FIRST FAMILY TRIP- PENNSYLVANIA

GETTING READY TO LEAVE ON OUR TRIP- WE LEFT EARLY, AND ROMAN WAS TIRED!

QUICK SNAP SHOT FROM THE ROAD IN PA

LOVE THE ROLLING HILLS

JIM & ROMAN AT JIM'S COUSIN SUE ANN'S HOUSE

WE WENT TO CHURCH SUNDAY MORNING AT ST. SEBASTIANS IN BELLE VERNON, PA.

STAYED AT THE HAMPTON INN... IT WAS A NICE PLACE TO STAY AND ROMAN SLEPT GREAT THERE- THANK GOD!

ANOTHER SHOT FROM THE DRIVE... LOTS OF BRIDGES OUT THERE.

THIS IS WHAT ROMAN DID PRETTY MUCH THE ENTIRE TRIP TO AND FROM PENNSYLVANIA- WHICH OF COURSE MADE THE TRIP QUITE PLEASANT.

DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH!

STOPPED IN SANDUSKY TO SEE JIM'S DAD!

WE HAD AN ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL TRIP GETTING TO SEE FAMILY, AND WE CAN'T WAIT TO DO IT AGAIN!

Kayla is back to normal... finally!

After 5 different prescription drugs, rest and $750 at the vet- Kayla is finally doing better on her paw! Walking around, playing and back to being our good little doggy- thank God! She was like having a 2nd baby in the house when she wasnt doing so well.

My Poor Kayla

I am not sure what happen to my little girl, but she started babying her left paw about 3 weeks ago. Jim took her to the vet, and we found out that she had an infection in the joint on her wrist. She's been on 2 antibiotics for over a week now, and now she isn't using the paw at all and the swelling is still there. I have to take her back to the vet on Friday morning for them to check it out again. She just seems so depressed and lays around here all day long. Even when people come to visit, she used to go nuts wagging her tail and running around... now it's a simple tail flip and then she just puts her head back down where ever she was laying and goes back to sleep. My poor baby. I hope it's nothing very serious... but it does have me worried. She's only 8 years old... I know she's not a spring chicken, but she's no old maid either! Oh Kayla... please cheer up buttercup!

Michael Jackson... Sorry- I have to complain about this!

Being that I am laid off and was of course home with Roman today, I got to watch the Memorial Service for Michael Jackson this afternoon. I have always loved MJ's music and although I thought he looked a little strange in recent years, and I certainly thought 'what the hell is wrong with those parents' who were letting their kids sleep in his bed years ago... but overall he was an amazing artist, and everything he did with music seemed to turn to gold. I still remember listening to "I wanna rock with you... all night..." in my basement while I roller skated when I was little. I will say however, that although I was shocked with his sudden death, I am now officially tired of the media coverage of MJ's death! From the Today show to Regis and Kelly to the 12 o'clock news, to the memorial service, then the 6 o'clock news, Entertainment Tonight and the Insider, and then Dateline, 20/20... and now it is 11:43pm and it's all over the Late Night TV. And I "love" that every one of these shows acts like they have "new" information and go through his life story from growing up in Gary, Indiana! WE KNOW! I assure you media giants- we all know MJ's history at this point. I can hardly wait until results come back from the toxicology testing- it'll be a media circus. If I had it my way, I say let it go from the television for awhile, and just play some of his great music on the radio a little more often. Please... and thank you.

Mommy Made a Boo-Boo...

Okay, well I mentioned in the last blog entry that I went to Woodard Photography for Roman's 3 month pictures, and I was so excited to go check out the pictures and choose the best ones and do the typical Mom thing with the photos. So, I go back to look at the proofs of the photos, and gasped when I found out that ONE 8x10" photo was $69.95!!! The pricing was insane, and I even told the woman assisting me that we were not dealing with Heidi Klum here... he's a 3 month old baby- I'll be back 3 months from now for new photos! I was then informed that after I picked out what I wanted it would be 3-6 weeks before I would even get my photos! So, after being informed that there would be a $50 fee for not buying anything (pretty much a time wasting fee from them) I decided to pick the cheapest option and purchased 16 WALLETS for $35.00! Ugh... the lessons we learn being a new Mom. Good news though, I did find out about Portrait Innovations, and was able to get Roman an appointment right away. So, this past Sunday Jim was able to come along with us! Roman was in a great mood, and we got family pictures as well as pictures of our little man... it was a great day! So, here are a few WAY cheaper photos of Roman...

Random acts of the camera...

Roman enjoying his jumper I just hung... he had no clue what to do with himself at first, but he caught on and did some moving around with his feet on the floor.

My big happy man...

After bath time... this is when I call him my "Kiddo-Burrito" :)

A family photo on Jim's first Father's Day! We went to the Detroit Tigers game and enjoyed the weather and a win from the team!!!

I was making cupcakes and put a little chocolate frosting on Roman's pacifier... clearly he enjoyed it but was disappointed to have run out.

Well, things are moving fast for us. Roman is already over 3 months old. He's big and healthy and does something new everyday. I am so happy being a Mom and so happy to see Jim enjoying fatherhood. He is really good with Roman, loves to make him smile and enjoys playtime. I would have to say that Jim is Roman's favorite playmate/toy right now. He really gets excited to see his Daddy. Roman went this morning for his 3 month pictures! he spit up on his outfit however 2x and was not too pleased with some of the poses the photographer was trying to get him to make... but overall we got some adorable poses, and next Friday I get to go look at the proofs. We went to Woodard Photographic at Levis Commons and they were great and really professional. Yesterday at Meijer I bought Roman a little $8.00 kiddie pool and a pair of swim trunks and he took a dip in the pool for the first time! At first he was not to happy about it, but once I think he realized how hot it was outside, and that the water felt good... he sat down and seemed to really relax. It's so fun being at home with him and watching him grow and do new things. He's such a good happy baby. I have never been so busy before in my life... between being a mom, and going to school, and cleaning and cooking and and all that jazz- days just fly by and before I know it it's time for bed. I hope to update the blog more often then I have been... but we shall see...

Cutie...

Roman went to the Toledo Zoo for the first time on Friday. He was such an angel. Roman was covered in SPF 55, but we couldn't resist getting him his first hat from the zoo to block him more from the sun. He seemed to really enjoy it covering his eyes, and we had a great day walking the zoo and watching the animals. I will say that I was a little depressed at the Gorilla exhibit. There was a beautiful Gorilla, he was sitting right against the glass staring at all of the people staring in at him. The look on his face was so depressing, he just looked miserable being in captivity. I swear as weird as it sounds that he and I made eye contact and it just tugged at my heart. I walked away and started to cry. I told Jim I could never work at the zoo... I would be the crazy radical person who lets all the animals free at night "GO AND BE FREE ANIMALS! GO AND BE FREE!!!" I'd end up on the news.

Jim sat Roman up to watch tv with us on the couch the other night, and within only a minute or two the little guy just tipped over and passed out.

Smiley baby!!! I love it - how can anyone not melt when a baby smiles? It is the most innocent, happy thing in life. I like to see it as often as I can.

Reach for the stars my sweet little man!

Handsome, Happy Boy...

Had to take Roman's picture... he was just coo-ing away and seemed so happy. This was the first time I was able to get a picture with him smiling! Normally, I get him smiling and then lift the camera and he is so enthralled with the shiny silver box I hold in front of him, the smile fades and he is hypnotized.

HOW VERY GQ...

THE HANDSOME MAN IN HIS SUNGLASSES... ENJOYING THE SUN- HOW CUTE!

Mama's Boy...

Here are a couple new pictures of the little man. He is just so beautiful and is my pride and joy. if every child was as easy to make happy as Roman, I would have 5 of them!

Things have been going pretty well for us here. Roman has a pretty great routine down, and just seems like a happy baby. Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and we are going to the Mudhen's game! It's Roman's first baseball game, and we are looking forward to it... hoping he is a happy baby for us or else it will be a short day out at the ball game! HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY! :)

HAPPY MOM'S DAY!!!

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY TO EVERY MOM OUT THERE! THIS WAS OF COURSE MY FIRST MOTHER'S DAY THAT I GOT TO CELEBRATE AND IT WAS VERY NICE. JIM TOLD ME THAT ROMAN GOT INTO HIS CREDIT CARDS AND HAD FLOWERS SENT TO ME (SWEET LITTLE BOY) :) I GOT A COUPLE OF GIFT CARDS AND GOT TO SPEND TIME WITH MY HUSBAND, MY SON AND MY MOM WHO DROVE DOWN TO CELEBRATE HER 25th MOTHER'S DAY AND MY FIRST! IT WAS A WONDERFUL DAY THAT I REALLY ENJOYED. I LOOK FORWARD TO MANY MORE.

BAPTISM...

Roman's God Parents Roy & Kathy

Us with Father Parker after Roman's baptism

Proud Daddy gazing at his son

Roman's beautiful cake made by Tonya's Cakes Co.

Roman was baptized on May 3rd and the day could not have gone any better. Family drove in from Pennsylvania and Michigan, and after having a perfect baptism (Roman did not make a peep while being baptized) we all went to the Holiday Inn French Quarter for brunch where Father Parker joined us and we had a nice meal together as a family. Roman was a perfect angel that day- not making a sound the entire day and contently let us pass him around like the little trophy baby. Jim and I were so impressed! Roman recieved beautiful gifts from family and friends, and the day was simply beautiful. God Bless our little boy!

FATHER & SON

DADDY & THE LITTLE MAN OF THE HOUSE WATCHING TV. SO SWEET...

New Pics of Our Little Man!

I am just loving motherhood so much! It is truly the greatest thing in life that I have ever experienced. The joy in seeing an innocent smile, or a disappointed frown, it is just the greatest feeling in the world knowing that I made this little person, who eats and breaths and knows my face or Daddy's face as the ones who make sure he's okay. God is so good and children really are tiny miracles from above.

Roman went to the doctor this past Wednesday and he's now 21" long and is 10 1/2 pounds. Big and strong and growing! He's doing great, sleeping pretty well through the night already with an occasional wake up for a snack, but we are truly so lucky to have such a good little boy.

DAYS ARE GOING BY SO FAST!

SLEEPY BABY BOY...

GETTING READY FOR EASTER- ROMAN'S FIRST EASTER EGG!

I DYED EGGS FOR EASTER!

ROMAN ENJOYING HIS SWING FOR THE FIRST TIME... IT REALLY KNOCKED HIM OUT- HE SLEPT FOR 5 HOURS STRAIGHT IN IT! - MADE ME SOOO HAPPY! :)