First steps

Oh my goodness!! It feels like ages since I have blogged! I have been as busy as a person could be. There are sooo many things to catch up on.

Work has been hectic as usual. Doing the normal chores, like cleaning, dishes, laundry, grocery shopping, etc. And then of course, having my little love bug. Spending lots of time with the family. Just been here, there and everywhere. But amidst all this running around, one of the most exciting things happened!!

Anthony just turned 1 on November 3rd (I have no clue where the year went). He is growing too fast! I decided that we would stay at home for the couple days I had him. By home, I mean HOME! Not my townhouse, but with my family. Of course they welcomed us with open arms. And might I say, packing for a baby is DAUNTING! I had one bag with everything and he had 3 bags. I still felt like I had forgotten something! I had closed the night before. Not getting in bed until 12:30. Woke up at 5 to go pick Anthony up, and headed back home. He was a little out of it at first....

So we got him in a bath, changed and fed him some breakfast. He was a happy camper. Such a little cutie. Happy as can be. He took a nice nap and we went about the rest of our day as usual.

I get him bathed and in his pj's. Feed him dinner and totally expect him to fall out. WRONG! He had this last burst of energy, as usual. It was 9 o'clock and I couldn't believe he was still awake!! Mom, Dad, Anthony and I were all in the basement watching the CMA's. Anthony was dancing away to the music. He crawled over to the steps and I grabbed his hand. He stood up next to me and started walking beside me. Then he threw my hand down. He took 12 steps on his own, fell down on his butt, got up and started walking again!!! I was SOOOO excited! Mom & I were yelling. Dad was cheering him on. By the time I got my mind together I only caught the last 4 or 5 steps on video. I got to see him take his first steps!! It was an amazing feeling!

Needless to say.....we tried to get him to do it again. But little man was tired and finally fell asleep. He couldn't seem to get comfortable and wound up sleeping on me all night. So I didn't get any sleep because he was causing me to sweat to death. He woke up in his usual way, talking and with a big smile on his face. We started day 2.

Not a single thing in the house went untouched. Drool and slobber were everywhere! He is my little window licker....

He is my little love bug. Blows kisses to everyone....

It was a great few days! Yet again, spending time with family. If only work could go as easy! Hope all is well with everyone. Hopefully it won't be as long until the next blog. I plan on blogging again tomorrow. Until next time...

LoVe <3

Laughter...

....is the BEST medicine.

So this past week was my week to open. Of course, it had to happen when I was sick. Waking up at 4:30 every day and not getting nearly enough sleep. But I somehow made it through. Wednesday after work, I went home to see my family. Mom & I decided that we were going to move the plants from the foyer and put them in the family room. Basically just swap them around. We get this done. She had already decided that she wanted to move some of the bird feeders down to the back porch.

We go outside to do this. At this time, it is dark. I had NOT been informed of all the "details" before I said I would help with this project. The way she made it sound, it would be easy and done in no time. LOL. SO very wrong. I go out back to see that we were putting a shepherds hook in a big garden pot. No problem right? Wrong. In the 2 big pots were 2 trees. Naturally, they had to come out first. Mom asked me to go get a small shovel from the garage. She said it was hanging on the wall. So I went and got a small shovel aka a trowel and bring it out. She starts laughing hysterically and says "Could you have gotten a smaller shovel?" I had just done what I was told. I didn't know that the shovel was supposed to be used to dig holes in the ground to replant the trees!! I thought they were going "buh-byes" for good!

So we cut the trees out of the pots and I "lovingly" throw them on the ground. We get the shepherds hook in the pot and fix the bird feeder. Mission accomplished....right?? Wrong. We had to plant those trees now. I figured this shouldn't be too bad. I figured wrong. Of course, Mom wanted them planted down by the woods in front of this HUGE tree. So it was inevitable....I was going to hit those roots! After almost falling off the shovel, scaring myself with my own hair and throwing some of the "good" dirt away.....I finally had one tree in the ground. Oh my goodness, I have to do this again?!? After a hysterical laughing spell. We (when I say we, I mean I) started digging again. It struck me. We are outside in the dark, digging holes by the woods.....our neighbors probably thought we were burying somebody!!

Finally, that nightmare was over. We went inside, Dad had come home from work. We ate dinner and sat around for a little bit. Dad decided that he wanted to bring some firewood up before it rained. We grabbed our jackets and gloves and out we went. Mom, Dad and I all out in the dark again.  I thought we would be using the "old" method. A wheelbarrow and our legs. Well yet again, I was wrong. Dad grabbed the tractor and the wagon. I started laughing hysterically. If our neighbors thought it was weird that Mom & I were digging holes, they definitely think we are burying somebody now. We dug the holes and Dad took the body down in the wagon. BAHAHAHA!!! Finally the wood was done.

We then headed to the garage to empty off the pallets for the pellets to be delivered on Thursday. That was done in a jiffy. By this time it was 9:40pm. It was time for me to head to the house. It had been decided that I would get off of work on Thursday and stay the night at my parents since I had off Friday. Great plan.

I got to the house, showered, went to bed, went to work and back at home. Mom & I ran some errands. We had left the mall and I noticed there was a stink bug about 3 inches from Moms head!! I decided it would be best for me to wait and tell her after we were parked at the grocery store. I kept watching it to make sure it didn't fall on her at any time. We get parked and were about to eat a pretzel when Mom saw me glance over to her side with a smile on my face. She immediately looks out the window, "What are you looking at? Whats so funny?" Of course I said nothing. The she glanced up and let out a hysterical scream. Of course she was demanding to know why I hadn't told her. I had my reasons. For one, I wanted us both to live. For two, I couldn't imagine trying to explain to Dad how Mom totaled the brand new car because of a stink bug! I just couldn't see that going over well. So she went to get it to "crawl" onto a piece of paper. She knocked it right onto herself and let out this horrified scream. I was laughing so hard I had tears in my eyes. I don't think I even took a breath for a minute!! Utterly priceless!!

We finished at the grocery store, came home and started making dinner. It was scrumptious. And then we made a new bread pudding. That was delicious WITHOUT the rum sauce. It was a very relaxing night. Slept great. Today will make many more memories I'm sure. I will keep you posted. Hope all is well with everyone. Until next time....

LoVe <3

Little things

So the past few days have been trialing. Work is unforgiving. Sickness deepens. Life seems to slow. It is then, that the "little things" in life, seem to be the best. The numerous inside jokes, or handshakes, or nicknames that I have with everyone at work. The chance to stand around and talk about the days events. This makes it easier to get through work. Even being wrongly accused of something, can't stand up to this. I know the truth. And luckily, I have witnesses. They have my back.

Times like these, family is great. Mom & Dad came into work today. We hung around for a little bit. They met some more people and talked with ones they already knew. It's like a burst of energy to get you over the hump. To continue the rest of your day.

And it's always a great feeling to have associates come up to you and tell you how cool your parents are!! DUH!! This, I already know. I am fortunate. Don't really have much to say. Tomorrow is Halloween and I have off. Going to try to relax. Hand out cavities to little kids and take some medicine. Hope to see the family sometime too. LOVE YOU ALL!! Hope all is well with everyone. Until next time...goodnight.

LoVe <3

Lil Mason

So this was my weekend off. The only thing I had planned was going to my parents for the Ravens game on Sunday, and of course the usual things, like cleaning and going to the store. Well, I suddenly had more plans. Keshia called and asked me to babysit Anthony for the weekend. Anthony is my godson and I love him like he is my own. I hadn't had him for about a month so I was excited to see him. He is growing so fast. It is hard to believe that he will be 1 on November 3rd. Where did the time go?? He looks so different even from a month ago....why can't they stay little? A month ago, he looked liked this....

I got him around 5:30pm. Had all my errands done and the house clean. As soon as he saw me, he reached out for me. Instant happiness. He is the happiest baby. I just love him!! So we played for a while, he ate, then he acted like he was going to go to sleep. PSYCH!! He closed his eyes for 5 minutes, then woke up with a crazy energy. He was "talking" away and I was talking back. I taught him how to drink out of his cup and he was still talking....

....next thing I know, it is dead quiet. I was checking for a pulse and thinking to myself "Oh God...it was only water". Once I made sure he had a pulse, I just started busting out laughing. He must have given his last Hoo-Rah before he literally passed out....

I picked him up and layed him in his playpen, all tucked in. At this time it was 9:30. I cleaned up his toys, wiped them down and got his diaper bag packed for the next day. Then I was in bed. I woke up to him "talking". I rolled over and looked at the clock....it was 4:05am!! I clearly remember thinking to myself "Dear God....please not this early? Not 4am". But I looked at his playpen and he wasn't moving. I know better then to get up, once he knows you are awake....then it's time to play. So I layed there and next thing you know, it was dead silent again. Looked at the clock and it was 4:15am....exactly 10 minutes later. Thank you Lord!!
I fell back asleep. I woke up by him talking yet again. This time it was 9am. We slept almost 12 hours.....that's my boy. Goes to bed happy and wakes up happy.

I got him up, changed his diaper and started to get my clothes out. Then it hit me...."What am I going to do with him while I was in the shower??" I decided to bring up his bouncy chair and sit it in the bathroom. However, it wouldn't fit through the dang door. Soooo I did what i could. Sat him in it with his cup of water and some strawberry-apple puffs. He was fine UNTILLLLL he couldn't see me. He screamed for the 2 seconds that it took me to stick my head out. I instantly thought "Oh my...this is going to be the shortest shower of my life". Yay motherhood. LoL. So I started talking to him and I remembered what Mom used to do with us ALL the time. She would make up songs. Then I was like "Oh great. I can't sing and I can't write a song". But the words just came to me. The most ridiculous song you would ever here, but it worked. He was quiet the whole time. It went like this...

Anthony is a big boy,

sitting in his chair.

Eating his puffs and playing,

waiting for me to be there.

Anthony is going to get a bath,

so he can be all fresh and clean.

And hes got a jersey,

to support his favorite team.

I must admit, I felt ridiculous singing this over and over. But also a sense of accomplishment because he wasn't crying. He then got his bath and all dressed up in his jersey. My lil Mason...

We headed over to Mom & Dads. I gotta tell you, the first grandkid in our family is going to be SPOILED ROTTEN!! Anthony isn't even ours and he is sooo loved by everyone. He is my little love bug. He loves Sam to death....

We all had a great time watching the game, playing with Anthony and eating WAYYY too much. Love being with my family. Its just great. Can't get enough of it. After everything was over and almost everything was cleaned up, it was time to get on the road. Had to get Anthony bathed & ready to go back home to his parents. Instead, his mother decided to text me & ask me to take him to her sister. Fine, whatever. What happened next, brought up nightmares. Makayla loves Anthony and didn't want him to leave to she rode the 5 minutes up the road with me to drop him off at the Shop-Rite. As soon as he saw his soon-to-be-uncle, he started screaming bloody murder. I got him out of his car seat and he was fine. As soon as his Aunt grabbed him, he screamed louder than I have ever heard. It broke my heart. He obviously doesn't want to be with them. Oh well, he is loved when he is with us. That little man has a special place in all of our hearts. Thank you everyone for loving him!!

Today was just another day at work so nothing special there. All the highlights of my life are with family. I LOVE YOU ALL!! I guess I have run out for now. Hope all is well with everyone. Until tomorrow... goodnight.

LoVe <3

P.S. Mom- sorry for all the handprints and drool on the door and all your appliances. LoL. Forgot how that could be. He doesn't sleep all the time anymore.

My Favorite Song

by Mom

5 little monkeys on the wall,

what do you think we should call them all?

Matt, Dan, Bekah, Sam, Seth

5 little monkeys can't you see,

those little monkeys belong to me.

Matt, Dan, Bekah, Sam, Seth

<3 <3 <3



Home

So I came over to my parents on Monday afternoon. Every intention of working my overnight and going back to my parents by 6am Tuesday morning to sleep for a few hours. I worked my overnight, got off at 5, took a hot shower and climbed into "my" bed. I call the spare bedroom "my" room because I frequent it often. Once I layed down, I swear I never moved all night. I woke up exactly 6 1/2 hours later at 12:30pm. Realizing I had left my contacts in all night. No wonder my eyes hurt so bad!!

Mom and I spent the day sitting on the couch, reading our books and doing a whole lot of nothing. Somewhere around 3:30, I snuck back up to "my" room and curled up under the covers. I fell asleep for another 2 hours. Next thing I hear is Mom saying "You little stinker! Get out of that bed right now! You won't be able to sleep tonight!" I hadn't intended on staying Tuesday night also, but as dinner time rolled around, I had no desire to get in my car and go to my house. Soooo....another sleepover it was.

The plan for this morning was to go to Moms haircut appointment with her and then who-knows-what for the rest of the day. So yet again, I was pretty much in a coma. Oblivious to the outer world in a nice deep sleep. Moms appointment was at 10:45. I hear shoes coming down the hallway. I know it is Mom. I can just tell by the walk, the sound of her steps. Each placed perfectly, not loudly, but on a mission. My brain halfway kicks on as the door opens. "Good Morning!! (way too chipper) If you still want to go with me you are going to have to get up. It's 9:30". What?!? I slept another 11 hours without ever moving? Wow! I guess my body needed it, as well as my mind.

As I get out of bed, the pain in my leg almost shoots through me. I thought I had just pulled a muscle by going up & down while working my overnight. But something was definitely different. I try to shake it off as I get in the shower. I get myself together and I am driving to the hair place before I know it. We are waiting and waiting.....and waiting. Tiffany (the girl who cuts Moms hair) never takes this long. Keep in mind it has only been about 5 minutes. Tiffany comes out in a sort of whirlwind. "Donna I have you down for NEXT Wednesday". The look on her face saying "Oh God PLEASE let me have written the right date on her appointment card!" Mom digs her card out of her wallet and sure enough......it was next wednesday. Gotta love it. Oh well. What were we off to now?

We then went to Marshall's and TJMaxx and Target and even the mall. All the while I develope a nice little gimp. My leg is on fire. What the heck did I do to it?? So as we were getting ready to go home, we decided to get a salad from Qdoba. We are walking back to the car and some ignorant teenager, driving WAY too fast, has the nerve to blow his horn at me!!! This sends Mom into a laughing frenzy and me into an utter rage. I wanted so badly to fly over there, put my hand out and give those obnoxious teenagers the "butt-whooping" of their lives. However, I kept my composure and finished hobbling across the street. We got home, ate our salads entirely too fast and watched "Cool Runnings".

After it was over we headed out to Kohl's. Once we made it home, it was understood.....I was staying the night again!! I have to work tomorrow morning at 8. But I can leave from "Home". It does the heart good to just have these past few days that I have had. Spending the days with Mom and the nights with Mom & Dad. The stress of work, the stress of everyday life disappears when you are around the ones you love. It has done me much good. Now if it could just mend wounded knees. We are making dinner, which consists of spaghetti and salad and some italian bread. And drinking yet another glass of hot tea. I think I have a new favorite thing. The brand is called "Bigelow" and the flavor is Vanilla Caramel. Absolutely Divine!

It's just about time to get off of here. I think I have run out for now. Going to spend some time with the "rents", eat some dinner and ice my knee. Hopefully it will feel better by morning. Hope all is well with everyone. Until tomorrow....goodnight.

LoVe <3

P.S.  Mom.....even though you sound like Frankenstein when you clear your throat, I still love you! ;)

Quince (15)

This is my 15th post. Didn't know if I would even write this many when I first started. Hopefully I can keep it going. So Mom and Dad are back from their mini vacation. They had a blast. They brought me back the sweetest gift.

I absolutely LOVE them!! It is a set of coasters for my bedroom. It means so much to me. I LOVE YOU BOTH!!

I got an update on Carls Dad. He received 7 staples in the back of his head. Carl told me that they want to move hospice in to help him with his Dad. I know that's not a good sign. Please keep Carl & his Dad in your prayers. I also talked with Bob. He is doing well. He said his foot hurts but he is taking it easy. Keep him in your prayers too please. Hopefully his foot will continue to heal.

Don't have a whole lot to write about. Made it through another day. I work an overnight tomorrow at work. It should be interesting. Hope all is well with everyone. I will talk more tomorrow. Until tomorrow... goodnight.

LoVe <3

P.S.  Parents go from people we have to listen to.....to being the first people we ask for advice. The shoulder to lean on. Best friends. Your biggest fans. Just your whole world. I love you Mom & Dad. Thanks for everything!! XOXOXO

Instincts

Today started like any other day.....waking up, showering and heading into work. It was another day at work. Not bad, but also not amazing. One of my associates, Carl, is 64 years old. He is like a grandfather to me. Reminds me of Chesty. Will stand up for me and bend over backwards to help me. He has been with the store since we opened. He doesn't ever take all his vacation time. And he has over 500 hours of sick time! He had to call out today. He is taking care of his 93 year old father. When I got the call, my heart sunk. I knew something had to be wrong. Not even 5 minutes after the store manager informed me that Carl called out, the hardware phone started ringing. I answered it & it was Carl. He was apologizing for calling out!! I told him it was fine and asked if he was ok. He said "Dad fell again today. He cut his head open and I can't get the bleeding to stop. I have to take him to the hospital to get stitches". I told him to be careful and to call if he needed anything. To stop worrying about Lowe's, his father was way more important. Please keep them both in your prayers. To keep Carl strong and to keep his Dad healthy.

By the time my lunch had come around, I had pretty much made up my mind that I was going to stay at my parents tonight and hang out with Sam & Seth. So I went home, packed up my stuff for the night, work clothes for tomorrow, ate some left-over spaghetti and headed back to finish my shift. When I got back, I was joking around with some of my fellow associates. Another associate came around the corner and said "It's so great to see a smiley Bekah. Just makes my day great". That was touching but also struck me....Do i really look that serious all the time?? So I'm going to work on tryin to stay positive. Things can always be worse, remember?

So I'm on my way to Mom & Dads. As soon as I walk in the door (literally) I hear Seth saying "Are you serious Mom? Really? I have no clean underwear!!" I bust out laughing hysterically!! Couldn't have entered at a better time. I had every intention of making them a nice dinner. But Seth left and Sam wouldn't tell me what he wanted. So taquitos it was. Bad idea!! I made some brownies with peanut butter M&M's in them and thawed some cool whip.

Ummm, I think Sam likes them. But he is just like me, cuts out of the middle. LOL

I took a shower and then guess what? I found myself doing the dishes, doing their laundry and cleaning up the house. Not that it was dirty. Just instinct. Not that I would never help out but I never imagined that I would just pick up and start doing my brothers laundry. Good 'ole mother instinct kicked in. I gotta look out for those boys. I love 'em too much!

Lol. He is crazy....but definitely an Ayers!

Don't worry....we aren't in the basement. Just needed a picture of Sethie-Poo.

Mom says they are having a blast. She sent a few pictures and they are incredible. So glad they are having a good time. They deserve it. Love you guys!!

This was entering the Yankee Candle store...

This was inside the store!!

I hope that countdown is wrong!!

 All-in-all it has been a pretty great day. I am getting ready to put the clothes in the dryer and head up to bed. I am tired. For some reason I slept awful last night. Just couldn't get comfortable. Hope everyone is well. Until tomorrow....goodnight.

LoVe <3