9/11 - God Bless Us All

Reef Indy - 4 Days Old

It really does not matter if what your beliefs are as to the why of 9/11 - Every year since then, our nation has mourned the victims of the Al Qaeda attacks, which felled both towers of New York's World Trade Center, injured the Pentagon, and caused a jetliner to crashed into a Pennsylvania field.

While I will spend a moment today to remember the tragedy, my new grandson fills my life with hope for the future. God bless us all.

7 Cardinal Rules For Life

This was shared by my friend Stephen from “Who Eat My Blog.” He “borrowed” it from the Biggest Loser Resort Facebook page. It is just too perfect not to pass on.

Oma would love to go to the Biggest Loser Resort some day.

“Sweeping” Is No Longer What Your Crazy Grandmother Does

BOOK REVIEW:  Sweepstakes MILLIONAIRE:
How to Win a Life of Luxury through Sweepstakes

“Sweeping” is no longer what that crazy grandmother down the street does. With the advent of online sweepstakes, the participants of this lucrative “hobby” have averaged out much younger in the last 10 years.

Point in fact, this Oma started her hobby as a sweeper in 2008 at the age of 53*. As my participation in the hobby grew, Oma has noticed that a lot of her sweeps friends and acquaintances are forty years of age or younger! It is Oma’s personal belief that the emergence of Mommy Blogs** has propagated this trend.

This weekend Oma had the opportunity to read a paperback book entitled “Sweepstakes Millionaire” by Johnathan Wyka-Warzecha.

Opa and Oma pose in front of Buckingham Palace
Enjoying Their Free Vacation (August 2009).

Oma considers herself an accomplished “sweeper.” I have won many trips, including a vacation to England. My biggest win was from Sears. They outfitted Oma’s kitchen with Energy Saving Appliances: a refrigerator, double oven, cook top AND dishwasher! (ARV $10,000).

If you do not know what ARV stands for, you need to purchase this book. It closes with a handy “Glossary of Terms” (ARV = Approximate Retail Value).

Although not a newcomer to Sweepstakes, Oma found this fun paperback book chocked full of useful information. It is the perfect gift for a Sweepstakes Newbie or that Sweepstakes Expert. The book was easy to read and organized so that the reader can easily locate the section most pertinent to the task they were attempting.

My favorite part of the book was the interesting testimonials from actual sweepstakes winners. Oma wished that there were more such stories and that the accounts contained more details to motivate people to this exciting and rewarding hobby. A few photos would have really enhanced the testimonial experience as well.

Another must read chapter if you wish to experience the thrill of winning a sweepstakes is Chapter 3 – How to increase your chances of winning sweepstakes. It offered priceless advice which covered Online Sweepstakes, Video Sweepstakes, Instant Win Sweepstakes, Mail-In Sweepstakes, In-Store Sweepstakes, and Computer Game Contests. Who would have thought that there were so many different types of sweepstakes and that each had its own strategy.

If you have ever thought of investing your time to enter and win sweepstakes, Oma urges you to read this book. It will provide you with the information needed to start winning quickly. It took Oma years to gather this insight!

You can find this book by clicking here.

*Click here to read about the win that started Oma on her sweepstaking career.

**Mommy Blog: Family-and-homemaking blogs are weblogs which feature commentary and discussions especially about home, family, and parenting. Appellations in media reports of "mom blog," "dad blog," "parenting blog" and "family blog" refer to blogs of this type.

As a blogger, my integrity is one of the most valuable things Oma owns. Therefore, reviews will contain both positive and negative aspects as is appropriate. To put it in a simpler manner, this review is meant to help my readers (editorial) more than to help a brand (advertising).

However, it should be noted that Oma was given a copy of Sweepstakes MILLIONAIRE: How to Win a Life of Luxury through Sweepstakes to read and review.

Enough To Clog The Pipes

What a mess!!!! Still kinda cute tho!!

The diaper says there is enough to clog the pipes. (Really funny when you remember that this sweet baby's father is a plumber). And at 2:50 am this morning, this is the diaper Daddy grabs. Thanks Auntie Sierra!!

Reef was full of poo and right when Daddy was finished cleaning up, Baby Reef  he went again !!!! 

411 On Baby PooP

A newborn can have as many as eight to ten bowel movements a day, but as long as he is having at least one, he's probably all right.

One day without a bowel movement is usually no cause for concern. As long as your baby is feeding well and wetting his diaper five or six times a day, then he's most likely getting enough to eat. If he starts to become uncomfortable or has a persistently swollen abdomen, then he may need some help with pooping, and you should speak to your pediatrician about how to facilitate this.

In the early days, a newborn's bowel movements are thick and dark green in color. This is due to a substance called meconium that has been building up in his intestines during pregnancy. As the baby starts to feed and have bowel movements, he will finish expelling the meconium and his stools will start to turn yellowish. It is not uncommon for an infant's bowel movements to vary in color from day to day. The color of the stools can depend on a variety of things, including what a breastfeeding mom is eating, how hydrated the baby is, and the type and frequency of formula the infant is being fed, if applicable.

Source

Happy Oma and Opa Day!

Opa gets Reef to smile!

Yesterday, Baby Reef came home from the hospital. His first day at home went well. Of course, why wouldn’t it; Mom and Dad are prepared and very patient.

Today is Grandparent’s Day. Oma has never paid much attention to this “holiday” before. However, Reef has changed that.

The impetus for a National Grandparents Day originated with Marian McQuade, a housewife from West Virginia. Her primary motivation was to champion the cause of lonely elderly in nursing homes. She also hoped to persuade grandchildren to tap the wisdom and heritage their grandparents could provide.

In 1978, President Jimmy Carter, proclaimed that National Grandparents Day would be celebrated every year on the first Sunday after Labor Day.

“A Song For Grandma And Grandpa" by Singer/Songwriter Johnny Prill
is the official song of National Grandparents Day.

Happy Oma and Opa Day!

Which path will these tiny feetstamp upon?

Three Generations of Smiths - Dad Zack and Opa frame Baby Reef’s Feet

Future skateboarder or plumber or racecar driver like his uncle Moses? A combination of all three?

 

Which path will these tiny feet stamp upon?  Reef’s voyage began yesterday – his world will be filled with love and comfort; safe in the knowledge that his path is lined by the persons, who like trees, will stand tall to willingly shade his way.

Reef With Opa

Opa meets his grandson, Reef for the first time. Everyone is well - thanks for all the well wishes and positive thoughts!