WINNER

Sorry I am running behind this morning. Bentley has been feeling under the weather the past couple of days so I am running behind on all my "to do's". Thanks to those of you that participated and also those of you the blogged and tweeted about the giveaway. So much fun!!! After adding the extra entries for those of you that did blog and tweet I used random.org to randomly select one of you.

Congrats to Gerri!!! You will receive the LeapFrog set of maracas!!! Email me at crystal525@live.com with your address and CSN Stores will get that shipped to you. They are too much fun!!!

I know many of you love LeapFrog toys, but haven't seen these yet. Another great LeapFrog toy that has been a big hit in this household is the LeapFrog alphabet drum. All 3 were crazy about this drum. Since Bryson and Brenna were babies there has been a newer updated version, but they were great!!! So those of you that are on the hunt for a good baby toy, this is it. I would strongly suggest one of these. Below is the drum Bentley had.

And here is the drum Bryson and Brenna had!!! They were both made by LeapFrog and worked the exact same way, just a new updated look. Kinda sad... I realize even more now that my babies are growing when I see a company update a toy such as this!!! Memories!!!

LEAPFROG TOY GIVEAWAY - CHRISTMAS!

(In the above, the car was OFF.. we were parked waiting for the Christmas parade to start. We have a GREAT car seat, No worries!)

Bentley wants to tell you all about the Christmas parade she attended and all the candy she picked up and how she was so nice to hand it all over to brother and sister. But first she wants to tell you about a fun giveaway, just in time for Christmas!!!

I was recently contacted by CSN Stores about doing a giveaway and review. Once I took a look at their website to see what they were all about, I was blown away. They have such awesome products with really great prices for online toys!! I will be giving away...

LeapFrog Learn & Groove Counting Toy Maracas!!

How cool is that!! I love LeapFrog toys.. they are the greatest!! These are good for 6 months - 3 years (if you're a mom you know that is a big range for a toy, awesome right?!). They play real music and they even count to ten as you shake them. Anyone can enter to win.. you do not have to have a blog.. you do not even have to have a child. The great thing is, the winner will recieve them by Christmas so they would make for one awesome gift!!! This is a short giveaway, so hurry and enter before you forget!! The winner will be drawn Wednesday morning at 9am (central time).

How to enter... (you can have up to 6 entries)

1. Leave a comment on this post!! (1 entry)

2. Blog about this post. You MUST link back here for it to count. You will also have to comment me your post url so I can give you your FOUR entries!! (4 entries)

3. Twitter about this post. You MUST link back here for this to count as well. You will also need to include your twitter url so I can give you your extra entry. (1 entry)

I will use random.org to decide the winner. I will announce the winner Wednesday morning at 9am (central time) you will be able to enter up until that point. But don't wait!! Enter now, blog now, and twitter now... before you forget!!!

The product I will review is for Bentley and should arrive any day now. I will post about this once we recive it and try it out!!!

FIX IT FRIDAY

Since recently jumping into the world of photography, well not quite... but beginning to learn photography, I decided to participate in today's "Fix it Friday" post @ i heart faces. This picture is so fun and exciting... just what I like!!! For "Fix it Friday", you simply take the photo they provide you with and make edits to enhance it. I had so much fun doing this!!! Here is the original...

(before)

(after)

... and there is mine!!! What fun!!! I can't wait until next week's "Fix it Friday".

You can click the button below to check out what other's did!!! Have a great night y'all!!!

HAPPY APPT. DAY

(Bentley watching the fish at Texas Childrens Hospital, she loved them!!)

We took a 1 day road trip to Bentley's cardiologist appointment yesterday. When we left the house it was 43degrees here once we got to TCH (Texas Children's Hospital) it was almost 80degrees (still in 40's at home). I'm sure everyone in Houston got a good laugh seeing us dressed in layers for winter. Other than the long drive with a super busy (almost) 16 month old and rain and fog... we had an amazing day. Bentley's cardiologist appointment was GREAT. It actually, couldn't have gone any better. We recently switched cardiologist (same office only different Dr.) and yesterday was our first time to meet him. I do not have enough positive words to express how much we like him. We are blown away with his knowledge and personality. He was great, and Bentley LOVED him. Bentley is such a social butterfly for a 15 month old. She loves people... but for our last few appointments she has given the nurses and Dr. a really hard time. She kicks and screams and puts up one big fight to get them away. But not with our new cardiologist. She was a little unsure at first but as he talked to her and played with her she really openned up to him and played with him and talked to him. Oh how I love this!! It makes the visit go a lot easier (less stress). Now the important part... she is doing GREAT, she had a wonderful report. Only good news!!! Yeahhh!!! Go Bentley!!! We couldn't be happier right now. PRAISE GOD!!! He is sooo good!!! We will go back in 6 months for another check up.

If you are wondering why we have switched doctors, there is no reason other than personal preference. We have learned that it is EXTREMELY important for the doctor and patient/parents have a great connection. It HAS to be there or there will be many more questions which means more stress during an already difficult time. Our last cardiologist was GREAT, we did love him... and he definitely knows his stuff. He's awesome. With that said, everyone is different. There has to be that connection there and it wasn't with us. I know he is perfect for so many others out there.. just not us. So after more research and a few long conversations with my sweet friend Shelli (fellow heart mom, her son also had surgery at TCH) we decided to give their cardiologist a try (same office). We instantly clicked and knew he would be the perfect one. I am by no means bashing our old cardi, he is amazing and has been so good to us, otherwise we wouldn't have went to him for as long as we have. We just needed that "connection". We will be seeing cardiologist regularly forever. It is important to find one that WE connect well with and stick with them. And I think we have found that!!!

I hope you all are enjoying your Holidays!! I can't get enough of the Christmas "feeling". It has been unusually cold here (you love it when it's hot year 'round), the Christmas music playing on the radio, Christmas movies on tv to watch with the kids, Chirstmas tree that lights up the room, Christmas parades, EVERYTHING!!!! It's just such a cozy feeling. I am looking forward to spending time with family as well!!

Hope you all are enjoying the Holidays!!!

JUMPING IN - UPDATED

UPDATE: We are heading out this morning for a 1 day road trip. Bentley has her cardiology appointment at the same hospital she had surgery in. We should be arriving back home later tonight. Please say a tiny prayer for us, for safe travels and a good report. The weather is nasty here today, and we also meet our new cardiologist for the first time. I'm anxious!!!

I am so excited for the upcoming months!! I am about to take a huge leap into something new that I have no knowledge about. Photography. I have been inspired by photography for quite some time now. While working or surfing the net, I often find myself wondering off to photography sites just looking at every ones amazing photos and talent. I am blown away by so many of you photographers out there. I have always been obsessed with taking pictures... and as you can see I am always the one taking them... always behind the lens never in front of. Every time I come across these awesome photography sites I just sit and wish I could do that. I do believe that a lot comes naturally but I also believe there is a ton of knowledge behind being a photographer. I never in a million years even thought about pursuing photography. I mean, I see these photos on photography sites and there is just no way I could ever make those happen. After obsessing about photography for an extremely long time.. it finally donged on me... if I love it so much, why not try it out. I have absolutely nothing to lose, so why not give it a shot. I obviously feel a huge passion for it... there is nothing stopping me or keeping me from following this strong urge to want to pursue photography... so I have decided, I am going for it!!! I have so much to learn but, I am ready. I am so excited about this new path God is taking me. I have thought and prayed so long and hard about this and I can't wait to get started.

(I have taken all of these photos a while back. I may have already posted a couple, but these were my favs. And for your photographers out there.. don't laugh.. I know I need some lessons!! HAHA!!!)

One of my close online friends and amazing photographer, Angie, with Angie Seaman Photography started a beginners photography class a few months back. Again, I have never even imagined I would be taking these steps so I have always turned my head when she offered these classes. She has another class that will begin Jan. 4, 2010... I am registered for this class and can't wait!!! I am super excited about this class!!! This class is not only good if you have an interest in photography but if you have children it's great too or just for every day use. We are always wanting great pictures of our children playing sports, dance recitals, and just every day life. This class will help with this as well, so you do not even have to be interested in photography. I so wish I would have taken it a long time ago when she first started. Thankfully she is doing another now, so I am jumping at this opportunity before it fills up. That's right, she is only offering so many slots for the class. Glad my spot is reserved!!!

I have also been on the hunt for more online courses, I told ya.. I am hitting this full force. I have nothing to lose. I am just so excited and anxious about this journey... excited and anxious does not go well with impatient. I am an extremely impatient person. I have come across a couple of other great online courses I will soon be registering for... yeahh!!! Anxiety is killing me here!!! But with Christmas just a few weeks away, I will manage. You know how much I love Christmas!!!!

I just wanted to share this exciting (to me) news with you all since it seems to hold a pretty big place in my heart!!! For all of my photographer readers (I'm not sure how many of you are there) please don't laugh at these pictures. ;) I know they are not great but it's the best I got right now!!! HAHA!!! And if you are a photographer reader or anyone else has any tips for tackling this journey... do comment or email!!!! Please!!!!