Dancin' Around The Christmas Tree

Here is our tree and Dalen just dancing around it to my parent's AMAZING choice of AWESOME music. Dalen is going to LOVE music and dancing. EVerytime music starts he begins to sway and bob his head. So hilarious

Gifts

Ok, I had to post just a few (ha ha) Christmas pics of Dalen. Enjoy! Aunt MyMel and Dalen with Santa.
Dalen's pic with Santa.

Dalen playing with Grump in his Christmas jammies.


Mario and me.

Yibby feeling much better!

Dalen nappin with grump

I have no clue how to erase a pic once uploaded.

Here is Dalen with his new laptop....don't freak it was only $8.99 with my discount. My mom bought it for him b-c he always messes with ours.

Dalen in his new rocking chair from Cracker Barrel. His Granny in Florida purchased him this.

This is Mario and Dalen running around my grandmothers house. The found these stickers and Dalen would go cross eyed trying to see his on his nose.

My aunt and uncle bought Dalen a tool kit. It also has a hard hat.....HILARIOUS!

Best buddies napping.

One We Will ALL Remember

My mom's living room is cluttered with opened gifts. A few random pieces of wrapping paper are scattered about on my mom's newly laid carpet. All I can think is wow. Another Christmas has come and gone. This year is one we surely we never forget...EVER.
Christmas Eve is the same EVERY year. We gather at my mom's house and eat chili, play games and act crazy. However, just as we sat down for chili Olivia vomited. EVERYWHERE. After about an hour we all realized it wasn't just something she ate. It was indeed a virus. She puked over and over and over. It was the most pitiful thing ever. My grandmother left at 7:30 before games and fun. It's our first year without her husband. She wasn't in the game playing mood. In fear of becoming sick again this season Mario and I gathered our stuff and headed home last night.
I woke myself just in time to shower and be ready to go back to my mom's when I got a call saying Olivia had been at the hospital all night with her parents. She had the latest bug that has gone around. Our family surely has endured hospitalizations this year. My mom insisted we all still get together to open gifts. Though I thought it was not a wise idea here we are. All presents have been opened, tree lights glisten and my dads snoring seranades my typing. Everyone is asleep...but me. My mom is literally asleep sitting up. She occaisonally teeters with Olivia on her shoulder. I am so hoping she catches herself just in time before teetering off her favorite chair.
My mind just can't help but to wonder. I wonder what Christmas would be like if our family hadn't experienced a miracle in Meredith's life. What would this year be like if my grandfather were here? What is he doing right this moment? Does Heaven recognize today as Christmas? Does Jesus get a birthday cake?
This year, as I watch Dalen snooze away in holiday penguin pajamas, I am just so thankful for life. I am so thankful I got to watch my baby climb up in his new rocking chair and rock away. I'm glad I got to give my parents a nice gift card to go out and eat. I am glad my husband is loyal to me and our baby.
Life. It comes and goes quickly. I am so glad I get to share my life with Dalen and Mario.

Play day

Friday was my mom's last day of school. They had a play and parties all day for the kids. She really wanted Dalen to come so we headed that way early. After we were done there we went to Hamilton Place and I let Dalen play for a little bit on the indoor playground. Gosh, the kids are wild in there. He surely knows how to hold his own. Some big pushed him down (on purpose) and Dalen got right back up and kept truckin'. Not without me lecturing the kid that pushed him down ha, ha.

Boys at Belk

If I want to look at my retail experience in a positive way, I will just think back to the last two nights I have worked at Belk. Anytime a male comes in with his wife's wish list you can go ahead and mark him a future blog. A couple nights ago that I worked, they put me in accessories and handbags. I also have to watch over lingerie (super hilarious and disturbing at times).
Sorry for all you Dooney, Coach and Gucci carriers but there is just something that totally irks me about women who will drop $300 on a purse. Can I just say rediculous? My first story stems from expensive purses.
A man and his two sons were shopping around at Dooneys. It's a REALLY big deal if you sell one b-c they cost so much and there were a few on sale. This man obviously stuck to the clearance Dooneys. He calls me over and the three of them circle around me. I felt like I was at a secret club meeting. Very softly the dad holds up the Dooney and says is this considered a purse. Trying not to laugh I respond yes. All three males lean in together practically right in my face and the oldest son says no dad. Mom said she wanted a handbag. I just kinda smile because this was a cute and innocent comment of a 12 year old that didn't know any better. The dad finally moves away and says well, ok where are your handbags ma'am? LOL! HYSTERICAL!
I didn't even have to question if this man was being serious....he totally had no clue that handbag means purse. I politely said they are the same thing. He decided to go with the on sale Dooney for $122.00. I got to thinking that could buy but 4-100 count cases of diapers! It could probably fill from car up from empty about 4 times!
So now, here comes the part that really just irks me. Let me just state...I am aware that a lot of people have a lot more money than me but I will make it clear....I don't care if I were a millionaire I would never spend hundreds of $$$s on a purse! I just think its obserd. So an older lady probably in her early 60s approaches with tons of stuff. She hands me all stuff for herself 1st. She never asks the price of any of it. Lastly, she cautiously hands me a Dooney that was probably close to $300. She explains she is Christmas shopping but couldn't resist these items for herself. I tell her the total and she says ok that leaves X amount for everyone else which probably means I will have to put back a lot of what I got for the kiddos! GRRRR!!!! How selfish! I begin to ring up clothes and stuff for I guess her grandkids and she asks me everytime I scan something how much it is. Not one item she picked for other people was over $9 and they were all red dot which means they were an additionl 40% off. Literally she stood debating which one of her grandkids stuff to put back so she could sport some stupid purse that may I add was NOT even cute! Finally she pays with her Premiere Belk charge card (which qualifies a customer for free gift wrap.) She tells me she wants the stuff gift wrap and I begin putting the kids clothes in boxes and she says oh no, the kids stuff will be put in bags...but the things I got will need to be wrapped! Ladies and gents I almost totally lost it on her. She proceeds to yip yap right over my shoulder the whole time I am wrapping and tells me the fun of Christmas is acting surprised at her gifts "from her husband." What a brat.
My last story for this post....
A man comes in with his daughter. He is looking for a bra. A very specific bra: nude, style #1080 and in size 36 D. (Side note: don't EVER send your hubby to get you a bra! So rediculous. Bra sizes confuse me and I am a woman so imagine a poor man in the middle of holiday shopping trying to rummage thru a million bras for a specific color, style and size.) He explains to me he can't find anything but a 36 DD. I explain to him DD is very different than D. He looks at me kinda confused and says wait a minute. She is double. I couldn't help but to laugh. I didn't know if the man meant he thought she was double big or had two boobs instead of one. I didn't ask either. I simply left him with the advice of if your wife said she is D get D because DD is different.
I kinda feel bad writing about these innocent men trying their best. But they do make my job fun.

Madoosa

This picture brings a whole new meaning to bed head. Dalen looks like madoosa here. I LOVE his long curly hair but he must have dreamed WILD last night!

Lucky

I was leaving for work (at belk) yesterday and this is what I find before leaving...
the thought came to me how I ever got so lucky. I love the 2 men in my life.

I had to get a close up of Dalens arms. He looks like he is flying. Who knows, in his dreams maybe he was.

Ride Em Boy!

Auntie MyMel got Dalen this rocking giraffe last Christmas to match his nursery. He is finally to the point where he can ride it....BIG time.

We Are Home!

Today I went to Wal-Mart before work and Dalen fell asleep before we got home. I love this video. He is so pathetically tired I let him stay asleep in the car while I ran the groceries in the house and then we headed off to work.

Reaching

Well the other day I literally tortured Dalen. Mario got home but I took it upon myself to lock him out of my bedroom while I wrapped some Christmas gifts. Dalen was SOOOO desperate to see Mario they were talking under the crack on the door and as you can see Dalen is reaching for Mario too. This is too cute.

Rainy Dayz

Dalen has LOVED getting to tap his toes on the wet pavement.

Doctor, Doctor Give Me The News

Yesterday was Dalen's 15 month check up. He was supposed to get shots but since we discovered he had an ear infection he has to do 2 weeks of an antibiotic and then come back for shots.

Dalen was in LOVE with one of the nurses. You can see in the next few pictures that he is straining to see her behind the window and totally flirting.

This was our VERY 1st visit that we got to weigh on the BIG boy scale!! Dalen fell off of it.

This is Dalen grabbing for everything in the doctor's pockets.

I love that the doctor's office has all kinds of wall murals.

Dalen is now 27 lbs. and 32 inches long. He's growing fast!

A Few Extras

We are up to NO good.
All smiles!

Have you EVER seen anyone so excited about dirty laundry in your life?

Best Bargainer

Dalen fell askeep in his seat after church Sunday.
Well, with my 20 % off coupon at Belk and my associates discount....this dress coat was only $3!!! I thought it was SUPER cute and really warm....a little big but it does the job. Thank you God for introducing me to bargains!

Oh Christmas Tree

Dalen in antlers @ Target.
Dalen petting lambs at the nativity scene
at my dad's office.

So we said we weren't doing a tree....so we are doing gifts under these flowers in a vase on our kitchen table. haha. Its really cute in person. Actually, I like it a lot better b-c we can't afford a lot of gifts so this little vase is overwhelmed by BIG presents and it looks like we have a lot to give this year. We have actually added a few more things too. I am super excited about the few things we are able to afford for Dalen.

Raised From The Dead

Most of you know the amazing story of my sister's miracle. She was raised from the dead this summer....don't believe me? visit our local EMS station and see her plaque with her name and picture on it. It hangs on a wall to all of their patients who were clinically dead and are now living normal lives.
Meredith has been so blessed to receive so many opportunities to share this miracle. Meredith spoke at the EMS Christmas Banquet on Friday, in sunday school classes, to our local church, on a church's TV program and recently her story was aired on the news. The most AMAZING this is that Erlanger (the hospital she was at) just became a heart institute hospital and their family will be the poster family for this!!!!!!!!! So amazing! This is just another door for them to share this miracle with the public enjoy their testimony.

Friends of Gingerbread

On Monday, Dalen and I were invited to a friend's house to make gingerbread houses. My friend is Crystal Bennet (Madden). She has a little girl names Charis who is hysterical! I was super excited about this outing for many reasons.
(1) I am 24 and I have never made a gingerbread house! I know, its a shame!
(2) Crystal and I have been friends forever and I was so excited to see how our two crazy kids would get along.
(3) I don't get to see Dalen interact with other kids often and I just love seeing his personality come out around others.
We were greeted with a Christmas present for Dalen from Charis (super sweet). We ate pizza and the kids ran bonkers until we made them come help with the houses. Crystal accidentally broke their roof in half early on in the process. Charis was NOT happy but once she realized she could eat the candy that hadn't been used I think she became ok with it. I was pretty pleased with how my house turned out. Dalen totally trashed Charis's room and she was sweet about it and did well sharing all of her toys. We definately need to get them together again. Here are a few pics from the night.

Getting ready to build.

Our finished house.

Friends forever....literally. Dalen looks REALLy happy about it, huh? haha

PREGNANCY IS MY WORST ENEMY

I have been asked if I am pregnant twice since I had Dalen.  When I think of that and fact that I was sick as a dog for 5 months of my pregnancy I can't help but to think pregnancy is my worst enemy. Especially after what happened last night.

I was working at the lovely Belk when a young girl (probably 18) approaches the register.  SHe is holding a tiny blue outfit for a newborn baby boy.  This girl is not a pound under 350 lbs.  A lady speaking to her leaves her by saying bye and that she must bring that little baby by church so she can see her.  Of course I wanted to make conversation but you just never know with someone that size....are they expecting or did they already have the baby.  I ask the baby's name and she replies Aden and informs me she has been watching this outfit to go on sale because she wants it for her baby boy.  Ok, her and the lady she was talking to were totally talking like he was already here!  But stupid me....forgot my own advice that you never assume anything concerning pregnancy.  So I ask how old is he?  She says well I'm only 6 months pregnant so he will be here in 3 months.  Cant you tell by how big my stomach is?!  I look at her stomach which honestly is just hanging with everything else and I just smiled.  Now I know how easy it is to see something and think its something else.  Hopefully I won't be asked if I'm pregnant again but if it happens maybe I could consider a little patience with the person.

Decor

Since we are pretty certain that Dalen would absolutely destroy a Christmas tree we aren't doing one. So basically all we are doing is hanging this wreath...so sad I know! Dalen got the honors of doing it and sounded pretty excited about it. I've been thinking of getting a little tree but who knows.

Dadas Home

The other day Mario left for like 20 minutes to grab Chick-Fil-A for dinner. Dalen got pretty excited when he got home (like always).

Leeping Lizards!

Dalen does this with his tongue a lot. I'm not quite sure why or what he is thinking but I think he looks like a little lizard.

Santa Babies

Yesterday we had family pictures with my family for Christmas and then in the afternoon we did pictures with Santa with Dalen and Olivia. These were for my mom so Dalen got dressed up in an outfit to match Olivia that my mom liked. After church.

Dalen peeking in on his buddy after pictures.

Olivia smiling.

Dalen doing something....who knows.

Dalen making faces and motions at Aunt Mary.

They did realy good and we actually got them both smiling on the 1st picture. Neither of them cried or acted scared of Santa. It was great.

Dum Dum Dreams

Last night I had the most unreal, hilarious dream. I have no idea how my mind could be so creative to dream something so spectacular. I shared this dream with the person it was dreamed about and asked if I could blog about it and she said yes but I will keep her nameless.

So I have this friend who is so sweet, caring and totally not demanding or bossy. I dreamed she got engaged and became everything she is not. Her wedding revolved around her super "sweet" finacee and needless to say the day ended bittersweet. She begins her planning by telling my mom she wants the bouquets made from lollypops because her fiancee is just that sweet. My mom decides to make them because our business can't be remembered as the wedding planners who don't do what the brides want! Later in the dream when she tosses the bouquet it hits my our single friend in the cheekbone leaving a nice plumb colored bruise. Oh yea, and about plumbs...her centerpieces were to be crafted from plumbs. Not just any pumbs but SUGAR plumbs.

After seeing the centerpieces she chases my mom down called her Su with her fingerpointed upright like she is going to object and asks, "Are these ordinary plumbs or SUGAR plumbs?" My mom assures her they are indeed sugar plumbs and sends her on her way. This is when I notice her lovely updo has been peirced with the sticks of dum dum lollipops!!! Oh my gosh it was hysterical!

Not to mention her garter was made from rock candy and she refused to have sex with her new husband until he played candyland with her...and WON! LOL! My mind is corrupt! No more Marco's pizza before bed.

Toes

Dalen's foot hanging out of his crib during naptime.

Dalen and his Fav.

Dalen and his favorite playmate.

If it ain't one thing...

...it's 16 others. In our house, that is. Here is a day in the Life of Megan Hood.
I wake up to the lovely pitter patter of bare feet. It's Dalen reved up and ready to go. It can't be 7 a.m. I think. Mario gives him an extra boost to climb in bed with me and my nose is bombarded with the most gosh awful stinch. Great. Its 7 a.m. and I am already changing a stinky. The bright orange substance welcomes the day.
I notice Dalen is wincing and whining while I am changing him and then I notice he has awful diaper rash (which he never gets). So I cream him up and set him on his way. Mario is out the door by 7:30 and the whining and crying begins. Dalen is absolutely in love with Mario. Simply I will not do anymore. He cries for the next 20 minutes and I trash the thought of a bath in peace. Every so often I am decorated in trash that Dalen is digging from the trash can and I have to swim after it in the tub. I am then irritated I am even bothering to bathe. Seriously, whats the point when you are not only sinking in your own germs from the previously day but now with the germs from the trash as well? Dalen then decides to throw my clean towel and clothes in the floor. At this point, I'm thinking it seriously may be the beginning of a bath strike.
I then get a call from Mario informing me he has taken off to work with not only his keys but mine as well. No biggie I don't have to be to work until noon. Mario returns home shortly thereafter with my keys and returns to work. Dalen then begins to scream his head off again. Somedays I really do wonder if it would be better for me to work full time and Mario stay home.
The crying continues until I feed Dalen. I then realize I have no breakfast baby food so he will just have to eat fruit. Expectant mothers: DO NOT EVER FEED YOUR BABY PLAIN FRUIT IN THE MORNING! I will give no further desription as to what I have to change after that digested. YUCK! I think the odor is still stuck somewhere in my nose. Then I recieve a call of some1 not too happy with the way I dealt with a situation. You know you never can please everyone. Some days complaints wouldn't be so bad, if you had some days of appreciation.
FINALLY, we are dressed and ready to buy toilet paper at CVS. I load Dalen in a buggie with a car attatched to the front of it and he begins pulling everything he can off the shelves. I then realize their aisle aren't nearly wide enough b-c everything is within arms reach. We dash out the door in hopes to make it work on time. Due to the lovely city of Cleveland I park 3 1/2 blocks away from work because if you park directly downtown you recieve a ticket after 2 hours. And there is actually a lovely, wonderful cop who drives around ALL day doing nothing but hunting cars who have been parked too long. I mean seriously, don't you have something better to do? So I put 30 pound Dalen on my left hip. My diaper dag in my right shoulder. My purse on my wrist and after a few steps notice something doesn't feel right. Oh yea, I forgot to bundle myself up. Once I realized I would have to put Dalen down and the diaper bag and my purse and then put my coat on a relaod myself I decided I would rather freeze. So off to work we go. One block away from work I realize one of Dalen's feet is shoeless. Perfect. Now I get to walk another 3 block to retrace my steps and find the missing shoe. I get the store opened and retrace my steps only to find Dalen's shoe was safely in the back seat of the car. I am furious at this point, snot is pouring from my nose and I have no free hand to wipe it with. I return to the store and realize its only noon Megan.
I just can't wait til he can say thanks mom. Thanks for hunting my lost shoe. Thanks for feeding me. Thanks for dressing me. Sorry I trashed your bath. Sorry I make you feel not as fun as Pop. Then I realize I never told my mom thanks when I was younger and never said sorry either. So here is to my Ma. Thanks Ma and sorry.

Coupon Queen

I am totally into couponing now. Some girls at church that are my sisters friends are like COupon Queens....literally. Kmart is doubling coupons for a week....which means if you have a coupon that says $1 off you get it doubled to $2 off. The stuff below was purchased under $40!!! All of it is name brand and good quality stuff. I am really thankful I learned how to do this!

HEY PREGNANT GIRLS AND MOMS!!!!

Wanna know how to NEVER have to buy baby wipes again? Go to foodlion.com and click on baby steps. You get $1.50 off food lion wipes and thats how much the cost so they are FREE! All you pay is tax!!! Your computer will only let you print them off once but you can make copies and go as often as you need to. We haven't bought wipes in months!

Wanna know how to NEVER have to buy fruits or vegetable baby food???? Print baby food coupons from there too and there is a Gerber coupon for $2 off. You can buy a 2 pack of fruit and veg. for $1 so thats 4 servings of fruits or veggies for FREE! There is also a coupon for $1 off Gerber food and you can get another for FREE!

Kisses

I love Dalen's kisses!

Womanizer

This morning Good Morning America had a special on for Britney Spears' birthday. She did a live concert and literally Dalen was GLUED to the TV. It was just too funny to not video. He even dances a little.

Mt. Everest

This is exactly how I used to sleep and now Dalen does it. His butt is HUGE. We pretty much knew that was inevitable coming from Mario and I. Haha

Change of Scenery

Sometimes I think a change of scenery helps. Even if you aren't experiencing a particularly trying time in life, I think it helps. When you are surrounded by newness a new found appreciation begins to swell within you. Creativity is stimulated due to a glimpse of something for the first time. Your eyes then see things of the old in a new light and insight develops. Yes, a change of scenery brings forth healing.
When you are introduced to a new place you are looking at life from afar. You are no longer the person smothered by adverse trials but you become the outsider looking in. So Lord, take me somewhere, anywhere. Some place new and fresh. To an environment that will enhance a work you have already begun and when I return may the story read THE END.

Little Indian Hood

Here are some pics from Thanksgiving. Dalen is in his feather hat from parent's day out.

Me and Mario at my grandmother's house.