ice storm pictures

our house...

this old telephone line was yanked out of our house... it took some siding with it.

if you look closely, you can see a wire going from our house in the upper right hand corner down to the ground all the way to the lower left hand corner... that is our cable line (it has now been re-connected!!!).

the cable line continued...

NBC's news van... the tree outside my parents' condo on The Square was uprooted and fell on their van.

"pretty, artsy" pictures...

ice storm

I am writing this from my parents’ condo.  They have cable and Internet.  I don’t.  This ice storm sucks. 

On Tuesday evening at around 4:30 pm, we lost power at our home.  At around 6 pm we decided we would be better off heading to my parents’ condo (they had electricity.  No cable, but at least it was warm and there were lights).

We ended up staying at the condo until Friday morning.  At that point, our electricity had come back on (yay!).

Let me just say that I love my parents and I am SO thankful that I was able to stay with them… I know many people didn't have places to go; however, I was getting stir crazy from staying with them.  My dear mother was starting to drive me a little kooky (sorry mom…. I am sure it will be weeks before you read this, but I still hope it doesn't upset you).

Anywho, we returned home.  It is warm there.  There are lights.  There is running water.  These are all wonderful things.  They are things many people here in Northwest Arkansas are still without.  And I am thankful….. however, I miss my tv.

My parents’ cable came back on sometime Friday.  I needed my tv fix.  So, we opted to stay over here last night. 

Many of you reading this probably think I am crazy, selfish, or ungrateful. And in many ways maybe I am (at least as far as the crazy thing goes….).  I just needed my comfort item (tv)… now that I have it (even if it’s not at my home), I am much happier.

So now it is Saturday morning.  I am writing this at my parents’ condo (they are out of town by the way… which makes staying here even more enticing).  I about to go watch some shows I DVRd last night.   I will go home later… but right now I need my fix.

P.S. Once we get Internet at our house, I will post a blog with pictures.  I took some really good ones.  

second year facts about hayden

Second Year Facts about Hayden...

• Best Friends: Elizabeth (EB) and Ella
• Favorite Food: Pizza
• First Trip to Chuck E Cheese: April 11th, 2008 (Approximately 15-months-old)
• First Black Eye: May 12th, 2008 (Approximately 16-months-old)
• First Day of School: August 26th, 2008 (approximately 19-months-old)
• First Pee-Pee and Poo-Poo in the Potty!: October 27th, 2008 (Approximately 21-months-old)
• Favorite Car: Jeep
• Favorite Color: Red
• Conversion of Crib to Full Size Bed: December 6th, 2008 (no more crib!)
• First Hospital Visit: December 22nd-23rd (23-months-old)

hayden's birthday party!

We celebrated Hayden's birthday Saturday night at the Chick-fil-A on 6th Street here in Fayetteville, Arkansas. I realize to many that might seem extraordinarily lame and pathetic; however, it was relatively inexpensive, easy to plan and organize, required virtually no clean up, and best of all, Hayden thoroughly enjoyed it (and I think his friends and family did as well).

Check it out for yourself.

Here is my dad starting the night off right with the Chick-fil-A cow. The person inside is a teenage boy who I am sure did not enjoy some middle-aged man "dancing" with him. Hayden and most of the kids were not fans of the cow; however, Isaac (one of Hayden's "older" friends) as well as a random little boy eating at the restaurant were very excited about his brief appearance.

Here are my sister, Mary, her best friend, Allison (also Hayden's "stylist"), Allison's husband Alan and Mary's fiance Clark (however Mary and Alan are sitting together while Allison and Clark are sitting together...).

Mary and Allison... also, check out Randy in the background. What is he doing?!?

Here are Randy's aunt and mom as well as Lacey (Randy's brother Jason's girlfriend)

Here is my cousin Matthew as well as my mom and dad... mmm chicken.

Here is Elizabeth holding her daughter Grace... how cute is Gracie?!?

Here is Elizabeth (who Hayden calls 'EB') with her mom Sarah. EB is one of Hayden's two girlfriends.

Here is Ella... Hayden's other girlfriend...

Here is Don with his adorable little boy Jack... hi Jack!

Here we are singing Happy Birthday...

Here is Hayden eating his cupcake... and Isaac is the little boy in the foreground.

Hayden playing with Ella...

Hayden about to go down the slide (Hayden LOVED the slide!)

Hayden with his Popi (Popi seems a little too excited... he has a bit of the crazy smile going on).

Hayden running...

The end.

january 23rd, 2009.

Friday was Hayden's second birthday! We had a fun day complete with cupcakes, a playdate, and presents.

Here are some pictures:

We started off the morning right with a cupcake!

Then Hayden opened some presents:

Then we played some (and made a mess!):

outside play.

I just thought I would post some recent pictures of Hayden playing.

These were taken earlier today.

double ear infection (again).

Hayden had been slightly cranky and rarely (and by rarely I mean once every few days) messing with his ears; however, he had a 100.2 degree fever when he woke up from his nap yesterday and he had a sick look about him... his eyes looked tired and he just seemed a little sick. So, I decided to take him to the doctor.

I called the Pediatrician's office at 4:30 pm and was able to get an appointment for 5:20 pm (which is awesome!). I honestly thought he probably just had a cold... but with his birthday being Friday, I wanted to make sure he wasn't really sick.

Needless to say, he was really sick. He has a double ear infection. He could have had these infections for a week (or more). I feel awful. This is his third set of double ear infections in 5 months. Impressive, but not in a good way. His symptoms are very subtle... which makes it tough.

He goes in for his 2-year-check up next week and I am going to ask the doctor about whether ear tubes might be helpful... Randy and I both had tubes when we were younger... and so I wouldn't be surprised if Hayden needed them too. We'll see.

restart day

Today I am "restarting". Restarting is a term that I use when I feel like I have been having a bad time and I feel that I need to start things over and begin anew.

My "having a bad time" means that I have been overeating. I have issues with this (meaning overeating) that I constantly struggle with. Years ago, I used to have the opposite problem (not eating enough); however, now when I get stressed I eat too much... way too much.

So today I am restarting and beginning anew. I hope to not overeat and to release myself from myself.

Essentially, I hold myself back. I get so wrapped up in everything and am so easily overwhelmed that I would do well to relax and just live in the moment and enjoy life. I realize this is much easier said than done; however, I am going to do my best to be happy and live positively. Wish me luck!

no longer a social worker...

It is official. I am no longer a social worker. Although I still feel like a social worker and I think I can still claim to be one in a casual "I am a social worker" kind of way, I am "not authorized to practice social work or represent [myself] to the public as a social worker".

So why am I no longer a social worker you ask? Well, it is quite simple: I didn't get enough continuing education hours. I could have if I wanted to; however, I came to the conclusion that it really wasn't worth it. I am not currently practicing, and I'm not really sure if I ever will. If I decide to practice one day then I will have to re-take the licensing test (which is NOT an easy test). But oh well... that really is okay.

I am comfortable with my decision, although I do worry what others will think about me (and my decision). I worry that they will be disappointed. Before letting my licensure lapse, Randy and I discussed it and he was fine with my decision and supports me (so that was a relief... I was really worried about his reaction).

potty training update.

I know all of you are curious to know how the potty training is going with Hayden. It has been nearly 3 months (October 27th, 2008 to be exact) since Hayden first went poo-poo and pee-pee on the potty... since that time we have taken it slow and in stride.

In general, he goes pee-pee on the potty 2-4 times every day. He does not want to go poo-poo on the potty, that business is apparently reserved for the diaper. He is still wearing diapers. We tried pull-ups. He was not a fan, and he is definitely not ready for underwear (although we have bought some and put them on him for all of about 2 minutes... and they were SO cute!!!).

We go and sit on the potty first thing in the morning, right before nap, right after nap, and before bed. In time, we will work up to more visits. He has yet to really ask to go to the potty. So far, it has been a parent-led process - although he doesn't mind it.

We also have two potty books that help. 'The Potty Train' is super cute and pretty. I really like all of the pictures and illustrations. Plus, Hayden is really into trains.

The 'Going to the Potty' book has real images of kids going to the bathroom. It is dated but Hayden really likes it. He appreciates seeing other little kids using the bathroom. There are a lot of words in the book, but we don't read any of it. We use it more as a picture book to illustrate the process and just describe the pictures.

Either way though, both of the books have been useful.

So here are some actual pictures of "the process" (completely void of any anatomical parts). Also, notice the set-up. He has a little table going on with some goldfish... very cool.

too much... i may very well lose my mind.

I apologize for not posting a blog post for a whole week. I had really been on a role, and then nothing… sorry about that.

Things have been stressful. There are SO many things going on right now that I feel like my mind is fluctuating between numbness and anarchy.

Here is what is going on with me: planning and attending 3 baby showers, thinking about moving and selling our home, working on the plans for our new home and getting it designed and built, planning and attending a Bachelorette party, parenting and raising Hayden, keeping Randy sane and happy, and keeping myself sane and happy.

Here is what is going on with Randy: transitioning from a job he has had for over 5 years to a new job that is still being created and defined (this has come with MANY additional stressors).

Here is what is going on with Hayden: he seems to be going through some sort of transition that involves increased defiance and resistance to sleep. This past week, he “skipped” his nap 3 out of the 7 days (by skipped I mean that I tried for over an hour to get him to go to sleep and he didn't).

He has been very “testy”: he definitely knows how to push my buttons. An example: every time he gets in the car he proceeds to lunge himself into the driver’s seat to “drive the car” and play. I cannot coax him out of the seat and when I try to go around the car to get him out, he simply lunges himself to another area of the car. He thinks it’s a game and funny. It drives me crazy. I have tried bribing him, I have tried punishing him, I have tried waiting it out. Nothing has worked. He just keeps on playing. So far, I have had to resort to physically man-handling him to either get him in his car seat or get him out of the car (which is extremely unpleasant and difficult).

Anywho, all of these issues add up to a stressed out, overwhelmed Melissa. Not good and not happy. I seriously hope things improve soon or I might very well lose my mind! Wish me luck.

orgasmic births

I was watching ABC’s 20/20 the other day, and they had a segment that described “orgasmic births”: women who had experienced orgasms when delivering their babies. And it is actually physically possible for this to occur in case you are wondering. It seems that you have to have a natural childbirth and be “relaxed” though for the orgasm to occur. “Tenseness” seems to inhibit the experience. Essentially, the main theme of this segment was that childbirth can be pleasurable.

I have to say though that for me, pleasure came in the form of an epidural. That epidural brought me immense pleasure. From that point on in my delivery, I was an extremely relaxed, happy girl. I experienced no orgasm; however, eliminating the excruciating pain that I had been experiencing was enough of a “climax” for me!

I am exceedingly impressed in these women who were able to convert their pain into pleasure. It’s not for me, but more power to you! If you can have an orgasm while birthing your baby, you are one amazing woman!

my top 10 of 2008

I was inspired by a friend – well, I in actuality I am completely copying off of her blog entry – to write this post. I thought I would list the top ten events/happenings of my 2008. So here they are in no particular order:

1. Hayden celebrated his first birthday (at Disneyworld no less!).
2. My sister, Mary, got engaged (wedding date: June 27th, 2009).
3. I started this blog.
4. I made new friends which I am eternally grateful for!!!
5. Hayden started “school” (a Mother’s Day Out program that he attends Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8 am until noon).
6. I survived the Grand Canyon!
7. We began the design process of our future home (the home will hopefully be completed by the Summer of 2010).
8. Randy and I celebrated our 5th Wedding Anniversary!
9. Randy, my dad, and I went to Los Angeles and toured some awesome modern homes.
10. I ended the year happy, healthy, and with a postive note...

So definitely a good year. I hope 2009 is a good one as well.