Husband has the kids

My husband has the kids and he is out. So I am going to relax for a bit. YAYYYY! I do kind of miss them though and they have only been gone an hour.

Billy Mays passed away

I heard about this sad and unexpected news as soon as I got back to Florida from North Carolina. I loved his commercials, he was such a convincing salesman. I also loved his show, "Pitchmen." There are a lot of people that won't get the promotion that only Billy Mays could provide.

My heart goes out to his family and friends. I will keep them in my prayers.

More North Carolina to Florida pictures

Danielle!

Entering South Carolina

Danielle on the road...

South of the border in North South Carolina

Pictures to and from NC

Wood cabin

Walking with Danielle

At the entrance to a nature trail

Back from North Carolina

My husband, his family, and my mom all went to North Carolina for a few days to go to a wedding. Everything went perfect. My husband was the best man, along with his little brother.

We just got back and I have tons of pictures to upload later today.

Very sad day today. Michael Jackson and Farrah Faucet died

I was a big fan of Michael Jackson and of the Charlies Angel's star, Farrah Faucet. This was completely unexpected to me and I am sure it was to the family also. My heart goes out to the family, friends and fans of both stars.

I know what it is like to loss some one. I am still recovering from the loss of my mom. So, I know what the families are going through... and its very hard.

I haven't found a web site that tells the cause of death for Michael Jackson yet, but I hope it wasn't anything self inflicted, because that makes the pain worse for the family.

Hailey got her ears pierced

Hailey got her ears pierced at her doctors appointment today. She cried at first, but not she is ok. Here is a picture:

Finally. The internet is back

It was a very stormy day yesterday, so I spent most of it inside playing with my kids. I am going out of town the day after tomorrow and I have to get the kids things prepared for the long drive ahead of us.

My internet has been on and off

My internet has been on and off all day thanks to the rain. Of course my power was off too. The kids didn't seem to mind.

BIG NEWS------

At four months old, Hailey finally ate baby food!! yayyy.

I will upload pictures as soon as I get a more stable connection.

Its pouring down

I woke up to rain, thunder and lightning this morning. I hope that it doesn't rain all day. I wanted to go to the pool or the beach with the kids today.

My kids will sleep through anything. This thunder is soooo loud and they aren't even flinching. I guess thats a good thing for right now. I have my fingers crossed that I don't lose power.

Normally when it storms, the power here will flicker on and off. It hasn't started yet, but I am sure it will soon.

The day is over

Finally, this long day ends. I get to go to sleep and dream about hitting the lottery again.

Some lucky guy won 232 million dollars not to long ago on the power ball. He was only 23 years old... wow. I can't even imagine what I would do with all that money. I will give it a try anyway:

1. I would pay off all of my bills

2. I would buy a house and a car

3. I would give my family some money

4. I would donate some to charity

5. Danielle and Hailey would be spoiled rotten

6. I think I would hire a nanny

7. I would get a dog

8. I would make a memorial for my mom who passed away December 21, 2008 (this would be further up on the list)

9. I would retire!

10. I would start an indoor childrens park/playground

11. I would start a childrens clothing line

12. I would enjoy the rest of my life in luxury

Maybe some day (I doubt it though).

My youngest daughter right before bed:

Jon and Kate separated?

I guess its true, or at least true in TV Land. I am not sure if its really real or not, but it is real as far as we are concerned.

What is going to happen to the show now? I am not a BIG fan, but I watch it when nothing else is on. It comes on at about midnight here, so its the perfect time.

Poor kids. I am sure it is hard to have to deal with all the media attention at such a young age. I just hope the Jon and Kate thing that the fame and money was worth ruining their marriage and destroying their family.

I don't feel sorry for Jon or Kate, only the children.

I am exhausted...

I am exhausted. If I was a car I would be running on gas fumes right now. Its a good thing the kids are asleep right now because playing with them drained me.

I wanted to drink coffee, but I used all the creamer and the kids are sleeping so I can't go get any.

Next year at this time Danielle and Hailey will be able to play with each other more often and I will get a well deserved break. Don't get me wrong, I love playing with them. I just can't keep up with their little kid energy. They just keep going and going.

Well a friend of mine told me that Jon and Kate were announcing that they are getting a divorce today. I am going to watch it and see if its true... I doubt it though. They are a big money maker for their network and I'm sure their network would call in all marriage counselors they could before they gave up like this.

We will See...

Speaking of traveling with kids...

Now that I mentioned traveling with kids I may as well post a copy of an article I wrote on installing car seats properly. Here is the article copy below:

The main reason car seats are so hard to install is the wide variety of cars and car seats. There are so many choices that even if you know how to install the safety seat in one car, you may install it wrong in another.

Follow these guidelines and you will get the installation right every time:

• Make sure you buy the right car seat for your child. For example, each safety seat should have a user's manual and a guide that tells the parent the maximum weight for the car seat. Use this guide to choose the right seat.

• Find a convenient spot in the rear of your car to install the seat. The middle rear seat is usually the safest, but some cars do not have latches in the middle. Never install a car seat in the front seats.

Installing the rear facing infant seat (latch install):

1. Take the clips from the car seat's base and clip them to the anchors buried between the back and seat cushion.
2. Pull the straps tight and make sure the seat is level. Some child seats come with a meter on the side to tell you whether it is level or not.
3. You're done!

Installing the rear facing infant seat (seat belt install)

1. Guide the shoulder belt through the proper slots on the safety seat.
2. Buckle the seat belt on the other end and make sure that the car seat is at an approximate 45-degree angle.
3. You're done!

Install the forward facing toddler seat (Latch install):

1. As with the infant seat, take the clips and latch them to the anchors in between the back cushion and the seat cushion.
2. Take the tether from the top of the seat and clip it to the anchor near the back window. Not all cars will have this anchor.
3. You're done!

Installing the forward facing toddler seat (seat belt install):

1. Slide the seat belt through the seat belt path.
2. Buckle the seat belt on the other end.
3. You're done!

Be sure to check that the seat is secure after installation.

Although the steps may sound simple, many people still install them incorrectly. Follow these steps and you can be a little less worried while driving.

it is published here: How to install a carseat

Going out of town

I am going out of town soon. My brother is getting married. I have to drive, with the two kids, from South Florida to North Carolina.

The total trip is about 800 miles, which isn't that bad. I am just glad I got my car back so my daughter has something to do on the drive. We got a TV/DVD player installed in the back specifically for traveling. It works like a charm, although I don't like her watching so much TV. I don't think its good for her.

Every once in a while on long trips, I will sit in the back and read a book to her to keep her busy. For some reason though while I am reading to her, she tries to cover my mouth and laughs about it the whole time.

We are leaving in 3 days. My husband picks up his tuxedo tomorrow and as it comes closer to to day we are leaving... I will need to make arrangements for Danielles pet rabbit.

Tips for making your baby sleep through the night

If you are having trouble getting your baby to sleep through the night or at least through most of the night then try these steps:

1. If your baby is breastfed, then get him or her formula for the last bottle before you go to bed.

2. If your baby is old enough, add cereal to the bottle. 4 months is the age my doctor suggested.

3. Keep your baby up as long as possible before the bed time. I usually keep my 4 month old up about 2 1/2 to 3 hours right before bed time.

4. Make sure the temperature in the room is comfortable for the baby. Not too cold, not too warm. If you can not control the temperature, dress the baby accordingly.

5. Use an air purifier to provide a soft constant noise. It will drown out any noises that you may make that will scare the baby and awaken him or her.

6. Use a night light. It helped my daughters. I guess they get scared if they wake up and its completely dark. If they can at least see their surroundings, it makes them feel more comfortable about going back to sleep with out waking all the way up.

If you know any more, please add them in the comments.

Thanks

Father's day is going great

I gave my husband and father their gifts.... They loved them.

My husband got a norelco electic shaver, cologne, shirts, pants and various cards from me and the kids.

My Dad got various cards from me and the kids, and gift cards to get hunting supplies.

Next is christmas!

HAPPY FATHERS DAY

HAPPY FATHERS DAY TO MY WONDERFUL HUSBAND, FATHER, AND ALL THE DADS AROUND THE WORLD!

During the day

Danielle is wearing her self out on her toy atv.

At the same time, Hailey is playing in her basinet.


Hailey actually watches cartoons with her big sister. Her favorite is "wow wow wubbzy." Probably because the colors are so bright and it is a very cheerful cartoon.

Finished all the shopping for father's day

I finished all of my father's day shopping. I can't post what I did of course because my husband or father might read this blog. But they are going to love it.

Almost Fathers Day

I will be out with the kids most of the day preparing for fathers day. My husband and my dad deserve a good one.

I am not sure what I am going to do yet, but I already got something from the kids. My husband is lucky. His birthday is just a few days before Fathers Day. He gets double the gifts/special treatment in June.

Almost time for bed

After dinner...



And dessert...

its almost time for Danielle to go to bed. Hailey is already sleeping (temporarily). She will be up soon. Probably before Danielle goes to sleep.

Here's Hailey getting worn out before her nap...

Grocery Shopping trip!

Here is a picture of Danielle, with me on our way back from grocery shopping. She loves to shop already. She helps me get the stuff I need and makes the shopping trip fun for me as well.

I can't wait until Hailey is all grown up and able to play with her big sister. Right now Danielle is a little too rough, even though her intentions are good. I am going to put the kids to sleep now before work.

I wrote an article on saving money with coupons. Here it is Coupon Shopping Guide

No sleep at all last night

I think Hailey may have had a stomach ache, a tooth ache or something like that because she kept me and my husband up all night long. She is finally sleeping and now I can't sleep.

My older daughter hailey is up watching her favorite show, Spongebob Square Pants. We like to watch it while she eats breakfast. She loves waffles, with a cup of milk.

I am sure my younger daughter Hailey will be up soon, so I better go prepare.

Getting ready for bed

Well, of course, my youngest daughter woke up from her nap. Shes all worn out and ready for bed once again. This time should be for the night. To get her tired we let her attempt to crawl around on the floor and sit up in her bumbo chair and play with toys. We also talk to her and laugh when she squeals back at us. Its almost like she is really talk.

Danielle, my older daughter, is still sleeping. I am so proud of her. She sleeps in her own "big girl" bed now. She sleeps all night until about 8am. She is the perfect little angel (with horns, of course).

Here is a picture of Hailey getting worn out before bed.

A post from my husband.

All the kids are sleeping and I can finally get some school work done. I am finishing up my Masters Degree online. Its pretty hard to find time to do the work because the kids don't sleep at the same time, but I always manage to find a way to get it done.

I am maintaining a 4.0 GPA and I consistently get my work done before all others. I normally end up staying up until about 2:00am in the morning to do the work, but its worth it because it will pay off in the end.

I am also updating the baby names web site @ baby names and the childproofing web site @ child safety tips

A post from my sister in law.

Hello, my name is "Erica". I have EIGHT kids! They range in age from 17 to 1. Most of them are in school but.... ITS SUMMER VACATION. Summer vacation to them is like working overtime to me. For some reason everybody wakes up earlier during the summer. I don't have to go banging on doors to get them to get up like I do when school is in.

My older kids help with the babies while they are home, so that part is easier... but man, the boys are sooooo loud. I can hardly hear myself think.

This is how my typical day goes...

Around 6:30am, my youngest daughters (2 and 3) wake each other up. They both get out of bed and come wake me up. After that, they go to their older sisters room (6) and wake her up. It's like a domino effect because after that.. she wakes her 15 year old sister up and from there the boys start waking up. By 7:00-8:00am all the kids are up and ready for breakfast.

I feed them breakfast and then, of course, some of the boys fall back a sleep. The day is pretty much playing with the kids, feeding them, and then playing some more until they fall asleep at about 10:00pm. Sounds fun doesn't it?

Every once in a while something exciting happens. Those are the days I wait for! But in the mean time I enjoy spending all of my time with my kids... its just very very tiresome.

During The Day.

Right now my youngest baby is sleeping and my oldest daughter is watching her favorite show. I don't have much to say right now... so I guess I will go play with my daughter.

Got My Car Back

A while back I was in an accident on my way to work. I was stopped at a red light, listening to the radio. All of a sudden, I notice a big truck backing up in front of me. I blowed my horn right up until they hit me. After they hit me they tried to pull off, but I got out of my car and stopped them.

To make a long story short... their insurance agreed to pay for my car's repairs. It finally got fixed today, but now the trunk doesn't work!!! Its so annoying. It opens up and then closes right away.

Now I have to take the car in again to get it fixed. Oh well.

After I got the car back I went and picked up a swing/slide set for my daughter. She loves it. There is a picture of her playing on it.

Tough Day At Work

I had the worst day at work. It is bad enough that I work the night shift, but to make it even worse, I never get to leave on time. I went into work at 3:00pm and I didn't leave until 1:30am. This is driving me crazy!! No one at work, but me, cares about the quality of their work any more. They all just leave as soon as their shift ends. They don't clean up, they don't double check their work and they don't offer to help their fellow coworkers.

I miss putting my kids to sleep at night.. I hope I can switch to day shift soon.

Well, my husband sends me pictures of the kids at work and that always makes me feel better.

That's my daughter Hailey (4 mos.), playing with her little chew toy. She is teething, so she doesn't sleep very well right now, but its just a phase.

I can't wait until my next day off... 4 more days to go!

I made some updates to my baby names web site. Take a look. Go here baby names

Busy Busy Day!

Wow today was a busy day. It started off at about 12:30am. My youngest daughter, Hailey, woke up screaming. I fed her, changed her and rocked her, but she would not go back to sleep until almost 4:00am.

She woke up at about 9:00am. My oldest daughter, Danielle, was already awake with her by then. I got my daughters dressed, then I got dressed and went over to my moms house. I ate lunch there and then I left the kids there for 1 hour so I could get my nails done. I got back from getting my nails done and picked up Danielle and dropped her off at home with her daddy so she could take a nap. Then it was off to comcast and Micheals. Comcast took foreeeevvveeerrr!!!

People thought that my 13 year old niece was my 3 month olds mother...how sad. I finally got home around 5 pm. I cooked some shrimp, pasta and green beans and now my baby is sleeping and danielle is playing in her room....uh oh danielle is back gotta go TTYL!!!

Introduction

My name is Ashley. I am a mom of two beautiful little girls:


Danielle Alana Nicole and Hailey Ann Yyvonne Lea. Danielle is 21 months on and Hailey is 3 months older.

I gave them extra middle names so that their initials would spell their actual name or nickname.

For Danielle, her initials are D. A. N. I.

For Hailey, her initials are H. A. Y. L. I.

I may only have two kids myself, but I played an active role in raising all of my nieces and nephews... and I have a lot of them. I consider myself an expert at parenting ;)

The reason I am starting this blog is to give other moms a chance to read about another mom's life and know that noone's life is perfect. Leave your comments!

I will also be allowing my sisters in law to post as well. They have 8 and 9 kids, so I am sure they will have a lot to say.

P.S. Dont forget to visit my baby names web site. You can find unusual baby names and of course common baby names, meanings and their origins.