~Crazy few days~

"Yes mommy, I'll go shopping"

Sunday night, or should I say the wee hours of Monday morning, Tommy is still up wanting to go to IHOP. What is with this kid and IHOP? LOL. Needless to say, there's no way I'm driving in the middle of the morning to get him IHOP. I suppose since the summer is here, our hours of sleep are all whacked up. We stayed up late a few times and slept half the next day. I'm not the type to want to sleep in like that, however, I'm also not the type to want to miss much sleep even though that seems to be the story of my life these days.

So later, once we finally got up on Monday, I decided to take him to IHOP. After we ate, I dreaded asking him to go to Khol's cuz my son DOES NOT like to shop but Father's Day is on Sunday. I HAD to get some shopping done. So I asked him if he would mind going in the Khol's with me and he frowned and asked if we could go the next day. Well, the answer was no because we were right there. To my amazement, he smiled and said, "Yes mommy, I'll go shopping". I was in total shock but was so happy at the same time. Khol's is my FAVORITE retail store next to Target. I could spend hours in Khol's but since I know how much Tommy dreads shopping, I thought we would get in and out as soon as we could.

I love the Tony Hawk section so we spent quite a while over there. Tommy picked out a belt and hat for himself. After making our way around the store, I ended up getting some really nice things for Father's Day. I got my Father in law a couple of nice shirts as well as my dad. Our family revolves around anything that looks beachy so I always try to get my dad something w/ either a sail boat or some kind of nautical print on it. I ended up getting him a shirt to bring out his pretty blue eyes and of course, a tropical type shirt. I know he'll love both. I can't say what I got Gabe cuz I don't want him to read the blog and me ruin his surprise but I know he will be very happy. Tommy assisted w/ picking out the gifts. We are really excited to give them all to him. I'll have to update later and say what we got him. Oh, I can say that we got him some chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate dipped pretzels, and a "DAD" cookie that was delivered yesterday. Never hurts to have a little gift early. He was extremely surprised and shared a strawberry w/ me. :) They were yummy. 

By the time we checked out, my buggy was full. It's been a long time since I've done some shopping like that so I had no regrets.


"I don't want to play nice"

After doing our shopping, I thought I would see if my mom wanted to take her dog, Soldier to the dog park. I've been out there already a few times w/ my dogs but knew she had been wanting to take him. It's such a nice park and just opened up over the weekend. We have been out there every single evening just about.

As we pull up, I see a couple of the ladies in my neighborhood in the large dog part of the dog park. They are both good friends of mine. We took Soldier in and he behaved so well. I suppose that wild puppy is finally going away. He is a Boxer so anyone that has ever owned a Boxer knows EXACTLY what I'm talking about. I grew up w/ nothing but Boxer's so I know they can be rowdy but so loving as well.

There was a man bringing in his large black lab looking dog behind us. As this man enters the gate, he keeps his dog on the extractable leash. Any dog this particular dog came in contact with, he was jumping all over them, almost as if it was a dominance thing. Obviously, you can't let your dog off the leash if they are going to act that way, or better yet, take the dog out of the park. I had seen this dog there on Sunday but he didn't act crazy like that. He was puppy, yes, but sweet. He liked to bark at HALO (that's my Pug), but didn't seem aggressive. So the man would let his dog, Eli, pull the leash and extend to where he could reach other dogs. All of the other dogs were trying to escape Eli's wrath and were scared. One of the ladies politely asked him to pull his leash in some since Eli had been pouncing on her dog, as well as everyone's.

Later, he let Eli off the leash, I suppose thinking that may help him settle down. He took Eli to the water bucket and told him he was in time out. Eli stayed there laying down for a little bit and then this man let Eli run around. At that point, Eli jumps on any dog he could but not in a playful way. It was aggressive behavior and it was aggravating that Eli's owner didn't seem to care. Eli was getting to obnoxious and all of the more docile dogs were horrified of him. At one point, my mom's dog crawled under the bench since Eli seemed to wanna pick on him. Eli was thinking, "I don't wanna play nice". The lady in my neighborhood that had asked the owner once before to pull the leash in some finally spoke up for everyone and asked the man to put Eli back on his leash. The man got his dog and left the park. It wasn't anything personal but the man stormed out of there as though we all ganged up on him. Eli is a puppy, I will give him that, however, his behavior was aggressive towards other dogs. The only dogs he wouldn't mess with were the ones that would snap at him if he kept jumping on them. This wasn't just jumping, Eli would take his entire body and lay on top of the other dogs and bite them in a dominant way. I was glad that the owner put him back on the leash but felt bad he left the park. I suppose maybe it was best. There were other pet owners getting very upset at the owner as well as Eli.

All this excitement at the dog park hasn't kept us away. It has became a great place for us to spend our afternoons.

I'll post more later on our last park adventure. :)

♥ Summertime ♥

It's been FOREVER since I've updated my blog. Honestly, I just haven't really had the time and I've also decided to revert to a personal journal of the happenings in our lives lately.

One thing that has happened is I got an A in both Microbiology and Anatomy and Physiology II. That will make all A's except for one B in A&P I. I've also taken the math placement (which I was in tears I was so nervous), however, I placed in the MAT080 which is only one level below the MAT161 which is the college level Algebra. Sooooo, I only have 2 math classes to take and I can apply for the nursing program. I've decided to take the MAT080 Fast track math class for a week in August. It is a compressed course at a lightening speed and if I pass, I get placed into the MAT161 for the fall! That is exciting news! I've got the chance to take half of May, all of June and July and a little of August off from school. It has been nice to have this break and do some things that I've wanted to do without school being a factor. I love school but I have the summer to spend w/ my little boy.

We've already done some pretty exciting things. We went to the beach for Memorial Day weekend and last weekend as an early 2nd grade graduation gift, Gabe and I took Tommy and his best friend, Grayson, to The Great Wolfe Lodge. That place is AWESOME! It has a HUGE indoor water park w/ several slides. It also had an outdoor water park w/ a bar and music. When we arrived we checked in to the Kidcamp room. The room was a tent theme and the boys got to have a little room designed just for them w/ bunk beds and a TV and our room had a balcony. Gabe booked me an hour long massage for when we arrived. After that, I went to the water park w/ the boys and we stayed until close which is at 9 PM, then we went to the arcade. We ate in the resort for all of our meals. This lodge had a full service Dunkin Donuts, an arcade, Magiquest, the water park, restaurants,  a spa, a huge gift shop, putt putt, and all kinds of activities for the kids. I would say it was the best weekend we've had in a while. I'm just so glad we got the time to do something fun.

Tommy's last day of 2nd grade was on June 10th. It's always bitter sweet for me. I'm so happy to spend the summer with him but it means that he is one year old. Time just flashes by so fast that's why I try to enjoy every minute of every single day even during the hard times. I will really miss his teacher. She was so good to Tommy and he learned so much. We have been blessed that Tommy has had all great teachers since starting school. I hope it will continue next year. Oh, and I forgot to mention that we have him on a waiting list for a Charter school. He is only like 5 or 6 people down which means he may possibly get in next year. I'm crossing my fingers but if he doesn't, it is ok for him to stay at his current school through 3rd grade. I LOVE his school and all they do there. I've gotten to know the principal and really like her. I'm that mom that's at the school all the time to eat lunch, proctor, or whatever they need. :)

 

On his graduation day we went to his Grand-pa, Tom's, and Gina's to see his uncle Ryan and aunt Leella w/ their 4 kiddos. It was a party! We were up til after 2 AM talking and having a few drinks. Of course the kiddos were in bed sleeping while we were up in the wee hours of the morning. It's been a LONG time since I've had any drinks. LOL. They had a crowd over. It was our family, Tom's family, Ryan's family, and a few of the neighbors were over. Of course we stayed the night but had to get up really early Friday morning so Gabe could get to work. Tommy and I came home and took a nap and then went back up there to go swimming.

Leella and Ryan flew out Friday morning to Vegas and left their 3 boys and 1 girl to stay w/ Tom and Gina. The youngest is only 10 months old and is so stinking cute. I was so happy to finally hold a baby. Leella and I talked for a while about how I've always enjoyed babies but since my losses, it's odd that I haven't really had the chance to hold a baby or babysit. Leella said while they were gone that I was welcome to get "baby" Ryan anytime I wanted him. I thought that was sweet because she obviously trusts me and knows he would be in excellent hands. I've always watched my sister's kiddos during the summer but they aren't flying to Charlotte this year. That really makes me sad but I have so much to do that I may not have gotten as much time to spend w/ them this year. We get to spend all week w/ Ryan and Leella's kids which we are all thankful for. The kids love us. Kaylee, that's their little girl, ran up to me and gave me the biggest hug. I wasn't expecting it so I was happy to see they felt comfortable around us. Kaylee is a CUTIE! She is so pretty. She cried when her mom and dad flew out to Vegas so I played w/ her hair and talked to her to see if I could make her feel any better. She has nothing to do w/ Gabe for some reason. I just think it's because I'm a girl. So while I was playing w/ her hair and talking to her, she fell asleep on my lap. I felt so bad for her missing her parents even though I knew she was having a good time at her Grand-pa's house w/ all of the other kids.

I'm sure we'll spend a lot of time w/ them through the week but next weekend Ryan and Leella are flying back into Charlotte and the ladies are all getting massages from one of the neighbors, Jess. I'm really looking forward to that. We are also celebrating Father's day up there as well.

Oh and something else that has been fun was going to Coyote Joes a couple of weeks ago. I've gotten to know one of the mom's of one of the kids in Tommy's class. I really really like her. Her name is Karen. She is older than me but looks extremely young. She's got 5 girls. All of them are adorable. We went to Coyote Joes for open MIC night w/ Karen's daughter, Krista, and Krista's BF, Jordan. We went to cheer on one of Krista's friends. It was a lot of fun. We are suppose to go again this week w/ the fellas. I've met Karen's husband and he is extremely nice. I know Gabe and him will get along really well so I'm looking forward to spending a night out w/ all of them. 

So more of what has been going on lately. We are still working through the adoption process. We've gotten our MAPP training certificate and have met w/ our case worker a couple of times. She is GREAT! I really enjoy working w/ her and she answers any questions we may have regarding the process, the children, or anything. We just went to a matching event on June 5th. Unfortunately the event didn't have any children that fit what we are looking for, however, our case worker said these events are mainly to get to know other case workers just in case they run across a child that fits our profile of what we are wanting to adopt. We are very patient and are taking our time through the process. There's no need in rushing through everything since we definitely want to make sure when we adopt that it is the best suited child for us. We know it can be a long, exhausting, and sometimes emotional process but are prepared for whatever comes our way.

As far as Gabe and I trying, we are still trying but nothing has happened since my procedure back in March. It's really worrying me but regardless of the outcome, I'm so happy to have my Tommy. He brings so much joy into my life and there are so many days where I'm so glad I don't have a little one to take care of. Tommy is older now and more independent and plus, I get a good nights sleep...LOL...I have my moments but for the most part, I'm perfectly content just having an older child and when we adopt, I'm looking for another older child around Tommy's age. I figured since I started trying for another child when Tommy was around 2 years old that I would want a child to be near his age. I'm not really looking for a baby and plus, it is so unlikely to adopt a baby unless you want to wait a couple of years. I really don't want to wait that long since Tommy will be pushing 10 years old. We are still trying and if we are successful at having another little baby, we still will adopt as well. That will not impact our decision to adopt. We are looking forward to expanding our family.

So this summer I get to spend a lot of time at the beach. I will get to spend more time there than Charlotte. Unfortunately, Gabe won't get to go w/ me as much since he just began a new job. I know he is happy about the job but it impacted our fertility benefits which bothers me and he only gets 1 week of vacation time w/ us this summer. I know things work out so I don't want the benefits to worry me. Everything happens for a reason right? Maybe it will be that we don't need as good of benefits anyways..:) Guess we'll see.

Anyways, I'm missing True Blood so I'll get back on later when I have time. It stinks I don't update this as much since there is SOOOOO much that has went on lately but I just don't have the time. That's why the personal journal has seems to work best for me. I'll try to update again soon. :)