We closed on our house!

After living in Houston for 4 years, we finally bought a house!  Yeah!  It was fun living in mid-town for a while but not the place to be to raise kids.  We took Jaden over to see the new house and he loved running around in the empty rooms!  Had to see everything and touch everything!  We can't wait to get moved in and set up his room and the playroom.  And the new Aquatic Center just opened!  Just need to enroll Jaden in swimming lessons.

Our new house.

Jaden running into the family room.

Jaden checking out his new backyard.

Wow!  This is my bathroom!

Don't forget to do your Breast Self-Exam!

I wanted to use my blog to give a heads up to the ladies.  

Please remember to do your BSE! (Breast Self-Exam)

About 2 months ago, I found a lump in my right breast.  I'm ashamed to say that I haven't been doing my monthly self-exam....I figured, I'm still nursing so I'm going to be a little "lumpy", so I should just wait.  When I found the lump, I thought it was a plugged milk duct but after the usual remedies didn't work, I scheduled an appointment with my OBGYN.  She told me no, it wasn't a plugged duct and scheduled me for an ultrasound.  We didn't want to do a mammogram (which I was overdue for) because I was still weaning Jaden.  

Today was my ultrasound.  The radiologist decided that he wanted a mammogram for a better view.  Afterwards, he met with me and said, "I'm concerned, you have a solid mass and I think you need to have it taken out as soon as possible.  I've called your OBGYN and told her you are on your way up to see her."  John and I met with my OBGYN.  She said that she knows the radiologist well and for him to be that concerned, we should be concerned and see a surgeon today.  We did.  He said that if I wasn't nursing, he'd take it out this week.  But we have to wait 2 weeks for my milk to dry up and go back for a check up.  So Jaden had to go cold turkey today and wasn't happy about it.  We were down to only nursing at bedtime but I don't think he was quite ready to give it up.  We'll see what the surgeon says in 2 weeks....best case scenario...it's a benign tumor from lactating....worst case scenario......it's not.  

So ladies please check yourselves!  

If you feel ANYTHING questionable, go see your Dr.!  

I'll keep you all posted.

Father's Day 2008

Jaden gave his Daddy a photo key chain and a My Daddy and Me book for Father's Day.  

New book for Daddy to read to Jaden at bedtime.

Playing in the fountain at Market Street.

His trunks are as big as he is!

Oh no!  Got sprayed in the face!

He's okay!

Hanging with the big kids!

Graduation Day!

Jaden had his "graduation" today from The Birth, Baby & Beyond (Mommy & Me) group at Texas Woman's Hospital.  He's know some of the kids since he was 6 weeks old!  It was really great to see everyone..to see how much they have all grown and changed.  Time really does fly.

Congratulations to the June 2008 Graduates of BBB!

       L to R: don't know the first kid, Aidan, Nina, Austin, Jaden, Emily & Ethan

Riley, Sprague, Sophia, Daniel, Xavier & Kailey - We missed you at the party!

Allergies!

Ever since John and I moved to Houston our allergies have been TERRIBLE!  Jaden on the other hand has had trouble with congestion since he was 10 days old.  I've taken him to 3 doctors within 2 months and were told by all 3 that he has allergies, which are causing chronic ear infections.  After a process of elimination, we think he's allergic to our cats.  Dr.s say we can't test until he's 2 years old but can keep giving him medication to make him "comfortable" until then.  As a animal lover, I never thought a child of mine would have pet allergies!  So now we're going to have to find new homes for Katie & Gordon.  I think Gordon is going to live with Grandma McKenna in Tulsa but we're still trying to find a home for Katie.  This breaks my heart because as many of you know, we had tried for 3 years to have a baby and at one point I thought my 2 cats would be the only "kids" I would ever have.  Throughout my pregnancy, Gordon would lay on my stomach like he knew I was carrying a baby.  After Jaden was born, Gordon would always sit by my side when I held Jaden.  And now that Jaden is up and running, Gordon follows him around or sits at the baby gate when Jaden is in his room playing.  Here are some pics of our three kids.   

Lazy Saturday - Jaden (1 month) and Gordon napping

Jaden (2 months) petting Gordon (actually grabbing 

his ear)

Gordon watching Jaden (2 months) play

Katie

Jaden (14 months) playing with his plastic (allergy friendly) dog

Katie is 17 years old and diabetic.  She needs two insulin shots daily and is on a special diet.  I know she is a hardship case but she is such a loving cat.  If anyone is interested in taking her in, please let me know.

In response to Cara's recent blog...

5 things under $5 that I cannot live without:

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

Tall Iced Decaf Latte

Random Home Decor Mags (it's an addiction)

Pint of Ben & Jerry's "Everything But The...." ice cream

Jaden's giggle....and it's free!

5 All TIME Favorite Movies:

When Harry Met Sally

Shrek II - Puss in Boots rocks!

Night of the Living Dead - original black & white (Why can't people outrun zombies?  Never understood that one!)

Bourne Trilogy

Bridget Jones movies

Too many to list them all!

5 Baby names I love:

Jaden - of course!

Cuyler - Jaden's middle name (like Tyler but with a C)

Ava

Madison

McKenna

5 Things that are always in my purse:

Wallet

Phone

Pen

Burt's Bees Lip Balm

Pics of Jaden

5 Moments that have changed my life forever:

Meeting John (even though I wasn't THAT impressed the first time we met.....Love You Baby!)

Getting Married

Having Jaden

Getting 2 Cats within 6 months of each other

Moving to Houston

5 Things always on the grocery list:

Organic Milk

Gerber's Graduates Veggie Dip Crunchies for Jaden (he has an addiction....hmmm wonder who  he gets that from?!)

Bananas

Blueberry / Flax Seed Waffles

Bread

5 Places I would like to go:

Ireland!  John still has family there & my Great-Grandparents are from Ireland.

New York

Italy

London

France - the countryside - not Paris

5 Appliances or kitchen tools I cannot live without:

Paring knife

Cookie sheet

Spatula

Measuring cups

Oven / Microwave

5 Celebrities I hate to admit I keep up with:

This is easy!  I don't purposely keep up with anyone specific.  I just go to the gossip site from the MSN homepage from time to time.  But I NEVER buy trash mags!

5 Most exciting things about this summer:

Moving into our new house!

Jaden's new playroom and backyard!

John and I each get our own sink!

Going from 1122 sq ft to 3000 sq ft!

Moving closer to family.  Jaden will get to play with his cousins on a regular basis!

5 Goals I am currently working on:

Learning how to cook

Exercising on a regular basis

Thinking of taking a photography class

Teaching Jaden how to "self feed"

Helping Jaden soothe himself to sleep

Ok, now it's your turn!

Hello...my name is Little Man...and I'm an addict.

Little Man is addicted to Gerbers Graduates for Toddlers - Lil' Crunchies (veggie dip flavor)! I think they're just kid size, veggie flavored Cheetos. The Husband and I try to feed him organic food whenever possible but we caved on this one. He's been teething and getting over an ear infection and bronchitis, so of course we're spoiling him. We just want our little boy to be happy! Plus, he can sign (baby sign language) "more" for more crunchies - so really we're just using positive reinforcement! Yeah-we'll just keep telling ourselves that.

Little Man lovingly touching his "crunchie" before shoving it into his mouth.

Mmmmmm! Yummy!

We actually bought all that Target had in stock today! When Little Man saw the containers he started signing "more". The Husband stopped in the middle of the aisle, opened one up and started feeding him! Too funny. He's got Daddy trained!

I FORGOT!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MEEEEE!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!

I'm not ashamed to say that I turned 39 on Wednesday, May 14th!

John is taking me on a "date" tomorrow to celebrate!  Yeah!

This is what little man looked like on my birthday last year.

He was the best present ever!  

Don't know how John can ever top it.

Mother's Day / Family Reunion

During our trip to Tulsa we celebrated Mother's Day at Grandma & Grandpa Yates' (John's Grandparents) house with breakfast and group photos with a professional photographer.

Grandma & Grandpa Yates' in the center

April's parents Aden, Evelyn

Jaden, John & April

John's sis Renee & her husb Jonathan

John & I

John's brothers Justin & Jay 

John's mom Denise holding Jaden

and Justin's dtr Rylan up front

Tulsa Trip

This weekend was crazy busy!  We flew to Tulsa for John's sister's College Graduation / After Party (Congrats Renee!) and Mother's Day.  I usually take an insane amount of pictures but I was so caught up in visiting with family and relaxing that I hardly took any!  So here are a few that I did take from the trip.  If any of our family members read this.....send me pics so I can post them on this blog!  Thanks!

Dad, Jaden & John relaxing at the after party

     

Jaden threw the ball!  Yeah!

                                                           

Helping Jaden put on his new shoes

  

Aiden with his Mom-Stacey 

     

Mom & Aiden - does Aiden want a beer? (kidding!)

    

Martin & Aiden

Self Feeding

Today I tried to let Jaden "self-feed" at lunch.  I loaded up the spoon and handed it to him (he doesn't quite have the scoop and lift action down yet) and he actually got it to his mouth......but then he flipped the spoon over instead of sticking the spoon in his mouth right side up.  Got a little messy but he had fun!

Made it in!

MMmmmm Raspberry Pear yogurt!

Hee Hee!