Life as a single mom

Being that Tanner’s dad is in the IT industry, I guess he found it humorous and necessary to create an email address for our son. Here is our first email exchange: EMAIL FROM TANNER TO ME: From: tanner.ransom@gmail.com To: jrransom@hotmail.com I just wanted to let you know that I have an email address now... The password is the same as your laptop's. We should probably change it so that dad doesn't guess... And I used your cell phone number on the account. Also, I kind of had to lie about my age to create this account. I was born on August 3, 1974... How time flies. Love Tanner... MY REPLY: Hi Doodle bug. Why do you need an email address? Thank you for your email, however. It both confused me and scared me at first. PS - do you get a computer lab break at daycare? I love you doodle!

Tanner had his first dentist appointment yesterday. Problem is...we showed up and it did not give me a good feeling so we left. I did an about face and walked right back out!!! We live in Mesa and Mesa, much like other parts of the Metro Phoenix area, has good parts and bad parts. The more I drove and the closer I got to the physical address of the dentist office, the more I was uncomfortable. The neighborhoods kept getting less and less attractive. When I pulled into the parking lot, the cars were beat up and the entrance was less than inviting. However, I truly tried not to “judge a book by its cover.” Once inside the chaos continued. The patients waiting looked exactly like the ones I see on the “Don’t do meth” billboards around town. Yes, these people had scabs on their faces much like the chicken pox. The chairs lined up in the lobby were placed much like the ones you see at the DMV. Which, made me believe the patients were treated liked numbers and dollar signs to ...

A friend asked me the other day about Tanner's vocabulary. I guess I had not put much thought into it. Though, I have noticed it increasing daily. Here is a list of Tman's extensive vocabulary to-date...though, likely to change by the time I pick him up from daycare later. At his 18mo check up the doctor said he should have about 10 words now. My list counts many more than that. :-) Choo choo Thank you (though it sounds like shas-shoo) Please Milk (with a very hard “K”) Juice More Ball (sounds more like BAWL) Bike Outside Jacket Shoes Socks Off (typically said when pulling at his shoes) No (of course this one is in there!!) Da Da (a recent one and his eyes light up when he sees his Da Da...it makes my heart melt) Mama Boo boo Bubbles Stuck Uh oh Fish Yuck (with a very hard “K”...he has that sound down!) Apple Wow I cannot forget this one... ELMO !!! He is infatuated with this furry red character. Animal sounds...   A duck is...

As promised, here are some photos that Angel Ruff took of Tanner, Kirt and me from her visit. If you're on facebook you may have seen these already. For those of you who aren't stalking me on facebook...but here, instead, enjoy the photos.  Angel is very talented, she lives in upstate SC, but available for photo shoots pretty much anywhere. Check her website out and connect with her on facebook , too. Tanner and I were playing around in our courtyard condo and he was so excited he was screaming. Awww...a great photo of the two of us. Tanner knows where his nose is! Apparently, I do too! Tanner so excited he was screaming. VERY LOUDLY! Funny face, Tman Tanner and his Dad A family photo Me, Tanner and Kirt, Tanner's dad T and me goofing around. Angel captured a great memory for the two of us. Daddy's hands

Help me turn this simple can into a fundraising plan! I have a few hundred of these cans and once stuffed they will be sealed --- just like your canned goods in your pantry. You will need a can opener to access the contents. Please share your idea with me regarding a label design and "CAN do" campaign. Also - what item(s) should go in the can? This can will be used to help raise funds for ReAwaken -  http://reawakenforwomen.org/ ReAwaken believes that every woman deserves to have the ability, resources, supportive network and emotional care necessary to overcome the challenges of life’s obstacles and episodes. All women, regardless of age, have the tools and right to become the vibrant and empowered woman inside of themselves that may have once been disrupted during a crisis.

I was dating a guy, who I thought was a well-rounded man. He was intelligent, financially stable, had a house and a car, he seemed close with his family and invited me to attend events with him. After two months of courting (I couldn't resist using a term my Granny use to always say) I woke up to an email one morning from him.  This email was a BREAK UP email. Seriously?! I’m sorry but how old are we? ORIGINAL EMAIL FROM A-HOLE: I have trouble saying things like this in person but I feel like our relationship has lost pretty much everything it had in the beginning and I'm not sure I want to work to rescue it. I apologize for the apparent callousness of writing this down rather than talking about it in person, but I just cannot give you the respect and honesty you deserve when we are face-to-face. I get nervous or I want to spare your feelings or I don't want to appear like a bad person. I like you very much as a friend and you're a really gre...

I wanted to start something to empower women, like me, who have had challenges. When I got pregnant with Tanner and told his dad (my then boyfriend), he left me.  I felt worthless, rejected and hopeless. I was educated (had an MBA for god's sake) yet felt like my life was over. Needless to say, it had just begun! Tanner has been a blessing to me in so many ways! I cannot imagine life without him. ReAwaken  will be a tax-exempt (non-profit) organization...I am currently in the process of filing all the required paperwork. ReAwaken believes that every woman deserves to have the ability, resources, supportive network and emotional care necessary to overcome the challenges of life’s obstacles and episodes. All women, regardless of age, have the tools and right to overcome the vibrant and empowered woman inside of them that may have once been disrupted during a crisis. Please visit the website! http://reawakenforwomen.org/ The First Annual retreat is scheduled for...