April Update

April has been a crazy roller coaster ride! We are dealing with legal issues with the previous owner of our home, which has been a drain on us money wise. We are also in the process finally of filing my divorce. With everything in motion we will be able to have our small private wedding this fall. We decided to have a private ceremony this time so that we may save up and have a large beautiful ceremony later. Plus I want us all to go on a group honey moon with the kids to Disney Land! Justin and I are kids are heart.

Aries is growing so fast! He is now ten months old and almost walking. He takes little steps all by himself and stands alone as much as he can! I am so proud. He has 4 teeth now and will eat anything you feed him. The greatest joy in my life is watching him play and grow. He has such a unique personality too. Crazy, funny, and just wild. He is so attached to his Grandma and Daddy too.

Another big leap is I decided to start selling Passion Parties! I still remember so much from when my mother did it years ago, and I have gotten a head start on it. I am on track with the Fast Track Program and have been really successful so far! I have a small party this weekend and several coming up at the end of May. Life is going so well for us and Passion Parties has made it even better!

We are also planning a huge garage sale this coming weekend, to help raise some extra money to go toward our legal fees, wedding, and hopefully our Iowa trip.

Things I made!

I am posting this from my phone so bare with me on this. I am going to try my best to make it work and make sense of it!
First off this is a post about all the new things I have made since we moved into our new home!
The very first picture is of our TV stand I made. This isn't very special but a huge help because we can now fit the cable box and Xbox360 under the TV so they can be seen clearly.
The second picture is of my DVD shelves I have made. We had a huge DVD collection and I wanted to be able to see all of them and make good use of the available space. Total there are three shelves. The shelf on the left has legs that hold it up because it could not be mounted into a stud.
The third picture is the new pots and pans rack I did. I took a old bookshelf and removed the middle shelf and drilled holes in the top for the hooks. Much easier and faster to get to the pots and pans now!
The forth picture is of one of the coat racks I made. It is right behind the front door and has plenty of space for guest shoes and coats.
The fifth picture is the coat rack I put in upstairs. This one is for me and the guys to hang up our stuff.
Then the very last picture is my proud fix it moment. We bought our van and the key fob had the ring holder broken off. So there was no way to put it on a key ring! So after some thought I figured out I could super glue some ribbon on there to replace the ring and ta-da! Good as new!
So I feel like I have been very handy lately and a Mrs. Fix It. We have been changing light bulbs and replacing the solar lights, as well as trimming the vines out back. I am loving this new house and loving working on it!

Happy New Year!

Now that 2013 is coming to a close, I would like to take a moment to review the awesome moments of this year! There is so many great things that happened.

I began the year, already pregnant. I was 13 weeks along on Jan. 1st, 2013. That was really a interesting way to begin the year.

We spent a lot of time searching for a new home and getting ready for baby to arrive. We found out at the end of January that we were having a baby BOY.

Then finally on June 27th, 2013 we got to meet our little man! Aries Michael Moran was born at 8:11am, weighing in at 8 pounds and 4 ounces. It was love at first sight for sure.

Now not too long after that we had another addition to the family, only in a different way. Justin's mother Kim decided to join us and move to Ohio. Aries gets to see his grandmother everyday, and he is very attached to her.

Now time flies when you are having fun, and time did fly. Bottle after bottle, and day after day, our little man grew and our family got closer. Aries turned 3 months, went to the fair as a family, and went to see Ronald McDonald.

Then we all had a super fun Halloween!

Thanks Giving was fun, we all went to Kims and ate a huge meal. Then went Black Friday shopping for Christmas gifts. 

Then we had a super fun Christmas! First we took Aries to see Santa!

We had our Christmas Eve at Kims house, and we all got wonderful gifts from each other. It was so much fun, especially Aries opening all his gifts.

Then Christmas day we were home opening gifts from Santa! I have to say we were all very spoiled.

I have to say over all this has been a pretty amazing year. So many changes and so many happy things. I am so excited to see what 2014 has in store for us!

Happy New Years to all my friends and family! I wish everyone tons of love, happiness, and health in the new year! Take this year and make your dreams come true!

Baby Learning

One thing that crosses my mind all the time and did when I was pregnant was how can I teach my son? How can I give him the best possible start in a large complicated world? The things I knew in 1st grade, kids learn at home and know by kindergarten now! So I am always looking for new ways to interact with Aries and teach him stuff right now! I found a great article on the Parents.com website that lists 50 Simple Ways to Make Your Baby Smarter. I read through the list and loved the ideas and already do some now. You can check out the list here.

Then there is another article that I read that shows how your baby is learning everyday, just through normal activities. You can read that article here. It is amazing how much information they take in everyday. Aries is just over 3 months old and how much he has changed in such a short amount of time is amazing. 

I am always wondering what Aries will do next, or what he should be able to do at his age. I want to make sure he is on track and doesn't show any signs of developmental issues. What can I say, I worry. WebMD has a nice piece that explains pretty well in this article. Growing and learning everyday, my little boy is on his way!

Being a Parent

I swore before I got pregnant that being a parent wouldn't change my life. I wouldn't let it effect what I did, where I went, and who I was as a person.

I was wrong.

The minute he was born my entire life changed. I didn't see life in the same colors any more. My world no longer revolved around me and my wants or needs.  I no longer care if I eat, or shower, as long as he eats, and is clean, happy, and safe. My first thought and consideration before I do anything is the effect it will have on him. My son is my whole world and I wouldn't have it any other way. Sometimes I get a little bummed because I can't do certain things, but in the end it is worth it to keep him safe and happy.

Some times I wonder if I will ever look at my son and not be amazed by his mere existence. I never thought I could care for and love some one so much. His every smile and movement is amazing to me. My body is tore up, and the pregnancy was the most uncomfortable time of my life. If I had to do it all over again, for him I would in a heart beat.

Will the amazing feeling of being a mom ever wear off? I really hope not. Becoming a mom is the greatest thing I have ever done. I can't wait to see where this road leads me.

My Baby Boy!

The day finally arrived and Justin and I headed out to the hospital on June 27th, 2013. We were there by 6 am. This is the very last picture of my baby bump, I was very ready to meet my little man.

 

 Finally after a very scary, but not too painful c-section I got to finally meet my little man!! There is no feeling in the world like when you get to hold your baby for the first time. That real moment when you feel like a real mom and feel so blessed. I was so happy.

Aries Michael Moran was 8 pounds 4 ounces, and 20 inches long, born at 8:11 am. A full head of hair and looks just like his daddy.

Justin got to hold Aries when I was done, and he was nervous, but he warmed up real fast. 

Uncle Chris came to visit and meet little guy.

Uncle Jeremy wasn't sure what to do with him at first, lol.

Heather came and met Aries the day he was born.

Then super Blair came and saw us many times, each visit fun and enjoyable. 

Aries currently has big deep blue eyes, and we can't wait to see what color they decide to be. Either light blue like Mommy or dark green like Daddy.

Like I said before being a mom is just the most amazing feeling in the world. All those times I was sick, hurt, and just hated being pregnant, seeing his beautiful face made every part of it worth it. I would go through every moment of pain for him all over again. He is so healthy and happy, I could not ask for more. 

I love out little family. Justin is so good with him, and I love us being all together.

Aries got to come home on June 30th, 2013. This is his first car ride, and he got to wear the outfit Daddy picked out for him. His sleeper has puppies on it.

Then as soon as he got home he got to meet his awesome Aunt Mickey. Who has been a super big help with caring for him while I am recovering.

We had plenty of help from family this past week after coming home. We even got a visit from Justin's mom, Kim. She has been a wonderful Grandma to my little man, and we can't wait to see her again at Thanks Giving. I feel like the luckiest woman in the world to have my little guy, and I wouldn't trade him for anything. The very day he was born I could not stop smiling, and I felt like I was on cloud nine. The drugs may have helped a little, but I feel like all my worries have slipped away. There is no way to describe the relief I felt knowing that I had the pregnancy behind me, the surgery behind me, and all I had now was my bundle of joy to love and adore. Babies aren't perfect and are a lot of work, but I wouldn't pass up being a mom for anything.

30 Things I want my Kids to know about Me

So I was going through Pinterest. One of my favorite pass times. When I came across this great idea. The Pin was 30 Things I want my Kids to know about Me. That is a big thing of mine. I am currently writing a baby journal. This book has all of my current thoughts and feelings, and so they can know I loved them before I ever met them. Then I am the kind of person that is moved by certain stories and movies. One story that always moves me is when a parent leaves behind messages or notes, sometimes certain items for their child to remember them and know them. If something were to ever happen to me, it would mean a lot a to me. So I journal for myself, I journal for the baby, I write a blog, and I scrapbook. So now I have found this neat list of things, kind of like questions, to let my child know who I am now. This is detailed so it may take several posts.
Number One:
List 20 Random Facts About Yourself:
1. My name is Panda Michelle and I was named after my mothers best friend in high school.
2. My favorite color changes nearly all the time, I like pink, blue and green mostly.
3. Coco is my first real pet. I love her so much I have a tattoo to represent her.
4. I never cut my hair short until I was 16, until then it was past my butt.
5. I love piano music.
6. Since I can remember I have always wanted my first child to be a girl.
7. I got my drivers licence when I was 18.
8. I am addicted to SIMS games. Currently Sims3.
9. I am 5'7.
10. I love fresh veggies and fruits. People hate how green peppers smell and I eat them raw.
11. I love Vampires and wanna be one, lol.
12. I believe there is a god, but I am in no way his servant.
13. I love to go to yard sales and bargain shop.
14. I am a artist, and I love to paint and draw.
15. I try to be Eco friendly.
16. I believe one person can make a difference.
17. I didn't plan on having kids til I was 30.
18. I am the oldest of the oldest of 7 kids.
19. I got married when I was 18, and generally, that's a bad idea.
20. I collect Jewelry.

This is all for now. To be continued!

Pregnancy Dreams

I am 10 weeks along now, and man have the dreams revved into over time! I have very vivid dreams every night I sleep, and extremely often when I nap. The reason I am having these extra dreams is because my body is being flooded pregnancy hormones progesterone, estrogen and human chorionic gonadotrophin (hCG). These are causing all kinds of interesting things.

 

 

 

Now, the one that has really caught my attention is one of my latest dreams. In this dream all my nieces and nephews where there and all school age. Also I was temporarily homeless and meet some crazy people! I think since the kids played such a role in this dream it was me thinking and wondering what my child will look like and act like. There are so many factors to play in, that who knows 'who' is going to pop out of me in July! Other parts of my dream include me discovering a pool and finding weird places to get scrap metal from. I think the pool is me looking for comfort and the scrapping is my concern on money.

No nightmares yet, but I have read once you get far enough along on your pregnancy your baby moving and kicking can influence your dreams. Which I find interesting and scary because I want to feel my baby move, but the idea of something alive inside me is a little creepy. Horror movies have ruined some things for me.

Xbox360

Oh, Yes, This is a gamer post!

My system of choice is the Xbox360. You can blame my friend Jeremy for that, since he got me interested in the system back in 2006. Since the original Xbox360 was released in 2005, I wasn't too far behind in the times. The original game that got me addicted was Guitar Hero. Since then I have played several games such as Fallout, Fallout: New Vegas, Fallout 3, Fable 2 and 3, Guitar Hero, Rock Band, Halo Reach, MineCraft, Lego Indiana Jones, Borderlands, and Dragon Age.

Though out the years Xbox360 has offered a large variety of looks and styles that make it so the user can have their own individual system. The system offers a monthly membership you can buy to be connected online with other users, sharing game scores and playing multi player games together.

So basically I have chosen a popular gaming system that is constantly coming out with new games and connecting players all over the world.

 

Waiting Room

**Please note this is  a old post I wrote from my phone and have now decided to publish, enjoy!

Sitting in a hospital waiting room gives you a lot of think about things. I don't even mean regular things either. Sitting for an hour and half I came accross many topics such as college, where my life would be if I had made different choices, children, christmas and all the in between. I guess to say I am pretty happy in life. This isn't where I planned to be. When I was in middle school I started dreaming of life as a lawyer, and going to a state college. Nothing thrilled me more then the idea of carrying a large stack of books accross campus and attending classes. Then as I came into high school I wanted to become a psychiatrist. I wanted to help people solve their problems. Through out high school art classes opened my eyes to my passion for art and I guess you would call it recycling? I found my talent to reuse objects and make new things from old. I also found my love of sales. I knew then I wanted to go to college for sales and marketing. My life long goal started taking shape at this point. First it was a thought in the back of my mind, then slowly it became a idea. I wanted to start my own thrift store. As years passed I picked up more and more ideas to add to it. I didn't want any store, I wanted to help people. When I started my plan it was all about keeping good items out of our landfills and making some money. It came to me that I could donate materials donated to local schools for their art programs, and tech schools for engine repair training programs and such. I could also take portions of profits to donate to charity.

New Addition

On September 27th, 2012 my friend Cynthia went into labor and gave birth to a wonderful little boy named Xavier Uriah Wilson. Due to other circumstances Childrens Services placed him in another home and he ended up with me. This is the first full time infant I have taken care of since my little brother and sister were little. He is a sweet little guy.

He is One month and 12 days old today. This week I got a nice glider and foot stool rocking chair to rock him with. I also got the portable bed I ordered from walmart. Right now he prefers to sleep in his swing, but my mom says he will grow out of that phase.

There is nothing like having a little one in your life to make you think about life and what is important. He has been a precious blessing.

Moving Again

Well, sadly we are moving again. Justin and Chris were unable to raise their credit score enough to to finiance the house so we will be moving temporarily until we can raise Justins credit score again. We are looking at trailers in Mechanicsburg and Rolling Hills. At first I was devestated about the move iteself, but I am looking for the positives in this. First off I see it as a chance to get a even better house, one with all the different things I want, and a yard to fill with a garden and a area for my future children to play in. The second major plus is that we can live some where cheap to pay off debts and fix credit. Which getting ahead is important. So mostly there are little things, because it will suck being in a small place and having all my stuff in storage.

In Birth and in Death

I has taken me a week, but I am finally ready to share. I received this card in the mail yesterday from the vets office, and I waited all day to open it because I knew the pain it would bring. When I opened it and found what they had included inside, they gave me something that I would cherish.

Below is the front of the card.

The next image is the inside of the card.

Then this is the back.

Below is what they included with the card, which is a wonderful gift. Cami lost her daughter on the way to the vet. She held on as long as she could, but didn't survive being stuck in the birth canal. They offered to cremate the baby for free, and spread her ashes with other pets in their cemetery. In their card they had taken her paw print, and sent it to me. This is by far the sweetest thing a vets office has ever done for me.

I did take a few photos of the baby before we reached the vet. I think this one shows her best. She would have looked just like her mommy, but would have been huge like her daddy.

We did receive one small blessing. Her little brother was born first, because he was smaller. He was very tiny and a beautiful grey color.

So even though we mourn the loss of his sister, we were blessed with one beautiful healthy baby boy. He is very well taken care of by his mother, and adored by his father.