Congrats and Good Luck, Kristen!

YAY! I just had to come out of my baby burrow and post about this exciting new bit of news: Kristen started a business! In case you don't, Kristen is hilarious and was formerly "Cookie's Delight". Anytime I need a daily laugh, I go see Kristen. Now she's started a business of making people laugh - it's called: BABY BREWING. Any of you who need a maternity shirt, know someone who needs a maternity shirt or are going to your high school reunion and wants to pretend that the 35 pounds you've gained since high school is maternity-related needs to go here and check her out. So cool. Almost makes me want to be pregnant again so I can wear one. Almost.

Holy cow. Did I just blog about something non-baby related??

And oh - so I can alleviate some guilt - to all of you who have emailed me in the last, oh, 15 weeks and I haven't responded... I PROMISE I will catch up with you soon. I'm evil, I know.
Hrmm... guilt still there.

Rylee's first Easter

Happy belated Easter everybunny! Our weekend was one full of chaos. After I got out of work on Saturday we all headed to our friends' house for the rest of the afternoon/ evening. From there we headed over to a different friend's house to spend the night. We woke up Sunday morning and headed to Shawn's Aunt's house for dinner at 1 and from there went to my sister's house for dinner at 4. Busy much? We had the baby AND the dog the entire time. Rylee is still trying to get back on a schedule and was very tired from it all. I've got some adorable easter pictures (thanks "auntie" Pam for the ADORABLE Easter outfit!!) and didn't know which ones to post so you can view the whole set over at flickr. All and all a good, but exhausting, weekend. :)

Hi! Welcome to Busch Gardens. My name is Rylee and I'll be your Safari Tour Guide today. :)

Rylee, you're 12 weeks old already!! You are bursting with personality and your father and I are loving every minute of it. You still have your father's big popeye smile and your favorite things are bathtime, the singing cow and ESPECIALLY "the wheels on the bus". You get so excited when I am about to start the "wipers on the bus" portion where I move your arms from side to side. You aren't quite laughing yet but are so close. You talk all the time and are really passionate about the stories you tell. Right now you are telling the fishies on the crib a very sad story. You still don't like to be put down and you can only fall asleep if you are being held. You are willing to sleep in the swing next to my bed - but only if you're feeling good. You've had a bad cold for a few weeks now and quite often your sad, stuffy sounds mean you end up in bed with mama cuddling you and watching you intently to make sure you're still breathing through that little stuffed up nose. You still get up 2 - 3 times a night but now that you're smiling mama can no longer be upset about it. You greet me with a giant, toothless smile every time I pick you up. You are weighing in at around 12 pounds and will have doubled your birth weight by the 3 month mark. You are wearing size 3-6 month clothes and the Carter's outfit you are wearing right now is a size 6 months and probably won't fit next week. Daddy always thinks that I'm torturing you in the bathroom at night but what is really happening is a tantrum at it's finest. As soon as you realize that you're not getting back into the bath tub (I can see now why you do this - I've taken you out and put you back in several times after you've pooped in the tub), you totally scream bloody murder. Your lip sticks out, your arms flail and you scream at the top of your lungs. You'd be content to splash away all night as long as mama keeps adding hot water to the tub. You pretty much love everyone but seem to be partial to men. You're still eating very well although you have bottles so rarely that you get confused as to how to eat from them. You really don't take a pacifer at all these days because you can't figure out how to keep it in your mouth without someone holding it in. You still have a bad case of reflux and we've just started giving you Zantac to control it. Your belly is feeling much better, though, and mama is learning to live without her cheese, ice-cream and Cadbury mini eggs. You discovered your hands a few weeks ago and haven't taken your eyes off them since. You find them scrumptious and want them in your mouth at all times. Even though you're never put down, you've worn quite a bald spot on the back of your little red-haired head. You love it when that soft, fluffy dog comes into your view but aren't quite sure what the kisses are all about. You LOVE to be nakee and I can't wait for summer so that I can let you lay around in just your diaper. You are such a sweet, happy thing and I do simply love you more than I love life itself.

My teddy bear

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Originally uploaded by Jaimemjfan.

So Manny certainly has a lot more Schipperke in him than Pomeranian. Ever since I have had him, dog lovers have been telling me how much he looks and acts just like a Schipperke. I've never gotten any papers on him so when I got him, I just thought he was a Pom. Whatever he is, he's the cutest, smartest, cuddliest, friendliest dog in the world. It blows my mind to read a description of a Schipperke online. I could've written this entire blurb to describe Manny.

The Schipperke are quick, energetic little dogs. This is a big dog in a little dog's body. Hot-tempered, high-spirited, self-confident and protective. They are wary of strangers and may seem somewhat aloof, but are actually very devoted and loyal, especially with children. It really bonds to its master. Determined and alert, the Schipperke will defend its territory, whether it is an apartment or a piece of land, against both two-legged and four-legged intruders. If someone new visits, they will adopt a watchful position. Pet cats will be happily accepted and they are usually good with other dogs. They are very smart, curious and mischievous. Can be willful, but is usually easy to train as it is intelligent and eager to learn. The Schipperke likes to howl and bark. These dogs do exceptionally well on boats. Among the Schipperke's best qualities are the ability to defend its home against intruders - backing down from nobody, and of being an excellent friend to children. Some can be difficult to housebreak. They are very active indoors. These dogs are incredibly quick and it is a good idea to have a fenced yard.
Schipperkes are an active and tireless breed. To be happy, it needs to be able to play and run a great deal. This breed is very active indoors and will get a lot of its exercise running around your house. It will greatly enjoy running free off its lead in a yard or a park.
The Schipperke is very clean and pretty much takes care of its own grooming, but to keep the medium-length double coat in top condition, comb and brush regularly with a firm bristle brush. Dry shampoo when necessary. They shed very little until the coat "blows" which can be as often as 3 times a year on bitches. Less so on males and spayed bitches, especially as they age. This coat change is a sudden drop of ALL undercoat within about a 10 day period.