Such a big helper!

Leland LOVES to help! He likes to push the trash can, drag the trash bag to the garage, help push the vacuum cleaner, pick up his toys, throw his diapers away, and whatever else you ask him to do. Lets just hope he loves to help when he is a teenager!!!

If only Leland's lawn mower was real! He LOVES to push it both inside and out, so it would be fantastic if it cut grass and vacumed floors!!

Easter 2011

We spent Easter weekend at the lake and had such a great time with our family!

Passed out from all the driving!

Relaxing on the pontoon

Leland got a Mickey back pack and a bucket full of animal cracker stuffed eggs!

Dutchess got a bucket full of treat stuffed eggs and ate every one of them!

1st Easter Egg Hunt!

Leland taking his golden egg to the Easter Bunny.
He got a bucket full of goodies for finding the golden egg!

Being shy!

He spotted the golden egg!

Leland was not too fond of the Easter Bunny, but didn't mind having his picture made with him if he wasn't right next to him!

Future Allstar and Pro Griller!

A Day at the Zoo!

A few weeks ago, my good friend Ashley came down to visit. We spent a day at the zoo with Leland and had a great time!

22 Months Old!

Happy 22 months Leland!

You are such a little boy now, but you still love cuddling with your Mommy! You LOVE to be outside and would stay out there forever if we would allow it. You are starting to throw tantrums, especially when we make you come inside. You have had your fair share of pops on the leg and you are a little smarty pants! I'll start to count to 3 in an attempt to make you do something, and as soon as I say, "ONE", you say, "TWO"! I can't help but smile because you are so smart!

You are getting very good at pointing at the correct picture in a book when I say the word. You are also talking a lot more and will usually attempt any word I ask you to say. You have such a large vocabulary now that I can't list them all!

As GiGi and I were walking through Wal-Mart a few weeks ago, GiGi said, "I need some charcoal". You shouted, "Charcoal" plain as day and have been saying it ever since! You also know that charcoal goes in the grill and will tell us that it cooks hot dogs (even though you typically will not eat a hot dog)!

You are becoming a relatively picky eater and sometimes I think you are starving because you eat like a bird. Your favorite foods are still vegetables, especially grilled squash! You like spaghetti now, but do not like macaroni and cheese. You still love fruit including apples, pears, grapes, and blueberries, but you are not a fan of bananas.

If I had to guess, you are probably about 28lbs and 34 inches tall. You still wear 18m shorts the majority of the time, but usually wear a 24m/2T shirt. Everyone always comments that you are big for your age (very annoying), but I do not think so. You are a little tall for your age, but whenever we are around kids your age, you look the same to me.

You are obsessed with trains and Mickey Mouse. You call Mickey, "Hot dog" because of the hot dog dance! While at the lake on Mother's Day weekend, you and I did a little antique' shopping at the stores down town Wedowee and one store had a huge life size stuffed Mickey. You thought that this was the greatest thing ever and kept saying, "Hot dog" and giving him a hug and five! Very cute!!

I can't believe that it is time to start thinking about your 2nd Birthday party! You are still a very humble little boy. We went to visit Wilbur and Jennifer's baby girl last weekend and you loved the baby. You kept blowing her kisses and telling everyone, "Shh"! I have no doubt that you will be a great big brother when the time comes!

I have so many pictures to update for you, so I hope to get those updated soon so I can order another book as a keep sake for you!

Lake Baby!

more pictures to come

Anslee's Minnie Mouse 2nd Birthday Party on the Farm!

We took the kids out in the pasture to pet the baby cow!



Leland eating his cake and ice cream.

I made Anslee's outfit to match her cake!

I shot a few pictures of Anslee for her 2nd Birthday pics.

Things have been very busy around the Rooks household! Jason works odd ours and I work around the clock it seems! 4am is my new bedtime most nights. I would much rather stay up and get my work done that to stay cooped up in the house all day! I hate to make Leland stay inside when it is so pretty outside. I try my best to keep him on a routine everyday that allows him to nap around a certain time, play outside a few times a day, read his books and learn things, and he makes sure to fit in time for Mickey!

So far this week, I have mailed close to 100 items to customers in several different states. I am finally getting in a groove of production for the business. The new big machine helps out tremendously, and most days I have all 3 machines going at one time.

I have several blogs that I keep up with and friends that are in the same business as me. I always find it reassuring to read that they are having an, "I quit" day! I sincerely love what I do, but there are some days that I just need a break from the world!

It is not always easy being a full time Mommy and a one woman business. I get a lot of help from my Mother in the form of babysitting, pattern cutting, errand running, support, etc. and for that I am forever grateful. Running a one woman business has it's perks, but is definitely stressful at times! I am a secretary. a designer, the package packer, the e-mail answerer, the invoice sender, the main pattern cutter, the supply orderer, and the list goes on and on and ON and does not even begin to include my duties as a Mommy!

Sometimes, as many of my friends in this business do, I do have, "I quit" days, but who doesn't? At the end of the day, I have to Thank God for blessing me with everything in my life. When I was laid off a week before I had Leland, I was devastated and extremely worried about how things would work out. Through a lot of prayer, tears, and trying times, I couldn't be happier with how things have turned out.

I would not trade anything for my crazy life. I absolutely love staying at home to watch my baby grow into the sweetest little boy. I also love talking with all of my customers and the satisfaction of how excited they are with the products I have designed for them! I meet customers everywhere!! I recently did a Birthday outfit for a lady that was standing behind us in line to see Santa at the Bass Pro Shop last year! I also recently got a big order from the manager of the store where I purchased my Matron of Honor dress for an upcoming wedding. I take cards everywhere I go in my wallet. I have given them out at the doctor's office, Wal-mart, Target, etc.

I often get comments from my college friends that I am not even using my college degree and am still successful. Boy are they WRONG!! I use my marketing degree and skills daily!

On a side note...who is tired of all the bad weather we are having?? ME!! I hate bad weather and we have had several close calls with tornado's in the past month. I don't mind rain, but I hate storms...and so does the dog!

I believe I have posted before about how the dog freaks out when it is storming outside. You usually can put her on the couch or bed beside you and she will calm down; however, with the past few storms, the dog seriously freaks out, pants, and shakes for an hour or more. Thank goodness the Vet gave her some medicine that will hopefully calm her nerves. Unfortunately, we may get to try the new medicine tomorrow with a bad batch of storms headed our way. I do not like drugging my dog, but I don't want her to have a heart attack either!

Perfect Sunny Day!

Thank You Mickey for entertaining my child when Mommy is in desperate need of getting something done! We went to the lake Sunday because it was absolutely beautiful outside! High of 80+ and clear blue skies. The neighbors had some beautiful flowers, so we borrowed them for a few pictures!

Leland enjoyed a popsickle on the porch

and then passed out on the boat ride!

He woke up in time to enjoy the sunny day and visit with Grandma and Grandpa.

We even floated in the water!