So far, I have a B in the class. We’ve already had homework and 1 exam, but I have skill checks Monday, then Exam 2 Wed, then the next Monday a quiz over abbreviations. Shew, it’s a lot, but I know if I do like I have been *studying everyday and not just cramming the night before* that I’ll be fine. =)

I do plan on writing a lot along my journey, so make sure to keep stopping by to see how things are going. 

No Kneecaps : On birth, babies do not have kneecaps. Rather they have a structure of cartilage that resembles kneecaps. They usually don’t develop them fully until after six months. Most seen on babies who “army crawl” instead of doing it on all fours.

May Babies Are The Heaviest : One would think that January sees the heaviest babies given all the holiday eating but this is untrue. May is actually the month that sees the heaviest babies born. Usually about an average of 200 grams heavier than any other month.

They Can’t Cry : They can scream and holler for what they want or need, but newborns can’t technically cry. Tears can’t actually be created or released until about three weeks in. However, in some cases, it isn’t unusual for babies to shed their first tears until four or five months.

They Have More Bones : When babies are born, they have 300 bones. Adults have 206. Bones fuse together during growth to come up with the new number.

Birthmarks Are The Rule, Not Exception : If your newborn has a birthmark or other abnormality, this is actually normal. Around 80% of all babies are born with some form. The most common include stork bites and port wine stains.

They can hear just as well as you : They will startle at just about anything. Not because it is louder or softer, but because it is new. Smell is also advanced at this age.

Eyesight Isn’t Much Worse, Either : According to BabyCenter, a newborn’s eyesight is just about as good as an adult’s. However, their brains aren’t able to process information as well and usually start out at about eight to 15 inches of range.

A Turned Head Means A Full Belly : Your newborn didn’t just see something interesting. If he or she turns her head at a spoonful of food, it is because they are full. This is also where shaking your head “no” comes from.

Mama Is Number One : It only takes a few weeks in before a baby can visually distinguish between his or her mother and other adults. The constant sounds and sights are soothing to the child and are missed when gone. However, the voice and smell of the mother can be recognized from birth.

Smile Time : A baby is typically capable of their first non-gassy smile at only one month old. Try engaging them with funny faces or voices to see if they are ready. If unsure about a smile, repeat the gag as necessary.

What A Load : The heaviest baby ever born was a boy who weighed 22 pounds, eight ounces. He was born in Italy in 1955. To summarize, it isn’t highly unusual for a one year old baby to weigh 22 pounds.

Don’t Throw Out the Breast Milk : According to this article from Associated Content, breast milk can be good for adults too. If you can stomach the taste along with the knowledge of where it came from, the milk may be of use for combating serious diseases.

Anyway….

I haven’t done any of this, for a few reasons. One, idk how long this is supposed to last or anything, and even if I did I would never be able to list everything I am thankful for. I did consider just writing a status about it, but then realized that too was a bad idea. I knew that once I started it would end up being so long that no one would read it anyway! Lol… So, here we are, back to my wonderful blog, to help me get things off my chest. Not that I think what they are doing isn’t “cool” or anything, I just can’t. Way too much for me to be able to remember to do. But, on this Thanksgiving, I’m going to list a few of the things I’m thankful for. You ready?

1. God- of course Him. Without Him nothing and no one would exist. I am also thankful for all He has done for me, though I know I deserve none of it!

2. Alyssa- I am so thankful that God allowed me to create her! She is the reason I wake up in the mornings, and strive to make something of myself. I know she may only be 2, but she gives me strength to make it through even my worst days!!

3. My mother- My mom has always been there for me through the good, the bad, and the down right ugly! Without her I honestly don’t know how I would have managed to get through some things. She, for some reason, believes in me. I’ll never know why, but I hope I am able to make her proud! And I hope, and pray, that one day I can be half the woman and mother she is!!

4. My aunt- she has been a huge influence in my life since I was born. I love her for always putting up with me, even though I’m sure, especially when I was little, I got in the way of her being able to go out and have fun with her friends! Now that her sisters daughter did it to her, it’s now my daughters turn to do it to us! LOL!

5. My wonderful sister- she is the greatest sister anyone could ask for! Alyssa loves her

Sis Sis

so much too! I hope she knows how much I am thankful for her always being there for me, and hope she knows that no matter what, I’ll always be there for her as well!!!

6. K- She’s my cousin, but more like my sister! I love her so much! She has so much going for her, and my daughter is just like her. Great, now I feel sorry for myself! LOL! Not really, she’s a great girl, and I’m very proud of her! More than I’d ever be able to tell her… At least till she’s 18 and her head won’t explode from getting to big! Haha!!

7. A & M- my babies! Okay, my little cousins, but more like my own! Also, my daughters best friends! They have sooo much fun together, fight like they’re really siblings at times, but it’s okay, because I know at the end of the day they will always be there for each other, just as I am always there for all of them!! =)

8. My wonderful grandparents- idk what I would do without them!!! I honestly really don’t! They have always loved me and supported me, no matter what crazy things I have gotten myself into! They have been the greatest role models for myself and my family! The world will truly be losing the best when they have to leave and go with God. Makes me all teary thinking about that so…

9. All the rest of my family- Trust me there’s a lot too! Lol… Through the good and the bad, we all still love each other and the only thing I hate is we don’t get to see each other more. I may have the biggest, craziest family ever, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world!!

10. And last all my crazy, wonderful friends- We have all had wonderful times, horrible times, and crazy times. I love you all and am thankful for all the times we’ve had and all the times we have to come!

And there is the top 10 things I’m thankful for! I could keep going, but the list would last forever!!! Hope no one *if this is ever seen* feels left out! It was never my intention, I just don’t have time to list all my family and all my friends I’m thankful for! Trust me, if I could I would! Lol…

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving! Don’t eat too much, wait yeah, make sure you do! I know I will be! Because today my family will be getting together to do just that! Can’t wait!

~Brann

I think we all have a soft spot for children, because they’re absolutely defenseless. Even the most hardened criminals will kill someone over hurting a child in prison. It takes an extremely sick person to do something to a child. How can anyone expect them to fight for themselves when they can’t even take care of themselves. They rely on us as parents to do that. What gets to me, as well as many others, is when you find out that it was the mother that caused it. The one who the child usually clings to the most, who is supposed to be the one who would give their life without thinking. I’m not saying that was the case in poor Lisa’s disappearance, because no one but God, Lisa, and the person who has taken her knows where she is and what condition she’s in. I pray she’s alive and well, but as we all know, the odds of that aren’t as well as her not being okay.

What are your opinions about what happened to Lisa? Do you think it was an intruder? Or do you think it was the mother? I really don’t know. I really hate to think the mother did anything, but I hate that anything happened at all. But, as we all know it does happen. Look at Casey Anthony. I followed that case from when poor Caylee disappeared until the not guilty verdict. I will never understand that, but God knows what really happened to that poor baby, and I can’t judge because I don’t know 100% that Casey did it or didn’t do it. But, I will say that whoever did do that deserves whatever happens.

Anyway, reply and tell me your opinions on all this. I would love to hear them.

Brann

When would a child say “no” to ice cream? When she’s a 2-year-old in defiant mode who’s enamored with the word “no.” Hearing the word a lot from your preschooler doesn’t mean she has a negative personality. Rather, she’s finding out that she has her own personality, and “no” is a good way to let Mom or Dad know she disagrees. Some twos get so entrenched in the word that it’s their favorite response, no matter what the question.

I wish I could explain to someone who doesn’t *or hasn’t had* a 2 year old! Haha! I actually laughed when I read it, because at times even if it’s a favorite toy or food she will say, “no.” as if it were something she loathed. There are times, even, when I ask, “Do you love mommy?” Which is an obvious yes to where she answers no. LOL! She doesn’t get in trouble because I know it’s just a phase. I’ll just saw, “You don’t?!” and act like it makes me sad and “cry” or I’ll say, “You don’t?! Well then I’m. gonna. TICKLE YOU!!” and start tickling her. Lol… Of course it won’t be so funny when she’s a teenager, buy for now I take it lightly, she is only 2 after all. =)

How do you guys handle situations where you can’t get your little one to agree or say yes to everything? I’d love to hear some of your ways to handle it. I know it def can be frustrating at times!! Especially if your a single parent like me, and have to be both mommy and daddy 24/7 lol

XOXO,
Brann

I haven’t been feeling very well lately, and today I finally figured out why. I’m having an MS episode. =( I should have known. It’s been a while since I’ve had one like this though, so I guess I just wasn’t thinking about that. I know I have optic neuritis (where your optic nerve in your eye swells) causing horrible headaches and, sadly, you go just about blind in eye. Thankfully I have had it before *it’s what helped me to get diagnosed* so I don’t panic like I did the first time and think I’m going to stay this way, though sadly that is a slight possibility. It does most the time scar your eyes and cause your vision to get a bit worse each time. I just have to call my doctor Monday to see if and what they can do for me.

My mom, aunt, and cousin are all at my moms house right now so they agreed to keep my little girl for a couple hours while I came home to try and get some rest. I’ll prob go ahead and go get her though after I finish this blog, since I obviously am not able to sleep anyway and may as well go ahead and get her back home before it gets to late. It’s weird being here without her anyway. I’m never away from her! Idk what I’ll do when she starts school next fall. I can’t believe she’s going to be 3 in Jan and starting headstart next August.

Everyone is saying that preschool would be great for her, and she would start there in Jan., but I’m just not sure that I am ready for that. Selfish, I know. Sigh.

Anyway, those of you who will please say a quick prayer for me that this episode doesn’t last very long and that God will help me get through it while it does last.

XOXO,
Brann

The people that post on there are nice too! Well, for the most part. I haven’t had any negative encounters but that’s not to say there won’t ever be any. But, that happens with any website. Especially one where you are paid to post and respond your opinion about things! Lol….

Anyway, if you wanna give it a try, here’s a link: http://www.mylot.com/?ref=brannray

And be sure to send me a friend request after you register! =) I’d love to be able to interact with all of you! =)

XOXO,
Brann

I had to get a booster seat since she’s the age now to where she can’t have just a car seat. Sigh. I don’t know if I’m going to put her in preschool or not, everyone tells me it would be great for her, but shew. I just wanna keep her home with me as my baby forever! LOL! I know I can’t though. What are your ideas on starting kids in preschool at 3? Good idea? Bad idea? And why? I’d love to hear everyone’s opinions! I hate to cut my update short, but I’m exhausted and have to get to sleep!

Had to dedicate a post to our wonderful Father, although he deserves so much more, I figure it was the least I could do.

XOXO,
Brann

I was diagnosed at the tender age of 18. It was right after my 18th birthday actually, happy birthday to me huh? Lol… I remember when I was told that I had it I was terrified. I had no idea what it was really, I mean I had heard of it, but still! Did this mean I was going to die? I had no idea what the disease did. So, my doctor explained to me that I had to take an injection daily and how I can’t be in heat. So that means, he explained, no tanning bed, no being outside in the heat, and definitely no hot tubs. I was told I needed to take showers as cold as I could. Joy. I haven’t done the best at the shower thing actually, but I probably should. Who wants to take a cold shower?! Definitely not me! Haha.

Well, I’m 24 now so I’ve been doing quite well dealing with it so far, until recently. My symptoms have gotten significantly worse and after having the MRI that I have to have done ever so often they found that I have gotten much worse. Enough that my neurologist can’t see me anymore (which sucks because I loved him he’s great) and is refering me to a specialist. The one he’s refering me to is working his schedule around to get me in as soon as he can, because the closest opening he had was November 11th and apparently I need to be seen much sooner than that. I’m really nervous about it to be honest. I’m in so much pain that I’m having to stay with my parents so they can help me with Alyssa (who is 8 months now). It makes me feel like I’m so pathetic!! I can’t even take care of my own daughter!! What do you do though?

I do have to go. Alyssa needs her mommy.