Summer Break

Summer is pretty much official in the Cochran-Taylor household.  I wrapped up my Spring semester on May 11th, and it was a life changing experience.  I thought school was never in the cards for me, but once I took the first steps and enrolled I realized this is what I want.  Not only for myself, but for my daughter and Adam too.  I am proud to say that not only did I finish the semester with honors, but I finished with a 4.0 GPA!

I never imagined I'd do that well, but I am very excited about that!  I'm taking summer classes, to speed up my graduation date, starting on May 31st and going until July 21st.  I'm taking intro to communications and intermediate algebra.  The math is making me nervous, 7 weeks is a really short amount of time, for me, to take a math class.  I feel like that's the number one thing I struggle with, but I know I can do it.  Thank God for Adam and his bachelors in mathematics or it'd be a lot worse.  For the fall semester I've signed up for my final math class, college mathematics, my final English class, intro to criminal justice and college critical reading.  All of which are required for my criminology and criminal justice degree.  I'm what they call a MAPP student (Maricopa ASU Pathway Program) which guarantees my acceptance to ASU in the Spring of 2013, it all ensures all of my CGCC credits will transfer to ASU, and most importantly it looks the tuition in for me, at today's rate, regardless of if it goes up between now and then.  So technically I am an ASU student.  Pretty neat!

Bella is doing awesome!  She had a dentist appointment on Monday and I am so proud of her, no cavities, again!  She was so happy with herself.  Her top two teeth and loose and should be coming out in the next 3 to 4 weeks.  School is out on the 26th for the summer, her last summer before kindergarten!  I just can't believe my baby is going to be in elementary school, it seems like just yesterday I brought her into this world!  She is sooo excited about starting too.  But, I don't think she understands how much earlier we'll be getting up for school.  Right now we sleep until 8 or 9 everyday, and even later on the weekends.  She's already hard to get out of bed lol.  So it'll be interesting.  Thank God for the Mesa school district and full day kindergarten.  Because of them, I will be able to attend school full time without having to pay for child care.  June 1st she has her surgery on her herniated belly button.  I am terrified!  I've actually considered cancelling it a few times already.  The thought of my baby being put under for surgery freaks me out.  I know she'll be fine, but I'm still freaking out!  We'll see how it ends up!  I know I need to do it, it's just scary!  Tball wrapped up about 2 weeks ago, Bella did so well and I'm so proud of her for doing so well. On Saturday we're going to the end of the season party, and she'll get her little trophy and pictures back!  They're having it at a pizza joint, should be fun.

Adam is well, busting his ass at work.  He's got that electrical job at the Indian Medical Center and they're in the middle of a 2 week shut down.  3 guys working different shifts, 24 hours a day.  If one of them is sick, Adam has to go sit in and watch the job, so he's been working some early mornings and weekends.  He's a great man.  He works so hard so that I can go to school and Bella can have the perfect little spoiled life she has lol.  We're having a Memorial Day party on Saturday the 28th.  We should have about 15 people here.  Adam is going to make wings and pasta salad, I'll probably do up our famous dilish bacon jalapeno peppers.  I'm going to fill up a couple hundred water ballons for the kids to thrash eachother with lol, it'll be fun!

Other than life, not a lot going on here!  We're watching our friends two dogs until Saturday, so I've got a house full at the moment!  Til next time!

CJT

It's been far too long...

I wrote in this blog about 3 weeks ago, then I got done I some how deleted the entire thing, I was pissed and it was midnight so I didn't re-write everything!  Update!

School is going awesome, as of now I'm an honor student.  Finals are the week after next and I'm really nervous about my math final.  I'd love to keep my A, but we'll see.  I signed my Maricopa AZ State University Pathway Program contract a few weeks ago.  It guarantees my acceptance to ASU and that all my credits will transfer.  I should be at ASU by the Spring of 2013.  The thought of have a bachelors degree in criminal justice and criminology from Arizona State University is so exciting.  Now lets just pray I get to the end of that tunnel.  Spring semester ends May 11th, then on May 29th I start my summer semester.  I've settled on a math and communications class for summer.  4 days a week, 3.5 hours a night.  It's going to be a busy summer.

Adam has been so busy with work, he's got this electrical job at a hospital that's been giving him hell.  He's been working long hours and on the occasional Saturday, which I hate!  But, someone has to pay the bills.  I am very proud of him, and love him very much!

Bella is awesome!  TBall has been going wonderful.  We met another couple who's son plays on the team, we've become really close with them.  They're a lot of fun!  Bella is super in "love" with their son Braden.  Bella also has the summer off of school, so she'll be home with me during the days.  I can't wait until she starts ALL DAY kindergarten in the fall.  My big girl, makes mommy want to cry!

I'm trying to get Adam to fly my cousin Tarra out in about two weeks, as a mothers day gift.  Tarra is moving to Wisconsin at the end of May and I'd really love to spend some one on one time with her before she leaves.  I miss her so much as it is, then she'll move 1000's of miles away and it'll really suck.

We're throwing a memorial day BBQ over memorial weekend.  Looking forward to seeing my friends meet each other and mingle.  The kids will have a blast too.  Gotta get Adam to fix up the back yard first!

I think that's about it for now, I'm sicker than shit so I'm going back to bed!  Til next time!

Catch up!

Wow, it's been awhile, a long while!  I've been so insanely busy though!

Where to begin?  Mesa (Phoenix) is awesome!  I absolutely love living here!  More so than Colorado at this point.  Don't get my wrong, I miss my friends and a few select family members, but Arizona has it all!  The weather, the palm tree's, & tons to do, lots of hustle and bustle (which I've always preferred).  We live in a beautiful neighbor hood as well.  Our little house has been a work in progress but I think we're just about done making it our home.

School, I love school!  I have decided to major in Criminal Justice, which I'd wanted to do all along.  I could have majored in so many other things, things that would surely make me more money, but I love the CJ field.  And what is a job if you don't love what you do?  Misery!  My long term goal is to be a homicide or missing persons detective, but in order to do that I'd have to be a "cop", street patrol, traffic, yada yada... and work my way up in the rankings.  I know I don't need a degree to be a cop, but I want my degree so I don't care!  I am currently and all A student!  I've got a 93.3% in math (includes homework, quizzes and exams) I got a 94% on my first exam, the 2nd exam is next Tuesday.  I got a 96 % on my first English essay!  Score!  We do a lot of in class writing assignments in English as well, and as long as you put forth the effort on those you'll get full credit.  I finished my college success class with a 100%, but no shocker there, it's a 1 credit required class that lasted 5 weeks... ultimately it became a fuck off class.  I met my friend Billie in that class.  Adam and I have become good friends with her and her fiance Tim.  They're really good people.  I signed up for summer classes!  Math (intermediate algebra) and Intro to Communications.  Both required for my degree.  Summer classes will be hectic!  They're only 8 weeks long so they'll be condensed and fast pace, at least Billi will be in math with me!  I go to Math Tuesday and Thursdays from 630p-930p and Communications Monday and Wednesday from 630p-940p.  I would go days, but Bella wont be in school and Adam of course has to work so night classes it must be!  It's going to be rough but I know if I work my ass off I can get it done and maintain my honors!

On top of school, Bella started T Ball a few weeks ago.  The first game isn't until March 26th, but they practice 2 or more times a week.  I love that Bella is finally involved with sports, although, I'm not sure she cares much for T Ball.  I'm going to start her in soccer this summer.  I think she'll like it better because it's less structured and more fast pace.  These 4 and 5 year olds have a hard time just standing there, in the outfield lol it gets funny to watch them.  Bella booty dances -shaking my head- like no ones watching!  Adam and another father, Michael, have pretty much taken on the rolls of assistant coaches.  They help out at every practice.  I love it!  Bella's team is the Cubs!  Not our first choice of teams lol but it's T Ball, what can ya do?  Adam plays softball every Wednesday night.  They always play 2 games, so he's either playing from 630-830 or from 830-1030.  I go to all the early games.  He's on his own for late games.  Bella's got to be in bed WAY before 1030 so we don't go to those.  It's fun though, I love watching the games.  And don't get me started on the concession stand food (that shit is tasty!)

I'm smoking, AGAIN, ugh!  It's soooooo hard to "quit".  I've got a doctors apt next week so I can get a script for Chantix.  Every time I quit using the patch, I start up again as soon as I'm done with the patch cycles.  Sucks!  I'm sick of being a gross smoker!  Someday!  I have faith in myself!  I've always been slacking on tanning and the gym!  I need to get back into the habits!

I traveled back to the Springs for court on Feb 24th.  I was super nervous walking into that court room.  Thankfully I had my mom, dad and brother by my side.  We got into the court room and we sat down, Brandon on the petitioner side, myself on the respondents side.  We both swore to tell the whole truth and nothing but truth.  After that the judge asked Brandon why he didn't show up for our status conference on Jan 18th, in which he replied he had to work, followed by some other bullshit excuse.  We went back and forth answering any questions the judge asked of us, after that the judge informed us that the state of Colorado had no jurisdiction of this case because Bella lives in Arizona, NOT COLORADO!  Well no shit Sherlock!  lol but let me tell you how happy I was.  Brandon was pissed, he got up and left the court room before the judge even stood up.  Long story short, if he wants to fight for visitation he has to come here, to Maricopa County, and do it.  & let me tell you, AZ doesn't take kindly to dead beat parents.  I've already started the process of getting child support in the state of AZ.  If he wants to sign over his rights it may save him a lot of money.  We'll see.

I'm sure there is much more I could get into, but I've got so much to do today.  Til next time!

Catch up!

It's been awhile!

Been busy but not a whole lot has been going on.  The biggest reason I haven't written lately is because I started school.  I love it and I'm doing really well so far.  I know I'll have my bad times, but I'm trying to stay possitive about it.  I got a new HP laptop!  Love it, runs so much better than my last one and I love Windows 7.

Still going through this court shit.  Brandon didn't show up for the child support hearing or the status conference.  We'll see if he actually shows up for final orders next Thursday.  Adam & I have a friend who is a lawyer who helped me fill out all of my paper work and such.  Thank God for good friends in high places.  I'm flying to Colorado Springs next Thursday for court.  Bella and Adam staying home... too expensive for all three of us to go.  I'll be back Sunday, so I wont miss any class.  I'm looking forward to getting this shit over with, and seeing my new nephew, mom and other family and friends.

I enrolled Bella in kindergarten today!  I'll get paper work in the mail around July stating who her teacher will be and when we can go meet her.  It looked like a nice little elementary school though.  She's doing well in PreK.  She got her school pictures back today.  What a big girl my baby is now.  Sad!

I've come down with some crap.  I am hoping and praying it's not the flu, but if it is I need to be better by Tuesday!  No school Monday, so I have a whole week off.  I've got an essay and power point presentation due Wednesday... at least I've finished it!

Til next time!

This day 5 years ago...

A mother's treasure is her daughter.  ~Catherine Pulsifer

January 18th 2006

My baby girl is 5 years old!  Where has the time gone?  It seems like just yesterday I held her in my arms before she was taken to the NICU where she fought to breath for several days.  I'll never forget the feeling on being discharged from the hospital without my beautiful baby!  10 days later she was able to come home where she struggled with RSV that put us in and out of the hospital for the first two months of her life.  You'd never guess today by looking at my beautiful, healthy, smart, loving child.  There is nothing in this life that I'm more proud of then being her mommy.  I tell her all the time that God picked her out just for me.  I couldn't think of one thing I'd change.  I'm truly blessed.

Her birthday "party" is of course Tinkerbell themed.  She got new bedding, a scooter and big pink bean bag chair for her birthday.  I'm going to try to pick her up something else today before she gets home.  Having a birthday so close to Christmas sucks, she just got everything for Christmas so figuring out what to get her for her birthday was time consuming.  We also got her a Tinkerbell Ice Cream cake from Baskin Robbins.  Our favorite cake!  For dinner we'll make wings and fries (her favorite) and probably go to the gym.

Today was my status conference for child custody.  I was told to call "this number" at 9 a.m. & they'd give me the number to call the court room for my appearance at 9:15.  I called from 9 a.m. until 9:50 a.m. over and over again until I FINALLY got an answer.  The clerk informed me that Brandon didn't show up, so there was no status conference.  I was so pissed that I spent an hour calling over and over again, using cell phone minutes, and all of a sudden just because he didn't show up, I couldn't speak to the judge.  Believe it or not I was REALLY hoping to speak to the judge today.  I wanted to try to get a feel for him.  So now I must fill everything I want brought up in final orders through the courts before our final orders court date.  So looks like 2/24/11 at 1:30 p.m. is officially my final orders date.  I hope he doesn't show up!  That'd be a perfect world for me.  Either way I'm not worried about it.  I know he'll get some visitation but I also know my baby girl isn't going anywhere.  I just want custody and child support ON PAPER so we don't have to deal with this shit anymore.  It's not like Bella even has a clue who Brandon is anyway.  So this week (probably Thursday) Adam & I will go to the Mesa airport and get my flight booked to Colorado Springs from the 24th until the 27th.  Many exciting things are going on that weekend.  I get to meet my nephew Trenton, my mom is going to be there, I'll get to see my friends.  It'll be good times for sure.

Schools starts tomorrow and I am sooo anxious to see what it's all about.  It's been 11 years since I was in school lol I hope I can get the hang of it quickly.  From 1/19 til 2/28 I have 3 classes (Creating college success *required*, Math & English) on Monday's and Wednesday's from 11:15 until 3:45 p.m.  Sine the creating college success class is only like 6 weeks long, on the 28th of February I'll only have class from 12:40 til 3:45 p.m. Monday and Wednesday.  I plan on taking a class or two throughout the summer and then starting full time in the fall.  I hope I can maintain a good GPA but I'm terrified.  I have always sucked at school lol

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day! 

Four Day Body Detox!

We had a wonderful weekend together.  Friday we went to the gym then made wings and fries for dinner (a family favorite dinner) in the fryer. 

Saturday I had new student orientation.  It was from 930-1130 a.m.  It wasn't bad, very informative.  After orientation Adam & Bella met me there and we purchased my books and got my student ID / parking pass.  I then went home and cleaned the house.  You know Cinderella has to get her chores done before she can have any fun.  Later that night we met up with Brendon and Sam at Chili's.  A few of Adam's old friends were there as well.  Everyone was very friendly.  I had 2 drinks and we went home.  We're too old for that shit ;) lol

Sunday we got up and made a yummy breakfast, then loaded up the new AR-15 and an old microwave, then headed into the desert.  It was about 30 minutes from here, neat spot that you can tell a lot of other people go there to shoot shit up!  Adam loves his new toy and I see many more trips to the desert foothills to fire it.

We took Bella, her first time.  She loved it but mostly played with rocks and dirt!

After shooting we went to the gym for family swim day.  Bella had a blast and wore off some of her damn energy.

Monday!!!  We spent 140 buck on all organic veggie's and fruits or our detox.  Today is day one and my weigh in after peeing was 142.8 and I'm totally excited to see what I weigh on Saturday morning when our fast ends.  We're making smoothies for breakfast and just doing raw fruits and veggies other than that.  Lots of water (2 + quarters per day) and green tea every morning and night.  I hope this works lol cause ya'll know me, I'd rather be eating Mc Donalds or Taco Bell!

I'll post our results on Saturday.

New Year, New Me, New Us!

I meant to write sooner... but things have been nuts!

Julie got here Wednesday the 27th and left Sunday the 1st.  Thursday we spent ALL day shopping.  I spent a ton of money but it was much needed and it felt good!  I got new shoe's for the gym and a ton of clothes, oh and some perfume!!  Later that evening went to downtown Tempe (totally neat little downtown by the way) and had sushi for dinner, minus Bella who had 2 bowls of "Chinese soup".  She took a bite of a California roll though.  She didn't spit it out and said she liked it, but she didn't want another bit either so you know how that goes.  Friday we did more shopping then spent our evening drinking wine.  It was nice to be with my best friend and have some one on one time.  It was very refreshing & just what the doctor ordered.  She went home late Saturday, we spent most of the day chillin'!

Since Julie left a ton has been going on.  I finally got an iron clad answer from the El Paso courts, I will be able to appear by phone for our status conference on the 18th.  I only had to call them 12 times to get them to give me an answer.  I mailed the damn request on October 26th.  I guess 2 months isn't enough time to get a yes or no from these people.  Anyway, after this appearance, once I know 100% that final orders will be February 24th, I'll purchase my plane ticket to Colorado Springs.  My cousin's wonderful boyfriend George has offered me his truck while I'm in town so I don't have to rent a car or depend on others for a ride (yay)!  He's a life saver!

Tuesday Bella & I went to our first mommy's group activity.  I'm the youngest mom there by 10 years!  I felt really out of place but Bella had fun non the less.

Wednesday I toured La Petite Academy and KinderCare Learning Center to determine which would work best for Bella.  Let me tell you, KinderCare won by a landslide!  It's over $200 a week (full time) but extremely worth it.  Bella went for a "test day" today and have a blast.  She'll start full time on Monday.

I've got new student orientation on Saturday from 9:30 - 11:30.  I'm totally stocked to tour my campus and see what it's all about.  Adam is meeting me there at 11:30 so we can go to the book store and purchase my school books.  Thank God a friend of my from Cowboy's (yes in Colorado) is working at the exact same book store that day.  She's been an amazing help answering any questions I've had.  Looking forward to starting school in the 19th!

Today, they finally came with the part of our refrigerator that was broken when we moved it and installed it.  He also painted our living room (much needed) and fixed a few other things.  He was here ALL day.  I was bored to death.  Chatty old guy though, and very nice!

All in all, a great but very busy week.  Tomorrow (Friday) will be spent de-weeding our front yard.  The lady that lived here before us didn't do shit but sit on her sloppy ass.  At least that's how it looked when we moved it!

Have a great up coming weekend!