cont...

Of course Roux and Poppa had to go for a motorcycle ride.  Roux sure loves bikes, and poppa.  

When we returned from Utah we went to Prescott, thinking it would be cooler up there and it's not.  Next time we go to Showlow or Pinetop.  We went to Gold Canyon Lake, it has a park and play area and is really tiny.  Roux had fun running around and trying to get away from me.  Luckily I run in the mornings so I am not too slow for him.  

 

We were going to go to Cali this weekend but had change of plans.  We'll be going the second weekend of June instead to see some friends and play in the sand.  Then off to Utah again for a week this time.  

I start working at a salon in Gilbert called White Lotus Salon and Spa this coming week as a sub contractor.  I will still work in Scottsdale as well, in fact, I've picked up some great clients.  They work for a modeling agency down the street will get some clients from that and some contract work.  Pretty excited. 

Well, I'm bored of typing.  When ever I finally have time to get on and do this all of my funny comments and blogging has left.  Not nearly as fun as it is in my head.  

Update

I'm kind of over this blog thing, my ADD kicked in.  I am just updating those who read it, mostly with picture because they are worth a thousand words and I sure don't want to write a thousand words.  We went to the Zoo back in April on a playdate with another single dad I know and his son who is just a few month younger than Roux.  Either Roux is way ahead of him or he is way behind.  Of course Roux wanted to play in the splash part there.  I was going to get season passes but he hardly looked at the animals and there are free splash parks all over down here.

We went to Utah for a business and family trip.  I'm liking doing hair up there and making money as well as seeing the fam.  Heidi was mad because I haven't sent her pix yet so here are a few.  Deegan with his new "pads" to protect him that Lars and Lauren gave him for his birthday.  Lars, Lauren and Mom were all great sports and jumped on the trampoline and did D's routine.  It was pretty funny.

Easter

I don't like how the images get uploaded in a backwards order.  I forget to do it opposite so they aren't in chronological order. 

Easter.  We went to Candice's with some other cousins and their kids for a dinner and an egg hunt and let me tell you how much of a pansy Roux is.  They have this little mini white dog, not sure what the breed is, and Roux was scared to death of it.  Every time it would come even 5 feet from him he would scream and cling.  Dude, it's just a dog.  I think, when he was little the gal who watched him on Saturdays while living in AZ, her little dog, was a little too friendly and jump on him.  So now he is traumatized forever, well hopefully not forever, then he would really be a pansy.  After he got over his little tantrum he finally started to pick up the eggs, aka balls, and throw them.  I didn't get him a "basket" of goodies or one for him to put the eggs in because I think it's a little too commercialized, so he just got 5 eggs.  (And we threw everything but the chocolate away because that is all he would eat.)  Some would say I'm a mean mom but I don't think he needs all the sugar and it's not what Easter is about anyway.  

He did get an Easter outfit, thanks to Nonna since we're so poor right now.  That is tradition I will carry on for him since we always got an one, and I always got a hat.  I also remember getting gloves when I was really little, those were my favorite.  And he did get an Easter pop up bug book.  I don't think anyone can have too many books, especially since he reads them all the time.  While at the book store Roux found this stuffed horse (he is holding in the pic) and was playing with it then rubbed his snotty nose all over it so we had to buy it.  It was worth it though because he plays with it nonstop and makes the horse sound.  He also has a stuffed cow from when he was born and plays with them both saying, "nonna, poppa".  He has already associated animals with being at their house.
This is also from Nonna, a "little peoples" barn.  Thanks, he plays with it every day!  I don't buy him toys so he only gets new toys from Nonna or Heidi.
This is one of my favorite pix.  I like the more creative and not so "poser" ones.
Every morning we walk to the riparian and the cactus were in bloom a couple of weeks ago.  Some people like mountains, I like desserts and beaches.  I think this is a gorgeous picture.

I just want everyone to know, being a single mom with no support from the sperm donor is the absolute hardest thing I have ever done.  There are days when I think I have made the wrong choice in trying to raise Roux and I should have done the alternate.  I struggle everyday with what to do and how the best way to raise him is.  I don't think I have ever done anything this difficult in my life.  But, every time I am ready to throw in the towel he laughs, smiles, gives me a hug and it makes me want to try even harder to give him the best possible life I can.  This means a lot of sacrifice on my part and lots of tests from the Lord.  I refuse to work 5 days a week 10 hours a day to have someone else raise him and me just be there when he sleeps.  It's not fair to him or I to do this.  I do know that as long as I am doing my part, the rest will come and we will soon be able to give to others who are struggling and going through difficult times.

So, for all of those who are in a relationship and not being careful about it, I advise you to think again!!!  Don't be stupid!  

Utah

We went to Utah for a week to spend some time with Nonna and Poppa and Heidi's family.  First I just have to say, I never ever thought about putting a leash on a child and always thought it was just the cruelest thing to see a child with one on, then we were at the airport.  Roux loves to fly, well I'm not so sure about loves but he isn't one of those screaming children you hear on the plane and you just want to knock them out.  He does, however, have a problem with confined spaces and not having room to move about.  Fortunately we had and empty seat next to us, since he is a lap child sometimes this can be a problem, especially for the other passenger.  On the way up to Salt Lake he was great but the returning flight was interesting.  

We got checked in super fast so had some time to kill, which was fine since there was a play area for him to relieve some energy.  After he was tired of the play area that is where the leash would have come in handy.  I chased that boy up and down the halls and rode the escalator about 207 times.  All this must have worked though because as soon as we were in the air he crashed out.  

The Justices came over Sunday for dinner and Josh, Deegan, Roux and Poppa played with the alligator and ball for a while.  Heidi cracks me up because she looks like she is super skinny with a watermelon under her shirt.  She'll probably get mad for me putting the picture up, oh well.  You're one sexy momma!

Roux loves whipped cream off the beaters.  
Thanks for the great week!  He sure does miss you all!  Talks about you all the time!

Nonna

A few weeks ago Nonna came down for a visit for a few days.  We went to a lot of family events and saw some cousins who I haven't seen in a while so that was cool.  

This is at the reprarian Roux likes to go to and see the turtles and chase the ducks.  One duck was really funny and would come right up and took a cheerio right out of my fingers.  

Allergies

It's sunny, springy and allergenic in the air.  As beautiful as this purple flowered tree is so are the stuffy noses and the puffs plus kleenex with lotion.  Life has been fun and busy with no work and the stress that goes along with it.  

This is Roux's little bench bed.  It is the perfect toddler size bed with  walls so he won't fall off and the best part is...drum roll please...he's not sleeping with me!  I now have a bed all to my self and I never thought I'd be so grateful to have my own bed!  We are both getting adequate sleep now bringing smiley faces and less tantrums.  
Our cute little "casita".  We are extremely blessed to have such good friends and family to help us out in our journey and adventures.  I can't wait until I can start reciprocating what we have with others who may be in need at times.  
This is a little late but Roux was helping make Valentine cookies.  What ever it is he's doing he's sure to make a mess of it.  He ate some of the cookie dough and lets just say he's not a fan of sugar cookies raw.  I'm not sure why they are called sugar cookies, they're more like flour cookies.

Arizona

It has been an interesting and fun filled month.  I have forgotten all about blogging and remembered today so decided to share our journey.  I had been searching for salon in Salt Lake for weeks and finally had found one which also had a day care in the basement so I wouldn't have to take Roux to a sitter.  It was a bit more expensive to rent a booth there but thought it well worth it.  I proceeded to look for a place to live and was searching online and going out to the city a couple times a week to check out some options I found.  None of them were conducive to our needs and budget.  After days and weeks of frustration I finally decided to move back to Arizona and stay with my "second family", the Paredes.  We are staying in their casita and Roux finally has his own "bed"!  Its a little bench that is the perfect size for him to sleep, without me, alone!  It has been nice having a bed to myself but I still don't sleep.  Roux will get up a couple of times a night and come to the bed so I'll have to take him back to his bed and explain that is where he sleeps and mommy sleeps in hers.  It's been working out pretty well so far, just waiting for the night for him to sleep with out waking up. 

Before we moved we spent a lot of time with Heidi and Deegan and had so much fun.  Deegan showed Roux how to play the drums and his rock star face.  Heidi better get him in some music lessons with how much he likes to play instruments.

Heidi has scrapbook classes one night a month so I went over to watch Deegan while she was gone.  Earlier that day we had gone to the rec center where there is an indoor pool and water park.  I had never been there before and every time I would mention going to Heidi she would say she didn't want to go.  Now I understand why.  They were so rude and the water was so cold, but that could have been because it only came up to my knees.  Roux's lips would turn purple and be shivering and still wouldn't want to get out.  

Later that night when Heidi was at her meeting I took the kids to the traveling circus.  It was a circus with acts not a carnival with the worlds tallest man or the ugliest mammal alive.  The first act was with the lions and tigers and the whole time Roux would roar.  Deegan was more fascinated with the light swords than anything.  So I sent him with some money to get one from the man walking around selling.  It was so funny, he got lost and the guy picked him up and carried him back to me.  I couldn't leave the seat to go get him because all of our stuff was right there and I couldn't leave Roux by himself.  I just stood up and waved and they came over, the whole 20 feet to where I was.  

I let the kids sword fight until they started hitting other kids with them.  Then it was time to take them away.
I found out Roux likes to cheer at ball games.  We went with Nonna and Poppa to the high school basketball game and Roux would stand up on the bench and yell and clap and get really into the game.  At half time he went out with the "big boys" to shoot hoops until the team came out on the court.  He was so funny and wasn't afraid.  Looks like he's gonna be a jock, dang.  Maybe I can get him into Hockey.  Speaking of Hockey, I had a dream about it last night.  Roux was skating around then I ran over someone's leg and it broke off and bleeding everywhere, gross.  Oh, and Inspector Gadget was in it (don't know where that came from.)
So we're in Gilbert now and Roux loves to be outside.  After we eat breakfast in the morning I'll get him dressed and he'll just play for while I get ready.  He hasn't gone swimming yet but keeps eying the pool and says "bath".  Also, he is almost done with his pacifier.  He has had this same one for over a year now.  He lost all the others so I decided when this one got lost or broke then he was done.  Well, it is now so worn out that he doesn't like it in his mouth for very long because of the texture.  Finally!  (by the way, it's pink)  He still isn't completely talking but occasionally with spit out a random sentence or answer a question.  I think he really knows how to talk he just doesn't want to because then he knows he'll get in trouble more.