New Years Resolution

So... it is that time of year... again...

I love a new year. It almost seems like we can start all over, finally become that wonderful, productive, healthy, happy person we've always wanted to be. The trouble is, the enthusiasm to make changes, especially with exercise and diet, tends to fade once we realize we can't change everything overnight. If I want to make lasting changes, there are three things that I am going to do to make my  resolution work all year long:
Adjust my attitude, change my lifestyle and come up with a plan for success. Time to start thinking about your New Years Resolution. I have come up with mine. I am sure you can guess what it is... Yes- to loose weight. Ever since I have had my son I have REALLY struggled with weight loss. So this time, I thought that I needed to come up with a plan that I could stick to. And this is it- burn more calories then I eat. Beginning Friday, January 1, 2010 I am eating much more healthy and smaller portions and I am exercising EVERY day. More specifically to keep my New Years resolution I have to make LOTS of sacrifices... they include-
1. Break a sweat every day.
2. NO MORE soda.
3. NO MORE sweets or candy.
4. NO MORE fried food.
5. LOTS more exercise.

I am going to do this I AM. No exceptions. My ultimate goal is to loose a pound a week. My sister-in-law is getting married on February 13, 2010. I will loose 6lbs by then!!!!!!!!

Anyone want to do it with me?

Liams 1st Christmas

Liams first Christmas was a success. He got LOTS of stuff. He got clothes, a red radio flyer, a baby basketball game, LOTS of bath toys (my son LOVES the bath), a new playpin, a high chair, building blocks, a jungle toy that sings and talks, and many other toys. He is the cutest and most spoiled kid I know. I love him!

We went to a friends house in Pagosa Springs CO and Liam saw snow for the first time...!

and here we are as a family at our friends house- we had so much fun!

And here is some CUTE pictures of Liam during Christmas...

Liam and his cousin Nolen- they are 3 months apart in age.

My wonderful Grandmother and her two Great Grandsons- Nolen and Liam. She is the most amazing and strongest women I have EVER known. I love her!

That was our Christmas holiday. God is great!

Merry Christmas

From my family to yours- Merry Christmas and God bless!

He was not to happy about Santa, but he did not cry!!!!!

Bye-Bye Boring Baby Food

Too often baby food is, to put it plainly, plain and repetetive. Unseasoned green beans, rice cereal, banana puree, rice cereal, mashed carrots... and did I mention rice cereal?

The foods arent unhealthy, but contrary to what many parents believe, babies do enjoy a much wider food range! I have heard that exposure to different foods now may guard against later fixations on "kids foods"- pasta, crackers and juice- that are not the healthiest thing for them.

So to EsCaPe the rice cereal rut Liam and I have been in lately I have been trying to come up with some tasty ideas for him. I have not tried any of them yet, but I thought I would post about it because maybe someone might have other suggestions, or maybe your baby was not a fan (vise versa). I am trying VERY hard to not let my own tastes get in the way of what I serve my son.

SOUR STUFF- I have noticed that Liam like sour stuff. So I thought about serving him sour cherries (with the pits removed, of course). Mashing them up or cutting them in small chunks will do the trick. Plums might be the sour treat he needs also!

STEWED MEAT- Its easy, and it tastes even better when it is a day old, and it can be cooked a million different ways. I have thought about making a mexican beef stew and seeing how his taste buds like it. Stewed pork (because he is not a fan of the baby food beef) I thought would be neat to try also. Maybe making a pork shoulder with a little lime juice or orange juice until the liquid is gone and the meat is soft. Donovan and I could eat tacos and Liam could have stewed pork.

CRUCIFEROUS VEGGIES- (I can hear you now "what the heck is cruciferous veggies?") cruciferous veggies are a certain type of vegetables that come from on "family". These include cabbage, brussel sprouts, broccoli, cauliflower, turnips and radish. Green beans and sweat potatoes are considered ideal baby foods, but turnips and cauliflower? Not so much. Thats a shame, because cruciferous vegetables are packed with important nutrients. And just because they arent your typical baby food doesnt mean babys dont smack their lips over them. So... I was thinking- mashed turnips.

FISH- I aboslutely hate fish. But that doesnt mean my baby does. Fish used to be considered off-limits for babies because of the risk of allergies, but the thinking on this has changed. So this is what I have in mind- combining fresh or dried dill and cilantro with a 1/2 cup of broth, boil and add salmon. Chop finely and serve.

In doing research on freeing my son from boring baby food I came across a list of the Ten Best Foods for Baby on babycenter.com. They are:

1.Squash

2. Lentils

3. Dark green leafy veggies

4. Brocolli

5. Blueberries

6. Avocados

7. Meat

8. Prunes

9. Garbanzo beans

10. Mandarin oranges

Along with this list came serving suggestions... So, now I am off to test my 9 months old taste buds! Happy Eating!

A. P. D's finest...

I just had to post this when I got it. It is to funny not to. Now dont get me wrong- I fully support our law enforcement, fire fighters and troops, however, I hope it makes you laugh like it did me.

Regardless of the city you live in your local law enforement protect you from every day harm. As well as the troops, they need to be thanked also.

This is the Albuquerque Police Departement at its most proud moment! See what happens when you follow to close?????

Thank you APD for the laugh!

All I Want For Christmas...

Actually, I know I wont get this for Christmas, and that is OK, but I will be happy to receive it for Valentines or my birthday also!

Let me introduce you to the Canon Rebel EOS XSI. It  is 12.2 megapixels, has a 3" LCD monitor, live view function, 3.5fps continuous shooting, but I wont tell you the price.

All my life I have LOVED to take pictures. I carry my camera wherever I go. You never know when you will need it. What if your baby makes the funniest face EVER when you are at the park, or what if you see a flower that you just cant help but to take a picture?

I have a camera now, and it is a piece of junk. Yes, it takes pictures, and yes it is digital, but that is about it. I am hoping I can have this camera before we go on vacation in May. If you some reason you get a wild hair and would like to buy this camera for me you can go here. Have a merry Christmas with lots of picture taking!

The True Meaning of Christmas

Christmas is a time to celebrate the Lords birth. A time to spend time with your family and friends. I time for fellowship and worship. A time to sing Christmas carols and recognize and appreciate ALL Christ has supplied in your life.

All I want for Christmas is to spend time with my family. I dont care about gifts. Gifts mean nothing. It is a time to celebrate our Lord Jesus Christ's birthday. So many people have forgotten the true meaning of Christmas, so it is time that we start with our children and begin to teach everyone what it is really about.

Start with the children- Teach the children that the pure green color of the fir tree remains green all year around, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of mans thoughts turning toward heaven. Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fullfilment of His promise. Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness. Teach the children that God so loved the world that He gave begotten son. Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put Santa Clause in the center, for he is but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship Him, our Lord, our God.

9 Months

One of the most amazing aspects of motherhood is watching your child grow. He changes so much every day. His personality changes, facial features change, diaper size changes, words spoken, way he cries, how he sleeps, color of his hair and learning milestones are achieved.

Liam is 9 months old today. It is so hard to think that 9 months has already passed. It is crazy how time flies. I remember when he was a new born and I would hold him in the football position to breastfeed him. Now, if I tried to hold him with one arm I would drop him. I am reminded of how much he is growing everyday when I so hard to carry his carseat. I can barely do it. Forget about walking from the far end of the Wal-Mart parking lot to the entrance. I literally have to stop and put him down so I dont chop my arm off.

Just look at how much he has grown...

Fetus

Birth

12 days old

one month

2 months

3 months

4 months

5 months

6 months

7 months

8 months

and FINALLY- the most current picture- taken today- 9 months!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I love my son. He is TRULY a gift from God.

Carrie and Capo

Let me introduce you to Mrs Carrie Crooner-Ravioli...

And Mr. Capo "Toto" Tequila...

Mrs. Carrie Ravioli is 19 years old and married to 50 year old "Big Jim" Ravioli. She is an aspiring jazz singer who used to sing in her church choir. The year is 1920. Her mother was a famous jazz singer in her prime and her name is Vanessa Crooner. Carries husband Big Jim ownes several night clubs. On this particular night she was all dolled up for the opening of Four Dueces. Four Dueces is a night club her husband opened with his right hand man, Don Wannabe. Carrie sang that night. Yes- she sang. She sang Happy Birthday. Happy Birthday to Pookie. Who is Pookie? Pookie is her husband Big Jim- but her nick name for him is Pookie. She referred to Big Jim as Pookie all night. A murder was committed at the grand opening of Four Dueces. The victim was her husband Big Jim. Poor Big Jim, Carrie was so devastated and cryed all night. You may not notice in this picture, but she has a bruise on her left cheek. Many suspected it was from her  husband Big Jim, but in actuallity she fell off the stage during a performance a week before the grand opening of Four Dueces.

Capo "Toto" Tequila is the mob boss. He is the high roller of rollers. He is the gangster of all gangsters. Him and Big Jim were VERY close pals but Big Jim knew Toto was always up to no good. Toto fell madly in love with Big Jims daughter Rebecca, and tried proposing to Rebecca all night long, but she kept refusing. He was on bended knee all night long. He is from New York. Very wealthy and very well known. He was trying to make lots of business deals on the night of the grand opening of Four Deuces. He propositioned almost everyone at the party. Carrie suspected him right away of murdering her husband Big Jim. However as each person continued there own investigations Carrie quickly realized it couldnt have been Toto who committed the murder. He came to proposition Big Jim on opening another club with him in NY.

Rebecca Ravioli, Big Jims daughter was the murderer. She had every motive in the world to do it. Only one person, the Inspector, was accurate in there assumption of who murdered Big Jim.

I am in the process of getting more picutures of the other characters from that night. It was the FUNNEST thing I have ever done. Acting out was so fun. You showed up to the party in complete character and could not come out of character until the murder was solved. Everyone should do a murder mystery party. They are a GREAT time!

Prayer Request

To all my believers in Christ- A Prayer Request

Please pray for my Grandfather both tonight and tomorrow. He is having a major surgery tomorrow and his Dr's are advicing all family to come see him tonight because his chances for survival are slim. Please pray for a healthy recovery and pray that God helps him through this time. Pray that my family finds peace in whatever the Lord decides for him. Thank you.