When a tomboy has a baby!

So, here's what I've been working on!

2013-07-09T13:25:00.002-07:00

For the past month or so, I've been working on launching a new site and it's up and running. The new site is called tomboymom.com! It's a spin-off of this site, but, with a few changes. Please check it out and enjoy!

Working on something...

2013-06-16T09:06:00.001-07:00

Okay, I know that I haven't posted in awhile and that's because I'm working on something new. So, that's where my time has been spent recently. Stay tuned, more details to come soon!

Can’t believe all the firsts we crammed in this past weekend….

2013-06-04T14:55:00.001-07:00

Fishing with Daddy!

Over the weekend, Dave, Ryan and myself crammed in all sorts of activities that included a boat load (yes, boat load is a technical term for a lot, ;0) of firsts for our little guy. So many in fact that he spent most of Monday napping!

However, the firsts for Ryan actually started before the weekend even began when my mom and I took Ryan shoe shopping for the first time on Thursday. I have purchased shoes for him before, yet, this time he actually went with me to try them on at the store, this time we went to Kohls, and thank the lord that my mom was with us because without her, I wouldn’t have been able to do it. I mean, it is tough to get a little kid to try on shoes. One, all he wanted to do was chew on them, two, he didn’t want them on his feet and did everything he possibly could to keep them off his feet, and three, he wouldn’t sit still so one of us had to hold him while the other put the shoes on his feet. After about a 20 minute struggle, we managed to find one pair of grey Nikes for him and one pair of sandals. They both look cute and hopefully, he’ll be walking in them soon!

On Saturday the firsts for Ryan continued when we went for a car ride and stopped at a park in Ashwaubenon, WI. We decided that it would be fun to see if he would like swinging and sure enough, he did. He laughed the entire time and the more we pushed him on the swing, the more he laughed. It was sooo much fun! After the swinging, we headed over to the teeter-todder and gave that a go as well. Again, he completely loved it and couldn't stop laughing.

First time on a swing, he loved it!

Then on Sunday, Ryan experienced one more first when we took him fishing for the first time at Bay Beach Wildlife Sanctuary during Wisconsin's free fishing weekend. Now even though he couldn't fish himself, we let him check out the fishing pole, look at the water, and take in the whole vibe of what fishing would be like. It was just interesting to see him check out everything that was going on around him. There were times that he just sat in my or Dave's arms without even moving, starring at the trees swaying back and forth in the wind or the birds flying overhead. Basically, we just had a nice, relaxing time together enjoying the beautiful weather and we're thinking about going fishing again this weekend because of how much fun we had!

Along with all the outdoor activities that Ryan did for the first time, a few of the other things he experienced included trying to walk in his new shoes (which didn't turn out all that well), trying to change the channels on the TV (which wasn't encouraged by us, but discovered on his own), petting Beaver our pooch without assistance, and eating some new foods like cheese and scrambled eggs. At first, he didn't really like the scrambled eggs, yet, when he got a few bites down, he didn't mind them so much. My suggestions is to make them light and fluffy. To do this, add a little milk to them while whisking the eggs up before you cook them. This makes them a little easier for your kid to eat, which seemed to help out Ryan when he ate them.

Anyway, for the most part, Ryan seemed to enjoy all of his firsts and it's going to be a complete riot to watch him experience more. I'm actually really looking forward to it and can't wait for what's to come!

My Memorial Day weekend was pretty cool!

2013-05-29T13:48:00.003-07:00

Proud Grandpa and his grandkids! They're all smiles
during our Memorial Day weekend cookout!

I know, I'm a little late with this one since the Memorial Day weekend has been over for a few days now, but I had to post about how much fun the weekend was with my family! Each day we did something special together, plus, I was able to get in some tomboy time when I took part in the Christy's Race held in De Pere, WI on Sunday. For my second race after having Ryan, I think that I did okay since I ran nine minute miles. However, I still have a lot of work to do to get back into the same shape I was before I actually had him. My goal is to possibly do another triathlon this summer, but we'll see if that will happen!

Anyway, back to my fun Memorial Day weekend with my family. Like I said, each day we did something special together as a family. On Saturday, Dave and I went golfing, my first time out in almost two years, while my parents watched our little guy. (Thanks Mom and Dad!) We had a great time together and the new clubs that he got me for Mother's Day worked pretty well. So well in fact that I'm actually looking forward to heading out golfing again! Once we were done golfing, we went to pick up Ryan and spent the afternoon together just chilling and having a good time. On Sunday then after the Christy's Race, Dave did some yard work and then we went to my brother's house for a family cookout with him, his two kids, and my parents. We just grilled out some brats and burgers, yet before we could pig out we all played in the backyard. The highlight was when my Dad was swinging on the swing-set with Ryan and my niece and nephew. It was just a really fun time and I'm super happy that we were all able to spend time together! :0)

Our holiday came to an end on Monday and just like on Saturday afternoon, we all just took it easy at home and relaxed a bit. All in all, it was a super fantastic weekend and we ended it the right way with fantastic meal that Dave cooked that included steak, baked potatoes, and grilled zucchini! MMMMM! Thinking about that meal is making me hungry, I think it's time to get a snack before my little guy wakes up! Check ya LATER!

I'm becoming soooooo responsible!

2013-05-22T13:44:00.001-07:00

Yups, I Carla M. Lee am officially turning into a bonified adult and parent because last week, Dave and I purchased a Gerber Life Grow-Up plan for Ryan. We also started him a savings account for college too!

My parents suggested that we get him some kind of life insurance policy/college savings plan deal quite awhile a go now and after looking over all the options, both online and offline with our regular insurance person, we decided to go with the Gerber Life Grow-Up plan for three main reasons. One, it was pretty affordable. Two, it can be cashed in for its full value, or more, by Ryan when he's 25 years-old to give him some money to start his life after going college. (Yes, I've planned out his future, LOL, and it includes him going to college and also becoming an NFL kicker where he'll make millions! LOL, again! But seriously, I do want him to go to college and being a realistic person, this might be a motivator for him to go and complete school given that we could tell him, "if you complete school, this incentive is waiting for you." Maybe it will work, maybe it won't, yet at least we know that we have something like this to offer as an incentive).

Okay, I got off topic there, anyway, the third reason we went with this plan was because if he doesn't cash it out, he can actually increase his life coverage when he gets older and use that as his life insurance instead of purchasing something else. It was also pretty easy to purchase for him and since I'm set up for automatic withdrawal with it from my checking out, we don't have to worry about writing a check for it every month. Basically, it was super convenient and from time to time, I believe that all of us like it when things are easy!

To learn more about the Gerber Life Grow-Up plan, check out their website at: http://www.gerberlife.com/.

With that, I gotta run! My adult self has decided that while Ryan is sleeping, I should get some housework done instead of playing on the computer! Boy, I feel so grown-up!

Now this is a Mother's Day gift that I can get excited about!

2013-05-15T16:14:00.000-07:00

Check out my new golf clubs!
They're not brand new, but new to
me! Hardly been used Dunlop clubs!

In my last post, I was talking about Mother's Day gifts for tomboys and went into how frustrated my husband Dave was because he was having a hard time trying to find something for me. Well, I must say, he came through big time and got me an awesome Mother's Day gift...I mean, totally awesome.

What did he get me you ask? Well, he got me a new set of golf clubs! Oh yeah! I've been needing a new set of golf clubs ever since we met and not having new golf clubs has actually been the main reason I don't like golfing anymore. So, to get new clubs for Mother's Day was super duper kewl, especially because now I'm excited to get out on the golf course again. Hopefully, the weather will cooperate and it will be nice enough to get out in the next few weeks.

The best thing about Mother's Day though, aside from the golf clubs, was how I was able to spend the day with my family. In the morning, Dave and I went out for breakfast together with Ryan at Bay Family Restaurant where my mom works. When we got there, we were able to surprise her with a Mother's Day card from Ryan and then we ran into the rest of my family who were also having breakfast together. So, we got to see my Dad, brother and his kids! It was a nice little treat! When breakfast was done, we headed home, took a nap, and then it was off to my brother's house for a cookout with both him and my parents. We had a nice meal together and Ryan enjoyed being around everyone. He's such a happy little dude! After dinner, along with watching a little golf, we headed home and just chilled since we were exhausted from the day. It was kind of nice to just sit back, relax and unwind!

Me and my little man on Mother's Day...Love you bud!

All in all, it was a good Mother's Day and one that I'll never forget! And to all of you mothers out there, Happy Late Mother's Day! :0) All of you ROCK!

What a tomboy wants for Mother's Day...

2013-05-10T12:30:00.001-07:00

Earlier this week, my husband Dave and I had a conversation about what I would like for Mother's Day. He started complaining a little bit because he said it was hard to shop for me since I didn't like those typical gifts a mother would want on this special day. He listed off that I didn't like perfume, flowers or jewelry and that he didn't know what to get me, saying that he was a bit frustrated about the situation.

Me being me, I laughed and thought it was funny since he was actually pretty annoyed by how I was so hard to shop for and because he was totally right, I don't like perfume, flowers or jewelry. I find each to be pointless and pretty much a waste of money. So, I got to thinking about what I would want as a gift on Mother's Day and after a little bit, I came up with a few gift ideas for moms who are tomboys like me who don't like frilly, girly things that don't make any sense. They include:

Sweatshirts or t-shirts with the tomboy's favorite sports team on them.

Now this is a Mother's Day gift I can
get excited about!

Anything else related to the tomboy's favorite sports team. Hats (like the one to the right available at: Modell's Sporting Goods) are always a good idea along with souvenirs like bobble heads, signed memorabilia, and posters.
Game tickets to the tomboy's favorite sports team or game tickets to any sporting event that might be coming up.
Sporting goods of all kinds. A new softball bat is always a cool thing along with a sleeve of golf balls or a punching bag maybe? I don't know, the sky is really the limit with this one.
A gift certificate to a sporting goods store.
Dinner out at a sports bar, however, you could take this one to the next level by going out to a fine dining restaurant, provided that you clear it with the tomboy first.
New running or athletic shoes.
Books, magazines and movies about sports.
Video games.

Now, these are just a few of the gift ideas that a person could get a tomboy for Mother's Day. I would say that there's one exception to the frilly, girly gift rule too, which is that tomboys do like candy. Well, this tomboy does anyway. I'm always up for chowing down on some chocolate, MMMM!

Anyway, that's all I have for today, so, to all you Moms out there, Happy Mother's Day!

Loving the warm weather....

2013-05-07T08:41:00.001-07:00

It feels like I've been stuck in the house for years and years because of how long the winter has lasted around Green Bay, WI. So now that the weather has finally warmed up, I'm super excited.

As a Tomboy, I've always enjoyed spending time outside doing outdoor activities like biking, running, walking, and occasional yard work. So now that the weather is heating up, that means that Ryan and I can finally get outside to do different things instead of moping about the house, wondering how we're going to pass the time. I mean, come one, I've watched so much reality TV over the last few months that I'm almost going insane! I've become an addict and I need to stop!

The first flowers Ryan ever saw!

Anyway, I digress. Now, some of the things we've done outside so far include going for long walks throughout the neighborhood, walking about the yard taking in the sights and sounds like birds, flowers, and trees, and going for car rides with the windows down and the music cranked up! Well, the music isn't super cranked up since that would hurt his ears, but it's loud enough for both of us to jam out! LOL! What's cool is that I've discovered that he really, really, really likes music and will actually dance from time to time in the living room listening to it. So, when we get the opportunity to drive around and listen to some tunes, we go for it!

With the little man being so little at the moment, there are some limitations to the activities that we can partake in together. For example, it would be cool to let him crawl around the backyard and enjoy himself while I get some yard work done. However, since he is so small and needs to be watched like a hawk in fear of him eating something random or getting into something that might hurt him, I haven't been able to. I know that at some point, that will all happen, yet because I'm not a patient person, I'm a little bummed that it hasn't happened quite yet!

Anyway, the sun is again shining outside and due to the fact that the weathermen in the area have said that it's going to get chilly and probably rain later in the week, I'm going to shut down my computer and get outside to enjoy it! I suggest you do the same because I've learned that sunshine + warm weather = a good mood!

Not gonna lie, this would be pretty sweet!

2013-04-25T11:12:00.003-07:00

So, I posted earlier this week on Facebook about this contest that I entered Ryan and I with the Green Bay Packers. It’s a contest where you can actually have a picture of yourself printed on real Green Bay Packers tickets…Needless to say, I entered that contest in 2.3 seconds! LOL To check it out, follow this link:
http://www.packerseverywhere.com/ticket-takeover

It would be so amazingly awesome to be on a Green Bay Packer ticket and I knew immediately which picture to submit. It was the one that Dave took of Ryan and I when went shopping to get ready for the Packers play-off game at the beginning of the year. Ryan had on his Packer hat that we, I mean Santa, bought him for Christmas. I was holding him, Dave got him to smile by calling his name, and then he snapped the picture, capturing the fun moment that we all had together. Check it out:

Now I know, we probably won’t end up on a Packer ticket. However, it would be super kewl if it actually happened and my baby boy and I were on one! I think we have a decent shot at it due to the fact that both Ryan and I are wearing Packer gear, particularly our hats that had big “G’s” on them. Ryan was even wearing his new Packer onsie that day too and I had on my Packer sweatshirt. My fingers are crossed and hopefully the stars will align so we can make some Lee family history…GO PACK GO! :0)

Three hours and counting!

2013-04-19T12:59:00.002-07:00

I'm getting a quick blog post in right now because, drum roll please....My son is taking a nap and he's been asleep for THREE HOURS!!!!

Why is this such a big deal? The reason is, he never takes naps. NEVER. He always is up from around 5:30 in the morning to 8:30 at night without napping in between. Okay, he might sleep for 20 minutes here and there, yet that's it. He never ever sleeps for extended periods of time and I've checked on him repeatedly to make sure that he's okay. Every time I've checked, he's find, snoring away, and getting in some good rest that he apparently needed desperately!

So now that he's sleeping, I'm actually getting some things in that I've been meaning to get done for the last few days. Some of it's work related, like writing some articles for the De Pere Journal, some of it has to do with school such as getting my final presentation done that I need to complete for next week, and others are for fun, like starting my new blog called Reality TV Wombat. I made the decision to start a new blog due to the fact that I watch a lot, I mean, a lot of reality TV and I think my husband is getting sick of me talking to him about it. Thus, instead of boring him with how I feel about Teen Mom 2 or The Real World, or The Real Housewives of Orange County, I'm just going to write it all down and let people read about it if they want. To check it out, head to this link:

realitytvwombat.blogspot.com.

With that said, I'm going to go check on my little man again to make sure he's okay and if he is, then I'm going to continue taking advantage of this long nap time to get more things done! :0)

We got our first walk in, oh yeah!

2013-04-16T08:42:00.001-07:00

The weather finally got warm here in Green Bay, WI and on Monday, Ryan and I finally got our first walk of the year in! It was awesome to get outside and get out of the house for awhile! I mean, you can tell that I’m excited about it just from the fact that I’m using so many exclamation points! LOL

Anyway, it was a lot of fun from the standpoint that he got to look around and see what the outside world was all about. Sure, he did make it outside as an infant, but that doesn’t really count since he was pretty oblivious to what was going on. I mean, he basically just sat there and slept when we rolled around the neighborhood while I tried to get back into shape! Occasionally, he did whimper and open his eyes, yet, that was about it.


Ryan looking at Beaver to his right, and yes, that's sun on his face!

So when I took him out this time around, he could actually check things out. At first, the only thing that he did was look and laugh at our dog Beaver walking next to us It was hilarious, every couple minutes, he would just giggle at him and clap his hands. And, he would giggle and clap even harder when Beaver would bark at something or jump up on the jogger that Ryan was in. It was nice to see them get along something that bodes well for Beaver's future! :0)

Ryan finally looked up,
he's checking out some trees!

Then towards the end of our walk, Ryan finally looked up and saw what was happening around him. It was completely cool to see him just be in awe of everything. I pointed out the trees to him, the houses, the mailboxes, the cars, and basically anything he saw, I told him what it was and then spelled it out to him. It’s not like he understood what I was saying, but I used the experience as a way to start teaching him things. It was a fun bonding moment between us that is something I’ll remember for quite some time. When we made it back to our house, it was almost like he didn’t want to go inside because of what he saw and it was almost like he wanted us to keep going. I told him that there’s always next time and I’m hoping that the weather heats up enough for us to make it out again today!

Well, that’s about all that I got right now about our walk. On a side note though, if you have a little one, give him or her a hug and hold on to them tightly. The bombings that took place yesterday at the Boston Marathon have made me realize even more that life is precious and not something that can be taken for granted. My heart goes out to the everyone involved in that horrible incident and if Ryan and I are able to get out for our walk today, we’ll be thinking and praying about all of you while being thankful for everything that we have. God Bless.

I hope I’m ready for this...

2013-04-11T11:42:00.003-07:00

To save money, we decided to take Ryan out of daycare and that means, I’m going to be a full time Mommy Monday through Friday. At the moment, I’m having some mixed emotions about it.

Don’t get me wrong, I love, love, love to spend time with my little man. The thing is, spending eight straight hours with him seems a bit daunting because I don’t know how I’m going to keep him happy and occupied like they do at daycare. For example at daycare, he has other kids to play with, a whole bunch of toys to toss around, and suck on, that he doesn’t have at home, and different adults to interact with. At home, he has his regular toys, the dog to harass, and me. I really hope it’s enough and I’m trying to figure out different things to do with him during the day in addition to playing. I’ve come up with listening to music, reading, doing laps around the kitchen and living room, practicing walking, and hopefully when it gets nice outside, going for walks and playing in the front yard. Basically, I just don’t want to become frustrated and overwhelmed with him if for some reason I’m not able to keep him happy and occupied. I just want him to be content and having a good time.

I guess I’m just feeling a tad inadequate at the moment and sad because I can’t keep him in daycare where he likes to go and be with the other kids his age. The reason why I know he likes daycare so much is due to the fact there is a picture of him with another kid who he really likes from daycare on our fridge. Every time he sees the picture of him and her together, he giggles and to take that away from him, makes me sad. I feel that it’s really important for him to be with other people besides me and now that I haven’t been able to find a job since I’ve been laid off, I’m not able to provide that outlet for him anymore. :0( So yes, I’m bumming at the moment.

However, I am trying to look at the positive side of things and how most parents don’t get to spend this kind of time with their kids at a young age. My Facebook Friend, Katie who works for WIXX, had to return to work and leave her little man at daycare for the first time since she had him today. She talked on Facebook about how she was feeling a bit emotional and guilty about it. I totally remember how that felt when we had to take Ryan to daycare for the first time and now that I’m home with him, I need to realize that this time is pretty special, so, I’m going to soak it all up and enjoy it until a do find a job. I guess, maybe this is a blessing in disguise.

Right now my little guy just woke up from a nap and is in his room, standing in his crib, and is giggling away waiting for me to come and get him. It’s so hilarious and is bringing a smile to my face as a write this. With that said, I better go get him before he figures out a way to get out of the crib all on his own! :0) I'm sure that day is on the horizon!

Easter feels a little more special this year...

2013-03-31T08:51:00.002-07:00

First ever Easter card came in the mail
from Grandma and Grandpa! :0)

Now that I have a little one, Easter is just a little bit more special this year and I just feel all warm and fuzzy inside about it! You could almost say that I'm gushing, but let's not get too over the top!

As a person who isn't one for showing emotion, I've learned through my son that showing emotion is okay and that's why this Easter seems to mean so much more than those in the past. I get to share it with my son, enjoying is childlike wonderment and curiosity towards everything that is going on around him. Every time he discovers something new, it's so amazing to him and to be able to experience his first time experiencing things is pretty amazing to me as well. All those firsts are so special and really makes life worth living!

What has been the most fun so far about Easter is doing all those fun Easter activities. For example, Ryan can't eat candy or really look for Easter eggs, but being able to dye Easter eggs for him and put together an Easter basket was just totally cool. Dave and I dyed the eggs yesterday and then when they were dry, we put them in a fun Easter basket for him. We even bought the little guy a cute little spring teddy bear and so far, he's loved playing with it, especially when he first got it and was completely mesmerized by it. He just kind of looked at it for a bit and after a few minutes, grabbed it and giggled away. It was so fun to see him so happy! :0)

Basically, my little bundle of joy is turning this tomboy into a softy and I'm actually pretty happy about it. He's teaching me so many things that I needed to learn and I'm completely thankful he's in my life. I love you little man and with that, I'm going to stop writing and get back to enjoying the day!

Happy Easter to ALL!

We got Ryan a play pen!

2013-03-28T06:28:00.005-07:00

We got Ryan a play pen, or playard as the trendy people like to call them,over the weekend and I must say, we should have gotten him one sooner. It was actually a hand-me-down from one of my mom’s friend, which was totally cool and the first thing I want to say is thank you to the Glysch family for letting us use it. It’s been a godsend from the standpoint that I can put him in it and focus on something else for a second instead of following him all throughout the house making sure he doesn’t hurt himself. I mean, the kid can motor!

It gets a bit taxing at times trying to keep up with him because he hates sitting still. One second, he’s over by the Xbox under our huge flat screen TV that could fall on him and kill him in an instant, then he’s over by Beaver’s cage trying to stand up, and then he’s in the kitchen wondering how to open up the refrigerator. It’s really crazy how mobile he’s becoming! Just yesterday he was playing basketball with his sports discovery toy and in a flash, he was trying to rip down the curtains that where six feet away. What’s even crazier is how beat I get after watching him for an entire day. It almost rivals how tired I get after doing a brick workout (which is stacking two workouts on one, like biking for an hour and then going for a run afterwards). I’m hoping that I can build up my endurance so I’m not so wiped out after trying to keep up with him. Hopefully, that happens sooner rather than later.

So, now that I’m able to put him in something for a short while without having to worry about him, it’s a bit of a relief. However at the same time, I kind of feel like a bad parent because I put him in the play pen instead of having to deal with him. I know that from time to time, we all need a break, yet it still makes me think that I’m a bad mom. The way I justify it though is by seeing how much fun he has when he does play in his play pen. The other day, he was giggling up a storm while teasing the dog through the mesh with one of his toys. It was super cute, especially since Beaver was pretty upset that he couldn’t get the toy that Ryan had! I found myself smiling and laughing at them both for about five minutes, something that happened in the video below!

Anyway, play pen or not, Ryan is growing up pretty quick and I can’t believe he’s almost nine months old. Not sure where the time has gone? The only thing I know is that I’m trying to enjoy it all as much as possible! :)

Tough finding a balance…

2013-03-14T11:09:00.004-07:00

I know, I know. I haven’t posted for quite some time now and it’s because I’m having trouble finding a balance between everything. Seriously, I’ve been totally busy and it’s crazy to be as busy as I’ve been, especially since I don’t have a job.

So, here’s what’s been up:

So, this is kinda what my life has
been like for the last three weeks or so. It's pretty
accurate, aside from me wearing a pink dress that is kinda lame,
since the dog is always into something! Ahh!
Photo courtesy of: www.hiptravelmama.com

I started the MBA program at Concordia University last week.

Doing homework.

Signed up for an online pre-req course this week.

Doing more homework.

Have continued to work out daily.

Cut back on Ryan’s daycare to two half days a week to save money.

Have applied for pretty much every job that I can apply for.

Have actually interviewed for a few jobs here and there. My fingers are crossed that they’ll work out.

Looked into different freelance writing opportunities.

Thought about the first book I want to write, jotting down ideas for it.

Been cooking and cleaning at home.

Have enjoyed watching Ryan grow up, turning into a little independent man right before my eyes.

Done some decorating around the home, like hanging photos.

Decided to try my hand painting, just need to finish the first project for Ryan’s room.

Working on completing Ryan’s baby book.

Trying to figure out ways to save money wherever possible.

That’s pretty much been my life for the last three or four weeks. The thing is, I would rather be busy than bored so it’s all working out okay. With that said, I gotta run for the day. The little man is napping, so, I want to try to get in some reading for my Business Ethics class!

Oh no, I'm turning into that oversharing mother on Facebook!!!!

2013-02-23T09:31:00.002-08:00

When I was pregnant with Ryan, I vowed that I would never become one of those moms that posts pictures online of every little thing there kid does, cute or otherwise. I just found it to be tacky and a sort of bragalicious if you will. (And yes, I just made up a word, it’s a combination of bragging and abnoxious, which equals, bragalicious!) Anyway, the vow I made about a year ago did no good because after looking over my old Facebook, Twitter and Instagram posts, I’ve discovered that I’ve turned into that mom anyway! Insert sigh here right here. :(

It's so hard not to post pictures of this little guy all the time,
just look at that smile! I love him soooooo much!

I really don’t know how it happened though since when the little man was first born, I was pretty good about not posting that many photos of him. Once and awhile I would put something on Facebook, yet that was it. Now I’ve found that I’m posting photos of him every day and I think it’s turning into a bit of an addiction. I mean, he’s adorable and all don’t get me wrong :), but I really don’t need to be posting photos of him all of the time doing cute stuff (like stuffing both his fists in his mouth or hammering things with his toy hammer) since I’m pretty sure that not everyone cares about what he’s doing on a daily basis as much as I do!

I think the reason why my posting has gotten a tad out of control is due to the fact that I don’t have a job right now. If I don’t have any freelance writing work to do, then I find myself being really bored during the day, which provides me with a bunch of time to screw around on Facebook and take a bunch of photos of Ryan doing fun baby stuff. Needless to say, I have a large photo library of him growing up over the last few months, something that is cool since when he gets older we’ll be able to look back and smile at everything he’s done. Lately though, I’m sharing those photos with everyone else more than usual and there really is no reason to share everything with the world like I have been.

So, I’m going to recommit to my vow that I made about a year ago now, and I believe it was in front of my then co-worker Kim A., that I’m not going to be one of those moms that posts way too many pictures of their kid online. And no, I’m not going to stop posting all together, just the frequency of how often I post. It’s simply not necessary to let everyone know exactly what he’s doing all the time no matter how cute and fun it might be. Hopefully, I can hold true to my vow this time around, we’ll see though given that sometimes, what he does makes me laugh so much that I want all of you to be able laugh along with me! :)

Until next time, it’s Carla the new mom, and tomboy, signing off!

Not sure what I would've done if I had a girl...

2013-02-13T09:55:00.001-08:00

Okay, I’m going to admit this right now, I’m not sure what the hell I would have done if I would’ve popped out a girl instead of a boy. Sure, I may be a woman, but I sure don’t act like it, not in the least. I like basketball, dressing in sweats, and burping! LOL I’m guessing that if I did have a girl, she probably would’ve become a tomboy just like me since I’m not into frilly dresses, the color pink, flowers or any of that girly girl stuff.

I’m not saying that I wouldn’t have tried to get her all glamified because I would’ve given it a shot. I would’ve dressed her up in frilly girly clothes and have her do girly things, yet, I’m sure in the end, it probably wouldn’t have worked out given that I don’t know what I’m doing at all when it comes to that kind of stuff. Like, I’ve painted my nails once in my life at that was a disaster not to mention the time I tried to style my hair and how I ended up looking like a rooster. Imagining trying to do girly things with my little girl and show her the ropes would’ve been comical, but borderline sad with a lot of tears streaming down both of our faces. Ugh, I can just imagine the fights and the headaches!!!!!

Heck yeah, check out my new
Nike sweatsuit!

So again, I’m pretty blessed to have had a boy so I don’t have to deal with the girly stuff. Thus far, it’s been pretty awesome raising our little man Ryan beginning with how I can shop for cool boy clothes for him, which is something I’ve pretty much done my whole life since I don’t remember a time where I ever shopped in the girls or women’s section. Well, there was this one time, I bought like a sweater and black pants. And, I'm not counting the times I had to go maternity clothes shopping given that, that wasn't by choice, but out of necessity.

What’s pretty sweet is all the clothes I can browse and buy. I mean, there are Nike shoes to buy him and a plethora of sweat suits, awesome stocking caps and hats to look at, t-shirts with sports logos to splurge on, and it’s even been fun to get him crib sheets with different sports themes on them! I can’t wait until he’s a bit older and we can head to the sporting goods store together! A new basketball hoop with a basketball; a set of golf clubs; a baseball bat, mitt, ball, and jersey; maybe a tennis racket and a tennis ball; a real football; a little toddler bike; and a bunch of other sport related purchases I'm sure are definitely on the horizon! I can’t wait to get him all kinds of stuff, it's going to be so much fun. Ooh, I should probably get him a fishing pole too!

Yep, his hammer has become
his most favorite toy!

The shopping though isn’t the only thing that’s been fun about raising a boy. Another thing that I’ve enjoyed is the neat boy things we can do together. For example, we can play our version of catch as much and as long as we want without having to take a break and do something else like with play with dolls or something. We also enjoy taking his toy hammer and hitting random things with it, throwing his teething key rings across the room (and yes, I’m aware that a baby of any gender can do this, LOL), and wrestling with his toy bear. Well, I call it wrestling. What it probably really is though, is him just laying on top of it for a bit because he’s stuck or something, but whatever! It looks like wrestling to me!

We also like to read the sports section of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, anything on ESPN.com, and to introduce him to things that are not all stereotypical boy, we check out the entertainment section of Yahoo.com and read up on what’s happening with all the teen moms from Teen Mom and Teen Mom 2. Needless to say, that can be some interesting reading. Listening to music is a fun way we pass the time as well, sometimes it’s nursery rhymes, other times Mumford & Sons, and we also get in some country just to make Dave happy! ;) So like I said in another post I wrote, I try not to do all sports related things with him, which is why we get in the reading and the listening to music. At some point, we'd like him to play a musical instrument, maybe the guitar or piano. That would be cool.

Basically, things are working out pretty well right now and I’m enjoying my time with my little boy. It’s been seven months now since he’s been born and I can’t believe how fast time is flying by. My goal to is take it all in, love every moment, and not take anything for granted! I love you little Ryan, thanks for being your awesome little self! :) And until next time, it’s Carla the new mom, and tomboy, signing off!

Wow, almost like Instagram!

2013-02-04T11:50:00.003-08:00

The other day, I was a bit bummed that some of the pictures I took on my regular digital camera when Ryan was born looked a bit boring. We didn’t get professional pictures done at the time since we didn’t have all that much extra income to pay for them. And to be honest, I never even thought about it because of the whole baby delivery thing. Looking back, I wish we would have had professional pictures taken. However, the past is in the past. :(

So, I decided to search online to find some kind of software to make the look a bit more modern and fun. I came across a website called Photogramio (http://photogramio.com/photofilters) and was instantly hooked. It’s completely easy to use and changes up the photos just like Instagram does. I’ve been able to re-work a few of his pictures to improve their overall appearance.

Here’s one: There's not a huge change to it, but I was able to add a neat border to make it look more interesting.

Before

After

And another. Again, nothing special, but it made the photo have a little more character.

Before

After

This one is probably my favorite, just cause he's so cute! :)

Before

After

We do plan on going the professional route when the little man turns a year old. If anyone has any suggestions on what photographer we should go with, please let us know! And if you want an easy way to change up the photos you take, head to http://photogramio.com/photofilters, I've been impressed with the site from the moment I started using it!

Here comes date night!

2013-02-02T10:20:00.003-08:00

Our last date night around the New Year!
It would be great to replicate the fun!

Since Ryan has been born around seven months ago now, Dave and I have only been out on “date night” maybe three or four times. The last time was probably right around the New Year when we went bowling and needless to say, we really, really need some alone, non-parenting time together. So tonight, we’ve secured our first ever babysitter who is not family and we’re going to go out!

I’m both excited and nervous because it’s going to be weird to leave him with someone in our house we’re not related to for an extended period of time. Sure, we take him to day care during the week at KinderCare, but that’s a bit different from having someone come into our home. I think the babysitter we chose it totally capable, especially since she’s watched him before at the YMCA when we drop him off at Kid’s Corner. Everyone there does a great job and whenever we pick him up, he’s always smiling and happy. Plus, they always are sad to see him go when we pick him up after working out and I’m assuming that must mean he’s easy to take care of, right? Well, I'm hoping anyway!

I know that I’m being a bit overprotective at this point, yet, that’s what mommies do and I just want to make sure that he’s well happy and well taken care of. I think what’ s going to help me get through it is knowing that the person we hired is very excited to babysit for us, loves kids, and has a good personality. On top of that, I can always call or text and check up on how he’s doing. If things aren’t going well, then we can always call it a night and head home.

If all goes well though, then there is a good possibility that more nights out on the town are in our future! We’ve been promising some friends, you know who you are and we haven’t forgotten :0), for a while now that we’re going to get-together and I’m totally looking forward to that too just like having an evening kid-free with my husband. It would be really great that it all’s going to work out and that all of us, Dave, Ryan, myself, and the babysitter, will have a good time! My fingers are crossed that it does!

I hate 3:30 am!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

2013-01-15T12:59:00.005-08:00

For Christmas, Ryan gave his mom and dad the best present in the entire world and universe combined…he started sleeping through the night and boy, was it a glorious occasion! Not having to wake up with him in the middle of the night was completely awesome, yet, over the last couple of days, the little man has gone back to his old routine of waking up at 3:30 am for a bottle! Let’s just say, mommy hasn’t really been all that happy about it! Nope, not one bit because now that I’m used to him sleeping through the night, getting up to feed him is extremely difficult.

I mean, it’s really, really, really, really challenging to get up and feed him given that I enjoy being all warm and comfy in my bed and not wide awake giving him a bottle. Yet, it needs to be done, especially when he’s screaming bloody murder because he’s so hungry! The other night, he was actually screaming in his sleep he wanted food so bad. As soon as that bottle hit his lips, he was out like a light and went back to sleep. Then, like a half an hour later, he was back in his crib and I was back to bed, so, no big deal.

However, this 3:30 am wake up becomes a big deal when Ryan decides it’s time to stay up instead of going back to sleep. The little guy will drink his bottle and after eating it, he’ll want to sit up and play, smiling with that big old grin of his the entire time. He’s such a cutie when he plays, so, it’s not all that bad. :0) A few hours later, he’ll eventually crash and go back to sleep for a couple of hours, but by that time, I’m pretty much wide awake and have a hard time going back to sleep myself. Later in the day then, I’ll get super tired and end up taking a nap, which is not a routine that I want to get into. As I write this, I’m fighting off the urge to go and take a nap as I’m super tired. The thing is, I’ve found out that napping really isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be. The reason, I’m typically more tired after I take one. It’s a double edged sword, I guess, since I've learned that I’m going to be tired even if I get one in. Oh well.

One of Ryan's weird sleeping episodes, it was 4:45 pm. He was completely out!

Anyway, I’m hoping that this 3:30 am feeding deal comes to a stop relatively quickly, particularly because it also results in a cranky Ryan. You can actually tell when he sleeps through the night and when he doesn’t. When he does sleep through the night, he’s super happy and content throughout the day. Basically, nothing bothers him and he just likes to play, eat, and have a good time. When he doesn’t, he’s just moody and always falling asleep at weird times, throwing his sleep schedule off too. So for his sake, it would be a good thing for him to get over. Fingers crossed that it happens sooner rather than later!

Well, that’s about all I have for today due to the fact that I can barely keep my eyes open and I'm yawning like crazy. And yes, I’ve given in and decided to take a nap. I just can't resist the urge to be all comfy in my bed and forget about my troubles! Sweet dreams to all!

I wish there was a laundry fairy!

2013-01-09T10:12:00.003-08:00

Ryan's clothes pile-up from yesterday!

I’ve always had a lot of laundry to do because I work out and that means each day, I accumulate not only the work clothes I wore that day, but the stinky workout clothes that I used as well. So, I’m used to doing a good amount of laundry. The thing is, now that I have a kid, the piles of laundry that I have to clean never seem to end and I wish I had a laundry fairy to help me out. I mean, it would be so awesome, so, so very awesome to go to bed at night and wake up to all of my laundry done, nicely folded and sitting atop my couch! That would be incredible! Simply INCREDIBLE!

However, the laundry fairy has yet to make and appearance, leaving me with all sorts of wash to do. What’s been eye-opening about it all is how much laundry one little boy can produce. Yesterday alone, he went through two crib sheets, two sleepers, two outfits, two blankets, and one changing pad cover. It was insane since every time I cleaned him up or cleaned up his crib, he would get it dirty again! And no, he’s not super sick, just has a cough at the moment, but, the culprit is the fact that he’s teething and I’ve mentioned that before. So, he’s pooping a bunch and since he sticks his fingers in his mouth so much, he occasionally makes himself sick. It can get a little frustrating from time to time when he gets everything all dirty. What gets me through is his little smile though, when he flashes that grin, it makes it all worth it.

From all the laundry that I’m doing, I have come up with some laundry tips on how to save money and time. Here’s my list:

Coupons, coupons and more coupons – For example, the detergent I use when washing Ryan’s laundry is Dreft, which is really expensive. So, to make sure I don’t buy it at full price, I use coupons. Target has some good ones and there are some online too.
Buying items on sale – When I do get detergent, Dreft or otherwise, I try to make sure it’s on sale. That also holds true with dryer sheets and pretty much anything else that I buy.
Don’t go the name brand route – Generic and off brands typically work just as well as name brands and despite name brand laundry detergent makers saying otherwise, it’s true. What’s nice is they cost less and do the same thing as the name brands.
Multi-task – This is the biggest time saver for me when I’m doing laundry. Like, after I throw a load of clothes in the dryer after taking out a load, I fold the one load and when I’m done with that, I get another load started. It may sound pretty simple, yet, it does save me a lot of time.
Don’t let the laundry pile up – I learned this one the hard way when I decided to not do any laundry for a bit. I ended up doing laundry for an entire day and it was not fun. Now, I do a little laundry each day to keep on top of it!

This is what my grandma used to wash clothes!

In the end, laundry is a pain in the butt and when you have a kid, just realize, like I have, that it’s going to accumulate faster than ever. So fast that you might not be able to keep up with it and that not being able to keep up with it is probably going to make you fume a bit. Well, it has me anyway! :) And also realize, like I have, that laundry fairies don’t exist, they really, really don't! :) As much as I wish they did, they don’t, so I’m just going to keep doing what I’m doing and keep plugging away, washing and folding clothes!

At least, it’s not the 1950’s with the hand crank washing machines like my Grandma had to use. (Check it out on the right, she actually used a machine like it still when I was growing up!) Not to mention having to hang all the clothes outside, or indoors, to dry. Now that wouldn’t have been much fun and I applaud her for her hard work. Love you Grandma!

Thus, I’m going to stop complaining now and be thankful for the advancement of technology! So until next time, this is Carla the new mom, and tomboy, signing off!

Chomp, Chomp, Chewy Chomp!

2013-01-04T10:32:00.003-08:00

I know, I know. I haven’t posted in quite some time, but with the holidays going on and life in general, things have been pretty busy. Now that the holidays are over, I have had a chance to slow down and look back on them. All in all, they were decent and one of the big highlights was…Ryan finally got his first tooth!

Actually, the little man got two teeth, the first came the day after Christmas and the second came on New Year’s Day, and I’m sure that more are on the way. Like I said in my past post about teething, it’s a bitch and the whole teething process is not very much fun for everyone involved, especially Ryan since he’s little body goes all nuts when it’s happening. There’s snot pouring from his nose, poop shooting out his butt, and then the pain that he has to deal with. I’ve never seen him stick his hands in his mouth as much as he has over the last few weeks and what’s worse than that is he just hasn’t been happy. Normally, he’s all smiley and giggly, yet with the teething going on, he’s been cranky and it’s tough to see.

We’ve tried to help him through it the best we can, giving him medicine to help ease the pain. Some of the things we’ve tried include teething tablets, teething gel, infant fever/pain reducer medicine, and when all else failed, we rubbed brandy on his gums. Yes, I realize the last one probably isn’t an approved method, however, it did help him and he was all chipper and happy afterwards! So, we’re going to use it again if nothing else seems to help.

The little man dealing with the teething process. Poor little guy!

Along with giving him medicine, we’ve also provided all sorts of things for him to chew on to help his teeth break through. He never really liked the teething ring we gave him, but he did enjoy chewing on all the toys on his exersaucer along with his little teddy bear, stuffed orange that laughs, and Dave’s finger. Out of all of the things that we let him chew on, his favorite was indeed Dave’s finger and he would start chewing on that at every given opportunity! :) Kind of funny, especially because the little guy can bite down pretty darn good, something I’ve experience myself while letting him bite on my finger. Can we say, ouch!!

The two teeth that he got over the last two weeks are right in front on the bottom and they aren’t quite showing yet enough for us to get a good picture of them. Plus, it doesn’t help that he loves to squirm when we have tried to take his picture! We’re waiting for some teeth to come in on top and when that happens, hopefully we can get a picture of him with a full on smile with his new chompers!

Well, that’s about all I got for today, I promise that I’m going to blog a bit more in the New Year. So, make sure to check back soon!

Teething is a bitch...

2012-11-29T11:13:00.002-08:00

There’s not if’s, an’s or but’s about it, teething is a bitch for infants. Seriously, it’s horrible and frustrating and yes, this mom is pretty much at her wit’s end!!!

Currently, the only time that my son Ryan doesn’t cry is when he’s sleeping. Otherwise, it’s tears and screams and I just want this tooth to break through his swollen gums so he can feel better. I mean like, holy buckets, he has cried more in the past four days than he has during the four and a half months of his entire life.I'm not kidding, he cries so much that it almost makes me cry. :(

Ryan's arsenal of teething toys!

He’s typically a happy and chill little dude, but not now, nope, he’s all over the place and it’s been crazy to try and handle. It makes me feel like I’m a bad mother given that I can’t help ease his pain. Sure, we’ve tried the teething toys along with giving him some weird Oral gel stuff to put on his gums, yet, it just kind of masks everything that he’s going through for a few minutes and we end up right back where we started with him being uncomfortable. It’s a vicious cycle and I just try to comfort him the best that I can by holding him and doing the momma bounce all around the living room. Sometimes it helps, other times not, and one thing that I’ve found out is he really loves it when I sing to him, so, if he’s totally going off crying with the whole lip quiver thing, I start singing and he actually likes it. It makes me smile to see him kind of happy when he’s dealing this sharp little razor blade breaking through his gums.

Oh and one thing that I forgot to mention with how much teething is not fun is all the snot that has been pouring out of Ryan’s nose and the drool that has been ooking out of his mouth. I had no idea that one little kid could produce so many bodily fluids. We now have two separate burp clothes to clean up the mess so we don’t cross-contaminate because we don’t want him to end up getting a cold, which he kind of has already. We know this because Dave and I took him to see our pediatrician due to the fact that Ryan was running a fever and that we thought he was teething. The pediatrician told us that Ryan had a bit of a cold and that he was in fact teething. He said that we had to really watch everything we do with him so the cold doesn’t get worse. That means, sucking out snot from his nose (which he hates), standing in a hot, steamy bathroom with him with the shower with him to help with the snot drainage, running a vaporizer in his room, and giving him cold medicine every once and awhile to keep his fever in check. So far, it all seems to be working. :)

What’s keeping me from going off the deep end and going completely insane during my son’s teething is Dave. Without him, I don’t think I could take Ryan being so unhappy and his support has been pretty outstanding. We take turns holding and comforting the little man, taking over for each other when it becomes too much. I’m going to be honest here, having our son scream and cry and snot and drool and cry and drool and cry and scream and cry and snot can be a bit much at times. However, because we are doing it with each other’s help, it’s been way easier to deal with. Thanks honey, love you!

With that, I’m going to end this post for the day! Hopefully the next time I blog, it will be about Ryan officially getting his first tooth! :) Geez, I’m hoping it happens soon!

I want to be able to provide for my son.

2012-11-23T15:31:00.001-08:00

Okay, the last few weeks have been tough for our family, reason being, I was recently laid off from my job. This is the third time in my professional career that I’ve been laid off for budgetary reasons and what’s worse, is that it’s the second time I’ve been laid off during the holidays.

Being laid off is not a fun experience and now that I have a child, it’s even more stressful. I want to be able to provide for my son and give him everything that he needs to be successful in life. But, now that I don’t have a job and have had to file for unemployment, I feel like a complete failure and that I’m not a good parent. My family and friends have told me that I shouldn’t feel that way, yet, for some reason I can’t stop beating myself about what has happened. None of the lay-offs that I’ve been through have been my fault and despite knowing that, I still feel pretty down about it all.

So I guess you could say, I’ve been in a bit of a funk since I’ve lost my job and that’s why I haven’t really been blogging as much as I have before. Being able to be with Ryan day to day has cheered me up, however, at the same time, it makes me sad since I should be going to work to get him what he needs. It’s a catch-22 to say the least and given that it’s challenging to look for a job with him around sometimes, he’s still been going to day care so I can scour the Internet to find places to apply and submit resumes to. Nothing has popped up yet and I’m trying to stay positive that something will. It’s hard though, it’s hard to stay positive due to the fact that during this time of year, no one really hires. I’m going to keep plugging away though in hope of that my hard work will result in a new opportunity. Fingers crossed.

On a fun and happy note, yesterday was Thanksgiving and I was able to enjoy it with Ryan and my entire family. My husband Dave, my mom, dad and brother, and Dave’s kids and grand-kid. It was a nice break from the job hunting pressure and I’m thankful for having all of them in my life.

In the end, I firmly believe that everything happens for a reason and that’s how I’m approaching this recent lay-off. I keep telling myself that it will all work out and that something good will come out of this challenge set before me. God works in mysterious ways and I can’t wait for what’s going to happen next! :)

Thinking about the holidays...

2012-11-15T12:08:00.000-08:00

I’ve always loved celebrating the holidays, but this year, I’m even more excited for them because I get to share them with my son. There’s something about it that just makes me feel all warm and fuzzy inside, which is pretty cool and something I'm not all that used to.

Don’t get me wrong, I’ve felt happy and excited about things in the past and have had warm and fuzzy feelings before, yet, now it’s at a whole other level that is quite surprising to me. It’s a good surprise though and I’m so blessed to have Ryan bring so much happiness into my life. I knew that he was going to have a positive effect on things, however, like I just said, it’s been so eye opening how much joy and positive energy he has brought into my life that I can only help but smile about it all. Thanks little man.

Pumpkin Ryan!

Now back to the holidays and why I’m so excited to be able to celebrate them with Ryan. Basically, he just makes them a whole bunch of fun. Case in point: Halloween. I was pretty indifferent to Halloween in the past. For me, it was just another day that involved some candy so, no big deal. The thing is, this year, it was a day that I really, really enjoyed due to the fact that I got to dress up Ryan in a fun little pumpkin outfit. I was almost rolling on the floor laughing since he looked so cute and I even took him over to Grandma and Grandpa’s house to show the little guy off! That in itself was super fun since Grandma was smiling even more than I was when she saw him! Seeing her expression was totally priceless and it was nice to be able to share that happy moment with her.

After how much fun I had during Halloween, I can’t wait for Thanksgiving and Christmas. It’s going to be a great time being able to spend the time with Ryan along with the rest of my family. Presently, I’m looking for some kind of turkey outfit to dress him in for Thanksgiving and for Christmas, the sky is the limit to what this little guy might have to wear. I’m thinking maybe a Santa or reindeer outfit or a little elf or maybe a Christmas tree or a snowman or a candy cane or a misfit toy. Man, the sky is the limit and I can’t wait! If you readers out there have any ideas, just let me know! I would be more than happy to hear them all!

That’s about it for today! Until next time, this is Carla the tomboy and new mom saying, Happy HOLIDAYS! Yes I know, it’s a bit early, but oh well! :)