goals...long and short

First...I am DESPERATE to get this puppy in my hands...I still can't believe that they asked me to be a part of it. The editor emailed me on Monday and said that they shipped 6 copies to me, but I haven't gotten them yet, and I am taking Sawyer to my parent's house tomorrow, so wait I shall.

I have had so many amazing scrapbooking experiences this year, but I am always hungry for more. "She" who shall not be named ;-) was supposed to send me some product for MT, but because the release was so small, we didn't get anything...my fingers are crossed for CHA. I really want to join a kit club...I think that it would be good to have monthly deadlines. I always do my best work under pressure. I might have to go check out the Pub calendar and see what is available.

Long term goals for me...get this skin disease under control. my HS (hidradenitis suppurativa) is getting worse. I have avoided antibiotics and surgeries up until this point, but it has spread, and I have a huge fear that it will start to affect my ability to work, to parent, to create...
SO...I am going to slowly work up to a month long detox. This week is starting with sugar. Next week...caffeine...after that...processed foods. My goal is to cut out everything except for foods in their most basic forms. I need to get some vitamin supplements and all natural soaps also. Luckily, the natural soaps are SO MUCH better than they used to be. That part will be fun. Wish me luck :)

This is not new (the picture or the sentiment)...but I love this boy. so much. The newest cute thing is that he will bring me dora, or elephant, or some other lovie, and say "give him a kiss." "give him a hug." "He's HAPPY!!!" SO. FREAKING. CUTE. We have been tantrum free for the last couple of weeks, so I know we are due for a rough week...but I am going to relish this time!

I don't wanna work...

and I don't have to :). Best unexpected gift ever....oh, except for this little baby...




G surprised me with this last week...totally unexpected! And THEN, ordered this
for me....LUCKIEST GIRL EVER!!!!

My iPOD is one of those things that I never knew I wanted so badly. I had my eye on one of the colored nanos, but I am so happy that I have the 30G one. Just being able to load all of my pictures is so awesome. And, I really love when G surprises me for no reason at all...I really don't deserve it, but I love it!

And, last week this arrived in the mail. I saw someone in line with this baby at Target, and I had to have it....HAD TO HAVE IT. I am notorious for coveting something to the point of obsession. I looked online, nothing. I looked at stores, nothing. Found out that they only made a handful for the stores...special edition or something. So, onto ebay. I really don't like ebay...I don't trust it, and I am way to neurotic to bid on things. I found it, marked up $10 above MSRP, so I placed a bid on impulse, thinking that someone would outbid me before the time ran out....WRONG!! Luckily, G understands and to a point encourages my obsessive behavior....and I think it is so cute....and it's HUGE!

Hopefully we are taking Sawyer to the park, or maybe a pumpkin patch this weekend. The weather is supposed to be very "fall" tomorrow. A couple of weekends ago, we attempted the pumpkin patch...got snacks, jackets, camera, etc. We get there, scope out an in-demand wagon, and set off into the field. Sawyer HAD to pull the wagon, so we let him go ahead of us. I was happily snapping pictures, when I realized he was face down in a mud puddle. No amount of bribing, comforting, kissing could bring him out of the despair of getting his pants and shoes muddy...we had to go home. There is a "Pumpkin Train" in Noblesville I would like to try. You start off at the Transportation Museum and ride a real train to the pumpkin patch, and then after you get your pumpkins and apples, it takes you back. It sounds like something he would like, but the times unfortunately fall right in the middle of naptime.

I am off to scrap...:)

looking forward to today...

Because I have to work this weekend, I was able to take a half day today...HOORAY!!! I am meeting G for a lunch date (have to take the dates when we can get them), and then I will pick up Sawyer from school. Don't know what we are going to do yet. I might hit the scrapbook store to see if they have any copies of the Trendsetters book that I am in...actually, maybe I will do that BEFORE picking up Sawyer. He has turned into one of those whirling dervish children in scrapbook stores...

I was doing some searches on 2 year old milestones, and I think my guy is kind of ahead of the curve. He has been singing entire songs since he was about 26 months (we have him on video in August signing the ABC song and Twinkle Twinkle). There were a lot of other things too. AND, I did an online height predictor....it said 6 feet 5 inches!!!! I don't doubt it, the kid looks much bigger than 2. It is starting to make me remember the problems that my parents had with Eric. Everyone always expected more out of him because he was so tall. If Sawyer is as tall as Eric, it will make for pretty funny family portraits :).

I can't believe it, but I am already thinking about Christmas. I want to get a jump on it this year...maybe get things or make things for extended family too. I was thinking about making a dress up chest for Sawyer....maybe getting Halloween costume accessories on clearance in a couple of weeks. I am not sure if he will be into it, but I really want to get him things that will fuel his imagination...he seems to have a pretty active! Last week, he spent about 30 minutes coming up to me with his little plastic wagon, and saying "I am going to the punkin patch to pick apples mama, I'll be right back". And then he would move forward a few feet, bend down and pick up his pretend apples, and then come back to me and say "I'm back, momma!". A couple of times, he bent down, picked up an "apple", and told me to "try it". He also added umbrellas to the inaginary pumpkin patch trip, and started walking around holding up his "umbrella" as he was pulling his wagon.

Last night, he sat down on the carpet, and quizzed his Daddy and I on flashcards. His teachers told us that he LOVES doing flashcards (this started in his 1 year old class), and that he is a wiz at them. So, he held them just like Miss Candace, and said "now what is this, momma?" He had a VERY hard time waiting for me to answer,...he beat me to the punch most times, but I was able to answer first a couple of times, and when I answered wrong, he was in hysterics. "No, Momma, that is a dog, not broccoli!!"



This is my newest layout. I have been working on Hillarie's family tree all week, and of course I have a million ideas for layouts floating through my head...but as soon as I scrapbook for myself, I am sure I won't be able to.

my little guy...

I love the way you line everything up...your animals, your cars, your dominos
I love your long hair, even if everyone thinks you are a girl
I love that I catch you singing to yourself (moon moon, old mcdonald, dora)
I love the way you dip your cucumbers in raspberry vinagrette and crunch them
I love that you randomly tell us "I love Momma....I love Daddy"
I love that you have a dysfunctional relationship with Maxx. I can see we will have problems when you have a brother or sister!
I love dressing you in new fall clothes
I love that you have an enormous vocabulary and you are constantly using it :)
I love that you say please, thank you, and excuse me
I love that you ask to paint and color

Because you sing Beck "2 turntables and a microphone" and adapt it for the situtation
Because your eyes are still gorgeous
Because you don't like to be dirty
Because you are starting to pretend
Because you don't want anything to do with Halloween (just like Mommy and Christmas!)
Because you stay up late with us on the weekends
Because you want Mommy to nap with you (mmmm...naps!)
Because you pick a new stuffed animal to dote on every couple of days
Because you want to wear "elephant shirt" every day

You love Grandma
You love to wash all of your tub animals when you take a bath
You love Broccoli and Chicken Fettucini Alfredo
You still adore and prefer your Daddy
You know your colors
You call us guys (hey guys!)
You have an incredible sense of humor
You beg to be tickled
You have such a kind heart
You make my heart melt
I love you so much that I sometimes don't know how to deal with the intense emotions.

You are a joy, my little pumpkin butt...