We are off to Florida!

Hey everyone!
Just a quick note to say we are off to vacation for a week! YEY
Just a quick CONGRATS to my old roommate Elizabeth who had her 2nd baby a few weeks ago.
Also a public HOORAY for 2 of my dear friends Emily (1st baby) and Sarah (2nd baby) who are expecting in 2008.
Apparently pregnancy is IN THE WATER ;-)

I will post an update when I return from vk!

FALL FAMILY WEEKEND

We are on our way to PICK OUR OWN PUMPKIN


The Marini Family


The Dos Santos Family


The Pumpkin Patch


Watch ya talken about Willis?


Are you seeing ORANGE?


This is a GOOD one MOM


The cousins


A Hayride ALL to our selves


Our pick of the patch


If Ava was a Scarecrow..


The COOL Bus


This weekend was packed filled with fun thanks from a visit from my sister and family! They came to CT to join us for the yearly hayride and pumpkin picking. We did this last year and my 2 yr old niece Ava remembered how much fun it was...so she reminded her mom that we MUST do it again! The weather was over cast and warm, but the benefits of this came with an empty farm.
What a difference a year makes---last year we could put Rylan on the ground and try to stage some "pumpkin festive" photo opps...this year he was standing and walking around that gave plenty of not so staged photo opps.
Rylan also got his first bloody lip this weekend! Pete and I decided that our son is tough ...he only cried for a few minutes and forgot about it, even as it grew in size. My theory is my kid knew pain early on with his reflux and a little bloody lip is no big thing to him.
Our weekend ended with Pete running of to his soccer game, breakfast with my sister and fam at O'Neils, and well...my Spanish final exam...YEY it is the last class I need to take before having to get my certification here in CT. (not that I plan on using it anytime soon!)
Next Weekend we will be in FLORIDA!

How do you spell SLACKER?

A I M E E

Yes that is me...the slacker!
It has been a VERY busy week in the Dos Santos house. As the Mr. has been away on a business trip, and the Mrs. at home with the child all day and night which equals veryyyyy sleepy. How do single moms do it? THANK GOD I don't have to know for myself. Although I did have fun last night hosting a MOMS ONLY scrapbooking night which consisted of frozen drinks with lots of rum, crafting, and well...the old tape of me on Change of Heart...which might of scared my new mom friends away! :-)

I am literally exhausted from it all...and can not wait for vacation!
Yes we are on our way to yet another vacation this year! We are off to Florida next week on an extended Dos Santos clan family vacation WHICH INCLUDES TWO yes I said TWO nights of Pete and I in Miami ALL BY OURSELVES! The best part is we have our own beds! Yep you read it right...to save money Pete and I opted for the cheaper room that has 2 double beds instead of a King for more moollla....and you know...after I thought about it...its not such a bad idea ..I will have room to spread out and be able to hog all the blankets! (sounds like real honeymooners right?)

Rylan...my boy....He has been A LOVE this week. HE amazed last night when he held my pinkie and went down the hallway with the small soccer ball at his feet and literally kicked it to each foot back and forth all the way down the hallway....I guess there is NO QUESTION about it...I am going to be a soccer mom.

Til next time when I have energy to keep up with this thing...Be Well!

Take 2--Ry's World--ACTION:

This is WHY mommy and daddy had to baby proof

This noise makes me giggle everytime
A bathroom FULL of things to get into

Who rules here..Parent or Toddler

Please help me--I am not sure how to handle my fiesty toddler! Take the poll on what you used to or currently do to discipline your little one!

Whats new with Rylan

Well..he is finally walking...when he wants to. It could be 4 steps in a day or he could walk ALL day...kinda like his napping schedule..he does what he wants when he wants. He also has grown quite a bit of a temper. Watch out if he gets mad at you and if he happens to be eating at the same time...he will use his meal as pellets to hum at you to make his point while screaming. This is when I have to be stern with him "NO WE DO NOT THROW" and he cries and cries that he was told no. He also enjoys picking on his friends by hitting, pushing, or forcefully grabbing (can you tell I have my hands full). He is also a wee bit of a man..and is slowing down in his growth. We bought him his Fall outfits for 18months but the poor kid isn't there yet, while most of his 12 months are to tight. Poor kid is walking around either swimming in his outfits, or hanging his gut out the bottom of his shirt. He is also making his Dad proud, as his favorite items seem to be his soccer balls.

The Bean The Joe The Java..

This is my FREE new coffee system I got in the mail last night:

And it ROCKS. Anyone that knows me knows my supreme obsession with Starbucks and Dunkin Doughnuts. My husband grumbles on how much of my allowance I spend on these luxuries. Eventhough we have a coffee maker at home I always complain it doesn't taste the same, and quite frankly I just don't want something else to clean at the end of the day. SO when this promotion came along for the Phillips Senseo machine (which I posted about last week! It is still on if you want one yourself), I jumped at the chance to be considered for a FREE one. I took some survery, paid the shipping and Pete held is breathe. He thinks I won't use it for long and will back to my latte ways soon enough. Although this may be true...I am in love with this coffe maker. NO MESS, SUPER easy, and coffee that makes me want to go ...YUM. Senseo was smart to give someone that loves coffee like I do this machine ...because look at me I am givin them marketing on my blog! I raise the roof to this machine...it is a must have for the coffe lover lazy folk like me!
(and yes I did infact take this picture of myself brewing a cup JUST for the blog---I know..I need a life...but hey...I LOVE MY BLOG!)

Oh Man we are in trouble...

empty houses

It was a beautiful day today and I took Rylan for a walk. I couldn't help but notice that our street, and the streets that surround us were quiet and homes empty. School is back in session and parents back at work. I just thought for a moment...how weird is this life were people have to be at their work more then their homes. If you think about it....oggles amount of money gets poured into a home you only sleep at and spend weekends in. In my case..our electric bill might be higher...but at least I get time to enjoy my son and my home.

The lump in my throat...

This day seems to put a lump in my throat and watery eyes ready to melt. Instead I smile, nod my head like I am actively listening, and pretend today is just like any other day. Many think it should be.
I think what is different about me then some others...is I believe moments that have truly impacted you in good and in bad should not be forgotten, but learned from and remembered. How many times do you replay good memories in your head...like your wedding day? and it is easy to recap these thoughts with others....when it comes to tragedies and times full of sadder memories you are more apt to hold them to yourself in fear of hasty judgments, or sounding negative.
Oprah said it best today on her tribute show to 9-11:
"It has been six years and not a day goes by that I don't think of what happened that day. I woke up today, as I do everyday, and put on my shoes thinking all of those people did the very same thing as I did that day, but never made it home that day".
I applauded her for saying this so loudly as she also admitted she didn't know anyone personally lost in the tragedy... which made me think about my own feeling of hesitation...that I should not remember or grieve the day...that I don't deserve to because I hadn't "Lost" anyone....at least that is how some people have made me feel about it. But you know...I do deserve to ...as do all humans that value life.
Pete said another thing that stuck in my head today: "We have it good here in America..that it is easy to forget...especially when it doesn't affect our little world. Yet in other parts of the world people are still dying over 9-11---if Americans could see the people in Iraq and soldiers we are losing...maybe they would get it" It wasn't a political statement on supporting or not supporting the war,...it was about remembering...and not pretending today is just "another day" because it has been 6 years. Thousands of families just like ours have someone missing tonight at the dinner table...and they didn't deserve it anymore or less then.

Thinking about 9-11

I don't think there has been a year since it happened that I don't remember and feel sadness in my heart on the anniversary. It was by far the worst day of my life, and the scariest. It makes me cringe at the thought of this happening to someplace I love so much and now being a mom and thinking of those that lost their child and those that were widowed as single parents that day. As most of you know I had a very hard time with that day....a day I can replay in my mind and it seem like yesterday. I had just moved out of NYC to Boston and wasn't there for MY CITY...and I had someone I cared for working in the heart of the Trade Center...luckily he lived, however it took me hours that day to find that out. I still easily well up with tears thinking about the fear that day brought to me...and I am just so blessed and thankful after living in the city for so long that nobody I was closely connected to passed that day. Regardless...if you have ever lived in NYC and considered yourself a New Yorker...you feel the weight of a sad heart every time this day comes around.

Today...more then most days...I want to take the time to tell those that I love that I love them, I want to hold my baby a little tighter, I want pray, and thank the lord for all the blessings he has filled my life with...I want to remember.

Britney makes me look good

I can not believe Britney's performance on the VMA's...she has lost her mind!
All I got to say she makes all mom's every where look really good. She has turned into a stripper that can't even lip sync! I bet my friends and I could do a better job at Karaoke then she can opening for MTV! Sad really. very sad for those kids.

I apologize for not showing love to my blog for a few days. I have been under the weather and well.....to be honest...on my space...I must stop!

My Husband is so going to divorce me :-)

I would like to publicly thank my good friend Pam that had inspired me to go onto My Space. Now I signed up years ago just to "look" but thought it was for 16 yr old's. Well....I am now addicted.
Please tell me it goes away.
I get on and I want to find every person I ever knew and those that knew them! My poor poor husband..who knows about my BLAST FROM THE PAST--BFF from high school Christina and I and our obsession with finding others we went to high school and celebrity gossip! Now I am trying to hook her into it! (Come on Christina--just try it once and you'll like it 9good ol peer pressure always works right?)
Someday I will back away from the computer and get back to my family! (kidding of course they come 1st...I think?) :-)

I thought I would have some fun...

The survey icon to this blog makes me laugh...so I figured while I was on my friend kick and reflecting I would take a poll! If I have been a good friend to you ...show me some love ya'll!

4 things that is great about today

1. Grocery shopping at 8am (no people no lines, and I still have the day)
2. Feeling not so sleepy (maybe it was a virus I have had and not Lyme's --we shall see)
3. An e-mail first thing this a.m. that an old friendship is found
4. Blue October's "In the ocean" on the radio

Everyday I am of course thankful for my hubby and my baby!

What Friendship Is ALL about

As most of you that have befriended me over time you know that I am a friendship HOG. I always say...with me...once you are IN you are IN. I don't let people in and out of my heart ...I let them IN and thats it. This has often caused me a lot of pain over the years, as I have lost touch with people, and such. But life is funny...and God is always good...as the true friends...the ones you know were REAl...always come along again somehow. I knew this to be true when my gal Christina came back into my life. We were friends early on in high school (inseparable friends I might add) and lost touch most of our adult life. Then one day through an e-mail from a mutual acquaintance..BAM we are friends again...and now I can not even begin to imagine living a day without her...she is even the Godmother of my child! Situations like these happen all the time...and I would like to think my friends always return because I was a good friend to them (even if it ended with me not being a great one--but overall a good one). I mean Pete was my friend for 3 years before anything blossomed from it!(poor guy)..I was such a b*tch to him sometimes...and he still was my friend and still is--I just happened to marry him. So why you might ask this sudden reflection on the growth, ending, and returning of friendships...because someone has returned again!
Two of my all time favorite NYC friends have vanished under the radar and I so desperately have been trying to find them. One of them it has been YEARS and I have missed her SO FREAKEN MUCH. The reason for why our friendship ended...I really don't know...and that is why it has stuck with me. I miss her. Luckily a new friend of mine heard my gripe about not being able to find Sarah and told me to check out My Space ...and I FOUND HER. And luckily...she is safe, and happy, and not pissed I hunted her down! Even if we don't get to be BFF's or don't get to hang like we used to, how great is it to return to a friendship that does nothing but make you smile! Sarah if you happen to be reading "CHEERS" To US!

To all of my friends that are reading this (old and new)...I am blessed...truly blessed with all of you...and if life takes you away from me...know I am always here for returns. Once you are IN you are In..sorry thats just how I roll.

Free cups of Joe ..

I found this awesome promotion online and had to spread the wealth! For a limited time Senseo is giving away FREE coffee POD makers WITH the coffee if you "pass" their exam. Which really is a multiple choice questionnaire that you have to prove you are social and willing to share the coffee maker with your guests (free marketing I guess!). You DO have to pay shipping which is $15! Here is the link:

http://www.sharesenseo.com/q5/1.jsp;jsessionid=78BE8EC4D0B640BDECEB63E3C6596F95

A constant state of lullabye

So I seriously thought I was pregnant this month...as I had an array of "signs". I went to the Dr. yesturday who told me I was either pregnant or probably have Lyme's disease. They called today and I am def. not preggers (they took the blood test), and so I wait to find out why I am soooooo sleepy. I literally get exhausted from walking up my hallway, my head is pounding, I am dizzy, and I am crazy naseaous...and I just wish I knew what the hell is wrong with me. It has been 3 weeks, and it has gotten progressively worse...and I just want to go to bed or drink 45 gallons of coffee a day. Luckily I have supportive family and friends here that offer up some help incase I need it when Pete is away. But nobody can help with the diagnosis..I just got to wait that one out....probably with sleep.

He did it!

He officially walked from one end of the room to the other! He still prefers to hold your hand...but he is a walker!
We also have officially retired the "PIT", and he is free to roam where he wants and when he wants...which means BABY PROOF EVERYTHING!

Ry's weekend at home

Playing with Daddy int he "Pit"


Enjoying the sunshine


Relaxing and watching tv

A weekend at HOME --What?

So it happened! We actually had to stay home this weekend! We were scheduled to make it to Rhode Island this weekend to meet "baby Snow", (my cousins son), but I wasn't feeling well and it kept us home. I was sad I didn't get to the family event...but happy that we actually had an UNPLANNED weekend at home this summer (and now summer is over). Looking back we literally had something going on every weekend this summer--it was nice to fly by the seat of our pants once I was feeling better!
Two things I much mention about the weekend: 1. Rylan is finally warming up to ice cream...THANK GOD (I need him to be the one begging Daddy to take us out for ice cream) 2. Godiva makes frozen drinks now! Twice this weekend (yes I said TWICE), I induldged it a yummy frozen beverage that was better then any shake or Frappachino in the world (that even includes my beloved Starbucks)..I had a Godiva Dark Choclate Rasberry frozen YUM'of drink. If your local shop has one ...you must break your bank and splurge!
In other weekend news...we have purchased Rylan's next Halloween costume, and got an early Chritmas gift this weekend, a Mac computer (which we are excited about!). We also saw friends that we haven't seen in awile, and finally have a CLEAN house (which is hard to do when you are never home!).
Rylan is walking between furniture so we are keeping an eye out for his walk-a-thon coming soon!
Pete is still considering a new job with a better commute.
And I have baby #2 on the mind! (go figure!)