October 16, 2006
No More Pictures of Alexis Period
I'm sorry everyone, but there will be no more pictures of Alexis on the blog period...Not from the back or anything. The person copying the pictures (and you know who you are!) is still copying the watermarked pictures of her from behind and posting them on their FotoLog photo blog. It isn't acceptable!
I know there are many of you out there that enjoy the pictures, but I don't feel comfortable with the whole scenario. Since the person in error refuses to be a decent human being and cease posting her pictures there won't be anymore. And I highly recommend boycotting FotoLog as well, because they are a completely useless organization that won't even answer a single email in regards to having the photos removed, nor have they addressed my concerns. I am going to send a few more emails trying to get them to take action, but I don't hold out a lot of hope.
It's a complete shame it's come to this, but I don't think I'm being unreasonable. In fact I think the person who insists on continuing to copy and paste pictures of MY daughter from MY blog is the one that has the problem. It's not like they copied one or two pictures of Alexis, in fact so far since June there are 36 pictures total of Alexis by herself, along with pictures of her with other members of MY family!! 36!!! I can't even begin to tell you how LIVID I am about this whole situation!
If I have not sent you a Flickr invitation to see the private pictures of Alexis (and by default Nelson too, because unfortunately we can't post pictures of him anymore either) and we know you, then by all means email me and I will be sure to send you an invite with the proper channels to see the pictures. I have tried to send them to everyone I can think of, but I have missed some people along the way and unless you bring it up I don't realize. Otherwise, that's that.
There will still be stories about Alexis and updates on things, but pictures of her will not be forthcoming on the blog except on very rare occasions. I literally feel sad, violated and heartbroken. This person's audacity astounds me! That is all.
Posted by Dianne at 12:16 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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Amusing Alexis Story From Saturday I Forgot To Share
As I mentioned we went to George Johnson's annual Bull Roast on Saturday afternoon and Alexis had a ball on the playground! There was a little boy there that was as little boys do, just going wild. He would flit from one thing to another and of course was quite loud, again as boys are prone to being. After we had been there for about an hour or so he took notice of Alexis and started to follow her around. Then the following evolved into him chasing her and vice versa. At one point he snuck up on her and gave her a big hug and just laid one on her!
From that point Alexis wasn't so sure about him, though she still played with him. The look on her face was priceless! I wish I had had my camera out, but it was tucked safely in my backpack because of an incident with a child running into me and it landing on the ground, which freaked me out a bit considering how much I paid for the camera, but luckily it was ok. Anyway, her eyes grew huge and she came running over to me and attached herself to my legs! The little boy just grinned and ran to the other side of the playground. He came back in a few minutes and Alexis was hesitant about him, but as I mentioned above she still played with him.
When Jamison came back from getting us some water and getting Alexis some watermelon I told him what happened and he was amused. Alexis hasn't mentioned the incident since then, so I suppose it didn't scar her for life, but I wasn't sure there at first. The whole situation was amusing, but I was also surprised that he was quite so vigorous. I've seen little boys kiss little girls on the playground and vice versa in my years of daycare and preschool teaching, but never quite that excitedly. I don't think I would like for her to date him later in life, I will bet he's going to be trouble! ;o)
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October 14, 2006
Ladder
Alexis climbed her first ladder today! And she took to it like a little monkey!
She wanted to go down the fireman's pole too, but she's not quite ready for that! Or maybe I'm not! ;o)
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October 13, 2006
In Which We Turn Midstream Again and Ended Up At Mount Vernon
When we first started talking about going on a few adventures for my birthday I immediately started looking for a lighthouse. Those that know me well know that I'm all about lighthouses and Alexis has grown to adore them too. So our initial plan for today was to go to Assateague Lighthouse in Virginia, but when I Googled the directions last night I realized that though it didn't look that far on the map, in the grand tradition of back roads it was going to be a 4+ hour trip one way. I started thinking about it and that was just nuts. We'd drive for 4+ hours and then spend maybe an hour or two there and then spend 4+ hours in the car back. That is not the ideal trip with a three year old, especially one that doesn't usually sleep in the car, so I went back to the drawing board. I tried to find a closer lighthouse, but they were either closed for the season, I'd been there (Havre de Grace), or they were just a let down in terms of size and condition.
I had several other different ideas pop into my head...Gettysburg, but I just couldn't really get into that one, Spruce Forest Artisan Village, but then again that one was way over on the other side of the state and not really closer than the lighthouse and of course Amish Country, but they are still being over run by press and such since the tragic shooting and I didn't want to get mixed up in the chaos.
I was trying to figure out where we were going to go and thought about just going over to historic Ellicott City, but again that's not much of an adventure given I love that place and have been there many times. Then out of the blue I remembered...Mount Vernon!
I've been wanting to go back to Mount Vernon for years and had never made it over there. Unfortunately there is no good way to get to Northern Virginia from Maryland without using the Beltway and on the Beltway is some of the most horrendous traffic you've ever seen in your life! We usually go down the Baltimore Washington Parkway as far as we can, because it's usually not as crowded as the Beltway, especially when it's not rush hour, and that's what we did today, though we did shunt back over to I-95 this afternoon due to construction on the Parkway. We left here around 9:30 and we headed back around 2:00, which given it was Friday put us on the first wave of the afternoon rush. We still had to deal with the Woodrow Wilson Bridge and that's always a mess, especially on the way back, but we got off the Beltway one exit from the bridge so it wasn't totally unbearable, but let's not get bogged down with traffic and let's get to the good stuff!
Click on the extended entry below to see some more pictures and read more about our day.
We arrived at Mount Vernon at 11, which just happens to be Alexis' normal lunch time so we ate lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn, which was a completely charming little establishment! It was done in period decorations, tables, etc. and was playing the most wonderful instrumental music! Alexis and I loved it, and well Jamison isn't impressed with anything that is old, but he did say his chicken sandwich was pretty good! ;o) And I had the best Root Beer! It was Mt. Vernon Five Farms Root Beer, which was listed on a San Franciso Root Beer "A" list. Check it out if you get a chance!
After lunch we bought tickets and entered the grounds of Mount Vernon. Mt Vernon is open 365 days a year, which surprsied me. This sign greeted us next to the main entrance:
This entrance itself was closed as they are in the process of doing some renovation work and some reworking for the new museum that is supposed to open in a few weeks.
Alexis was fascinated by the various buildings. Here she is peering into the shoemakers shop:
One of the first places we went on the ground was into the gardens. We stayed for a few minutes before something in there was bothering Jamison's sinuses so badly we had to leave. The part I liked the most was the knot garden, which I wish I had the room for!:
I also got a lovely picture of a butterfly:
So after we realized Jamison wasn't going to be able to stay in the gardens any longer we walked around to the main house. Alexis, being just like me and drawn to the water and nature, immediately set out for a large tree overlooking the Potomac River:
This is a view of the back of the house from the river side:
The moon was out today and it just looked magical above the house next to the weather vane!:
Here's a view of the weather vane from the front of the house:
When we went to take the house tour Alexis got a little antsy so Jamison took her back outside to walk around the grounds and let me go inside and take the tour. They did not allow photographs inside the house. When I came out of the house 30-45 minutes later Alexis was thrilled to see me. The other people on the tour were very amused by her! She acted as if she hadn't seen me in days, she was so happy to see me!
From there we walked around to the front of the house and I took this picture from the gate:
On the way out, down the path to the car, I found this button on the ground:
The button struck me, but I'm not sure of it's meaning. Jamison says he thinks it had something to do with POWs, but I'm going to do some research on that and see what I can find.
Overall we had a very good day, no nap aside. Mount Vernon is magical. If you've never been there, you should plan a trip, especially with the new museum opening in a few weeks. I had not been since 1986 and didn't remember a lot of it, but the outside of the house was instantly familiar. The view of the Potomac alone is worth the trip! I would think with the upcoming fall foliage it would be breathtaking! And I'm am most definitely going to try to do Mount Vernon by Candlelight this holiday season!
So that sums up our adventure for today. I hope you had a great day too! :O)
Posted by Dianne at 7:08 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Thanks for the tour, it sounds great!! I am glad you all had a another great adventure. I imagine the candlight tour will be awesome!!
Posted by: Joyce at October 14, 2006 6:50 AM
We had a lot of fun. There are so many historical things in this area. I want to go to Monticello next! :O)
Posted by: Dianne at October 14, 2006 7:53 AM
Adventuring We Did Go!
We went on another adventure today! For those of you who can see Flickr go check out some very cute pictures of Miss G. I will be posting where we went and some other photos here sometime this evening! Alexis hasn't had a nap so we're getting ready for dinner and to get her to bed! But much fun was had! Stay tuned!
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October 10, 2006
OK Sometimes I Just Don't Get Her...
Alexis walked into the room and threw her arms around me and gave me a big hug and kiss. Sweet right?
Then she proceeded to yell at me, "GET OUT OF MY WAY!"
*Blink, Blink*
"I SAID GET OUT OF MY WAY!!"
"I'm not in your way and you do not yell at me young lady!"
"Oh...You're not! I sorry!"
And she proceeded to turn around and go back to the living room where she is singing the ABC song...She is so Jamison's child! ;o)
Posted by Dianne at 2:58 PM
October 9, 2006
Fashion Statement
Don't the socks go so well with the shirt?
She insisted on the Elmo socks. My theory is that as long as she's got socks on I'm not going to argue. ;o)
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October 2, 2006
Afternoon Project
Ever since we made a play area for Alexis in our basement a couple of years ago, which is unfinished, I've wanted to do something with the wall in her play area. Most of my thoughts about the unfinished wall have shaped themselves in the way of a mural, but I was open to other ideas as well. Since we started Alexis' formal learning process I also wanted an area where we could work and play. I wanted it to be a fun place to work and play, as well as looking fun too!
Yesterday I decided to have Jamison move my dry erase board to the basement so Alexis and I could utilize it during her lessons. I also put up an alphabet/number chart and a shelf to get the dry erase markers and other items up out of Alexis' reach. Once we did this it became very apparent to me that the wall had to have something done to it! The additions just made the bare insulation pop out even more and it just looked drab, boring and depressing!!
Last night I started thinking about the problem and I thought it would be neat to put up a cork wall that we could stick things into, but it rapidly became apparent that this wasn't going to work. 1) Cork is expensive as all get out in terms of the size I wanted (10' X 7') and 2) I couldn't find cork around here anyway. So my mind went back to the mural. Since the basement has no windows due to the builders lack of foresight I wanted something to make it feel like we were outside. And I decided it would be easy to use the wall joints and attach fabric to them to make a fabric mural, or as Alexis calls it "a wall quilt" and I did just that!
Click on the extended entry below to see the finished product.
Before:
Definitely nothing to look at!
After:
Much better! And Alexis would like you to pay special attention to the butterfly she made this morning. :O)
Not bad for an hour and half of work if I do say so myself! :O)
Posted by Dianne at 4:07 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
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Wow. That looks really neat. :)
Posted by: katherine at October 2, 2006 4:31 PM
your creativity just pops up everywhere/ you did a great job. alexis I like your butterfly.
Posted by: grams at October 3, 2006 11:08 AM
looks great, and you could even float some fabric accross the ceiling to look like a bright blue sky and add a sun and a few floating clouds :)
Posted by: Joyce at October 4, 2006 2:51 PM
I thought about doing that, but the ceiling is too low down there. You almost bump into the light fixtures as it is, so I decided not to add anything that hangs down.
Posted by: Dianne at October 4, 2006 2:56 PM
September 30, 2006
More Alexisisms
Fingerwinkle = Fingernail
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Alexis' Shawl
When Alexis saw my shawl the other day she wanted one too. So instead of starting out on knitting her a hat like I had planned, I decided to make her a shawl instead. She picked the colors out herself from my yarn stash:
If you want to see pictures of the front check out Flickr. :O)
Posted by Dianne at 3:28 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Hello. I can't believe you could make a shawl so fast... you just finished your, with look so nice, just the other day. Anyway ... could you e-mail me and tell me about this flicker thing... how to use it... where I even click to get to it... so on. I might be around today... is it okay if I pop in and see you all?
Posted by: Jamie at October 1, 2006 7:43 AM
I just sent you a Flickr invite. :O)
Posted by: Dianne at October 1, 2006 9:53 AM
September 28, 2006
Pictures of Alexis
For right now there will be no more pictures of Alexis on the blog. The person who is copying my photographs went ahead and copied and pasted one with a watermark. So until I get the situation rectified I'm not posting any more pictures of her. I may go with a private Flickr! account like Gorillabuns and authorize family and friends to see the pictures only or take some other path I haven't decided. But for now Miss G will be private because she's 3 and to the person copying her pictures you don't know her! Even if you do think she's cute, you have no right! I just don't get some people!
Posted by Dianne at 12:01 PM | Comments (10) | TrackBack
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I'm so sad... I loved the pictures of Alexis that you posted. I'm so mad at this person! You know there was a CSI like this... weird. I guess there really is a shoe for every foot... or how ever that saying is supose to go. I just can't get over people now a days. Sorry again to hear all of this, and it really sucks! Tell Alexis I said Hi, and I miss her.
Posted by: Jamie at September 28, 2006 12:29 PM
I hate it's come to this too.
I'll tell Alexis. She talks about you daily. :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 28, 2006 12:38 PM
How sad! people are lame and sick!!!!
I have been using Flickr for a while and would recommend it. I like it a lot.
Posted by: Moni at September 28, 2006 2:34 PM
Any way to tell if the person who is stealing your pictures is the same person who left the comment in Spanish a couple months ago? I seem to remember seeing the words 'cute' and 'daughter' (or maybe 'girl') in that comment...
Posted by: cjmr at September 28, 2006 3:14 PM
It's possible, but I'm thinking not because the person copying and pasting pictures is in Argentina and the person who asked for Alexis' hand me downs was from Mexico.
Posted by: Dianne at September 28, 2006 3:27 PM
I have access to Spanish speakers. Get me some of dialogue on the website and I will get some one to read it. How about the law?
Posted by: mums at September 28, 2006 7:01 PM
I have a feeling they would just tell me to get over it and it was an international thing, etc.
Posted by: Dianne at September 28, 2006 7:51 PM
Have you notified your ISP? It is just horrifying that you can't post pictures of your child on your own site. I do so enjoy the pictures of A since she and O are exactly the same age but exactly opposite in coloring. Good luck.
Posted by: Pat J. at October 2, 2006 1:35 PM
There's not really anything the ISP can do. I have notified the blog provider of the person who is copying the pictures, but they don't seem to care.
Posted by: Dianne at October 2, 2006 7:16 PM
Get in touch with Ellen or Scott. They had trouble with someone posting on their blog and maybe they will know what to do.
Posted by: Pat J. at October 2, 2006 11:09 PM
September 27, 2006
My Budding Artist
People:
And a snowman!:
Not bad. :O)
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Playing With My New Software: "Pencil Sketch"
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September 26, 2006
My Wonderful Husband Figured It Out!
My wonderful husband figured out the watermarking!
It takes a little tweaking, but it's doable! Yeah baby!
Posted by Dianne at 7:43 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
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Yayyy!!! Great picture and very well done watermark :)
Posted by: Yolanda at September 26, 2006 8:07 PM
Loving the watermark, way to go, Jamison!!
Doesn't interfere with the "great" pics and does the job too. Just sorry it had to come to this.
Joy
Posted by: joyce at September 27, 2006 9:41 AM
I am too, but now if someone copies them they can't say they are their photos. :O) But I think it is working out nicely. The picture is still very visible through the water mark.
Posted by: Dianne at September 27, 2006 10:19 AM
September 25, 2006
I Always Said That Movie Was Stupid, But Who Knew It Was Actually Evil Too?
This afternoon Alexis and I were sitting on the floor in the living room playing and I had the TV on in the background. I had picked what I thought was an innocuous enough show in one of those Child Star's Where Are They Now deals. We weren't really watching it, but when the they showed the clip from A Christmas Story where the kid sticks his tongue to a frozen flag pole, Alexis paid attention and freaked out!
Now I always hated that movie. I never saw the point to it, because quite frankly it was a stupid story and the acting sucked, but who knew it was actually evil too? Alexis proceeded to put her hand over her mouth and cry for the next hour. And just when you thought she was over it, she'd freak out again! But I guess it's good to know that she has good taste in movies and knows what is crap, but let's hope it doesn't cause another round of nightmares, because we didn't get any sleep last night due to the nightmares rearing their ugly little heads! Fingers crossed!
Posted by Dianne at 6:52 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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I meant to post earlier when that troll was replying but I see you've gotten rid of his ridiculous input. Whew!
In anycase, it sounds like you live with an intuitive empath.
Posted by: Qusan at September 26, 2006 11:59 PM
She is very much an intuitive empath, very feeling my daughter. Luckily she seems to have forgotten about it now, but she was completely traumatized on Monday.
Posted by: Dianne at September 27, 2006 7:29 AM
September 23, 2006
Traveling In Style
One week ago today we left the beach. Around this time I was taking pictures of the Bodie Island Lighthouse. It's amazing how fast time passes!
Posted by Dianne at 10:13 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Just a suggestion here... have you tried a watermark?? They look nice enough. I think it'd be more effective while you can still see the photo. It truly sucks that some people should go around stealing photos.
watch how to do it here:
http://www.good-tutorials.com/track/14713
Posted by: Gina at September 23, 2006 4:20 PM
Thanks. I don't have PhotoShop though. I think I'm going to have to purchase something like it in the near future though. I used to have photo software that would allow you to watermark, but right now I don't have the capablity. I think it's time to get it though. :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 23, 2006 5:02 PM
September 20, 2006
Bouncing Off The Wall
For some mysterious reason Alexis woke up this morning around 3:15 am screaming. It most likely has to do with stress, given there is a lot of that going around here these days, and she is very in tune with such things. She said she didn't have a nightmare, but insisted on going to the bathroom and sitting there for 30 minutes, stalling on going back to bed. We put her back to bed, but she whined non-stop until around 4:45 when Jamison, who was wide awake at that point, got up with her.
When I awoke during the initial screaming episode I had no idea where I was. I vaguely remember fumbling around as if in a fog or a tunnel, grabbing my keys, though I'm not sure where I was going to go with them, and when I came back the remote was on my pillow, so apparently I had done something with it too before I got my head on straight. I turned the bathroom light on because I couldn't find the door. Because I was so tired in my mind I was still in the beach house trying to walk down the long hallway that was in our room to get to Alexis, who was in the bedroom next door part of the week.
I haven't caught up on my sleep from being on vacation. Alexis slept horribly the whole week for various reasons, including too much excitement and too much noise, and the lack of sleep is taking it's toll on me big time! Alexis ended up sleeping in our room every night of the trip except for the last two nights the whole time we were there, because our room was further away from the noise and fray and I could calm her faster and get her back to sleep, though we still didn't sleep well the entire week, even on the nights she wasn't in our room. So since we've been home I've been trying to get some decent sleep, to little avail and last night, or early this morning as the case may be, it all came crashing down on me.
Today we had a very long morning in which there was much whining and many episodes of me losing my temper. Alexis dissolved into tears over the littlest thing, such as during lunch when she started crying and told me, "Oh Mommy! My noodles are so good!" Ever the drama queen that one. It got so bad at that point that I put her down for a nap a little early and she ended up sleeping 3 hours! 3 blissful, quiet, non-whiney hours! And though I had planned to straighten up the house a bit and do some chores while she slept, I ended up reading instead!
Now she's bouncing off the walls, but at least she's happy, though clearly still tired. It will most likely be an early night for her and for me as well. That is if I can go to sleep while Jamison is out at a meeting since it's hard for me to sleep when he's not home. We'll see.
Posted by Dianne at 4:24 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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September 19, 2006
Sunrise With Grams
Posted by Dianne at 2:01 PM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
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Two beautiful blonde babies. Wonderful pix of your vacation.
Posted by: Pat at September 19, 2006 2:44 PM
love the photo with grams! how cute :)
Posted by: TANYETTA at September 22, 2006 3:34 AM
My dad took this one. I thought it was adorable! :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 22, 2006 1:55 PM
September 18, 2006
Hanging With Pop
Posted by Dianne at 3:13 PM | Comments (5) | TrackBack
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Jamison,
I understand my black t-shirt ended up in your stuff; so, ask Dianne to wash it up for you for it ought to fit you.....I have a blue one that fits just as good.
Enjoyed our outing but it is sooo good to be home and to be able to sleep in our own bed....
Where are we all going next year?
Pop
Posted by: Lonepine at September 19, 2006 4:04 PM
I am not the only one that does laundry in this house. Jamison does laundry too.
We aren't going anywhere. :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 19, 2006 4:16 PM
Ahh come on now; surely we can find someplace we can afford as a group.....what about "Peaks of Otter" on the Blue Ridge or Skyline Drive or a lodge near the Great Smoky Mtns. such as Fontana Dam area????or somewhere near Pickwick Dam on the Tennessee River where you can eat fish at the Catfish Hotel near Savannah????
Someone suggested Las Vegas or Alaska or Hiwaii or Mt. Saint Helens......
Posted by: Lonepine at September 19, 2006 4:48 PM
We'll pass. But thanks for the offer. :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 20, 2006 8:38 AM
Wonderful pix, I hope you enlarge it and hang it somewhere.
Posted by: Pat J. at September 25, 2006 11:29 AM
Pool Time Fun!
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Underwater Mermaid
Toward the end of the week Alexis got to the point where she would jump from the side of the pool and go under the water.
Click on the the link below to see the video.
Underwater Mermaid staring Alexis Grace!
Note: If you are using firefox you will have to save the link to your computer to watch it. :O)
Posted by Dianne at 2:59 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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Alexis At The Beach
Click on the extended entry below to see more fun with Alexis at the beach!
Hanging out with Daddy
Dancing to the ocean waves
Jump!
Surf girls!
My little beach girl
More of my little beach girl
Sandcastles with Grams
Walking with Daddy
On the deck
Run!
Tada!
As you can see she had a ball! :o)
Posted by Dianne at 1:49 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Yet again- perfect fashionista in her beach attire. Dianne the outfits are so cute she looks like a print ad for a enchanting line of vacation wear
Posted by: Yolanda at September 18, 2006 2:35 PM
She's all about her hats. She's loved them since she was little and I always encouraged it since she's pale and it helps block the sun. :O) But overall she kind of reminds me of a JCrew ad! LOL
Posted by: Dianne at September 19, 2006 8:47 AM
September 14, 2006
Miss Hollywood
Posted by Dianne at 8:08 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
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She definitely looks like a starlett :)
Posted by: Yolanda at September 14, 2006 8:37 PM
Rainbow
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Alexis on the Ferry
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September 13, 2006
Supervising
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September 12, 2006
Swimming
Posted by Dianne at 4:51 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Hi. I just started an online type, photo blog web site for my son, Kyle whos is 14 months. I love your pictures. What type camera do you have???
Posted by: Michelle at September 12, 2006 10:39 PM
I use have a digital Canon D 20 and I LOVE it!
Posted by: Dianne at September 13, 2006 12:14 PM
March
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September 11, 2006
Flirt
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Together
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Surf Chicks
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Run!
Posted by Dianne at 4:23 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Keep an eye on T. S. Gordon.
Posted by: mums at September 11, 2006 6:02 PM
We're keeping an eye on them all. We always do.
Posted by: Dianne at September 11, 2006 9:11 PM
Catch Me Daddy!
Posted by Dianne at 4:22 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
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tooooo cute what a great photo!
Posted by: tanyetta at September 11, 2006 7:53 PM
September 10, 2006
Bubba's Crabhouse & Seafood in Virginia Beach
Last night we went over for dinner with our friends who we are staying with to Bubba's Crabhouse & Seafood in Virginia Beach. Much to Jamison's chagrin we sat outside on their pier dining area. Alexis LOVED it! There were boats and seagulls and ducks! So many things to look at! And it was a lovely evening with a nice breeze.
This was the view from our table:
The food was great! The company was great! And Alexis and I snapped a picture of ourselves with my camera phone:
If you're ever in the Virginia Beach area check out Bubba's Crabhouse & Seafood. It's a neat little place and the food was great!
Posted by Dianne at 5:31 AM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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Jamison still uneasy around the sea?
Posted by: Royal at September 10, 2006 8:58 AM
I'm not uneasy around the sea, I just don't like it. All the dirty water in one place. Not to mention all the vermon that lives in it.
Posted by: Jamison at September 12, 2006 9:27 AM
Rarity
Alexis falling asleep in the car is rare. In fact I can count on one hand the times she's done that in her entire life. But she slept for about 40 minutes yesterday afternoon and it's probably a good thing given she's been up since 4 am this morning. I have a feeling it's going to be a long day. I wonder if she might go to sleep today? We can only hope!
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September 8, 2006
Jump!!
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Writer
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September 6, 2006
Sunshine
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Beauty
Posted by Dianne at 12:07 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
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Have you seen her Mom?
What else could you expect?
Posted by: Lonepine at September 6, 2006 1:26 PM
Why thank you! :O)
Posted by: Dianne at September 6, 2006 3:38 PM
Definitely beautiful- nice shots
Posted by: Yolanda at September 6, 2006 4:17 PM
Thanks! I got a new lens and I was testing it out. It's very nice!
Posted by: Dianne at September 6, 2006 4:22 PM
Artist
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September 4, 2006
Off To See The Wizard
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September 3, 2006
No Nap
As if that's surprising.
Posted by Dianne at 1:46 PM | Comments (2) | TrackBack
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geniuses don't sleep much. at least that's what i heard :) awwwwww......sure hope she naps tomorrow. naps are the only time mommies can think :)
Posted by: tanyetta at September 4, 2006 8:36 AM
Luckily she actually slept through the night without sobbing! I'm hoping maybe we broke the negative pattern. We'll see what happens tonight. :o)
Posted by: Dianne at September 4, 2006 9:38 AM
September 1, 2006
I'm So Effing Over Sock Puppet!
I went to bed last night around 11 and just could not fall asleep. I hate nights like that. My stress level as of late just has me on edge and it's hard to wind down. I finally fell asleep and hour and half later and about 20 minutes after having drifted off in the the land of nod I was awakened by Alexis screaming bloody murder through the baby monitor. The first thing she said to me through sobs when I walked into her room was "Mommy Sock Puppet eat my toes! He scared me! Lay down in your bed?" So I brought her in to our room because well I was tired and the screaming was killing me!
She laid down with us and squirmed and squirmed. I finally took her back to her room around 1:30 or so because I was tired and grumpy and she showed no signs of going to sleep in our room! Once back in her room she started sobbing again and said she needed to go to the potty. So we came back into our bathroom and she did her thing. Then I took her back to her room and the sobbing started again. Whatever her dream was about really freaked her out! So I told Jamison he should go downstairs and sleep on the couch because there was no reason for both of us to not sleep. I had intended to leave her in her room, but Jamsion suggested I bring her back in with me, so I did.
Jamison went to the guest room instead of the couch and Alexis came back to our room where we watched a little Ernesto coverage on the Weather Channel. Around 2:40 I told Alexis "I'm going to go to the bathroom and then we're going to turn off the light and go to sleep. That means that you will be still, close your eyes and go to sleep. I don't want to hear a single peep out of you! Do you understand me?" She studied me for a minutes and then said "OK Mama. I understand." I gave her a hug and then told her "I mean it Alexis. If you don't be quiet and go to sleep I'm taking you back to your room!" She gave me a dirty look and said "I said OK Mama!"
She squirmed once around 3:15 and I told her "Alexis I said be still and go to sleep! I'm taking you to your room if you don't!" And low and behold she actually got very still and fell asleep!! She woke up around 6:45 and started stirring and then started talking to me around 7:20. It was a long night and I'm grumpy! Alexis is grumpy too!
This morning I told her that Sock Puppet was her friend and that if he was trying to eat her toes he was just playing like when Mommy and Daddy nibble her toes. I told her that when you have a dream you don't like you just wake up, think about happy thoughts and remember that dreams aren't real. I also told her that her teddy bear was there to watch over her when Mommy or Daddy couldn't see her and that he loved her and liked making sure she was safe and he did a good job making sure she was ok. I also told her that we could always hear her so she was safe and Mommy or Daddy would always be there to help her if she needed help. She seemed to buy it, so we'll see how things go.
Let's just hope after all this she actually takes a nap today! I really need a few quiet minutes to myself!
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August 31, 2006
Ah Finally A Nice Cool Day!
I just LOVE this weather! I mean seriously! The high here today is supposed to be in the low 70's! There is a breeze blowing, it's nice outside, the clouds are gorgeous and more importantly we were outside for more than a hour and there wasn't a single mosquito in sight! Now that's my kind of day!!
Click on the extended entry below to see more of Alexis having a ball outside on this most lovely day!
So what do you do on a lovely, cool, cloudy day?
You mow the grass!
And then you run fast!
And then you run some more!!
And sometimes you just stand around and look really cute, because well you're just good at it! But anyway you slice it, playing outside on a nice, cool cloudy day is fun! ;o)
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Purple Carrot
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August 29, 2006
Cuteness
Posted by Dianne at 2:31 PM | Comments (4) | TrackBack
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She looks like she is felling a lot better.
Posted by: grams at August 29, 2006 4:45 PM
Thank goodness, you are feeling better Alexis, you scared Grandma and Papa.
Posted by: mums at August 29, 2006 7:52 PM
What an adorable picture! Have you seen Olivia with her purple cast?
Posted by: Pat at August 30, 2006 6:35 PM
I saw that! Bless her litttle heart!
Posted by: Dianne at August 30, 2006 8:22 PM
She's Feeling A Lot Better!
The temperature is gone! The sores in her mouth have all but disappeared! She is eating regular food and says her throat doesn't hurt anymore! She is actually playing in a different room than I am currently in and isn't attached to me physcially and has been playing in the living room away from me for more than half an hour! She is still a little grumpy, but over all I think we're at the end of this thing!
Can I get a Woo Hoo!!??!!
Posted by Dianne at 9:12 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack
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Woo Hoo!
Posted by: Jamie at August 29, 2006 10:33 AM
Woo Hoo!!! Glad to hear (read) it, I know it knocks everything out of "kelter" to have a sick child.
Posted by: Joyce at August 29, 2006 12:57 PM
It does throw things out of whack! But luckily she is still doing well so I think we've seen the last of this! :O)
Posted by: Dianne at August 29, 2006 1:52 PM
August 28, 2006
Alexis Update
As I mentioned earlier today when we got back from the doctor Alexis' fever broke yesterday evening and thankfully it does not appear to be coming back! This evening will be the true test since fever sometimes make a reappearance after dark, but so far things are looking good!
Last night Alexis ended up sleeping with me after all. She slept quite well throughout the night until about 4:45 this morning when she came to find me in the bathroom and tell me that "Sock Puppet was trying to eat my toes and he scared me!" I guess she was having another nightmare! Tonight she's going back to her own room.
This afternoon I saw marked improvement in this child! She went from being permanently barnaclized to me to the point that if I got more than 12 inches away from her she'd meltdown, to actually playing by herself and letting me clean up the kitchen and make dinner! Her throat is still bothering her quite a bit and the way she expresses it is by telling you things are "burning" her mouth and she still has a meltdown of epic proportions when anything goes slightly differently than she thinks it should. She finally relented and ate some ice cream this afternoon when "Miss Ina" was making ice cream on a TiVoed show we were watching. That was the first food she had had since her scant peanut butter licks and few bites of yogurt this morning. She had some plain noodles for dinner which also seemed to go down ok, though she did complain once of the "burning" again when the food passed her throat.
So that's where we stand now. I'm glad the fever is gone and I'm glad she appears to be feeling somewhat better! I hope her throat feels better soon as well! We'll see what tomorrow brings.
Posted by Dianne at 7:39 PM | Comments (1) | TrackBack
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Keep us informed.
Posted by: mums at August 29, 2006 6:15 AM
Coxsackie
It turns out Alexis does not have Strep, but Coxsackie instead. Her fever broke last night, though it's still in the 99-100 range, but that's much better than 102-104 we had yesterday! She has some sores in her mouth and doesn't want to eat much, but she did lick the peanut butter off of her bread and ate some yogurt. She's still drinking lots of ice water too. Hopefully we've seen the worst of this! She's currently lying on the couch and vegging. Hopefully she'll take a nap today, because that would help a lot too!
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August 27, 2006
Now She's Just Cracking Me Up!
"You stay here."
"Where are you going Alexis?"
"I go downstairs?"
"Why?"
"I eat dinner."
"I thought you didn't want to eat dinner."
"But I hungry!"
"OK, I'll go with you."
"No! You stay here! Watch Blue's Baby Brother! I go downstairs!"
So I called downstairs, "Jamison! Alexis wants to come downstairs and get some food, but I have to stay up here!"
"Why?" he called back.
"Because I have to stay upstairs! She told me so! Offer her a banana or a piece of bread or something soft! She can even have a frozen fruit bar if she wants one!"
"You stay here Mommy! You check e-mail and watch Blue!"
So she ventured downstairs and came back with a piece of bread, which she's sitting next to me eating. It appears to be going down ok with her throat, but then again she's been eating ice out of her ice water so her throat may be a little numb. Who knows, but she cracks me up!
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She is toooooooo cute. I know it's never a dull moment when alexis is around :)
Posted by: tanyetta at August 27, 2006 8:56 PM
Doesn't want you to lose your place. Strep you think?
Posted by: mums at August 28, 2006 5:48 AM
Possibly. She has a doctor's appointment in 30 minutes so we'll find out for sure soon!
Posted by: Dianne at August 28, 2006 9:03 AM
Alexis Update 2
Wow! It's been a long, tiring day! Alexis is currently laying down next to me on my bed watching the new episode of Blue's Room where Blue gets a baby brother while I type this and she is rapidly falling asleep or appears to be!
Late this afternoon Alexis started complaining of a sore throat. Then about 30 minutes ago we ventured out to pick some cucumbers and she grabbed one of her precious peppers, bit into it and immediately started crying because she couldn't swallow it without it hurting her. So I pulled out the handy dandy flashlight and her throat is not pretty! Jamison called the place we went last night and surprisingly they were less then useful and instead directed him to the Nurse line. The nurse asked a few questions, had us have Alexis to try a few things to make sure it wasn't anything too serious, and advised that we'd be better off taking her to her regular doctor in the morning because she most likely has strep and a few hours here or there won't make that big of a difference and she'd be better off with her primary doctor. I have to say I agree with that assessment!
So I'll call first thing in the morning and get her an appointment, hopefully with Dr. West if she's in. I'm hoping she'll fall asleep here in my room and sleep with me tonight because it will make it easier to keep an eye and ear on her. We'll see how it goes.
Update: 7:29 PM: Not so much asleep! She is bouncing to keep herself awake while she watches Blue. I have a feeling she's going to have to sleep in her room.
Posted by Dianne at 7:02 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
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Alexis Update
This is one, not feelng well, totally wiped out little girl! About 10 o'clock this morning she climbed up into my lap, snuggled into my neck and WENT TO SLEEP! Anyone that knows Alexis knows that is not her! So I took her upstairs and put her in bed with me and we both took a nap and she slept for almost 3 hours. The fact that she slept, not only with someone lying next to her, but in a bed that was not her own, is also is totally out of character for Alexis!
We just gave her another dose of Motrin and she's lying in the floor at my feet next to my desk saying "Mommy, I cry!" while she whimpers. Her fever came back up a little higher than I would have liked given that we slept through the time when we should have given her the next dose, but it's coming back down. We rubbed her down with a tepid washcloth as advised and she is drinking more ice water. The doctor's office that saw her last night called to check on her again just as Alexis and I were coming downstairs from our nap. I don't usually take naps, but when I tried to leave she would hold on tighter. She needed me and I'm not going to argue with that, even though I feel a little blah as I usually do when I takes naps, but hopefully that will wear off in a bit.
We're going to go watch some "Cooking Shows" and have some cuddles on the couch! We'll give another update later in the day.
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