Ryleigh is too stinkin' big! Not physically of course, but mentally.
She now is in the "I want to do everything by myself" stage. It seems like "self" is her new favorite word. Whether it's brushing her teeth or eating cereal. Thank God her fine motor skills are improving more and more and she's spilling everything less often.... but there's still a whole lot of mess to clean up.
One of her favorite things to do is "talk" on the phone. Everytime she picks up my phone she puts it to her ear and starts saying "hello". But, up until today she would never actually talk when someone else was on the other line. This morning "Grandma" called, and Ryleigh listened to what she was saying, and actually responded to her questions. So stinkin' cute! They talked about everything they did last weekend, and Ryleigh even said "I Love you". And then she didn't want to hang up. I think she would have been content talking all day.
She's only 18 months... shouldn't she be like 13 when she wants to talk on the phone all day?!
This kid needs to stop growing and be my little baby for just a little while longer!
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Tuesday, July 20, 2010
House Hunters?
Yesterday Ryan and I went to the bank just to basically ask questions and get more information on mortgages, and buying a house. Thankfully we've done our homework on it already because the guy we talked to spoke very quickly, and used a lot of acronyms, and if I hadn't researched it before hand I would never have known what he was talking about!
We got some pretty encouraging news. Mainly, we were given a quote of what the average costs for PMI, (see, an acronym), taxes in the area we're looking in, homeowners insurance, and mortgage payments on a house in our price range would be each month. We were very pleasantly surprised! The quote was actually less than what we're paying in rent now, and about 300-400$ less than what we were thinking it would be!! Even though it was just an average quote, and not what our payments definitely will be, we were very happy with the number.
The only downside is that we found out we cannot get pre-approved for a loan until we have a down payment. Plus the banker recommended having money set aside for some, or all of the closing costs. Our plan is to have the seller cover the closing costs, but it is smart to have the money on hand just in case the seller doesn't go for it.
So now we basically have the huge goal of saving $7,000 by sometime next April, or May. That will give us about 3 months to get approved for a loan, find a house, and close on it. It's going to take a whole lot of sacrifice on our parts...... no vacations, no going out to eat, and only renting Redbox movies.... but it's worth it! By this time next year we should be home owners..... or else we'll be right about to be kicked out of our apartment because our lease will be up. haha
We got some pretty encouraging news. Mainly, we were given a quote of what the average costs for PMI, (see, an acronym), taxes in the area we're looking in, homeowners insurance, and mortgage payments on a house in our price range would be each month. We were very pleasantly surprised! The quote was actually less than what we're paying in rent now, and about 300-400$ less than what we were thinking it would be!! Even though it was just an average quote, and not what our payments definitely will be, we were very happy with the number.
The only downside is that we found out we cannot get pre-approved for a loan until we have a down payment. Plus the banker recommended having money set aside for some, or all of the closing costs. Our plan is to have the seller cover the closing costs, but it is smart to have the money on hand just in case the seller doesn't go for it.
So now we basically have the huge goal of saving $7,000 by sometime next April, or May. That will give us about 3 months to get approved for a loan, find a house, and close on it. It's going to take a whole lot of sacrifice on our parts...... no vacations, no going out to eat, and only renting Redbox movies.... but it's worth it! By this time next year we should be home owners..... or else we'll be right about to be kicked out of our apartment because our lease will be up. haha
Saturday, July 17, 2010
My "new" chairs
We decided to try our hand at reupholstering our dining room chairs. I went out and got some fabric from Joanne's and we went at it. I'm pretty happy with the results, mostly because there are no longer any stains on my chairs. woohoo!
The first picture is the "before". Note the stains.
The second picture is the "after". The camera didn't quite capture the color, which looks more like very light coffee.
My favorite furniture man also worked hard to fill in all the dings and scratches, so the whole set looks much better!
The first picture is the "before". Note the stains.
The second picture is the "after". The camera didn't quite capture the color, which looks more like very light coffee.
My favorite furniture man also worked hard to fill in all the dings and scratches, so the whole set looks much better!
Success!
I just enjoyed the first tomato off of my tomato plant! I am very proud of myself for actually growing something for the first time ever!
I picked it and ate it right away. There is nothing better than a homegrown tomato that is warm from being in the sun, fresh off the branch. It brings me back to when I was a kid. Our next door neighbors had a tomato plant whose branches stuck through the gate and into our yard. I decided that any tomato that crossed our property line was mine to take. Delicious :-)
I picked it and ate it right away. There is nothing better than a homegrown tomato that is warm from being in the sun, fresh off the branch. It brings me back to when I was a kid. Our next door neighbors had a tomato plant whose branches stuck through the gate and into our yard. I decided that any tomato that crossed our property line was mine to take. Delicious :-)
Tuesday, July 13, 2010
Is it just me?
So as a way to make a little extra on the side ( a very little extra), I joined some websites that pay you to give your opinion about consumer products. It's kinda fun, and has resulted in a couple of paychecks, and free items over the past year and a half.
Sometimes I get to use free products and tell what I like or don't like about them. Other times I get to glance at several different prototypes for advertisements and give my opinion about them. And then sometimes I get to evaluate products I already own, and tell what I think would improve them.
But I have noticed that no matter how many different products I evaluate they never ask, "Is the product top heavy?". And I really wish they would ask that.
Here's why.
I apparently have a lot of top heavy products in my medicine cabinet. Every time I open the door something comes falling out at me. Usually it's foundation. It seems like once most of the foundation is gone the pump at the top weighs more than the stuff at the bottom, which usually results in a domino effect to everything else.
Another particular annoying one? Deodorant. When you turn the screw thing at the bottom, and the deodorant rises more so you can apply it, the whole thing becomes very top heavy, and another disastrous domino!
Is it just me? Does this happen to anyone else? I am tired of the attack of body products every morning and night. It's time we rise up, share our opinions with the people in charge of making these things, and reclaim the safety of our medicine cabinets!
Sometimes I get to use free products and tell what I like or don't like about them. Other times I get to glance at several different prototypes for advertisements and give my opinion about them. And then sometimes I get to evaluate products I already own, and tell what I think would improve them.
But I have noticed that no matter how many different products I evaluate they never ask, "Is the product top heavy?". And I really wish they would ask that.
Here's why.
I apparently have a lot of top heavy products in my medicine cabinet. Every time I open the door something comes falling out at me. Usually it's foundation. It seems like once most of the foundation is gone the pump at the top weighs more than the stuff at the bottom, which usually results in a domino effect to everything else.
Another particular annoying one? Deodorant. When you turn the screw thing at the bottom, and the deodorant rises more so you can apply it, the whole thing becomes very top heavy, and another disastrous domino!
Is it just me? Does this happen to anyone else? I am tired of the attack of body products every morning and night. It's time we rise up, share our opinions with the people in charge of making these things, and reclaim the safety of our medicine cabinets!
Monday, July 12, 2010
Monday, Monday
I know everyone hates Mondays, but I happen to love them. Mostly because they are usually Ryan's day off. Today he has to work, but should still be home in time to go to the zoo with us. Plus, Monday is the start of a new week, and after last week, I'm hoping this one is an improvement.
First off, last week Ryleigh was teething. The teeth still haven't broken through, but she's less bothered by them now. Second, she was sick with a fever/stomach virus thing. Thankfully the only time she threw up was all over Ryan, and not on me :-) Thirdly, due to a fussy/sick baby I could not spend time with friends, or pretty much leave the house.
I Do Not function well if I am stuck in the house, and if I don't get to spend time with friends. I need socialization to survive! So, I was going crazy!
Thankfully this week we have 2 pool parties planned, and an ice cream social this weekend. Plus there are plans in the making to spend some time with family. And today we will be heading to the zoo to enjoy some family time.
The morning hasn't started off well, but I'm hoping for a quick improvement after morning nap time.
That is all. I hope everyone has a good week!
P.S. My tomato plants are finally beginning to produce fruit. I have one tomato that just needs to ripen a little more so I can pick it. Plus there are several more growing. Success!
First off, last week Ryleigh was teething. The teeth still haven't broken through, but she's less bothered by them now. Second, she was sick with a fever/stomach virus thing. Thankfully the only time she threw up was all over Ryan, and not on me :-) Thirdly, due to a fussy/sick baby I could not spend time with friends, or pretty much leave the house.
I Do Not function well if I am stuck in the house, and if I don't get to spend time with friends. I need socialization to survive! So, I was going crazy!
Thankfully this week we have 2 pool parties planned, and an ice cream social this weekend. Plus there are plans in the making to spend some time with family. And today we will be heading to the zoo to enjoy some family time.
The morning hasn't started off well, but I'm hoping for a quick improvement after morning nap time.
That is all. I hope everyone has a good week!
P.S. My tomato plants are finally beginning to produce fruit. I have one tomato that just needs to ripen a little more so I can pick it. Plus there are several more growing. Success!
Thursday, July 8, 2010
Miss Independent
I'm pretty sure Ryleigh has reached the two year old stage long before her actual second birthday. She is turning into little miss independent.
Yesterday I took her to the pool. Our pool is one that's set up like the ocean, where it gradually gets deeper and deeper, but at the very beginning it's like 1/2 an inch of water. Well, my little miss is not at all scared of the water. Anytime we hold her in the deep end she tries to squirm her way out of our arms so she can "swim" by herself. But I let her walk around the shallow end on her own, while keeping a close eye on her. I usually stay right by her side to catch her anytime it looks like she might fall. But yesterday, she was upset by me standing so close. She kept a good 3 feet in between us. Anytime I took a step closer she would take 2 steps further away. She also tested her independence by getting out of the pool and walking to her towel all by herself, and then getting back in the pool all by herself. If I tried following she would turn and walk in a different direction.
Is this a precursor to when she's a teen and doesn't want me walking through the mall with her anymore?
Where did my little baby go, and who is this kid who doesn't need me anymore? ::sniff, sniff::
Yesterday I took her to the pool. Our pool is one that's set up like the ocean, where it gradually gets deeper and deeper, but at the very beginning it's like 1/2 an inch of water. Well, my little miss is not at all scared of the water. Anytime we hold her in the deep end she tries to squirm her way out of our arms so she can "swim" by herself. But I let her walk around the shallow end on her own, while keeping a close eye on her. I usually stay right by her side to catch her anytime it looks like she might fall. But yesterday, she was upset by me standing so close. She kept a good 3 feet in between us. Anytime I took a step closer she would take 2 steps further away. She also tested her independence by getting out of the pool and walking to her towel all by herself, and then getting back in the pool all by herself. If I tried following she would turn and walk in a different direction.
Is this a precursor to when she's a teen and doesn't want me walking through the mall with her anymore?
Where did my little baby go, and who is this kid who doesn't need me anymore? ::sniff, sniff::
Monday, July 5, 2010
This is real life
Last night we went to go see the Woodbury fireworks. Right before the fireworks began a guy came around selling 3-D glasses, telling everyone it's a lot better to experience the fireworks in 3-D.
A lot of people were actually buying them, and the guy seemed to be making a lot of money. Apparently the glasses really do work.
But then someone shouted, "It's real life. It's already in 3-D". And then I sat and thought about it. 3-D is popular because it makes you feel more like you're a part of the action. You want the images on the screen to jump out at you, so you can experience it like you're really there. Why do we need to enhance real life? Can you be anymore in the action?
Are we as a society so unhappy with our lives that we've gone beyond just being obsessed with reality shows, the internet, and entertainment, now we have to alter our perception of the world by using things like 3-D glasses to make things better?
A lot of people were actually buying them, and the guy seemed to be making a lot of money. Apparently the glasses really do work.
But then someone shouted, "It's real life. It's already in 3-D". And then I sat and thought about it. 3-D is popular because it makes you feel more like you're a part of the action. You want the images on the screen to jump out at you, so you can experience it like you're really there. Why do we need to enhance real life? Can you be anymore in the action?
Are we as a society so unhappy with our lives that we've gone beyond just being obsessed with reality shows, the internet, and entertainment, now we have to alter our perception of the world by using things like 3-D glasses to make things better?
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