After a very long weekend of trying to get Claire to even sit on her toilet, Monday morning she woke up with a totally new attitude. She used her potty all day long!! I am super proud of her! So far today she has used her potty as well. So (knock on wood) I have been working on her for a week now and it seems like she is finally getting the concept. She even woke us up in the middle of the night so she could use her potty. I think mama's sanity just may stay in tact! I know it's silly but I took pictures and sent them to Mike of her using her potty. Mike told me last night that he never dreamed he would be so excited to get pictures of poo in a toilet. HAHA! It's the little things in life that makes a mama or daddy proud! She so stinking cute when she goes and stands up yelling "I did it. I did it.". She jumps up and down and waves her hands around. She then 'helps' flush her waste. She has stickers galore now that she puts on her calendar and shows her daddy proudly when he gets home. I even make a big commotion when she goes while on the phone. I just say "excuse me for a second.", set the phone down and clap, jump up and down, and yell. Who cares what people think right? Sorry to disappoint you but I do NOT have turrets. LOL (Side note and may be a little tmi so cover your eyes if you wish. When Claire did see her poo for the first time she gagged, then caught a whiff and gagged again. I couldn't help but laugh and tell her to walk away. I then stated "gross huh".)
Claire and I took Maggie (our pug) to the vet (doctor) yesterday for her annual. That was an event in itself. A 2 year old who insist on holding the leash and a pug who desperately wants to run away from her. Maggie is all of 14 pounds and thinks she is a huge, bad to the bone 50 pound dog. For someone that is so little she is very aggressive with other dogs. Maggie is in good health and the Vet was super happy with her and made the statement "Now that's what a pug is suppose to look like, not 25 pounds and fat.". I think I will attach a picture of my Maggie Lou and maybe one of Claire Bear too. :)
We are a family of three. We love to spend time together and family is the most important thing in our life.
The Day My Life Changed
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Alabama Whirlwind
So this week has been eventful on many different accounts. Lets start from last weekend. My sister and brother-in-law came up to see us. It was still very cold, icy and snowy which meant we couldn't do a whole lot. We had a great visit though, no nastiness in weather will ever stop that.
Mike had an interview within his company for a new position. He is currently an automation specialist (fancy words huh). He interviewed for a shift production manager. He hadn't thought about getting back into management yet but when the plant manager approached him and very adamantly requested him to apply for the job he very well couldn't turn them down. He applied for it a few weeks back and once we got back from California they wanted to set up his interview. Fast forward to Monday, he was extremely nervous, a complete man disaster of emotions. Anyway I told him that he would do wonderful, he was the man for the job, that they already liked him, and for him to just be himself. He comes back with "But honey you just don't know how goofy I am." to which I replied "Honey I know just how goofy you are and that makes me love you more. You have to give me more credit than that." The interview was over an hour and he had to sit in front of a panel of 8 managers. Now if that isn't scary I don't know what it. He called me on his way home and said he thought it went good but he wasn't for sure. There were others they had to interview. He was stressed all evening and went over every little detail, I don't know how many times, when I finally said "Mike, you did the best you could do and just wait to see what they thought before you over analyze it." They had their final interview with a guy on Tuesday and I think before the guy even got out of the parking lot Mike was hearing "Congratulations! You are going to get a job offer soon.". Mike was taken aback. Well on Thursday the Plant Manager called him into his office and handed him the job offer personally. Mike said they talked for a good while and Mike made him tell him that he was the one for the job. (Way to try to stroke that ego. LOL) So Mike and I sat down and talked about it, sort of. There are a LOT of positives to the position but there are also a good bit of negatives. I couldn't see past the negatives and Mike couldn't see past the positives. I think thats one reason we fit well together, now if he would just listen to me things would be great. Haha! Don't get me wrong I'm not always into the negatives, I've always been glass half full type of gal but our life was finally on track for the first time in years and I didn't want that to change. I'm a sociable creature of habit. Mike's a hermit of change, lots and lots of change. He went back to work on Friday and made a counter offer (come on you know you have to haggle) and they came back with another. They agreed and Mike took the offer. I was not real happy because like I said things will change, for the better I'm not guaranteed, for the worse eh lets hope not. Mike will be working a lot, something I am not a fan of, and when I say a lot I mean 8 days a week. I've been promised that it will not be a permanent thing but that after he gets things straightened out it will be better. Well when will that be you ask, WE DON"T KNOW. He will be working 2nd shift which is 3-11 but will most likely be more than that which means him getting home after midnight. YUCK, YUCK, AND YUCK! Mike having a gratifying job he is proud of, priceless. He wants a challenge, he craves a challenge, he takes it on, head on, and says 'bring it'. One of the things that I was reminded yesterday by a wonderful friend is that I need to really start to rely on my friends more and to put situations in God's hands and to quit stressing so much. That I am not alone. Anyway I will keep you all posted on the new job fight when it starts on February 2nd.
What has mama done this week you ask. Well I have been potty training or at least attempting to potty train my child. The first day was straight up horrible! Horrible I tell you!! Wanted to say eff it stay in diapers all your life but I will put you in a home. Haha! Not really but you know. The second day was so much better. She at least tried unlike day one. The next day or as I refer to it "Emotional wreck day" was wobbly at first. She woke up very emotional about the whole thing. I can understand I mean she has never had to worry about using the bathroom. SHe has never had to pay attention to the urge or having to go to a certain spot to go. So we worked through it and after a time out she decided 'maybe this woman is serious' and she started using the bathroom. But every day it's like starting again. Reminding her, taking her, threatening (not terrible threats though, I'm not that mean, if anything I'm very soft) and lots of praise and stickers to add to her book, she gets it by the end of the day. Then the next day we start again. People keep promising me that she will get it one day. Really? Yeah well how does mama's sanity stay in tact? Huh? Huh? Huh? Yeah that's what I thought.
We once again got snow this past week. Really, really sick of the @%^*& snow!! You hear me mother nature?? LOL! And guess what it is in the forecast for this next week. Phooey on you nature, just phooey! I am excited though for this coming weekend. Mike, Claire and I will head to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee along with my parents and Seneca and Brad (the sister and her mate) for a long, relaxing, cold weekend! Woohooooo!!! Can't wait! We shall take loads of pictures as usual. (Side note: We already have a ton of film to develop, why would we add to that?) I will be going to Georgia for a few days in February and then I will head back down in March to see one of my oldest and dearest friends. She will be home from England for a visit. I will finally get to meet her beautiful baby boys and she will get to meet my Claire. YAY!!!
That is enough for now I reckon. Don't want to bore you all! Thanks for stopping by and keeping up with the Keene's! I'll add a little funny video from a lady in the ATL. California people, quit rubbing it in our faces. K thanks!
Mike had an interview within his company for a new position. He is currently an automation specialist (fancy words huh). He interviewed for a shift production manager. He hadn't thought about getting back into management yet but when the plant manager approached him and very adamantly requested him to apply for the job he very well couldn't turn them down. He applied for it a few weeks back and once we got back from California they wanted to set up his interview. Fast forward to Monday, he was extremely nervous, a complete man disaster of emotions. Anyway I told him that he would do wonderful, he was the man for the job, that they already liked him, and for him to just be himself. He comes back with "But honey you just don't know how goofy I am." to which I replied "Honey I know just how goofy you are and that makes me love you more. You have to give me more credit than that." The interview was over an hour and he had to sit in front of a panel of 8 managers. Now if that isn't scary I don't know what it. He called me on his way home and said he thought it went good but he wasn't for sure. There were others they had to interview. He was stressed all evening and went over every little detail, I don't know how many times, when I finally said "Mike, you did the best you could do and just wait to see what they thought before you over analyze it." They had their final interview with a guy on Tuesday and I think before the guy even got out of the parking lot Mike was hearing "Congratulations! You are going to get a job offer soon.". Mike was taken aback. Well on Thursday the Plant Manager called him into his office and handed him the job offer personally. Mike said they talked for a good while and Mike made him tell him that he was the one for the job. (Way to try to stroke that ego. LOL) So Mike and I sat down and talked about it, sort of. There are a LOT of positives to the position but there are also a good bit of negatives. I couldn't see past the negatives and Mike couldn't see past the positives. I think thats one reason we fit well together, now if he would just listen to me things would be great. Haha! Don't get me wrong I'm not always into the negatives, I've always been glass half full type of gal but our life was finally on track for the first time in years and I didn't want that to change. I'm a sociable creature of habit. Mike's a hermit of change, lots and lots of change. He went back to work on Friday and made a counter offer (come on you know you have to haggle) and they came back with another. They agreed and Mike took the offer. I was not real happy because like I said things will change, for the better I'm not guaranteed, for the worse eh lets hope not. Mike will be working a lot, something I am not a fan of, and when I say a lot I mean 8 days a week. I've been promised that it will not be a permanent thing but that after he gets things straightened out it will be better. Well when will that be you ask, WE DON"T KNOW. He will be working 2nd shift which is 3-11 but will most likely be more than that which means him getting home after midnight. YUCK, YUCK, AND YUCK! Mike having a gratifying job he is proud of, priceless. He wants a challenge, he craves a challenge, he takes it on, head on, and says 'bring it'. One of the things that I was reminded yesterday by a wonderful friend is that I need to really start to rely on my friends more and to put situations in God's hands and to quit stressing so much. That I am not alone. Anyway I will keep you all posted on the new job fight when it starts on February 2nd.
What has mama done this week you ask. Well I have been potty training or at least attempting to potty train my child. The first day was straight up horrible! Horrible I tell you!! Wanted to say eff it stay in diapers all your life but I will put you in a home. Haha! Not really but you know. The second day was so much better. She at least tried unlike day one. The next day or as I refer to it "Emotional wreck day" was wobbly at first. She woke up very emotional about the whole thing. I can understand I mean she has never had to worry about using the bathroom. SHe has never had to pay attention to the urge or having to go to a certain spot to go. So we worked through it and after a time out she decided 'maybe this woman is serious' and she started using the bathroom. But every day it's like starting again. Reminding her, taking her, threatening (not terrible threats though, I'm not that mean, if anything I'm very soft) and lots of praise and stickers to add to her book, she gets it by the end of the day. Then the next day we start again. People keep promising me that she will get it one day. Really? Yeah well how does mama's sanity stay in tact? Huh? Huh? Huh? Yeah that's what I thought.
We once again got snow this past week. Really, really sick of the @%^*& snow!! You hear me mother nature?? LOL! And guess what it is in the forecast for this next week. Phooey on you nature, just phooey! I am excited though for this coming weekend. Mike, Claire and I will head to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee along with my parents and Seneca and Brad (the sister and her mate) for a long, relaxing, cold weekend! Woohooooo!!! Can't wait! We shall take loads of pictures as usual. (Side note: We already have a ton of film to develop, why would we add to that?) I will be going to Georgia for a few days in February and then I will head back down in March to see one of my oldest and dearest friends. She will be home from England for a visit. I will finally get to meet her beautiful baby boys and she will get to meet my Claire. YAY!!!
That is enough for now I reckon. Don't want to bore you all! Thanks for stopping by and keeping up with the Keene's! I'll add a little funny video from a lady in the ATL. California people, quit rubbing it in our faces. K thanks!
Monday, January 17, 2011
Ok so I decided to Keep up with the Kardashians,
So I haven't blogged in a LONG while. I decide since most of Mike's cousins aka family are blogging maybe we should too, so here goes.
On December 29th we found out that Mike's grandmother passed away. Broke Mike's heart and to be honest broke mine as well. Yes I didn't know her, Yes she may have had issues, Yes she was old but hey she meant the world to me because she meant the world to Mike. Ok so Mike hasn't seen her in decade(s) but we at least tried to keep her in the loop and up to date. Ok yeah he didn't talk to her or phone her but Heck yeah he thought about her and daily. He wrote her and we sent pictures. Family is very very important to me and I want to make sure it is important to Mike. If that means him being uncomfortable and seeing people he hasn't seen in years so be it! When Mike found out for some reason he thought solo. He thought I will travel the ends of the U.S. alone or on train, or plane alone. Well to be honest I was rather hurt. I wanted to be there! I wanted him to know I cared! I wanted him to know I loved him! That I was in fact part of him!!!!! So I was very quiet and distant. I was waiting on him to be forthcoming and for him to realize that yes I was part of him. Didn't take him long! Then all of a sudden "I want to go to my grandma's funeral and I want you and CLaire there".....Well it's about time Mister! Anyway the very next day we started out, first Dallas then New mexico and next stop California.
We entered California and Mike's face lit up. To be honest I don't even think we were in Cali yet and we had had to stop at Carls Jr. (ok the burger was ok but I wasn't missing much) Then I remember seeing a sign saying LA was 3 hours away. I noticed a HUGE orange glow and reported "what's that?". Mike replied "that'd be LA". my response "you're sh*!TEN me". Soon after we were in "La". Not for real just for play play. Anyhoooo. We were driving in the suburbs and Claire decide after 2 and a half days she was done. Yes folks she took a dump and thats how she felt about the matter. 45 minutes later we were at the arrival according to Google GPS. (What would we do without phones?) The next few days we learned the area and I just loved the people I was around and seeing Mike was amazing. On Thursday January (blur blur blur) there was the viewing/service. I met many of Mike's cousins, aunts and uncles. I tried my best to keep quiet since I AM SOUTHERN and have an Apparent accent. (how embarrassing?) I just can't contain myself though! I LOVE TO TALK!! Thank Goodness for Claire who being 2 was tired of it all! Anyway....
What A GREAT service!! I just know that Grandma Janice would have loved it all! Yes I had to remove myself and the young one to walk the halls but heck I heard it over loud speaker. I wanted to be there for Mike.I wanted him to know that I loved him and that Claire loved him. That he means the world to us and in turn Grandma Janice meant and means the world to us!!! I remember leaving the parking lot trying to help Ricki and her saying "I love your accent. I know you must be the sweetest person ever."...Thinking to myself "I'm sure the entire family thinks I am a Hillbilly with absolutely no upbringing". Mike of course told me to stop. "Honey you are you and I absolutely love you for it." That makes me feel good till we hit the burial site. Then i hear your accent is lovely. Ok so I know, I know I have one but I am very self conscious of it. Heavens to betsey I am from south, and when I say south I mean south, Georgia, 1 redlight people. My parents of course wanted and meant for me to have the best upbringing. They made sure my sister and I had an education, so it was important that they all saw it as well. Ricki made sure I was comfortable and Uncle Mark (he was awesome). He hugged me and said "It was so nice to meet you. I have heard sooo much about you."... So yes people this southern girl remembers it all!!
Anyway I shall keep this up to date and you all informed. Thanks for reading.
On December 29th we found out that Mike's grandmother passed away. Broke Mike's heart and to be honest broke mine as well. Yes I didn't know her, Yes she may have had issues, Yes she was old but hey she meant the world to me because she meant the world to Mike. Ok so Mike hasn't seen her in decade(s) but we at least tried to keep her in the loop and up to date. Ok yeah he didn't talk to her or phone her but Heck yeah he thought about her and daily. He wrote her and we sent pictures. Family is very very important to me and I want to make sure it is important to Mike. If that means him being uncomfortable and seeing people he hasn't seen in years so be it! When Mike found out for some reason he thought solo. He thought I will travel the ends of the U.S. alone or on train, or plane alone. Well to be honest I was rather hurt. I wanted to be there! I wanted him to know I cared! I wanted him to know I loved him! That I was in fact part of him!!!!! So I was very quiet and distant. I was waiting on him to be forthcoming and for him to realize that yes I was part of him. Didn't take him long! Then all of a sudden "I want to go to my grandma's funeral and I want you and CLaire there".....Well it's about time Mister! Anyway the very next day we started out, first Dallas then New mexico and next stop California.
We entered California and Mike's face lit up. To be honest I don't even think we were in Cali yet and we had had to stop at Carls Jr. (ok the burger was ok but I wasn't missing much) Then I remember seeing a sign saying LA was 3 hours away. I noticed a HUGE orange glow and reported "what's that?". Mike replied "that'd be LA". my response "you're sh*!TEN me". Soon after we were in "La". Not for real just for play play. Anyhoooo. We were driving in the suburbs and Claire decide after 2 and a half days she was done. Yes folks she took a dump and thats how she felt about the matter. 45 minutes later we were at the arrival according to Google GPS. (What would we do without phones?) The next few days we learned the area and I just loved the people I was around and seeing Mike was amazing. On Thursday January (blur blur blur) there was the viewing/service. I met many of Mike's cousins, aunts and uncles. I tried my best to keep quiet since I AM SOUTHERN and have an Apparent accent. (how embarrassing?) I just can't contain myself though! I LOVE TO TALK!! Thank Goodness for Claire who being 2 was tired of it all! Anyway....
What A GREAT service!! I just know that Grandma Janice would have loved it all! Yes I had to remove myself and the young one to walk the halls but heck I heard it over loud speaker. I wanted to be there for Mike.I wanted him to know that I loved him and that Claire loved him. That he means the world to us and in turn Grandma Janice meant and means the world to us!!! I remember leaving the parking lot trying to help Ricki and her saying "I love your accent. I know you must be the sweetest person ever."...Thinking to myself "I'm sure the entire family thinks I am a Hillbilly with absolutely no upbringing". Mike of course told me to stop. "Honey you are you and I absolutely love you for it." That makes me feel good till we hit the burial site. Then i hear your accent is lovely. Ok so I know, I know I have one but I am very self conscious of it. Heavens to betsey I am from south, and when I say south I mean south, Georgia, 1 redlight people. My parents of course wanted and meant for me to have the best upbringing. They made sure my sister and I had an education, so it was important that they all saw it as well. Ricki made sure I was comfortable and Uncle Mark (he was awesome). He hugged me and said "It was so nice to meet you. I have heard sooo much about you."... So yes people this southern girl remembers it all!!
Anyway I shall keep this up to date and you all informed. Thanks for reading.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
