Let the festivities begin....

Tonight, was my aunt's bridal shower. Although she protested and cited that she didn't want a shower, she seemed to have had a really good time.

As she began to open her gifts, there was one that she wouldn't let us see...(I wonder what that was.)

There was a gift titled, "Roses for Rosalyn." It was beautiful silk bathrobe set...

Bath scents to accent that silk robe...

My aunt's all time favorite---cold hard cash....

And an another silk bath robe set, just to name a few items.

My aunt Roz has been apart of every special occasion in every one's life in my family. I am so happy that it is finally her turn to be the bride and enjoy the spotlight. It is well deserved.

Countdown to the wedding..just a little over 48 hours.

Pregnancy Misery

Being sick--icky.

Being sick and pregnant--yucky.

Being sick, pregnant, & caring for an active toddler--miserable.

Being sick, pregnant, caring for an active toddler, and in graduate school---I don't even have a word to describe how I feel.

Just worn out.

Pregnancy Perks

Hot apple pie.
Swedish fish.
Cold pizza.

At bed time.

Zero guilt.

The baby was hungry.

Strike a pose

I forgot that I had this picture in the camera when I posted the blog showing off her Halloween costume.

How sassy is she with her hand on her hip or should I say imaginary hip?

Proof

I guess it's true what is said about every pregnancy being different. When I was pregnant with NyCee, I found out because I went to the doctor about a week before my monthly cycle should have commenced but immediately my body began changing. I had to wear maternity clothes at 7 weeks! (I was a lot smaller then.)

Everyone keeps asking how could I have not known that I was prego with this baby because my monthly cycle would have stopped. Well, not in this case. I was on a birth control pill which caused the cycle to be extremely light. Mine was lighter than normal anyway so the pill made it almost non-existent. My breast were not tender neither did my belly poked out of from under my clothes. In fact, until about a week ago, I was still wearing regular clothes.

Well, there is no more denying it. Whether I feel my body changing or not, a little Thompson is growing inside there. And here is the proof:



I guess I can no longer be in denial citing that the original doctor lied to me because I don't "feel" prego. Well, whether I "feel" prego or not--I am in fact prego. According to the ultrasound taken on Tuesday, I am now 16 weeks and 5 days prego. (Isn't it amazing how technology has evolved? I wonder how they can figure out the exact date. I will have to ask my cousin Max who is an OB/GYN. Hopefully, he can explain it to me in layman's terms and not medical terminology.)

Everyone keeps asking about the sex. Well, I can't find out until about 25 weeks into the pregnancy. But the images that I received of the baby are very clear. (NyCee's pictures are smaller and you can not see any details.) The machine used at the hospital gave excellent, very clear images. I saw the face, the toes, fingers, nose, etc.

Ready or not, my little Thompson is arriving in April--some time around the 15th. I told the doctor that I am free to have the baby any day except for a Thursday because I have to watch Grey's Anatomy and ER. I hope my little one is listening!

"I taught I taw a NyCee tat."

This was the first year that NyCee had a costume for Halloween. Her Ti-Ti Boonie bought it for her and isn't she just adorable?

She went over to see her cousins and her aunt put on the nose and whiskers.

Yet, trying to get a full body picture was impossible as she would not cooperate. So I just said forget it and stopped trying.

She has a ridiculous amount of candy that I will never allow her to eat. The learning center had a party for the kids this afternoon and she was so hyper so did not go to sleep until 11:30p.m. So if she thinks she is getting anymore candy for the rest of her toddler years, she has another thought coming.

Abonimable Snow NyCee

In preparation for dropping NyCee off at the learning center this morning, I decided that she needed to don her winter gear as it was extremely cold. It was only 30 degrees around 730a.

The first time that she wore the coat was to church on Sunday morning. She was having a hard time walking so I began to wonder if she was too top heavy. This coat was so adorably cute so I could not resist buying it for her. But I think once I add the snow pants and boots, she will look like the abominable snow baby.

How darn cute is she, huh?

Yumm-a-licious

"Wow that waffle was good! Now if I could just lick all the syrup off of my plate, I will be nice and full."

Early Riser

At 630am, I felt NyCee attempting to crawl out of the bed. She did not go back to sleep. Normally, she gets up around 700 or 730am. This really wouldn't have been that bad but I didn't go to bed until 2:00a. I hope that her patterns are not changing especially with the new baby coming in a few months. Both of them are required to sleep through the night as I will not have it any other way.

Additionally, I am so far behind on my school work this week that I need every minute of quiet time to complete my assignments.

Trickery

The deal was that if I had another baby, Tarisa would stop smoking.

I am still pregnant and Tarisa is still smoking.

If Tarisa refuses to stop smoking, I refuse to keep being pregnant.

(Of course, there is no way for me to stop being pregnant save childbirth, but I will figure out something to get her to quit smoking.)

Things that go "thud" in the afternoon

Who's cute as a button, has an infectious laugh, a wide toothy grin, and goes "thud" while napping?

You guessed it. While taking a nap, NyCee fell out of the bed. The bed is equipped with a side guard rail but she rolled in the opposite direction and well, you know the rest.

Say "Cheese"

I don't know if it is a look of confusion or pain but either way, it didn't quite work out as I had planned.

Veggie Monster

I love the fact that NyCee loves vegetables. It makes me feel less guilty for giving her a waffle with syrup for lunch when she refused to eat her pb & j sandwich.

While Mommy Wasn't looking....

"While mommy was busy changing the bed linens, vaccuming, and cleaning and stuff, I put on her shoes and decided to walk around the house in them."

"I am so smart that I even put them on the right feet without any help. I wonder how long I can play in mommy's shoes before she notices."
My child is definitely smarter than the average 18 month old. Now, I just need to teach her how to help me clean the house and we will be quite a pair.

Homecoming Dance

My oldest nephew Cian, also known as Ce-Cee, went to his first homecoming dance on Saturday night. He is a freshman in high school this year and is already enjoying himself. He plays on the football and basketball teams and attends every social event. (As if you expected anything less given who his mother is--smile). I thought it would be cute to show a picture of him when he was a little boy and how much he has matured. Here he is at age 6 (1999).


His school required that the participants attending the homecoming dance to wear formal attire and I am so glad they did. Isn't he so handsome?



Here he is with my uncle Chucky's two oldest children:Courtney and Tahj. They attend the same high school.

This is his mother, my sister, Boonie. She was working today as you can imagine all the little girls wanting to get dolled up for the occasion.

It is so hard to believe that 15 years have passed as Ce-Cee will be 15 years old in December. Man, I feel old!

Lesson Learned?...Obviously not!

"Who are you texting? I-d-k. My b-f-f." (I don't know my best friend forever).

But the bigger question is why I would let her play with the phone again after the last fiasco.

The Positive Picture

So today, I am over my shock. No really, I am. My friend called after she read the blog and asked if I were having flashbacks of when I found out about Tater Bean. Literally, I was. But I have wrapped my mind around the reality that despite the fact that my husband and I are not ready for another child and I carefully took my baby proof medication faithfully, a new little Thompson will arrive. When? I don't know yet. I have to go to the doctor. But there are many positives to this story:

1. My sister Tarisa has agreed to stop smoking. We made a bet several months ago that if I had another baby, she would stop smoking. The glitch was that I didn't make her agree to indefinitely stop. I am going to have to add that clause so that she doesn't pick the habit back up after the baby is born.

2. My children will only be 2 years apart. I have had many people tell me that it is best to have them back to back and get it done. So, I obviously have taken that advice.

3. This is actually on track with my plans. The bible says that we are made in the imagine of God and that He spoke the world into existence. I told my husband that I should have another baby when I start graduate school. That way I will spend 9 (really 10) months pregnant and have three months to spend with the child before working. Well, I am going to have what I said.

4. My sister made me a big pot of celebratory string beans. My family knows about the infamous Melvin Porties string beans. My grandfather makes the best string beans in the world. Tarisa has been trying to learn the recipe. She is oh so close. They were delicious. And it was a big pot too. Yummy!

So what is the bottom line? Jesus said, "Have faith in God." Mark 11:22.

Shock, SHock, and more SHOCK!

So this morning, I finally went to the doctor for the pain that had been shooting through my back and my abdomen. It was not a constant pain so I could ignore it. Well today, I went to the doctor for an exam. I went in for the exam and the doctor felt my abdomen and told me that she was going to do an ultrasound. I was fully expecting for this woman to tell me that I had a hole in my stomach from the Frank's hot sauce I pour on everything, or from the salt on the Better Made potato chips that I consume on a regular basis, or that the sky was all purple and there were people running everywhere. I did not expect the news that I received.

I walked into her office and heard, "Are you aware that you are 14 weeks along?" I responded, "14 weeks of what?" Does this conversation sound familiar? Yes, this is a near recap of my conversation with Dr. Reynolds when I found out that I was pregnant with NyCee.

I drove home in a daze. In fact, I am still in a daze. The reality is that I AM NOT IN A POSITION TO HAVE ANOTHER CHILD! Okay, that is a fact. Yet, my sisters and mother have found this to be exciting news. Even my niece called to ask if the news were true. Tarisa is so excited. I am still in shock.

Shock, I tell you. Shock. I did not plan to have anymore children. NyCee is the highlight of my life and I was content with just her. So, once I grasp the reality of the situation, I will be able to move forward. Right now, I am still in shock. Did I mention that now is not a good time in my life to have another child? Okay, so I am guessing this is the part where faith has to kick in. I know that God is Omniscient so He was fully aware of the news I was going to receive today. I just wish He would have sent an angel to knock on the door and tell me the news that I was going to receive today.

With NyCee, I was on the birth control patch. With this baby, I was on the pill. I am really tired of being the 1% of the statistic that conceives while using the products. By the way, I AM IN UTTER SHOCK!

New Routine?

Put 18 month old daughter in the bed at 8:00 p.m.------ check

Take a hot shower to calm down and de-stress (okay, how stressful is it watching The Backyardigans and Play house Disney all day?)----- check

Go to sleep at 9:45p and set the alarm to wake up at 3:00a to a quiet house to complete coursework that you have put off all week------ check

Wake up to a house that is lit up like Fort Knox because both your parents are up at that hour, one letting the tv in the living room watch him, the other on the computer------ no check (definiately NOT a part of the plan)

Sitting here writing a blog entry and fighting the urge to go and crawl back in the bed instead of completing the mission at hand----- check, check and check.

Am I going to be able to get through 11 weeks of graduate school with three classes if I continue this pace?

What's in a name?

Several people have asked me where the nickname "NyCee" came from. Well, Taylor LaNyse (I changed the "i" to a "y" for the "y" in Dayna) is named after her Aunt Talisha.

Talisha LaNise was born to the union of Fred and Sylvia on October 5, 1979. Talisha suffered from Leukemia and lost her battle at age 5. Approximately 6 years ago, my sisters and I decided to have an age progression photo of Talisha painted for my parents. My mother always talked about how she would have it done the year that Talisha would have turned 21. This was a very hard process as most of the time the process is completed for missing and exploited children. After much research, we found an artist who was willing to take on the project.

It was over a year before the project was complete but when you look at the portrait you can tell that she (the artist) put a lot of love, time and attention into it. We nearly got caught trying to have the portrait done because my sister Tarisa was charged with the task of gathering the photos to send to the artist. My mother went over her house one day and saw the photo albums and flipped out. Tarisa had to make up some lie really fast so that my mother wouldn't kill her. You can only imagine how precious her photos of Talisha are. They are irreplaceable.

Finally, the portrait arrived and my sisters presented it to my parents on Mother's Day May 2002. We really were just so excited to present the portrait that we didn't want to wait until their wedding anniversary in July. My parents were told that although it was being presented on Mother's Day, it was for both of them. I was not present for the unveiling but my mother called me later that night in tears. Of course, I was startled thinking that something was wrong. In a barely audible voice she said, "You all will never know how much that meant to me. That you would love me that much to have that portrait done is something I will always cherish. No matter what gifts you give me in years to come, it will never compare to this one." She repeated that she loved us several times.

Talisha's memory lives on through my niece Taliyah as that is where her name derived from and of course through NyCee. Had Talisha remained in her earthly body, she would have been 28 years old today. "We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord." 2 Cor 5:8

NyCee Lou Who

Recall if you will the story of, "How the Grinch stole Christmas", the Dr. Seuss classic. Remember Cindy Lou Who? Doesn't NyCee remind you of her in this picture?

So cute..who would think?

With this cute, little, adorable face, who would think that such awful sounds and smells could come out of the matching body? Lately, NyCee has had flatulence. My gosh, it is so loud and strong it is coming through the diaper. I don't know what is giving her that kind of gas. What's even more disconcerting is that she doesn't even know what she subjects me to each night! Honestly, it is like sleeping next to an old man full of cheese whiz.

But what really threw me for a loop was this morning. She woke up and tapped me on the shoulder I guess to let me know that she was awake. Then she yawned right in my face. That was horrible. My little girl had morning breath. I could not believe that it was that bad. She is too little for breath like that.

I have been brushing her gums since she was about 5 months old but it was not because I had to. I did it because one of my pet peeves is bad breath and poor oral hygiene. I felt bad for her this morning because I almost gagged her trying to brush her teeth and tongue to ensure that she had fresh breath. What happened to that soft infant milk breath?

The Royal Treatment

NyCee has been feeling a little "blah" today so I let her have lunch in bed. She was really good and did not make a mess. I was proud of her.

The only reason I let her eat in the bed is because on Mondays I clean the house, do laundry and change the linens. But honestly, if it meant that she would stop whining, which she did momentarily to let me load the washer and dryer, I would do it again in a heart beat.

6 days later.....

Yesterday, my mother's old cell phone that I had been using just died while I was in the middle of a conversation. I took the phone to the verizon store to see if the technician could revive it. I was told sympathetically, "The phone was dead because the battery was warped." I called my mom and explained what happened. She replied, "I am going to find that phone when I get home." I just said, "Okay." But secretly thinking that she is not going to find it because Tarisa and I looked for it every where we could think of.

This morning prior to leaving for work, my mother began looking for the phone. 10 minutes later she exclaimed, "I found it." "Where?" I asked. And she pointed behind the baby's booster seat.


I did think to look under the seat but not behind it. The reason that I could not hear it vibrating was because NyCee turned the sound off. I really did not want to buy a new phone. It was not so much the phone as all my contact information in the phone. Well, another episode of "NyCee's Antics" has a happy ending.

Play Pals

Watching NyCee and Mocha has become a source of my daily entertainment. There are times when they play with a ball together,


watch tv together,

enjoy a game of tug-o-war together,

chase each other around the table and the house,

play a made up game that only those two understand,

or get on each other's nerves to the point where NyCee pushes Mocha away.

Poor Mocha, she doesn't even realize that she is being momentarily rejected.

Bedtime Challenge

Okay, so my daughter is no longer on the bottle. WAHOO!! YIPEE!!

WHATEVER! Because now, she is not going to sleep until 9:00 or 9:30p.m. What is up with that? (Her Tesa's answer is that she is not sleepy so I should just let her stay up. I think NOT!)

The routine has not changed. She gets a bath at 7:30, we read our bedtime bible story, she has a cup of milk, and then she should go to sleep. YEA, NO! She whines and whimpers, and tosses and turns, and laughs and get out the bed several times.

At this point, I am just ready to give her a bottle of water if it means she will be sleep by 8:30p.m. She is cutting into my "Happy Silence" time.

Yep, still lost

Day three--No cell phone.

Still battling a cold.

This is why I don't get sick. I can't stand the snotting, coughing, sneezing, and over all icky feeling. Besides the fact, I am still baffled with the fact that I can't find my cell phone. If I weren't sick, I wouldn't have fallen asleep and would have been watching my daughter. Thus, my phone would not be lost. Understand my logic about not getting sick?

I did not purchase a new phone because I am still holding out hope that I will find my phone. Instead, I opted to use my mother's OLD phone. I can't text or even press 1 button to get my messages.

I am really more pressed to have my phone because I have been sending out resumes so that I can return to work before the end of the year. I can call the phone to check the messages but I am comforted with knowing that I have a phone to use rather than no phone at all.

Lesson of hardknocks number 11, 983: Never let your toddler play with anything of value. Especially a toddler that can't talk!

Lost

Yesterday I was feeling a bit under the weather. You know the cold-like symptoms of stuffy, achy head, runny nose and nasal congestion. (Isn't that an oxymoron?) Anyway, I was just feeling really bad. In an effort to keep my little tater bean quiet, I let her play with my phone. I have learned to lock the keys as she has called my husband and my mother a couple of times. Anyway, because she was quietly watching "The Backyardigans" I dozed off. When I woke up, she was on the floor reading a book to Mocha.

A couple of hours later, I realized that I hadn't seen my phone. In a foggy haze, I have searched every low place that I could think of. Under and in the couch, under the tables, the stove, and refrigerator, in her toy bin, under the bed, in the trash, etc. Of course, I called the phone several times but the problem is that the phone is on vibrate and low because I can not stand to hear some one's phone blaring in public places. When the baby went to bed, I called it in an effort to hear it vibrating some where. I have no idea where it is! I asked NyCee and Mocha both if they knew where it was but they just stared at me.

"Smooches to all my adorning fans."

The weather in Michigan has been unseasonable warm. So I decided to take advantage of it. NyCee and I went to the beach which is about a 15 minute walk from my parents house. Initially, I wanted her to run through the sand and put her feet in the water as she has never been to the beach. (She generally goes to the pool when we are in ATL.) But she put one foot in the sand and clung on to me for dear life. No matter what I tried, she would not get down and put her other foot in the sand. Needless to say, we did not make it any where near the water.

We then resorted to plan b which was playing on the jungle jim and basically letting her run around to burn off any energy that may try to rear its ugly head at bedtime. She ended up loving the swing. She smiled and laughed as the wind blew across her face every time she went forward and backward. Of course, it was a challenge getting her off the swing when it was time to go home.

More and More Independent

In an effort to combat my desire to give NyCee a bottle to stop her whining at night, I have hidden the bottles in the garage. Instead, I have decided to put into practice an idea from my Grandma Martha. She suggested that I give NyCee a cup because it will make her feel like a "big girl."

So tonight, after bathtime I gave her a cup of warm milk while we read a bible story. After the story, I turned off the light and she whined and whimpered for a few moments, gave several good nights kisses and smiles, then she gave in and went to sleep.



I have realized that my reluctance to let go of NyCee's bottle was for me. It seems that she is growing up so fast that I want to slow down the process. I was the same when it was time for her to stop nursing. The more independent she grows, the less she will need me. I just want her to remain that little girl in her exersaucer forever. I guess that is only in my memory now.

Breakfast at Grandma's House

My mother is a candy-a-holic. She could eat candy all day-every day. Normally, NyCee is not given candy. My mother knows this. Before NyCee was a thought, I told my mother that my children will not eat candy. Well all that has changed since being at grandma's house. NyCee has had more sugar in the past month than she has had her entire life.

This morning I walked into the kitchen and saw my mother giving NyCee a piece of candy. It was 9:45am. Granted, she had breakfast around 8:30a.m. but honestly! And I asked, "Ma, why are you giving her candy at 9:45a?" "Because she wanted it," she innocently replied. Well I guess it's okay as long as NyCee wanted it. WRONG! My mother's rebuttal, "The candy hasn't hurt her and it's okay to have candy at grandma's house because that's what grandma's are for."

Where do I go from here?

I have spent most of the day pondering over the decision of, "Where do I go from here?" Everyone keeps asking me if I am going to return to flying. There is a part of me that misses that life so much but I know that it would be too hard on the baby for me to be gone for 4-6 days at at time. Additionally, I am at the point where I want my career to go in another direction. I dream of the corner office with the picture window over looking the lake and my name etched on the door: Dayna Carlisle Thompson, Director of....

Of what? I have been in the airline industry for nearly 10 years. I love it. I miss it and I want to go back to it. But the problem is that airlines have strategic locations for their headquarters and in order to advance the way I want, I would have to be in one of those locations. So what is the dilemma? The only airline that fits my desire to not live in the cold and snow is in Tempe, AZ. That is too far away from my family as I have to think of the baby. I could bundle her up and brave the Minnesota cold and live near my cousins who have a daughter that is only 3 months older than NyCee. But WOW! Talk about snow and cold.

Now that I have completed my undergraduate work, I feel that I should put the degree to use. And in 12 months, I will add another diploma to my list of pedigrees. I have decided that I will pursue my Ph.D if for no other reason than to keep my loans in deferment until I find a job that will allow me to start making the payments. HA! But I like the sound of Dayna Carlisle Thompson, Ph.D. (smile)

I know that the sky is the limit and I can do anything that I set my mind to. Thanks to my faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, I have always been successful in any endeavor that I have attempted. I guess I should take this two week break from school to think about the direction of my career instead of veggie out in front of the tube watching Lifetime Movie Network & Playhouse Disney.

Toliet Monster

I caught NyCee playing in the toilet water today. We had a long talk about the reason one should not play in the toilet. Afterwards, I realized the talk could have been summed up in two words: THAT'S NASTY!

That's all folks!

After spending three (3) years at a two (2) year community college and twelve (12) years at various four (4) year institutions across the country, I am proud to announce that I have completed the requirements necessary for my Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in Human Resources Management.

WOW! I have had many adventures along the way and seen wonderful sights in this country and others. While I would not trade-in my years as a flight attendant, I have recognized that it would have been much smarter to complete my formal education before chasing that dream.

I will start graduate school on October 1, 2007 and will begin looking for work soon. I know that many people are wondering where I am going to move next. I don't know yet. I have a couple of places in mind but wherever I go, I must be sure that NyCee will continue to flourish and be afforded a good education. It is no secret that I HATE LIVING IN ATLANTA and often times say that I wish I had never gone there. Lately, I have realized that I can't regret that decision because that path led to Tater Bean and friends whom it would not have met otherwise. But now that she is here, there is no need to continue to torture myself by living in a place I can't stand and am miserable. Enough of that--moving on.

I will not receive my diploma for several weeks but it was great to turn in the final assignments and see the final credit total posted.

GPA: 3.8
Honors: Dean's List and Magna Cum Laude graduate

Quiet Morning

After waffles and syrup, which I let her have for the first time and she thoroughly enjoyed, she laid on the floor and quietly watched Mickey Mouse Clubhouse.

AH! A little bit of quiet goes a long way.

I've been played

I thought that Operation: No more bottle was a failure. Actually it wasn't. In fact, NyCee doesn't need a bottle at all. She has been playing me this entire time.

She stayed with her aunt this afternoon while I attended a workshop at the university. Around 1201p I received a call from Tarisa telling me that NyCee has been playing me like a fiddle. Tarisa stated that NyCee had her lunch, a diaper change, and was told to lay down on the bed for her nap. In anticipation of a repeat of the day before, (the 1 hour scream session) Tarisa laid NyCee down a little early. Well, that was actually unnecessary. NyCee whimpered a little and then fell fast asleep.

Tarisa did not even take the bottle in the room. So basically, I have been played. That little girl is quite the slickster.

Operation: No More Bottle

Operation no more bottle: failed.

Naptime: a 1 hour scream session

I broke down and gave her a water bottle. Then I gave a bottle with a goodie--milk.

After all that drama, she still did not take a nap.

We will try again at bedtime.

Save Lids to Save Lives

Every year, Yoplait yogurt and the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation team up in an effort to raise money and awareness for breast cancer. As many of you know, my cousin Cari found out that she has breast cancer. She is scheduled to undergo a mastectomy of her left breast on Friday, September 7, 2007. Cari is 34 years old, a wife, and mother of three.

I have two friends whose mothers are breast cancer survivors and one aunt who lost her battle with the horrible disease. I know that we have our favorite brands of items but please take the time to support Yoplait in this cause. I have for years. It's simple. Just buy Yoplait yogurt with the pink lids, wash the lids and collect them until the expiration date. There is no need to mail them in every week. The lids are being collected until 12/31/2007. The foundation will contribute 10 cents for every lid received for breast cancer research.

Every contribution will make a difference. Thank you for your support.

Catch 22

When NyCee was about 12 months old, I attempted to get her off the bottle. However, her father could not stand to see her cry or listen to her whine so he incorporated it back into her daily routine.

Thankfully, I have managed to get her down to only using the bottle twice a day: at naptime and bedtime. In an effort to really get her to kick the bottle habit, I only allow water in the bottle. She is not allowed to have goodies such as strawberry milk, juice, fruit water, or any other beverage that she enjoys. She actually does very well drinking out of her cups and juice boxes. So where is the dilemma you ask? Why not just pull the bottle cold turkey? Because she is now drinking about 16-24 ounces of water a day. (She may have two bottles at nap or bed time before going to sleep.) I can't get her father to drink that much water in a week or month even. I don't want to pull the bottle and she reverts back to her "juice" which is actually flavored water because plain water is good for her. Her skin is healthy and glowing. She is full of energy and spunk. However, I don't want my child to be 2 or 3 years old still using a bottle.

Here we go again: another first time mother dilemma.

"Stop that runaway pooch!!"

Every morning around 8:30a Mocha is let out to relieve herself and get some exercise. She is on a leash until she completes her business and then she is free to run around the yard. Normally, she runs around for about 30 minutes and then sits on the step until someone opens the door for her.

Today, I noticed that she was out for an extended period of time without whining to come back in the house. I walked out to the fenced yard and noticed that she was gone. I kept calling her name and she did not respond. Now, NyCee was in the house so I am torn between finding Mocha and catering to my 17 month old who is inquisitive and busy. I am in a panic because I don't know where Mocha is and all I can think, "My father is going to kill me for losing Mocha." As soon as I came back in the house to put NyCee's shoes and begin canvassing the neighborhood, the neighbor knocked on the door with Mocha in tow. He stated that Mocha was in the front playing close to the house but she was going toward the street so he thought he should bring her back.

Now, I was trying to figure out how Mocha got out of the yard. Apparently, she has been sliding under the fence door and playing in the front of the house. Then, she slides back under the door and waits to be let in the house at the back door where she was let out. That Mocha is a sneaky little dog!

Summertime Scar

Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later. I was hoping for much, much later but nonetheless, here it is.....

NyCee's first summertime wound. While playing outside, she was running after her toy and tripped on a crack in the ground. She fell on her face and scratched the area above her eye. It is very obvious as everyone who sees her asks, "What happened?" I attempted to explain how she fell but I still get the "look" as if I had something to do with her fall.

I was sitting on the porch reading and she was clearly in my view. The next thing I knew, I heard the screams and shrieks of pain. Her granny came running out of the garage asking what happened. Everyday, her granny picks up her and kisses her boo-boo.

I know that I am being silly and over dramatic about the scar but I didn't think that her first scar would be so obvious. Why couldn't it be on the knee like most wounds which are easy to hide?

Afternoon Stroll

NyCee, Mocha Oprah, and Taliyah decided they would take an afternoon stroll.

Well, Mocha is a lazy little princess who does NOT like to be outside and NyCee can only go to the end of the driveway.

So when they reached their destination (the end of the driveway), they stopped and rested as if they had really exerted a lot of energy.

Nana Ida

Prior to leaving GA for our semi-annual trip to MI, NyCee's maternal grandmother Ida came to visit for a few days. I don't know who was more wore out at the end of the visit, Nana Ida for trying to keep up with a then 16 month old or NyCee trying to keep Nana Ida busy.

NyCee is such a blessed little girl to have a very large extended family. There is Nana Ida (my mother), Granny (my mother), Grandma Quincy (Lewis' mother), G-G (her great grandmother Grace), Gma Twona (her great grandmother who lives in Carbondale, IL), Grand dad OB and Grandma Martha (her great grandparents who live in Wetumpka, AL) and a clan of other family members too numerous to count.

WOW! What a blessed little girl to be surrounded by so many people who love and care for her.

Either..... or!

Either my parents have extremely low door knobs on their doors,



or NyCee is taller than the average 17 month old. She is barely on the tips of her toes to open the door.

The Happy Couple

(Sorry for the blurry photo. I will post a better one later.)

After 22 years of courtship, my Aunt Roz and her beau Leslie Robinson decided to make it official. They are engaged. Yes, you read correctly. A 22 year courtship. Aunt Roz was all a glow when we met at her daughter's house for a dinner celebration. (My family celebrates all events with food!)

Although, I specifically told my aunt to call me after she called her son and daughter-in-law in Minnesota--she failed to do so. As a result, Cari beat me in publishing the information on the blog. However, I have a picture of the ring. It is GORGEOUS! Everyone became teary eyed when Aunt Roz recapped how Leslie proposed.



Aunt Roz has made it perfectly clear that she will not have LONG engagement. After all, it has been 22 years. CONGRATULATIONS TO THE HAPPY COUPLE!

Face off

Ever since NyCee and Mocha has become comfortable with one another, they have staring matches.

Looks like Mocha lost this round.

Tickling the Ivory

Since arriving home, NyCee has grown found of the music that she hears. Everyday, her grandfather practices the organ and as soon as she hears him playing, she runs right in there and sits on his lap.

Today, I was able to snag a photo of them. But true to form, when my father saw the flash, he turned around and smiled for the camera.

NyCee has been dancing with Mocha, playing piano with grandpa, and singing with grandma. I wonder which talent will win. Perhaps, she will utilize all three and be the winner of America's Got Talent.

New Addition

I would like to introduce the newest addition to the Williamson Family:


Mocha Oprah is a pomerian mix. She was living with Tarisa and her roommate in San Diego. Mocha is quite the little princess as she will not go outside if the ground is wet. I don't know what she is going to do when it snows. I told my dad to buy her a little doggie snow suit with a pair of mittens so that she will be warm in the winter time.

Mocha is a California dog. I don't know what she is going to do in the winter. She is going to get the shock of her life.