Garynation

Oh, kids and the napping phenomenon. It’s a constantly changing struggle. It will be going great for months at a time, then all of a sudden, one kid decides they don’t want to nap. Or wakes up crying waking up the other kid. Or wants to play instead of sleep. You may have seen this video that I posted on facebook last week. It’s hard to even explain the trouble we have been having with Aliza. Since she was born, this girl has loved her bed and sleeping. I could easily just drop her in the bed and she’d got to sleep, at naptime and bedtime. When she was old enough to walk, we’d say, “ready to go night-night?” and she’d run to her bed so fast we couldn’t keep up with her. And she slept until 8 am!!! It was WONDERFUL I tell you! And if you’re a mom, I know you are totally jealous of that. Well, about 6 weeks or maybe 2 months ago, she stopped liking her bed. She stopped wanting to sleep, she started screaming and crying in her bed. She started waking up several times at night and was ...

…these pictures from Sunday morning, in bed. It was really dark and I my camera wouldn’t focus, so I had to use the manual focus. Since it was so dark, I could hardly see anything to focus it myself. So I did the best I could, and this is what I got. I gotta say – I’m happy with these!! These are not edited. P.S. – I have a flash attachment called a Lightscope . It can only be used inside with something to reflect off of, but it works really well in the right conditions.          

Ok, not really. I’m running. Well, not everyday, but 3 days a week. Anyway, let me start at the beginning. Several months ago, I was feeling tired of my workout routine (or lack thereof), and I went for a run outside. The next day, I was horribly sore from head to toe. I had been burnt out on working out in my living room before the kids got up (and they are waking up earlier and earlier these days), and realized running might be something I should be doing to get into shape. But there was a little problem – I hate running and have never been a good runner. A friend told me about the iPhone App Couch to 5K . I started the next week. It gradually works you up to a 5K with a voice telling you when to “Run now” and “Walk now”, in different intervals everyday, and running 3 days a week. Soon after I started couch to 5K, my favorite non-profit organization, Donate Life Louisiana , released information that they will be hosting a 5K November 5. So that became my goal – to run a 5K non-stop...

A few weeks ago, I got to go visit my friend Jaime and catch up with all that is going on. It was a really good, but short visit. We talked about her cancer, the treatment, and the possibility of remission. It sounds like she and her doctor are both very positive and optimistic. Now it is just a waiting game to see how the tumors react to her chemo treatments. Keep those positive thoughts and prayers coming!! She still needs them!! I only took a few pics on this trip, and here they are.     I want to sincerely thank everyone who read my first blog about Jaime and responded with prayers and the want to help. It means a lot to Jaime and her family to know that she has so much support. Let me know if you are still interested in helping, I can point you in the right direction. Thanks again to all of you!!!

I have tons to catch up on, and I’ll start here. A few weeks ago, a few of my sisters friends and I hosted a baby shower for her. I have to say, I think it was a great success! It was a good turn out, and Ally got lots of stuff for mini-Toups. The food: The invite and favors:   Some décor:       The happy soon-to-be new momma!!   Some items from mini-Toups room:   Ally with Dad, and Ally with Mom:   Ally with Billy’s mom and with our Aunt Janis:   Ally with me and mom, and ally with both our grandma’s:   Ally with other guests:       And a pic with all the hosts!! I hope Ally enjoyed it as much as I did!!