Fairly Peaceful!

Today has been pretty decent! I am STILL frantically doing all of the laundry in the world. I watered my plants bright and early! Lets see, got the dogs some great new food. Brought them fresh water and the new food. They were 10 million times better today! Thank God! I left Sam chained up though -not like he can't get around anywhere in the pen that he wants (not a 2 foot chain). I fed the goats also, finished up early!

Also, the Burger King value menu called out to me a tad -and you know what, I always thought that the chicken nuggets were shaped like dinosaur feet and I never understood it. Why would Burger King make their chicken nuggets shaped like a dinosaur? Today a light went off... They are shaped like crowns... don't you love the light?!

Anyways... I tryed to plan a budget. Because Parker makes good money, but we are ALWAYS broke -and I just never can understand WHY?! It's because I am not in charge, and while I do love him so, he is not good in that area. Not that I want to be in control of the money he makes or anything, because I did factor in his beer. Not a lot of it though :) but it was factored in. When I did the budget -we had plenty of extra money left over -while living happily in another apartment, haha- we could fairly easily fix up the house to where it is SO very live-able, therefore when we moved into it after the apartment lease is up. We would have ALL that we spent on the apartment free monthly -doubling the fix up speed of the 'nicer' things or the 'add-ons' for the house. Parker could also get the yard the way he wants it, invest in animals, make me an awesome garden, fix the barn before it sinks into the ground, get my chicken coop up and running, and make himself a shop. It would be so wonderful -if only he will listen. He has trouble in that area.

Anyways, Never got to watch 300 last night. Blah... Maybe I will try again tonight?! If not, guess I won't watch it at all! Oh well. I did put it in and watched the beginning of it -looks like it will be good, which will rock!

Well, I still have a million and one things to do tonight! Blog ya later, Samantha

P.S.

Updated left hand panel again: Since I am planning to report my 'Italy' findings to you guys... I made Italy it's very own link-box thing! Hope it grows, got the basic findings on there currently! Sorry if this bore's people! -Samantha

Italy...

Just a NOTE:

I want to go to Italy SO bad! I want to learn Italy/Italian in all aspects -language, food, everything. I am so facinated with it. I would love to just MOVE there. Never will happen with Parker as my man. Sucks to be me :( I will start learning everything I can -starting NOW!
Will report back on what I learn, FACT!

Until then, Samantha

Peace, Where are you?

Hey there. Haven't got to watch 300 yet, Kyle won't sleep & he's enjoying 'The Replacements' & 'Kim Possible'! Bad -yet again!

I am about to get to take a shower while I wait though, with a freshly washed towel. Yay! All of this makes me extremely happy! I still stink due to the earlier incident with the lovely DOGS! Kyle got a lovely meal earlier -complete with oatmeal. Then immediately following that, a bath. I have learned that feeding him with nothing but a diaper is in fact the BEST thing! It's just a huge mess, because he tries to help!

I got some laundry done -other than the towels. Which is fantastic! Now -just putting them up... blah! Anyways...

I can't wait to move -not one single bit. I hate apartments, but I hate these apartments & people more than I have hated living anywhere & around anyone. It's getting serious. We chose these apartments because they are five minutes or less from the house we are remodeling. And I'd be much happier anywhere else! That is a definite fact.

My child is fussing, no idea why, he has orajel, he ate, he got a bath, he already pooped today & he does in fact have on a clean diaper. Grrr... (and it just temporarily quit-wonderful, wonder how long that will last?) Eek...

Well, I am going to put him in a show I KNOW he likes so I can take a shower in peace. Which will ROCK! I am still planning on updating ya'll on how 300 turns out to be. Maybe I can do like movie reviews in my blog? Nice addition? Gives me something to do. I love love love to write. It's just so fantastic & I have SO much to say. Even though most of it is useless.

Until later, Samantha

P.S.

I hate neighbors... they are annoying & are constantly slamming the door. Absolutely hate them.

All of the Animals...

This will be a short post. I just had to gripe for a moment. I hate it when Parker is gone out of town. He's two times my size and can handle triple (or more) than I can. He is cut out for the 'dealing with the animals' and what not. I on the other hand am not -especially while I am pregnant. It just seems like 10x the hassle. Grr... Especially since the dogs RUN OFF. Yes, they both took turns running away today. Not what I wanted to deal with. Two Freakin' hours. Entirely too long. Not to mention that he goes away and knows (because he fed them yesterday) that there is barely enough for one of them. They didn't get much to eat today. NO, it's not neglect. I'd say it is ok, they just need to drink water and chill out because of all of their running around/adventures. So, it's more like they are in trouble. Grr. BUT I brought them fresh cold water. They should love me. Now I stink & need a shower due to their smelly dog butts.

Well, griping is done, will make a real post later.
P.S. 300 is here... will tell you how it is later!
Until then, Samantha

Hannah & Sam

[the escape artist]
Originally uploaded by Samantha Ramey

Since I have been talking about Hannah & Sam I wanted to show you what they looked like. In this photo, Sam is on the outside of the pen. He is chained out there. He WAS chained in the pen, but since he is the ultimate escape artist who had been regularly getting out, we tryed to prevent further escape-age. He escaped again that night, only to find himself stuck in a rut. Needless to say he was very thirsty when we put him back in. He hasn't gotten out too terribly much since then! This picture rocks because without Hannah where she is you could probably never tell that he is out. She's such a good girl and so pretty! Sam is very loveable also, but he is a mess!

Thunderstorms...

Today was in fact uneventful, due to the fact that it rained Madly ALL day. I had to put Hannah and Sam up in the house (we are currently living in an apt. If I haven't mentioned that -remodeling our house -if I haven't mentioned that!). They stay in the breezeway (on concrete) when it rains. Hannah goes NUTS, she is a Redbone Coonhound. If you don't know a thing about hounds, they do not like thunderstorms. Whooo Whooo Whooo Whooo Whoo Whoooo & it's literally never ending, until the storm has ceased! Rather annoying at times. She hurts her throat. Oh and you know when airplanes fly over leaving the white stream behind them... She is also scared of that -it's definitely the strangest thing!

And Sam... He is just too funny, he looks at her like she is on some sort of drugs. Or that she needs to be. His breed is a little Unknown. I think he is Irish Terrier/Irish Wolfhound. Irish Terrier in size, Irish Wolfhound in color. But he is a definite escape artist. And just a little wild. Loves to be out. He gets out quite frequently -dang dog. But he always comes back. I am just scared that one day he will be shot. Either one of them. Hannah has gotten out -but hers isn't on purpose, she's a good girl. She wouldn't do it intentionally. She's FAR to scared of getting in trouble.

Let's see... Today Kyle didn't do much -he slept a lot, guess it was the weather! He is growing up rather fast. I mean for me -since I went through hell to get him. And he came home at 4lbs. Now he is over 12lbs. It's just wonderful.

I don't know if I already mentioned that he has torticollis. I put a link to a torticollis kids site, to help people to know what it is. He has a mild case of it. Probably due to his lack of space in the womb, since if you don't already know (most likely haven't gotten into this yet) he was a twin. They were Mono-Amniotic. Read up on it. It's a Rare twin case. They were perfectly healthy just at cord entanglement risk -which is what happened, his twin was stillborn, and he was born within hours after that VIA emergency C-Section. Not going to get down to the definite details of the tragedy at this time. But that was the overall of it.

Well, enough for tonight... need to wash some clothes for Parker (and myself), he is going out of town for a couple of days. To Arlington for work. Blah...

Well, Until later, Samantha

Updated Left Hand Panel...

I am steadily updating the left hand panel. Don't forget to check it out! There is plenty there. I have a Twitter.com account. With this I update what I am doing. I put tons of new links to sites up. Including some really wonderful blogs. I read a lot of 'A Little Pregnant' and 'Melissa the Mouth' they are awesome. I haven't fully gotten into the other ones. But I read enough of it, or scanned over it, to know I wanted to look more into those. So check them out too!

Also, I added a link to Sam and Hannah on Dogster.com. I also, just added the link to the website as a whole. I am not sure if I already mentioned who Hannah and Sam are -they are our dogs. You will probably hear about them a lot. We have goats also -probably hadn't gotten a chance to get into that either! Don't worry it's coming soon!

I also added a section titled 'I'd Love to Go Here' -It's obviously places that I would love to travel to. So far the list includes two sites devoted to traveling Italy (No specific destination) and one site for traveling to Whistler, Canada! Check them out... Don't worry, this list will most likely get bigger as I am researching all the wonderful places to go see! -Also, the ones I want to take Kyle to and more... Currently will be searching for the perfect Honeymoon Vacation spot -for when me and Parker finally get hitch'd!

Well, anyways... Check out the left hand panel!

Netflix

For anyone who has never heard of Netflix, it is a movie rental service much different than your average BlockBuster. You sign up online -cheaply- for a plan -Up to three movies at a time, I think. Then Netflix will deliver them directly into your Mailbox. They also come in an envelope (be careful opening it for the first time, or you will have to provide your own envelope/stamp & mail it to California -for me, in Texas, this will take forever for the movie to arrive -putting a halt on your next delivery) that doubles as a return envelope, with paid postage. So, you do nothing, except watch the movie and put it back into your mailbox and wait for the next one to arrive. It's rather convenient. I love getting the movie out of the mail. Oh, you also can update your Queue online, so you pick between tons of movies Old & Brand Spankin' New... It's even more convenient since it costs like 20$ (it seems) in Gasoline to drive to the blockbuster, watch the movie and drive back to return it. Also, the rental is cheaper. Plus, if you have certain plans -mostly all of them- you can watch movies VIA the Internet. Mine won't work, guess it depends on the connection or something. Who knows? -Does anyone else have this trouble? Oh well, that doesn't really matter to me -just a plus. I am not big on watching movies on the computer. PLUS, that's why we have cable!

Anywho, Check them out NETFLIX

Waco

[the suspension bridge]
Originally uploaded by Samantha Ramey

This is the Suspension Bridge in Waco -Indian Springs Park. I took this when we did the March of Dimes walk on April 26th of this year. That is where the walk was held. Here is some information on the bridge here, check it out...

Favorite Quotes

Just wanted to fill you guys in on my favorite quotes, they say a lot about my life currently. Maybe you can get something out of them too?

*Happiness Depends Upon Ourselves* -Aristotle
I think that you CANNOT be happy unless 1. You let yourself be happy 2. You do things that will make you happy in the end. If you understand this quote you understand what I mean. It pretty much didn't need me to explain. It speaks for its self!

*Where There is the Greatest Love, There are Always Miracles* -Willa Cather
Well, this is so true. If you have great love -everything falls into place. Eventually. I mean generally everyone has a rough start. Maybe not as rough as us, but they have one. I mean we are so incredibly in Love that we will make it. And... after all we have Kyle, he himself is a miracle...

*Do What You Can, With What You Have, Where You Are* -Theodore Roosevelt
This literally talks about my life currently. I mean we don't have much, but we have A LOT. We DO have 60 acres with a house and a lake, animals also. Now, we don't live there yet (due to remodeling that seems like it will never end) & we rent. But we have it... And, I hate Tyler, but sometimes I find things here that I love. Traffic will NEVER be one of them. But we are here, and that will not change...

I think that these quotes are great, because they can speak to/for many people... -Samantha

Good Morning

It's 9:30am. With nothing to do, I can't clean until Parker takes out the trash -because it makes me GAG- so, I can't hardly go into the kitchen. blah... guess it will have to wait. Which is NO problem for me what-so-ever.

My kid loves TV -this is bad, right? Don't worry he watches the Disney Channel & other Cartoons. Loves 'The Incredibles' -which is what I think I am doing his first birthday in. That should rock. Even though it is 7 months off. I'm sure it will go by fast! Then immediately following clean up of that 'party', I will probably be planning the next one. My whole general first idea was to have a 'Super Hero' theme. And dress him up, and have guests (...Children, but I guess adults are invited to dress up too!!) dress up as either a known or made-up (much funner) super hero. Which all might still be incorporated, but since he loved 'The Incredibles' I thought it was a much easier route...

Anyhow. Him watching TV lets me blog?! Don't worry he gets read to also. Trying to talk his father into reading to him daily. He works so much & thinks he spends massive amounts of time with him, but it seems more 80/20% (Mine being the 80%). Which is ok, not like he doesn't know him or anything that crazy. But reading to him (and we all know most children's books are short & if they aren't they're divided into chapters/stopping points) will help me out, and give them time together. And he loves to try to 'help' you turn pages!

Anyhow, enough for right this second... more later! -Samantha

Child Vaccines...

Big controversy in our time ...isn't it? Well, we researched like mad over it -well, I did. I am currently reading 'The Vaccine Book' -It's detailed info is located to the left in 'what I'm reading' if you need it! Dr. Sears has massive amounts of information in his book. Not swaying you to a decision, although he makes suggestions. Which is wonderful for parents like us, our pediatrician doesn't seem to want to help. You'd think if they didn't know the answers (like they claim) they would find them out. Just another story for another day though.

Basically, he goes over the disease, how common it is, if it is treatable, the vaccines out for it and tons of other stuff. He has an alternative vaccination schedule & a selective one. We have decided to get Kyle switched over to the alternative vaccination schedule -which should be easy. I'm probably leaving some wonderful stuff out about the book. But if you have a question at all in the matter, you should read it. You can still do more research if that isn't enough -but believe me it is a wonderful starting point, because with this subject you are (at least I was) at a loss on where to even begin.

Dr. Sears has a website also... I will add it to my list of favorite links. There is plenty on there for parents. Wonderful information. -Also, it's not all about Vaccines, and he has other books. Although I do not own anymore of them -but I am surely going to be!

Thanks for your time...

P.S.

The Slideshows at the bottom left are not my work, although it might scan across something I did -eventually. These are random pictures with the keywords 'green' & 'flowers' from people's flickr.com accounts. I absolutely love Flickr.com. I just wish the batteries on my camera weren't OH SO DEAD! But if you love photography, you should check out this site, and if you have a ton of great photo's you might want to get an account! It rocks! -Samantha

Kyle

[tummy time]
Originally uploaded by Samantha Ramey

Well, this is him, the baby I've been talking about! James 'Kyle' -We just absolutely love him! This isn't a picture I tried hard to do, no great photo skills/angles/whatever went into this what-so-ever! Just my baby, hope you enjoy reading about him & seeing this picture!

Memorial Day

Hey guys!

First off Happy Memorial Day, hope everyone had a good holiday, especially if you got a day off.

I slept in some today, it was nice -not like I am not used to it! But I have been trying hard to stay up more. Plants got watered today, shopping got taken care of. Wal-Mart -by the way- doesn't have any good fishes. We wanted to get a pet fishy & there were none that struck an interest with me.

Today I cooked fried chicken for the first time, turned out wonderfully! Parker loved it! Yay -go me! Well I can't write much today -baby drivin' me bonkers... will try to get more in later!

Until then, Samantha

my best work yet...

[flower]
Originally uploaded by Samantha Ramey

Hey you guys, this is one of my absolute favorite photos that I have taken. It is one of the ones that look like a professional did it! Which is, of course, the ultimate goal! Parker said this one was his favorite out of my flickr.com photostream. I just love it. If anyone knows the name of the 'wildflower' please let me know. I guess I could just look it up myself! Maybe I will go on a 'mission' to find out -will report back!

Most productive day lately

Well, today I didn't sleep all day, I had an energy come over me. Don't know why! But It was nice to get something done, even if it wasn't much -or everything! I got dishes quite a bit taken care of. I made brownies for Parker. Done some laundry -and actually folded it up. Washed the bathroom rug & Kyle's changing table cover. Oh, I also clipped some of my plants. The ones that I neglected. They still aren't doing wonderfully. But, better. They look better than they did! Both of the phones found their chargers. I picked up the living room. AND, it was nice to not have a big meal...

Parker claims to BBQ everyday of the summer. Which is nice. BUT sometimes I don't want HOT food during the summer. I'm over here thinkin' Chicken Salad Sandys, Turkey Sandys, and Ice Cream for Dessert. He is thinkin' Hamburgers, pork chops, grill, grill, grill... & then hot brownies. The hot brownies kind of made me sick. While I love all these things, my ultimate goal is to stay cool. Especially being pregnant I have a higher body temperature.

Anyhow, this Friday we are going to Waco, for a couple of weeks. The first week will be filled with my little brothers Graduation, a trip to Dallas for Kyle's Developmental Dr. appt., Getting fitted for a bridesmaids dress -one of my best friends is getting married in August, The church service thing before the Graduation -can't remember the name, probably much less how to spell it-, Seeing a few friends -two of which just had babies, and one that I need to see ASAP because she's been there with me through thick N thin-, Probably more & always visiting family... Oh yea, and a family reunion. Then Week two, we will be going to Surfside, Texas -where I will not have Internet service, just a heads up-

Well, I am going to go now...
Until Later, Samantha

Seeding Grass...

[green grass]
Originally uploaded by Samantha Ramey

I will start my 'photo blog' with this photo, since I have it on my main blog page -yes, I know, a repeat. This picture was taken out by the barn in our yard. I had to try very hard to get it at a good angle. As I thought photographing plants, and well especially grass, would be easy. I am finding that photographing anything -well the way I want it to look- is definitely not easy. But this is a lovely spring-y picture. Maybe I will do a 'green theme' -I do love green-ness. A tribute to summer? Maybe, we shall see -my camera needs new batteries :)

lovely days

Yes, I enjoyed another day napping with my son! I just love to nap with him. I am so tired all the time lately -pregnant with his sibling- that it is awesome when he will cooperate and nap right along with me! It rocks!

Parker grilled us some delish pork chops, he is such a good cook! I am so very grateful to have him! Even though he thinks otherwise... He also went to the store, probably knowing that I did not want to get out since I haven't been feeling up to speed lately.

As today was Saturday night there were a ton of great movies on our cable that I am trying to watch a lot -since we DO pay for it! ...sometimes, haha! We watched this movie that I am sure I haven't seen 'House Sitter' with Steve Martin & Goldie Hawn. I just love them both -great actors. All of their movies rock! Parker couldn't finish it though, he was too tired, can't blame him, even though I get upset cause he works all the time & when he does have time at home he wants to sleep. Blah, something I will just have to get over, because he does it all for us. I imagine he would like to be just chillin' out on his weekend also.

Anyhow, I am going to start blogging about my photos I have taken and posted on flickr.com. As I am trying to become a pro at taking photos, it's a new found love for me... Don't worry, there will be a daily (will try very hard) regular blog too, since the photo ones won't be too long. Just a way to share my stuff. I, unlike real photographers, do not have SO many different camera's and such -just my little HP Photosmart M447- and yes, I love it.

I am trying to get back to the old me, the one I was before I got in a relationship, because I have in fact changed quite a bit. Some of it for the good, some of it I could have kept the same. Sometimes I wish I wouldn't have let a relationship get in the way of the things I love most. No, I am not talking about the bar or anything like that. Just the things I used to love -life I suppose? Not that I would change much, I have Parker & Kyle, and a life... but it's just not as upbeat, that's a good way of putting it. Plus, I like to go-do-&-see. Parker is not like that. He wants to stay at home all the time.

Well, Parker is also one step ahead of me, he watered my plants. They look better now. From what I understand tomatoes are not doing well this year? Mine are doing absolutely horrible, they need 'real ground' for one -not containers- and the freakin' birds are eating them. Go find a worm birdies...

Anyhow, enough said about today... Until later, Samantha

Another day...

Today I felt better, but worse at the same time... still got very little done. But I didn't sleep all day! Which is ALWAYS a plus!

Kyle drove me crazy today with his teething. Teething just isn't a hard time for the baby :) Orajel will make him & me smile!

But I still made Zero progress on the house... which totally sucks!

Well, enough for today! Until later, Samantha

Sites...

I just added some links that are awesome that you might want to view. More will come shortly! Promise! -Samantha

One Sleepy Day

Hey there!

Today has been even more un-eventful than usual, it's amazing how much I want to do/get done and how much I don't... It is VERY irritating. Well, now it is late, and I am awake, even though I could sleep more.

When Parker finally came home, we watched a movie called 'Whisper' -about a creepy little kid. The Devil I would say...

I don't think Parker understands me very well, or at all sometimes. I know he thinks I don't understand him. But I try at least, he is just convinced he knows all, and well, that I know nothing, when it comes to him.... grr!

As for my baby boy, Kyle, he is teething at five months old. His top gums are SUPER 'rough'. Poor baby :( I think he will look absolutely adorable with teeth!

As for my house, it is a massive wreck -this goes back to me not being able to function lately. The plants are also suffering for it... I better get with the program!

-Until later, Samantha