Just popping in before heading to bed.  I have been trying to spend a little time before bed just reading or cross stitching.   I am finding I feel better if I jsut have that bit of me time before bed, vs going to bed later and just collapsing.  I am making a point of finding time in each day to do something that brings *me joy.   It can be so many things, always after I get Tommy to bed.  I am trying to get him in bed a bit earlier now for that reason.   I have been taking bubble baths, reading, scrapbooking and cross stitching.  It has helped with my stess level for some reason.

Today was a easy day for work.  I attended a conference in downtown Minneapolis.  It was actually a pretty good conference.  It was called Transforming the Difficult Child.  The session was for teachers and therapists/social workers.   I really hope some teachers embrace this Nutured Heart Approach.  I can see how it can really work.  I plan on picking up the book and maybe this approach would assist Erik.  He needs success, and he has none!   His self-esteem is very low and I can see how with this approach we can help raise it and hopefully decrease behaviors.  If we see results and depending on the testing we are having done on Erik this might be something I approach the school about as well. 

I do hate going to training in downtown.  It took me almost 30 minutes to find a parking ramp that wasn’t full.  Then I had to find my way through the skyways to the right hotel, which was actually not too bad.  I do like the skyways, since it is getting chillier here in MN! 

I am taking tomorrow off from work!!  YEAH!!  I am actually pretty caught up on my work and want to spend the day with Tommy and getting ready for his birthday party.  Tomorrow I will go in the morning with Tommy to his ECFE class, come home put him down for a nap, then take him to have his 1 year old picture taken at 2:15.  I am having one taken with a big #1 and one in his Halloween Costume too!   I hope he does ok!  I also need to tidy up a little bit around here, not much only need to put laundry away on the dining room table. 

My family is coming for Tommy’s Birthday from SD.  I look forward to seeing them.  They will get here on Saturday afternoon.   I sure hope my SIL and Brother will be able to come as well. 

Let’s see what else went of today…hmmm……we babysat my neice Kristen for most of the evening.   Oh, Josh got his school pictures back today, but he doesn’t like them.  He has some acne and it is bothering him I think.  It really isn’t terrible, just normal for his age I think. 

Well I guess that is all that is new……..as for everyones questions about releasing a book.   There is a website called bookcrossings.com.  It is sort of hard to explain.  Here is how they describe it!

The book I released today was picked up within 10 minutes of my leaving it.  I wonder if the person will journal about picking it up or not???   Time will tell…….

Morning……I am elated to report I got to sleep through the entire night last night.  THANKS TOMMY and MOTRIN!!!!!   I am feeling better this morning after that nice night of sleep.

I am releasing my first book into the wild on BookCrossings.com.  I am just going to leave it in my mail room at my work.  Next time I will leave it in a more public place, but this is my first one.   I hope whoever picks up the book registers it. 

I also packed up a book of my mom’s I sold on Half.com, so hubby can mail that for me too.   I need to get a couple of auctions set up on Ebay yet too.   I just haven’t found the time.   I need to though.  

Well I am off to shower and head to work!  I think I will take Friday off this week to prepare for Tommy’s birthday!   LATER!

Hello – been a busy morning and I over slept this morning so I couldn’t blog before work.  Anyway….I haven’t been getting much sleep lately.   Tommy has woke up scream the last 4 nights in a row in the middle of the night.  ARGH!!   I bring him to my bed and he lays for a bit with me, then he gets antsy and I put him back in bed.  Last night he got up twice.  ARGH!!!

So I broke down this morning and made a Dr appointment.  I have one for next Tuesday, for his one year appointment, but I figured with the weird waking up I should have his ears rechecked earlier.   He had been seen at urgent care for a double ear infection on October 6th and was to have a recheck when his meds were gone.   So he saw the Dr who said his ears are fine, but Tommy has 5, yes, 5 teeth coming in.  He is getting his molars all at once.  ARGH!!!   So the Dr said to give him Motrin before bed, if that don’t’ work then add Benedryl as well.  And if that doesn’t work he said to get some natural stuff from the health food store that has camomile in it.  Tonight we are trying just the Motrin.   Hopefully he sleeps ok, if not tomorrow I will try the benedryl as well. 

I am still feeling a bit under the weather.  It might be due to my lack of sleep lately, who knows.   I hope I feel better soon since this Saturday we is Tommy’s 1st Birthday!!  I can’t believe my little guy is going to be one!  I am sad and happy all at once about it.  It should be a nice party.  A few neighbors are coming, my hubby’s whole family and my parents and maybe my brother and wife from out of state.  I hope they can make it. 

I didn’t do whole lot tonight.   I was home from work early due to Tommy’s Dr appointment, so I took a nap    Hubby was nice and gave baby a bath while I was napping.  So when I got up hubby had supper ready and then we watch Judging Amy.   Now I am starting to feel like I am ready to go to sleep again.   I suppose I should scoot and get some rest, maybe I can even squeeze in a chapter of my book, if I stay awake. 

Hello – I had to be up and out of the house early this morning for a meeting.  I didn’t get a chance to post.  For a Monday my day is going pretty good.  Since I ended up not working on Friday, I was faced with 15 voice messages when I got into the office, which really is pretty good for being out of the office a whole day. 

I am not sure if it is the weather change or what, but my breathing isn’t very good today.  I am asthmatic.   It is snowing again today, though it really doesn’t stay on the ground.   I guess I should scoot and get some lunch and work some more.  It is 2:30 already and I haven’t had a lunch break.   I get too busy. 

Tonight is my cleaning night.   I hope Tommy is sleeping when I get home so I can quickly get my one hour of cleaning done.

TO DO:

• Change Sheets
  
• Take out all Trash
  
• Dust
  
• Sweep – Kitchen, bathrooms, and entryway
  
• Vacuum – living Room
  
• Mop
  
• Windows and Doors
  
• Do at least 15 minutes clutter fling in the Office
  
• Get Erik’s Winter Clothes out
  
• Clean off Dinning Room Table – 1/2 DONE
  
• Get Halloween Stuff out
  

SUPPER:   Alfredo Pasta and Salad

Today was a very peaceful and enjoyable day.  I relaxed a lot and seem to be on the mend from my little flu bug.   I did enough of my list.  I watched a movie with DH and cross stitched a bit while watching the movie.  We snacked on the pumpkin bread I made…Y*YUMMY!!!  Tommy loves it!

Tommy went down for his second nap of the day and hubby left to pick up Josh from his dad’s.   I decided I would spend 15 minutes and clean off the kitchen table.  Hmmmm..took less than 3 minutes.  Ok…I will quickly do the dishes.  Hmm….still over 6 minutes left.  I will dust hubby’s side of our bedroom and sweep the floor.  All this accomplished within 15 minutes.  WEIRD…usually that would take me all day!  I just if I would just stop procrastinating I would get a lot done. 

To reward myself, when hubby got home I took a nice, long, hot bubble bath.  I took my book with me and read two chapters.  It was so relaxing.  Then it was time for Law and Order which I watch with hubby.  End of a nice bath….AAAAH…..

Now I am off to read Tommy a story and put him to bed.  Then put me to bed.

Home from Church, Tommy is sleeping and I just put some pumpkin bread in the oven.  We have our first dusting of snow here in Minnesota.  I enjoy watching it out the window as I type.  Of course with Fall comes Football, so hubby is watching football and I will finish my list of things to do then cross stitch in peace for a while.   I am not big into football, but I always can find something to do.   It sure has been a nice relaxing weekend.  I really have needed this! 

Get Halloween Stuff out

I think I will finish my room and if Tommy is still sleeping, than I will cross stitch after that or read my book. 

Ok here is what I am baking….it smells good!

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RIBBON PUMPKIN BREAD

6 oz. reduced fat cream cheese
1/4 C sugar
1 Tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 Egg Whites

BATTER:
1 Cup Pumpkin
1/2 Cup unsweetened applesauce
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 tablespoons canola oil
1-2/3 Cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 Cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
1/3 Cups chopped walnuts (we left out the nuts)

For filling, combine the cream cheese, sugar, flour and egg whites in a bowl; set aside.  In a mixing bowl, beat pumpkin, applesauce, egg, egg whites and oil.  Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves; add to pumpkin mixture.  Stir in walnuts. 

Divide half of the batter between two loaf pans coated with nonsitck cooking spray.  Spread each with filling; top with remaining batter.  Bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.  Refrigerate leftovers.

Taste of Home – October/November 2002 

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I never am sure how to handle questions.  So I will respond here, as I am not sure the person will go back to the original post. 

Frejaluna –  Insomnia?  It was only ok in my book.  It was interesting seeing Robin Williams playing this sort of role.   I like very scary and suspenseful movies, which this was not.   But it kept my attention.  BTW – I am anxious to hear about Taste of Home cooking school.  I want to live vicariously through you…ROFL!!  I have always wanted to go to one. 

Crazymomma – As for your question about the Brighter Visions Learning Adventure, it does come in different levels. 

	My First Learning Adventure (Perfect for 1 year olds)
	The Discovery program (Perfect for 2 year olds)
	The Bright Start program (Perfect for 3 & 4 year olds)
	The Skill Builder program (Perfect for 5 & 6 year olds)

LMRamos99 – Are you able to make it through the entire shipment of your Learning Adventures each month.  I work outside the home and as afraid we won’t get to all the activities.  I am not sure if I will continue my shipments or not. 

-NEW SUBSCRIBERS –

I wanted to thank  and welcome my new subscribers, eidhome a fellow Minnesotan.  Always cool!  Also welcoming MourningJoy. 

I only have a few things left on my list for tomorrow.  This evening we watched a movie “Insomnia” with Robin Williams and I wrapped a few B-day and Christmas gifts.   I realize I had bought one thing for the boys that I already bought them last year.  No wonder I thought they would like it.  OOPS….I guess I will sell that on Ebay.

I am getting anxious for Tommy’s birthday!  We ordered a Winnie the Pooh cake and bought some decorations.  I wrapped his B-day present tonight as well.  He is walking everywhere.  He never crawls.  he still takes a few spills.  He has a little goose egg by his eye right now.  He took a spill tonight walking and hit his head on the wall.  ARGH!!!  Poor little man.

Tomorrow is Church, I am not sure if I will keep Tommy in the sanctuary with us or if I should just put him in the nursery to begin with??  Hmmm…I guess we will see how he is in the morning. 

Hubby and I agreed on a paint color of the entry way.  I am excited to start painting!  I might try and do it this week yet…we will see.

Well I am off to bed to watch Saturday Night Live and cross stitch a bit. 

Tommy is down for his second nap of the day.   I love that he still takes two naps.  Gives mea few spare moments to do anything else.  Tommy is going through this thing, where if I am in the house I better be within his eyesight for he will scream at the top of his lungs.  COuld care less if Daddy is right beside him or holding him.  I can’t even go to the bathroom without him outside the door screaming.  So nap time is when I hurry to get everything done so I cam be with him when he is awake.

Tommy just layed down for a nap, so I will quick update my list and get busy on de-cluttering my room and getting my winter clothes out.