNyoDZjg85QiEBxGPqzfv76RIL1BFEvfbW5BQeh/s1600/bed-school-boots+031.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlC2PsgsFUqx-JzZWuhIEjj9Yt67-OwybOR0bZJR3AP1-9UjiMAnV9zM3d1WqU9BLQfAMDbz-5w8WVwY9Y5jaZKwK3HiYZjoIqOvunnNyoDZjg85QiEBxGPqzfv76RIL1BFEvfbW5BQeh/s640/bed-school-boots+031.jpg" width="640" /></a></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">But it was a better night. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">THANKFULLY.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_80VIuC6LHOXAm98-Tu73nqbWsfxZU_-e3rwtofNriIlFxgs7uAVITWGVWEG6hN5OQN7QggbuCcZeMnE3pUpRlLqF7Zk3V163_CRrwMTYWHr9vq1f8ilo0-SIwLmXiIZv8FNxy-gHcEE/s1600/bed-school-boots+032.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv_80VIuC6LHOXAm98-Tu73nqbWsfxZU_-e3rwtofNriIlFxgs7uAVITWGVWEG6hN5OQN7QggbuCcZeMnE3pUpRlLqF7Zk3V163_CRrwMTYWHr9vq1f8ilo0-SIwLmXiIZv8FNxy-gHcEE/s640/bed-school-boots+032.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><b>Proof that </b>this kid is still wired even on little sleep, pictures from Tuesday morning at school:</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">Climbs into someone's cubby</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd7i0yymv2n4-djKK-SS_waNSk8ZSwFrFO7WE7BzP72ugWBhz16klyi1amYXIpVgoI9f_i0MaqypGoxPUt9q1MLBVT6-so0y90pcTtUnpzPhXKcdEZugsUpQMkEh86UERM1qWKQi15w9u/s1600/bed-school-boots+003.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcd7i0yymv2n4-djKK-SS_waNSk8ZSwFrFO7WE7BzP72ugWBhz16klyi1amYXIpVgoI9f_i0MaqypGoxPUt9q1MLBVT6-so0y90pcTtUnpzPhXKcdEZugsUpQMkEh86UERM1qWKQi15w9u/s640/bed-school-boots+003.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk376nCxmgelzwqIcZGu960wmZ3Qg5SUA_J_DVkiYaQTUQPtDEJgizsECW7-3BHr_qi8a4jzLMYM4BZoe48S8BQZM21UT7Vu7WAEt03vp7NFkBpYTMe-l1ZgmyL4ziBMEwKNwLTgVITHc/s1600/bed-school-boots+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZk376nCxmgelzwqIcZGu960wmZ3Qg5SUA_J_DVkiYaQTUQPtDEJgizsECW7-3BHr_qi8a4jzLMYM4BZoe48S8BQZM21UT7Vu7WAEt03vp7NFkBpYTMe-l1ZgmyL4ziBMEwKNwLTgVITHc/s640/bed-school-boots+004.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> Runs away from me:</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu1ya24Damqh_QHYlzH62XOWMeFkpyIkZk1OHkh287M4AGAKu8rjZTFrCqgtr7D7_k22DuoxpgX57XquGdH3KZMq5E8ocuZwh2L9YrgsXE8FARcm9uZRe6M19CaDeQRjTybyYnH2f_TxO/s1600/bed-school-boots+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYu1ya24Damqh_QHYlzH62XOWMeFkpyIkZk1OHkh287M4AGAKu8rjZTFrCqgtr7D7_k22DuoxpgX57XquGdH3KZMq5E8ocuZwh2L9YrgsXE8FARcm9uZRe6M19CaDeQRjTybyYnH2f_TxO/s640/bed-school-boots+005.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBSFh8oBGFL8t-HQQfBpf9iOdLKsGKQC4XOODVAN566GwZSsgERLy12PFNmM70eQkQQdWVBswQwouHCIWCjOZG-lSfSEaCdmFc2uKh_qLTJsdY1I2cUfknQGEede1Xn1iE4neOWXtNDpf/s1600/bed-school-boots+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYBSFh8oBGFL8t-HQQfBpf9iOdLKsGKQC4XOODVAN566GwZSsgERLy12PFNmM70eQkQQdWVBswQwouHCIWCjOZG-lSfSEaCdmFc2uKh_qLTJsdY1I2cUfknQGEede1Xn1iE4neOWXtNDpf/s640/bed-school-boots+006.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Down the slide</span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig9UOjy8wC0hlJodObda4U0U3-MoNEpErS-FoOSs3BVD4mWsxArEqGi8K8t3oSKO-EaSvqHgx6nAXWy451XnCcsdxuNWohyWjWNPcNeJKQ8kIG0Ep2G0Bnir_mb2JZYPBrVCEGBVwJ_CL/s1600/bed-school-boots+008.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiig9UOjy8wC0hlJodObda4U0U3-MoNEpErS-FoOSs3BVD4mWsxArEqGi8K8t3oSKO-EaSvqHgx6nAXWy451XnCcsdxuNWohyWjWNPcNeJKQ8kIG0Ep2G0Bnir_mb2JZYPBrVCEGBVwJ_CL/s640/bed-school-boots+008.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDysYT4ggc6ugqgh2H9hyZxZZuTlEDkt-EPnpCU9TI4SNqcgejXN4xErZxMSszKX_3HHjR_YEw2fZZ3g5wcKWOUs6oYqKC63hjko4kioAK5IcLiV4a64LbL4LqVGdOQ8AsRcz8c3jZ9tuE/s1600/bed-school-boots+009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDysYT4ggc6ugqgh2H9hyZxZZuTlEDkt-EPnpCU9TI4SNqcgejXN4xErZxMSszKX_3HHjR_YEw2fZZ3g5wcKWOUs6oYqKC63hjko4kioAK5IcLiV4a64LbL4LqVGdOQ8AsRcz8c3jZ9tuE/s640/bed-school-boots+009.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu_BhyphenhyphenjsIqcB-bCoRJHncYGvTxd-3cDkJtk5eWvY25tnFJtpHvKGYl8vGOJyA-Fuv3b_CboOe1qOs35ThsXAo5IpxRFbGF11TBSk2Z9_uW1HTrzpAkT1nw5nmEzssAT52T2CWYjnQ2vbY/s1600/bed-school-boots+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIu_BhyphenhyphenjsIqcB-bCoRJHncYGvTxd-3cDkJtk5eWvY25tnFJtpHvKGYl8vGOJyA-Fuv3b_CboOe1qOs35ThsXAo5IpxRFbGF11TBSk2Z9_uW1HTrzpAkT1nw5nmEzssAT52T2CWYjnQ2vbY/s640/bed-school-boots+012.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJtTHIholgiLBeFFGX0L3179VLN7Hm67fnCq9ax22fTTrLNer6Z7zZc-Pz5gu5nEq2uHDw2AjJOAbHKUF_5vQgdyqspZDMRfGy1qpJ2j0z6dDjb7YZjQfqPLblu_9jM07PxHvuQ6Em6yh/s1600/bed-school-boots+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipJtTHIholgiLBeFFGX0L3179VLN7Hm67fnCq9ax22fTTrLNer6Z7zZc-Pz5gu5nEq2uHDw2AjJOAbHKUF_5vQgdyqspZDMRfGy1qpJ2j0z6dDjb7YZjQfqPLblu_9jM07PxHvuQ6Em6yh/s640/bed-school-boots+015.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">WHAT are you doing Ethan???</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxjtl8NvZcNHF75S3OCDJ3zdpEjnhvrV3ZERfujLgDUEBxpfYClvZiKvoEVb88tIygl21K7X0faI7WPnzsDDcT51XP-tQh2YRKYeIqI79D9uyfDl1v9w4kSlci04pzZykPaX84nz1Ptu5/s1600/bed-school-boots+016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUxjtl8NvZcNHF75S3OCDJ3zdpEjnhvrV3ZERfujLgDUEBxpfYClvZiKvoEVb88tIygl21K7X0faI7WPnzsDDcT51XP-tQh2YRKYeIqI79D9uyfDl1v9w4kSlci04pzZykPaX84nz1Ptu5/s640/bed-school-boots+016.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> Oh, he was just KICKING his teacher...</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-DLuftLygWr5pLT7i1Ci3tldAwArEJQjmRg8bsOe2mLh1CLU6IfvlYWtVi74HJsTSl0DQ_uYXjiT7q8NtynEpgScQF8qprMnRGweou0SQLc8zjgVkf5AlbKPpAYXoYS0Yufu3F36MSUu/s1600/bed-school-boots+017.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhj-DLuftLygWr5pLT7i1Ci3tldAwArEJQjmRg8bsOe2mLh1CLU6IfvlYWtVi74HJsTSl0DQ_uYXjiT7q8NtynEpgScQF8qprMnRGweou0SQLc8zjgVkf5AlbKPpAYXoYS0Yufu3F36MSUu/s640/bed-school-boots+017.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">HAHAlarious, Ethan thinks it is </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3cGSsoEWrGCdLzVqpJHOzRcRVStujz2k__kV18Uv83pQUaX7do0MnRKatAhKWjdXiMIcbKN4yHTMwHgzr-CAy7TkE-wK3m5bVUax0oaKEm3X-M45cHtlo7Gc1uB3Y0BCOd9Mky2a8TGo/s1600/bed-school-boots+018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk3cGSsoEWrGCdLzVqpJHOzRcRVStujz2k__kV18Uv83pQUaX7do0MnRKatAhKWjdXiMIcbKN4yHTMwHgzr-CAy7TkE-wK3m5bVUax0oaKEm3X-M45cHtlo7Gc1uB3Y0BCOd9Mky2a8TGo/s640/bed-school-boots+018.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fb7foAiR6ibIpVEt3U_s9OP4d3xB_uKrDb-HUylEFE_53v3n5ZLnHQtEqxiW07fq7SFA750Fmh1GYw6Rf7eb7ledoH8qGFZ8qbhasTs7eyPKR5fl1XbM8NmNzTwstA97hDynv2g0b4P9/s1600/bed-school-boots+019.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8fb7foAiR6ibIpVEt3U_s9OP4d3xB_uKrDb-HUylEFE_53v3n5ZLnHQtEqxiW07fq7SFA750Fmh1GYw6Rf7eb7ledoH8qGFZ8qbhasTs7eyPKR5fl1XbM8NmNzTwstA97hDynv2g0b4P9/s640/bed-school-boots+019.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_AFjZTmSDKtL6_EBlbhk7Onog-Fb_MoxH7-GUuHTwFeXijF39EEUGnGHPkFSW72yf7tzet7mu1iFdbb7V5KHkhPp4abKynKWEifycCv1EPpNMQGeltcegft-4GAfCVaKqMqJE9l8yKK3/s1600/bed-school-boots+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy_AFjZTmSDKtL6_EBlbhk7Onog-Fb_MoxH7-GUuHTwFeXijF39EEUGnGHPkFSW72yf7tzet7mu1iFdbb7V5KHkhPp4abKynKWEifycCv1EPpNMQGeltcegft-4GAfCVaKqMqJE9l8yKK3/s640/bed-school-boots+020.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnV7BcotcjbNOQjBwNKq-adMjUxAEykO-52y8bquiwdJPJImeueDQDyXQ3z-qv0VaXY3C2rPfrsyMA4cow6lA3spzgwUKImi-Lu4SBjjx4DBGhrRTknY2i4ZiveUfW36KACx851UsDlsv/s1600/bed-school-boots+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSnV7BcotcjbNOQjBwNKq-adMjUxAEykO-52y8bquiwdJPJImeueDQDyXQ3z-qv0VaXY3C2rPfrsyMA4cow6lA3spzgwUKImi-Lu4SBjjx4DBGhrRTknY2i4ZiveUfW36KACx851UsDlsv/s640/bed-school-boots+021.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif";">Tries to run over one of the teacher’s assistants… </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfczoR87qZbM7p2UELu1KxQ62RpW8c_EOXMU7ODTkwP0Ae0ka1-bMh-7A3jK5_rUzGvb5umJpr4zdTKIcaxadxULLgjsG_6az6b5cGh2NPXQpi7ujGvv1No7e8MvDvoa5-cfXJmHPZKw-/s1600/bed-school-boots+023.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdfczoR87qZbM7p2UELu1KxQ62RpW8c_EOXMU7ODTkwP0Ae0ka1-bMh-7A3jK5_rUzGvb5umJpr4zdTKIcaxadxULLgjsG_6az6b5cGh2NPXQpi7ujGvv1No7e8MvDvoa5-cfXJmHPZKw-/s640/bed-school-boots+023.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc7Gmm_qACMQArZ3rQR3CL6fRpIAtkkh3y-mdG8ucYD6y6iJHznIIe08_9aaAK-otN6mhJ7fduulAO1IGJsSaPyiHFRpuXO_pngc6mPafCUHbxLnxMx7fBtLkyeFqpWO3owmWvJ-gffF7/s1600/bed-school-boots+022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIc7Gmm_qACMQArZ3rQR3CL6fRpIAtkkh3y-mdG8ucYD6y6iJHznIIe08_9aaAK-otN6mhJ7fduulAO1IGJsSaPyiHFRpuXO_pngc6mPafCUHbxLnxMx7fBtLkyeFqpWO3owmWvJ-gffF7/s640/bed-school-boots+022.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99FkvP-cnaOR0RXe6Qr0GF3axd3EKkHNLUIo2k81DtOivwZ7kZVUIYp7bPAgGw0y6OnsHFneAvbjtZ2WqCrZgt-MtQNekjWGW24TLNyr93ZQkPtzu314wo3S9nruZY9f5RYQ3J-NFSds3/s1600/bed-school-boots+025.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi99FkvP-cnaOR0RXe6Qr0GF3axd3EKkHNLUIo2k81DtOivwZ7kZVUIYp7bPAgGw0y6OnsHFneAvbjtZ2WqCrZgt-MtQNekjWGW24TLNyr93ZQkPtzu314wo3S9nruZY9f5RYQ3J-NFSds3/s640/bed-school-boots+025.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif";">And this was all in about 10 minutes, I don’t have much time to spare in the mornings sinceI have to rush out of there and head to work. He runs on some sort of magical toddler crack. </span></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>LAST night</b>, just because he is a silly boy!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOlUjHOLfbd39BSGF4Ye_8AqthvCYLkvwfmnmDiRdUcIRy1i9W5ejYc4RYD0s_YhIis97fI9nVLmrwW7wt8fM3tr4OO16Y8DZs6EY1Rk5vbG14K0CjwXe1IL5q05wYl-2A9CBbjaGn3aE/s1600/bed-school-boots+026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOlUjHOLfbd39BSGF4Ye_8AqthvCYLkvwfmnmDiRdUcIRy1i9W5ejYc4RYD0s_YhIis97fI9nVLmrwW7wt8fM3tr4OO16Y8DZs6EY1Rk5vbG14K0CjwXe1IL5q05wYl-2A9CBbjaGn3aE/s640/bed-school-boots+026.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">wearing daddy's work boots </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYMS8PWYdLep4d0in8pMbKOD8nbCMO2gdFmuvq-7M0uLXiO2Sov8WdWLeTDTD2ZgZRsvK5B_XFZ5M1On6X5kkm0HIFwb-O2UD0wz4M6rKIBYhXOvgmvmQcfXaXZ_UNcNI-k0fcRqmFZV7/s1600/bed-school-boots+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOYMS8PWYdLep4d0in8pMbKOD8nbCMO2gdFmuvq-7M0uLXiO2Sov8WdWLeTDTD2ZgZRsvK5B_XFZ5M1On6X5kkm0HIFwb-O2UD0wz4M6rKIBYhXOvgmvmQcfXaXZ_UNcNI-k0fcRqmFZV7/s640/bed-school-boots+030.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKfEU7mCFBia9xq2FAczRf9HCdCa_Qn4RQHfd2vYkPn1qP_fCspL7xetWVh5zGLBou3KML6kxMd1iCzK5XMxTQh4OzbuIZ8vLbk2e-CGKt2rpW5NvjVjHz3qEDNdTjvifHjI4eg-5IVIr/s1600/bed-school-boots+028.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXKfEU7mCFBia9xq2FAczRf9HCdCa_Qn4RQHfd2vYkPn1qP_fCspL7xetWVh5zGLBou3KML6kxMd1iCzK5XMxTQh4OzbuIZ8vLbk2e-CGKt2rpW5NvjVjHz3qEDNdTjvifHjI4eg-5IVIr/s640/bed-school-boots+028.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidlC2PsgsFUqx-JzZWuhIEjj9Yt67-OwybOR0bZJR3AP1-9UjiMAnV9zM3d1WqU9BLQfAMDbz-5w8WVwY9Y5jaZKwK3HiYZjoIqOvunnNyoDZjg85QiEBxGPqzfv76RIL1BFEvfbW5BQeh/s1600/bed-school-boots+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif";">He makes my heart so happy. My little guy! </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f; font-family: "Candara","sans-serif";">-erika </span><b><span style="color: #00194f; font-family: Latha;"></span></b></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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</div><span style="font-size: large;"> </span>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-73741773992838769522012-01-22T19:29:00.005-06:002012-01-25T10:34:31.629-06:00Friend's family pics<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/">Pin It</a><br />
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I shot my friend's family this weekend (no, not with a gun... a camera) back at the railroad tracks.<br />
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(ok, she isnt JUST a friend, she is one of my besties... more like a sister... and she annoys the crap out of me, but i sure do love her!!!!) <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO_WXQmhZzKxPvSQiwtwIWhBUJnXl3yt6v9_INxoD8GCV420wMOGTxUyzc0TowKeRDbYBRhYK7-Ju8cHQYwJzYZxALWAhEvPcN_btJH-pFwHfUGA7RgDQ7_DDVcBLZCVYComE9hbE05VR/s1600/CoffeeShop+Five+Storyboard%252C+clipping+masks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpO_WXQmhZzKxPvSQiwtwIWhBUJnXl3yt6v9_INxoD8GCV420wMOGTxUyzc0TowKeRDbYBRhYK7-Ju8cHQYwJzYZxALWAhEvPcN_btJH-pFwHfUGA7RgDQ7_DDVcBLZCVYComE9hbE05VR/s640/CoffeeShop+Five+Storyboard%252C+clipping+masks.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
I am still working on focal points, and posing. I had so many ideas in my head before the shoot, but once I was there I went blank! Thankfully these guys just went with it and we lots of fun!<br />
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The sky was gray and no sun peeked through, I was hoping for some good before the sun sets light.. but all we got was a sad gray sky. <br />
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Beautiful family! This was their first family pictures they've taken since ever having their daughter. I was overjoyed to have had the privileged to photograph them. And thank you guys for the Pappa's BBQ!<br />
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-erikaerikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-68675841899110886552012-01-20T16:46:00.000-06:002012-01-20T16:46:53.500-06:00Just Ethan stuff (health update)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEPNL75XL18RSKUxq76jMwf7iyqLcbViE8BtMydrelAw8yIqBk26K_Pivitd_j-rfEvQ6WsKGWCuSsyans-8wnGHo2kGrhuw2XaArddCQMMtojTCLp6zsfX6jdRBFrWr0LYxyoMQrT9bW/s1600/New+Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="color: #33003f;"> I had mention on my last post that he had a vision test recently. Typically, children with Down syndrome should have their eyes examined yearly or something along those lines… maybe even younger before their first year…. I don’t exactly recall what age it is recommended for their fist exam. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Yeah, we are bad parents and this was his first ever. We really didn’t have much of a concern when he was younger. I would still recommend you take your baby to get tested just to be safe.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQcmfJFB3dU6ddvt2h-G-ze91c2NH3W5qZAN25QFv9m5_WsAOMHXoezh5OYdSNFONaoU7J5ZQesJ53knxuLe6NpwjOjpRpe99CoTQCbI5LfMd8-7K4Uq9JNvQnDky_5Zkmf1DJeUbcMVY/s1600/New+Image1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlQcmfJFB3dU6ddvt2h-G-ze91c2NH3W5qZAN25QFv9m5_WsAOMHXoezh5OYdSNFONaoU7J5ZQesJ53knxuLe6NpwjOjpRpe99CoTQCbI5LfMd8-7K4Uq9JNvQnDky_5Zkmf1DJeUbcMVY/s640/New+Image1.JPG" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Lately I had noticed that one of his eyes would cross, or at least I thought so. Turns out it’s just the anatomy of his eyes that cause the illusion of a crossed eye and every now and then it does cross because he does have some farsightedness. It is minimal and to be expected for a two year old since they are still growing and their eyes are still learning to focus and adjust. The Dr. said that his nerves looked real healthy as well, that sometimes in people with Ds their nerves don’t appear “normal” but his are really healthy looking. <span> </span></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">The visit was rather long, one of the longest I’ve ever had. Well, we’ve had other rather long appointments such as the Down Syndrome Clinic here at TCH but Ethan was smaller and NOT running away. Ethan was being chased around the room with a little light. Funny, indeed. Tiring, extremely. We had to hold him down a few times as long as he wasn’t squeezing his eyes shut or crying. He did rather well for a 2 year old, but it was a very long appointment and he even wore himself (and me!) out towards the end.<span> </span>Sadly I had to be back at work that afternoon. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Another routine exam should be our children’s thyroid. I personally believe that many times Dr’s do not catch the issues with thyroids, especially if they are not aware of the guidelines for children with Ds. Anything over 3 on the TSH numbers should require treatment. His last bloodwork did reveal a hypothyroid back in August or September (whenever it was..), but of course pediatric endocrinologist in Houston are limited and we are not being seen until February. It would have been April if we wanted to be seen at TCH (Texas Children’s Hospital) but I cannot put of treatment until then. It is outrages that my son (and others) have to wait so freakin’ long for treatment. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Next month after out appointment, I’ll make sure to fill you all in on the details.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Late last week we noticed Ethan was bumping into walls… BAD. And falling and just being clumsy, then his appetite decreased then came the fever on Sunday, which I didn’t really think much off, but then Monday his fevers weren’t getting any better, so after a Dr’s appt on Tuesday, it was revealed that he had two ear infections. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Phooey.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Back in November his hearing test revealed mild hearing loss in his right ear due to fluid in one ear. <i>He had just gotten over an ear infection then, so that makes it about 3 ear infections in less than a year. And those are the ear infections that we know off. Ethan has a pretty high pain tolerance and he gets warm every now and then and I typically don’t think much of it. I believe that children should be able to fight off low grade fevers on their own and I usually just let him be.<span> </span>This gets me to thinking how many other ear infections has he had that might not have been as severe or didn’t complain about. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">At that last appt I was determined to push adenoid removal due to his constant nasal congestion and all the snot causing infections in his nose. I wasn’t expecting to be told that he had mild hearing loss. Of course, I went in there unprepared and<span> </span>I wish I had known what I was facing before going in there. If I could have done it all differently I would have pushed tubes in his ears. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">But I didn’t. I fell victim (no, not really) to all the stuff the Dr had to say and it made it sense. And in all honesty it does make sense. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">The ENT did not want to do tubes because he felt it was unnecessary to go through surgery for just ONE ear. And I totally get it. He also did not believe adenoid removal was necessary at the time either and he put Ethan on Nasonex and Singular. Which both have been working great but as soon as we miss a few doses in a row (because I think Ethan is improving) the congestion comes back. The Dr. also believed that if we could control his nasal congestion it could possibly improve the fluid behind his ear and tubes would not be necessary. I totally get what the dr is saying and the risks of surgeries, I know the dr would rather not have to put a small child under because of mild hearing loss in ONE ear. I get it. Really I do.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">BUT my Ethan is not like his other two year patients. He needs all the help he can get. ONE good ear is NOT enough for him. He needs both ears more desperately than I need two. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">His speech therapist also believes in tubes and she said she has better results in children with tubes. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">And I know his speech is being affected. I was trying to get Ethan to say “duck” after his ST had said that he was able to say “duck” when they were reading a book. But instead of saying duck he said “ta” and made the sign for “stop”. The kid is not hearing correctly. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">And it happened again just the other day when I was trying to get him to say another word… once again he said “ta” and signed “stop”. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #33003f;">Needless to say, we have an appointment next week where I will be pushing for tubes. </span></b></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">I also noticed at times when we are listening to the radio in the truck, I look back at him and he is just moving his lips. He is trying to sing, but no words are coming out of his mouth (and I really hope we are not dealing with speech apraxia). </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Overall I do believe he hears most of what I am saying and understands as well, but there is obviously something there that is delaying the process more. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">He has a few words he attempts to say: of course there is “ta” for stop; “tither” for sister; “da” for dad; and “mawmaw” for grandma. Those are really the only ones that are the most understandable. (I’ve mentioned before that around a yr old he was attempting more words than now.) He could very well be trying to say other words but I might not be recognizing them.</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;"> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #33003f;">Speech therapy</span></b></span></u></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">We’ve lost our Speech Therapist through ECI (Early Childhood Intervention). Our area only had one ST and it took forever to get on board with her and we seen a lot of improvement with him having ST, sadly though, she is gone. She left ECI to work for the school district. Heartbreaking indeed. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">I learned about his mild hearing loss in mid November but didn’t realize how much it impacted him till December, along with finding out our ST was leaving. It all added to my anxiety and breakdown. I am thankful for new days. <i>And recently I received a call from a new ST that has replaced the old ST… I’ll be jumping on that as soon as I remember to call. </i></span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="ecx514582813-24062011"><span style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span> <div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">Overall the kid is doing real well. Happy and sociable most of the times, his tantrums are <b>horrible</b> tough. Just hoping they don’t last for years the way they did for my middle child, although hers started at 3yrs old. <i>The terrible 3’s.</i> </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;">And even if it seems like a lot of issues or concerns that I have to deal with (in regards to having a child with Ds and his health), his needs are really are not outrages or unmanageable. I still think I am pretty lucky and I’ll take his current issues over any others, that is for sure. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEPNL75XL18RSKUxq76jMwf7iyqLcbViE8BtMydrelAw8yIqBk26K_Pivitd_j-rfEvQ6WsKGWCuSsyans-8wnGHo2kGrhuw2XaArddCQMMtojTCLp6zsfX6jdRBFrWr0LYxyoMQrT9bW/s1600/New+Image.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDEPNL75XL18RSKUxq76jMwf7iyqLcbViE8BtMydrelAw8yIqBk26K_Pivitd_j-rfEvQ6WsKGWCuSsyans-8wnGHo2kGrhuw2XaArddCQMMtojTCLp6zsfX6jdRBFrWr0LYxyoMQrT9bW/s640/New+Image.JPG" width="426" /></a><span style="color: #33003f;"> maybe it's just in his blood to play with guns, he gets it from his daddy.. There are no toy guns at home...</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #33003f;"><br />
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</span></span></div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: large;"> </span>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-78265745444439446612012-01-14T22:11:00.006-06:002012-01-23T16:15:15.931-06:00More picture taking practice - Urban Style<a class="pin-it-button" count-layout="horizontal" href="http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/">Pin It</a><br />
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The title sums it up... urban style photography.<br />
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Ethan had a vision test on Friday morning and I had to get back to work that afternoon so after I dropped him off at Gma's I drove around (she lives in 2nd ward, you Houstonians might know where that is, - Harrisburg area, which apparently is pretty popular amongst photographers...I say that because I seen 2 photographers in that area in two days! I seen this one old warehouse building that was just amazing, I U-turned and I scoped the area out, THEN i seen another photographer setting up.... DANG IT!!!! Oh well, is a perfect location for pics. So whoever you are Mrs Photographer, I am not "stealing" your ideas or anything like that. I had agreed to do my friend's family portraits next weekend and I have been looking for a spot and she also thinks this would be a neat place. I took the kids Saturday morning for some practice shots. <br />
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We got there when the sun was a bit harsh and there was no shade and I didnt have any reflectors, but it was fun and I was overall pleased. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf7FILrQ0_xzd3NE57GnW3W3PfBK7nCKob5QNkMcdZeLkQZ9ErnL69rVPFWs6Hgee11Rg_AsNnXA3bQ0wQJm2R9-jUEAO2s3C_ewLKnZMfA8lAZoszO_7ZcbGsWTgmOpEwBHv4uFFit2b/s1600/Picnik+collage1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyf7FILrQ0_xzd3NE57GnW3W3PfBK7nCKob5QNkMcdZeLkQZ9ErnL69rVPFWs6Hgee11Rg_AsNnXA3bQ0wQJm2R9-jUEAO2s3C_ewLKnZMfA8lAZoszO_7ZcbGsWTgmOpEwBHv4uFFit2b/s1600/Picnik+collage1" /></a> <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2cZryd9CdM8NXJaOe7hiXKRqB4sIcJlrhSJ96sQ_bB34E9YUp1GF3WihGUV8boO8zwNsY_3bwPQ43Tr2Fz6gsCamaC3KRpSHN6XK8RgAVshzY7RKTp2TeFCBNYqwYU7SmMlWm8n7hRQ1/s1600/girla+1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="540" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG2cZryd9CdM8NXJaOe7hiXKRqB4sIcJlrhSJ96sQ_bB34E9YUp1GF3WihGUV8boO8zwNsY_3bwPQ43Tr2Fz6gsCamaC3KRpSHN6XK8RgAVshzY7RKTp2TeFCBNYqwYU7SmMlWm8n7hRQ1/s640/girla+1.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
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OH Look !! It's Me!!!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1C9KANsAKseENz4rYxhfRkkHwSK8vrOlnJpr-EOaElD2JjkfWaYJ_3ml1_m-S0m6FQWNjbI7zvp1dIitBuhLcSGqPbcu0ciIPUNrEJdhcw2Y2dGmvlsGPqjGEmjVGNolSshbIapYfYw5/s1600/_MG_7933_edited-1+copy+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1C9KANsAKseENz4rYxhfRkkHwSK8vrOlnJpr-EOaElD2JjkfWaYJ_3ml1_m-S0m6FQWNjbI7zvp1dIitBuhLcSGqPbcu0ciIPUNrEJdhcw2Y2dGmvlsGPqjGEmjVGNolSshbIapYfYw5/s640/_MG_7933_edited-1+copy+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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It was honestly so much fun. This really is something I can get caught up in doing and loss track of time. Although having Ethan with us really slowed us down. I had him strapped down in his buggy but he whined the whole time and when I did take him out he kept falling on the rocks and I was paranoid about what there could be in between the rocks. And Andrea was a little spooked, she said the area was creepy and she wasn't cooperating much, which I do not understand, the kid sits down to watch The Walking Dead with me, I guess the WD is not as bad as reality and actual spookiness. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigSoOn7ZSrDad3DrsViHlJKytBsQrs0pNa9Y6LfKYG7UNhrkiPMvIRxmF9PpNE53hZDXqLlTZh0mBkvNGX-N1haAnWZf74SAMxjRgUoopbRhM2c0sqG6KhFiPmaRYj-j-fakuXF-PmvrRT/s1600/preview.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>Cant wait for next weekend when I shoot my friend's family in better light -so anxious!<br />
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-erikaerikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-77145489519001598812012-01-10T21:59:00.001-06:002012-01-10T22:01:39.842-06:0030 minutes with Ethan<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">What can Ethan get into in about 30 minutes (before bedtime):</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Some construction work:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQN9su4WlkI/Twz-ik4PYNI/AAAAAAAAU7E/kFiT72HuPSU/s1600/_MG_7513+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQN9su4WlkI/Twz-ik4PYNI/AAAAAAAAU7E/kFiT72HuPSU/s640/_MG_7513+copy+2.jpg" width="425" /></a> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and apparently his teeth needed drilling as well:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXDVfC-Mxno/Twz-jbjf0HI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/ecGIOQ_r6A4/s1600/_MG_7515+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EXDVfC-Mxno/Twz-jbjf0HI/AAAAAAAAU7Y/ecGIOQ_r6A4/s640/_MG_7515+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vViHNg8iJYk/Twz-l-viX_I/AAAAAAAAU70/3kB40ER7W0U/s1600/_MG_7531+copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vViHNg8iJYk/Twz-l-viX_I/AAAAAAAAU70/3kB40ER7W0U/s1600/_MG_7531+copy.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"> </a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiSk4co5NMg/Twz-jBHpIYI/AAAAAAAAU7I/-cVo5zCaqu4/s1600/_MG_7514+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-aiSk4co5NMg/Twz-jBHpIYI/AAAAAAAAU7I/-cVo5zCaqu4/s640/_MG_7514+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and his nose as well:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIvf9hUIqls/Twz-jnP1FcI/AAAAAAAAU7U/OTXqtBRnwHs/s1600/_MG_7521+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZIvf9hUIqls/Twz-jnP1FcI/AAAAAAAAU7U/OTXqtBRnwHs/s640/_MG_7521+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">explore the toy basket (that i purposely put out of his reach):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vViHNg8iJYk/Twz-l-viX_I/AAAAAAAAU70/3kB40ER7W0U/s1600/_MG_7531+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vViHNg8iJYk/Twz-l-viX_I/AAAAAAAAU70/3kB40ER7W0U/s640/_MG_7531+copy.jpg" width="425" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"> How about this hardhat mom?</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Kzt1A2qZ5c/Twz-lAYlT1I/AAAAAAAAU7s/C0i7cok-zms/s1600/_MG_7528+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_Kzt1A2qZ5c/Twz-lAYlT1I/AAAAAAAAU7s/C0i7cok-zms/s640/_MG_7528+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">and try on baby doll clothes:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwMcbK4v56E/Twz-obMgYYI/AAAAAAAAU8I/F_Ku9DuXDRk/s1600/_MG_7540+copy+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TwMcbK4v56E/Twz-obMgYYI/AAAAAAAAU8I/F_Ku9DuXDRk/s400/_MG_7540+copy+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rfy2R1izlvM/Twz-nQXlpzI/AAAAAAAAU78/i3KCtz1KLKI/s1600/_MG_7534+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rfy2R1izlvM/Twz-nQXlpzI/AAAAAAAAU78/i3KCtz1KLKI/s640/_MG_7534+copy.jpg" width="425" /> </a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bug his sister (that's what brothers do!):</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6h0EIcleEo/Twz-pc7xt9I/AAAAAAAAU8U/uFs5uq5HpYc/s1600/_MG_7542+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-d6h0EIcleEo/Twz-pc7xt9I/AAAAAAAAU8U/uFs5uq5HpYc/s640/_MG_7542+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nZGeg6xNJM/Twz-gjgp0nI/AAAAAAAAU6c/mGCyec1alac/s1600/_MG_7544+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4nZGeg6xNJM/Twz-gjgp0nI/AAAAAAAAU6c/mGCyec1alac/s640/_MG_7544+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwhGk1y-AuA/Twz-fGUDjyI/AAAAAAAAU6U/s3ezVEVW3nY/s1600/_MG_7547+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-OwhGk1y-AuA/Twz-fGUDjyI/AAAAAAAAU6U/s3ezVEVW3nY/s640/_MG_7547+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and make a dash for the fridge as soon as daddy opened it:</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2eysd4waag/Twz-gsLuLaI/AAAAAAAAU6s/o_khAB2OJC4/s1600/_MG_7550+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-a2eysd4waag/Twz-gsLuLaI/AAAAAAAAU6s/o_khAB2OJC4/s640/_MG_7550+copy+2.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwuVetd9quE/Twz-gvg6B_I/AAAAAAAAU6g/9Ct1xyznP_A/s1600/_MG_7552+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pwuVetd9quE/Twz-gvg6B_I/AAAAAAAAU6g/9Ct1xyznP_A/s640/_MG_7552+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhvolHFRje8/Twz-iKZlkbI/AAAAAAAAU60/rK8yac6azJg/s1600/_MG_7554+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GhvolHFRje8/Twz-iKZlkbI/AAAAAAAAU60/rK8yac6azJg/s640/_MG_7554+copy.jpg" width="426" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGpjBoIIYzU/Twz-idzDsEI/AAAAAAAAU64/LSCRIHHa_00/s1600/_MG_7565+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mGpjBoIIYzU/Twz-idzDsEI/AAAAAAAAU64/LSCRIHHa_00/s640/_MG_7565+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">...imagine a whole day! FUN!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-krh8yHaOnPg/Twz-npxRL2I/AAAAAAAAU8A/wjDF1DtpggE/s1600/_MG_7536+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</a></span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-28903249952779441462012-01-08T21:23:00.001-06:002012-01-09T21:03:39.893-06:00Roses are Red, Violets are Blue.... and I love you... Kids Valentine's Day shoot<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I had this awesome vision in my head of a Valentine's Day photo shoot (because remember, it's a passion of mine I've had since I was Oh-so-young, now that I am Oh-so-Old!) with my kids. I even made Ethan a bow tie! I squealed with excitement when I put it on him! </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well it only came to life half way. It's real hard to try to shoot the kids when at the same time I have to keep an eye on Ethan, the boy is faster than any 2yr old should be.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The outfits came to life perfectly and the weather was ok and the location had to be my front yard because there is no way I am not going anywhere with Ethan in tow and no other adult to help out. (seriously the kid is FAST.) But I think a great photographer should be able to shoot in any location, so that works to my benefit as practice. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I am still working on my technique and try to find my style and learn my way around photoshop and what PS program I like better and I haven't used a flash in a while (except for last night that I had to snap a quick picture of Ethan and his buddy). Little by little. </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overall, I had lots of fun although I was hoping I would be able to bring out the other props I had. And the girls are such great models, they had fun too! Ethan had fun running away from me as fast as he could. And I was out of breath and sweaty at the end. (that's why there are not many pictures of him, I suppose I will have to master the task of running behind toddlers and shooting awesome pics of them.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5W2MC_nvkA/TwpTm3jk6lI/AAAAAAAAU1I/8TjOOEx7v5k/s1600/_MG_7259_edited-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-D5W2MC_nvkA/TwpTm3jk6lI/AAAAAAAAU1I/8TjOOEx7v5k/s640/_MG_7259_edited-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And my all time favorite picture - I am dying to print this one!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MkB_9RRW-A/TwpTvrILM9I/AAAAAAAAU3E/1WN2RIPk9_o/s1600/_MG_7429.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/--MkB_9RRW-A/TwpTvrILM9I/AAAAAAAAU3E/1WN2RIPk9_o/s640/_MG_7429.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Next weekend I think I will steal my friends kids for another shoot! And if any of my local friends out there are interested as well, I would be more than happy to practice on your kids and/or family!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">**Update** </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Since they are Valentine's pictures and I am already decorating, I wanted to share what I did with the prints. (yes, I couldnt wait any longer and I ran to have the pictures printed as soon as I could.)</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I added some near my Thumbpeople - </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYjqedPTYd3Jo2Q7knqYuR_E_32l5oaCSvOIZQNIjtVXjzcYKXmbFs55D-00xfYFf9-a0Ul3UrGTNXINaSY8oP3c1OA7DEATrajz0DkWhEmUOCpncqzfMu1GErJtoylneG9kaIh7gF_rJ/s1600/_MG_7475+copy+2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYjqedPTYd3Jo2Q7knqYuR_E_32l5oaCSvOIZQNIjtVXjzcYKXmbFs55D-00xfYFf9-a0Ul3UrGTNXINaSY8oP3c1OA7DEATrajz0DkWhEmUOCpncqzfMu1GErJtoylneG9kaIh7gF_rJ/s640/_MG_7475+copy+2.jpg" width="640" /></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIrFJdvdLi9oboCeFM1vO9Nf0COT2cU4ncpkXP27uzZ-iJOac4OdfKExrFBF-JjuFjY4pv2pvM-OynR7lqWSJLjObDc-srIE4SGCoAzfadG2rNOQ7bWbe7rQJ2O7V0vFGvd-D63umOKR_/s1600/_MG_7496+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjIrFJdvdLi9oboCeFM1vO9Nf0COT2cU4ncpkXP27uzZ-iJOac4OdfKExrFBF-JjuFjY4pv2pvM-OynR7lqWSJLjObDc-srIE4SGCoAzfadG2rNOQ7bWbe7rQJ2O7V0vFGvd-D63umOKR_/s640/_MG_7496+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> So cute, huh! I also have a poster size print that will go next to these but I didnt pick that one up today.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
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The buffet table-</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgn7JmXqK_zRhH6fT214QPANOyB37GOpXULtLxl_FOEr04Hpectlysw2aLcZfbl0Q-ZlGKbmJFrgkbDCUsk3QNM1L7l-DqCagGIIwmirQJ6QGtsRmI2R31UkEOlwE0iGuizLfq4nvlAuT/s1600/_MG_7499+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNgn7JmXqK_zRhH6fT214QPANOyB37GOpXULtLxl_FOEr04Hpectlysw2aLcZfbl0Q-ZlGKbmJFrgkbDCUsk3QNM1L7l-DqCagGIIwmirQJ6QGtsRmI2R31UkEOlwE0iGuizLfq4nvlAuT/s640/_MG_7499+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">and I put one near my picture wall... </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1VXLgKtclck-m82o8lncP24tBTEzAhyphenhyphenA725jHBCZZLLuzQCq0KvUvgHKLtl0fHskQkPaiPUSkVUZ4zA6gVi5ieDMlVgehr_4ow11Aswcd-eiFge1FbK63_6JBBU5VFpM9YCD73MClnrU/s1600/_MG_7491+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr1VXLgKtclck-m82o8lncP24tBTEzAhyphenhyphenA725jHBCZZLLuzQCq0KvUvgHKLtl0fHskQkPaiPUSkVUZ4zA6gVi5ieDMlVgehr_4ow11Aswcd-eiFge1FbK63_6JBBU5VFpM9YCD73MClnrU/s640/_MG_7491+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span> </div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> Not sure if I ever shared my picture wall with you guys, but I love my picture wall! and yes, those are real tree branches. The husband thinks I am crazy but I love my branches!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5-NSCm5ohuickpq4y77BnoWU2d5g_CuVjPq6WAMrqRVHjBJCoVR2x5KHz8QUT-l_jHs_A4vTPpzczUtN9Zgq61BLsYQyw8gMVKZUjmWX04B-Rz3jVu19uLVzSrFKulqC2Qa46MovUAsQ/s1600/_MG_7495+copy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="446" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB5-NSCm5ohuickpq4y77BnoWU2d5g_CuVjPq6WAMrqRVHjBJCoVR2x5KHz8QUT-l_jHs_A4vTPpzczUtN9Zgq61BLsYQyw8gMVKZUjmWX04B-Rz3jVu19uLVzSrFKulqC2Qa46MovUAsQ/s640/_MG_7495+copy.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRYjqedPTYd3Jo2Q7knqYuR_E_32l5oaCSvOIZQNIjtVXjzcYKXmbFs55D-00xfYFf9-a0Ul3UrGTNXINaSY8oP3c1OA7DEATrajz0DkWhEmUOCpncqzfMu1GErJtoylneG9kaIh7gF_rJ/s1600/_MG_7475+copy+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></span></div><span style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">neat huh! </span><br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">-erika</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-88924937534281594752012-01-04T22:06:00.003-06:002012-01-12T09:16:00.328-06:00Because I am a nut...and I dont like naked...<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">..... what was your dirty mind thinking....????</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Well you were wrong, the only thing that is naked is my house after Christmas decorations have come down. It. Feels. So. Weird.</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">So I made my heart all giddy again and started with the Valentine's decorations. Oh yes I did!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sneak peak:</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsA-z4gTKig/TwUe-lPDWPI/AAAAAAAAU80/6nrSaNMpbjU/s1600/18160358956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="500" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jsA-z4gTKig/TwUe-lPDWPI/AAAAAAAAU80/6nrSaNMpbjU/s640/18160358956.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qcmVETRGSI/TwUgfF7evbI/AAAAAAAAU80/Pr0zo9mfkkI/s1600/18160437030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="416" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2qcmVETRGSI/TwUgfF7evbI/AAAAAAAAU80/Pr0zo9mfkkI/s640/18160437030.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jsA-z4gTKig/TwUe-lPDWPI/AAAAAAAATlo/bypTXaCvzag/s1600/18160358956.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-2qcmVETRGSI/TwUgfF7evbI/AAAAAAAATl8/pY9aMgI195Y/s1600/18160437030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
awwww.... I cant help all this excitement!</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">much love</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">-erika </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-size: small;">(thumbprint family was made by taking everyone's thumbprints and everyone painting/drawing a body on it, using the thumbprint as the face. Got the idea from the<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="http://twogirlsandethan.blogspot.com/2011/11/month-of-giving-thanks.html" target="_blank">turkey family we did for Thanksgiving</a></span>.... I might just do one for each holiday!) </span></b></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br />
</span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-68089970819403199022012-01-01T19:17:00.007-06:002012-01-03T08:07:02.644-06:00W E L C O M E 2012 (picture heavy)WELCOME 2012! W E L C O M E!!!!<br />
<br />
We brought in the New Year with friends we love and who are more like family than anything else, drinks, food, games, new traditions and love and hope.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRqJ-UT-eps/TwDtGBUTA_I/AAAAAAAATZ8/Boh2bxQVaQg/s1600/18100423060.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="636" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nRqJ-UT-eps/TwDtGBUTA_I/AAAAAAAATZ8/Boh2bxQVaQg/s640/18100423060.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaSFjaSDDZU/TwHFInaO55I/AAAAAAAATeg/35htvUg5uRA/s1600/18100294552.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="380" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RaSFjaSDDZU/TwHFInaO55I/AAAAAAAATeg/35htvUg5uRA/s640/18100294552.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
Our wonderful hosts:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBMcjtOKUus/TwD91VDx9YI/AAAAAAAATbk/VDF6OV7WJ9s/s1600/18102049817.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="338" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-WBMcjtOKUus/TwD91VDx9YI/AAAAAAAATbk/VDF6OV7WJ9s/s640/18102049817.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UI_MbALpwY/TwD58vZsdNI/AAAAAAAATbw/8xSAiGR3B9Q/s1600/18102219649.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="598" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-9UI_MbALpwY/TwD58vZsdNI/AAAAAAAATbw/8xSAiGR3B9Q/s640/18102219649.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PvtSIdEXaY8/TwD6apuXEqI/AAAAAAAATbo/joGnSylpK6U/s1600/18102075598.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PvtSIdEXaY8/TwD6apuXEqI/AAAAAAAATbo/joGnSylpK6U/s640/18102075598.jpg" width="612" /></a></div><br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_1Do1RUlfQ/TwEALyKeHWI/AAAAAAAATbc/Gw-hVGOgG-A/s1600/18101966237.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q_1Do1RUlfQ/TwEALyKeHWI/AAAAAAAATbc/Gw-hVGOgG-A/s640/18101966237.jpg" width="640" /></a> <br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
In all honesty, 2011 wasnt all that bad. There were many blessings, my realizations and lots of personal growth. The end of 2011 was full of much hurdles and as I drowned in my sorrows and pain, all I wanted was to breathe.<br />
<br />
But here I am! 2012, and alive and well for the most part.<br />
<br />
<br />
2011- Started off with a cruising baby and ended in a toddler that NEVER STOPS running.<br />
Two girls who are amazing and I am more than appreciative for having them, more than I could ever describe and more than I could ever tell them in person.<br />
<br />
I had resolutions for 2011, but many of those hopes, wishes and goals ended up being derailed. A main one was to establish a connection with God, but once Ethan starting walking and his stranger/separation anxiety made it real difficult to sit through Sunday service. Many times I left church feeling as if I wasn't getting anything out of attending since a lot of my attention was on Ethan. And he has Down syndrome, he isn't your typical 2 year old you can "talk" to and bribe to hush or stay somewhere. I felt real guilty and it was a real tough time for me. Ethan was the reason I started to attend church in the first place, I am so grateful for his life, so grateful to have been given the title of Mother. My heart aches to return to church and I am hopeful that it will be this year! No- I am not hopeful, I know I will return this year. <br />
<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b><br />
</b></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><b>January- December 2011 </b></div>No doubt it was a good year!<br />
<br />
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looking back, it wasnt so bad. Just blessed with lots of hurdles to make us stronger at the end.<br />
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Happy New Years guys!<br />
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-erikaerikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-20841665492962256702011-12-27T11:14:00.005-06:002012-01-03T08:16:20.099-06:00Christmas Misfortunes and hopefully happy endings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zozFUjNx7-U/TwDci3BmOEI/AAAAAAAASxQ/30THYSFUDKE/s1600/_MG_6874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>C<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">hristmas has come and gone –thankfully.</span><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I hope all of you had a wonderful, amazing very Merry Christmas! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RF9pT4N4m0U/TvnxeqlX2PI/AAAAAAAASkg/BtgwgWmJ_K0/s1600/santa3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RF9pT4N4m0U/TvnxeqlX2PI/AAAAAAAASkg/BtgwgWmJ_K0/s1600/santa3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-RF9pT4N4m0U/TvnxeqlX2PI/AAAAAAAASkg/BtgwgWmJ_K0/s640/santa3.JPG" width="424" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-_eq4zj1p8/Tvnxd2adEcI/AAAAAAAASkQ/SB00PHJSDU4/s1600/ethan+rise+santa.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-m-_eq4zj1p8/Tvnxd2adEcI/AAAAAAAASkQ/SB00PHJSDU4/s640/ethan+rise+santa.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> Ethan was NOT a Santa fan at all.... <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_11P-4Lews/TvnxeXb7HxI/AAAAAAAASkY/YHI_nAZ1CME/s1600/rise+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i_11P-4Lews/TvnxeXb7HxI/AAAAAAAASkY/YHI_nAZ1CME/s640/rise+2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I stayed away from blogging for the past several weeks. I was totally not digging the whole holiday season and I spent most of my time crying and whining (for my Facebook friends, you know how true that is!), far from being cheerful or merry. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The rundown of this unjolly season (and so I can let it all out and out of my system and prepare myself for a better year):</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">The motor in my truck died. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Have you ever replaced a motor? </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It’s a chit load of money to have fixed. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">In the meantime, while I debated on which child to sell, I relied on a good friend to pick me up and take me to work and back home. I felt like such a burden on her that thankfully I only bothered her a week. She was too kind though and reassured me that it was no trouble.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Then another good friend offered me her spare car since she had just purchased a new car. It wasn’t the prettiest car I’ve driven, nor was it the ugliest either! Hey my first car was a Lincoln Mark “something” that had airbags in the front and wouldn’t always inflate unless I jumped on the hood, otherwise the car would be lopsided. For real.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">But the car was taking me from point A to be point B and I was happy to be able to get around…until, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">THAT</i> day I dropped Ethan off at school, I made my way to the car thinking to myself, “oh how I missed dropping Ethan off at school last week and oh boy how I missed all those beautiful faces at his school…” With a big smile I got in the car, REVERSED… and STALLED right in the middle of the parking lot. Right in front of the school. <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">First</b> –HOW embarrassing… <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Second</b>- Really?? In the middle of the parking lot!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Some nice guy (or more like some dude eager to get to work) came and pushed the car out of the way. Once safely out of the way, and with another good friend by my side, the tears started to flow. The husband came and tried to start the car back up but he couldn’t and it had to be towed to my friend’s mechanic. I felt horrible that my friend was now stuck with a tow charge, but she wouldn’t accept that I pay for it. I felt pretty shitty that she was also going to have to pay whatever repairs had to be done. Somehow though, things worked out for her –<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">thankfully</i>.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Since things had come to worse, I swallowed whatever was left of my pride (or more like I had no other option) I asked to borrow the company car from my job. Of course, not without getting hell from certain people… </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And I cried some more. Seriously, how are people so heartless? I stayed up that night crying and praying…. Praying and crying. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">For those couple of weeks, I was a mess. I felt horrible for my kids whose Christmas was about to be jeopardize. How on earth was I supposed to get my kids gifts when I had to come up with <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thousands of dollars</b> to get my motor fixed? And why did my kids have to be ones to suffer through it.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">(but there were still some good times... like watching my Gabby at her piano recital and dance performance.)</span><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkjHPiFMWuo/Tvnzbz3w9eI/AAAAAAAASlo/iiz5zSQ_uGA/s1600/xmas2+003.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KkjHPiFMWuo/Tvnzbz3w9eI/AAAAAAAASlo/iiz5zSQ_uGA/s400/xmas2+003.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc2KU6PyCqw/Tvn1PRRA0PI/AAAAAAAASmE/kd0dXl4GzIU/s1600/xmas2+058.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Cc2KU6PyCqw/Tvn1PRRA0PI/AAAAAAAASmE/kd0dXl4GzIU/s400/xmas2+058.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpiH-97SKhY/Tvn1VuThBbI/AAAAAAAASmM/PFmsVp4ivZ8/s1600/xmas2+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HpiH-97SKhY/Tvn1VuThBbI/AAAAAAAASmM/PFmsVp4ivZ8/s400/xmas2+047.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I thought about my childhood and the crappy Christmas’s I had growing up. Some years without gifts and many years having to face my friends after Christmas break, when everyone is so excited to be back at school to brag about what Santa brought them. “What did you get for Christmas?” they would ask. Ugh, nothing I would think.. instead I would come up with things that never even touched my hands. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">It hurt so much to think that my past could so easily be my children’s reality. And I cried a lot. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And I know what some of you are thinking, “Well Christmas isn’t about gifts and Santa…” </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Sure you are right,… and don’t think for a second that my kids don’t know the reality of what CHRISTmas is, but what parent doesn’t get joy to see their child’s face on Christmas morning. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Somehow though, we managed to get the kids some pretty awesome stuff. Somehow. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNqMo3fZLb0/TwDdUFPYJ9I/AAAAAAAASyo/0sn91Z7n4Y4/s1600/_MG_6885.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QNqMo3fZLb0/TwDdUFPYJ9I/AAAAAAAASyo/0sn91Z7n4Y4/s640/_MG_6885.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afL_afVmiV8/TwDfnOXjQXI/AAAAAAAAS3M/kkhVhGXVmAw/s1600/_MG_6915.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-afL_afVmiV8/TwDfnOXjQXI/AAAAAAAAS3M/kkhVhGXVmAw/s640/_MG_6915.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">And just as I was started to be able to breathe, last week right before Christmas, I woke up to the windshield of the company car shot at by BB’s. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Of course. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Because the universe hates me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So I spend Christmas Eve having the stupid thing replaced. As if money wasn’t tight enough already thanks to a new motor. I wanted nothing more than to just go home and cry and sleep. Instead I slapped a smile on my face and spent the rest of the day at my inlaws. </span><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">(kids and their grandparents) </span></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zozFUjNx7-U/TwDci3BmOEI/AAAAAAAASxQ/30THYSFUDKE/s1600/_MG_6874.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-zozFUjNx7-U/TwDci3BmOEI/AAAAAAAASxQ/30THYSFUDKE/s640/_MG_6874.JPG" width="640" /></a></div></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-size: 12pt;">Lactose free milk for Santa, because apparently he has tummy issues, per my girls.</span><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DXL8i0qyCi4/Tvn4fCjP4yI/AAAAAAAASoA/H9IjGP4fu0Y/s1600/xmas3+022.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqTVAVSneRA/TwDdIcLTeQI/AAAAAAAASyY/0speahJK4BQ/s1600/_MG_6883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-eqTVAVSneRA/TwDdIcLTeQI/AAAAAAAASyY/0speahJK4BQ/s400/_MG_6883.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DXL8i0qyCi4/Tvn4fCjP4yI/AAAAAAAASoA/H9IjGP4fu0Y/s1600/xmas3+022.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHGiw0liZCs/TwDeBC2GZfI/AAAAAAAASz4/9Id_hGEKuPo/s1600/_MG_6893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gHGiw0liZCs/TwDeBC2GZfI/AAAAAAAASz4/9Id_hGEKuPo/s640/_MG_6893.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">Oh boy! Santa was here! </div><br />
<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjPD73YqqIg/TwDeR5orUhI/AAAAAAAAS0k/dbqhWdBmVp0/s1600/_MG_6898.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BjPD73YqqIg/TwDeR5orUhI/AAAAAAAAS0k/dbqhWdBmVp0/s640/_MG_6898.JPG" width="426" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07_hMdr1ITI/TwDetMX07FI/AAAAAAAAS1c/zGIutoAh26M/s1600/_MG_6903.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-07_hMdr1ITI/TwDetMX07FI/AAAAAAAAS1c/zGIutoAh26M/s640/_MG_6903.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hGMdSDIxWaw/Tvn8Vvmq6TI/AAAAAAAASoQ/g1erPI_1O3A/s1600/xmas3+051.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yr9s6oMa4zk/Tvn4Xu0IHYI/AAAAAAAASn4/nTWy9lt_ckM/s1600/xmas3+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal">People say that it’s the devil trying to bring me down because I am good person, or God testing me… blah blah blah…blabity blabity blah! </div><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Through all of the crap I’ve had to endure (and that means ALL OF MY LIFE), I’ve always remained strong and my faith has always remained. Dear God, if you are reading this, I will always be full of faith and hope, I will not deter from You, so can you please stop with the tests if it is You testing me….? Please. Thanks!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">So here we are the week right before the New Year and I am more than ready for a new start. There were other things that happened along the way as well, other happenings that are really aren’t for the telling. You’ll just have to trust me that December was the worst month ever, and that 2011 was the worst year ever. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">I eagerly want to put this year behind me. I’ll take the good memories with me and hopefully bury the worse of it deep deep in the ground somewhere, somewhere where it won’t ever resurface.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">If anything good has come out of this, that would be being able to see how many people love and care for us. We received many prayers , words of encouragement and help in all sorts of forms. I am very thankful for all of my friends and family and without them this would have been even more painful. I was given shoulders to cry on and hands to hold. Thank you all. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Thank you.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">and I realize that there are others that have it much harder than we do/have had... and I am very thankful for what we do have. Sometimes it is hard to keep your head up, especially when it feels like you are a magnet for bad luck. We will make it through though. Somehow some way. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
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<span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Happy New Years guys! May 2012 be a better year for all of us! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">-erika </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-11218899252590775172011-12-02T12:21:00.001-06:002011-12-03T13:11:48.927-06:00Confessions of my heart<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><i>All of my life</i>…I lived life thinking I was doomed for hell. </div><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span> <br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I was living in hell for the most part anyways.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Nobody loved me, I thought many times. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I cried many days, and my tears full of grief and pleas of help went unheard.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Normal… I just wanted a normal life. I wish I had different stories to tell, different memories to fill my heart.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Instead my heart stored many sad tales, many tales that I will take to the grave with me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I became a mother for the first time, a beautiful little girl with long fingers. Her birth filled me with hope but pain from the past still lived strongly in me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Three years later I became a mother to another beautiful girl, she filled me with more smiles yet my heart remained heavy. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">For the third time, my womb nurtured another child, this time a boy. He filled me with fear.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Down syndrome. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I didn’t know the why’s or how’s… all I knew was that he was given to me. Of course, <i>me</i>. Apparently God was out to get me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">What was I suppose to do?… I pondered the first few nights…. A few times I wondered if maybe he wouldn’t make it to the next day… and maybe I would be spared this journey… I secretly talked to God…I assured him that if his little heart wasn’t strong enough to be here, that I would understand.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Dear Lord, please forgive me for those initial thoughts. How can a mother ever hope for <i>such</i>…. But please Lord, erase that I ever had those thoughts. Don’t ever let me live on this earth without him. Please. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Today, all that pain my heart had to bear, a small child has taken all of that away. A small child, with dark brown slanted eyes, with beautiful feathery eyelashes just like his daddy’s. A smile that takes away every ache and pain. A laughter that radiates through my core. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Hope. I have hope.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Through this child, I have weaved the beauty of life back on top and the darkness, almost nonexistent, weaved out of my heart. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">God was never out to get me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">He knew what He was doing.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6UAtEDOkrQ/TtkVs97n27I/AAAAAAAAR3I/iCMyjI-8sv8/s1600/IMG_20111129_075132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-x6UAtEDOkrQ/TtkVs97n27I/AAAAAAAAR3I/iCMyjI-8sv8/s640/IMG_20111129_075132.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I am honored to have this child.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-erika </span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-29270779176679277002011-11-28T11:14:00.001-06:002011-11-28T11:20:39.176-06:00Just an awesome weekend -Thanksgiving and RenFest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">Lately I find myself blogging less and less about Down syndrome. Believe me, it’s not that I have forgotten about Down syndrome or that I refuse to talk about it now. Every day that I look into my son’s face <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">it</i> looks right back at me – Down syndrome. But Ethan is now 28 months old (2years 4months for those lazy ones that don’t want to do the math) and it is just part of life. Everything is just harmonious and fallen beautifully into place. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I still have the same super strong deep feelings about Down syndrome and Ethan and others just like him. There are (many) nights where it’s just Daddy and me up talking about Ethan and what a blessing he is. I cant ever imagine a day without my little guy. I love the girls with all of my heart and soul, there is absolutely nothing I wouldn’t do for them girls…. But for Ethan, I’ll probably come back from the dead for him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I am so thankful that God chose me as his mommy, He knew what he was doing way before I could even accept it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-Speaking of thankfulness, we celebrated Thanksgiving at our house this year with my sister in laws (& their families) and my parent in laws. Sadly my family couldn’t make it since my mom somehow has to work EVERY single Thanksgiving. Booooo. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6101284063157500377&postID=2927077917667927700" name="_MailAutoSig"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">It was still a very nice dinner with (TOO MUCH) awesome food. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFlb3QuDErs/TtEyeh1TQTI/AAAAAAAARpE/Ub5zrbwLhzE/s1600/IMG_5682.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AFlb3QuDErs/TtEyeh1TQTI/AAAAAAAARpE/Ub5zrbwLhzE/s640/IMG_5682.JPG" width="425" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92Q0LtzdvGg/TtEyTPxr27I/AAAAAAAARow/xtc-I0FCq4Y/s1600/IMG_5680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-92Q0LtzdvGg/TtEyTPxr27I/AAAAAAAARow/xtc-I0FCq4Y/s640/IMG_5680.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> I guess it isn't Thanksgiving if you dont throw a football around.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4HRkvvnpe6U/TtEfR-CG5II/AAAAAAAAQyA/MSvYm1TA3uY/s1600/IMG_5844.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4HRkvvnpe6U/TtEfR-CG5II/AAAAAAAAQyA/MSvYm1TA3uY/s640/IMG_5844.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZuSl75rdr4/TtEzRFTkLjI/AAAAAAAARrI/0WWFNWa-LFE/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> Andrea and her cousin Stephen. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P3hoN_a3Gk/TtEzBQfFBFI/AAAAAAAARqg/wtMQ0lnnlCA/s1600/IMG_5693.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0P3hoN_a3Gk/TtEzBQfFBFI/AAAAAAAARqg/wtMQ0lnnlCA/s640/IMG_5693.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SISNo0Dfyms/TtE0OwU1RpI/AAAAAAAARt0/L4cQOoBj1Mg/s1600/IMG_5722.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SISNo0Dfyms/TtE0OwU1RpI/AAAAAAAARt0/L4cQOoBj1Mg/s640/IMG_5722.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The boys. </span><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZuSl75rdr4/TtEzRFTkLjI/AAAAAAAARrI/0WWFNWa-LFE/s1600/IMG_5697.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ZuSl75rdr4/TtEzRFTkLjI/AAAAAAAARrI/0WWFNWa-LFE/s640/IMG_5697.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioVSDy6tYr_ISVj8Te3N022DGjIbzoH9JpNpYROWzik3Ax-8vgdSBOPRX0EH7OBlEr1rdNNMHzahzPctgLSmVgmWOeuny636DTCMVjzTCDYVXNHFKibqKkwHXuGf3VW9753O2MFsDKjT8/s1600/New+Image.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhioVSDy6tYr_ISVj8Te3N022DGjIbzoH9JpNpYROWzik3Ax-8vgdSBOPRX0EH7OBlEr1rdNNMHzahzPctgLSmVgmWOeuny636DTCMVjzTCDYVXNHFKibqKkwHXuGf3VW9753O2MFsDKjT8/s640/New+Image.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Family fun continued on Friday –nope, no Black Friday shopping this year, as we spend the day at the Texas Renaissance Festival, where the eating continued. I have ate SO much since Thursday that I am SURE I can go on without eating for like 3 weeks! </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">TRF is full of all sorts of fun and people watching at its greatest. You know it is bad when your 7yr old starts pointing out what “is messed up”....ahaha!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">But it was a blast!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">The girls were able to get some sibling frustration out.....</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpVG7OJ1ARw/TtEsCTbvkKI/AAAAAAAARXY/SQ8x6Vf1Njc/s1600/IMG_6027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xpVG7OJ1ARw/TtEsCTbvkKI/AAAAAAAARXY/SQ8x6Vf1Njc/s400/IMG_6027.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W91cMASUKNU/TtEr8wNmKkI/AAAAAAAARXM/tGBIwNWQA4k/s1600/IMG_6026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W91cMASUKNU/TtEr8wNmKkI/AAAAAAAARXM/tGBIwNWQA4k/s400/IMG_6026.JPG" width="266" /></a></div>rode on Neptune's swing....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0HeZwlSGtCY/TtEts8XP0vI/AAAAAAAARcQ/HjzOHjx9WMw/s1600/IMG_6061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0HeZwlSGtCY/TtEts8XP0vI/AAAAAAAARcQ/HjzOHjx9WMw/s400/IMG_6061.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFlp3Y5srs0/TtEt_TqgrHI/AAAAAAAARc0/jfiF5HJ0iZw/s1600/IMG_6065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FFlp3Y5srs0/TtEt_TqgrHI/AAAAAAAARc0/jfiF5HJ0iZw/s640/IMG_6065.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PwKNn-fLfWU/TtEuWGfh27I/AAAAAAAARd4/RJdb48nL53w/s1600/IMG_6072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PwKNn-fLfWU/TtEuWGfh27I/AAAAAAAARd4/RJdb48nL53w/s640/IMG_6072.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> (that's my friend's daughter, Victoria...brave little one!)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcOwCpk7OTE/TtEuHrOheWI/AAAAAAAARdQ/bISZDus00Y0/s1600/IMG_6069.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PcOwCpk7OTE/TtEuHrOheWI/AAAAAAAARdQ/bISZDus00Y0/s640/IMG_6069.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> jumped on the trampoline...<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTZpoQAtcB4/TtEiQ5k9VoI/AAAAAAAAQ60/w6_mtCxelis/s1600/IMG_5876.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vTZpoQAtcB4/TtEiQ5k9VoI/AAAAAAAAQ60/w6_mtCxelis/s640/IMG_5876.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN92jHFBb_s/TtEis2EurRI/AAAAAAAAQ8M/0d0d9oo1XLg/s1600/IMG_5880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-SN92jHFBb_s/TtEis2EurRI/AAAAAAAAQ8M/0d0d9oo1XLg/s640/IMG_5880.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krYnt_YXuRQ/TtEiyT4lpsI/AAAAAAAAQ8c/HIPera0i3f4/s1600/IMG_5882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-krYnt_YXuRQ/TtEiyT4lpsI/AAAAAAAAQ8c/HIPera0i3f4/s640/IMG_5882.JPG" width="426" /></a></div> This was Gabby's first year doing this... this is a big thing for her because she is a big chicken! <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5hRaUqNgxI/TtEiGzF0CBI/AAAAAAAAQ6c/Oh6Utjm4RwY/s1600/IMG_5873.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-r5hRaUqNgxI/TtEiGzF0CBI/AAAAAAAAQ6c/Oh6Utjm4RwY/s640/IMG_5873.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1k3fnjUrTM/TtEkYDgB6dI/AAAAAAAARBM/2a7AVn6UdE4/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div> And Ethan and daddy were able to ride a big fake horse.....<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHu2Lzfjo5o/TtEoMpKzgUI/AAAAAAAARL0/8QNM6DqoMYA/s1600/IMG_5938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-XHu2Lzfjo5o/TtEoMpKzgUI/AAAAAAAARL0/8QNM6DqoMYA/s640/IMG_5938.JPG" width="426" /></a></div><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1k3fnjUrTM/TtEkYDgB6dI/AAAAAAAARBM/2a7AVn6UdE4/s1600/IMG_5898.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-B1k3fnjUrTM/TtEkYDgB6dI/AAAAAAAARBM/2a7AVn6UdE4/s640/IMG_5898.JPG" width="640" /></a></div> ..that's little Prince Charming there.... for those of you that dont know.<br />
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and we also got in on the fun trying to climb this rope ladder... I swear it looks so easy -but it isnt!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kvSI7b6vBo/TtEdI7Yc5EI/AAAAAAAAQtA/e8siM96VDXw/s1600/IMG_6149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_kvSI7b6vBo/TtEdI7Yc5EI/AAAAAAAAQtA/e8siM96VDXw/s320/IMG_6149.JPG" width="213" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UACtdW5IQVg/TtExzUI40zI/AAAAAAAARnQ/J6yJvUtOU8k/s1600/IMG_6140.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-UACtdW5IQVg/TtExzUI40zI/AAAAAAAARnQ/J6yJvUtOU8k/s320/IMG_6140.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TclZv489acs/TtEx6KANM2I/AAAAAAAARnk/mfvX5qk9HAA/s1600/IMG_6141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TclZv489acs/TtEx6KANM2I/AAAAAAAARnk/mfvX5qk9HAA/s320/IMG_6141.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>for the record, I did much better than Daddy.<br />
Dont believe what he tells you!<br />
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And another great thing, Santa Daddy just bought me an early Christmas gift! A<span style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.google.com/products/catalog?q=50mm+canon+lense&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=9079362058149002410&sa=X&ei=T7_TTsi1IaeJsQLyy6XADg&ved=0CJcBEPMCMAI" target="_blank"><span class="main-title" itemprop="name"><b> Canon</b> EF <b>Lens</b> - <b>50 mm</b> - F/1.8 - <b>Canon</b> EF!</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="main-title" itemprop="name"> I am always using my </span></span>75-300mm lens since it takes better pics than the generic 18-55 lens it comes with.So I am excited to be able to take better close ups without having to back up a mile!<br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span class="main-title" itemprop="name"> </span></span><br />
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In other news<u><b>, The Houston Buddy Walk </b></u>is this Saturday! Dec 3, at the Diamond Lot at Minute Maid Park, one mile walk around the block of Minute Maid Park. Not too late to register or donate! Hope to see you guys there! Thank you all for the support!<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: yellow;"><a href="http://www.houstonbuddywalk.org/fr/DSAH/2011BuddyWalk/EthansJackrabbits" target="_blank">DONATE and/or REGISTER HERE! </a></b><br />
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</span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-89022675134742696632011-11-22T00:28:00.000-06:002011-11-22T00:28:55.650-06:00Practicing my photography skills<div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Photography has always been a passion of mine... really! I took photography in HS and even worked processing film at Ritz camera at one point... but the truth is - I SUCK! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">And its something I would like to pursue one day, so I been practicing with the kiddies and anyone else willing to pose for me! I've been reading up on the technical stuff as well. Honestly it all seems like Japanese at the moment, even though at one point of my life I knew pretty much every feature on the camera... then I got old and it all turned into useless information. Time to relearn how to ride a bike!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Over the weekend my sister and law kindly agreed to be my guinea pig along with her crew... and I totally see why some photographers don't photograph children at all! But I love taking pictures of children especially when they are innocently at play, so I need lots of practice (and patience!).</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The Melchor gang!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYmQ8M2j5notf4NZp6ThJ-LXwJV4cHFi7YBp5jP88a0_pminWJVaHHCk4FN9lwv31HRSgUfFkdFdMlflzsrsQgPiVtBKAmjHgiMk1RZOhWaLQ6sQ-vHgMKgzS8RUpEpZ3pFj94uOkbiQh/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPYmQ8M2j5notf4NZp6ThJ-LXwJV4cHFi7YBp5jP88a0_pminWJVaHHCk4FN9lwv31HRSgUfFkdFdMlflzsrsQgPiVtBKAmjHgiMk1RZOhWaLQ6sQ-vHgMKgzS8RUpEpZ3pFj94uOkbiQh/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-4.jpg" width="476" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">what - how did he get there! oh,.... that is right, he was sabatoging the entire photo shoot, trying to get in on the pictures!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3tzYJYi0e1cJMBJrg4zV-F5t4pkfk51X3HMVgk2zwolXJTQq8OT30xhi5S_QBMKMzmnXLf6XFXZDeQjuoYr_QSXX2qFBZ_Ha9gATSJp2nC0ovfMYb3oaa0NHWIbrQiU-f_CpSqL2hYOJ/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj3tzYJYi0e1cJMBJrg4zV-F5t4pkfk51X3HMVgk2zwolXJTQq8OT30xhi5S_QBMKMzmnXLf6XFXZDeQjuoYr_QSXX2qFBZ_Ha9gATSJp2nC0ovfMYb3oaa0NHWIbrQiU-f_CpSqL2hYOJ/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-7.jpg" width="425" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;">well since he is already taking part in the fun, here are some pictures of Ethan and the girls,</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNhYLGiiWaFftcVKdAHoUM34wWX5IyJHrENodRgDZZThyrbnmwb-xFcU-prXmuEBr_oV6qjjLovFDKin8hR1eDZXN7URjfYZZJTutsYAQRt0AS9K4xxmFJHgwqEs__OaZv040x7AjKeIJ/s1600/fam11+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibNhYLGiiWaFftcVKdAHoUM34wWX5IyJHrENodRgDZZThyrbnmwb-xFcU-prXmuEBr_oV6qjjLovFDKin8hR1eDZXN7URjfYZZJTutsYAQRt0AS9K4xxmFJHgwqEs__OaZv040x7AjKeIJ/s640/fam11+%25282+of+2%2529.jpg" width="426" /> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRHoZTGmhFXmP1LPpdXf1sHvGo762z2_SMBbYGNoFXjk4471wBtewkbAjTOdhuR2Nz-ss6HH6cs5NNPh4wugYQ4DuizmzeGyZ8tqlmim4xKJYVD2-8kZ0zQGnT3giVPo_1u90uIfHmIHp/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRHoZTGmhFXmP1LPpdXf1sHvGo762z2_SMBbYGNoFXjk4471wBtewkbAjTOdhuR2Nz-ss6HH6cs5NNPh4wugYQ4DuizmzeGyZ8tqlmim4xKJYVD2-8kZ0zQGnT3giVPo_1u90uIfHmIHp/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-19.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ACSqvKS0KcIWPkQsSOzLJBc4lm1YB2vrN_79Pm6cagoOD73XQcrEBIuxdYf5yuuo_1l8EhWGAbBvYeIXWuiMpRVMzxf-KVSmKXyh4h_BROyypafpDXuIi03-LgEnFq71XqC2sxLeLDy7/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+2%2529-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5ACSqvKS0KcIWPkQsSOzLJBc4lm1YB2vrN_79Pm6cagoOD73XQcrEBIuxdYf5yuuo_1l8EhWGAbBvYeIXWuiMpRVMzxf-KVSmKXyh4h_BROyypafpDXuIi03-LgEnFq71XqC2sxLeLDy7/s640/fam11+%25281+of+2%2529-2.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44vt6ieOt4nrusVJsG0SYdTpRz_dC0rXFnQL3SD4oxyUQFbx9B6sVVwoVPcw6AlOLRlCzPohNYSdRtmJzHTEELOqMzri_x48ZmuwjI3mDSF-f9BsaKMpMsA2n72NYUv5TU6K85hKFbgb0/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi44vt6ieOt4nrusVJsG0SYdTpRz_dC0rXFnQL3SD4oxyUQFbx9B6sVVwoVPcw6AlOLRlCzPohNYSdRtmJzHTEELOqMzri_x48ZmuwjI3mDSF-f9BsaKMpMsA2n72NYUv5TU6K85hKFbgb0/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-14.jpg" width="426" /></a> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzJTxQf5IT9hyNfaqveun6MncCjsRwZ2EmjlhvVE9HLIN8IfxhyphenhyphenMUPKcrywJ6_y6Q63iqzH4dT2zKtJxv6NNSmq2ZdvUX89XhHtztBNotCKDVWEbs8aihqf4xsoC7zCq9pqpW_udV4qU1/s1600/_MG_5405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHzJTxQf5IT9hyNfaqveun6MncCjsRwZ2EmjlhvVE9HLIN8IfxhyphenhyphenMUPKcrywJ6_y6Q63iqzH4dT2zKtJxv6NNSmq2ZdvUX89XhHtztBNotCKDVWEbs8aihqf4xsoC7zCq9pqpW_udV4qU1/s640/_MG_5405.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">and dont let the smiles fool you! The kid was only cooperative for the first 3 minutes! </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAovJBNdTg2BqE1uuCMd0LfaEHKHZcoTUAr999Wa_SNMCHHfzluIy20Y1E_F7mhyphenhyphentGulqBAttCTy30tYXbQ0AeJcbpPjVeI4jTX3-twvDV-mvVQFzTyDKbv9b7XY6HuOyIlrH5v7vRVGvH/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAovJBNdTg2BqE1uuCMd0LfaEHKHZcoTUAr999Wa_SNMCHHfzluIy20Y1E_F7mhyphenhyphentGulqBAttCTy30tYXbQ0AeJcbpPjVeI4jTX3-twvDV-mvVQFzTyDKbv9b7XY6HuOyIlrH5v7vRVGvH/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-20.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdS3I0MAiZGYBNzUmAtZ3NU87JLrnhVMvg1igJEPA194-VgvAl7j9JkoZVs0vcJk6g84X8EWUCXvK9hyphenhyphenOlTnEs81vbgcjG6rSEfz2kefD1LnH4pxNB1rQMyIHR6zHeGeBVW1dmQb454DD/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-17.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPdS3I0MAiZGYBNzUmAtZ3NU87JLrnhVMvg1igJEPA194-VgvAl7j9JkoZVs0vcJk6g84X8EWUCXvK9hyphenhyphenOlTnEs81vbgcjG6rSEfz2kefD1LnH4pxNB1rQMyIHR6zHeGeBVW1dmQb454DD/s640/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-17.jpg" width="426" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDRXUhp1jhuCumqOxFpUcel8ksLV3RKQyDK5eXxfXEzd05eRl1zhgoDXL4KUxlSjpC8FtCekrjINDmf8qE1SAnBsIuoLJJ493Zyll_g26_84ZR7dnjCVs0P4aJg-ZYJDIP5fy53H7c8TpB/s1600/fam11+%25281+of+1%2529-16.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> Enjoy!</div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
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</a></div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> </div><div style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-36697336995856274752011-11-18T11:27:00.000-06:002011-11-18T11:27:17.905-06:00Photo Friday<div style="color: orange;">Just thought these were some super cute pics of Ethan and I just HAD to share.</div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange;">We went to Ethan's cousin's 1st Birthday party last weekend, were Ethan had an amazing time and was able to experience his first time hitting a pinata. </div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lZEfYWG9K8PwmAHCHOpoEg9_8Sy5ZuduE0Mzfn1Ju5b0MGK6R5gb8_etQGlU21UMzMcF0IC7rRQCA6GKbceVnFi4NmjhTZT_BvoDO45UVSc6P36Ry41Z0RooVWU1qqe1t5G0dDnNvTT8/s1600/nov2011+069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0lZEfYWG9K8PwmAHCHOpoEg9_8Sy5ZuduE0Mzfn1Ju5b0MGK6R5gb8_etQGlU21UMzMcF0IC7rRQCA6GKbceVnFi4NmjhTZT_BvoDO45UVSc6P36Ry41Z0RooVWU1qqe1t5G0dDnNvTT8/s640/nov2011+069.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bsym3S64lns8DfZJWyi2iQFj7QkNcq5lnNnyR9TNmLw0iOn9riXg7zMoawROQkeRLkGI9UtT7eixzhYSBWRmnWX5c7bXzmw7daLTxt2WTDY4lPcrNRXjIz6R_8r7A-31mDPTdpw4JAP-/s1600/nov2011+068.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0bsym3S64lns8DfZJWyi2iQFj7QkNcq5lnNnyR9TNmLw0iOn9riXg7zMoawROQkeRLkGI9UtT7eixzhYSBWRmnWX5c7bXzmw7daLTxt2WTDY4lPcrNRXjIz6R_8r7A-31mDPTdpw4JAP-/s640/nov2011+068.jpg" width="426" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;">I can just hear him... "oh chit"... yes, the only phrase he knows how to say... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5993qxHXFT6bicmGBD9y9QGcuKrWdZrdfJG9QEUvJX5rSgg3p1Dtehjz6S7NLHkjq7t63quhdLlagtSz9I6Eifg7ivVNd7NMtlNzKpIdrMqMPez_s-Vq_MY1LQeeDWZkV2fScro2zyU/s1600/nov2011+067.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjL5993qxHXFT6bicmGBD9y9QGcuKrWdZrdfJG9QEUvJX5rSgg3p1Dtehjz6S7NLHkjq7t63quhdLlagtSz9I6Eifg7ivVNd7NMtlNzKpIdrMqMPez_s-Vq_MY1LQeeDWZkV2fScro2zyU/s640/nov2011+067.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzBwQKR75KXAgbB9e0iazIw7Z840OJgiQityjkg73zpfYVMjPmXMkvpzH-nXQCAyzgPB7i2d8FLvhah9nyrfhNK2qlO8P1SRGhCqFxoIdQzKKCcodd2MpimuXp1pEdfn7eyNm971n6l3x/s1600/nov2011+066.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzBwQKR75KXAgbB9e0iazIw7Z840OJgiQityjkg73zpfYVMjPmXMkvpzH-nXQCAyzgPB7i2d8FLvhah9nyrfhNK2qlO8P1SRGhCqFxoIdQzKKCcodd2MpimuXp1pEdfn7eyNm971n6l3x/s640/nov2011+066.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZEy6gz7Rc76kZH9jLCfTODz12mr1MhvXtJHbZaAXL51pd13hsZCbJ9ICLfk5d6SLU1jABebh9_rRQkPOARCjkPuhx-uG6xrKGoIYzcQZZWP0S9-haBFfmL9vAmIidFG4gMHaFon9QJKp/s1600/nov2011+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6ZEy6gz7Rc76kZH9jLCfTODz12mr1MhvXtJHbZaAXL51pd13hsZCbJ9ICLfk5d6SLU1jABebh9_rRQkPOARCjkPuhx-uG6xrKGoIYzcQZZWP0S9-haBFfmL9vAmIidFG4gMHaFon9QJKp/s640/nov2011+021.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFwTaejY8hXpVvTK-OxJOWpfTVDrF3igGps5OhNlq289Aa5vaHlxxiE4LWnlMbRRInxqN-fwJggohEwMYKQm8OikCfROzpYNNscLqAjkhx_q7oJf5msLNwOA1awTg8M3-G1Omnij6j-A-/s1600/nov2011+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiFwTaejY8hXpVvTK-OxJOWpfTVDrF3igGps5OhNlq289Aa5vaHlxxiE4LWnlMbRRInxqN-fwJggohEwMYKQm8OikCfROzpYNNscLqAjkhx_q7oJf5msLNwOA1awTg8M3-G1Omnij6j-A-/s640/nov2011+004.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;">with his beloved grandma.... </div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange;">and of mommy and daddy last night.. at a fundraiser for Ethan's school last light.. just cause we look good! ahaha! And since I am losing weight and feeling great I took my hair back to what it used to be, short layers on top and front and dark! I love it!</div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: orange; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1Yty_nRuJsIub2n7JjQT38a7goFS1teC-rghyphenhyphenuxHTwFm2DzlhtaBu56EvoqAV7CGx-S-WMrUqTOI4w4bhKpsMdPa0YuN9iQ7WAMDUPjqmwW8SRUBSM2EnbhE18ZC6oWGtfAFfR9p8ZE7/s1600/nov2011+086.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1Yty_nRuJsIub2n7JjQT38a7goFS1teC-rghyphenhyphenuxHTwFm2DzlhtaBu56EvoqAV7CGx-S-WMrUqTOI4w4bhKpsMdPa0YuN9iQ7WAMDUPjqmwW8SRUBSM2EnbhE18ZC6oWGtfAFfR9p8ZE7/s640/nov2011+086.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"></div><div style="color: orange;"><br />
</div><div style="color: orange;"></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-77288553285175212822011-11-17T10:08:00.000-06:002011-11-17T10:08:42.298-06:00Evaluation - A gentle giant...????<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <o:OfficeDocumentSettings> <o:AllowPNG/> <o:TargetScreenSize>1024x768</o:TargetScreenSize> </o:OfficeDocumentSettings> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:WordDocument> <w:View>Normal</w:View> <w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:TrackMoves/> <w:TrackFormatting/> <w:PunctuationKerning/> <w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/> <w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:DoNotPromoteQF/> <w:LidThemeOther>EN-US</w:LidThemeOther> <w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian> <w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript> <w:Compatibility> <w:BreakWrappedTables/> <w:SnapToGridInCell/> <w:WrapTextWithPunct/> <w:UseAsianBreakRules/> <w:DontGrowAutofit/> <w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/> <w:DontVertAlignCellWithSp/> <w:DontBreakConstrainedForcedTables/> <w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/> <w:Word11KerningPairs/> <w:CachedColBalance/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> <m:mathPr> <m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/> <m:brkBin m:val="before"/> <m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/> <m:smallFrac m:val="off"/> <m:dispDef/> <m:lMargin m:val="0"/> <m:rMargin m:val="0"/> <m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/> <m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/> <m:intLim m:val="subSup"/> <m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/> </m:mathPr></w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="true"
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z71tmd-DQkA/TsUunXbLYsI/AAAAAAAAQFE/gNkyrczX3X4/s1600/IMG_20111112_074315.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VkaaWs7Mus/TsUq3jVRpII/AAAAAAAAQEs/WfeBVJceSJA/s1600/IMG_20111110_190619.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3VkaaWs7Mus/TsUq3jVRpII/AAAAAAAAQEs/WfeBVJceSJA/s400/IMG_20111110_190619.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXcvflTQ6tw/TsUrPyqkquI/AAAAAAAAQE0/uarSM1YJLpw/s1600/IMG_20111112_074344.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Yesterday was Ethan’s evaluation at school. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Overall I am very pleased with his results. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t have the actual evaluation with me so I am not able to relate the actual testing on here just yet. Hopefully I’ll have it later today and correct any information that is wrong. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">Ethan is also evaluated yearly through ECI and at the Down Syndrome Clinic here in Houston, although we skipped our last appointment. Everyone has different views on the DS clinic, I do believe it offers great resources to other families but not necessarily to us. In my own experience they are able to evaluate our children and offer referrals. Well, I don’t find their evaluations very helpful since I feel they don’t see Ethan often enough to accurately tell me his strengths and weaknesses and as far as referrals our pediatrician has been very helpful in providing us with any other specialist (although we still need an endocrinologist –but it tough getting an appointment at Texas Children’s). Then again, Ethan doesn’t possess many health complications where we might have to be seeing more doctors, if that was the case maybe the DS clinic would come in more handy. Regardless I know the Ds Clinic has an awesome caring staff and a great valuable resource to the Ds community and we are very lucky to have a facility as such here in Houston.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And as far as his ECI evaluations, I do find them to be more accurate than the Ds clinic but not as thorough as it could be. The Rise school definitely provided a great evaluation with every concern answered before I even asked it. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">They see my little guy every day, they see him on his bad days and on his good days, they know of all the great things he is able to do. His lowest mark was in the communication area, they evaluate him in different areas in communication so he ranged from 9 months to 17 months and I would totally I agree. He is not talking so that definitely puts him at a younger age developmentally along with the fact that he only has a handful of signs. He is very willing to learn and I know as long as we keep introducing signs he will keep picking them up, and hopefully real words will come in eventually. He can’t quite point to all the body parts (nose, mouth, feet and hands might be the only ones he knows) but I strongly believe we’ll get there sometime next year.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">His adaptive skills were also on the “lower” side (not as low as 9months though, I believe 12 months if I remember correctly) but I already see him improving daily in that area. He is a great self eater and drinker and he is starting to attempt to dress himself, he might not be able to take off his shirt on command but he can definitely take off his bottoms and diaper in a split second. One of his goals is to give his empty plate to an adult when he is done eating, well he just (like in a matter of days) started to put his own empty dish in the sink. I think his adaptive skills will sky rocket in the next few months. He has become so independent in certain areas that it is frightening. He refuses to eat in his highchair now and likes to sit at his little table all by himself –DO NOT go near him while he eats, he needs his space. He'll even point me away. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z71tmd-DQkA/TsUunXbLYsI/AAAAAAAAQFE/gNkyrczX3X4/s1600/IMG_20111112_074315.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Z71tmd-DQkA/TsUunXbLYsI/AAAAAAAAQFE/gNkyrczX3X4/s640/IMG_20111112_074315.jpg" width="478" /></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXcvflTQ6tw/TsUrPyqkquI/AAAAAAAAQE0/uarSM1YJLpw/s1600/IMG_20111112_074344.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gXcvflTQ6tw/TsUrPyqkquI/AAAAAAAAQE0/uarSM1YJLpw/s640/IMG_20111112_074344.jpg" width="478" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">His motor skills are pretty awesome and his fine motor skills still need some adjustments, although his pincher grasp is (apparently) something to brag about! One of his goals is to walk backwards… I guess Ethan has decided that he does NOT want to show his teachers and peers how well he can moonwalk. The kid walks backwards on a daily basis at home as he tries to walk away from me after being naughty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finds it hilarious –and who am I kidding, so do I! I actually tried to get him to do it this morning for his teacher, but of course he was being a little stinker. They will be changing his goal now since he has already mastered that task. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I was most impressed that we are all on the same page and that no one is overlooking anything that he is or isn’t doing and that I completely agree with their findings. Sometimes as a parent you might second guess yourself and question whether you are doing something right or wrong, but when a team of people tell you the same thing then that offers some peace of mind. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">And I am completely ok with the lower developmental age rankings, I know it. I accept that it is what it is and I cannot help Ethan unless I can fully be ok and understanding of his developmental delays. This is how we will overcome it, by working on his delays rather than dwelling on it. And that is simply my approach, it doesn’t make it better or worse than anyone else’s approach. I know some people become sad when they hear where their child is developmentally and it is ok to be sad. My husband actually told me he was a little sad when he heard how low he “scored” in the communication area. And it is OK. But we can’t dwell on those negative feelings, instead we are going to take that information and overcome those hurdles. (ok hunny… Ethan is badazz, and you know it!)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">He is an awesome kid and they all agree he is super cute and charming but that I already knew!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was also described as a gentle giant –I laughed at that one, there is <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">no</i></b> gentle giant at home. Rough and tough is all we get at home. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">From what they said they have some pretty high goals for Ethan especially for the classroom that he is in. Ethan aims to please so he will get there -when he feels like it. </span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I truly believe in my heart that Ethan is destined to an amazing level of greatness… My super amazing child. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif";">Because I am SO crafty…</span></u></span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I don’t know what happens sometimes, but sometimes I feel <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">soooo</i> crafty. Just the other night I stayed up till midnight making the girls hair bows… and a Christmas tutu…. A tutu for who… ??? I don’t know, I just wanted to make it and Ethan was happy to model it the next day. Hilarious. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">But I also made these other Christmas ones:</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4KGwTtuuPI/TsUpJPTP3XI/AAAAAAAAQEU/XlsK3bsblgo/s1600/IMG_20111115_192951.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-f4KGwTtuuPI/TsUpJPTP3XI/AAAAAAAAQEU/XlsK3bsblgo/s640/IMG_20111115_192951.jpg" width="478" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> This one is huge so it looks better as a pony tail holder. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">(Isn't she so pretty... took her to get her haircut last night ans is totally rocking some bangs.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> And the girls are just dying for after Thanksgiving to wear these!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkF1CEhvR48/TsUpulrlxCI/AAAAAAAAQEc/6hywKcUeaGc/s1600/IMG_20111115_115009.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pkF1CEhvR48/TsUpulrlxCI/AAAAAAAAQEc/6hywKcUeaGc/s640/IMG_20111115_115009.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt;">And look at my Thanksgiving area –cute eh! </span><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKXzWtH2LnI/TsUqVMKGBrI/AAAAAAAAQEk/eRnZ2aswvPw/s1600/IMG_20111112_190920.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="476" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xKXzWtH2LnI/TsUqVMKGBrI/AAAAAAAAQEk/eRnZ2aswvPw/s640/IMG_20111112_190920.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> I made those cake stands with old candle holders and silver trays. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><span style="color: #ffc000; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 11.0pt;">I’ve also been on a spray paint kick… but that’s another story. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal"><br />
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</div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-58510030789671897102011-11-10T11:31:00.002-06:002011-11-30T16:27:33.489-06:00The month of giving thanks - Holiday Decor<div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I know I haven’t been too up to date with this whole Thanksgiving thing, but seriously I already had a head start than most of you since I started working on my Thanksgiving crafts the weekend before Halloween! So HA! And rest assured, I am very thankful for many things, today and every day.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And since it has just been confirmed, Thanksgiving will be at our house, I am working on a few extra touches to add to the house. We havent had Thanksgiving at our house for maybe 5 or 6 years, so yeah I am excited. That also means something is brewing that hopefully my guest will enjoy (insert evil laugh!!!). I am just giddy with the thoughts of some of the things I want to do! And it all needs to be done by this weekend, because then it is time to start working on Christmas stuff! (Dear Hubby, we need to work on the play room so I can work on my craft section so I can stop crafting in the kitchen and living room….)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">-And speaking of the Husband, today is his birthday! Happy Birthday HUNBUN. Thank you so much, especially these last few days, I am very proud of you and you know I LOVE you dearly. XOoXXxxOo (Nacho Libre…hehe)</span> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I surprised him at work today with Jack in the Box breakfast, along with 2 chocolate overload cakes from there! Some of you might think, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">“WHAT, JIB??? Seriously??? Is that all you can do…?”</i> And the answer is yes. I work full time, I have limited time to cook or bake, I have to take the girls to school at 7:30am then drop off Ethan off at his school, then <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">try</i> to be at work by 8:30am. And the husband is very grateful for the things I do manage to do, like breakfast this morning because he knows how hectic our lives are. He’s pretty awesome for being so understanding of our circumstances and not being one of those overly demanding husbands that expects you to be in the kitchen all day long, even though you have a full time job as well. Yeah, he’s a pretty cool guy.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is a peak of how things are coming along.. .I also have a “thankful” banner I made…somewhere else in the house. There is no spellcheck when you use a pencil to write words… so originally my banner said “THANKFULL” yup, it did.( I am thinking a Thanksgiving tree under the turkeys...)</span></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9ym2hL3mrNsxM5Ly_WOCn-PTuyefNV8w7HcOwJranECY2duNb1G4k2sW3uID0cHlIe9oGpVgXH_0mM1SQORt5OCSfpHuUS1w2T_Z7mKUmCCzPq51gHiS_MIG7IqLWG31KxhkzGJYM6Q/s1600/t4.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9ym2hL3mrNsxM5Ly_WOCn-PTuyefNV8w7HcOwJranECY2duNb1G4k2sW3uID0cHlIe9oGpVgXH_0mM1SQORt5OCSfpHuUS1w2T_Z7mKUmCCzPq51gHiS_MIG7IqLWG31KxhkzGJYM6Q/s640/t4.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I had seen this (the turkey family) on Pinterest, </span></div><div style="color: black; line-height: 0px; padding-bottom: 2px;"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/478600950/" target="_blank"><img border="0" height="326" src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/221731981623415982_CRqWyifk_c.jpg" width="554" /></a></div><div style="color: black; float: left; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><div style="font-size: 10px;">Source: <a href="http://eighteen25.blogspot.com/2011/11/hand-print-turkey-family.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+Eighteen25+%2528eighteen25%2529" style="font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;">eighteen25.blogspot.com</a> via <a href="http://pinterest.com/erikatx/" style="font-size: 10px; text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Erika</a> on <a href="http://pinterest.com/" style="text-decoration: underline;" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></div></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">and I remembered I had just found this picture frame in the entryway closet and we went to work! Each family member traced their hands and we colored them to look like Turkey’s. Of course Ethan had to be placed after his Daddy, that is Daddy’s shadow. My super cute turkeys!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BJJvo3CIAFVNyW3Zhzb33Y4OCOsXay4oBEeIFJ8H0mQ7nP_y0b-pruVKawsapl11u3ycqpOpMUyDdvBNUmfL3BIKn6MhTnNnqVjYdkmODnIP84Dd1faLiHikhXJVh2rquLsL-jIPG1sq/s1600/hands.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4BJJvo3CIAFVNyW3Zhzb33Y4OCOsXay4oBEeIFJ8H0mQ7nP_y0b-pruVKawsapl11u3ycqpOpMUyDdvBNUmfL3BIKn6MhTnNnqVjYdkmODnIP84Dd1faLiHikhXJVh2rquLsL-jIPG1sq/s640/hands.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> <span style="font-size: 11pt;">I made the big medallion thing by rolling card stock into cones and gluing it all together. I am going to add more of the little fan ones. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl63Ue7VWNMvNvNPsx6MkJAH1TMz1shQcEr29xvosCPMzkE1Y2ilUdcTK4yznrZHQMPmjXyl_QdtG78obAjrqf9lVYlYqtka65ESi6xDXL5Jk2NGnR1xcOTVihLHeSG2XGSlnpK1dwMe57/s1600/t3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl63Ue7VWNMvNvNPsx6MkJAH1TMz1shQcEr29xvosCPMzkE1Y2ilUdcTK4yznrZHQMPmjXyl_QdtG78obAjrqf9lVYlYqtka65ESi6xDXL5Jk2NGnR1xcOTVihLHeSG2XGSlnpK1dwMe57/s640/t3.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Pictures of us I edited and framed. I LOVE. (I even made a tshirt flower and taped it on the frame. I made it while watching American Horror Story... anyone else watch that show?...creepy!)</span></span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkh2hK8l0kX5qo0pJvS-reZXHMuvlY9QwzFO4J5qRjDddMZQRffZubrF5wRkl17oyxeWBDUEuztwA8ZPW59sM3Q6oDyrYG96ImCU-tEoe5wNsIsj5ORYUzVAAXB7PULROvuKy-iS5LUQs/s1600/t2.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="478" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAkh2hK8l0kX5qo0pJvS-reZXHMuvlY9QwzFO4J5qRjDddMZQRffZubrF5wRkl17oyxeWBDUEuztwA8ZPW59sM3Q6oDyrYG96ImCU-tEoe5wNsIsj5ORYUzVAAXB7PULROvuKy-iS5LUQs/s640/t2.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuXvAUg2ifsa-5A-dV9FYYZ7Gy_Y-WdxQl5OghBpWkidj2oigErx21YMHYM6eV6-9cXEw365QWWRHpd-aJpCWwlZqU2Xm5iFh6YCjTVQb7aUW2iL4V3crrby1I5N9p7rLQXztExVwDTL1/s1600/t7.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKuXvAUg2ifsa-5A-dV9FYYZ7Gy_Y-WdxQl5OghBpWkidj2oigErx21YMHYM6eV6-9cXEw365QWWRHpd-aJpCWwlZqU2Xm5iFh6YCjTVQb7aUW2iL4V3crrby1I5N9p7rLQXztExVwDTL1/s320/t7.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;"> My house is like a cave and everything is so friggin dark! </div><div style="color: black; font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; text-align: center;">Here is what this picture looks like:</div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLlz36ndFUJ_hrvZhpKYN4ejzQC8w2525udfs4s25NrXimOhJJF1bR2gQrv1JPBjIjJUbZqE9rm5vZ_TT5sTxnLpJSpjUhga4L2n2I4RhrFiFku9biJS33pcx2Tm1TiJMYHfPcd0yiX5S/s1600/IMG_4688%25286%2529.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiLlz36ndFUJ_hrvZhpKYN4ejzQC8w2525udfs4s25NrXimOhJJF1bR2gQrv1JPBjIjJUbZqE9rm5vZ_TT5sTxnLpJSpjUhga4L2n2I4RhrFiFku9biJS33pcx2Tm1TiJMYHfPcd0yiX5S/s640/IMG_4688%25286%2529.jpg" width="640" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">This one is also framed, but its away from this area... I regret going so dark on it, but I still dig the picture!</span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqmL4tV21X6Sji5FlwhpISbSUP0OCgPatcrSirghO5w-DfDlKwFGocjagQD6SbQXwASL7wUKeRhdAv-XQTUC8eEm8EjyEB8nqCTpob_-fcoWi_C1AeQqNAA0DkQICvqf_eQidnYEVHaYD/s1600/338356_10150326460194599_557079598_8074434_1117693646_o%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsqmL4tV21X6Sji5FlwhpISbSUP0OCgPatcrSirghO5w-DfDlKwFGocjagQD6SbQXwASL7wUKeRhdAv-XQTUC8eEm8EjyEB8nqCTpob_-fcoWi_C1AeQqNAA0DkQICvqf_eQidnYEVHaYD/s640/338356_10150326460194599_557079598_8074434_1117693646_o%25282%2529.jpg" width="426" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQn9ym2hL3mrNsxM5Ly_WOCn-PTuyefNV8w7HcOwJranECY2duNb1G4k2sW3uID0cHlIe9oGpVgXH_0mM1SQORt5OCSfpHuUS1w2T_Z7mKUmCCzPq51gHiS_MIG7IqLWG31KxhkzGJYM6Q/s1600/t4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">There is seriously something about being able to use things related to my family to use as décor that totally just rocks my socks… along with handmade crafty stuff… </span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Today, I am thankful for Pinterest!</span></div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "Courier New",Courier,monospace;">-erika</span> </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRpWpxtxDKkM16N8QmtEcTigPRelZhLDZ96i7cS3iKvGb_swqAWuk1i96zTFp27JYo2iT2QK7JfZfwiqExyYSejyhnaAr0-1Snd_xibzu5NBNlRQuNhHkm5OrHG92f2kfAT6K-NasQIvR2/s1600/t6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
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</span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-43921682929850657582011-11-09T14:18:00.002-06:002011-11-30T16:28:14.677-06:00The beautiful face of Down syndrome - another confession<div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I have a <span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">confession </span>(yes another one).</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"><i>What -TWO posts in ONE DAY!!!??? Yeah I know… pigs fly as well</i>… but I was looking at some recent pictures of Ethan and I can’t get over how handsome my little boy is. Which led to some feelings I had when I was pregnant. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">When I was pregnant with Ethan and we were told my screening test was positive and had a marker for Down syndrome, soon after I googled “children with down syndrome” and got all sorts of pages up. Some of which had tiny faces of children with Down syndrome. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Can I confess that when I seen those faces I cried. </span></div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6CYhgSgc_8RZN5f5BqNn3biaQ6rB5-22-Pf7VLShM93EH0KJV2K7rKA1h7kVqZZnkOKdS_rcScryrsz2Wyn1oBivtzWYQxin50TNGZHBGFV7LmLE1jQY9p538-xJBGf3-3DgXbAjJszV/s1600/ethan2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF6CYhgSgc_8RZN5f5BqNn3biaQ6rB5-22-Pf7VLShM93EH0KJV2K7rKA1h7kVqZZnkOKdS_rcScryrsz2Wyn1oBivtzWYQxin50TNGZHBGFV7LmLE1jQY9p538-xJBGf3-3DgXbAjJszV/s640/ethan2.JPG" width="478" /></a></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="background-color: white; clear: both; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3zzSx32WvTt_I1HAF0vqIeDTZZ_jcoDOx_4vD3WVFTwKVamW0r7xNYukKlm7d5lx5KGmm5rCn8FNh8BD9CFbFvsnLjinoLJ7xr0haGGpwfjxqXiUIcqlRdCypR7o52xBd1b2rWX2BAT9/s1600/ethan1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">I cried because I did NOT want my child to have Down syndrome, I did NOT want my child to look like “</span><i style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">them</i><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;">”. </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 11pt;"></span><span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I got on online forums and read people’s stories, some parents insisted on deeply loving their child, saying “I LOVE my child with Down syndrome, they are my world…” clearly I though, those people are delusional. How can someone ever love a child like “that” to that extent. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And I cried some more. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Deep down inside I just knew that Ethan would have Down syndrome although we hoped for the “best”. I didn’t necessarily pray that he did or did not have Ds, I left that up to God… but I did <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">hope</i> he didn’t. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Well thank God that everything was in His hands and not mine. No decision was left up to me, this is what He gifted me with and I was going to accept it no matter what. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">Now I look at these children with Down syndrome and I see a beauty that no words could ever describe. I am so ashamed that at one point I was judging these children based on their looks. In my defense I was uneducated about these individuals. I never had anyone to speak the truth to me about people with Down syndrome. I never knew what an individual with Ds was capable of. I never knew how alike they were to me and in a way superior to me. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">I am so ashamed of who I was before my son, but thank God that he is mine and that I am no longer the same person.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">And now I see my son, so beautiful, with the most gorgeous brown eyes that are the shape of slanted almonds, his soft tiny ears that I caress at night… a face of an angel. But he is more than just an angel face, he is a person full of life and persistence…and I admire him. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">He is my world –and I am NOT delusional. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3zzSx32WvTt_I1HAF0vqIeDTZZ_jcoDOx_4vD3WVFTwKVamW0r7xNYukKlm7d5lx5KGmm5rCn8FNh8BD9CFbFvsnLjinoLJ7xr0haGGpwfjxqXiUIcqlRdCypR7o52xBd1b2rWX2BAT9/s1600/ethan1.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3zzSx32WvTt_I1HAF0vqIeDTZZ_jcoDOx_4vD3WVFTwKVamW0r7xNYukKlm7d5lx5KGmm5rCn8FNh8BD9CFbFvsnLjinoLJ7xr0haGGpwfjxqXiUIcqlRdCypR7o52xBd1b2rWX2BAT9/s640/ethan1.JPG" width="478" /></a><span style="font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div style="background-color: white; color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 11pt;">-erika </span><br />
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<span style="font-size: 11pt;">and dont forget to read my other post from today - <a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_211078231">help Sophia get home!</a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><a href="http://twogirlsandethan.blogspot.com/2011/11/wishful-wednesday-for-sophia-to-meet.html" target="_blank"> </a></span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-86970882402641428882011-11-09T10:12:00.003-06:002011-11-11T09:38:01.767-06:00Wishful Wednesday - For Sophia to meet her mom<div style="color: #fce5cd;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I know I am blessed… even on bad days, I am blessed. </span></div><span style="color: #fce5cd;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #fce5cd; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQlJv0OGuvLToeiESZ0slF5cwB94h2_S1AM0tyl3LRP3Zdtt2taaPWGForJAl4gPncK0EHwOQxVCgnKDRdpm2TmmQ_bJJZcEqcqvD3iG6ITLhWstxrpq_uzdl2bVWBykDPayEh43HkwvL/s1600/sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I am grateful to have my children –safe and sound under my arms, loved and cared for by me every single day. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">All you parents out there, you know what I am talking about. I don’t have to go into details of what I feel, because most obviously you all feel the same. And for those of you that have children with Down syndrome or some other condition or different ability, you know exactly what it is to love a child that the world deems to be different.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I am thankful to have my children and to be able to cherish and love them daily.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">One day I hope to adopt a child with Down syndrome. Emotionally we are there, financially –not even close. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I am extremely moved by those that do adopt, especially children with special needs. Then there are people like my friend Megan, who is a single mother and is in the process of bringing her sweet Sophia home from Eastern Europe. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5Li-5El7prkXuHwUUK3eIWvNgeUQGNbzB1_e1KHM6MnTDVwI9QAJQEeuGOrqVQMbLClreP3yNjWNHzTL4uve9l1jb7rzpuQGRwC3JMgSVhGv9bYNHqOwm4gEl8jbKT_YRjmZeMGdZgb2/s1600/Sophia+14.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN5Li-5El7prkXuHwUUK3eIWvNgeUQGNbzB1_e1KHM6MnTDVwI9QAJQEeuGOrqVQMbLClreP3yNjWNHzTL4uve9l1jb7rzpuQGRwC3JMgSVhGv9bYNHqOwm4gEl8jbKT_YRjmZeMGdZgb2/s640/Sophia+14.jpg" width="441" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sweet Sophia is slightly older than Ethan and also has Down syndrome. Megan has SO much money to raise before she has to travel, an outrages amount of money, but I know that with God everything is possible. </span></div><span style="color: #fce5cd;"> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: #fce5cd; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQlJv0OGuvLToeiESZ0slF5cwB94h2_S1AM0tyl3LRP3Zdtt2taaPWGForJAl4gPncK0EHwOQxVCgnKDRdpm2TmmQ_bJJZcEqcqvD3iG6ITLhWstxrpq_uzdl2bVWBykDPayEh43HkwvL/s1600/sophia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaQlJv0OGuvLToeiESZ0slF5cwB94h2_S1AM0tyl3LRP3Zdtt2taaPWGForJAl4gPncK0EHwOQxVCgnKDRdpm2TmmQ_bJJZcEqcqvD3iG6ITLhWstxrpq_uzdl2bVWBykDPayEh43HkwvL/s320/sophia.jpg" width="273" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">To some of you that means nothing, but to me that means the world. That a woman could love a child so much… a women that doesn’t have any biological children, yet she chose to adopt this sweet precious girl that is so much like my son. That moves me to tears and I am grateful that Megan has been moved and touched by God to bring this precious child home. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">There are times that I am at home and wrestling and tickling Ethan, and as I hear his sweet laughter that radiates through my body, occasionally, I think of Megan, I think about all of these little laughs she does not get with Sophia and I yearn for her to feel the same wave of love.</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I wish I could do more for Megan. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">All I can do is share</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> her story and blog <span style="font-size: large;"><b>(<a href="http://www.myjourneyoftheheart.blogspot.com/" target="_blank">My Journey of The Heart</a> </b></span>is her blog). I hope you can consider don</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">ating to her adoption fund. A generous person has offered to match donations up to $1000 between now and Thanksgiving. I hope you can give at least FIVE DOLLARS ($5)… your $5 will then be matched and be $10. Five dollars is saving a life. I beg for you to PLEASE consider. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><i><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Thank you –deeply,</span></i></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: #fce5cd;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Erika</span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-84566005788537801132011-11-08T12:03:00.002-06:002011-11-30T16:30:58.515-06:00Taylor Swift Concert & A Rather Embarrassing Confession - Weight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">This year, our Buddy Walk will be held at Minute Maid Park on December 3 (in the Diamond Lot, outside of Minute Maid Park.) So having our BW there has had some perks! One being that they provided DSAH with Taylor Swift tickets for last Saturday! Woohoo! I was able to take my girls and baby sister to the ever-so-awesome concert. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Gabby was over the moon about going! It was definitely a great concert, TS definitely put on a theatrical type of show. Andrea was not so fascinated and fell asleep (eh, what do you expect from a 7yr old) but Gabby rocked on the entire night. She sang just about every song and screamed till she almost turned blue. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Me and the girls haven't had a night out like that in a while and I definitely appreciate being able to have some girl time with my girlies. Especially with Gabby who is just growing faster than any parent ever wants their baby to grow up. She is a beautiful child with a heart of gold. She impresses me with her words and actions. I pray that God continues to give me the strength and wisdom to effectively raise this child and I pray that God guides her in her journey as well. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_FrqmkpsziM/Trb0tSk5XrI/AAAAAAAAPSg/OH12c6qnNS0/s1600/100_9913.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_FrqmkpsziM/Trb0tSk5XrI/AAAAAAAAPSg/OH12c6qnNS0/s400/100_9913.JPG" width="300" /></a><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> Isn't she just too cute!!! Ahhh... I hope them boys stay away for another 10yrs!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipzCZeVX5P4/Trbv1YbYW5I/AAAAAAAAPF8/ZZMQUbTJGuc/s1600/100_9825.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ipzCZeVX5P4/Trbv1YbYW5I/AAAAAAAAPF8/ZZMQUbTJGuc/s400/100_9825.JPG" width="300" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;">and my baby girl... that fell asleep!</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27VSWQmGNsg/Trbv2t4jNCI/AAAAAAAAPGQ/P3B6nvCjCoA/s1600/100_9828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27VSWQmGNsg/Trbv2t4jNCI/AAAAAAAAPGQ/P3B6nvCjCoA/s400/100_9828.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hIO51Fs8yU/Trbv9K5wOHI/AAAAAAAAPIA/qGio9u8Jjus/s1600/100_9840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-8hIO51Fs8yU/Trbv9K5wOHI/AAAAAAAAPIA/qGio9u8Jjus/s400/100_9840.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_X9aDfhsCo/TrbwFId4hCI/AAAAAAAAPIk/hgdfyvXnHNM/s1600/100_9845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O_X9aDfhsCo/TrbwFId4hCI/AAAAAAAAPIk/hgdfyvXnHNM/s400/100_9845.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fResLoeKhl4/TrbxfBbzkdI/AAAAAAAAPQQ/6g_cndZ8fk4/s1600/100_9899.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fResLoeKhl4/TrbxfBbzkdI/AAAAAAAAPQQ/6g_cndZ8fk4/s400/100_9899.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;">Guest appearance, Nelly - singing Just a Dream.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RDN4Li4QTYk/Trb1CiqTvOI/AAAAAAAAPTk/fR9xGCR3ZIY/s1600/100_9921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SK--7Dn6chU/Trb1P8cujXI/AAAAAAAAPT0/UvbtRodEkf4/s1600/100_9923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SK--7Dn6chU/Trb1P8cujXI/AAAAAAAAPT0/UvbtRodEkf4/s320/100_9923.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">***PLEASE DON'T FORGET TO DONATE (and/or register to walk) TO ETHAN'S JACKRABBITS!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><a href="https://secure.ezeventsolutions.com/fr/DSAH/2011BuddyWalk/EthansJackrabbits" target="_blank">DONATE HERE!</a></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">We appreciate all that DSAH does for us and our community, thank you all for your support! MUCH appreciated! </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";">*Weight – A rather embarrassing confession </span></u></b></span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Well I have been blogging off and on about my weight loss (or the lack of it). I was on a mission to lose 10lbs by my 30<sup>th</sup> birthday (in one month) which was on October 6. Well that DID NOT happen. There was way too much going on in life to concentrate and dedicate myself to weight loss. So I probably lost 2lbs by then. Which is better than nothing. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Not until the week of October 24 was I able to really focus on myself. I tried for a few days off and on before then, and got a few work outs in, but nothing major happened, of course nothing was going to happen if I didnt do this 100%.</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But as of today, I am 6lbs lighter than I was back on October 24!! And that is something to be extremely proud of! </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I will confess, I had reached my most ultimate heaviest weight at the beginning of this year. The holidays hit me hard last year and I will take full responsibility for my (unnecessary) pigging out and drinking too many holiday drinks!</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I probably weigh in at what I was weighing the day I went in to give birth to Ethan. Yes. Embarrassing for sure. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The year we decided to conceive Ethan I was at my healthiest and leanest weight ever, at 134lbs, in a size 4 –feeling incredibly good about myself. But I was overly consumed by working out. I was working out for about an hour – 1.5 after work, I didn’t get home until almost 6 and the kids went to bed at 8pm, so there was hardly any family time left with my children. I was circuit training with weights and doing HIIT workouts… I was a monster. My children and husband came in after my obsession. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Then my pregnancy with Ethan was rather emotional. With the high risk of miscarriage and then the markers for Down syndrome, I didn’t want to be worrying over irrelevant things such as my weight and whether I was eating according to my diet and if I worked out or not.</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">After Ethan was born I was weighing in between 155-160 and I could wear a size 10, sometimes an 8. Breast feeding made it difficult to diet and workout properly, as soon as I ate less my milk production would drop and I decided to not stress over it much until I finished nursing Ethan. I say “nursing”, the truth is the kid never latched on only to soothe himself, I pumped like a cow for 10 months. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">By Ethan’s 1<sup>st</sup> birthday I did weigh in at 150lbs, but that was short lived with all the birthdays that followed and then the holidays. By the beginning of the new year, I was at an outrages weight. I couldn’t even zip up my size 10’s. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So off and on since March of this year, I have been dieting and working out… I managed to stay at around 166 and I kind of become stuck at that weight, sometimes a pound or two less or more. I have lost between 10-15lbs lbs since the beginning of the year. It is really hard to say since at one point I refused to even go on the scale at all and no telling at what my actual weight was.</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">But this morning, I can officially say that I am back in the 150’s! 159 this morning! We are making progress. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I do not know how I ever lost control over my weight. And this is all really embarrassing to confess to the world, and especially my husband who reads my blog, I am just glad that he loves me for me and the support that he gives me, whether I take a break from working out or I am hardcore dieting and working out. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">By the end of the year I hope to be in the 140’s, even if it is 149. By the end of this month I hope to be at 155. I KNOW I can do it. I’ve done it before. I have been getting 30min workouts in on most days and that is pretty manageable without it overly consuming my life. And if I want to increase that time I will have to wake up early so I do not take time away from my family. It’s all about finding the perfect balance and having the determination and will power to do it. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Sometimes we don’t think we have the will power…but it is there, deep down inside and we have to reach in deep and go for it. </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I know this is a topic that a lot of us women face, and it can lead us to feel so desperate and depressed but it’s certainly something we can take control over. If you are going through this, YOU CAN DO IT! Don’t get lost in the feeling of desperation, it will overwhelm you.</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Last night I couldn’t sleep at all –why? Because my underwear were loose and were rather uncomfortable! Yes, I just made another embarrassing confession but I rather my underwear be loose than tight! And I want you all to join me in the My Underwear Are No Longer Tight Club.hehe!</span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-erika </span></div><div style="color: black;"> </div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-63066819683739193562011-11-07T13:54:00.003-06:002011-11-30T16:30:07.922-06:00I am a slacker - no doubt<div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5tKffmlEF57L0ijkeR3mI79oz_zixeUQN0gnqrLhZU8EXcZjMWaoRKyrHZuET4-oH4NCegP_C9gj9Hiqd9EVJUKZMQuaoxEkB1MmTMareQ7A6DSWHDnfzmXGX4iDI272thTKtrPUNGY7/s1600/halloween+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Oh – My – Goodness – Did I just drop off the face of the Blogger World…???</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Nah, I’ve just been slacking. I am a slacker. <a href="http://www.blogger.com/post-edit.g?blogID=6101284063157500377&postID=6306681968373919356" name="_MailAutoSig"></a></span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So the hubby was sick, Ethan was sick, I have been sick… and finally the world is coming together! Yay!</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Obviously I </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">FAILED</span></b><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> with the whole 31 for 21. But the important thing to remember is that we, us parents of a child with Down syndrome, do not have to blog everyday to raise awareness. Everyday that we wake up we are raising awareness by our actions. I encourage you all to live positively and happily. And that my friends, is something I live by (even on the days that I am down and whining, I manage to get over my fits and turn my days around.)</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Halloween was awesome! I took that Friday off of work to spend the majority of my day at Ethan’s school. They had a parade in the morning, followed by a party in the afternoon. </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Ethan was an Oompa Loompa… and definitely the talk of the day!</span><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-2OCH8K4s/TqrfxdueoiI/AAAAAAAAOac/oe0yvKmSTbE/s1600/_MG_4841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cC-2OCH8K4s/TqrfxdueoiI/AAAAAAAAOac/oe0yvKmSTbE/s400/_MG_4841.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYdXATS8KGs/TqrgXbTB00I/AAAAAAAAOb8/u0V4amsnqi0/s1600/_MG_4854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-PYdXATS8KGs/TqrgXbTB00I/AAAAAAAAOb8/u0V4amsnqi0/s400/_MG_4854.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> Oompa Loompa wedgies are awesome!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwLvukcdL-4KNzVMCetdHLyHBOK_cERPNm1_uQHEdvLUZc1lSMmzZQJCaNRra7O966wuo5OFlpjzL03AzrJY-ESI1EeQBVt2xOqNVHn7Vcm76wgKaVQayNAzlG5y1Eg_o0uGIHVkZYrOT/s1600/ethan+-+oompa+loompa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMwLvukcdL-4KNzVMCetdHLyHBOK_cERPNm1_uQHEdvLUZc1lSMmzZQJCaNRra7O966wuo5OFlpjzL03AzrJY-ESI1EeQBVt2xOqNVHn7Vcm76wgKaVQayNAzlG5y1Eg_o0uGIHVkZYrOT/s400/ethan+-+oompa+loompa.jpg" width="300" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KrH57id2L6Q/TrWABo_kLHI/AAAAAAAAO5o/42KapeTud4k/s1600/IMG_4891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KrH57id2L6Q/TrWABo_kLHI/AAAAAAAAO5o/42KapeTud4k/s400/IMG_4891.JPG" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Crying at the party... he wasn't too happy about eating cookies or caramel apples -he's a weird kid I tell you!</span></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">The rest of the weekend was just one whole amazing time. Gathering of Friends (DSAH – Down Syndrome of Houston annual festival) on Sunday. </span></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-OV8UMk-xFthsqV2qlHkUTXmJ_B7myXnTMV3ixFt0QRdpB6GQo9ixEwNRLg4DnG1staKVnIW-0oLyXCXDLt2DU6zziEcHdvxxkD57RhNuabv3rwxYP9rL73FKPjnTOsvyFALKWaNPZk1/s1600/GOF+-+030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-OV8UMk-xFthsqV2qlHkUTXmJ_B7myXnTMV3ixFt0QRdpB6GQo9ixEwNRLg4DnG1staKVnIW-0oLyXCXDLt2DU6zziEcHdvxxkD57RhNuabv3rwxYP9rL73FKPjnTOsvyFALKWaNPZk1/s320/GOF+-+030.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"> We like ponies.... </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXxSFFt_6vtM-oV-CtuJDnAb4m-nJRwfL2CPaLimWlGBsCzNO3VRJWWtWgb86dnOJxdMXeLb40cHhmLgDmxeQBf4HUPRzAIxmtqlWS8CRj4-62Jcs8_gUn8_RWGT38xulEbbuX25GxK8q/s1600/GOF+-+033.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXxSFFt_6vtM-oV-CtuJDnAb4m-nJRwfL2CPaLimWlGBsCzNO3VRJWWtWgb86dnOJxdMXeLb40cHhmLgDmxeQBf4HUPRzAIxmtqlWS8CRj4-62Jcs8_gUn8_RWGT38xulEbbuX25GxK8q/s320/GOF+-+033.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"> <span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">No, never mind, we don’t like ponies afterall…</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtBjffpgbQwTstJmOHTvv8inTUDPpEYPZktkQt7Jt4YYY9W71SaGdqV3OOYVCbw7tX5lPCI4wvnVaOeh9qXl43QDmPtlkOtb_EQdDFx-vOQjwWQEbAQQ9t2L__VZZMR835UjRcat8lqOw/s1600/GOF+-+047.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbtBjffpgbQwTstJmOHTvv8inTUDPpEYPZktkQt7Jt4YYY9W71SaGdqV3OOYVCbw7tX5lPCI4wvnVaOeh9qXl43QDmPtlkOtb_EQdDFx-vOQjwWQEbAQQ9t2L__VZZMR835UjRcat8lqOw/s400/GOF+-+047.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;"> Comparison from last year:</span></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqvvvU4fGF-Lsekh59Aa30BeHEiDf0KFiQrszBKdkrsGPRpwYmiJLerGgt_NX5on1Iz2e1pDo6MN7e8cCB7_9XDdVLBBRlzEcwlxWxMlP8W_XNKmZdRRIMZXSgWMrZRVhPJ1O9vDj-GxT/s1600/untitled.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="382" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhqvvvU4fGF-Lsekh59Aa30BeHEiDf0KFiQrszBKdkrsGPRpwYmiJLerGgt_NX5on1Iz2e1pDo6MN7e8cCB7_9XDdVLBBRlzEcwlxWxMlP8W_XNKmZdRRIMZXSgWMrZRVhPJ1O9vDj-GxT/s640/untitled.JPG" width="640" /></a> </div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;">Originally Ethan was going to be a cowboy, but that just seemed so generic and usual... but he did get to wear his Cowboy costume for Sunday when we went TrunkorTreating.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf4PyyxLrNYK0SldQ2dZV_QfYlnun85xhpXCXhFl0wMpfdV4qLQUgKYPz4rjEzXESY2IeaQE_RX5ndVOWG5VFGnwwnc40mqUo1Pmg7JvSh5hTOWfC3atriJHHJ39MasXIEkIlAKs0Kbj7/s1600/GOF+-+136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUf4PyyxLrNYK0SldQ2dZV_QfYlnun85xhpXCXhFl0wMpfdV4qLQUgKYPz4rjEzXESY2IeaQE_RX5ndVOWG5VFGnwwnc40mqUo1Pmg7JvSh5hTOWfC3atriJHHJ39MasXIEkIlAKs0Kbj7/s400/GOF+-+136.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;">-with his super cute Kitty cousins.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10TWnKFaoGS-InfXKe2fotgutoeZwCL4uWjtZTdrPMvmmVej9RhFaDFS1ND2cYp8flZgmeXvK5VziQjTj87pTuwt1dMFczU5n5F0BzQojXATOa9utql8fz97q5SydqaFYCZAaRg6Mc1MH/s1600/GOF+-+138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10TWnKFaoGS-InfXKe2fotgutoeZwCL4uWjtZTdrPMvmmVej9RhFaDFS1ND2cYp8flZgmeXvK5VziQjTj87pTuwt1dMFczU5n5F0BzQojXATOa9utql8fz97q5SydqaFYCZAaRg6Mc1MH/s320/GOF+-+138.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"> Cutest cowboy ever!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wVUM9sUbnwUO8GXu1hVQLJpcRitQgapC4aUE8qbHNo-ctdPpqf1xNW27hDtAsV4ssg_Ti6Yv_xhwwfMJifyiMkLU_tEp1gNeTM4otltZQ2ppocnlQw3TIL60P6H9T0LrGb9Vm3Mqic8l/s1600/GOF+-+141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7wVUM9sUbnwUO8GXu1hVQLJpcRitQgapC4aUE8qbHNo-ctdPpqf1xNW27hDtAsV4ssg_Ti6Yv_xhwwfMJifyiMkLU_tEp1gNeTM4otltZQ2ppocnlQw3TIL60P6H9T0LrGb9Vm3Mqic8l/s320/GOF+-+141.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div style="color: black;">For Halloween we always go to a festival instead of actual trick or treating, just seems safe compared to actually being out in the streets. </div><div style="color: black;"> We entered Ethan in the Halloween costume contest, but it was RIGGED and he didnt even win at all! Some stinky Flamingo, Sock Monkey, 50's girls won... (yes, I am a sore loser! so what!)</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNqQLNRsqB8bQ8h7bospCT_-vY7vqLB4FX4MII1co6UegG6skMr4VDE5E-so0f9Y6T1Kpde9vnV2pe0ZDVJeo1428tA76t65j-rXC8v7hum7SeqP-lsv3krFfh_CKy6hDNzRmJ3gAE5hB/s1600/halloween+015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTNqQLNRsqB8bQ8h7bospCT_-vY7vqLB4FX4MII1co6UegG6skMr4VDE5E-so0f9Y6T1Kpde9vnV2pe0ZDVJeo1428tA76t65j-rXC8v7hum7SeqP-lsv3krFfh_CKy6hDNzRmJ3gAE5hB/s320/halloween+015.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZy9H0P9yhkYNZosqWuEJxcyQzYbtgh_w7AvbN6NRC93Z_fM7sMd2J-n5Pba2wbz_Pj27hmotkX9Ob3cYtBPBzd0zteAqkZzec68oiaMKYPoFek1Worw6c2E_vEySe3QC_W-WpdUPSGYC/s1600/halloween+013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPZy9H0P9yhkYNZosqWuEJxcyQzYbtgh_w7AvbN6NRC93Z_fM7sMd2J-n5Pba2wbz_Pj27hmotkX9Ob3cYtBPBzd0zteAqkZzec68oiaMKYPoFek1Worw6c2E_vEySe3QC_W-WpdUPSGYC/s320/halloween+013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5tKffmlEF57L0ijkeR3mI79oz_zixeUQN0gnqrLhZU8EXcZjMWaoRKyrHZuET4-oH4NCegP_C9gj9Hiqd9EVJUKZMQuaoxEkB1MmTMareQ7A6DSWHDnfzmXGX4iDI272thTKtrPUNGY7/s1600/halloween+021.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu5tKffmlEF57L0ijkeR3mI79oz_zixeUQN0gnqrLhZU8EXcZjMWaoRKyrHZuET4-oH4NCegP_C9gj9Hiqd9EVJUKZMQuaoxEkB1MmTMareQ7A6DSWHDnfzmXGX4iDI272thTKtrPUNGY7/s320/halloween+021.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"> -seriously....a stinky flamingo beat this uber cute Oompa Loompa! </div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rl4Wi-KdJ4GjLuZAW_1z6gE-1cFlM91_fhryoHV6Lfa1GtapZ78QjPBmZu97EY1ciP8uWg7fCgu4PXoS7XG-eF8apzBgdbpNEKbpNg_DGqsyWQt9FEGbLaYoTeGRaXpfnY64hs0G7FGr/s1600/halloween+027.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rl4Wi-KdJ4GjLuZAW_1z6gE-1cFlM91_fhryoHV6Lfa1GtapZ78QjPBmZu97EY1ciP8uWg7fCgu4PXoS7XG-eF8apzBgdbpNEKbpNg_DGqsyWQt9FEGbLaYoTeGRaXpfnY64hs0G7FGr/s320/halloween+027.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"> My Bumble Bee and Indian girl... precious girls of mine!</div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP02LElSVMltNgyfMheeZcfnoKv5ZqxkbfCoeWI5cEjMVPmoIIoxbRBaQrTZcyvW5C-2sHf95BUhgIMjSzZxM6WpEvqLXIX44f-joo2AzsH1o4ylcJDVNyu3UE3bdPrORM_fMxtDfW8gk/s1600/halloween+031.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyP02LElSVMltNgyfMheeZcfnoKv5ZqxkbfCoeWI5cEjMVPmoIIoxbRBaQrTZcyvW5C-2sHf95BUhgIMjSzZxM6WpEvqLXIX44f-joo2AzsH1o4ylcJDVNyu3UE3bdPrORM_fMxtDfW8gk/s320/halloween+031.jpg" width="213" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AVfD8a8S0h66pug-aEIWlz3s9sQElVR9E7Z2rYZq93wkK3TlTCYibPlibW0ouQEwKlrOTUbk3TaKFAwlH2Jy13l7a1s70MlbQeQHnxQCAm1-dBNiNISm73iwmdOX3XbhLUvWjaBAVeG/s1600/halloween+041.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5AVfD8a8S0h66pug-aEIWlz3s9sQElVR9E7Z2rYZq93wkK3TlTCYibPlibW0ouQEwKlrOTUbk3TaKFAwlH2Jy13l7a1s70MlbQeQHnxQCAm1-dBNiNISm73iwmdOX3XbhLUvWjaBAVeG/s320/halloween+041.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black;">and our annual Halloween pic we take each year for the past 5 yrs... (except last year)</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; color: black; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXwoLak6t5HszRpCOE7bSS0oL1bDfy0zvFd2R-5t_-H-emNSo2jAUwrYdzrGsVEjAEzemBeHCSs0sZa6muOlHSmCKJEYlIi3s9LuPCBKJgo1PxynlG5XH-imqaUrtYFl8weD_OKeHZ_Dg/s1600/Halloween+2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXwoLak6t5HszRpCOE7bSS0oL1bDfy0zvFd2R-5t_-H-emNSo2jAUwrYdzrGsVEjAEzemBeHCSs0sZa6muOlHSmCKJEYlIi3s9LuPCBKJgo1PxynlG5XH-imqaUrtYFl8weD_OKeHZ_Dg/s320/Halloween+2011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">So that sums up what Halloween was like. FUN.</span></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">I took the girls to see Taylor Swift in concert (thanks to DSAH for providing the tickets) this past Saturday…. Had a blast! Will share those pics tomorrow!</span></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">Until then – Have a great day people!</span></div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><br />
</div><div style="color: black;"></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt;">-erika </span></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6101284063157500377.post-78286662187006739512011-10-21T16:46:00.001-05:002011-10-21T16:47:26.159-05:00Pumpkin farm and tshirt scarves -oh what fun!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sKYMB7NFKEJijWm4ZociEdLWqHuOuteHbYch_kl6nylo1ef87x6R0Oqv5G5zwyWGIqeZk6-7BCrDu-UOonTzREUIH5XOq0WQy_pZE6UxFWESMNf4oEfeNtu-kkgVOPU0ZeDGDklYRB88/s1600/scarves+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sKYMB7NFKEJijWm4ZociEdLWqHuOuteHbYch_kl6nylo1ef87x6R0Oqv5G5zwyWGIqeZk6-7BCrDu-UOonTzREUIH5XOq0WQy_pZE6UxFWESMNf4oEfeNtu-kkgVOPU0ZeDGDklYRB88/s1600/scarves+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sKYMB7NFKEJijWm4ZociEdLWqHuOuteHbYch_kl6nylo1ef87x6R0Oqv5G5zwyWGIqeZk6-7BCrDu-UOonTzREUIH5XOq0WQy_pZE6UxFWESMNf4oEfeNtu-kkgVOPU0ZeDGDklYRB88/s1600/scarves+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"> </a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU1hTn8UQbjvOZH1Go6FOKuW9kRb4ESNhkW5JJvfb47snfeVgqJCuQSpUQ89jxoeIxDq6l7y70E23Dy3Blb9h4cm54g_gF_YA5ZpM9L7VcyvNmF0cyeaWF-aqhK6u__KS3tu_IlnfP1I5/s1600/sept-oct+383.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMU1hTn8UQbjvOZH1Go6FOKuW9kRb4ESNhkW5JJvfb47snfeVgqJCuQSpUQ89jxoeIxDq6l7y70E23Dy3Blb9h4cm54g_gF_YA5ZpM9L7VcyvNmF0cyeaWF-aqhK6u__KS3tu_IlnfP1I5/s640/sept-oct+383.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>I have a few posts brewing in my head... laziness has just taken over. It's finally cooling down a bit and I want nothing more to do than do nothing! <br />
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Finally got my internet to work at home, I am not sure what triggered it to work, I was completely frustrated, calling the internet company (comcast) was NO help and I was just about to stomp on my laptop until magically, there was an internet connection made! Yay!<br />
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Last Sunday we celebrated our friends twin's 8th birthday, one of which has Down syndrome, at a pumpkin patch. I dont know what we were thinking (or not thinking) going there with no stroller. Ethan was a complete brat and refused to cooperate, only wanting to be carried and constantly fussing. On top of a cranky 2 year old it was HOT, but it still was an awesome time. And because of his bad attitude I did not get to take the pictures I had envisioned in my head.<br />
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Dewberry Farm - Brookshire, Tx<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> My most favorite picture of all, Ethan with the ray of light over him. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCXeqPBqhW1wu-28AuScz3IbMZLeldInw0Z2NvH9I9sDrUaa1le2W8-CmbJYiKLfg4RKFPQ9bYjluNPgnPb1_zI4tp0nKn0YqkA4CbPdmKy_WaLwpajdW9PEgtPgxkR7bXkTSlFuQZ2qp_/s1600/sept-oct+254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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A great time!<br />
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<div style="color: #660000;"></div><div style="color: #660000;"><u style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><b>Crafty Mom's Club</b></u></div><div style="color: #660000; font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue",Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Remember the crafty mom club thing I told you guys about, well we had our last session on Thursday were we made tshirt scarves</span>. </div><div style="color: #660000;"><br />
</div><div style="color: #660000;">It was pretty fun and I am sure by the end of fall we are going to be rocking so many scarves, not to mention there wont be a tshirt that will be safe in the house.</div><div style="color: #660000;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Sq7JhTTkxR2WzNZq-QptHv_l5PwPRIHKIGb6ywi_kWF4JOEY9jYVZG_cxuEiAYfSOTt7V2TvdmjCgOh6AHtm9eGYFZ7JdsYWcnBFm-IPXCNH2iOnWfWBuMh-8FKTHvRHLupBrUIXk1y/s1600/scarves+002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS8Sq7JhTTkxR2WzNZq-QptHv_l5PwPRIHKIGb6ywi_kWF4JOEY9jYVZG_cxuEiAYfSOTt7V2TvdmjCgOh6AHtm9eGYFZ7JdsYWcnBFm-IPXCNH2iOnWfWBuMh-8FKTHvRHLupBrUIXk1y/s320/scarves+002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="color: #660000;"> I made a braided scarf.</div><div style="color: #660000;"> (ignore the hair! I had no desire to be straightening my hair this week!)</div><div style="color: #660000;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77ehoIv5b_pg8kThDjRVII6TWWnZLWMWgNQxM9glqCwKczlUPW5PP899eVeJxbRFhEl2_ULE1wURQ2x_Y0PA_Jp_siGhr651pWuzA892Zs62dh9j29nBH9edj-91daAJKKxs-vMa8-bJ/s1600/scarves+004.jpg" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77ehoIv5b_pg8kThDjRVII6TWWnZLWMWgNQxM9glqCwKczlUPW5PP899eVeJxbRFhEl2_ULE1wURQ2x_Y0PA_Jp_siGhr651pWuzA892Zs62dh9j29nBH9edj-91daAJKKxs-vMa8-bJ/s200/scarves+004.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVsZYiTncqkOu9PdKVxdwgJaPg5uKVxYAqMcggVikh0FB93VM0b6L5LDYpP4L5FYiXT3EUK2-ZV-34SXzxdCmvDMvLyfyGpgqVwkkk-hYWiV4QMGFxOZBAr2u5dP_S_pByQvN4jNCc69A/s1600/scarves+001.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoVsZYiTncqkOu9PdKVxdwgJaPg5uKVxYAqMcggVikh0FB93VM0b6L5LDYpP4L5FYiXT3EUK2-ZV-34SXzxdCmvDMvLyfyGpgqVwkkk-hYWiV4QMGFxOZBAr2u5dP_S_pByQvN4jNCc69A/s320/scarves+001.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sKYMB7NFKEJijWm4ZociEdLWqHuOuteHbYch_kl6nylo1ef87x6R0Oqv5G5zwyWGIqeZk6-7BCrDu-UOonTzREUIH5XOq0WQy_pZE6UxFWESMNf4oEfeNtu-kkgVOPU0ZeDGDklYRB88/s1600/scarves+006.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-sKYMB7NFKEJijWm4ZociEdLWqHuOuteHbYch_kl6nylo1ef87x6R0Oqv5G5zwyWGIqeZk6-7BCrDu-UOonTzREUIH5XOq0WQy_pZE6UxFWESMNf4oEfeNtu-kkgVOPU0ZeDGDklYRB88/s320/scarves+006.jpg" width="213" /></a><br />
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My dear friends, more than just coworkers! Anabel - who did the loopy chain one, and Susie who made the stringy loopy one... I just made up those names for the scarves... whatever the heck they are called. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMR5-Gdezo081GURP2la_-moKgt5G6wA_42skFHDHhHD9O2aUaY0sf-Q_tA4OrbSceVFPxLR0rUvt_xhod5ng48VnA3dDPwBSt_TV5iswnpBkA8PEa5LAqmZNdNm5RUqOTdwDMlrZO8DE/s1600/scarves+005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuMR5-Gdezo081GURP2la_-moKgt5G6wA_42skFHDHhHD9O2aUaY0sf-Q_tA4OrbSceVFPxLR0rUvt_xhod5ng48VnA3dDPwBSt_TV5iswnpBkA8PEa5LAqmZNdNm5RUqOTdwDMlrZO8DE/s400/scarves+005.jpg" width="400" /></a></div> and bonus! I also made a bracelet... I am just pure awesomeness...<i>sometimes</i>. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii77ehoIv5b_pg8kThDjRVII6TWWnZLWMWgNQxM9glqCwKczlUPW5PP899eVeJxbRFhEl2_ULE1wURQ2x_Y0PA_Jp_siGhr651pWuzA892Zs62dh9j29nBH9edj-91daAJKKxs-vMa8-bJ/s1600/scarves+004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div><div style="color: #660000;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKnjPIbDJkTfZ5M9QYTo8F3T0kUh-beOU0qvE07zhFd6of0YtwQik-oZ41NQ5rGmg5TjW0EjKxmA3lzk8ySGl91vV8yUPF9WFIIViDm4aVVHptjaIfXB1hQ-1Uw_kuK7N71WJgOVCqvfwz/s1600/sept-oct+269.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>erikatxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16032539100300397178noreply@blogger.com3