Spider Slayer

Have no fear, Sprout is here!

My Hero!

Spooky Spiders

We found this in the back yard today:

We think it is a Banana Spider, a very large common spider in North America that usually hangs in webs with its head facing the ground. A brightly colored spider whose venom is a neurotoxin similar to that of the black widow. However, its venom is not near as potent. Its bite causes local pain and redness with blisters forming.

Any spider experts out there in the blogosphere?

Should we be afraid of this kind of spider?

What about this one?

Aspen says, "be afraid, be very afraid!"

Wordless Wednesday-Old Soul

Autum Swap

Get your mind out of the gutter...

It's an Autum Goody Swap and you still have time to particpate. Mozey on over to Are We There Yet? for details!

Questions:
What do you like best about Fall?
Cool Breezes, Autum Hues, Halloween...
Do you have any family traditions for this time of year?
Going to a local pumpkin patch to pick out pumpkins and taking pictures of the kids tucked amongst all of the pumpkins.
What’s your favorite Halloween chocolate?
Toss up between Kit Kats and Reese’s Peanut Butter cups.
Is there any Halloween treat you do not like?
"I don't like Candy Corn" (or those nasty pumpkins). Can you tell we watch a little Noggin around here?
What has been the best Halloween costume you’ve ever dressed up in?
Queen of Hearts.

Just Keep Walking, Just Keep Walking

I have joined my sister-in-law in The Challenge to walk 100 miles by the end of the year. Care to join me on this challenge? I have been walking 3 miles on the days that I don't have Jazzercise and attempting a 5 mile trek on the weekends. So far I am up to 14 miles- only 86 to go!! This is where I think of Dory whispering in my ear- "just keep walking, just keep walking!" Actually, I turn to one of my favorite quotes by Ralph Waldo Emerson for inspiration: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us." I use this time to reflect on my journey and what lies within. What is your inspiration?

Johnny Appleseed

How many American pioneers are remembered for wearing tin pots on their heads, traveling barefoot, and scattering seeds? Only one springs to my mind—Johnny Appleseed. Here is Austin's tribute to the tin pot-wearing, seed scattering pioneer...

My Little Whistle Blower

Ashlyn found this whistle in the toy box the other morning and began blowing to her heart's content. Unfortunately for me, this was before my morning cup of Joe. Clearly, she did not follow the number one survival strategy regarding blowing the whistle: before taking any irreversible steps, talk to your family or close friends about your decision to blow the whistle.

Apparently, she knows something that I don't! Maybe she is part of The Whistleblower Protection Program!

I Won, I Won!!

See for yourself:
http://www.happypandababy.com/blog/cyber-baby-shower
Scroll down to #30 and you will see...

Skimbaco - is giving away one blue Gigi Blankie. Visit their blog spot here.
Winner: Lisa (Sweet Home Alabama).

Yippee!! Thanks Skimbaco, Happy Panda and 5 Minutes for Mom!

Calgon, Take Me Away!

Yesterday was just one of those days- well last night was anyway. YesterDAY was great! Ashlyn and I went to a playgroup and had a really good time. I have to be honest, I was a little nervous as Ashlyn has a strong personality and isn't afraid to show it in public. She also has the most bizarre cry you have ever heard!!! And when she cries, or screeches, people in Timbuktu hear her! It is a high-pitched guttural roar, which have left friends saying she sounds like a Tiger! I always sit and wait for the vomit to fly out of her mouth and her head to start spinning- yes, it is that bad! I have never heard such a cry in my life and it can be very disturbing at times. If you don’t know her personality, you would think something is wrong with her, which is why the Ferber method of getting her to sleep through the night was out of the question, especially since we live in a duplex! We recently had a friend visiting from Minnesota and it was her first time meeting Ashlyn. Around the second night she was here, Ashlyn didn’t want to go to sleep and started roaring when I put her to bed. My friend, who was a nurse by the way, jumped off the couch get her out of her crib, certain that there was something seriously wrong with her. My husband and I laughed and told her she was fine but I know she didn’t believe us- until she had been here a few more days and saw Ashlyn’s personality, in all it’s glory, first hand. Sorry, I got a little sidetracked there. So, anyway, the playgroup went really well and Ashlyn managed to refrain from roaring until it was time to leave. After her very short nap we went to the park and we had a blast. She was so excited, she was squealing with delight. But when it was time to come home to get ready for dinner, the roaring began and I think the entire neighborhood came out to see what the commotion was about. Leaving the park put her in quite a mood, which made the rest of the evening a little difficult. Here is where the fun really begins.

Birch, my bunny, had a sick tummy and pooped all over his cage and himself- it was NASTY! But in his defense, it was my fault because I ran out of rabbit food and when I went to the pet store they were out of the kind that we normally get so I had to get a different brand. Well, rabbits have very sensitive digestive systems and don’t deal well with sudden changes in their diet-NO KIDDING! Have you ever tried to bathe a bunny? I don’t suggest it!!!! I knew Birch was not keen on being dunked in water so I wrapped him in a towel, turned him upside down, which is supposed to relax them, and began to give him a sponge bath. EEEWWW!!! While I am doing this Ashlyn manages to find an open juice box and proceeds to spray it across the kitchen like a fire extinguisher, squealing in delight all the while. I take the juice box away from her (with an upside down rabbit in the other arm mind you). This of course leads to more roaring from my sweet little girl and a very non-relaxed rabbit squirming in my arms. At this point the phone rings twice and the door bell rings!!! So, I put Birch back in his somewhat clean cage, put Ashlyn in the living room and begin clearing the bar stools and whatnot out of the kitchen so I can mop up the juice before it becomes permanently stuck to my kitchen floor. I manage to finish mopping with only minor roaring from the tiger but then Ashlyn manages to climb through my barricade and makes her way to the kitchen floor. One step into the kitchen and she looks like Bambi on ice, which leads to major roaring!! I pick her up and try to climb back over the barricade with her in my arms but manage to catch my water-ski sized foot on one of the barstools, bending my big toe completely backwards, and trip. I attempt to catch my fall by running into the wall but ultimately catch the lamp instead and land on the floor. I am a majot klutz!!!! I somehow managed to hold on to Ashlyn the entire time-thank goodness. After a few choice words I pick up my swollen toe (and pride) and decide I better just sit in the recliner until bedtime!! I wish I could say this was the end of it but bedtime was a nightmare! Calgon take me away!

I SO Entered This Contest!

It's a Cyber Baby Shower

Relax, it's not for me!!! It's for Janice and Susan at 5 Minutes for Mom (click to read about their incredible story)! Pamela, from Happy Panda is hosting a fantastic month-long cyber-shower in their honor and asking readers to share pictures and stories to win some cool prizes. Here are my faves (just in case I win): #10 Graced Designs, #15, Ju Ju Beane Boutique, and # 32 TBO Designs. Check it out!

Let's see, I couldn't find a G-rated sympathy-inspiring delivery photo and I'll spare you the details from my delivery story and shoot for the best (perhaps biggest) baby bump photo.

Here it is...my favorite Baby Bump photo. I was 9 months pregnant with Ashlyn and looking pretty cool hanging out with my little man, right? Well, I wasn't so cool when I was trying to climb into the boat with the giant buddha belly and tripped, ultimately rolling into the boat!!!! I know, I was crazy to go boating when I was 9 months pregnant but I went skydiving when I was pregnant with Austin (but didn't know it yet) so I had to have a good story to share with Ashlyn. And I would be lying if I said I wasn't halfway hoping that the water would be especially rough this day and bring on the contractions. I was almost 2 weeks late with Austin and was not thrilled about the idea of going over my due date again, especially since the basketball was already sitting on my lap!

And I just had to share a couple of my favorite photos from the day we brought Ashlyn home. These pictures still melt my heart and will always bring tears to my eyes.

Thanks for indulging in my trip down memory lane- it was a beautiful trip!

Dancing Queen in a Diaper

"You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life
See that girl, watch that scene, dig in the dancing queen."

~Ashlyn shakin' it to the Hokey Pokey