Jax

I am so proud to announce that I have a new little boy in my life. 

Meet Jax! 

He is the Smith's new Boxer and I am already so in love and I haven't even met him. I did get to FaceTime him and I can tell he loves me already. 

Jax isn't the name he was given when Kara and Tim got him. It was something different (Hendrick) and they weren't big fans of that. Jax was actually a name I was going to name Brody but decided on Brody in the end so the name is very special to me. 

Jax's story: my sister told me that earlier this year Jax was hit by a car and left for dead on the side of the road. He was found and taken to a foster place and has been there since April. His pelvic bone was messed up from the hit. Kara and Tim found him through Legacy Boxer Rescue. He is a great mid size dog and has taken to Hayden. He is good with kids and other animals. He loves strawberries, pineapple and raspberries! He sleeps on the bed and Kara says he is very calm. He is 2 years old so already house trained and potty trained.

I cannot wait to meet him. And I can't wait for Brody to meet him. 

WELCOME TO THE FAMILY JAX! 

You have no idea what a catch of a family you got. You are going to be loved and fed and never left on the side of the road again! 

The Walking Dead Monday

Reviewing: TWD: Season 7: Episode 5: Go Getters

SPOILERS AHEAD. If you have not watched or don't want to know what has happened, STOP reading now.

This week has us at Hilltop with Gregory, Jesus and his crew. Maggie and Sasha went there after episode 1. 

This episode starts with Maggie waking up staring at blue flowers and doctor Carson says welcome back. He informs her that her placenta separated from her uterus. She asked if she lost the baby and he says no. The baby is good and then lets her listen to the heartbeat. He tells her to take it easy for a few days and she needs to stay there for her pregnancy. Then we see Sasha waiting outside for Maggie and she ask her if she is ok. She ask Sasha where they are and she takes her to two grave sites. Sasha gives her Glenn's watch that her father had given Glenn seasons ago. They both agree to stay and then Jesus walks up and brings flowers to the graves. Gregory comes up to them and tells them they need to leave. Gregory doesn't like people burying people and think they put them in a risk with The Savior's. He then takes Glenn's watch and Jesus tries to talk him into letting them stay but he won't have it. They tell Gregory she's pregnant and he says well that's her mistake and walks away. * Rick is talking to a few people about how they need supplies because they are coming back. Rick and Michonne kiss goodbye. Carl wants to know why she didn't go with his dad. She says there are things to figure out and leaves. Carl looks out the window and sees Enid trying to leave. She says she needs to see Maggie and says she'll be fine. He says he's not saving her anymore and she says she sorry he had to witness what he did. He says he's not as she goes over the wall. Jesus is talking to Sasha and she wants him to help change Gregory's mind. She says she will leave but Maggie needs to stay. That she will fight for Maggie to be able to live there. Sasha says Jesus needs to do more and he hands her a necklace that was Abraham's. He had found it. There's a knock at the door and its Maggie. Jesus says he's going to try to help them and leaves. Maggie ask Sasha what now and she says we stay, what is he going to do. They argue about it for awhile. Enid is riding a bike when she comes to an abandoned gas station and sees a walker. Just then a car comes plowing in, killing the walker. It's Carl. He says he felt like a drive and smiles. Maggie and Sasha are woken by music and look out to see fire and walkers. They try to get out but can't. Sasha goes to the roof and looks out to see more walkers. * Maggie gets to the roof as Sasha jumps down to try to turn the radio off. Jesus and few others go to help while Maggie instructs them what to do. Gregory looks out his window but then goes into hiding. Just then Maggie comes in on a tractor driving over walkers to kill them. She drives over the car, destroying the car and the music. Enid and Carl are walking together talking about what happened to Glenn and Abraham. Jesus is trying to get Gregory to keep Sasha and Maggie and Gregory says Jesus can be the leader if he wants. Then Sasha and Maggie come in and Sasha says she will go if Maggie can stay and then cars drive up and he puts the girls in a closet to hide them. The Saviors are here. Enid and Carl come across a backpack that have roller skates in them (which so happen to fit) and they roller skate together, holding hands. Gregory answers the door and all the men come piling in. He says hello and Simon (the main man) says they need to talk. * They go into the study and stare at a painting. Gregory says he got the message from last night. Simon goes on to say that Gregory has a nice place and that they probably forgot what a corpse look like and they were going to kill them for him but Gregory's people cleaned it up themselves. They talk about how people (Rick's crew) got killed and how those people are now Negan's people. Then Simon says he is their Negan because that's what Negan wants. Simon ask if there is anything he needs to know and Gregory takes him to a closet (where you think the girls are hiding) and its just booze. He says he will take them all and claim he found them to Negan. Then he tells his men to only take half of everything, including the painting and then ask Gregory to kneel in front of him. Gregory does so and they leave. Enid and Carl get to Hilltop and see Negan's people. Enid realizes that Carl didn't come to help her. He came to look for Negan and kill him. Then they kiss and she begs him not to go after Negan but knows she can't change him and then walks away. Gregory is yelling at Jesus for hiding them in the wrong closet and he stops him. Then Jesus steps up and says Gregory is the leader but not in charge. Then he tries to talk to Maggie who punches him and takes the watch of Glenn's. She tells him this is her home now and to call her by her name. * Jesus explains how Gregory was already in charge when he arrived and he thought that he was chosen but he's seeing different now. Maggie leaves and Sasha ask Jesus if he can find where Negan lives and keep it between them. He agrees to it. Maggie walks out and is looking at Glenn's watch and sees Enid sitting at Abraham's grave (Enid thinks she is sitting at Glenn's, which is has put green balloons at). They hug and go to the trailer to eat. Sasha comes in and ask who put the balloons on Abraham's grave and Maggie smiles at Enid and tells her she didn't have the heart to tell her that wasn't Glenn. They all sit together and eat tomato soup and grilled cheese. Maggie gives Enid Glenn's watch and says she doesn't need anything to remember him by, that she has us (meaning the girls) and then they hold hands and pray. Negan's cars drive away and Jesus jumps into the back of a cargo truck carrying the food. He dumps the liquor and when he turns around, Carl pops his head out from behind the boxes and says hey. 

Main points of this week show:

• Gregory is a wimp of a man. I understand how he thinks the girls are going to get them killed, especially if Negan finds out but hide them in a good hiding spot and be done with it. 
• I love Jesus. I hope he stays around a long time.
• Where can I find a friend like Sasha? 
• Carl and Enid are too cute together and I hope something happens there. 
• Maggie giving Enid the watch was a beautiful example of who Maggie is and what she will become. 
• Thank God the baby is ok! Maggie needs that glimmer of hope, something to hang on to in this dark time. 
• I think Jesus and Carl might be a dynamic duo, even though Carl isn't the brightest bulb. He is resourceful and Jesus might be the leader to learn from. 

Feel free to leave comments, thoughts and/or ideas on what you liked, loved, hated or think might happen. 

*=commercial breaks

Five on Friday

one. EZPZ place-mat

We decided to move Brody to our big table to sit with us when we eat. He's getting old enough to sit with us and not need a tray. We are LOVING it. But without a tray, I was trying to use a plate and for the first half of when he eats, he doesn't notice the plate. But then when he is almost done, he would pick the plate up and everything left would go flying. But my mom saw my Instagram Story of him sitting up there and sent me this place-mat that is also a plate for him to use. And it ROCKS! We got it Wednesday night and towards when he was done, he tried to take it off the table and he couldn't! It suctions itself so they can't pull it. It's easy to clean and can go into the dishwasher! We got ours off of Amazon and it comes in blue, green and coral. They also have other shapes as well. Just click the link next to one. and it will take you right to them!

two. Weather

I am so ready for cooler weather. And this weekend, we are told it's supposed to be the start! Sweaters, Boots, Jeans.....here I come! 

three. IllumiBowl

Ok....so don't make fun. But this has saved my life more than once in the middle of the night. I pee in the middle of the night, almost every night. And before we purchased this, I would have to turn the light on to see. And turning the light on at 3am when it is pitch black, is an ordeal in itself. Then trying to see after I'm done from my eyes being use to the light, I usually trip over something or hurt myself. So we bought this and I am telling you now, it rocks. You can change the color to 8 different ones (we have it on light blue). It sense you and turns on and it only lights up the bowl so you can do your business. It stays on for 2 minutes and instead of that annoying bright light, it lights up just enough. Bobby and I consistently talk about it. hahahaha (it's the small things people). You can find it at Bed, Bath and Beyond but I found it on Amazon for you. Just click the link next to the three. and it will take you directly to it. 

four. Munchkin Bottle/Sippy Cups

I have been having the hardest time getting Brody to drink milk from anything, other than a bottle. It has been a struggle. I finally put the bottles up right after he turned 15 months so he couldn't see them. Out of sight, out of mind. But the kiddo still wouldn't take milk. I have found he will drink water out of anything, but he likes a soft nipple for milk. I was on Amazon and randomly found these. They have been discontinued by Munchkin so you can only find them on Amazon. Just click the link next to the four. and it will take you directly to them. They are like a water bottle meets a baby bottle meets a sippy cup. I did have to take a knife to the slits in the spouts because they were a tad small and he couldn't get much out. But so far, it is working like a charm. 

five. Sexiest Man Alive

People's Sexiest Man Alive magazine came out this week and I have read it cover to cover. I love that The Rock made the front. I personally love The Rock and think he is a gorgeous man so for him to grace the cover was no surprise. This is my favorite People that comes out because it just highlights the gorgeous men of Hollywood and who doesn't love that?! 

G&G

Dear Diary,

On Monday, Brody and I loaded up and went over to my Grammy and Granddaddy's house again. I am loving my play dates over there. They are hands on, laugh at his funny personality and just love all over him. When we went a few weeks ago, he was a little shy but warmed up quickly. This time he walked in like he owned the joint and just started his jibber talking to Grammy. This week, my sister Kara and Hayden decided to join us. The boys had such a fun time together and it was nice seeing my sister. So my Grammy has a chip drawer (probably where my love of chips originated from), and Brody has found it. He went right to it, pulled out the Cheetos and they had a bowl together. 

Cheetos sharing time. I honestly think this may be the first time he has had a Cheetos before cause when we went to Sam's Tuesday, he saw the big pack of them and put his hands out. Needless to say, we have a big bag of Cheetos in the pantry.  

Playing with Hayden time. It was such a beautiful day so the boys wanted to be outside. Grammy and Granddaddy have a great backyard for playing and exploring. 

Brody has taken a huge liking to my Granddaddy. He follows him, likes to hold his hand, and seems to be curious as to what he is doing. Now, if it's because the dogs tend to be around Granddaddy and Brody loves the dogs or whatever it is, I know it melts my heart. My Granddaddy is a very special man to me so to see my kiddo have the same feeling towards him, just makes me so happy. 

Love, Me

2 years ago

2 years ago today, God received a beautiful angel, Aubrey Claire Talbert.

For those of you who may not know what I am talking about, my sister in law Angie and brother in law Matt lost a baby girl due to a rare birth disorder where her organs were on the outside of her body. It was a horrible, traumatic thing that happened to the Talbert and Lewis family and there isn't a day that goes by I don't think of what she would be. Or what she would have looked like. Or sounded like. Or how sweet her voice would have been saying Aunt Dani.

I do know that God has blessed us with Jace. Like I always say, Jace is the best baby! There is a reason God does things. There is a reason God took her 2 years ago. I may never know why but I have to believe that the reason he takes babies to be with him is because they are in pain, or they are not ready for this Earth and are much better by his side then by ours. It may not be fair, it may seem cruel, but I believe our God is always good, our God never gives us challenges in life that we can't overcome. Matt and Angie took a horrible situation and turned to God for comfort. Angie is now a speaker for women and to women going through this. She has been able to help women battling this horrible time in their lives. 

I know someday I will get to meet Aubrey and I will be able to hear her call me Aunt Dani and I will get to see her beautiful face and that day will be very special! 

Lots of love to you baby girl!

The Walking Dead Monday

90 minutes! That's how long last night's episode was. Let's get to it.

Reviewing: TWD: Season 7: Episode 4: Service

SPOILERS AHEAD. If you have not watched or don't want to know what has happened, STOP reading now.

Last week was all about Daryl. This week is all about Alexandria. The episode starts out with Rick and Michonne in bed together. Michonne wakes and goes downstairs and takes out a rifle from the fireplace. She collects it and leaves as Rick comes downstairs. Michonne then walks through a field to an abandoned truck and waits. Rick goes into his daughters room and greets her. Eugene is off in lala land when Rosita and Spencer drive up to the gate and want to leave. They argue with Eugene when they hear cars pull up from outside. Then we hear a whistle and see Negan's shadow and he says "Little pig little pig, let me in". Spencer opens the gate for him. Rick then shows up and Negan says to not make him have to ask to be let in. Negan is early. Then a walker comes up and Negan bashes it with Lucille. Rick then looks over and sees Daryl and they stare at each other for a second. They both look like they are about to cry when Negan starts talking about how killing that walker was a service to them all and proceeds to go in, not before handing Rick Lucille to hold on to. * Negan starts complimenting the place, saying how they will have plenty to offer up. Rick tries to talk to Daryl but Negan says nope, they can't speak to one another. Negan tells Rick that he decides what he takes and his people start searching the houses to see. Dwight then ask Rosita where they were headed off to and before they can say, he says he doesn't care and starts searching the car, taking her things. He then ask her to go get Daryl's bike. She says it isn't here and he says well then go get it then. They leave. We see Michonne on top of the truck, looking through the scope of the rifle, shooting at a walker. She misses every shot. She then hops down and uses her sword to cut its head. She then wonders off and finds a dead deer from one of the bullets she was using. * Negan's people are taking things while Negan, Daryl and Rick walk through Alexandria. Negan is then given the video tape of Rick when he first visit Alexandria, all scruffy. Negan then wants to know what happened to "the sick girl" and before Rick can say something, the preacher walks up and introduces himself. Then Negan turns to Rick and ask if she's gone and Rick doesn't disagree. Then they take Negan to a grave. Negan is talking and then we hear a gunshot and we see Carl inside a house with a gun against Negan's men. Rick and Negan then come in and Carl tells him to leave. Negan talks Carl down and then tells Rick he is taking all his guns. * Rick then takes Negan and his crew to the place where all the guns are. Negan and Rick are alone and Negan tells him that he isn't taking any food because if they die, he gets nothing from them. Negan ask Rick if all the guns are in there and Rick says to the best of his knowledge. Rosita and Spencer find Daryl's bike and Spencer tells her this is their lives now, this is where Rick got them. Spencer then turns to look for Rosita who takes off after something. Negan stops Daryl to check a gun to make sure they work. One of Negan's girls says they are 2 short with the guns and ask where they are. Negan says he doesn't enjoy killing women and says Olivia is the blame for it, since she is in charge of inventory. * Rick then talks to his people in the church about the missing guns. He wants a glock 9 and a .22 and wants to know where they are. He tells them if they don't find them, they will kill Olivia. One guy ask Rick why they care. Rick explains that they weren't there to witness Abraham and Glenn's death, that we give them what they want and we live in peace. One guy stands up and ask if they find the guns, how do they get out. Rick says they don't, that he isn't in charge anymore, that Negan is and where are the guns. Eugene points out that not everyone is there. We see Rosita in the woods following walkers and fights a few off. She finds a gun on one of the walkers and Spencer walks up. She ask him if he is going to tattle. * Rick is looking out the window at Negan and Olivia and then starts searching Spencer's home. Gabriel walks up to him and tells him that he found nothing. He also says he has a feeling that they can beat this and how he has faith in Rick. No one has seemed to find the guns when Rick comes across a loose floor board. He opens it and finds the guns. Rick takes the guns to Negan and Negan ask which one was it. Rick says it doesn't matter and Negan says that it does. * Some of the trucks drive off, when Spencer and Rosita come back through. Rick sees Michonne and ask Negan if he can have a second. Negan says no and Rick says please. Negan then allows him and he runs off. He ask Michonne for the gun and she says no. He begs her, saying he will not lose anyone else. Rick gives Negan the gun and Negan loves it. Rick ask him if Daryl can stay. Negan says no but maybe Daryl can persuade him. Daryl says nothing. Negan says he will come back soon and they better have something interesting for him. Or if not, someone is going to die. Dwight tells Spencer he will take the bike. He then pulls up to Daryl and tells him he can have it back, if he just says the word and Daryl again, says nothing. Negan then looks at Rick and says, "Well no one died". And then he ask Rick what the two magical words to get him to leave are and Rick says "Thank You". Another walker walks up and Negan kills it again. Negan then takes Lucille from Rick and leaves. * Rick is closing the gate and walks away to Spencer. Rick tells him about the guns and how they were going to kill Olivia. Spencer is pissed Rick went into his home and says he should have made a deal when they could and brings up Abraham and Glenn. Rick says if you ever say anything like that to me again, I will break your jaw. Rosita is pissed the Spencer had guns and didn't tell her. Rick is folding out a blanket on the floor with Michonne looking on and explains how they took their mattress. He ask her if there are more guns hidden and she says no. She says they could join forces with Hilltop but Rick says Negan has the numbers. He then tells her about the story of Shane and how his daughter is Shane's but he loves her like his own to keep her safe. He says they need to accept what is going on or it wont work and people will die. She then helps him make the bed and says she will try. She then goes back to where the truck is and sees birds circling ahead with smoke. She walks to where they are and sees all the mattresses had been burned. Rosita goes to Eugene and brings him a bullet she found and ask her to make her more bullets, knowing he has a device that can. 

Main points of this weeks show:

• Rick confesses he actually knew Shane was Judith's dad! There was always this maybe/maybe not in the air but he confirms what we all thought might be true. There was only one other time it was brought up a long time but Rick dodged it and said 'what is done, is done and let's move on'.  
• How messed up was it that Rick had to carry Lucille the whole time Negan was in town? Ugh! 
• I think the town of Alexandria didn't quite understand who Negan was based on the people who had met him. Now they do. 
• Making 2 fake graves for Maggie and Sasha was genius since they didn't come back with them. If Negan found out that those girls left the group, he would go on a killing spree to find them. 
• This episode takes place 3 days after the killings of Abraham and Glenn. 
• Negan has the best lines! I laugh almost every time he gets excited or says those one liners. You really love to hate him. I told Bobby I wish he wasn't so good looking, it would make it so much easier to just hate the crap out of him.
• Watching the scene where Rick sees Daryl for the first time about broke my heart. And then he ask if Daryl can stay and it doesn't happen. 
• The bullet Rosita brings Eugene is from the gun that Negan shot in the middle of the episode. Since the gun she found in the woods had no bullets, and since Negan took all the bullets, it's all she has to give Eugene. 
• What would have happened if Rick had used Lucille on Negan? I wonder if his people would be like Thank You instead of killing them all. No one likes Negan. They are scared of him. I keep thinking about this in the back of my mind. But then Jeffrey Dean Morgan wouldn't be Negan and then there goes the rest of the season and I have a feeling they are just getting started with this story. 

Feel free to leave comments, thoughts and/or ideas on what you liked, loved, hated or think might happen. 

*= commercial breaks

Five on Friday

one. Pop and his Moose

My mother and I went to a wedding last Saturday of a childhood friend and left the boys at home. Brody is into eating apples and he doesn't mind sharing with you. Well Pop got forced shared with, even if he didn't want a bite. He hopped right into his Pop's lap and practically shoved the apple in his mouth. Proof is in the picture! Love these two. 

two. Crunchy Rice Rollers

Bobby bought these on a whim the other night at SAM's and let me tell you, they are the biggest thing in my house right now. Brody just loves them and I feel safe giving them to him. They are low fat, low sodium, gluten free and vegan. They are like a rice cake, but slightly sweeter and easy to eat. If you don't have a SAM's membership, I found them on Amazon. They are slightly higher in price on Amazon but so worth it! Just click on the name next to the two and it will take you to the direct page for them. 

three. Starbucks

The Starbucks Red cups are back and boy am I in love. I always love the drinks they bring out this time of the year but I always look forward to the red cups. Last year, people made such a fuss over the cups being red alone but Starbucks had a plan. Knowing how creative their fans were, they knew it wouldn't take long for people to grab sharpies and start doodling on them. And what these people created based off what they posted to social media, they found their 12 favorites and turned them into their cups! And right now from 2-5pm through the 14th of this month, you can get buy one, get one free of their holiday drinks. I will be there everyday!

four. Honest Christmas Diapers

Last week, Honest announced their Christmas diaper prints and of course I updated Brody's bundle and had it shipped out a week earlier than I normally would have. Christmas prints go quick and I wanted to make sure I got them before they sold out. We got them in this morning and I couldn't be more excited. My favorite is either the Snow Pals or the Candy Cane Stripes! They also come in Sparkling Lights, Mountain Deer and Snowy Roads. 

five. Happy Veterans Day

Thank you to those who have served our country. I could never do what you do or what you have done. You have fought for this country and helped keep this country safe. Some of you have died for this country because it was something you believed in. I will always stand with my hand on my heart for this country because of y'all. I believe God has a special place in Heaven for you. Thank you thank you thank you! 

Brody's first night of Trick or Treating

Dear Diary,

Last Monday, Halloween, Brody and I started our day by going to see my grandparents in Irving, my Grammy and Granddaddy. I love my G&G to no end. They have always been supportive my whole life. They are the grandparents who came to everything and rooted for you. They saw every softball game they could, every dance recital they could and always made sure you were loved. So it is very important to me that Brody know them. I have been a stay at home mom since mid-August now and this is my first time taking him, bad on my part. But I have started something inside me and now I plan on taking him on the Monday's that I can. He loved them and Duke their weenie dog. Brody loves dogs period but Duke made him laugh and played with him. 

After G&G's, we came home and had lunch and then had a long nap! After nap, we waited on Daddy to get home so we could set up for Trick or Treating. I love my neighborhood. It is behind a gate and there aren't that many houses on the street and it is just safe. We also know the neighbors down at my end so I felt comfortable taking Brody there. We got him dressed and decided to head out a little early before all the big kids came out. We went to 5 houses and let him pick out the candy. Then we came back home and handed out candy. I think he liked handing out candy better than going to get candy cause he could see all the kids and see all the costumes and all the little girls just loved the lion cub standing in the doorway. He is for sure a ladies man! 

I never could image how fun it is for a parent to go trick or treating. Being a kid and getting to get free candy was such a joy and my parents let Kara and I get as much as we wanted. I hope I am the same way. It does make me more cautious now that I am a parent and who gives my kid candy because seriously...anyone can do anything to candy and that scares me a tad. But I love my street, I love my neighbors and I love these 2 even more! 

Love, Me