tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69519346225478404842024-12-18T21:30:01.504-06:00S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.comBlogger27125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-50145381606191882822010-09-16T16:24:00.003-05:002010-09-16T16:35:08.650-05:00

Just wanted to send big love and congratulations to my friends Joan and Tony Peco on the birth of their firstborn, baby boy Kent Xavier. Joanie and Tony, I know you will make great parents.I love you guys and I wish you all the happiness in the world. Enjoy the new love of your life.XOXO~Syl

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-19562443834019607472010-09-16T15:20:00.006-05:002010-09-16T16:10:39.220-05:00

Sophia is finally slowly coming out of her non-eating phase. When she first started eating solid foods, it was great; we could not get her to stop eating. She was constantly shoveling food into her mouth and we were confident that she was getting all the basic nutrients needed to grow up healthy and strong. Then, what Tom and I refer to as "the depression" began when Sophie just stopped eating.

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-1184128989115314052010-09-02T11:20:00.008-05:002010-09-02T14:25:35.542-05:00

I haven't posted in a while because I've been pretty busy with family and work lately. Tom, Sophie and I have been trying to squeeze as much out of the remaining days of summer that we possibly can. Our trip to Denver was great; we had a wonderful time sightseeing and spending time with family. Sophie has had plenty of play dates and birthday parties to attend; this little girl is some socialite

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-30939626084912257382010-08-18T10:51:00.015-05:002010-08-18T16:43:09.803-05:00

We recently returned from our trip to Colorado with mixed emotions; mixed because, while there is no place like home, Colorado was awesome and a beautiful place to visit and we really didn't want to leave. This was an important milestone for our little Sophia too because not only was this her first official vacation but it was also her first official road trip. We originally planned to fly to

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-3447543176262548892010-07-18T18:14:00.001-05:002010-07-18T18:15:40.603-05:00

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-13390673541892390292010-07-12T11:45:00.005-05:002010-07-12T12:26:35.530-05:00

Sophie got her first taste of a yummy twinkie today and I can honestly say that it went well...a little too well. Her first bite, she slowly nibbled at the outer cake part of the twinkie and then it happened....she got a tiny taste of the creamy filling. She looked up at me and then back down at the twinkie as if to say..."could this be....heaven mommy?"In a blink of an eye the frenzy began. The

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-64093897175778240142010-07-05T12:01:00.009-05:002010-07-05T16:13:49.467-05:00

Sophia is having a wonderful summer with LOTS of swimming (we can't keep her out of the pool) and play dates at the park. We'll be leaving for Denver in a few weeks for my family reunion and Tom and I are excited about taking Sophia on her first trip out of state. We decided to make it a road trip instead of flying and we're just praying we made the right decision. Although we plan to make the

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-3229468714945661762010-07-05T10:15:00.003-05:002010-07-05T10:56:46.057-05:00

Our 4th of July weekend was packed full of family and fun. My sister held her annual 4th of July BBQ Bonanza at the South Shore Cultural Center right off the lake. As usual a ton of great food, live DJ for those who love to "shake the booty" and plenty of space for the kiddies to move around. My sister always makes sure there are plenty of toys and interesting things present to keep the kiddies

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-52865714880526535842010-06-29T11:23:00.004-05:002010-06-29T12:17:51.273-05:00

Happy Anniversary to the love of my life, my husband Tom. We've been married now for 8 years and it has been a whirlwind experience. As with many couples, we've had our ups and downs but we've fought through the obstacles and conflicts to come out, together, on the other side. A few years ago, I think I had a very idealistic and naive view of what a relationship (both marriage and friendship) was

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-43567882782072629122010-06-21T11:28:00.008-05:002010-06-21T15:53:09.554-05:00

We celebrated Father's Day yesterday; this will be Tom's second Father's Day as an official "daddy" and he's done a great job for a first time father. I could not ask for a better father for my child; he is everything a father should be...patient, encouraging, loving...etc, etc, etc. During my pregnancy, I went through all the normal stages that a mom-to-be goes through. I had the hormone attacks

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-31970639884275107482010-06-12T19:04:00.002-05:002010-06-12T19:20:20.081-05:00

Sophie loves Yo Gabba Gabba; she loves the characters, the music and Tom and I love the fact that the show actually tries to spread positive messages to kids. The show teaches children about such things as the importance of getting enough sleep or how to clean your room and it does it in way that children, including children Sophia's age can relate to. You can tell that the creators probably grew

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-45434025224948473552010-06-08T10:31:00.004-05:002010-06-08T10:52:01.303-05:00

It never stops amazing me how my daughter is growing and turning into this amazing kid who is trying so hard to be independent. She is saying new words everyday, trying to put on her own clothing, climbing on and off chairs and couches... It seems that with every passing minute, my "kid" is learning something new and growing up before my eyes. I know...I know...she's only 16 months but she went

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-64711276942579698592010-06-04T15:35:00.005-05:002010-06-04T15:47:16.881-05:00

Well we are on the brink of summer and the days are already getting hot, hot, hot. Sophie is now old enough to get in a pool (a toddler's pool of course) to keep cool from the heat. She has been swimming practically  every hot day we've had and loving it! I've known since she was an infant and we started giving her baths that she was a lover of water. I've never seen a baby want to

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-41000216853809490482010-05-26T22:26:00.001-05:002010-05-27T10:57:13.597-05:00

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-71817172267604016452010-05-26T14:02:00.008-05:002010-05-27T11:01:58.365-05:00

Sophia is now 16 months old and growing fast. It seems like every time I turn around she's getting taller, or saying a new word or just doing something that reminds me that she's maturing. With every little growth spurt comes a new found independence for my little peanut and I can't say that I'm handling it too well. I'm one of those first-time mothers that, pretty much, worries about

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-44402261284580204782010-05-20T10:30:00.017-05:002010-05-20T12:07:06.451-05:00

One of the highlights of my day is to come home and see my baby girl smiling back at me. I walk into the room and she lights up and then I light up. I don't think I've ever felt so much love as the love that comes from my daughter; she gives it freely, unsparingly and with vigor and true enthusiasm. There are days when I have come home from work just feeling run down and lifeless and as soon as I

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-87876019659576669562010-05-18T10:26:00.002-05:002010-05-20T10:25:35.972-05:00

My little Sophinator has been on the go lately. Now that she has mastered the art of walking (and running) nothing stops her. Play dates, birthday parties...this kid schedule is full...she has more of a social life than her mom and dad. She cracks me up with her silly little faces. Sophie is the ultimate comedian.Soph is such a little goofball! She loves the swing.  Soph rides in her

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-58991588252356769662010-05-09T21:50:00.001-05:002010-05-10T11:06:05.884-05:00

This is my second Mother's Day as an official mom. Motherhood has meant so many things to me; it has meant maturity, responsibility, bliss, fear, anticipation, unconditional love, anxiety, pure happiness and the list goes on and on and on. When I was in my late teens, early twenties, I really could not see myself as a mom or at least it wasn't foremost in my mind. I liked kids but, at that time,

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-7682261953810136062010-05-06T13:01:00.000-05:002010-05-06T13:01:34.895-05:00

Ok, call us crazy but Tom and I decided to adopt another dog. Yes! we are a bit insane but our new addition, Rosie, has now made us a family of 6 including our dog Sammy and cat Charleez which we lovingly refer to as Meow Meow. Rosie is a lab/staff mix and she has a very sweet and fairly calm demeanor unlike the previous dog we looked at that bounced on Sammy's head like a cartoon character&

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-32158818730655101312010-05-05T15:56:00.006-05:002010-05-10T12:11:19.575-05:00

So, Sophia is now 15 months and it's a joy to watch her grow. She's doing new stuff every day and Tom and I find ourselves looking at each other and saying "where did she learn that?" She is starting to pick up on words and the babble conversations that she has with us and with herself, leave you with a sore jaws from smiling so much. However, their have been some other parts of her growth

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-81203928822344594922010-04-29T13:42:00.001-05:002010-04-29T13:51:53.925-05:00

So I'm sitting at my desk at work and I hear one of my co-workers say that "they" are sending the National Guard to Chicago? "Wait a minute...I live in Chicago!" I started to worry and think the unthinkable before I caught my breath and thought that if something significant had happened, I'm sure my husband would be blowing up my phone right now. Nonetheless, I quickly jumped on the Internet,

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-69940515184152543162010-04-23T15:58:00.004-05:002010-04-23T16:06:19.618-05:00

My daughter, Sophia, (a.k.a. stinky mcdinky, peanut, puddi face, etc) was born on January 20, 2009, a very historic inauguration day for the U.S. This was the inauguration day of our first African American president but it was also the beginning of a whole new life for me and my husband Tom. Sophia was an unexpected child, a very wanted, yet unexpected child. Tom and I had gone through

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-57115700030989918072009-09-08T12:18:00.022-05:002009-09-09T22:52:30.846-05:00

"Every single one of you has something you're good at. Every single one of you has something to offer. And you have a responsibility to yourself to discover what that is . That's the opportunity an education can provide."~President Barack Obama, September 8, 2009President Barack Obama gave a speech yesterday addressing students (pre K-12) about the importance of education. The President's

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-50383549682618841042009-08-26T12:04:00.044-05:002009-09-03T11:26:27.862-05:00

Recently I have noticed a disturbing trend occurring in our society, the growing number of murder-suicides. It has been a while since my last post and I know that it may seem morbid to come back touching on this point but it is a subject that I feel needs to be addressed. What is our world coming to? The more I watch, read or listen to the news, the more depressed I get; every other story is

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6951934622547840484.post-80147054644418534572009-08-11T22:06:00.013-05:002010-04-23T14:49:47.080-05:00

So I was thinking about the whole concept of friendship today and it occurred to me that in my 37 years of life, that I have only recently learned the true meaning of friendship. I use to think, during my adolescent years, that friendship consisted of me and my BFF's spending every waking moment together, having sleep-overs, and hanging out at the mall and the infamous "shop-til-you-drop" fest

S.B. McHughhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18366437412256332428noreply@blogger.com1