.Happy Halloween.

Thank goodness Silas' Halloween was a success because it started off not looking to good. First off, making a decision as to what an 18 month old should be for Halloween leaves you with some pretty cheesy costume choices. At first he was going to be Yoda from Star Wars but then it would have been difficult to include the whole family so that is when I came up with the idea that Silas would be the Cat in the Hat and Quinn and I would be Thing 1 and Thing 2!!!! Silas loves the cartoon "The Cat in the Hat Knows A lot About That" so I knew that this would be a success.

Unfortunately, I waited till the last minute to purchase the costume when it arrived they sent me the wrong size and consequently it was to late to return it. So I was then stuck with a dilemma, do I just let Silas swim in his costume or do I attempt to alter it!?! So I tried my hand at altering his costume. Now, don't get it twisted. I can sew just fine but when you don't have a machine or the patience to hand stitch a whole costume you are stuck in quite a pickle. I purchased the iron on adhesive tape and proceeded to "cut and paste" away. Low and behold I did a fantastic job and took a costume that was to fit a 6 year old and altered it perfectly to fit Silas. I was very proud of myself on that one.

We took Silas to go see my parents at their church in Currituck and Silas got to see his cousin, Henry, who was dressed up as a pumpkin for his very first Halloween.

After that, Silas got to go see his favorite of all.....DAISY! Haha, allow me to explain. Silas' first word was Daisy and that is because Quinn's parents have a dog named Daisy who he just adores and now every dog he sees in person or on TV is Daisy! At Quinn's parents Silas got some cool and yummy treats. One of which were these really cool cookies that you color on with the included markers in the package. When Silas was caught sucking on the markers, of course we freaked out only to realize that they were flavored markers. So needless to say, he had a blast with that.

Occasionally when we watch "The Cat in the Hat Knows A lot About That" on a daily basis, Silas will go grab his hat from his costume and wear it.

 

.Happy FIRST Birthday Silas Jackson.

SILAS JACKSON ANDRUS

is ONE!

It is crazy how fast one year goes by and how much this child has learned in such a short period of time. As I look bad, I know I am a very lucky first time mommy. From the first night in the hospital to present day this child has yet to cry for longer than 30 seconds. He has never been much of a cryer which I tell you, is the best thing in the world. He has not displayed pickiness towards foods or juices and eats anything without a fight. And without a care in the world has gone from formula in a bottle one day to milk in a sippie cup in the morning. And the biggest feat of all is the NO PASSY! Silas hates passies and I am so stoked the last thing I want is for him to walking around 5 years from now with a passy hanging out of this mouth. This child has been a little saint so far and I can not wait to see what milestones we will be conquering in the year to come.

On to less sentimental things, Silas' first birthday party was a huge success.

First off, let me tell you that making penguin cupcakes is not an easy task. The recipe called for regular cupcakes with donut holes stacked on top then placed in the freezer to harden and take place then dipped upside down in melted icing for a seamless black penguin that is then decorated with marshmallows and candies to make the penguin........BIG FYI the dipping did not work at all so then we had to drip the icing which was a huge mess. Thank god for my friend, Stephanie, without her those cupcakes would not have turned out at all.

I figured that having a penguin, specifically the nickelodeon cartoon Penguins of Madagascar, themed party would be really easy. NO. NO. NO! Not a single plate, balloon, or party hat for that cartoon exist here on the Outer Banks, VA, Ebay, or the whole Internet for that matter. So we just did everything in black and white and it looked great.

Quinn's parents have a bigger yard than we do, so Silas' party was held there. Lots of friends and family were there and he had a blast playing with all his cousins and friends. His favorite toy is his slide. He climbs and slides all day everyday. (but he loves all the toys he received and he is very grateful for all of them)

Thanks to everyone who came to Silas' birthday. We really appreciate your love for our son! Please enjoy the video below ;)

.An Angel At The IRS.

Just like everyother American, I HATE tax season. A few years ago, I worked for a lawyer who left the firm we were both working for and then I went to work for him. I thought this was great. I was the only one in the office, so no drama. I started to realize that said lawyer was shaddy!! His trust accounts were not kept balanced and he was paying himself out of clients retainers for work that was never completed. To make matters worse he would never return clients phone calls and dragged out cases for years that could have been setteled wihtin the first six months of him taking them on. At the time, I was more interested in parying than I was with my job so these things did not bother me. The fact that I was not getting taxes taken out of my check did not phase me either.

When I found out I was pregnant, I left this job and called the IRS and the NC State Bar on this attorney.  Needless to say, a few days later a W2 was dropped off at my house in the middle of the night by former boss. This dropoff was well after April 15. Me, knowing nothing about taxes, just went ahead and E-filed this W2 online. I fugured this was the right thing to do.

THREE YEARS LATER!!!!!! I file my taxes this year and I am waiting and waiting for my money to get here and it never does. Apparently, by me filing my tax return late, I got slammed with penalties and then they counted it for the next years taxes and it spiraled into a shit storm. So I called the IRS FREAKING OUT! My freak out was so bad that I got transferred to a "supervisor" by the name of Mary Carolyn and she calmed down. She explained how she too was a single mother (please note, I am not a REAL single mother but in the eyes of the IRS and the law, I am) and she understood my struggle and she promised she would call me every week to keep me updated on the progress of my taxes.

I have to say that I did not believe anythign she said. I figured it was a technique that they are taught to do to keep irrate callers from going off the deepend. BUT, Mary Carolyn has called me once a week since February to keep me updated on wehre my return is and what it is doing. And when my return was returned back to me for missing information she even gave me her personal fax number to fax her the missing forms so she could expedite my return so I could get my money ASAP!

This women has never met me, seen me or anythign but she has opened up and told me about her struggles and has helped me in every way she can. I appreciate her and her work so much. She has made me realize that not every person employed by the IRS is an asshole. I want her to know how much I honestly respect her and what she has done for me!

.Happy Birthday.

Happy 10 Month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus!!!

What is Lil' SJ up to these days you ask?? Well since he has discovered the wonderful world of walking he is really starting to show his true BOY colors. He just takes off "running" from one end of the house to the other and he gets so excited that he is going so "fast" that he ALWAYS trips over a toy or a pillow or soemthing. It's not till he makes his way back to you a couple minutes later and you see a spot or two of blood that you realize he hurt himself. NOT A TEAR! He keeps busting his lips up on his FOUR teeth. Yes, that is right! He is up to 4 teeth. His two front top and bottom. It's so cute.

We now have it down as to what his teething side effects are. Most babies cry, get a cold, chew on everything, etc. but all Silas did was get a temperature for a few days and like magic there were two more little toothies poppin' out!

The best is Silas is finally learning another word than Mama! He walks around just going, "Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma, Ma" but now he knows that "Ba. Ba" is his bottle and he definately knows who "Da, Da" is!

I can not believe that in TWO months Silas will be 1!!! Wow, time flys!

.Happy Birthday.

Happy 9 Months

to

Silas Jackson Andrus!

At Silas' 9 month check up he weighed in at almost 24lbs and is 24 inches long! He is still in the 75th percentile, which is awesome!

His doctor was quite impressed with his "advanced" motor skills of clapping, talking and most of all his WALKING! Yes, that is right. About a week before little man's 9 month mark he took his first steps. It shocked me so much I started screaming, "What are you doing???" Haha, I think I scared the poop out of him. It was nice to share his first steps with Kelsey! Later that night when daddy got home he showed them off even more and we even caught some steps on tape! Now when he is standing he will take about 5 steps or so, sometimes more, and then he'll sit down! I don't think it will be too much longer before he just takes off! (PS: The video below is him standing next to the couch and taking one or two small steps, though it looks like he is pushing off the couch, he is not!)

KNOCK ON WOOD, but so far Silas has gone 9 months without an ear ache, a real temperature (higher than 102), a real cold (other than a slight cough/sneeze from the weather change) or any real health issue. I am not sure how long his incredible health streak will last but I am hoping he never gets sick. Although I know that is an unrealistic wish!!!

.Another Belated Congratulations.

Oh and another belated congratulations to Ms. Melissa Burden on her engagement to JAKE!
Once again, incase you have been under a rock Jake proposed a week or so ago to Melissa and they are getting married in June. Yay for them!

.Belated Congratulations.

Since it has been FOREVER since I have posted to my blog, I would like to take a moment and give a belated congratulations to one of my best gal pals, Ms. Brittney Parker on her engagement to JORDAN!!!!

It is totally about time. And incase you have been living under a rock, he propoed to her on Christmas Eve and they are getting married in August! YAY! :)

.Tis The Season.

So it has been awhile since I last posted anything and a lot has happened.

Silas turned a whoppin' 7 months! Weighing in at 21lbs! (: He is just a crawling and standing.....no walking yet but definite standing and wobbling. It won't be long.

We had a wonderful Christmas. Quinn got me a beautiful necklace that matches the ring he got me on our second anniversary. Awww ;)! Christmas was, as expected, all about Silas. He got so many toys and clothes but the majority of his presents were books. He loves his books and stories and he is always chatting it up with his stuffed animals, especially this giant T-Rex that he has.

New Years was the first time, non pregnant, that I wasn't drunk. It was nice to just have some wine and relax and do nothing and wake up feeling great on the day that the mass majority of Americans are feeling like ass.

I recently took Silas to Virginia Beach to visit his Great Grandparents and that was just a wonderful time. Silas had a blast but I know his Great Grandparents had an even better time. They all looked like a child on Christmas Morning!!! haha

Silas and his GREAT Grandparents!

Silas and his GREAT Grandpa

Overall, the 2009 Holiday Season was a great one and I am looking forward to next year when Silas will be older and more aware of what is really going on!

.New Moon.

Yesterday morning I woke up and by the way i was acting, you would have thought that it was Christmas. The long awaited day had arrived. NEW MOON was coming out in theatres at 12:01! Here on the wonderful OBX it does not take much to get us excited. There were "tailgating" plans and everything...yeah, I know we are soooo cool.

Anyways, we finally get into the first theatre at 9:00 to watch Twilight.....HOW EXCITING! This was so much fun, we all got to sit together and have a good time except for the ladies sitting behind me. Before the lights were even dimmed, these old, drunk Cougars behind me were straddling each other and being so loud and annoying. As the movie began they were hootin & hollering and making moaning noises but suddenly not even half way through the movie it stopped!!! Curiously I turn around and this is what I see....

They passed out!!!!!! So of course I reach for my camera and snap a picture, not realizing just how bright my flash was. HAHAHAHAHAA everyone around me saw and started laughing. I'm really surprised they did not wake up!!!!

While we are all enjoying the first movie, every tween within a 50 mile radius it seemed was lining up in the lobby for New Moon....we all assumed that since we paid twice the money and are seeing two movies that we would at least have an advantage. OH NO!!!! Let me just tell you that we had to go to the END OF THE FLIPPIN LINE. Yeah, that's right1 I was so pissed.....in fact I am still pretty angry to be quite honest. And because we had to go to the end of the dern line we had NO WHERE to sit once we finally got to the theatre. So us being the geniuses we are, haul ass across the hall to other theatres and then the people who work there come running at us..."you have to stay in the your designated theatre!!"

My drunk, pissed off ass of course freaks out on the poor employee but you don’t mess with twilight fans! The kid is pointing out 2 seats here and 3 seats there and telling us too bad we have to split up and all the available seats are right up front....if I wanted to get a crink in my neck I could have stayed home. I wanted to sit up top with my damn friends!!!!!!! Finally we get set sitting somewhat near each other and it’s so uncomfortable. It was soooo hot in there and I dressed in my comfy sweats thinking it was going to be cold in the theater like it normally is and I was frying.

Needless to say, two of my group left and then, just what I predicted was going to happen, I FELL ASLEEP! (Note: it was not a deep slumber, more like nodding on and off)

Midnight is waayyyyyyyy past my bedtime! I was chugging energy drink and everything. BUT it is not like I haven't read all of the books. I knew what was going to happen. It's ok though. I have it downloading right now, in HD so I can watch Edward and Jacob go at it every night!!!!

Let the countdown to Eclipse in June 2010 begin ;)

.Happy Birthday!.

Happy SEVEN Month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus!

Silas is now SEVEN months old!!! WOW! I can not believe how the time flies! Little Man has TWO teeth and is standing up along the side of the couch and starting to take a step or two while holding on. I don't think it will be too long before we have a walker.....I give it to Christmas!

Little Man got a new bath tub that he is just in love with along with a bath time basketball game!....You know, gotta get 'em trained early if he is going to be the next Hansborough!!!

We can't wait till next week to share our first major holiday together as a family with Silas and he can not wait for the dumplings and the mash potatos and all the yummy stuff I know his Great Grandma will be sneaking him on Turkey Day! ;)

.Happy Halloween.

Of course, the first Halloween in years that I was not dressed in a "barely-there" costume and its in the 70's.....go figure! This complicated things for little man's first Halloween! His costume was a pumpkin sweatshit and sweatpantsthat that his "GT" (Grandma Teri, Quinn's Mom) got him from the always wonderful Babies R US. Poor Silas was sweatin like a mexi in his getup so, that did not stay on for very long!
We took Silas to see both sets of grandparents and made a pit-stop at Ocean Blvd. where Silas was the only customer in his costume! Too bad he didnt get a free martini or anything ;)
I really wanted to take him trick or treating just to steal his candy but we just came back home and watched scary movies!

.Pumpkin Fun.

Last Saturday we had a pumpkin carving party with our friends Stephanie and Matt and their son Tristan. Unfortunately, Silas slept through the whole thing but woke up for some pictures with mommy and daddy's pumpkins!

Tristan, Quinn's Pumpkin, Silas, My PumpkinMe and My Pumpkin

The Headless Horseman

Can't wait till Saturday! It's Silas' first Halloween and even though we are not taking him trick or treating he has a cute little costume/outfit he will be sporting as we go and visit some family members!!!

.Happy Birthday!.

Happy SIX month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus

Yesterday we went to little man's 6 month check up! My little ham now weighs 21 lbs and is 27 inches long!!!! The doctor was quite amazed at how "advanced" he is. She came in and started telling me how he will start sitting up, eating big boy food, crawling, etc. and I began to tell her that this little boy alrady does all that.

Silas now sits up on his own with no support, crawls around the house and eats his big boy food and drinks from his sippy cup.

AND big news people, Silas has started to pull himself up using the couch and his crib to a standing position where he will stand for a good 5 minutes or so before falling back down!

I am going to predict that I have an early walker on my hands ;). Which is fine with me because he is too heavy to hold.

Silas' doctor did ask if he was sleeping through the night and unfortunately he is not. She informed me that the best thing to do is to just let him wake up in the middle of the night and cry himself back to sleep because his bottle before bed should hold him over to the morning.

We tried this last night and I did not turn off the baby monitor and from about 3 to 5:30 Silas was just a talking and playing in his crib with periodic crying. However, I did not disturb him. We are going to keep trying this and hopefully it will work. Once he gets the sleeping through the night down then it will be easier for him to have sleep overs at his grandparents! ;)

.Happy Birthday!.

Happy FIVE Month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus.

For the past month and a half or so, Silas has been eating his "big boy food". He loves bananas and pears more than anything! Not only does he eat his big boy food but he has started to use a big boy sippy cup at breakfast and dinner!!!

He is still not sleeping completely through the night. He wakes up at about 4:30 or 5:00 but thats really not too bad so I don't mind!

OHHH Boy! Do we have a scooter on our hands. The days of laying him on his playmat and going to the bathroom or in the kitchen are OVER!! He is almost to the point where I can say he is crawling but for now we will say he is just scooting ;)!

We went to the beach for the first time last saturday as well. He's a natural!!! He loved playing in the sand though at one point he started trying to eat...ewww!

.Opening Season.

As we all know, Sunday was the opening day of NFL Football season. YAY! This is a big thing around our house cause, well, we kind of LOVE Football!!!!

Check out my lil'man in his Skins gear ;)

PS: This is a mobile upload, once I empty my camera I will be posting some more pictures from game day!

.4 Month Check-Up.

Silas just went to his 4 Month check up!!!!!

He now weighs 18lbs and is 26 inches long! He is in the 95th percentile ;)
Poor little feller, he had to get two shots that day and he did NOT like that!

Yay, what a big boy!!!

.We're Moving!.

Yes, that's right, we are moving!
Last year when I was trying to find a new home I missed out on this home so when it came back on the market I POUNCED on it. It is just too cute and has a phenomenal view of the sound!
Oh and did I forget to mention that it is two houses down from my best friend...yeah its pretty cool ;)

Be jealous, I know you are ;).

.Updates Galore!.

First and foremost, please excuse my blogging absence. Juggling two jobs and family time is quite the overwhelming task. But summer is coming to an end which is bittersweet. One I will not be quite to busy but two I will not being making bank like I am now. I definately can not wait for next summer when Silas can walk, run and play and we can go to the beach and be out in the sun!!!!

ANYWAYS.....

Wow, it has been four months since my lil' man was born. You know when people used to tell me that the time will just fly right on by I did not believe them. But it really does!! Silas is growing so fast. Unfortunately I bought a lot of cute 6 - 9 months clothes for fall and winter and he can already wear them. He is such a ham!!!!

Silas has now learned to rollover which is pretty cute! Wont be long till we have a crawler on our hands ;)!

He loves his new big boy food!!!

We recently took a trip to Danville, VA to go visit Quinn's Mamaw for her birthday! Silas is her first Great-Grand Child and she was so excited to see him!! It takes a good five (5) hours to get to Danville and Mr. Silas slept the whoolllleeee way! It was amazing. I was thinking he was going to wake up every couple hours and be hungry and we would have to stop and take care of him but nothing! I hope it can stay like that when he gets older ;).

.Happy Birthday!.

Happy FOUR Month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus.

YAY! :)

.Happy Birthday!.

Happy THREE Month Birthday

to

Silas Jackson Andrus.

YAY! :)