Tuesday Trips...

In the Spaceship with Michael
At the water table

Shelley, Michael and Julian at the water table!

Today we went to the Buffalo Museum of Science...this was the first time we had gone. I have been there many times as a kid...but never took Julian...yes, remember he was the boy in the bubble! We went with our good friends Shelley and her 2 boys Michael and Luke. We had a blast. Julian was so good, we went to the gift shop and I told him he could pick out anything he wanted...and the video below is what he picked! He played for almost 4 hours with it today when we got home...he was so excited he wanted to take a nap with it, and never took that nap because he wanted to play with it so bad! With the exception of a dinner break and one potty break...4hours of play time with it! It is a hit!!

I will say, ever since he has been potty trained...he has been a dream! There were a few fough weeks in January and February...mostly out of frustration I am sure! So proud of my baby boy!

Friday is Strong Museum...I am so looking forward to that! Fingers crossed for no sickness or snow!

Here is a video from today!

Hope you had a wonderful and blessed day!!!

See you tomorrow!

Monday Madness

So every Monday my parents take Julian...they pick him up from pre school and take him for the day and night...I am so thrilled he is able to spend this time with them. I/we are so lucky to have them here with us. I always dreamed of my child having the grand parents that I never had...the ones who attend everything...I never had that...and now he has that...I always prayed for that...My father...aka Papa...takes him to swimming lessons right now...and Julian loves to swim...we all do...I am so looking forward to this year and the pool. I see many pool parties with our friends and their children.

Today on my Monday Madness...I dropped off Julian, stopped by my parents house, went to PT, came home and cleaned my house, did laundry, talked to a friend who needed some support, went out with my husband on a mini date and came home and here I am blogging! What was your monday like?

We had a play date set up for tomorrow but it was cancelled...so I called to let my friend Shelly, and the great thing is...we changed our plans with no problems...so it is off to the Museum of Science. I am so looking forward to it. First he is getting his hair cut...then it is off to see Michael and the gang...should be a great time!

I have to say...I am so glad that I am back to blogging. It has been way to long...it is a great release...a place to go and tell my thoughts.

As you may see I have changed my title to my blog...it is now "Our one and only!" When Jeff and started planning a family we always talked about having 2 children...then when it was taking us so long and we had six miscarriages and our son Joseph who didn't make it, we said that if God gave us ONE healthy child that we would be happy...and I AM HAPPY...Yes, it would be nice to have another child...there are days where I day dream about it...but God has a plan for US...HE knows what is in store for US. So for now Julian is OUR ONE AND ONLY and I am loving it! I love the time we spend together. He is my little buddy! OUR little buddy...and I couldn't ask for a better buddy then him! He is so sweet and has a great sense of humor...and he is the other love of my life!

This was from October on a field trip...it was so cold...but we had our little man to keep us warm!

Our prayers at bedtime...

Julian being silly! He loves this picture!

Today out of the blue Julian came to me and asked if we could PRAY!!! And that is what we did!! Moments like that...I thank God and say to myself...he is getting it!!!



SO nap time and night we pray...we always thank God for the wonderful day we are having or had. We always thank him for daddy, and how hard he works for us! We always pray from Papa, Nana, Mommy, Daddy, Grandma Terry, Grammy, Maggie, Bug, and Julian. We pray for our teachers and friends and their families and we always pick something that is going on that we need help with...like potty training, leaving play date without freaking out and such. I am always the one who does the prayers. TONIGHT...Julian wanted to do them!!! So he began to do our normal prayer and he thanked God for his Bug 3 times and Nana and Papa 4 times...instead of grandma terry he just said Terry, and he said Thank you to GOD for helping him go on the potty...I asked him if there was anything else he wanted to thank God for or pray for and then the list began...he prayed for the remote, the pictures, the cross, his stuffed animals, his blankets...everything I think that was in his room...It was so hard not to laugh, because he was trying so hard...it was so sweet and cute!



This week is going to be busy! Tomorrow, Julian has school, Nana and papa's and swimming! On Tuesday he is getting his hair cut and we are going to a new play group! I am so looking forward to this group because it is all Christan mom's. Wednesday is school, Thursday is Speech and play date and Friday is school! I am going to be posting things on Craig's list and EBay...We are cleaning and throwing away so much! We love our house, but if something comes up in Amherst or my parents end up wanting to sell their house to us...we are there! I have been looking at house on line, but everything needs work and honestly, I am not going through that again! Our house has all new windows, new kitchen, 3 new baths...it is finally where I want it...I have 2 more rooms to work on and then it will be perfect! I am going to be making new curtains for my Kitchen to give it a little face lift...I am looking for a blue or green toile...I am on the hunt!



Before I go, as I was typing this blog, Julian called me to his room and asked me for 20 kisses! So of course I said YES! When I got to 19, I kissed and said 19 about 10 times...and then one big one for 20! He loved it and laughed! Everyday I feel a blessing from above. I take nothing for granted with this child of mine!

Isn't God great!!!

When you have children you never know what life will be like for them...Julian was very delayed in his speech...I knew that he was delayed...I fought with our doctors and finally took it into my own hands! He had already been receiving speech for almost a year at that point...after tube and loosening his tounge...he spoke! Now a year later our speech teacher told me today that she think Julian can stop receiving speech in June!!! Wow...I can't tell you how I have prayed for him...I really feel like his teacher has done amazing things with him...she came to us just after his surgery...it was like God sent her to us! And I am so happy he did...Julian and I talk all the time in the car...we hold conversations!!!! I know to some of you this doesn't seem like much, but to me it is everything! To hear his voice all the time is such a blessing! I never tell him to stop talking...talk away may babe, talk away!!!

Changing again and Our dog Eugene...

First off...here are new pictures of our family room! I have changed the window treatments! We just love the color. We have a new picture above the fireplace...it was a nice sunny day when I took these pictures...they are more burgandy...

We have had him for just over 9 years...he just turned 11 years old. He hasn't been feeling himself so we took him to the vet's and he has some disc issues in his neck. So we will see what happens from here. Right now we have him on meds to help with the pain...he is sound asleep on our bed...it will be a very sad day in our home when God calls him to the Rainbow bridge. But for now, we don't want to think that...We just ask God to watch over him and heal our dog and make him comfortable!

Back to the normal life...

This is our most recent picture of Julian! 3.5 years old!

As of today he is potty trained!!!

Well, hubby goes back to work tomorrow after being home for almost 2.5 weeks...part vacation, part sickness...but now he goes back to work. I have enjoyed his stay, but it time to get my house back in order! Julian goes back to school tomorrow as well! I have a few projects I am working on...decorating my mantel for spring/Easter...I will post what I have done this week! I am refurbishing an old wreath and some easy and in expensive ways to make things ready for spring!

So when do you start decorating for Easter? I am so excited to do it this year, since we have moved our house around...it should look great! I will soon be posting my circle scarfs that I have made on my other site...

A new outlook? Superwoman I am not!

So this week has been one for the books! I feel like I am being tested by God! On Sunday I was chatting with a friend, knitting while sitting on the couch ( a no no for me) and Jeff asked me to keep an eye on the fire and Julian...so I was going to get up, mind you still with the phone in hand, more like in ear, knitting needles and yarn and getting out of the couch when all of a sudden...YES my back goes! For the love of GOD! SO I quickly get off the phone, get ice, take my meds and sit down and rest a bit. Jeff gets mad because I am in control of my own situation...I did not know being born with a bad back was in my control, but I do know that my over all body is! That I get...If you have known me long, you have know I have battled my weight all my life it seems. But when oh when will I ever get it under control?

In March of 2009, after my December fall, my back was so bad I was laid up for 3 weeks...the worst ever...not to mention that I had a 1 and a half yr old who needed me, a husband and a crappy job! So I began losing weight and taking my life back. 75 lbs later, I feel better, Not sure if I look better...but I also feel that my back is better...with less flare ups.

So after this happened...I guess it all came rushing back to me. I stepped on the scale and I gain 5 lbs back of the 75! That I am not proud of! So if you think about it...it is like strapping on a 50 lb bag of flour...So...I was thinking back as to when I feel the best...it is when I am swimming... and in the summer time...I am walking more and swimming! Did I mention swimming? It is a natural decompresson of your back...so starting this week...I am hitting the pool again! I need to bit my core and keep it there. My problem has ALWAYS been...once I feel better I stop doing what is making me feel better...then I pretend like I am super woman...which I am not! So now I have bible veres's all over the house, along with little notes to remind me what I need to do with my posture and such. So wish me luck...this blog may become my weight loss blog! LOL

Sorry it has been a while!

One of our favorite books to read!

Here is the most recent picture of Julian!

I know...I am horrible at keeping up on my blog, and I really want to post everyday...and honestly I forgot my password...so now I am back and know it so no excuses!!! I must say...I love Julian's pre-school and I love Face book! I have made so many new friends that I can count on to be there when needed and they are not out just for themselves. It is such a blessing! My knitting is coming along great! I have so many to post for sale, I am not sure when or where I will find the time! I am working on my new project of redoing my family room window treatments. I am getting rid of the Valences and doing new rods. I am so glad we made the change! I love my library and I am in the all the time! I love to just sit there and read my bible or just a nice parenting mag that has come in the mail!

Jeff has been working so much overtime, it seems like we are passing ships! On the Job front...there really is nothing to speak of. Which is kind of depressing...but I know that God has a plan for us and I just have to follow His lead! This year I am turning 40 and we (Jeff and I ) are planning on going away...I am really thinking Niagara Falls Canada...even though it is in our back yard, it has changed so much in the past few years that I am looking forward to it. We DO NOT gamble so the casino is out of the question...so I think we will do a few day trips to little sweet towns in the area. I have been so blessed with such a wonderful husband, words cannot express my love for him. When you see others struggle with their marriage you really evaluate yours and I am amazed at house wonderful ours has become and how grateful I am for him.

Julian has been amazing...he is smart---reading, writing, making flash cards...funny---he is so funny...the things that come out of his mouth are so funny...every night he tells his pillow pet (Rufus) about his day for the time he wakes up to the time it is ready for bed. It is so sweet. He is so sweet...my sweet little boy...he is such a help around the house...he knows when my back hurts and makes it easy for me. Plus he is so handsome! I can't believe how much his looks have stayed the same...Such a handsome little guy!

My family has been healthy and wonderful as well! I am so blessed to have my parents here with us. They just love Julian and us so much, it is such a blessing! My brother is married almost a year now...with his work and family life, we hardly see him...but he is happy and that is what counts! Gram is still alive and kicking! 88 years young! I think she has more energy then I!

The things kids say...

So, the worst words we say in our house is Damn it...I know...shame on us! Well while Jeff was doing the turkey, something fell out of the oven and he said "DAMN IT!" Julian happen to be standing right there and he repeated it...I told Julian that it was a bad word and that he could say DARN IT if he likes...so fast forward to Thanksgiving night...he was playing in one of his toy boxes and it fell and this is how it went down...

Julian: DAMN IT MOMMY...

Mommy: Julian, did you just say DARN IT?

Julian: No, I said DAMN IT!

Well we almost fell out of our chairs laughing, but had to hide it. SO the next day, all he was saying was DARN IT, DARN IT, DARN IT...Now, I told him...say OH MAN instead! LOL

Becoming a passion of mine...

Outside on a chilly fall afternoon...I love this picture of him!

This is his pre school picture...so handsome! He is growing up so fast!

I made this wreath for $7.00! I had the wreath already and wanted to do a different look! We won best wreath for the fall in our Village, So I hope we win for the Holiday decorating too!


Every year I try to do something different...this year is a child theme mantel...since this is where we spend most of our time why not! It turned out really sweet and I am glad I thought of it...I have to tweek it a bit but for now this is it!

I am loving decorating my new home...well it isn't new, but since we have changed the rooms around it feels new to me! I so love my family room and so does the rest of the family!

How are you? Whole lot of changes here!

Our new Fantastic room

Our Library...I love to sit in here and just read! I am reading The Help right now! Love this room!

This is on my mantel in my Fantastic room....I so love it!!!

So, how are things with you? With facebook, it seems I don't blog that much...but I try my best! So things have been great here at our house! Julian is doing great at school! His speech is coming along so nice! Praise God for that! Jeff is doing great too! Work is work for him...I lost my job at WFHM...but all is good! God has a plan and for now I am a stay at home mom while looking for a job...not much out there...but He will provide! We are all healthy here. I have been having a problem with my left hip that has been inpairing me from working out...thus the weight loss has come to a hault! So I went to the Dr. today and it is bursitis...poking around finding the spot was the most painful part...now I am feeling better...so we will see if that correct the situation.

I have uploaded some pictures of the changes we have made some changes with the house to make it more livable with a 3 year old and his friends! Thanks to my mom and Jeff for helping me out! We are working on the window treatments and then all should be done! It has been fun!

We are going away on our annual wine weekend...it seems like it is just going to be us and our best friends Katie and Patrick...every year it seems like we gain people and lose people...This year we are doing it in October...normally it is in November, so that kind of made it difficult for the others to attened. So it should be a great weekend anyway. It will be nice to reconnect with Jeff and our BFF's. So life is good...I hope everything is well with you and yours! Comments are always welcomed!

Pre School time!

Off to school with Bob!
Daddy and Julian

At a party over the weekend!

I have to say that is picture on top is one of my all time favorites!!! How about you? Doesn't Julian look fabulous? ( the one with me on the top of the page)

Well it is that time of year again! My favorite time of year! Life has never been better for our family and once again we are incredibly blessed! Julian started a wonderful pre school and he has the best teacher we could ask for...another adoptive mother! How amazing is that! I knew I liked her from our first meeting...God plays a part in our lives and it is only when you are looking do you see Him!

We are redoing Julian's bedroom to a big boy bedroom. It is bitter sweet for me, but I am excited to see this journey begin! I can't say how much I love being the mother of an only child. Actually just being a mother is exciting enough for me! One or two...which ever he has in store for us...we are ready!

As you may know, I was laid off from my job at Wells Fargo. I guess it is the sign of the times! We will see what door opens for me. My stress level, health, and just over all life is so different. I didn't really realize how CONSUMING my job really was. My cell phone is quite, I am not on the computer but for night time. All my time is dedicated to Julian and Jeffrey...

I will be setting up a new blog, more faith based. So I will let you know when I make my first post there. Julian is in Pre School 3 days a week, so we will see what I will do with my time! Keeping you all posted!

Happy Birthday to my baby boy!

Just Chillin!

Julian with Kena...she is a sweet heart!

Picking a couple of BOB's for us!

Waiting for the music to begin at KVIS

Wow...3 years has gone by in a flash! Julian starts per school in September, so I have taken the week off from work to spend time with him. He is just amazing! He is counting and spelling on a 5 year old level! We had him tested for his speech to continue services with the school district...personally I don't think he needs it and neither do the 3 testers that were here...so praise god for that. It was like a light switch went off...he is talking so clear and he is so smart and funny! We have had a great summer...he is my little buddy and can't imagen my life without him!

Oh what shall I do?...

So I have been told by many that I should become a professional blogger...You know I love to blog, life has been so crazy that I haven't found the time to do so. My dear friend Dorothy thinks the stories I tell are so funny and yesterday she told me again that I should think about doing this. But what would my over all topic be?
****Family
****Being a working mother...the trails and tribulations
****being a daughter of a mother who is an only child and how I have to help with my pain the butt grandmother? On that topic, we say that the only reason why Julian is so in love with her, is because he doesn't know any better...YET! Lol I have never seen my grandmother this happy in her life. Of course I haven't been around her all my life...we started seeing her more when I was around 15, when she had her heart attack and we had to move her closer to us and she came to work for my mother at our real estate office.
****Being the mother of an only child and my desires to have another...on some days and others I am glad he is an only child?
****OR how it is a man's world out there in the business field?

So let me know what you think...I would love to know your thoughts on this. I plan on doing this I hope on a daily basis...Maybe I will talk about toddler hood and life lesson of mine. Looking forward to hearing your thoughts!

This and that...

Photo of the week...

He was 18 months here...gosh how time flyes! I loved when he could wear the footed PJ's now, he just leaks everywhere...so as we progress witht he potty training maybe we can work our way back to those!

Well just when you think a phase is long gone...it sneeks back up and slaps you across the face! Yes that is what my little cutie pie did to me today! Well, needless to say it caught me off guard...kinda like a sucker punch! So what do you do? Slap him back...that does not make much sense does it...so what is a mom to do...looking for input with that...also, if you have a child who knows you don't have the strength to lift him and put him in a time out...what do you do? I begin to lose my patience and then just let him win...which we all know will for sure bite me in the butt down the line! He NEVER acts up at school or at church, so I am wondering why he does it to me...suggestions and feed back is apprecaited! As always...sending you hugs and blessings!

My brothers wedding...

Me and my mom

Me and Gram

Julian with his new cousin's

My brother and his bride

Well the wedding was great! The pictures are small, but I will reload them later...just wanted to post them.

Picture of the week!

If I could turn back the hands of time...I would! I so would in a heart beat! I can remember this day like it was yesterday...it was a day in June and it was warm outside of the water but when you were wet you were cold! He was sitting on his Papa's lap...I think this is one of the most beautiful pictures of him. He was 8 months old...now I know after experiencing this age, it was like no other...it is one of my most favorite ages...I really think I took for granted when people say "they grow up so fast" Man do they ever! Now I have an Octopus on my hands...I swear he has 8 hands...and they are grabbing everything! Maybe it is because I restricted him too much, or it is just his age...

He is talking so much! Today he said "turn on blue!" 3 words! What a delight! He has been signing for so long, it has become a habit for us all...I have to remind myself to tell him to use his words...sometimes I tell him what to say so he repeats it...but it is very exciting!

My brother is getting married on Friday. Finally...married at 40! Who would have thought! It is a blessing that is for sure! His bride to be has 2 children, a son who is 8 and a daughter who is 8 days older then Julian. So we are looking forward to having these little blessings around! I am glad for Julian, he will have cousin he is close to...not just in age, but in visiting as well.

I will post again this week...keep an eye out! I am trying my best to post! If you are reading this, please leave a message...I know who you are lurking out there...stop by and say hi!

Changing me...one step at a time...

I have come to realize that when you have a bad back everything can be a challenge...but Carrying extra weight can make it worse...so over the last 14 months I have lost over 65 lbs. I haven't really told many people, because I am doing it for me...not for my husband, not for Julian, not for the attention...but for ME. I Will be 39 in June and I have a goal of where I would like to be by 40...it is obtainable...and I am losing it slow, so it should stay off. This year I have made it a point to conquering my fears. I don't like to travel, so I went away on business and did just fine. Taking Julian places for me is always fearful...not sure how things are going to go with my back and such...i have been taking him more places by myself. My next fear I am working on is read aloud to people. My brother is getting married on the 16th and asked me to do a reading at his wedding...at first I was going to say no becasue of my fear...but I said yes! I will keep you posted on how it goes. I guess we all have fear some have more then others...I have alot...so now I putting my faith back into God and having HIM help me along the way! Life is good in so many ways...just taking it one day at a time!

Photo of the week!

PHOTO OF THE WEEK...THIS WAS WHEN HE WAS 8 MONTHS OLD...Hard to believe he is now 32 months old. Wow time does fly by...we have been having fun the entire way! I am going to try to do this every week!

For us...this week he has put 3 words together...Mama and Daddy...3 words! I am teaching him to say I LOVE YOU...If you ever had a child with a speech delay every word matters to you...it is the sweetest sounds to a mothers ears! He is so bright...he is just dieing to talk...he babbles all day...points and says things that I don't understand, so it is frustrating for all...but he has come so far in just one month post surgery! I don't regret having the surgery...I do regret it took so long to have it done and that no one was listening to me...until our wonderful ENT came along! God has given us many blessings...Julian is our most precious one!

Happy Easter!

My little artist! We try to craft day every day I am home with him. I thought I would break out the paint...it was fun! I am sure this is going to be an on going craft! He loves to paint and color!
Uncle Damon with my little pouty baby! LOL

Julian and Nana and Papa...he just loves them! And they love him too!

Grammy with Julian

Nana and he sweetie!

Well we had a wonderful day...we are constantly reminded how blessed we really are with our son Julian. He is just an amazing child! His speech is coming along so nice, and saying 2 and 3 word sentances now...it is very exciting to see how excited he is when he says things and we get it!