i have Shingles.

I have Shingles. Something usually associated with the elderly or people with compromised immune systems - but I indeed have it. Apparently, I could have it a lot worse. I could be in tremendous pain, but my pain isn't all that bad. It's only moderately uncomfortable - and not all the time. The rash-area just feels overly-sensitive and sometimes it hurts. But, again, not bad.

Here is my Shingles rash for anyone interested in seeing what it looks like (try and ignore the tattoos):

It all started a little over a week ago, when I felt like I had a rash or bite in the area in which the rash now is. But at that time, there wasn't anything there. Then, a week ago today, I got a cold/the flu - which is actually a symptom of Shingles. So, I didn't really have a cold/the flu; rather, I had flu-like symptoms that are a symptom of Shingles. I also had a headache, was dizzy, and sensitive to light (all symptoms of Shingles). And then about 5 days ago the rash started. I thought I was being paranoid going to the doctor over it, because I am actually feeling better (in terms of the "cold"), but this rash was worrying me and was not getting any better. I thought I might have Shingles, and being the responsible person that I am - I figured I needed to check it out.

Before looking at the rash, it was obvious that the doctor did not think I had Shingles. He said, "You are really young to have Shingles. Do you really want to show me this rash you have?" I pulled my shirt up a bit and he immediately noted that I do have Shingles - it was obviously apparently.

I am now on some anti-viral medication. The rash is contagious to people who haven't had Chicken Pox (I could give them Chicken Pox).

Again, it could be worse. People even get the rash on their faces! I am glad my rash is on my back and not terribly painful. Lucky me!

Here is a link to an article about Shingles for those interested in reading more about it.

a great opportunity - the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas' Winter Dreams Tour of Homes

I am a member of the Junior League of Northwest Arkansas. We are an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. That is our mission.

We are pretty amazing - if I do say so myself. We work hard and we serve our community. It really is a fantastic organization.

Now to the main point of this particular blog post - the great opportunity!

This year, I am serving as Chair of a committee called Winter Dreams. As a committee, we work to secure homes for the The Winter Dreams Tour of Homes. The tour is one of the Junior League's annual fundraisers and is scheduled to occur December 2nd, 2012 from 11am-5pm.

What the tour consists of is homeowners allowing the community to tour their homes. The homes can be located anywhere in Washington or Benton County.

The homes should be well-decorated for Christmas. The whole idea is to allow tour-goers to see beautiful area-homes that are well-adorned for the Christmas season.

People pay $20 (per person) to go on the tour which generally includes 8 homes (4 in Washington County and 4 in Benton County).

Junior League members are at the homes at ALL times working at the homes, monitoring the tour and working to ensure that the homes are secure (that nothing is damaged or stolen). Depending on the layout of the home and what the homeowners request, there might be anywhere from 3-7 Junior League members working at their home. The homes are in VERY good hands.

So the great opportunity is that I am seeking homes to be on the Tour! 

If you are interested in having your home on the tour, you know someone who might be interested, you know someone who should be interested, or you have a home you would like to see on the Tour - PLEASE let me know! You can reply to this blog post or send me an email. In theory you can call me, but I feel a little odd putting my phone number on my blog.

So again - please give it some thought. The Tour is wonderful. It is for an outstanding organization. It's a win-win all around!

graduating preschool.

It seems like it wasn't that long ago that Hayden was going to school for the first time - back in August of 2008.

Here he is on that morning -

And today he graduated (from that same school). He is a preschool graduate.

This Fall he will start Kindergarten.

I almost cried at the graduation - which surprised me. I didn't expect to get emotional. But while he stood up there so big and "mature" singing about how "everything is going to be alright" - I almost lost it. I had to work hard not to cry.

I imagine that when Harper graduates I will cry. Part of the reason I was able to keep it together (and not cry) was knowing that I still have a young child. This period in my life is not over.

But at the same time, I know that my baby - the child that made me a mother - is growing up.

And it makes me sad (I am crying now actually just thinking about it). Stupid emotions!

Okay, now to end my sadness - I'll just get to the pictures.

Here is Hayden at his Preschool Graduation (he attends First School at the First Presbyterian Church in Fayetteville, Arkansas).

getting his diploma

showing off his diploma

still showing off his diploma

hayden and his friend beckham

hayden with his teachers - Miss Noi and Miss Danette

rockin' it with ribby.

Last Saturday (on May 12th), I was able to attend a Razorback baseball game with my kiddos and Randy.

This was only the second game that I went to (and the season is now over - at least in terms of home games here in Fayetteville - unless we get a regional or super regional which is highly doubtful). 

Harper's napping and her need to go to bed by at least 8pm prohibited us from going to more games (with the "us" being myself and Harper - Randy and Hayden went to A LOT of games).

Randy took the following picture with his iPhone. How cute are we? Rockin' it with Ribby (that is the mascot's name)!

eager for relief.

I cannot wait until Harper starts school. Seriously. Having that alone time and time to schedule things without having to arrange for childcare is going to feel AMAZING!!!

I can't even go grocery shopping with Harper. She is a terrible "shopping helper." Unlike Hayden who would happily sit in the seat of the cart and eat snacks while I shopped, Harper demands to get out of her seat. She wants to wander down the aisles and take things off the shelf or she wants me to hold her. That does not work.

I can't believe that Harper might be even more active and outgoing than Hayden - but I think it's true.

Going to meetings with her doesn't work. She is a toddler - a very energetic, outgoing, curious child. She cannot and does not sit still. She wants to explore and she wants to play. That does not lend itself to me trying to focus and be present for a meeting.

Needless to say, when she starts school August 28th I will feel a great sense of relief. I will miss her a little, but it will feel so good to have that small bit of freedom. Even though she will only be going to school for 8 hours a week - it is definitely better than nothing!

one year check-up.

Earlier this morning, Harper had her 1-year well-child visit. She now weighs 22 pounds and is 29.69" tall. Her head circumference is 18.5". Percentage-wise that puts her at the 65th Percentile in weight, the 70th Percentile in height, and the 90th Percentile in head circumference. Apparently she has slimmed down a bit and is working on her girlish figure. She's also still pretty darn tall and still has a pretty big head.

Her measurements are almost exactly the same as Hayden's measurements were at his 1-year well-child visit.

She is still healthy and is exceeding all of her developmental milestones - she is walking, talking, using her fine motor skills, etc. 

She won't have another well-child appointment until she is 18-months-old (although since she is starting "school" in August, there may be some sick-child visits prior to November).

Suffice it to say, we have a healthy, happy 1-year-old little girl.

my mother's day.

Today is Mother's Day - a day for moms. 

We marked the occasion by going to lunch at Ella's at Carnall Hall - the we being myself, Randy, Hayden, Harper, my parents, and Randy's mom, Sheree. 

I think we all had a very nice time - the food was yummy and the company was fantastic. I do love my family.

Here are the pictures documenting my Mother's Day.

this is probably my favorite picture - i love it

he is groping her foot - sometimes he shows his love for his sister in interesting ways

harper is giving hayden a kiss

again - hayden is holding her foot. maybe he has a foot fetish?

harper, myself, and my dad

randy with his mom

me with my mom

me and hayden - after we got home

harper's height - a tradition.

Since Hayden was born, we have been documenting his height by marking it on his armoire with a black Sharpie.

And although the armoire is in Hayden's room and is technically "his" - we have always planned on using that piece of furniture to document any of our children's heights'.

So now it is Harper's turn to begin this tradition.

Here is her first mark.

And here she is having the mark made (we actually do the mark in pencil first and then mark it with the permanent marker a little later).

And so another tradition begins.

little black dress - a tradition.

When I was pregnant with Hayden, I read an article in a magazine that depicted a family’s tradition with their daughter.

Beginning with her first birthday, they dressed her in her grandmother’s vintage bathing suit and took a picture. They did this every year as they watched their baby daughter grow from a toddler, to a child, to a young woman.

It was amazing and adorable and I thought it was a wonderful way to show in photos how their daughter had changed and grown.

When Hayden was born, I tried to think of a way that we could accomplish the same tradition with him. I wasn’t about to put him in a pair of my Grandpa’s old swimming trunks (not to mention the fact that I didn't have any). That simply was not going to work.

Randy and I talked about it. We wanted the item to be something simple, yet classic. Something a boy/man would wear that would convey timelessness and class. The answer: a men’s white-button down shirt (from the Gap no less). So ever since he was 1, we have dressed him in the white-button down shirt and taken a picture.

Now it is Harper's turn and we have opted for a little black dress. It is also simple, yet classic.

Here are her pictures.

And so the tradition begins.