My New Look UPDATE

*A little more advertising for Mandarin Design...the scrolling marquee and the writing above my profile (Psalm 121) are both courtesy of advice from this site. There is an endless supply of fun things you can do! I've been having a blast and be prepared, I will be continuing to tinker with things on my blog. Let me know what you guys think!*

Let me know how my new look looks on your computers! Let me know what you think too.
Thanks.

Also, I can't seem to figure out why my comments are so much lower than my name, the time, the word "link" and the pencil...any suggestions?


FIXED IT! It's almost perfect...

If you're having problems viewing some things on your screen as far as having to scroll to the left or right, change your monitor settings to 1024x768...unless you need the stuff on the screen to be really big!

FYI...

Help is on the way

Ok, this isn't deep but it could be a big help.

For those of you who are working on your own blog design I have found a site with a plethera of information and really cool things you can do.

Click HERE. It is called Mandarin Design and I haven't tried anything yet but I am planning on it.

Hope it helps!

Inspiration

Ok, Lori has really inspired me to write what I'm about to write.

Throughout my day of chasing my little one, cleaning the house, cooking, laundry, and running errands, I have an endless amount of time to think about things. I am always pondering something I've heard either on TV, from someone in the store or something I've read online. I always have opinions, ideas and feelings but I have no outlet to just discuss these things. I also hesitate to share my deeper thoughts and my feelings, not just on my blog, but really with anyone besides my hubby. For several reasons. First and foremost I guess I get embarrassed. I'm not sure of what. I feel that many times I'm missing something. There is just something I don't get and when someone points it out I feel so silly for "contributing" my 2 cents. I guess I'm kind of nervous to stir things up too. I don't want to offend anyone, ya know? I get nervous (probably not the right word) that someone from another viewpoint will have more knowledge and I won't be able to adequately defend my viewpoint.

It's actually taken a lot just for me to post this.

I've been doing a LOT of thinking and "inventory" of my life and who I am lately. I was raised in a Christian home and grew up in the church. I am sure of my salvation through Jesus Christ and I love Him but I feel like I have just a superficial relationship. Just the bare minimum. I don't prioritize my prayer time and quiet time. I haven't had a prayer time or quiet time..ever really. I mean, here and there but no consistency (story of my life). I want more. I am going to our Women's Bible Study every Tuesday morning now. I am actually participating instead of just sitting back and listening. I am trying to grow and learn. I am trying to sit down every day and do the "homework" and actually get something out of it, not just answer the questions.

SO....I'm trying to go deeper. I, BY NO MEANS, am as eloquent as Lori. But she has inspired me to discuss my thoughts that are deeper and to not be afraid to open myself up a little bit.

I don't know what I'm saying exactly. I'm trying to go outside of my safe box that I've come to treasure and take a step toward growing both intellectually and spiritually. Don't expect anything big! And please feel free to comment and correct me and disagree with me, that is all part of growth.

Ok...I'm going to publish this now....I think.

Amazing Kid

If you haven't seen or heard about this kid you need to. What a cool story. I searched the internet for video of it and found this news story.

TTT - On Time for Once in My Life

(1) Purple is my Favorite Color (Pink is pretty much tied for first)
(2) Chocolate is my favorite ANYTHING (Dark Chocolate to be exact)
(3) Outback Steakhouse has my favorite steak (Rockhampton Ribeye, Medium Rare)

I have NEVER EVER EVER gotten anything different. Yum Yum

My Big Brother

If you have interested in adoptions check this out. My brother is an awesome writer and is now writing for this website.

Here it is...

Who's Watch is That?

Maybe she should have my watch....I think she might fit the name a little better!

The drama: I took the keys to my desk away from her...
The drama queen: My 18 month old daughter...

She actually put this watch on by herself without me telling her what to do with it and she wore it around for a minute.


I think the name fits!

She is really the Drama Queen in our house....

Wonder where she get's it from...hmmmmmmm....

Against my better judgment....

I had to share this despite my feelings about how I look. My daughter is just tooooo funny....this $60 toy is the solution to all of our climbing problems, let me just tell you!

Humble Apologies and Sincere Thank You's

I have received emails and comments that I haven't responded to in the last week or two. I also haven't been commenting like I want to on you all's blogs.

I am sorry. I like to let people know INDIVIDUALLY that I appreciate what you've said.

I truly TRULY appreciate all your comments and I totally intend to respond to your emails tonite.

I have been trying to focus my mornings on cleaning so I have some time in the evening to blog and email. It just NEVER works out that way and I have only enough time to read some new posts on you all's blogs.

You ALL have been so sweet and thoughtful and HELPFUL!

Thank you so much!

I am nervous now about the bed thing with my youngest (who BY THE WAY...is 18 months TODAY!) We got a video monitor and rails and we have a spare twin bed...and now I'm pausing and thinking....I'll know when it's time. As far as potty training...I read to get a potty and have her get used to it, seeing it, sitting on it...whatever, but not to push it. I think that's what I am going to do at this point.

I NEVER mind helping those of you who have had questions about how to do things on your blog. I will always do my best to answer your questions. I don't know everything whatsoever and what I do know I learned by poking around and figuring it out so my ways might not always be the "textbook" way.

Ok, so there you go. So if you've sent me an email or commented with a question I will be going through and trying to answer you tonite and tomorrow. If you as me a question in the future PLEASE don't feel like I'm ignoring you or not interested in what you've said because I AM!

OK....I just had to say that. I'm sure it doesn't matter too much to most of you but it's been in the back of my head for days to get back to you guys so this is a start!

:-)
YOU GUYS ROCK!

Five Favorite Foto's Friday (FFFF) - My Oldest

Here is a picture of my oldest when she was about 3. She is now 12. Today we sent her off to the mountains to snowboard. She was so ecstatic to get on the bit charter bus with her friend. I can't believe she's old enough. It is a church trip and we are very comfortable. She is in a group with 6 other girls and an adult leader. UGH....they are they until Monday....She took snowboarding lessons last winter and she will take some lessons tomorrow. She loves it! I know she'll have a blast.

Here she is with her daddy a year and a half ago.

My mom-in-law took this picture about 2 years ago.

Here we are a year and a half ago. I 3 weeks away from giving birth to my baby.

This is my oldest about 3 years ago. I can't believe how much she's grown up since then.

Three Things Thursday - Late Edition...

Better late than never right? e-hem....I always think I'm gonna do my TTT in the evening and then the evening comes and goes and then it's the next morning....funny how that happens.

OK....

(1) I find it hard, nearly impossible, to resist the urge to see try and figure out what is happening when I see police/ambulance/fire trucks. If it's an accident, if they are at a house I happen to be driving by, if they are at a business....it doesn't matter....I'll drive by several times if I can. I'm obsessed with solving EVERYTHING! Usually, however, around here it's a drunk who's fallen face first on the sidewalk or a meth lab getting busted...

(2) My hubby calls me detective Stephanie and jokes with me about the police detectives needing to consult with me.

(3) If I hadn't met my hubby and gotten married I would've probably become a prosecutor for the District Attorney's office....I'm fascinated by what makes crimanals commit their offenses. If I wasn't a scaredy (sp?) cat I would've absolutely been a police officer or maybe even pursued being a criminal profiler for the FBI.

I think I have the best job on earth now. Daily I have my own mysteries to solve....what's that smell? who left this out? who put this here? didn't I JUST clean this room????

I love my life!

For My Blogging Friend Kristina

Kristina is needing some encouragement so in addition to the comment I left on her site I wanted to share some pictures with her. Her is my daughter at 5 months and about 20lbs....

Here she is now....

Terrific!

I've always been told I seem more mature than my actual age...I thought I'd finally caught up.
I Guess not!
Oh well.

You Are 36 Years Old

Under 12: You are a kid at heart. You still have an optimistic life view - and you look at the world with awe. 13-19: You are a teenager at heart. You question authority and are still trying to find your place in this world. 20-29: You are a twentysomething at heart. You feel excited about what's to come... love, work, and new experiences. 30-39: You are a thirtysomething at heart. You've had a taste of success and true love, but you want more! 40+: You are a mature adult. You've been through most of the ups and downs of life already. Now you get to sit back and relax.

What Age Do You Act?

It's All In The Name

This is the beautiful watch my hubby gave me. I love pink and I love sparkles so it fits....but, as I was looking it up for the picture I found out it's called "Drama Queen"....hmmmm....

Me and My Valentine

Here are me and my wonderful husband (isn't he a hottie!) I really like this picture except our pose. I set the camera up and we took it with the timer so I ran back and he had his coat on so I made him take it off really quick and turned and smiled....that's why were standing kind of funny. His arm is around me but it looks like we're just standing there.
We had a wonderful dinner last night at a really fancy restaraunt while my mom watched the little one. We ended the night with a trip to Babies R Us to get a new video monitor, bed rails and some really cool plug covers (thanks Meghan!).

My hubby got me a beautiful pink and sparkly watch and some really beautiful jewelry (i have it on in this picture).


We had a whole lot of fun!
I hope you ALL had a wonderful Valentine's Day!

When to Start...

Can you believe that on Friday my little baby will be 18 months!?!?! I sure can't!

So here's the questions....

When did you guys start potty training and how successful was it?

I know boys are way different than girls. From most moms of boys they are potty trained most successfully around 3 or a little earlier!

When did you guys decide to switch to a big girl/boy bed? This child is getting so tall and is now attempting to climb out and our pediatrician said that is the sign that it might be time. But what if she wakes up in the middle of the night. I don't know that she would come to our room...I worry about her getting into things, even in her room, if left unattended long enough. My main concern are the plugs in her room that have things plugged in. We have a toy chest in front of one and a small wife bookshelf thingy in front of the other but she can move it. I guess the solution is to come up with a better solution huh? Do I shut her door or should I leave it open....a gate? We have to walk right by her room on our squeaky floors to go to the bathroom so if I put a baby gate on it she might start waking up when we have to go by....

HELP! What would you guys do?

THANKS!!!!!!!! I'm glad you guys like my new look.

Ok, Ok...Now I'm really done!

Ok you guys. When you have a minute let me know how it looks now. It looks fine on mine but I guess it doesn't on all computers.

THANKS!

Done for now

Ok, I'm done messing with it for now. Let me know what you think...be honest!!!!

Working out the bugs

UPDATE: I fixed the comments issue...I still have the issue of my sidebar and the big space between my title and the first post....any suggestions are welcome!!!

Well, I changed my template.

Bear with me. (like it will really bother you terribly!)

The comments for each post are on the post above it for some reason and my sidebar stuff is at the bottom.

I have to feed my little one and get her down for nap then I will work on it more.

Until then I hope you like what I've done so far.

Veronica...to answer your question. I just have learned stuff by trial and error, looking up in blogger help the questions I've had, and just looking at the html in my template to see how things are typed up. I don't mind questions AT ALL, there is no need to apologize...but I don't know if I even know what I'm doing really. I just mess around and figure things out!

Talk to you all soon!

Three Things Thursday - The Saga Continues

Sleep Update....TTT Style

(1) For the third day in a row my daughter is napping in the living room. It's like a miracle right before my eyes!

Tuesday=3hours

Wednesday=2.5hours

Today=1.5hours so far!

(2)She's going to bed at 8:00 everynight and waking up twice....this I can handle.

(3)We're keeping her out of the nursery for awhile because she keeps getting sick after she goes.