"She put her left leg in, She took her left leg out.."

Nycee decided to play "Hokey, Pokey" with the suitcase. She climbed into the suitcase, she climbed out of the suitcase, and at one point...

She attempted to close herself up in the suitcase.

Notice the ring of toys sitting next to the suitcase on the floor. Did she want to play with that? Of course not as it is much more fun to close yourself up in a suitcase and play peek-a-boo.
She did this a few months ago and I told her that I would ship her to Minnesota with her cousins if she did it again. I am going to call my cousin Cari and advise that she is on the way!

Graduation Day! Well, Sorta.

Today, I participated in the 2007 commencement ceremony for my undergraduate degree. The Georgia International Convention Center was filled with family and friends who came to support their loved ones in this auspicious occasion. It was very exciting to see all the graduates, from the various programs, donned in their caps and gowns celebrating their accomplishments. Cheers filled the air as the graduates crossed the stage.



I was recognized as a Magna Cum Laude graduate for my scholastic achievements. I will not complete my undergraduate studies until June but was allowed to participate in the commencement because it was held in Georgia and I only have the 2 classes remaining for the summer session.

My journey is not over. Listening to speakers and seeing all the graduates helped me to see that I can accomplish any goal that I set for myself. I am only limited by the limits I place on myself. This journey has been long and hard. Filled with disappointments, trials, ups and downs, but at the end of the day--God gave me the strength to see the race to the end.

To everyone, who prayed for me, cried with me, listened as I fussed and cussed--Thank you! No words can express my gratitude. Stick around for the best is yet to come!

Body Aches

My body aches,
My thighs are sore,
I have pain in places I have never felt before.

My body aches,
My back is sore,
I will do yard work--NO MORE!

Finally, The Finished Product

Several months ago, (Okay so it was January), I began a landscaping project because the front of my house had ugly straw in front of it. Today, my husband and I completed our landscaping project. It was hard work but I think for a couple of amateurs, it looks good.

I have discovered why people pay so much for landscaping as it is extremely hard work. I had to take a nap afterward.

I am not too quick to jump at another outdoor project. I just wanted a little curb appeal. Next, we have to figure out what to do with the side and back of the house that still has the ugly straw. Maybe Lowe's carries a product that I could just use to cover up the straw instead of having to dig it up.

Let the mischief begin

Not 24 hours after I made the announcement about NyCee walking, the mischief has begun. I finished writing my blog and turned to find her crawling around with a tee shirt on her head.

But the true highlight of the evening was when I removed her clothes in preparation for bath time. I sat her down on the floor while I gathered the towel and a few toys for her to play with. When I turned around, all I saw was her little naked butt scurrying away towards the bathroom.

Who knew a naked baby who just began walking could get so far so fast?

Milestone Moment

Sound the alarm, blow the trumpets from the mountain tops, ring all the bells. Why?


NyCee is walking! Yipee! I am so proud of her. She just started taking steps and now she can stand for longer periods, get up from the sitting position without holding on to something, and turn around to go in the opposite direction.

Why do I get the feeling that she will attempt more mischief now that she is more mobile?

Valley Virgin No More

I finally convinced my husband to make a trip to the valley of the sun--Phoenix, AZ. Of course, he thought the plane ride was long (it's about 4 hours from east to west) but he had people around him to talk to. He met a pilot and they literally talked for nearly 4 hours.

Upon landing, he noticed the mountains and the sun was setting on the horizon. He commented about how serene and peaceful it looks from the sky. He admired the mountains and of course the cactus. He is a long way from home but he seems to be enjoying himself thus far.

Toliet Paper Tirade

Why is it that my daughter tends to find joy in playing with everything in the house except her toys? I am sure that parents across America feel the same way. Collectively, we spend hundreds of thousands of dollars buying toys to teach and entertain our children. Yet, they find the most pleasure in unrolling the toliet paper,

and ripping it to shreads.

I purpose that for Christmas this year, we buy our toddlers a roll of Quilted Northern, which will cost us about $5.00, and let them play with that. Even the empty card board roller serves as a useful entertainment tool.

What's wrong?

What's wrong with this picture?


I had a cup of juice at approximately 8:00a.m. When I went to retrieve the hot sauce out of the cabin for dinner, I noticed the orange juice in there. My statistics class is really taking a toll on me.

Pulling out my hair!

Does anyone have a clue how to do statistics? Speak now, please. It is 2:20 a.m. and I am trying to complete this homework assignment. I am so far beyond confused it is not even funny. This is only week 2 of school. I have 10 week to go. Please pray for me.

Wrestling Match

Last night, NyCee was a little fussy so I let her sleep in the bed with me. I know that is really bad but I was exhausted. How is it that someone so little can take up so much room?

Once I got an elbow in the eye,
Twice I was kicked in the stomach,
and for her grand finish this morning,
she managed to butt me in the mouth with her head.

I have come to the painful realization that for my safety and well-being, she needs to sleep in her own bed.

Strut that stuff, Girl!

NyCee has really gotten the hang of her walk 'n' ride toy. She really enjoys it.

The only problem is that she can only go straight. She literally runs while pushing the toy but then she crashes into the fireplace and looks around for assistance.

Yesterday, she tried to push it up the stairs. Why? I have no idea. She doesn't play with any of the noise making toys on the walk 'n' ride. She just crawls up behind it, pulls herself up and begins walking. My husband thinks that she will be walking by herself soon. If that is the case, I need to gate off the entire house!

Mommy's Little Helper?

I load the dishwasher,

She unloads the dishwasher,

And then looks completely surprised and attempts to return the dishes to the dishwasher when I ask her why she is unloading the dishwasher.

Toddlers, Go Figure!

Only 8 classes remain

Only 8 classes remain until I am done with my undergraduate studies.
Only 1 TI-83 plus calculator to try and master before the end of
my 11 week class.
Only 3 days in the week to drink heavily. After which leaves
Only 4 days to try and recuperate to concentrate on the 6 classes that I have this quarter.

Only 1 crazy question:
"What made me think that I could complete an undergraduate program in 5 quarters and keep my sanity?"

Waste of Money

I had to buy a TI-83 plus calculator for my Decriptive Statisitics Math class.
Cost: $99.95

I still haven't figured out the purpose of this class or how it relates to my major--Human Resources, yet it is a required course. The instruction manual for the calculator is as thick as the book for the class. My instructor emphasized that this model is required and she will not attempt to explain the use of any other model and the problems cannot be solved without this specific model calculator. Then she should be required to purchase the calculator for the students in her class.

I can think of better things to to with $99.95(plus tax) rather than purchase a calculator that I am only going to use for 11 weeks and then put up somewhere and it will collect dust.

Precious Moment

And Lewis claims that she does not look like him. Give me a break! NyCee looks just like him. But what gets me, is that she crawls in the bed next to him and cuddles up. What am I chopped liver? She didn't even approach me when I am the one who put her on the bed.