Our Halloween Beach Vacation!

Instead of going trick or treating this year the Chalmans and the Ishams headed off to Port Aransas for a weekend getaway. We had so much fun and Ramona had a blast on her first beach trip. The weekend was, of course, too short but I took tons of pictures! Enjoy...

She fed the seagulls with Nanna

Quality Time with Daddy

I think Chris liked the vacation most of all.

She looks so old!

The bee is flying! (with a little help from Uncle Mark)

Yum!!

It's Pumpkin Time!

We took our 2nd annual trip to the Pumpkin Patch. Here are just a few of the pictures I took. I'm so excited for the holidays!!!

Pumpkins are hilarious!

The bumpy pumpkins were a great distraction for pictures.

Ramona did not trust the stranger taking our picture.

Wagon Ride!

Now she's filling the wagon with tiny pumpkins.

And from the looks of it, she's trying to shop lift them.

Next stop...HALLOWEEN!

Pampered Chef

Hi Everyone!

I just became a Pampered Chef Consultant and am booking shows like crazy! I am trying to book shows with my family and friends first so that I can practice my presentation in order to avoid looking like a fool in front of strangers. PLEASE email or call me if you want to book a cooking show or a catalog show. You can get FREE stuff and discounts. Also, I can write off my mileage, so book a show even if you are out of town! Go to www.pamperedchef.biz/mandychalman and click on "Our Products" to order online. Thanks for all the support, everyone, hopefully this will help me to be able to continue to stay home with Ramona and pay our bills!

Mandy Chalman

Independent Consultant

512-787-7796

mandychalman@yahoo.com

www.pamperedchef.biz/mandychalman

Pictures!!

It's been a busy summer. Here are some quick updates:

1. We flew to Illinois to watch Chris play the drums at Cornerstone, a Christian music festival. Ramona did fantastic on the plane.

2. We went to schlitterbahn and Ramona rode a ride...in her OWN TUBE!!! I was nervous, but she loved it.

3. We have spent as much time as possible in the water.

4. Ramona has officially been weaned off her pacifier!

5. She is starting to talk. Saying things like: ball, Mommy, MaMa, Daddy, Poppy (Pappy), Pa Pa (Paw Paw), Shoe, Yes, Nooo, Meow, Oh Nooo, Ha Ha Ha, Who's That?, Whas That?, Whas This?, Woof, etc...

Here are some pictures of our summer.

Ramona fitting in with the hard core rockers at Cornerstone.

Collecting leaves in the front yard.

Playing with Daddy in the sprinkler.

Playing in the pool at Nanna and Paw Paw's house...NAKED!

Watching TV with Pappy.

Thank You!!!

Thank you to everyone who voted for my husband's band, Price Hill. They won the New Band Showcase competition for Cornerstone 2009. They are the Grand Prize Winners and will be playing on the main stage on July 2nd. We are so excited! Hopefully a record label will fall in love with their music and sign them!!! Thanks again, this could NOT have happened with out your votes. Click here if you want info about Cornerstone.

Pink Slip Designs—Laid off and getting crafty!

Hello Everyone! I have been busy for the past few weeks starting my own crafty business on www.etsy.com. I am selling handmade coasters, magnets, onesies, and whatever else I can dream up.

If you would like to check it out, you can click on the Etsy button at the top right of my blog. OR you can go to www.pinkslipdesigns.etsy.com. Check it out and by all means, if you see something you like...BUY IT!!! (By the way, if you live close enough for me to hand deliver a purchase, you do not have to pay shipping costs.)

Thanks for your support, love you guys! And thank you to all my ladies in Craft Club for the spectacular ideas.

Lots of Updates

It's been a busy few months. I know what you're thinking, "Is Ramona a year old yet? What kind of lazy mom has a baby blog and doesn't post birthday pictures in a timely manner?" I'm sorry, geez!!! Well the wait is over. So, here's what the last few months have looked like in Ramona's world.

Easter was a big hit! We hunted easter eggs at Old Settlers Park on Saturday. Ramona did great! She got a whole basket with a little help from Daddy.

Since it was freezing, I was able to sneak the bunny ears on top of her hood without her knowing.

We took pictures with baby chicks. Ramona wasn't too fond of them.

"Nobody move, there's a chicken on my head!"

*****

On a serious note. I have been trying to wean Ramona, now that she is a year old. So, I asked her doctor how she recommended we do this. She said give her three meals of solid food a day and replace the remaining breastfeeding sessions with milk in a sippy cup. Do it slowly, it should take about a month for her to be totally weaned. Ok, sounds simple enough. She eats food...check! Start giving her cows milk in a sippy cup...not working...how about a cup with a straw...nope...a bottle...not a chance.

Two weeks later I had purchased every kind of kids cup and nothing was working. She refused to drink AT ALL from anything but my breast. We were making zero progress. So, I turned to the internet, friends and family asking for tips on how to introduce cups to Ramona. Everyone said, "She will drink when she's thirsty." And some said, "Just stop offering the breast." Ok...I was skeptical but figured I would give it a try. Three days later, Ramona is dehydrated and I'm in pain from weaning "cold turkey". I'm panicking because all she has had to drink a few sips of water and milk and one juice box. She is sticking to her guns and NOT drinking when she is thirsty.

So, I give in and breastfeed her only to find out that 99% of my milk has dried up. This is when I start to FREAK OUT. How am I going to feed my baby, now that I physically can't feed her? I turn to prayer, Fenugreek and family for help. Also, after alot of research I find out that weaning "cold turkey" can cause delayed postpartum depression and anxiety. It absolutely did! I have never felt so insane in all my life.

Do not, I repeat, DO NOT wean your baby "cold turkey". It is traumatizing for the mother and the baby. Ramona was feeling neglected and confused because she actually did not know how to drink from a cup, therefore, she couldn't drink when she was thirsty. I didn't know this until AFTER I dried up my milk.

Anyway, the Fenugreek and praying worked and I have enough milk back to feed Ramona if she needs it. And in the middle of all this she started drinking juice boxes (mixed with water) and milk (with a straw out of my giant blue cereal mug with a hint of strawberry Carnation instant breakfast flavoring...whatever works!) I'm still trying to get her to drink just plain water. We are still working on weaning but it will be at a much slower pace. Hopefully she will be weaned soon, but it will be only when she and I are ready. I refuse to jeopardize her health and my sanity again just because I think she is too old to breastfeed.

This is how much she hated all the bottles and sippy cups.

*****

Back to happy stuff! Ramona's birthday party was a smashing success.

The cake. Yeah that's right, I made it.

She wasn't a huge fan of cake. She prefers ice cream.

The gifts!

The birthday girl...with a giant bow. I couldn't resist.

It only stayed on for two seconds.

Ok, that's all. I'll try to stay on top of the blogging in the future. (Truth be told, we all know that's not gonna happen.)

Did I mention I'm married to a rock star?

Hello! This is not a Ramona post, sorry. My husband, Chris, is in a christian band called Price Hill. And they are in a new band competition for the live music festival, Cornerstone. In order for them to get to play on a gigantic stage they need to get as many votes as possible. The top ten bands will win a spot on the big stage. Price Hill is number 12 right now! Please go to Cornerstone's website (click here) and register for a password. Annoying, I know, but it takes two seconds. Then you can vote once a day until the contest is over.

Fame and fortune, here we come!!! Ok, maybe not...but a girl can dream.

:) Thanks everyone!

Stupid Strangers!

The other day I was in Walmart and a couple stood and watched as their daughter put both hands on Ramona's face and touched her nose to Ramona's. They smiled and said, "She LOVES babies". While I silently FREAK OUT that she could have just blown a stupid cold into my child's mouth. What the heck were they thinking?!? Personal space, People! Ever hear of it? What should I do in those situations? I hate to be rude...Stupid Strangers.

Party Plans and the Zoo!

Today was a big day. As I type this, Ramona is passed out in her crib. And might I add, she put her self to sleep without shedding a single tear. So, here were today's activities:

1. I won the ebay auction for Ramona's birthday present. It's a giant frog tent. I fell in love with it when I saw it at another mom's house and had to have it. I'm quite sure I over paid. I HOPE it gets here in time for her party on Saturday.

2. We bought all the decorations for Ramona's party. I'm so excited! I thought I might be sad that she's turning one, but I can't wait to see her smash the cake in her face. It's not sad seeing her grow up, everyday is more fun than the day before. It's the teen years that I worry about.

3. Since Chris went out of town for the day, we had to do something fun to get out of the house. So we went to the...ZOO! It was so much fun. But when did house cats, ducks and roosters make it into the zoo? Those were, of course, Ramona's favorite zoo attractions. Forget the monkeys, show me a chicken!

I took thousands of pictures, here are a few of my favorites.

I'm pretty sure there's a sign that says,

"Do not poke fingers inside the cage." Whoops.

Fear not, everybody left with just as many

fingers and toes as we came with.

The turtles were not such a big hit.

But she LOVED all the leaves.

She thinks she's invisible. Where's Ramona?

Ramona's Book (0-12 months)

A good friend of mine told me about an awesome website, www.blurb.com. You can design, publish and sell books online. So, of course, I had to try it. I made a book of Ramona's first year of life for her upcoming birthday. Hopefully I will keep it up and make one for each year. If you want to see my work of art you can preview it here. If you are at all interested in making a book, I highly recommend this website. It was so easy and I now I have a forty page, one of a kind, book-o-memories for only $30! You can't beat that!

NEWS FLASH:

Ramona is eating solid food!!!!! It has only taken 10 1/2 months for her to start liking anything but breast milk. I was so afraid that I would be that woman nursing the 10 year old. Now hopefully after her first birthday, I can start weaning her. (Please, God!) It has been almost 2 years since I have been either breast feeding someone or growing someone in my body. I'm ready to have a glass of wine in the evening without being terrified that Ramona will wake up hungry the second the alcohol touches my lips. (She has impeccable timing.) 

Now, please enjoy the photos of today's snack time. Strawberry yogurt is yummy...and messy.

Holy Teething Baby, Batman!

Ramona is working on 4 teeth growing in. That will bring her to 6 teeth total. Her new favorite past time is grinding them together. Not a fun sound. Also, she has her second cold this cold and flu season. The first lasted 3 weeks and then we had a week off, now she is coughing with a runny nose again. So, she is not very happy, therefore not sleeping much. The nights are long in the Chalman house.