Oh school...

 I find myself to be very crabby these days. School is stressful. I didn't like it the first time, its not much better this time around.

Things that have changed in 5 short years:
1 Everyone wears skinny jeans... even guys
2 ECC is completely remodeled with multiple additions, very nice
3 I have been to the library more in the past month then I did all of high school and college the first time
4 Toms are ugly, no question
5 The internet is used for everything!! -its great

Things that haven't:
1 I still hate school, period.
2 kids are still mean and clicky , not all
3 Why do all Liberians act like they hate kids? Don't get a job at a school then...
4 I love coffee
5There are still kids wearing pajamas to class, all the time

Apple Juice and Goldfish Crackers

I would have never guessed she would love goldfish crackers so much. Mom, Tess, and I went to the opening of the new SAMs club and they were giving out samples of goldfish. It was over from there.....

Yes, there is no nutritional value in goldfish(sad). But I don't fill her up on them, and she only eats about 3 at a time.

She does very well with the straw cup from avent, caught on very quickly.

I have to watch out and only give her 1 or 2 goldfish at a time because she will put as many in her mouth as she can, and sometimes I find one in her mouth 20 mins later. She is like a little chipmunk.

Vacuuming

I purchased this adorable playschool brand vacuum at Savers for $4.99. Totally worth it!!! It looks brand new, I wiped it down with a lysol wipe, let it dry... she thinks its awesome!! The cutest part is she  will make a vacuuming noise when she does the vacuuming motion haha!!

Vacuuming with Daddy!! He tried to teach her to yell "move your stuff out of the way I am vacuuming!" -only Mommy laughed....

Lesson: Don't leave the tissue box out

All I could do was laugh in disbelief lol. I was taking an econ quiz online, sitting on that blue ottoman in the picture in front of the computer.... I should know silence is not a good thing with an almost 1 year old.

Sick Evie

Sick snotty baby.
Evie has been switching back and forth between crying and laughing the past few days and saying mom mom mommmm mamaaa mom mom lol its cute.

Lovin with Mom. I never get to cuddle with my baby. I have been enjoying her snuggling with me the past couple days.

Go BEARS

Evie Gene, the Chicago Bears new cheerleader!! 

Despite having a cold and being snotty and crabby, she thought she was pretty cool in her cheerleader uniform for the Bears season opener. Taking pictures was difficult, she did not want to stop playing. (Note, the mess of toys in the background).

Posing against her blue elephant slide ; )) lol 

Done taking pictures......... toys to play with.... 

Evie is almost 1!

School sucks, Evie is sick, Eugene is working a lot, and I am crabby.

 

 No that I have whined a little. My baby girl Evie Gene is going to be 1 September 27!! Time sure flys!!

(Look at that cheesy face : ))

We are planning a family party for the sunday after her birthday. The theme is her favorite cartoon, Yo Gabba Gabba.

College Student, Amanda Martin.

Ready, stressed, excited... I am ready for school to start. Never in my life have I wanted school to be in session. I have also never been excited for school to start.

The classes I am taking are:
bio 245 - Anatomy                                  Fri. 6-850PM, Sat. 9-1050AM
aty 101 - Astronomy(repeat) :(                Online
ecn 103 - Microeconomics(repeat) : (      Online
phc 130 - Beginning Fitness Walking     Fri. 9-1040AM
phr 115 - Healthy Eating for Life            Online
phr 102 - First Aid and Safety                 Weds. 7-945PM

 Classes start Monday, August 20.

Evie Gene is going to DAYCARE!!! AHH!! She will be attending ECC's daycare Tues. and Fri. mornings from 8-11AM. The department requires the child attend a minimum of two days a week so they have a set schedule they can get/be used to. Tuesday mornings will be spent in the library working on my internet courses while Evie is in daycare.

Turning 25** What!!!

Yes, July 8th I will be 25!!

I didn't exactly see myself where I am at 25. I have done things a little backwards. I thought I would be done with school, have a nice paying job, and be living on my own. One of those is half accurate. I live with my husband, our 9 month old daughter, and our black lab. I am still in school, and get paid sh*t at my job. I am going back to school full time in the fall so I will soon be able to have a nice paying job and be able to help support my family and have more children. In the meantime, I am enjoying my daughter and just loving the 'ups', living with the 'downs', and throwing my hands up for the 'U turns'.

*25 things I am thankful for
1.I have a beautiful, healthy, vibrant 9 month old daughter
2.My loving supportive husband
3.The BEST sister in the world
4.My loving supportive parents
5.Great In-Laws
6.Family/Friends
7.running water and sanitation
8.A nice house with a roof over my head
9.I am healthy
10.My family is healthy
11.A job
12.The opportunity to go back to school full time
13.A safe vehicle
14.Health Insurance
15.Air Conditioning
16.Living in America
17.Living in a safe area
18.Immediate access to healthcare
19.Birth Control
20.Freedom
21.A full fridge/pantry
22.safe water
23.TV
24.Iphone
25.Internet


*25 things I want -(so I can look back and giggle)
1.A better attitude 
2.To enjoy going to work
3.Zac Brown Bands new CD
4.Evie off expensive formula
5.Good Grades
6.Travel more
7.Spend more time with my husband
8.Spend more time with friends
9.Finish garden on the side of the house 
10.Have more fun
11.Make new friends
12.Finish School
13.Lose baby weight
14.Quilt more
15.Scrapbook more
16.Trim in my house finished
17.A bathroom in my basement
18.An extra bedroom in my house
19.A dishwasher
20.Finished Kitchen
21.New kitchen garbage can
22.Nora Roberts new book trilogy
23.Evie to eat for food and not have it hurt her
24.Evie to sleep through the night
25.See a movie in the theater

Snuggling at 0630 * May 11th

Evie Gene woke up at 630 and was ready to play. So we layed in bed and snuggle for a little while. She was very cute and sweet. Giving me kisses and lovin on me. Hammin it up for the pictures. 

I didn't rotate the picture before I uploaded it and couldn't figure out how to do it in the blog so its staying side ways. 

Crabby Evie * June 12th

I had a VERY crabby Evie Gene on my hands this night. This was June 12th it was a little warm out but the air was off. I tried everything, she was fed, changed, Yo Gabba Gabba was on. She just was crabby and kept yelling and clinging to my leg. I would pick her up and she would want back down. I noticed she was pulling on her onesie like she wanted it off. I took it off and she started laughing!!!! What!!! lol She was happy for an hour+!! I changed her for bed, gave her a bottle and she went right to sleep... 

Naked BABY!!!!!

Yes, she has a bag of bite size nutter butters....(I said I tried everything!!) She liked the noise it made, but only helped for 20 seconds.

Helping Daddy!! - June 4th

Evie Gene helping Daddy with chores. Gene sent me these cute pictures when I was at work. They are from June 4. I asked why he let her play with the broom and how she got it and he said "she thought it was fun"... right. She does seem to be quite entertained by it.

Gene bought her this adorable dress and TJ Maxx that day. I came home and she had it on. I said this is adorable who got it for her. He picked it up and when he had to get sox, said he couldn't not get it lol

Hehe she looks like she has something important to say.

Helping??? Question mark. Lol Anytime I do laundry she quick crawls her way over to the basket and drags one piece out at a time. Screams and laughs, I am not sure whats so funny but its very cute : )

North Carolina Visit * May 22-May30

Evie and I visiting my sister-in-law(Aunt Liz) from May 22-May 30.

We had a blast!!! Plus, Evie Gene(much to Eugene's sadness(and Aunt Tess's)) learned how to crawl while we were there!!!! Just shy of 8 months and she is crawling like a pro!! We had been seeing all the signs for a couple weeks prior to the visit, and Eugene and Tess had been trying very hard to motivate her to crawl but nothing worked. We enjoyed and relaxed the whole week. Shopping, driving, beach, food, crossfit(only once ;)), chatting!!! The trip gave me a chance to get to know my sister in law better and to miss her more. I hope that her and Tom eventually come back to the area so we can she them more. Evie LOVED her Aunt Liz, immediately upon meeting each other, Evie smiled and went to her with open arms.

Aunt Liz bought Evie her pail and shovel. She mostly just chewed on the shovel and hit things with it. I would fill the bucket with toys and she would IMMEDIATELY dump it out.

We went to Wrightsville Beach. It was very nice and clean. We picked a beautiful day to go, all sun, not a cloud in the sky. The took about 3 hrs. We had a very hard time finding a place to park and stopped for lunch after looking for a parking spot for 45 mins. We ended up paying a homeowner to park in there drive way. The guy was amused when I asked if he was going to have us towed and if it was really his house.

Evie loved playing in her tent and was haming it up to the cute girl sitting by us. She was not to fond of the water but it was very cold. Liz and I were a site walking in, all the crap you have to bring with for a baby is exhausting. The little stroller would not 'stroll' threw the sand, so I lifted one end and liz lifted the other(while carrying all the crap) with Evie still in the stroller. We were panicked when we got to the beach because there were not really any spots to sit, but realized that if we walked farther down the beach it wasn't as busy. We took a walk down the beach and all the old people commented how cute a baby I have : ) and waved at Evie, and she responded with her cute little smile.

Evie loved this coffed table, she spent hours pulling her self up, playing with her toys, getting back down, and throwing her toys off. I was making lunch and left her to play like pictured, came back a few mins later and she was all the way by her carseat!! There was a few instances that happened that I knew she crawled but I didn't see it. So I got the camera out and tried to catch her crawling. No success. I put the video camera down and went back over to the kitchen(open floor plan, I can she her from the stove.) When I looked back she was all the way over by the fire place. So.... I decided to bait her by putting her new, much loved, seseme street stacking cups across the room nicely stacked just waiting for her to knock over. SUCCESSS!!! She took the bait, and crawled right to the cups.

This is a picture of Evie and I waiting at the airport in Raleigh to go home. Flying with an 8 month old was exhausting. Not bad, just tiring. Thankfully she was a very good baby, and flew like a pro. My baby who never naps took a 45 min nap for both flights. Evie smiled for everyone and never cried. On the flight home I over heard a lady say to her adult daugher, " Cute kid, I hope she stays that way"...lol right... that was encouraging. Both flights nobody was next to me so I was able to sit her in the seat for a while and lay her down when she was napping.

Pictures - April 2012

Trying to crawl but not quite getting it.

....watching Yo GABBA GABBA. Hehe, her favorite....

Evie loves to play with her toys.

Tummy Time with Bo - Mid October

HATES tummy time.
Bo enjoys it.

Bo thinks these blankets are perfect for him.

Halloween 2011

Mom ZOMBIE, baby and Zombie hunter lol ...

March 20. 2012 - Swinging at the Park.

March 20, 2012 - Who on earth thought we would have 70-80 degree days in march. Evie and I walked to Concord park and went on the swings for the first time. LOVED the swings!! Thought she was pretty cool.

Swinging.

 Didn't mind if she wasn't swinging, just enjoyed looking around.

Evie Gene 6 months

My Baby is already 6 1/2 months. Ahh!! Evie Gene is getting so big.

Her 6 month check up stats were...

Ht. 26 3/4  - 65%

Wt. 16 lbs - 50%

Head 17.5 in  - 95% (oh yes lol)

Size 3 diapers

Similac Alimentum -Hypoallergenic formula

6 month onsies, 6 month pants are to short
6-9 and 9 month clothes

This is the one of the only smiling pictures for her 6 mount photo shoot. She is just to busy and cant sit still. She sees everything and Hams it up for everyone. Laughs and "talks". I am going with her first word being Hi. She is eating baby food. I cant get the baby bullet to puree finely enough because she has a little gag reflex and throws her home made food up... stinker. So she has been eating Gerber baby food. Really likes the Natures Best teething biscuits.

Evie is now sitting up by herself, rolling like a pro, trying to crawl but not there yet. Favorite toys - Iphone case(yahyah), she has started to mock read her books(very cute), loves her singing piano, and enjoys the stand up jumpy. Loves when you put the whole basket of toys in front of her so she can go through all the toys one at a time. LOVES TV... yes bad mom, but you need a break sometimes. Likes Yo Gabba Gabba, and the Care Bears DVD I bought. Seseme street and Barney are starting to get her attention. Diaper changing is better known at a wrestling match!! We are finally growing some hair. Hates naps, takes two 20-60 min naps a day.  goes to bed between 730 and 830, still gets up on average twice. its up in the morning between 7-830.

I am almost done with my telecourses and Eugene is done with paramedic school on may 28, hallelujah! Been called off alot at work which i great, i get to see evie more and it helps with eugenes school schedule. Flying to NC to visit my sisterinlaw liz in may with Evie. im a little nervous to fly with her.

Evie Gene 5 months

I am tired.
I can't wait for Eugene to finish paramedic school. I know that you can't wish for life to go any faster then it does, that life dosent already fly by, my baby girl is already 5 months old!!!

Evie -
Evie Gene is getting SO BIGG!! Poor baby has had a little stomach flu for the past week. I brought her the dr because I was worried and she said just watch her. But, my big girl weighed 15 lbs!!! She is getting such a little personality these days. She laughs, yells, and grunt/growls at me. She has started to enjoy her Bumbo, but you have to keep the tray attached at ALL times because she arches(throws herself) backwards. She really likes music and TV(call me naughty, I know...) she loves the creepy show Yo Gabba Gabba, laughs at it constantly. Her big booty is in a size three diaper and 3-6 or 6 month clothes. Her favorite toys are her teething keys. She is putting everything in her mouth and chewing on her hands constantly. Still not sleeping threw the night, max 5 to 6 hours at a time. I have been trying to set a bedtime for 830 and it works most of the time. She gets up between 7-830 every morning like clockwork. She has started moving a little, she rolls to her side and rolls back, hates being on her stomach. She has learned to arch herself up on her head and scoot her legs so she is gliding on her head.

We got a bath chair and Evie LOVES IT!!!

PARAMEDIC SCHOOL -
Eugene started class in late August and is done the end of May. He has class M-W-Th from 6-10pm. He also has to comple 250 hours of clinical time at Sherman and 250 hours of ride-time with Hanover Park. All while still working shift every third day. I tease him that I am a single parent(it makes him mad)-with reason... He responds saying that I am very well supported financially for a single parent... Ha ha. I just keep telling myself it will be over soon enough and won't remember why I complained so much.
Lucky for me I have been called off a lot from work so it hasn't been to bad lately.