Fort Worth I LUV you!

Here are the pictures as promised. The title from the blog did not originate with me. It was on bumper stickers as a kid.
Metroplex posse- do they still have the stickers or has Fort Worth come up with some thing more classy?

We loved the Japanese gardens. Here we are teaching Gianna to




Hear no evil




Speak no evil



And.....





See no evil


More pictures in our photo album link on the right!

Vacation from vacation

This weekend we went to Ft Worth and had a blast. John was actually performing a wedding for a former student in InterVarsity, and we all took the chance to catch up with family and have some fun!
I grew up in Ft Worth and it made me feel old when I figured out that I had not lived there in 13 years! Most things were as I remembered them and I never got lost! We saw the botanical gardens, Trinity park with a beaver like animal, my aunt and uncle, and we finished off our time meeting Aaron and Wendy and my nieces for a great time at the Museum of Nature and Science.
Yesterday I saw and did nothing! Gianna slept for 5 hours! We were tired from our great time!
I'm still tired- so you will have to wait a little longer for some great photos, but I promise you'll see them soon!

Work out

So I've done it. I joined a gym. March was try it for a month for free. And I actually liked it. Gianna and I went and enjoyed it. Then April came and we both were sick and I sure did not want to go and do more work than I had to. But now we are back on track and healthy. We're trying to get into a pattern but so far I don't have one. Yesterday Gianna did not want to take a morning nap so we headed to the gym at nap time. So far so good. We had a good work out/play time. When we got home we had snack- me too I worked out right!?!?!?
She enjoyed cheese and crackers, me- chocolate cake. Then we played and the melt down started. Gianna is a good communicator. She lets me know when something bothers her. But this was a meltdown like I've never seen. Wailing and tears, and not even her favorite toy or lovey could snap her out of it. I finally broke down and decided to get that baby to bed. She slept and was better. And thankfully she took an afternoon nap too.
Today I left her her with John (he works from home on Thursday's), and guess what- NO NAP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Today is a special day.

Today we celebrate a day that shows commitment, joy and enduring love. Yes it's Earth Day, but it's Grandma and Grandpa Ludlow's anniversary!
Congratulations on being married to the same person for more than 36 years!

Join the band wagon

Hold on to your hats folks- I'm getting on a soap box!
I've just seen my millionth commercial for "green" cleaning products at WalMart.
So I finally need to get this off my chest. And you my dear blog readers will benefit from my rant!
Why is everyone so caught up on being "green" all of the sudden? What happened 5 years ago when we had all the things we wanted and used everything as much as we wanted? Why are the celebrities now on board telling us how cool it is to go green? And WalMart touting it's "greenness"!?!?!?!?!?!
UGGGGGGGGGGHHHHHHH!
I'm actually very tired of it. Why? Because my dear friends I'm already green. That's right (she says while typing on her laptop that emits enough carbon to pollute China), I'm already green. I've been composting for YEARS, and recycling too. I have taken my own bags to the store since 2000. I even made my own. I've celebrated Earth Day since we've moved to College Station, and brace yourselves kids, I wash out plastic baggies and reuse them!
It's true part of it is because I'm cheap, but still....

Really, for me, it's not about the Save the earth "cool" part of being green. I'm "Green" because of a Bible verse:
Genesis 1:27-30
27 So God created man in his own image,
in the image of God he created him;
male and female he created them
God blessed them and said to them, "Be fruitful and increase in number; fill the earth and subdue it. Rule over the fish of the sea and the birds of the air and over every living creature that moves on the ground.Then God said, "I give you every seed-bearing plant on the face of the whole earth and every tree that has fruit with seed in it. They will be yours for food. And to all the beasts of the earth and all the birds of the air and all the creatures that move on the ground—everything that has the breath of life in it—I give every green plant for food." And it was so.

Do you see why? I'm green because God called us to be. He GAVE us the earth to take care of. So whether or you agree with Al Gore or not, I don't really care. I don't think it should be political. I really think it's spiritual, and an act of honoring God to take care of what he gave us. Like a cherished present, you can use it, wear it out, but you take care of it. So don't just jump on the band wagon. Actually, walk the path and BE green.
What do you think?
How are you taking care of the earth?
Are you tired of all the greenness?


Thanks for letting me get that off my chest.

All by myself

I just wanted to show you my brilliant daughter!

Taxes

This is my Public Service Announcement for taxes. Do them. Today.
You're welcome.

Here is Gianna and our azelea's. We took it a few weeks ago and now all the flowers are gone. A short lived flower, but beautiful!

Our Little Walker

Sick Babies

Sick Babies are no fun. I know- I have one.
She's got cold and a fever and a little cough. Poor little girl. She is sleeping well so that's a plus and nothing unusual is coming out of her. A major plus from what I hear from mom's who have had a sick baby with a stomach virus.
The hard part of my sick baby is that I've been sick too the last few times she has. John has escaped it this time so he is very helpful, but man, when we all had it together- IT. WAS. NOT. FUN.
She has been extra cuddly this time. So that's been sweet. Except it's hard to hold her when you have to go potty.
I've given her honey before for a cough, but today I tried honey in some warm water with lemon juice. She loved it. Drank it all up- twice. I think it helped.
I also tried to make my own chicken noodle soup. John and I liked it. Gianna spit it out.

Doctor said that it can last 10-14 days. We're on day 5 , 12 hours, 42 minutes. Not that I'm counting.






But I am!

March for Babies!

Hi All,
I wanted to invite you to support John and I in our effort to help babies in the March of Dimes March for Babies. It helps research on premature babies like our dear sweet Gianna.
Click on the link below and help out!

Hello. I am participating in March for Babies because I believe in the March of Dimes mission to save babies. Please support my fundraising efforts by sponsoring me in March for Babies today.

Contributing to my march online is fast, easy and secure. You can donate directly from my personal webpage with a credit/debit card or PayPal. If you prefer, I can also accept cash or check. Just click the appropriate box on my webpage.

The money we raise helps save premature and sick babies. Premature birth is the #1 cause of newborn death and the biggest threat to babies’ health today, and through March for Babies, the March of Dimes is funding important research to find out why premature birth happens and what can be done to prevent it.

I’ve joined with millions of compassionate people across the country who support March for Babies each year. Won’t you please help me in this worthy cause? Visit my webpage and sponsor me in the march that saves babies!

With your support, there’s hope.

http://www.marchforbabies.org/theludlows

Good reminder

This weekend we headed to Galveston with the Young Married Newlywed class that we mentor. More pictures of that to come soon. But while we were there I was walking Gianna around outside a restaurant and some one said to me, "They grow up so fast."
It's true. I remember about a year ago I was holding Gianna and remarking how much my little 4 month old had already grown from her 5 pounds to 7.
Now I remark that she is walking more now than she chooses to crawl and she is interacting with us and trying to get us to laugh.
I didn't roll my eyes or laugh at the man who said the comment to me. Instead I prayed a thankful prayer that I even get to enjoy my dear sweet one every day. And I thanked God that he chose me to be her mother. So grow big dear little one, just let me enjoy each baby step along the way.

PS more of these great pictures can be found at out pictures link. Thanks to Erin Cole who took them!

http://treasuresbyerin.com/

By the numbers

We took Gianna in today for her 15 month checkup. We got her 12 month shots. Her are her percentages: 10% 15% and 70%.

Guess which one is her head percentage?




Not 10% that's her weight.





Nope not 15% either. That's her height.





Yup- 70% Runs in the family on my side. I guess that gives us room for our smart brains!!!

LadyBug in the Bluebonnets

Here is our little ladybug in the Bluebonnets.

YUCKY!!!

Now Gianna has eaten some yucky things already:
Dog food. Dog toys. Sticks. Rocks. Food left on the ground by other children at a park.
(Gosh, it makes me sound like I never pay attention to my own child, but I do I promise!!!!)
Well, today Gianna (as I was standing right next to her!!!!) picked up a June bug wing and proceeded to put it in her mouth!

YUCKY!!!!!!!!!