Our vacations disaster and memories of a lifetime. Part 2

It sure was raining. I do not remember seeing this much rain in my life.

Every 4th of July celebration was cancelled, and really, there was nothing to do! So, we decided to go home. Anthony was devastated! He had been waiting for the beach vacation since last August, when we came back from Mexico!
I really wanted him to remember something good, though. That is why we decided to do the dolphins encounter anyway. They do not cancel because of the rain, just in case of thunder storms, which wasn't the case.

Here are the pictures. Looking at those you'll see why $200 totally worth it. It was amazing! I strongly recommend any kid do that!

Our vacations disaster and memories of a lifetime.

I am a planner. I keep "to do" lists for work, for home, for myself. They can be yearly, quarterly, monthly, weekly, daily. Some think it's nuts. but I love it. It really keeps me on track.
Sooooo, on January 19th I booked our July Florida vacations. Anthony's birthday is July 3rd, so we decided to go ahead and go to the beach for his birthday week.

My big boy's Birthday wish was "to swim with the dolphins". I was kind of glad that he made an "experience" choice rather than more toys. It is expensive, but he wanted it so bad, that we said "yes". As if we had a choice LOL. I found a place in Panama City Beach that is right across the street from the Gulf World Marine Park . Anthony was over the moon! For about a month before our trip they continuously played a radio commercial about "The biggest fireworks show on the Gulf Coast". He could not wait. Neither could we.

Everything went wrong. While driving to PCB, we were pulled over and got a speeding ticket. I was like "wow, way to start vacations!" But we decided not to think about it and think only about the beach.
When we got to the hotel, we were given our keys to find out that our room was on the ground floor right by the pool. Many would think of it as an advantage, but not me. As I have previously mentioned, I had booked this trip on January 19th through BookIt.com and in "special requests" field I put "no ground floor, please!!!!!!!" I was so frustrated! The girl at the reception was very apologizing, she said that the hotel never got this request from Bookit. Nice job, guys! We had no choice but to go to the room. When we got there, I was sure it wasn't going to work. The street level is on the 3rd floor of the hotel. So, not only we had to go 2 floors down every time, but also it was so loud from the pool, that I immediately knew I wouldn't have a nice stay. Mind you, I am 5 months pregnant and I do need some rest from time to time. If it was a last minute booking, I would just shut up and take it. But the fact that I made a special request half a year ago, made me so mad, that I decided to fight. They finally moved us to a room on the 3rd floor. It was a smoking room, but surprisingly, it didn't smell like smoke at all, so we were OK with it.

After changing really quickly we went to the beach. If I only knew it would be my last opportunity to see it! Anyway, Anthony had a blast. He got 4!! water guns for his Birthday, and refused to return any of them back to the store. So, him and my hubby were playing in the waves, while I was relaxing in the evening sun. Here are some pictures

As you can see, our first night was wonderful.
The next day was Anthony's Birthday. We woke up to some noise and at first I thought there was something wrong with the A/C. Nothing was wrong, though. It was rain. I mean, I had been to Florida so many times before, that I knew, it couldn't last long. I kept telling myself, that it would be over after breakfast and we can spend a great day on the beach. Boy, was I wrong!
The rain didn't stop.
It was raining and raining and raining.
To be continued.

He is so happy

My Great News

I am pregnant.

See, I haven't posted for such a long time. I thing I haven't been breathing for such a long time! After the miscarriage last November I was so scared. But now, at 13 weeks I am happy to announce that we're expecting a baby girl. You're wondering how could I know the baby's sex so early? Well, I did Harmony pre-natal test. It's mind blowing what science can do nowadays. It's a pretty new test, been on the market for about 2 years and is covered by most insurances. The test came back normal, and as a perk they told me that I am having a girl.

Needless to say, first thing I did, I bought her a pair of shoes. Pink with embroidered flowers. So cute!!! I need to stop, we don't need to go bankrupt before she's even born lol.

Anyway, I am feeling great. Have lost 10 lb, but the doctor was OK with that, since I was on the heavier side to begin with.

I will post later, gotta run to the vet. Oh, yeah, we got a kitty! LOL full house now.

Love my life. Thank you, God!

Time for myself (dry skin)

After I became a mommy I found that it's really hard to find some time for myself. Always busy, running errands, going to work, doing homework - where to find time? Well, Mondays are my days off, and I decided that these are going to be days for just myself. And today, I am going to do some research about dry skin.

My skin was always on the dryer side, but lately it has been ridiculous. It looks dehydrated and old. I must've been doing something wrong with my daily regiment! Ok, let's look at my day.


* Hot shower in the morning. It is my absolute favorite part of every morning! I like steamy showers, they help me relax. Apparently, hot water strips oils from the skin faster than warm water. Long showers or baths actually dry out your skin. Boo! I can't skip hot water, I would rather make my showers shorter!

* Moisturizer. I have tried so many! Spent too much money without finding the one that would actually help! But just last night I came across this interesting article about the use of olive oil. It described the Mediterranean women who used virgin olive oil for everything - face, hair , body. I do, too, prefer extra virgin olive oil for my cooking, so this morning I was like "why not give it a try?". Let me tell you!!! I love it! I put some olive oil on a cotton ball and pat it on my driest spots  (which is my whole face, except for my nose). It feels so soft! But I can kind of smell it. Maybe it'll be my night regiment from now on.



there's a great website about olive oil. If you have a minute, click on it, it's very informative! Olive Oil Top
Oh, and another thing about moisturizers - they work best if you apply them within three to five minutes of washing to lock moisture in.

* Hydration. This should be a no brainer!  Drink your water! I recently quit soda, so I do drink a lot of water lately. So, we'll see.
* Your cleanser. A lot of people do not realize that using wrong cleanser may actually ruin their skin! That is me, as well. I am so used to my cleanser that I've been using for many years, that I didn't realize it's not for me anymore! My skin was normal when I started using it, and since my skin changed to dry, it's time to change my cleanser as well!
In Style magazine named Cerave Hydrating Skin Cleanser as  the best dry skin cleanser of 2012. It is soap-and fragrance-free, has milky formula and is only  $13! I guess, I'll try it!

I would love to know what other mommies do to fight skin dryness! Please feel free to share! 

One Million Kisses

That's how much I love you, my SONshine!

Have you ever thought how many things in this life we take for granted? Every day, every minute, every single moment is a Blessing. We breath and that is a gift!

I recently came across a letter that a Mom wrote for her Son's 14th birthday. It would be just an ordinary letter, but her SONshine didn't live to be 14. He got his angel wings just a couple of months before his Birthday.

I was crying the moment I started reading the letter. But one phrase is still burning a hole in my heart. It said: "My baby boy... if I had known we would only have 14 years together, I would have cradled you and kissed you endlessly every single day". 

How sad is that? How sad that we sometimes are "too busy" and do not have time to stop. Stop and look around you. Your baby, no matter how old he is, is the greatest gift God has given to you. And you never know how much time you have together. SO,Take your time to love them, take your time to kiss them, take your time to tell them how much you love them. Take your time to thank God for having them! 

Imagine waking up one morning and not having anything you haven't thanked God for........

I am back!

It has been so long since I posted anything here. So many things happened - good and bad. Time flew so fast, and here we are - at the very end of February. Craaaazy!

This summer we went to Cancun, Mexico for vacations. Fun!!! My SONshine absolutely loved it! We stayed at a very family friendly all-inclusive resort with a Kids' Club. It was amazing! Anthony is the only child, and very often chooses me as a playmate. But not in Cancun. He made so many friends there! As for us, adults, what can be better than spending time under the sun, drinking beers and knowing our child is safe AND having fun! Definitely doing this again (not this summer, but may be next)

Our highlight of the fall/winter season was my mom's visit. She was with us for 5 months (leaving February 28th). Only having her here helped me cope with the miscarriage I had in November.
That wasn't something that we planned, but we all were very excited when 3!! tests showed us 2 solid red lines. Of course, I was a bit concerned, because of my age (I will be 37 in August), but a lot of people I know had kids later than that. I still do not know what happened, but I lost the baby. It was very sad, but somehow I got over it. You know, God has a plan for everyone. I do believe that that happened for a reason.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

I love you too, sweetie!

I absolutely love this video!
He's not even 3 here yet. It was back when Barney ruled, not the Transformers and Power Rangers

Fall

I haven't blogged for so long! Life has been busy as we are trying to get used to the new schedule. Anthony seems to really like school. As for me, I think it's a bit too much for a 5 years old.

First of all, homework. Every day it takes us over 30 minutes to complete it. He gets 5 tasks daily! Honestly, I do not remember getting homework until I was in the 2nd grade. And we're talking about K! And the tasks do not make too much sense to me, either. Here  are some examples:

* Draw a picture of a rule you follow in the cafeteria
* Write what is the difference between you and your teacher (I like that they have to write!)
* Read a book and draw all the characters

and so on......

We do complete each task diligently, but I feel like reading to him would be much more useful. We do read a lot, he loves books

Another thing that I was a bit irritated about is the "warnings" that he brings from school every other day.
* Warning for not following instructions (the teacher asked to put a book on the shelf, he put it on the desk)
* Warning for being too active (c'mon now! It's a 5 y.o. boy!!!!)
* Warning for talking during class
I spoke to his teacher about those warnings, and she said everyone got those. Then what's the point?

Ok, you got it! I am one of those mommies who worry too much about their only child. But he's my SONshine, I can't but worry!

Boys gone handsome Part 2

Now that Anthony is in real school, I need to make sure he's dressed appropriately. They do not wear uniforms, but I wouldn't put a dinosaur shirt on him, since it'll probably become a distraction. For his school clothes I chose Hannah Andersson.Love this brand! Their cotton is still of very high quality (unlike Gap, which disappointed me so much lately), clothes are designed to spend a day in.

First and foremost, we bought a back pack and a lunch box. These were not my faves, but my husband and Anthony both voted on them, so I had to surrender:

The back pack is awesome! I love the padded adjustable straps and VERY light weight.  The lunch box is pretty roomy, can be attached to the back pack. It is insulated inside and has some outside pockets for snacks.
AND... these are pretty unique. You don't see them much in school.

I love Hannah's t-shirts. We are in Georgia, so the t-shirts are worn until November sometimes.
Stripes are usually my favorites. Look at this one!

Isn't that cute?

Hannah Andersson never disappoints me. But I am lucky to have a store nearby, as their shipping charges are pretty high (for those buying on-line)

What is your favorite brand that your SONshine wears to school?

Anthony goes to kindergarten

I can not believe my baby boy, my SONshine, the love of my life is a kindergartner now. He's riding a "real yellow bus" every morning to school. First couple of days were so hard for me! I came home from the bus stop and cried.

I wonder if every mom has this kind of emotions seeing her baby off to school for the first time. I really would love to hear from others!

I know you'll make your mommy very proud, Anthony! You're smart, kind and gentle. I couldn't wish for a better son than you!

Thank you, Lord, for my family, for my beautiful son and loving husband. I can't thank you enough!

Boys gone handsome ... Part 1

I want my SONshine to always look good. I mean, who doesn't, right? The truth is, though it's much easier with girls than boys.

Look and compare boys' and girls' clothing departments at any store and you'll see what I mean.

I had a little girl's mommy said to me once: "You're so lucky you have a boy! You don't have to care what to dress him in every day - just jeans and a t-shirt".

 Well, I can't agree with that. Anthony always looks sharp, no matter if he's going to Church, school or playground. I refuse to have "that's just a boy" attitude. I know, some moms are rolling their eyes at me right now. Oh, well. That is how I am

I buy a lot of clothes. Too much? I guess, you could say that. I sell it on Ebay after Anthony grows out of it. That is exactly how I han afford buying some higher-end clothes - I sell them after I use them!

My all-time favorite brand is Mini Boden. I just love their quality and wearability. Mini Boden t-shirts with appliques are always fun. Anthony absolutely loves them.

Another thing I buy from them all the time is their jersey baggies shorts. I buy them in all colors year after year.

I have to add, that I buy them at the end of the season for the next year 80% of the time, when they are deeply discounted. This way after I am done with them, I can get my money back after I re-sell them on Ebay. Like, last week I placed a huge order for next summer. Some shirts were discounted to $7, and shorts to $10!

Happy 5th Birthday!

My SONshine turned 5 yesterday. I can't believe how fast time flies. I thank our Lord every day for such a wonderful gift I have been given.

My little boy, I hope you know how much you're loved. I will never get tired of kissing your precious face. I will never have enough of your tight hugs. I will never love anyone more than I love you. My love to you grows with every new morning. Sometimes it's so intense that it hurts.  You make my life lighter brighter and happier. Thank you for being you! Thank you for showing me what MOM's love is.

It is SO HOT!

Weather, I mean.
I love heat. I love to feel hot sun rays on my skin. Summer is my favorite season, and here, in GA, it lasts at least 6 months.
What to do with my SONshine when it's so hot? We love water.
Unfortunately, our subdivision does not have a pool. So, we have to think of where to go to splash. The closest and the cheapest to us is downtown Norcross (little town we live in). It has a fountain where kids can splash for free.

The one thing I do not like about it is that it is so crowded. Big kids run around not paying much attention to the little ones.

We also have 2 mini aqua parks pretty close. You do have to pay to get in there, but it's not much for the county residents. This year we haven't been there yet, but here are some pictures from the previous years

1. Best Friend Park. It features an outdoor leisure pool with zero-depth entry, giant water slide and water play structures

2.  West Gwinnett Park Aquatic Center. It features a zero-depth entry, two giant water slides, river channel, bubble bench, vortex, spray bar, and water play structures.

What I do not like about these parks is that they can close pretty unexpectedly (e.g. someone peed in the pool, or their radar shows that thunder is coming), and they do not refund you the money. It happened to us twice. Once we just got undressed and didn't even get a chance to get into the water, the second time we were there for about 15 minutes. That, to my mind is very unfair. But they were firm, and the money was not refunded.


Sometimes we would go to the river. The Chattahoochee River is 5 minutes from our house. Its fast water is very cold, though. That's the thing I do not like about it. It doesnt't bother my SONshine, though!

Lake Lanier is about 40 minutes drive from us. It's a lot of fun, too!

Spraygrounds are everywhere now! For just $1  you can spend there all day (we usually spend no more than 45 minutes there)

Monday Morning

Today is Monday, my day off. I am going to the doctor's today for my physical. I have a list of questions to ask. I have noticed, every year the list becomes longer and longer. Am I getting old? LOL
I also have a great news! Since I found out I am obese 12 days ago I lost 6 lb. Not as much as I would love to, but not bad at all. I started eating breakfast, and signed up for My Fitness Pal. This site is so great! I encourage everyone to try it out! I got a phone application as well, and it has a scanner, so you can scan the barcode of any food you eat to add it to your daily food diary. Now, off to the gym! (yeah, that too...)

Weight Loss struggle

I always was a skinny girl. Could eat anything anytime and not gain a pound. Everything changed when we moved to the United States. In 9 years I went from 110 lb to 190 lb. Yeah, I had my SONshine, but not only that. There are several reasons that got me where I am now.
1. I got a car. We live in Atlanta suburb, where there's no public transportation. I drive everywhere. In Belarus (that is my home country) I walked everywhere.
2. We started eating out a lot. Back home eating in a restaurant is ridiculously expensive, and we could afford it monthly, not every week, sometimes twice a week. And, let me tell you! The portions of food there are at least 5 times smaller than here.
3. Fast Food. I am not a fan, but it is so freaking convenient sometimes!!!

So, I started gaining weight. I loved my new life and absolutely refused to admit I was getting bigger and bigger. By the time I got pregnant in 2006 I weighed 140 lb  (that's from 110 lb in 2003)

I was really good during my pregnancy. When tests showed I had gestational diabetes, I was put on a very strict diet. But, by the time I had Anthony, I weighed 152 lb. The scale became my worst enemy. The numbers never went down, they were slowly creeping up. I tried all possible diets.
I started with Weight Watchers. I must say, this is when my diet really worked. I started losing weight. But I very soon got tired of counting points, going to the meetings etc. So, I quit.

After WW there were:

* Atkins
* South Beach
*Dukan Diet
*Sonoma Diet
* Phentermine appetite suppressant.

I always lost weight on those, but gained it right back.

There's a list of different DIETS HERE

I think I'm just lazy. I can't stick to a diet. I hate this word!!!! I love food too much.

The wake up call was 10 days ago during my routine OB GYN exam. I was told I am obese 
I cried for 2 days! I do not want to be obese! I do not want my SONshine to be embarrassed by me.  I want to again be in the pictures and wear cute clothes!  I have to do it this time. For me and for my SONshine!

Selling on Ebay

When Anthony started outgrowing his clothes, I tried out selling them on ebay. I kind of liked it, though I barely made any profit. This is when I stumbled upon this amazing group of women who call themselves "Storks".


 This is an amazing forum. Everybody is super friendly and helpful. I fell in love... A couple of months later I had an ebay store.

Daddy's day

Today is Father's day and I would like to tell you how wonderful my hubby is. His name is Pavel, he goes by Paul here, in the States. From day one Anthony was born he was there for him. He was the one to hold him first, to feed him first, to rock him to sleep first. He is awesome!!!
 * he is a very intelligent man
 * he has a great sense of humor
 * he is loving and caring
 * he is handsome
 * he always keeps the house clean
* he lives for me and Anthony
 I could keep going, really! Happy Daddy's Day, sweetheart!We love you!