Hello, Fall.

Fall has arrived! I've always loved the Fall season. Although the weather is not in the Fall spirit, the Pruitt household certainly is. Hobby Lobby is like a black hole that engulfs you into it's chaos. I can't believe I was there four days last week! Monday and Tuesday I spent the day shopping around with Sammy while looking for Fall decorations. My mom always had the house decorated for the Fall and Christmas seasons, with the smells and scents to make it feel so homey. I want that for my house.

I bought many things including Fall foliage, acrylic type pumpkins, decorated wood pumpkins, and even a "Happy Harvest" picture. I bought a cute scarecrow as well as another little wooden decoration for the guest bathroom. With Hobby Lobby always have wonderful sales, I bought all of the items for either 40% or 50% off. You should never pay full price for anything there, unless you are needing something in a hurry. Their decorations always are on sale at one time or another. I spent more than I should have. But, we will be able to use these decorations every year. Since Neil is really giving me the eye on spending money, I need to work with what I have. I found a cute, cute, cute idea on the internet for a decorative candle holder and I did it today! It involves tying down fall leaves to a glass container and filling it with any type of bean. It's very cute and very creative. Now, I'm just waiting for the cool weather to arrive. I'm ready for the Fall weather to coordinate with the Fall decorations. My scarfs and hot cocoa are begging to come out!

Prayers for Brodie

It seems these days a beautiful little baby boy named Brodie is on my mind so many times a day. And, this same little boy is someone whom I've never met. Many of you who read my blog have heard me mention Brodie, a beautiful baby boy who is very sick. It's amazing how a person whom you've never met can impact so many lives. Lately, I find myself praying for Brodie and his family and thinking about them even more. Lately, they had received heartbreaking news about their son. Yet, their fight to bring their son home is truly amazing.

As a mother, I ache over what they are going through. I see my Sammy and am so thankful for his health. I've talked with other people and other mothers who say that through Brodie's story, it makes you look at your life and become so much more appreciative for all that you have and the health of you and your family. His story drives home how many blessings God has placed in our lives. Even for those who do not have children, you can find such inspiration in him. Our hearts go out to this family. His story is one of fight, courage, and of parents unfailing faith to bring home their son. That is truly inspirational. From day one that I heard of their blog, I've read it daily and kept up with Brodie's progress. I rejoice in the positive and am heartbroken over the negative. And, I pray and think of him every moment in between. His blog and story have reached people across the state and across the country. Donations, prayers, and kind words have poured in from family, friends, and those whom they've never met. I remember telling Neil last night, "Isn't it amazing how people who don't even know Brodie can be so touched by his story?"

Last night we took Sammy to an Astro's game where many of Neil's coworkers would be there. One of his coworkers even got to throw out the first pitch, which was really neat. As many of us sat there at the game, I noticed many of us with our blue, Brodie bracelets to support this amazing little boy. I know of the struggles and stressful days and nights his parents have faced. I thought it would be a good idea for them to see us in our bracelets to show that we are so proud of Brodie's fight and support him daily. I gathered us together and took a picture of our wrists that proudly sport our bands. I posted it to LaVona's Facebook page. I was hoping this would give them a smile and know that we love our Brodie and support him proudly. With many of his coworkers at the game, LaVona and her family were not and I couldn't help but think of them. I wanted them to know that in Brodie's fight, we are all together.

For many of  you who have kept up with Brodie's blog or any of you who have not, I ask you to give it a glance to see this courageous boy and his fight to stay with us. Donations can also be made through their blog. You will also receive a wristband to support Brodie and the fight against CDH. If nothing else, pray for Brodie and his family. They need it now more than ever. Please take a moment to keep Brodie and his family in your prayers.

Inside-Out California Rolls

I'm in love with Inside-Out California Rolls and it's always a treat whenever I get to snag these for lunch or dinner. And, now that Kroger has a sushi department, I always try to talk Neil into letting me sneak some California Rolls in the shopping cart. Sometimes I win.

When Neil's brother, Daryl, came over last weekend for football I was saying how much I wanted them. He said, "Why don't you make some?" Well, I never really thought about it. Why am I not making them? They cost anywhere from $5 to $8 dollars a pop in the store and around $10 or more in restaurants. And what are you paying for, rice and cucumber? I decided to set out on a mission to make my homemade California Rolls.

I found an amazing Sushi Rice Recipe on the internet from Alton Brown and it turned out amazing. The consistency and taste was nearly spot on! And, I searched on YouTube on how to make the roll. You can learn anything on the internet! I went to Whole Foods to get the bamboo mat that you need for rolling the sushi roll. Turns out Kroger did end up having the bamboo mat, so I wasted a whole trip to Whole Foods. I totally suggest staying away from Whole Foods when you can get just what you need at Kroger. I've never stepped into a Whole Foods and don't know if I ever will again. It's way too overpriced. The only reason I went there was because when I called Kroger, they said they had neither the bamboo mat and nori sheets I needed. So, I knew places like Whole Foods would have them. I would end up buying the nori sheets there and taking them back because they were outrageously expensive in comparison to Kroger.

I went to Kroger to get the other things needed, like nori sheets (toasted seaweed sheets), cucumber, avocado, and imitation crab meat. The nori sheets alone were 3 to 4 times cheaper there! I went home, and started the fun. Neil came home before I started rolling the rolls and him and Sammy watched me make them. We were both amazed that you could actually make something like this from home. We never thought of it before! It came out great and delicious and I am so happy that I'll be able to make these instead of spending money by buying them. And, to make myself feel so much better, I finally am able to make something and ENJOY because it is low in calories. Success!

Hand of Hope

I received this as a forwarded email and I was absolutely amazed. I wanted to share it with you...

The picture is that of a 21-week-old Unborn baby named Samuel Alexander Armas, who is being operated on by surgeon named Joseph Bruner.

The baby was diagnosed with spina bifida and would Not survive if removed from his mother's womb. Little Samuel's mother, Julie Armas, is an obstetrics nurse in Atlanta. She knew of Dr Bruner's remarkable surgical procedure. Practicing at Vanderbilt Univ Med Ctr in Nashville , he performs these special operations while the baby is still in the womb.

During the procedure, the doctor removes the uterus via C-section and makes a small incision to operate on the baby. As Dr Bruner completed the surgery on Samuel, the little guy reached his tiny, but fully developed hand through the incision and firmly grasped the surgeon's finger. Dr Bruner was reported as saying that when his finger was grasped, it was the most emotional moment of his life, and that for an instant during the procedure he was just frozen, totally
immobile.

The photograph captures this amazing event with perfect clarity The editors titled the picture, 'Hand of Hope.' The text explaining the picture begins, 'The tiny hand of 21-week-old fetus Samuel Alexander Armas emerges from the mother's uterus to grasp the finger of Dr Joseph Bruner as if thanking the doctor for the gift of life.'

Little Samuel's mother said they 'wept for days' when they saw the picture. She said, 'The photo reminds us pregnancy isn't about disability or an illness, it's about a little person.'Samuel was born in perfect health, the operation 100 percent successful.

Now see the actual picture, and it is awesome....incredible.... And hey, pass it on. The world needs to see this one!

Don't tell me our God isn't an awesome God!!!!! 

Brodie Dick's CDH Story

I don't know if anything pulls at your heartstrings more than your own child. Once I became a mother, those words rang true time and time again. I remember the first night Sammy was home from the hospital, we washed him off for his first bath and when he cried, I cried. He was so new, so fresh, so fragile. He was mine. He was ours. He was forever my precious boy.

For weeks, I've been following Brodie Dick's CDH Story. Baby Brodie has been in the hospital from the moment he was born. He suffers from CDH, which is Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. I know Brodie's parents through Neil, who works with Brodie's mother. She is such a sweet woman, and she has a very nice husband and cute little boy, Bradie. Brodie is the latest addition to their beautiful family. When I first met her as Neil's coworker, I instantly enjoyed being around her. I was pregnant with Samuel at the time and I enjoyed talking with her about everything motherhood. I sincerely feel for this family and my heart goes out to them.

As a mother, I am heartbroken as to what these parents are going through. I check on Baby Brodie daily by reading their updated blog. I encourage everyone to visit their blog and to keep this baby and family high on your prayer list. They recently added wristbands for purchase on their website along with a donation button. They are trying to raise money for CDH research so one day they may know the cause of what sickens their beautiful baby boy. I am excited to get in my wristband so I can wear it proudly to support Baby Brodie. Please support this family and this beautiful baby boy. If nothing else, keep them in your prayers.

They are on an emotional roller coaster with all of the ups and downs and twists and turns that Baby Brodie takes daily. I only wish there was more we could for families and children such as this. This beautiful family and baby boy need your prayers. Please keep them on your mind and in your heart.

Dleep Seprived

I'm sure every mother, especially new mothers, knows exactly what the words sleep deprived means. That was my case last night. It's funny how in the beginning, in the first few months, your little one gets up so much throughout the night and you live in this sleep deprived fog. You begin getting used to such few hours of sleep and although hard, you become adjusted and just cope. Then, once they start sleeping through the night, you get so spoiled that getting up again during the night seems so hard.

Sam started sleeping through the night at about 3 months. I remember the first time he began sleeping through the night. I woke up at 4 and was in a small panic. Why hasn't he woken up? Is he ok? Is he breathing? I rush to his room to see him sleeping soundly. Wow...he's finally sleeping through the night! It felt so nice to start sleeping through the night as well, though I am one of those people that wakes up at least once or twice a night. Well, just because he sleeps through night now doesn't mean it is every night. We still use a SwaddleMe to swaddle him at night. He can't sleep without it. I know that's going to be a hard habit to break. Sometimes he'll wake up if he breaks out of the swaddle or wakes and can't soothe himself back to sleep.

This morning was the first time in a long time where I feel sleep deprived. Neil came home late last night after him and coworkers from the company he works for went to an Astros game. I stayed up to visit with him and we finished watching the football game together. I ended up going to bed until late and not able to fall asleep until midnight. Sam was already up at 1:30 a.m. and again at 4 and again when Neil left for work. I was up about five times when he was up at 4 because he couldn't seem to go back to sleep. Neil always wakes me up when he leaves for work to kiss me and tell me goodbye for the day before he's on his way to work. This morning when he did that, I was so out of it from not getting any sleep that I felt delirious.

Now that I have my cup of coffee, I feel a little better but still feel like I'm in a fog. I've noticed Sammy is starting to wake up during the night now. I hope this isn't a new trend! I was really loving him sleeping through the night. But, no matter how tired I am, when I walk over his crib and see him smiling or looking at me with those big, round eyes, being sleep deprived doesn't really matter anymore. (Though, a good night's sleep would be nice!) Maybe I will catch a cat nap today while he sleeps. But, being me, I always mask my sleep depravity with coffee instead of curing with a nap. I've always been that way. Guess some things never change!

I Birthed an NBA Player

Sammy's four month shot appointment was the other day and I always dread these appointments for the fact that I hate to see him in pain. I honestly believe that he knew the shots were coming! Before we left the house, he was in a good mood. I had him on our bed and he was smiling and being his happy self. I started to change him and I said, "I don't want you to get your shots. They are going to hurt, but they are only going to hurt for a little bit." He looked at me, pushed out his lip a little bit, and genuinely got sad and started to cry. I couldn't believe it! Could he really know what was coming?

There is a part of these appointments that I look forward to and that is when they weigh and measure him. We are always so anxious to see how long he is and what percentile he is in. Sammy is a tall boy. He's been that way since he was born and is definitely following in his daddy's footsteps. Neil is 6 foot 6 inches and towers over just about everyone. When Samuel was born, he was 21 and 3/4 inches. When we went to his two month shot appointment he was already 25 inches and was in the 96th percentile! We were blown away (and had our glowing, proud parent moment). At his appointment the other day, he was 28 inches long and in the 99th percentile. Talk about being blown away, again (while we had another glowing, proud parents moment)!

I always joke that Sammy is going to be an NBA player and is going to send mommy and daddy checks! Ha. Joking, of course. Though, I'm really starting to think that Sammy may be a tall guy like his dad. I know that some children are in fact off the charts when they are little but become average height in their adult life. But, with his daddy's genes, there is no telling! With me being only 5 foot 5 inches, Sammy's height is predicted at 6 foot 2. Doctor said I bring him down! But, Neil and I predict he will be 6 foot 8 inches, 240 pounds. We'll see how that pans out. Neil has a feeling that Sam will be taller than him. And, I'm starting to think he is right!

Daddy and Sammy when he was about 3 and 1/2 months old.

Be a Force of Beauty

No surprise to anyone who knows me, I am a die-hard Bare Escentuals fan. Once I stared using it in 2007, I have not turned back to liquid foundation and have become a loyal customer to this amazing brand. One thing I am excited about is the new campaign for Bare Escentuals; Be a Force of Beauty. The concept and way the campaign came together is unheard of. In a summary; Pretty is, Beauty does.

In a recent post in the New York Times, the news of this broke and made many women excited for this groundbreaking campaign. Leslie Blodgett, the executive chairman of Bare Escentuals, is a woman that many women, including myself, respect. She is someone who not only has made amazing products for us women, but is starting an extensive campaign to show people everywhere that pretty is nice but beauty is what we do. In this groundbreaking experience, the company sought out to find models for this campaign...blindly! How many cosmetics companies do you know that would cast models behind a wall and select them without ever seeing there face? The reason for this is because beauty, to them, is more than a pretty face. It is about what you do that makes a person beautiful. It's not just about the makeup. It's about you.

What I'm most excited about is the actual photos for this campaign. In a world where people everywhere are airbrushed beyond recognition, they are advertising and marketing themselves across the world without airbrushing any of their models that will be representing Bare Escentuals. This, to me, is unbelievably groundbreaking. People everywhere look at magazines, celebrities, and billboards and see these "women" that represent beauty. Yet, the airbrushing alone puts them in this unattainable category that no amount of makeup, gym memberships, and cosmetic surgery could ever obtain. What kind of message are these companies sending to women and young girls, and even men? Some men look at these celebrities and think this is what they really look like. How is a woman ever supposed to measure up to that?

This non-airbrushing campaign is something that these cosmetics companies should have done years ago, and I am so happy that it was Bare Escentuals that grabbed this bull by the horns. They are showing people everywhere that beauty is more than a pretty face and a blank set of eyes behind a camera. Beauty is what you do. I'm so excited to see this campaign unfold. Kudos, Leslie, and the whole Bare Escentuals team!

 

One Armadillo, Two Armadillo

Over Labor Day weekend, it was so great to head out of town to Neil's family ranch to enjoy some time with the family. This was Sammy's first trip to the ranch. We are determined he is going to grow up a country boy just like his mommy and daddy! Neil and I, over the years, have spent so much time out at the ranch. It is his grandparent's ranch featuring a cozy camp house, four lakes, and acres upon acres of land to roam.

Sunday night, after we finished an intense game of Taboo and Password (Taboo is a regular game we like to play!) the family started getting ready for bed. Neil and I went out on the porch to swing on the big, wooden swing to enjoy some of the night air. It was a very windy night! It was nice to soak up some time hanging out with the hubby while Sam was sleeping in our room. I value our quiet time together ever since we had our little guy. We were aware that there had been some armadillos tearing holes up in his grandpa's land and around the house. So, throughout the night they had been checking for armadillos and killing ones that they saw.

As we sat swinging on the swing, I heard some rustling along the ground behind us. I looked, and low and behold, there was an armadillo! I wanted to be the one to get this critter since I was unable to shoot a gun for a whole year because I was pregnant every time I had the opportunity to. We grabbed the 22 and realized there were two of them. Show time! We grabbed a flashlight as we ventured closer to the fence near the armadillos. Neil shown the light while I held the gun. At this time, Neil's step-dad, brother and sister all headed out to see what the shenanigans were all about.

I set the gun on the fence, lined up my shot, and...pow! I shot the armadillo. I hadn't lost my touch! Little did I know the series of events that were about to transpire. After I shot the armadillo, he came running right at us! I started squealing like...well...a girl! We all jumped out of the way (I, with the gun) and scared my husband thinking I was going to shoot someone as I jumped around with the 22. The gun was not loaded and my finger was not on the trigger. But, I see his point. The armadillo zoomed past his brother, Daryl, nearly running straight across his toes. The armadillo was injured and I ended up shooting him again as he lay near the tree. One armadillo down.

I regrouped as we looked for the second one. There he was by the fence and he was huge! We were only yards away. I set the gun again on the fence, lined up the shot, and...pow! I shot the armadillo. Here we go, again. The armadillo, who was injured and definitely not happy, went sprinting toward the area we were and ran faster than I've ever seen an armadillo run! He ran, ran, and ran until finally...SMACK! He ran right into the shed. HA! It was absolutely hysterical. He was so huge we ended up shooting him another time or two until he finally stopped walking around. What is it with these crazed armadillos?

This night and series of events was one of my favorites there at the ranch. We always have a great time and spend hours playing Taboo. Though, with me, it's never enough! It's one of my absolute favorite games and am always up for more. And, as always at the ranch, any diet is completely out the window. That is one of the joys of being there. Hamburgers, fried chicken, chips, and cookies is the norm. Love it! We always enjoy the ranch and love any chance we get to go. The mismatched furniture, cozy beds, hanging out with family, great food, and spending the day so far out in the country is all part of the wonderful ranch experience. And, we can add armadillo wrangling to the list. Though, I am known to conquer those little creatures. Can't wait to go back!

 Back in 2008 at the ranch- My first two armadillo kills!

Fantasy Football

My husband, as some of you already know, completely looks forward to this time of year when Fantasy Football rolls around. And, I must say, it is quite funny to see! One of his leagues (one of THREE) is drafting today in a couple hours and you would think we are preparing for D-Day. We even have our son dressed in his "Future Quarterback" onesie for today. Neil works so hard during the week, being gone 12 hours a day, so I am happy that he has something that he looks forward to like this (aside from Sammy and I, of course).

Now when I say "looks forward to", that is a complete and utter understatement! Being the accountant that he is, he creates spreadsheets of players stats to help him create the perfect team. (Oops, I may have just given away his secret!) He came away with second place last year and took home a good chunk of the kitty. I failed to state that you do in fact win money in Fantasy Football, which is one main reason he enjoys it so much. From the minute I met Neil, I learned that he loves to gamble. And, guilty by association, I am in fact in love with it myself. Our three of the five nights spent at the casino spent in the Dominican is proof in itself.

As we speak, Neil is across from me on the other computer, drinking Gatorade and talking out loud about his draft picks, all while finalizing his drafting strategies. Did I mention humming as well? Ever since yesterday, he has been counting down the hours until the draft at 3 o'clock. And, what makes the draft complete you may wonder? Having half priced pizza from Papa Johns (Labor Day special!) and inviting his brother over so that they can draft together. This, in fact, leads to the numerous amounts of trash talking that will be going on about which team is better and who will win. This happens every year! It is a family affair involving Neil, his dad, brother, and our brother-in-law. (Update: Just was reminded draft is in two hours! Ha.)

Because I am a wife to such a huge Fantasy Football fan, I do not want to spoil the fun and be a nag. So, because finding common interests is important, I try to join in on the fun. When he chooses certain people for his team, it makes watching football a little more fun to watch because you are looking for certain players to do good. That has helped me in enjoying to watch it with him. (Update: Just was reminded draft is in an hour and forty two minutes.) When he gets excited about the draft and the day of football, I get excited with him. I don't want to ruin the fun. So, if you are a Fantasy Football wife like me, welcome to football season! 

Burning the Kindle at both ends

After making my cup of coffee this morning, I dusted off my Kindle and continued to read a book I started before Sam was born. After watching the George W. Bush: 9/11 Interview last night with Neil, it inspired me to continue to read Decision Points, which is his autobiography. I am a fan of George W. Bush and wanted his book to be one of my first's when getting back into the reading world. I used to read all of the time. I purchased a Kindle about a month before Sam was born and thought it'd be a neat way to get back into reading. Of course, I do it at a time when I was about to pop and life would forever change. But, leave it to me to start another project and have yet to finish it. That is definitely a pitfall of mine.

Last night's interview with him was very insightful and touching. And, even after reading a 1/3 of the way into his book, I begin to like him more and more. He has a nice, genuine heart and grew up right here in Texas. When I read his book and hear his decisions behind some of the craziest moments of his presidency, I realize more and more that he is, in fact, a good person who genuinely wanted to do the right thing for the American people. Just today I read about how he wrote a letter to each of the families of the those service men that died defending our freedom. At the end of his presidency, it was a total of over five thousand families. That, to me, was very heart-warming.

Even though I have many "projects" I need to finish, such as my cross stitching, Sam's baby book, and all of the other things I have began, I decided that I need to finish Decision Points and check this off of my list. Sometimes, I feel like I have so many things going on yet I don't do anything at the same time. Weird, I know. But, it's true. Sam keeps me busy and it seems like all of the other things like cooking, cleaning, dishes, projects, and all just take a back seat to relaxing on my down time. I am a stay-at-home mom and you'd think that I'd get a million things done. But when the time comes, and Sam is asleep, I value that quiet time and just want to relax on the couch and prop my feet up. Like now, he's asleep beside me and I'm drinking my lemonade and blogging about not doing things I should be doing. Ha! I need to get on the ball.